06082020 - Insecurity: Protests in Abuja, Lagos, Ondo, Osogbo

WTO’s DG race: 

Okonjo-Iweala should 

win, but Nigeria has 

few friends 

16 

Edo govt on autopilot — 

APC CAMPAIGN COUNCIL 

•Obaseki’s administration 

remains robust – Aide 

Edo Assembly impeaches 

Deputy Speaker 14 

MTN seeks to sell $243m stake in Jumia Technologies 

25 

2023: We'll back 

IPoB to actualize 

Biafra, if.... 13 

14 

VOL. 27: NO. 64130 THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020 

Insecurity: Protests in Abuja, 

Lagos, Ondo, Osogbo 

5 

•Protesters lament state of nation, want insecurity, unemployment tackled •100 #RevolutionNow 

protesters arrested, released •Protesters were arrested for flouting COVID-19 protocols — FCT, 

Lagos Police •Securitymen lock down Kano against protesters •Protests too small to react to – 

Presidency sourceFG 

PROBE: 

Senate 

queries 

more 

expenditure 

by NDDC's 

IMC 12 

EFCC: 

We'll give 

you fair 

hearing, 7 

Salami 

tells Magu 

PROTESTS... 

...IN LAGOS 

...IN ABUJA 

...IN ONDO 

...IN OSOGBO 

LAGOS: Members of Coalition for Revolution (CORE) protesting corruption and bad governance in 

Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photo by Akeem Salau. ABUJA: Protesters during a rally at the Unity Fountain, 

adjacent Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, yesterday. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida. ONDO: Protesters during 

the rally in Ore, Ondo State, yesterday, in Ondo state. OSOGBO: Policemen and protesters during a rally 

in Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday. 

Al-Qaeda penetrating North-West, US alerts Nigeria 

8 

FG 

releases 

new 

COVID-19 

directives 

today 7 

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020 

C 

M 

Y 

K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020 — 3 

C 

M 

Y 

K

4— Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020 

One dead, 

others injured 

as NSCDC, 

armed robbers 

clash in Imo 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

O WERRI—ONE 

suspected armed 

robber was confirmed dead 

after a gun battle between 

the operatives of Imo State 

Nigeria Security and Civil 

Defense Corps, NSCDC, 

and an armed robbery 

syndicate, yesterday, at the 

Ojukwu Centre, new 

Owerri. 

Confirming the gun duel, 

the state Public Relations 

Officer, Chimesiri Lowell, 

said the suspect died at the 

Federal Medical Centre, 

Owerri, as a result of the 

bullet wounds sustained in 

one of his legs while others 

escaped. 

It was said the armed 

robbers had targeted to rob 

some government facilities 

when they were accosted by 

the patrol team of NSCDC. 

The PRO said:“The armed 

robbers sighting NSCDC 

operatives on duty at Ojukwu 

Centre began to shoot 

sporadically, men of NSCDC 

responded and one of the 

criminals, during the 

exchange of gunfire, was shot 

in the leg and later confirmed 

dead at the Federal Medical 

Centre, Owerri. Other gang 

members escaped as a result 

of being overpowered by 

NSCDC operatives.” 

He said one locally made 

pistol, empty shells and a 

black techno phone were 

recovered at the scene of the 

incident. 

I was tempted to touch, says Winners pastor 

accused of raping 11-year-old girl in Imo 

By Chinonso Alozie 

OWERRI—A pastor with Living 

Faith Church (Winners 

Chapel) in Njaba Local 

Government Area of Imo State, 

Joseph Anthony, suspected to have 

raped 11-year-old girl (name 

withheld) in the house of his fellow 

pastor, said he never raped the girl 

but was “tempted to touch.” 

The pastor, who was paraded, 

yesterday, in Owerri by the Police 

alongside other suspected armed 

robbers, was furious that he was 

accused of raping a teenager 

knowing that as a pastor he 

wouldn’t think of such act. 

Speaking to Vanguard, Pastor 

Anthony said: “Let me tell you this, 

it is the father and the mother of the 

girl that took me to their house to 

stay with them even when I did not 

want to stay with them. They are 

accusing me of nothing." 

Asked if he touched the girl at any 

time, he said: “ I was tempted to 

touch but I did not do it. I am a pastor. 

I cannot do it. I know what is right 

and wrong. Take this from me, I 

never touched the girl; that is the 

truth.” 

Joseph Anthony (middle) with some suspected robbers paraded at Imo State police 

headquarters, yesterday. Photo: Chinonso Alozie. 

According to the police, “On 13/ “Preliminary investigations took advantage of the fact that he 

07/2020, one Pastor Joseph Anthony revealed that the said Pastor was at home alone with the victim 

,‘m’ of Living Faith Church of Njaba Chukwuma Okoronkwo and had carnal knowledge of her. 

was arrested for the defilement of accommodated Pastor Joseph The investigation is at an advanced 

the daughter of his fellow pastor, one Anthony in their house. 

stage. He will be charged to court 

Pastor Chukwuma Okoronkwo. “The said Pastor Joseph Anthony accordingly.” 

Troops kill 5 militants, sink 3 gunboats of kidnappers in Bayelsa 

By Kingsley Omonobi 

ABUJA—TROOPS 

of 

Operation Delta Safe fighting 

to rid Niger Delta of piracy and 

militancy reportedly killed five 

pirates/militants in a shoot-out at 

Tukugbene, in Ayama-Ijaw Local 

Government Area of Bayelsa State. 

Also, the troops neutralised a 

wanted oil bunkering and pipeline 

vandal thief, popularly known as 

Sammy during a raid on his hideout 

at Mbiama, East-West Road while 

trying to escape. 

Giving details of the operation, 

Major-General John Enenche, 

Coordinator, Defence Media 

Operations, said the successes 

against the criminal elements 

followed credible intelligence on a 

suspected pirate gang leader, one 

Mr Lanre, based on the mounted 

surveillance on the suspect who 

came into town from Port Harcourt 

with one Ayi Abuh, also a notorious 

kidnapper/pirate. 

We create street fights to rob — Teen gangster 

By Evelyn Usman 

A19-year-old boy, Opeyemo 

Ayoola, has revealed that most 

street fights in Lagos were staged by 

gangsters to rob unsuspecting 

residents. 

Ayoola was arrested by operatives 

of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, 

SARS, Lagos State Command, 

alongside four other suspected 

gangsters in connection with some 

pockets of crisis between gangsters 

in Ijesha and Itire areas of the state. 

The recent fight left several persons 

wounded, with one of the injured 

feared dead. He disclosed during 

interrogation to being a member of 

the Star Boys gang, in Ijesha. 

According to him, “I am an Okada 

rider. Yes, I am a member of Star Boys. 

Our gang usually fight with Itire 

Boys. The latest fight was caused by 

the Itire Boys. They smashed the car 

windscreen of one of our members. 

"Most times, the fights were staged 

to rob people. Members of both 

gangs hijack the opportunity to 

dispossess passers-by of their 

valuables and loot residents' shops. 

But I have never joined them to loot 

or attack innocent persons. Rather, I 

prevented members from attacking 

those I know. Sometimes, I returned 

their stolen items. I only fight because 

it gives me pleasure.” 

Other arrested suspects are Segun 

Oladokun, Oluwasegun Ajagun, 

Friday Aduadu and Jimoh Qudus. 

Preliminary investigation revealed 

that the duo of Qudus and Ajagun 

Opeyemo Ayoola 

were private guards at a hotel within 

the area. Their arrest followed a 

confessional statement by other 

suspects that they were the gang’s 

armourers. 

On his part, Oladokun said he was 

the main member of Star Boys among 

other suspects. According to him: “I 

am the only authentic member of the 

Star Boys group. Others are just 

using the name to foment trouble. 

The group was created to assist 

members but the younger members 

are responsible for the fights with Itire 

Boys. 

The command, according to the 

Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem 

Odumosu, was still on the trail of 

other members of the group, 

particularly those at Itire, even as he 

reiterated the command’s resolve to 

curb the excesses of any illegitimate 

group in the state. 

Man falls off vehicle, dies in Anambra 

A 

male adult, who reportedly fell 

off a moving vehicle near 

Golden Tulip Hotels Junction, 

Agulu in Anaocha Local 

Government Area of Anambra State, 

yesterday, was confirmed dead. 

It was gathered that four other 

male adults were involved in the 

accident. 

The Federal Road Safety Corps, 

FRSC, Sector Commander, Mr 

Andrew Kumapayi, said the 

accident, which was caused by lane 

diversion, occurred at about 9.30 a.m. 

“The fatal crash involved a Toyota 

Highlander and Hijet Daihatsu 

pickup vehicle without a registration 

number. 

“According to eyewitnesses, four 

of the victims were travelling in the 

pick-up vehicle, with two seated 

inside and two in the bucket. 

“While the two vehicles were 

trying to dodge the potholes on their 

lane, the pick-up vehicle rammed 

into the Toyota and one of the persons 

inside the pick-up bucket fell and 

hit his head on the culvert. 

“A total of five male adults were 

involved in the accident, two 

sustained some degree of injuries 

and one death was recorded. 

He said: “ Subsequently, troops 

conducted a raid operation of the 

pirates’ camp at Tukugbene-Ayama 

Ijaw LGA Bayelsa State on August 

4, 2020. 

“The operation was aimed at 

extracting both Lanre and Ayi Abuh 

as well as other members of the 

gang from the community. 

“Upon arrival at the personal jetty 

of the suspect, troops met heavy 

resistance from harassing gunfire 

from pirates/militants in five boats 

that approached from adjoining 

creek. 

“The overwhelming firepower of 

our troops led to the forceful 

withdrawal of the pirates/militants 

with various degree of gunshots 

wounds. 

“The gallant troops sustained the 

firefight until five of the pirates/ 

militants were neutralised ashore. 

“Furthermore, three of the 

attacking boats were sunk while the 

occupants with various degree of 

gunshots wounds escaped into the 

river. In the process, troops 

recovered three boats from the 

pirates. 

Borno police arrest Boko 

Haram logistics supplier 

Some of the arrested suspects. 

By Ndahi Marama 

A 

Boko Haram logistics 

supplier was among the 45 

suspected criminals paraded by 

the Borno State Police Command 

for various offences ranging from 

terrorism, armed robbery, 

kidnapping, cattle rustling 

among others in the state. 

The 45-year-old suspect, 

according to the state Police Public 

Relations Officer, DSP Okon Edet, 

was arrested at Gamboru market 

within Maiduguri town with food 

supplies and other assorted 

products to be shipped to 

designated Boko Haram enclaves 

outside the metropolis. 

DSP Okon disclosed that 10 

suspected armed robbers, seven 

cattle rustlers, five fraudsters/ 

extortioners, seven thieves, one 

terrorist and kidnappers were 

among the arrested suspects. 

He said Alhaji Goni Mallum 

Mutti of Muna Asheri area of 

Maiduguri was arrested for being 

a member of Boko Haram group. 

“The suspect confessed that he 

was saddled with the 

responsibility of supplying 

logistics and essentials to the sect. 

He was in possession of N200,000 

cash, assorted foodstuff among 

other items,“ Okon stated. 

The police spokesman revealed 

that all the suspects would be 

charged to court.

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 


POCKET CARTOON 



By Clifford Ndujihe, Dayo Johnson, Kingsley Omonobi, Evelyn 

Usman, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Bose Adelaja, Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru, Bashir Bello, Gabriel Ewepu, Luminous Jannamike & 

Shina Abubakar 

LAGOS — One year 

after the 

#RevolutionNow 

protests, there were series 

of protests in many cities of 

Nigeria, yesterday, leading 

to clashes between 

demonstrators and security 

agents. 

Activists claimed that no 

fewer than 100 

demonstrators were 

arrested during the mass 

action in Lagos, Ogun, 

Osun, Ondo, Niger and 

Federal Capital Territory, 

FCT, Abuja to mark the first 

anniversary of the 


Movement. 

Security agents also took 

over the streets of Kano to 

ensure nobody came out for 

the protests 

Among those arrested 

were Olawale Bakare, a codefendant 

with Omoyele 

Sowore, Agba Jalingo, a 

journalist, and six others. 

The clampdown on the 

protesters elicited 

condemnation from civil 

society organizations, 

CSOs as the Presidency 

kept mum. 

Efforts to get reaction from 

the media office of the 

Presidency on the protest 

did not yield results. 

However, a source at the 

seat of power who spoke on 

condition of anonymity, 

simply told Vanguard: 

“Look for people to speak 

on that. It (protest) is too 

small for the Presidency to 

react to.” 

The protesters in different 

parts of the country decried 

high unemployment, rising 

insecurity and poverty, and 

demanded good 

governance, infrastructural 

development, end to extrajudicial 

killings, and the 

sack of service chiefs over 

poor security situation in the 

country, among others. 

Protesters decry 

state of the 

nation in Abuja 

The #RevolutionNow 

Protest, started in Abuja, 

with protesters expressing 

displeasure over the state 

of the nation. 

The mass action 

commemorated the first 



Movement. 

The demonstration, 

tagged: ‘National Day of 

Action’ kicked off its Abuja 

leg around 8:30am at 

Transcorp Junction, near 

Maitama. 

A leader of the protest, 

Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, 

maintained that the group’s 

demand bordered on the 

need for a political 

revolution in the country. 

“Our demand is that there 

is need for us to have a 

conscious political 

revolution. We need people 

who have a clear focus and 

the interest and welfare of 

the masses in leadership 

positions. 

“Let no Nigerian feel so 

comfortable because the 

country is not safe and 

secure. Even the security 

agents are no longer safe. 

“If we don’t take our 

future and destinies in our 

hands, this country will 

continue to remain without 

progress. Together we must 

rise to liberate this nation,” 

he told reporters. 

Similarly, General 

Secretary, United Action for 

Democracy and a leading 

member of Take It Back 

Movement, Comrade 

Kunle Ajayi, said: “We also 

came here to lead the 

revolution and protest for 

free functional and 

standard education at all 

levels, free functional and 

advanced healthcare. 

“We decided to mobilize 

community by community, 

street by street for people 

to come out and tell the 

government that enough is 

enough. 

“Also, we came here to 

say that Nigerians want 

better education, better 

healthcare and social 

welfare and topmost of it all 

is the issue of security. 

“You cannot continue to 

do as if the country is a 

grave yard. As it is today in 

most parts of this country, 

everybody is living without 

security.” 

Security men 

spray protesters 

with pepper 

The scene turned chaotic 

shortly after the protesters 

commenced their 

demonstration when 

security operatives drafted 

to the scene to maintain law 

and order clashed with 

them. 

To quench the protest, 

security operatives ordered 

the protesters to lie down 

on the grass and sprayed 

them with pepper. No 

fewer than 40 protesters 

were, thereafter, arrested 

and taken away in six 

police patrol vehicles. 

Vanguard gathered that 

the joint security personnel 

hinged the arrest of the 

protesters on violation of 

COVID-19 protocols. 

The police charged the 

alleged offenders before 

the FCT Mobile Court for 

immediate prosecution. 

However, the court did 

not sit because the 

presiding magistrate, 

Idayat Akanni, had other 

pending cases before her. 

Consequently, the 

security operatives released 

the arrested protesters with 

a note of stern warning from 

the FCT Ministerial Task 

Team on COVID-19. 

Coordinator of the Task 

Team, Comrade Ikharo 

Attah, said the rights of the 

protesters to demonstrate 

remained sacrosanct but 

noted that they must follow 

the Presidential Task 

Force’s guidelines on social 

and physical distancing as 

most of them were seen 

without face masks. 

He, therefore, advised the 

protesters to comply with all 

COVID-19 protocols to curb 

the spread of Coronavirus. 

We arrested, 

released COVID- 

19 protocols 

Continues on Page 27 

CONDOLENCE: From left,Chief Chuma Igwe,Secretary-General, Ndigbo Lagos;Dr Isowa Dogo,Leader 

SOKAPU (Southern Kaduna Peoples Union) Lagos;Prof. Anya O Anya, Ndigbo Lagos Elder statesman;Prof. 

Pat Utomi,Deputy Chairman Ndigbo Lagos;Rev Dr Andrew Duya, Chairman SOKAPU Lagos; General Obi 

Abel Umahi, President-General, Ndigbo Lagos and Mr Oscar Onwudiwe, President-General, Aka Ikenga, 

at the presentation of a condolence letter by Ndigbo Lagos to SOKAPU Lagos Branch on the killings of their 

kith and kin in Southern Kaduna in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor. 

By Bose Adelaja, 

Olayinka Latona 

& Rose Chukwu 

On amnesty, reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members (4) 

Are they really 

repentant or is it 

another way of empowering 

them to do more evil? We 

won’t know if they have 

repented or not. The FG can 

seclude and watch them 

from a distance to see if their 

repentance is genuine. They 

are terrorists. We can’t 

believe them, it might be a 

ploy to get support from 

government to do more 

harm. 

—Erica Pam, Corps 

Member 

For God’s sake, 

how will you grant 

amnesty to people that 

have been killing 

innocent souls? 

If they do that, they 

will see what will 

happen next in 

Nigeria. Sometimes I 

wonder the kind of 

leaders we have these 

days. God, why am I in 

this country? 

— Kosi Amara, 

Student 

Really, I don’t expect 

the Federal 

Government to be talking 

about granting amnesty 

to murderers. These are 

people whose hands are 

soiled with the blood of 

innocent souls who 

would have been useful 

to this nation in future. 

The government should 

have a rethink. 

—Emede Austin, 

Electrician 

If FG deems it 

necessary to grant 

amnesty to Boko Haram 

members, then it should 

open the doors of all 

correctional centres in the 

country and free every 

suspect. 

I don’t see any 

difference except the 

government wants to 

deceive us because 

granting them amnesty is 

like compensating the 

terrorists. 

—Funso Ekene, Mason 

Nigerian leaders 

should know that 

the Almighty God is 

watching them and 

whatever they sow into 

this nation is what they 

will reap a hundred-fold. 

How can a government 

suggest amnesty for 

criminals? This should 

not be mentioned at all, 

else, all ears will tingle. 

—Ngozi Festus, Agro 

Dealer 

Isupport reintegration 

of repentant Boko 

Haram members into the 

society if they are truly 

repentant. I think most of 

the members of this group 

were either forced or 

brainwashed into joining 

the group. 

However, the 

government will have to 

monitor them to ensure 

they are not deceiving us. 

—Oluronke Faro, 

Health practitioner


C 

M 

Y 

K

VISIT—From left: 

Former SunTrust 

Bank MD/Chief 

Executive, Jibrin 

M u h a m m a d 

Barde, in a 

handshake with 

the Group 

M a n a g i n g 

Director of 

Nigerian National 

P e t r o l e u m 

Corporation, 

NNPC, Mele 

Kyari, at NNPC 

headquarters, in 

Abuja, during a 

courtesy call by 

Barde, yesterday. 

:Vanguard 

News 

Probe: We’ll give you, EFCC fair 

hearing, Salami tells Magu 

By Soni Daniel 

Aof BUJA—CHAIRMAN 

the Presidential 

Investigative Committee 

looking into the allegations 

of wrongdoings levelled 

against Ibrahim Magu, the 

suspended Acting 

Chairman of the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, Justice Ayo 

Salami, gave some 

consoling words to the 

beleaguered senior police 

officer when he appeared 

before him yesterday, 

assuring him of fair 

hearing. 

Salami repudiated claims 

that the panel had been 

keeping Magu waiting for 

days without attending to 

him 

Salami, a retired Appeal 

Court justice, explained to 

Magu that contrary to the 


:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

....Says ‘we can’t give you proceedings 

recordings’ 

erroneous impression 

being given that he was 

being tried, the committee 

was only an investigative 

one and not a trial court. 

A top source at the 

committee said: “In the 

proceedings of August 5, 

2020, His Lordship, Justice 

Isa Ayo Salami, offered 

clarifications as follow: 

“That he and the 

members are not 

conducting a trial or 

enquiry on Mr. Ibrahim 

Magu or the Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission 

“That this is not a panel 

but a committee saddled 

only with investigation. 

That the committee 

undertakes to guarantee fair 

hearing to Magu and all 

appearing before it in its 

fact-finding exercise”. 

On the request by Magu 

to be availed of the previous 

video recordings of the 

committee, Salami 

pointedly told him that there 

were no such recordings as 

such clips were not 

authorised by the 

committee. 

Salami said: “That the 

request by Mr. Ibrahim 

Magu for the video 

recordings of the 

proceedings cannot be 

granted because the 

previous recordings of the 

proceedings at the 

beginning were 

unauthorised by the 

investigative committee and 

the committee does not 

know the purpose such 

recordings will serve. 

“That the venue of the 

sitting of the committee is 

temporary and therefore, it 

is impossible to install video 

recording equipment, as 

requested by Magu. Even 

superior courts of records do 

not have video recording 

facilities and lack of such 

facilities does not infringe 

on fair hearing,” the 

committee chairman 

concluded. 

Magu, who had been 

reporting to the committee 

since he was invited to 

appear before it and later 

suspended from office on 

the orders of the President 

early last month, is expected 

to be formally served with the 

allegations for which he is to enter 

his defence. This was to have 

happened since last week. 

FG releases new COVID-19 directives today 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—THE federal 

government may 

release new COVID-19 

directives today. 

Chairman of the Presidential 

Task Force, PTF on COVID- 

19 and Secretary to the 

Government of the 

Federation, SGF, Boss 

Mustapha, who disclosed this 

yesterday, also said poor 

enforcement of COVID-19 

protocols, especially by state 

governments, has contributed 

to the increasing number of 

infections in the country. 

The SGF also said the PTF 

was working hard to ensure 

that the entire nation was 

covered with testing facilities 

this month, noting that it was 

working with CACOVID and 

NNPC to ensure that before 

the end of the pandemic, the 

nation had a structure that 

could be defined as a proper 

molecular laboratory, a testing 

facility, an isolation facility, 

and an intensive Care Unit, 

ICU, facility integrated into 

one. 

• Submits interim report to Buhari 

• Says virus exposed weakness of nation’s health system 

Briefing State House 

correspondents after 

submitting the interim reports 

on the current state of 

lockdown 

and 

recommendations to the 

President on the next step, 

Mustapha reiterated that the 

pandemic has exposed 

systems, not only in Nigeria 

but also globally. 

He said the President was 

quite happy with the content 

of the report and the work the 

PTF was doing, stressing that 

all the members were 

committed and had exhibited 

the highest form of 

professionalism in dealing 

with the affairs. 

The SGF said: “We are 

working hard to ensure that 

this month, the entire nation 

is covered with testing 

facilities. We are working with 

CACOVID and NNPC to 

ensure that before the end of 

this pandemic, we have at 

least a structure that can be 

defined as a proper molecular 

laboratory, a testing facility, an 

isolation facility, and an ICU 

facility integrated into one. 

“I think we derive a lot of 

satisfaction in the amount of 

sleepless nights and hard 

work that have been put in 

place. We also commend the 

media for doing their job. They 

have enlightened Nigerians. 

But I’m appealing to 

Nigerians that we are not out 

of the wood. 

“They should not take 

relaxation of the lockdown for 

granted. Countries that have 

opened up too quickly have 

had cause to shut down. We 

wouldn’t want that kind of 

situation to happen. The only 

way we can remedy that is 

when we take personal 

responsibility. 

“The issue of nonpharmaceutical 

measures that 

have been put in place; 

wearing of masks, observing 

social distancing, not 

congregating in large 

gatherings, washing of 

hands, and sanitizing of 

hands are things that we 

should not take for granted. 

“It’s enforcement that has 

largely been lacking and my 

appeal is that the subnationals 

should ensure 

enforcement. As a matter of 

fact, when we listed some of 

our challenges, that was top 

on the list; lack of enforcement 

of even the regulations that 

have been put in place." 

On the content of the interim 

report and the 

recommendations, he said the 

PTF will focus on three 

thematic areas to contain 

further spread of the virus. 

He said: ‘’ As for the content 

of the report, it will be 

premature for me to talk about 

it because we submitted a 

report, we have submitted 

recommendations and so we 

have to leave it for Mr. 

President to take a decision. 

‘’By the time I receive his 

approvals, non-approvals on 

the recommendations we 

have made, we will be able to 

speak to the Nigerian people 

tomorrow.’’ 

FIRS knocks NIPOST, insists 

on collecting stamp duties 

By Emma Ujah, 

Abuja Bureau Chief 

ABUJA—THE Federal 

Inland Revenue Service, 

FIRS, has described as “false 

and indecorous” a twitter post by 

Chairperson, NIPOST Board, 

Hajiya Maimuna Abubakar, in 

which she claimed that both the 

Service and the National 

Assembly appropriated 

NIPOST’s ideas about stamp 

duties to the exclusion of the 

postal service. The FIRS 

debunked Hajiya Abubakar’s 

claims in a statement issued by 

the Director, Communications 

and Liaison Department, FIRS, 

Mr. Abdullahi Ahmad, yesterday. 

The statement reads: “The 

attention of the Federal Inland 

Revenue Service (FIRS) has 

been drawn to a tweet by Mrs. 

Maimuna Abubakar, 

Chairperson of the Board of 

NIPOST. Her indecorous tweet 

would not have deserved any 

response but for the sensitive 

nature of the issue at stake, 

which if not sensibly treated and 

promptly corrected, could likely 

mislead the public. 

“To be sure, NIPOST is a 

government parastatal 

established by Decree 41 of 1992 

By Chioma Obinna 

Ato BUJA—CONTRARY 

speculations that Nigeria 

has started flattening the curve, 

the Nigeria Centre for Disease 

Control, NCDC, said yesterday 

that the country has not yet 

attained that milestone. 

According to the latest update 

released by the NCDC, Nigeria 

recorded further decline with a 

total of 304 new confirmed cases 

as of August 4, 2020. 

However, the Director General 

of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe 

Ihekweazu, in a chat with 

Vanguard yesterday, said the 

reduction in new infections being 

witnessed currently was a result 

of the decline in the number of 

samples collected across the 36 

with the function to develop, 

promote, and provide adequate 

and efficiently coordinated postal 

services at reasonable rates . This 

function is clearly contrary to the 

claim by NIPOST over the 

administration of stamp duties in 

Nigeria. 

“On the other hand, the FIRS 

is the sole agency of government 

charged with the responsibility 

of assessing, collecting, and 

accounting for all tax types, 

including Stamp Duties. 

“It is, therefore, shocking to us 

at the FIRS that such a privileged 

young lady who happened to be 

appointed to high office would 

throw all caution to the wind to 

cast aspersions on reputable 

public institutions as the 

National Assembly and the FIRS, 

which she accused of stealing 

NIPOST idea. This, to say the 

least, is a preposterous claim and 

great disservice to the 

government and people of 

Nigeria. 

“We wish to state categorically 

that, as an agency, which 

operates within the ambit of the 

law, the FIRS is determined to 

not only ensure that all monies 

collected by NIPOST into its 

illegally operated Stamp Duties 

Account are fully remitted into 

the Federation Account." 

COVID-19: Reduction in new cases not 

flattening curve, NCDC alerts Nigerians 

states and the Federal Capital 

Territory, FCT. 

According to him, it is too early 

for Nigerians to interpret the 

decline as flattening the curve 

and an end to the spread of the 

pandemic. 

He said: “We had a decline in 

the number of samples collected 

across states between the 31st of 

July and 2nd of August. This may 

be associated with the public 

holiday which led to a reduction 

in activities across the country.” 

“It is still too early to interpret a 

decline in new cases as flattening 

the curve. We are learning from 

countries in Europe and other 

parts of the world that a decline 

in new cases does not translate 

to being at the end of the 

pandemic.


Roger Brown resumes as new 

SEPLAT CEO 

SEPLAT 

Petroleum 

Development Company 

Plc has announced the 

resumption of Roger Brown, as 

its new Chief Executive Officer, 

and this took place on August 1, 

2020. 

Brown is expected to lead 

SEPLAT into the next phase of 

the company’s growth 

aspirations, following the 

retirement of the founding CEO, 

Austin Avuru, on July 31, 2020, 

after 10 years. 

The new CEO joined SEPLAT 

in 2013 as the Chief Financial 

Officer, CFO, and played a key 

role in the successful dual listing 

of the company in 2014 on both 

the London and Nigerian Stock 

Exchanges. 

Similarly, since joining SEPLAT, 

he has played significant roles in 

various asset acquisitions by the 

company as well as implementing 

the company’s financial business 

model. 

Brown played critical roles in the 

company’s successful landmark 

deals, Initial Public Offering, IPO, 

and financial structure of debt 

and acquisitions, as well as 

increased returns to 

shareholders. 

He is very familiar with the local 

and global business 

environments and institutions. 

As the new CEO, he is expected 

to work towards reinforcing the 

company’s leading position in the 

energy sector. 

SEPLAT’s new CEO is a 

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

qualified Chartered Accountant 

from the Institute of Chartered 

Accountants of Scotland. 

The product of Belfast Royal 

Academy also holds MSc in 

Finance from University of 

Ulster; BSc (Hons) in Finance 

from University of Dundee. 

Roger set up the London office 

for the company prior to listing 

on the Nigerian and London 

Stock Exchanges (Main Board). 

Prior to joining SEPLAT, Brown 

was an advisor to the company 

since 2010 while he was the 

Managing Director and head of 

EMEA Oil and Gas at Standard 

Bank Group. During his time at 

the bank, he was instrumental 

in providing advice and deploying 

capital across the African 

continent in the oil & gas, power 

& infrastructure and the 

renewable energy sectors. 

Brown brings to the CEO role, 

an extensive knowledge of the 

company in his over six years as 

the CFO and a member of the 

Board. 

He has strong financial, 

commercial and Mergers and 

Acquisition (M&A) experience as 

well as proven people skills which 

will be an asset as the company 

embarks on the next phase of its 

growth. 

During his time as the 

company’s CFO, he steered the 

business through extremely 

challenging times during low oil 

prices and an 18-month period 

when the business was not 

producing oil due to a shutdown 

of its main oil pipeline. 

BANDITRY: We won’t let N-West, 

N-Central situation escalate to Boko 

Haram status — MASARI 

•As Matawalle seeks ties with Emirs to deal with bandits 

•Says they can provide genuine intelligence 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru & Ibrahim 

HassanWuyo 

AAminu BUJA—GOVERNOR 

Masari of Katsina 

State said yesterday that the 

leaders of the North West and 

North Central zones of the 

country would not allow the 

security situation in the two 

zones to escalate to the status of 

Boko Haram terrorism in the 

North East. 

The governor spoke on a day 

his colleague in Zamfara State, 

Governor Bello Mohammed 

Matawalle, sought a close working 

relationship with emirs to deal 

with bandits and other forms of 

criminality in the state. 

Masari told State House 

correspondents after meeting 

behind closed doors with 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, 

that the issue of banditry and 

kidnapping must be ended by all 

means. 

He said serious efforts were 

already on to ensure that banditry, 

kidnapping and all sorts of other 

criminal activities currently 

worrying the North West and the 

North Central zones were 

brought to an end. 

He said though some 

communities in nine council 

areas of Katsina State had been 

affected negatively by the 

activities of bandits and other 

criminals, agricultural yields 

would still come out well. 

The governor, who said he was 

at the Presidential Villa to pay 

Sallah homage to President 

Buhari, disclosed that they had 

about 30 minutes discussion on 

the security situation in the 

state. 

He said: “Every year, the 

President used to go to Katsina 

for his Eid-Kabir but because of 

COVID-19 this year, he was not 

able to go, so I have come to see 

him and bring the greetings of 

the people of Katsina State to 

him, wishing him good health and 

also success in the task of running 

Nigeria. Practically, that is why I 

am here. 

“Secondly, for anybody coming 

from the North West part of 

Nigeria, especially from my part 

of North West, the issue today is 

about security. We took more 

than 30 minutes discussing the 

current situation and what needs 

to be done. 

“So far, the situation is under 

control in Katsina and I believe 

in most parts of the North West 

but it is not over until it is over 

and we have discussed 

extensively and offered our own 

suggestions and those of us who 

are on ground. That is actually 

what we discussed with the 

President.” 

On the message of hope from 

the President, Governor Masari 

said: “Currently, the military are 

in Katsina for their annual super 

camp. So, over 2000 of them are 

in Katsina in order to signal to 

the bandits that the military is 

ready and willing and have the 

capability and capacity to deal 

with the situation. 

‘’The hope is that the military, 

the police and other security 

agencies have been given 

marching orders. 

“I have seen some of the 

headlines of today’s papers, to 

control the situation by all means 

is a task that must be done 

because we cannot allow the 

situation in the North West 

develop like it has in the North 

East.'' 

On the challenges affecting 

effective resolution of the crisis 

in the area, he said: “North 

Western part of the country 

where these bandits are and the 

North Central are a vast forest 

area and unfriendly terrain. 

‘’During the rainy season 

which we are in now, moving with 

heavy military equipment can be 

very challenging because the soil 

is soft and the rains are heavy 

but it is doable. 

“No situation is impossible, 

especially to a willing and 

determined mind. I do believe we 

can conquer these bandits and 

stop them from hibernating into 

something else.” 

On the best way to go towards 

achieving sustainable peace and 

security, Governor Masari said: 

“I think first, what we are waiting 

for is for the military to take total 

control of the land areas, then 

state and local governments can 

now move, in especially in the 

area of education, access, and 

then water supply. 

Matawalle seeks to 

partner Emirs 

Meanwhile, Governor Bello 

Matawalle of Zamfara State has 

sought to work with emirs in the 

state to deal with bandits and 

other forms of criminality in the 

state. 

The emirs had assured the 

governor of their cooperation and 

commended him on efforts 

toward ridding the state of 

criminality so far. 

Matawalle had told the 

monarchs that they could provide 

intelligence reports which could 

lead to the total clearance of 

banditry, kidnapping and cattle 

rustling bedeviling the state and 

the North in general. 

The governor, who spoke while 

receiving the Emirs of Shinkafi, 

Zurmi, Kaura Namoda, Birnin 

Magaji and Tsafe Emirates 

Councils who paid him Sallah 

homage in the state capital, said 

Al-Qaeda penetrating 

North-west, US alerts Nigeria 

THE United States has 

alerted the federal 

government that the Al-Qaeda 

insurgent group was already 

penetrating the North-western 

part of Nigeria. 

Dagvin Anderson, commander 

of the US special operations 

command, Africa, who disclosed 

this during a briefing, said the 

group was also expanding to 

other parts of West Africa. 

In his remarks which TheCable 

obtained from the US 

Department of State, Anderson 

said the US would continue to 

partner with Nigeria in sharing 

intelligence. 

He said: “We have engaged 

with Nigeria and continue to 

engage with them in intel sharing 

and in understanding what these 

violent extremists are doing. And 

that has been absolutely critical 

to their engagements in Borno 

State and into an emerging area 

of Northwest Nigeria that we’re 

seeing al-Qaeda starting to make 

some inroads in. 

“So, this intelligence sharing 

is absolutely vital and we stay 

fully engaged with the 

government of Nigeria to provide 

them an understanding of what 

these terrorists are doing, what 

Boko Haram is doing, what ISIS- 

West Africa is doing, and how ISIS 

and al-Qaeda are looking to 

expand further south into the 

littoral areas.” 

Anderson, who regretted that 

despite successes recorded in 

previous years, there had been 

setback, added: “We as a 

community of international 

nations, keep thinking we have 

defeated them or we have put 

them on their back foot and that 

they’re just moments from 

royal fathers had a great role to 

play in gathering and sharing 

intelligence with security 

agencies that would the arrest of 

armed banditry, kidnapping and 

cattle rustling facing the north. 

“Sharing genuine intelligence 

report is the major bedrock of 

ending the security challenge 

facing the region and the country 

at large. 

‘’Royal fathers stand at a better 

position to provide accurate and 

reliable intelligence because they 

interact with the locals directly 

and must have the full 

knowledge of their people’s 

characters and their daily 

business,” he said. 

Matawalle appreciated the 

support and cooperation from the 

royal fathers, particularly in the 

area of peace, which has yielded 

positive results, leading to the 

opening of all the roads and 

market places that were 

inaccessible before now. 

He commended the 

security agencies in the state 

for their proactiveness and 

for ensuring that the state 

was more secure now than 

ever before. 

The Emirs took turns to express 

delight over the manner 

Governor Matawalle had 

handled the security situation in 

the state. They assured of their 

continued cooperation and 

support for the policies and 

programmes of his government. 

disintegration. 

“I think there are two factors in 

that. One, it goes to that each 

government has to focus on this 

and provide that focus for 

international partners to engage 

with. 

“The other part of this is we 

can’t underestimate the threat 

these violent extremist 

organisations pose. I think after 

20 years, we have seen they are 

very resilient organisations that, 

although small, they’re able to 

leverage social media and other 

forms of media to have an outsized 

voice and that they continue to 

recruit and find opportunities.” 

Anderson said for international 

efforts to yield desired results in 

the fight against terrorism in 

Nigeria, the government must 

take the lead. 

“When it comes to Nigeria in 

general, Nigeria, obviously, is a 

critical nation to West Africa. It is 

a critical nation and we realize 

that Nigeria is a lynchpin. 

“For that to have an effect 

against the VEOs and to have 

an effect against these 

stressors, it really takes the 

government of Nigeria to lead 

that effort and to build that 

energy to coalesce around.'' 

“So no nation can come in and 

fix that problem for Nigeria. We 

can assist with that. The United 

States can assist, the United 

Kingdom, other countries can 

come in, many countries can 

come and assist with that 

partnership – but ultimately it 

takes leadership from Nigeria in 

order for us to focus our efforts.” 

There had been an increase in 

attacks in Kaduna, Katsina, 

Sokoto and other states in the 

north-west in recent times.

REVOLUTIONNOW PROTESTERS IN MAJOR CITIES 

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020—9 

Photos: Abayomi 

Adeshida, Bunmi 

Azzez & Akeem Salau 

A cross section of members of Movement of Coalition for Revolution, CORE, 

(RevolutionNow) during a rally in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. 

Some of the protesters arrested by security agents in 

Abuja. 

RevolutionNow protesters at Unity Fountain, Abuja, yesterday. 

Protest in Osogbo, Osun State. 

RevolutionNow protest in Akure, Ondo State. 

One of the protesters being arrested in Lagos. 

Policemen dispersing protesters at Ikeja under bridge, Lagos. 

Another set of protesters arrested in Abuja.


:Vanguard 

News 


AWARD—Chief Ozekhome (left) being decorated with the award's medal, 

symbolising his induction into the Arewa Youth Council Hall of Fame. 

FUTA suspends final year 

student for hacking Premium 

Times website 

By Dayo Johnson 

A 

K U R E — 

AUTHORITIES of 

the Federal University of 

Technology, Akure, FUTA, 

yesterday, suspended a 

final year student of the 

Department of Food 

Science and Technology, 

Afolabi Emmanuel, for 

hacking the website of an 

online news publication, 

the Premium Times. 

In a statement by the 

institution’s Deputy 

Director Corporate 

Communication, 

Adegbenro Adebanjo in 

Akure described the 

student’s action “as an act 

that constitutes misconduct 

and misuse of University IT 

infrastructure.” 

The letter of suspension 

was dated August 5, 2020. 

Adebanjo said: “The 

University received a 

complaint from Premium 

Times about a Denial of 

Service, DOS, attack on its 

website between 28th and 

29th February 2020, 

through a concerted 

vulnerability scanning by a 

person using IT 

infrastructure of the 

University. 

“Following the complaint, 

the University 

management initiated an 

investigation and it was 

discovered that Emmanuel 

carried out the alleged act 

of misconduct using the 

login credentials of two 

members of staff, without 

authorization, to perpetrate 

the act. 

“The Notification of Indefinite 

Suspension letter addressed to 

Emmanuel and his sponsors 

reads in part, ‘In the extant 

Student’s Handbook of 

Information, your action is 

misconduct to abuse the use of 

University IT Infrastructure. 

“While still putting in place an 

arrangement to give you an 

opportunity to explain yourself, 

you are, hereby, placed on an 

indefinite suspension 

retroactively from 18th March 

2020. 

Fayemi to striking doctors: Return to 

work, or face 'no work, no pay' rule 

By Rotimi 

Ojomoyela 

A DO-EKITI— 

GOVERNOR 

Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti 

State, yesterday, appealed 

to the striking doctors in 

Ekiti State to call off their 

industrial action, or risk the 

possibility of no work, no 

NBA President-elect cautions 

supporters against social 

media attack 

By Innocent Anaba 

L AGOS—PRESIDENT- 

ELECT of the Nigeria Bar 

Association, NBA, Mr. 

Olumide Akpata, yesterday, 

called on his supporters to 

forthwith stop the social media 

attack on other lawyers, who 

may not have supported his 

candidacy in the elections. 

Akpata, in a statement, said: 

“In the last few days, I have 

observed with concern the 

rising tide of social media 

vitriol by a few lawyers 

believed to be my supporters 

who have unnecessarily 

targeted and excoriated our 

colleagues for no just cause. 

Whilst I deeply appreciate 

everyone who contributed to 

my emergence as Presidentelect 

of the NBA, I do not 

subscribe to showing 

disrespect to other people 

because they did not support 

my candidacy. 

“Ours is a noble profession 

that prides itself on the high 

sense of discipline, learning, 

respect for seniority and 

character for which its 

members are reputed. 

“The mandate that I have 

from Nigerian lawyers is to 

work for all members of the 

Bar irrespective of who they 

voted for in the just-concluded 

elections. In my acceptance 

speech, I made the obvious 

point that there is so much 

work to be done to revitalise 

our Bar and make it work for 

everyone without 

discrimination. This enormous 

task cannot be achieved if we 

continue to fan the embers of 

division at a time when we 

desperately need to unite and 

speak with one firm voice. 

“I, therefore, use this 

medium to appeal to our 

colleagues (both junior and 

senior) who supported me to 

show respect to seniors and 

peers whilst celebrating last week’s 

electoral victory. We must be kind, 

magnanimous, respectful and 

sensitive by our words and actions." 

‘Oyetola committed to good govt/citizens 

relations’ 

By Shina Abubakar 

O SOGBO—SPECIAL 

Adviser to Osun State 

Governor on Civic 

Engagement, Mr. 

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, 

yesterday, restated the 

commitment of Governor 

Adegboyega Oyetola to 

deepening the bond 

between the government 

and residents of the state. 

Oyintiloye said this 

during an interaction with 

the forum of Community 

Relation Officers, CROs, in 

the state, held at the Centre 

for Civic Engagement in 

Osogbo. 

He said: “Governor Oyetola is 

committed to the democratic 

structures that will ensure that 

yearnings and aspirations of the 

people are attended to with the 

available resources. 

“The governor is leaving no 

stone unturned in running 

inclusive and people-centered 

governance. He wants the 

citizenry to be better informed 

and engaged about the general 

issues of governance, through 

the institution of Civic 

Engagements in the state." 

AWARD—From left: Leading Constitutional Lawyer and Human Rights 

Activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, being presented with the Garkuwan 

Mattassan Arewa (the Shield of Northern Youth) and Paragon of Judicial 

Transformation awards, by the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, 

by its president, Dr. Isa Abubakar, for courageously standing up for 

democracy and rule of law, at his Maitama, Abuja office, Tuesday. 

....Laments spike in COVID-19 cases 

pay rule. 

Fayemi also lamented the 

increasing number of 

COVID-19 cases recorded 

between July and August 

in Ekiti, which now stands 

at 152. 

The governor said this in 

a statewide broadcast in 

Ekiti. 

He called on the striking 

doctors, under the auspices 

of the National Association 

of Government General 

Medical and Dental 

Practitioners, NAGGMDP, 

to end the strike in the 

interest of the citizens. 

His words: “We can 

always collect arrears of 

unpaid allowances, but a 

life lost cannot be reversed. 

That is why I should like to 

call on the doctors to take 

the patriotic route like other 

health workers and the 

organised labour for an 

immediate end to the 

needless strike. 

“I do not want to be put 

in a situation where I have 

to invoke the no work, no 

pay in Ekiti.” 

Expressing regret over 

the inability of his 

government to pay the 

financial benefits of workers 

who got promoted five 

years ago, Fayemi said: “It 

wasn’t my style and 

intention to deprive people 

of their legitimate 

entitlements”. 

Commending the labour 

leader for being patriotic, 

Fayemi said: “Two days 

ago, the leadership of the 

organised labour 

comprising Nigeria Labour 

Congress, Trade Union 

Congress and Joint 

Negotiation Council also 

embarked on a warning 

strike which they 

immediately called off after 

engaging with the 

Government. 

“For instance, I am 

pained in my heart that 

people who got promoted 

for about five years ago 

have not enjoyed the 

corresponding financial 

benefits. 

These are things which 

give me great pain and 

which I am absolutely 

committed to assuaging 

their feelings.” 

Explaining the inability of 

his government to meet its 

financial obligation to 

workers, Fayemi said: 

“Apart from the fact that our 

monthly federally received 

allocation has plummeted 

considerably because of low 

crude prices and off-take, 

our internally generated 

revenue has gone worse as 

many businesses that should 

pay taxes are themselves under 

different government supports to 

stay afloat.” 

Oyo approves N59.7m for Amotekun 

take-off 

By Ola Ajayi 

IBADAN—THE Oyo 

State Government, 

yesterday, approved the 

sum of N59.7 million as 

grants for the take-off of the 

State Security Network 

Agency, codenamed 

‘Operation Amotekun’. 

This was disclosed after 

the state’s 19th virtual 

executive meeting, where 

the executive council 

approved the fund for the 

procurement of 3000 units 

of uniforms, combat boots, 

lanyard, baseball hats, 

security belts and worsted 

socks. 

It will also cover the 

production of logos for the 

personnel to serve as 

identity and distinguish 

them from other security 

agencies in the State. 

The Commissioner for 

Information, Culture and 

Tourism, Dr. Wasiu 

Olatunbosun, while 

disclosing the outcome of 

the meeting, said: “Further 

on the establishment of the 

State Security Network, 

codenamed Operation 

Amotekun and for the 

effective take-off of the 

agency, the State Executive 

Council has approved the 

procurement of 3000 units 

of uniforms and 

accoutrements such as 

combat boots, lanyard, 

baseball hats, security belts, 

worsted socks, production 

of Amotekun and Oyo 

State logo for 3000 

Amotekun corps to be 

recruited into the agency at 

a total sum of N59.7m. 

“The uniforms and 

accoutrements which will 

be given to each recruited 

Amotekun Corp will serve 

as a form of identity for the 

corps and will distinguish 

them from other security 

agencies in the state.” 

Olatubosun further stated 

that the council also 

approved funds for reaccreditation 

of Adeoyo 

Maternity at Yemetu in 

Ibadan as a fully-fledged 

teaching hospital, as the 

accreditation initially got 

was withdrawn for failure 

to have necessary 

equipment in place, saying 

it was in conformity with the 

present administration’s 

passion to revitalise the 

health sector in the State.

Vanguard 

anguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020 — 11 

:Vanguard :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES: 

DONATION—From left: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportstion, 

Lagos State, Oluseyi Whenu, receiving the keys of a Toyota Hi-Ace mini bus 

(inset right), donated to the state government by Courteville Business Solutions 

Plc. and presented by the firm's Group Managing Director, Dr. Adebola 

Akindele (right), at the state Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja. 

Lagos reviews 2018 Land Use Charge 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

LAGOS—THE 

Lagos 

State Government, 

yesterday, cancelled the 2018 

Land Use Charge Law and 

reverted to the pre-2018 rates 

upholding method of valuation. 

The administration of Mr. 

Akinwunmi Ambode had repealed 

the initial Land Use Charge law 

replacing it with an amended copy. 

Consequently, the amended 

LUC Law 2018 received wide range 

condemnation from residents and 

stakeholders, describing it as 

“repressive and anti-masses.” 

The Commissioner for Finance, 

Dr. Rabiu Olowo and his 

Information and Strategy 

counterpart, Mr. Gbenga 

Omotoso, yesterday, announced 

....Waives 3-yr penalties for defaulters 

the state government’s decision at 

a media briefing in Alausa, Ikeja. 

Olowo said the new LIC Law 2020 

was a product of series of 

stakeholder meetings, designed to 

accommodate the agitations of 

residents and reduce the financial 

pressure on citizens as it relates to 

land use. 

He said: “Still on reductions, 

another major sector that had its 

charge reduced is the agricultural 

sector, which annual charge rate 

for Agricultural land was reduced 

from 0.076 to 0.01 per cent. This is 

an 87 per cent, reduction from the 

old rate”. 

The government, however, reintroduced 

the 15 per cent early 

payment discount which has 

been increased by a 10 per cent, 

Sack: Pilots threaten to go on strike 

LAGOS—THE National 

Association of Aircraft Pilots 

and Engineers NAAPE, 

yesterday, threatened to embark 

on strike in the next two weeks 

over the recent sack of their 

members by Air Peace airline and 

Bristow Helicopters. 

The association alleged that 

the action of the two airlines is 

“unilateral and reckless” adding 

that they are only hiding under 

the pretense of the COVID-19 

pandemic economic downturn. 

National President of NAAPE, 

Mr. Abednego Galadima who 

disclosed the pilots’ decision at a 

news conference in Lagos said the 

airlines have not respected the 

extant labour and trade union 

laws of the workplace. 

Galadinma said: “Airline 

operators have continued to run 

their business without negotiated 

special COVID-19 incentive, making it 25 per cent 

when payment is paid before the due date. 

“Unlike in the 2018 law pensioners now include 

retirees from private and public institutions in 

the state “or any person that has attained the 

age of 60 years and has ceased to be actively 

engaged in any activity or business for 

remuneration”, exempting their properties from 

paying land use charge as well. 

“Also, profit-oriented cemeteries and burial 

grounds, private libraries are no longer exempted 

from payment of Land Use Charge. 

“We have completed the LUC Reform process 

and review of bills. Property owners should 

expect to receive their 2020 LUC bills shortly 

and we expect property owners to leverage on 

the 25 per cent early payment discount. 

“Furthermore, the LUC payment can now be 

made Online via https://Lagos.ebs-rcm.com 

Payment can also be made using USSD Code to 

any of our designated banks with the appropriate code.” 

conditions of service which is a requirement of our 

labour and trade union laws and also in keeping with 

international best practices. 

“Without negotiated conditions of service, our 

members have become exposed to the whims and 

caprices of the employers in the industry, enthroning a 

reign of arbitrariness and impunity in the conduct of 

employee relations within the industry.” 

The NAAPE president called on all concerned arms 

of government and agencies to immediately call Nigeria 

airline operators to order and ensure they revert salaries 

to pre COVID-19 levels. 

Utomi, Anya condemns Southern Kaduna killings 

By Dave Oso ….Asks FG to stem tide of violence 

L AGOS—NDIGBO 

Lagos Foundation, the 

umbrella body of all Ndigbo living 

in Lagos has commiserated with 

the Southern Kaduna People’s 

Union (SOKAPU), Lagos 

chapter over the continuous loss 

of lives occasioned by the ongoing 

killings in the Southern Kaduna 

region. 

Delivering a letter of 

condolence to the Chairman of 

SOKAPU, Lagos Chapter in 

Lagos yesterday, President 

General of Ndigbo Lagos 

Foundation, Gen. Obi Abel 

Umahi (retd.) condemned the 

needless loss of lives of the people 

of the region, especially innocent 

children, who are cut down in 

their prime for no offence of theirs. 

The letter read in part: ‘’Ndigbo 

Lagos, the umbrella body of all 

Ndigbo living in Lagos 

commiserates with the leadership 

and membership of the Southern 

Kaduna People’s Union 

(SOKAPU), Lagos branch on the 

mind-boggling loss of lives 

occasioned by the ongoing coldblooded 

and unrestrained killing 

of your relatives, including 

innocent children, men and 

women, the aged and infirm at 

their homes in the Southern 

Kaduna region of your home 

state of Kaduna.'' 

Speaking at the event, 

Professor Professor Anya O. 

Anya, who was the immediate 

past President of Ndigbo Lagos, 

decried the general state of 

insecurity in the country and the 

killing in Southern Kaduna in 

particular, lamenting that had the 

government taken firm steps in 

tackling insecurity, the resulting 

loss of lives could have been 

prevented. He, however 

expressed hope that justice 

would soon come to Southern 

Kaduna. 

‘’There is hand of God in 

everything that is happening and 

that is why God will settle things quickly. Justice will 

come to Southern Kaduna very soon. Time of healing 

has come. The good days are around the corners, but 

we have to listen to God and obey Him, and ask for his 

forgiveness,’’ Prof Anya said. 

Also speaking, Professor Pat Utomi, who is the 

Deputy Chairman of the organisation said he was 

devastated by the mindless killings and could not fathom 

the reason for the pogrom. 

He said: ‘’We cannot make sense of this violence. We 

cannot see this need to dominate others, and take 

other people’s right to life, dignity and freedom away 

from them. We hope government will make things right 

and fast too. 

‘’We hereby call on the Federal Government to 

urgently do all within its powers to halt the gory and 

dastardly situation.'' 

Receiving the letter from Gen Umahi, Chairman, 

SOKAPU Lagos, Rev. Dr. Andrew Duya, thanked 

Ndigbo Lagos Foundation for identifying with SOKAPU. 

Among the other personalities at the event were; 

Chief Chuma Igwe, Secretary General of Ndigbo Lagos; 

Rev. Dr. Andrew Duya, Chairman, SOKAPU Lagos; 

Dr. Isuwa Dogo, Leader, SOKAPU Lagos; Mr Oscar 

Onwudinwe, President General, Aka Ikenga; Kalu 

Onuma, the head of Ndigbo Lagos Administrative Office; 

and some members of SOKAP Lagos chapter. 

Don't worry, it's called rat poison, 

it won't kill you! 

Thank God for corn and pears! They 

are affordable and really saving many 

from hunger! 

So, by not carrying, have you 

done good to everyone?


:Vanguard 

News 

NDDC probe: Senate queries N1.121bn 

spent by IMC on public communication 


HAND OVER: From left— Immediate past Commissioner for Environment and Petroleum Resources, 

Akwa Ibom State, Dr Ekong Sampson, new Commissioner for Environment and Petroleum Resources, 

Sir Charles Udoh, and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Nsudoh Nsudoh, during the official handover of the 

Ministry to the new Commissioner at the ministry's office in Uyo, yesterday. 

•Raises alarm over N570m spent on training 

•Inaugurate NDDC board to check Akpabio's excess —PANDEF youth leader 

•Monarch, HOSTCOM urge Buhari to sack Akpabio as Minister 

•N/Delta is not getting enough from her resources—Rep Waiver 

By Emma Amaize, 

Regional Editor, South- 

South, JIMITOTA 

ONOYUME, Henry 

Umoru & Festus Ahon 

ABUJA—THE Senate 

has raised the alarm 

over the N1.121 billion spent 

by Niger Delta 

Development Commission, 

NDDC, on Public 

Communication. 

According to the senate, 

the expenditure record for 

public communication was 

put at N2.1billion in the 

reports of the Accountant 

General of the Federation 

and the Central Bank of 

Nigeria, CBN, showing an 

under declaration in the 

NDDC figure. 

Meanwhile, National 

Youth Leader, Pan Niger 

Delta Forum, PANDEF, 

Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, 

yesterday, appealed to 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari to inaugurate 

without any further delay, 

the new board of the 

NDDC, previously 

screened and confirmed by 

the Senate, to check the 

highhandedness of the 

Minister of Niger Delta 

Affiars, Senator Godswill 

Akpabio. 

This came as former 

National Chairman of 

Traditional rulers of Oil 

Mineral Producing 

Communities of Nigeria, 

TROMPCON, His 

Majesty King Charles 

Botu, Paramount ruler of 

Seimbiri Kingdom, Burutu 

LGA, Delta State and 

National Director, Media 

and Publicity of Host 

Communities Producing 

Oil and Gas in Nigeria, 

HOSCON, Okakur 

Whisky, have called for the 

sack of Akpabio over 

allegations of financial 

recklessness at the , NDDC. 

In another development, 

a House of Representatives 

member, Mr Francis Waive, 

said the Niger Delta region 

was not getting enough 

from her resources, noting 

that unless the ethnic 

nationalities come together 

and forge a formidable front, 

the region would continue 

to be exploited by both the 

political class and other 

regions. 

The Upper Chamber, 

which took a swipe at the 

Interim Management 

Committee, IMC of the 

NDDC on the sharp 

variation in the figures 

expended on Public 

Communication, said that 

the IMC under IMC-1 

spent N17 million on media 

outreach while the 

Expanded Interim 

Management Committee, 

EIMC, of the NDDC spent 

a more significant amount 

of N1.1billion. 

The disclosure is 

contained in the report of 

the Senator Olubunmi 

Adetunmbi (APC, Ekiti 

North) led Ad-hoc 

Committee that 

investigated alleged 

financial recklessness to the 

tune of N40 billion in the 

NDDC by the IMC. 

According to document 

obtained by Vanguard, the 

report said, “The analysis of 

this expenditure heading 

found that almost 55 

percent of the NDDC 

disbursement on Public 

Communication was to a 

company called, ‘ Clear 

Point Communication’, the 

next 27 percent to Patrick 

Oke and Associates being 

a quarterly installment of 

contract due. 

“ The Senate Ad-hoc 

Committee requested 

clarification from the NDDC 

management on the specific 

nature of work being done 

by these two organisations 

and the major differences in 

the consultancy works. The 

response from the Executive 

Director, Project, EDP, did 

not particularly address the 

question, rather he 

explained that the contract 

existed before they took 

over from the IMC-1. He 

also explained that these 

payments were historical 

debt owed to the 

companies, which were on 

the verge of taking a legal 

action against the NDDC. 

The Senate Committee’s 

view is that this 

expenditure is extra 

budgetary and therefore, 

must be refunded. 

“ The huge contracts 

seen on Public 

Communication cannot be 

justified as value for 

money. The allegations 

made by some activitists 

also suggest a likely case 

of over bloated invoicing. 

These contracts are highly 

recommended to be 

reviewed further for intent 

and performance. In 

addition, the contracts must 

be subjected to 

comparative industry 

standards to justify the 

pricing.” 

The Senate has raised 

the alarm following the 

N570 million the NDDC 

spent on training, where 

the sum of N143 million 

was paid individual 

members of staff on April 

1, 2020, to attend a budget 

participatory conference. 

The report stated, 

“Incidentally, this period 

happened to be during the 

COVID- 19 lockdown, it is 

obvious that the 

conference was not 

attended as the country was 

on absolute lockdown. 

This sum must therefore, be 

refunded by staff 

concerned. This payment 

was made to five staff 

averaging almost N28 

million per person. 

“N171 million to train 

over 300 drivers, individual 

staff were paid in cash for 

this training on February 

3, 2020, to attend the driver 

training course. Making 

cash payments to 

individual staff seems to be 

a standard practice at 

NDDC. This custom is not 

only unethical, it lacks 

transparency and 

accountability. NDDC 

must do away with this 

practice as a way of 

improving its duty on 

stewardship. 

“ N150 million to sponsor 

union executive members 

to attend a training in 

Turin, Italy. These sums 

were paid to union 

members on April 3, 2020, 

to attend an international 

labour organisation 

conference in Turin, Italy. 

Incidentally, this period 

also happens to be during 

COVID-19 lockdown, it is 

obvious that the 

beneficiaries of these 

payments could not travel 

out of the country as a result 

of the Covid- 19 travel 

restriction, hence, this sum 

must be refunded by the 

Union members 

concerned.” 

Inaugurate 

NDDC board to 

check Akpabio’s 

excesses — 

PANDEF youth 

leader 

Meanwile, Oyibode, 

who addressed newsmen, 

said: “We wish to state that 

handpicking the IMC of 

the NDDC and 

disregarding the already 

screened and confirmed 

board by the Senate attest 

to Senator Akpabio’s 

disrespect to President 

Buhari and the National 

Assembly. 

“The inauguration of the 

Senate screened board has 

become necessary as 

Akpabio rode on the 

commission like a demigod, 

which became 

manifest in the form of 

autocracy, highhandedness 

and rapacity and the urgent 

need to reposition the 

NDDC, which, over the 

years, was an agency where 

greedy politicians gathered 

to share loots. 

“NDDC should be made 

an autonomous 

commission, not an agency 

under the supervision of the 

Ministry of Niger Delta 

Affairs. This is crucial to 

avoid the negative 

influence of ‘Abuja’ politics 

on the motive of regional 

development that informed 

the establishment of the 

NDDC. 

“We must not derail from 

the fact that the commission 

was set up to develop the 

oil-rich Niger Delta region, 

which produces the wealth 

that sustains the rest part 

of the country.” 

Monarch, 

HOSCON urge 

Buhari to sack 

Akpabio as 

Minister 

At a press briefing in 

Warri, Delta State, King 

Botu said the sack of the 

Minister would help avert 

impending looming crisis 

in the Niger Delta region, 

adding that the President 

should go ahead and 

inaugurate the Pius Odibo 

led board of the NDDC. 

The monarch said, “This 

is a clarion call on President 

Buhari to sack Akpabio 

without further delay in 

order to forestall the 

impending looming crisis 

that may worsen the already 

down trodden economy of 

the country and inaugurate 

the substantive board of the 

NDDC led by Odubu as 

Chairman and Bernard 

Okumagba as Managing 

Director, which was 

nominated by the President 

and forwarded to the 

National Assembly and was 

screened and ratified on 

November 5, 2019, 

pending the inauguration 

by President Buhari on his 

return from the united 

kingdom.” 

Whisky on his part, said, 

“We request that the NDDC 

should remain under the 

Ministry of Niger Delta 

Affairs and the Presidential 

Amnesty Programme 

under the Ministry too for 

ease of control and fast 

tracking developmental 

stride in the region.” 

N/Delta is not 

getting enough 

from her 

resoueces —Rep 

Waive 

Meanwhile, Waive, who 

represents Ughelli North/ 

Ughelli South/Udu Federal 

constituency in the House 

of Representatives, called 

for unity amongst the 

different ethnic nationalities 

in the Niger Delta region 

in order to forge a common 

front at the national level, 

blaming under 

development of the region 

on lack of unity. 

He said; “I believe that 

what we are getting now in 

terms of the allocation to 

NNDC, 13 percent 

derivation and the 

allocation to the states from 

the oil-rich region are not 

enough. 

“It’s a far cry from what 

we ought to get as a people 

and as a region because of 

the environmental 

degradation and the effect 

of oil exploration of several 

years. But having said that, 

we as a people in the 

South-South, we need to 

come together as one, we 

need to be united because 

that is the only way we can 

fight for our rights, and get 

what truly belongs to us. 

“If we are scattered, if we 

are disunited, then the 

others will have the 

opportunity to take 

advantage of us, exploit us, 

use us as part to knock one 

another and exploit our 

resources.” 

Partner 

stakeholders to 

track looted 

N’Delta funds, 

agitators urge 

IYC 

In another development, 

Campaigners under the 

auspices of 21st Century 

Youth of Niger Delta and 

Agitators with Conscience, 

21st CYNDAC, have 

charged the new 

leadership of Ijaw Youth 

Council, IYC, to join forces 

with necessary agencies 

and stakeholders to detect 

and track democratic 

derivable to the region, 

hijacked by greedy 

politicians. 

The group in a statement, 

by Coordinator, self-styled 

“General” Izon Ebi, while 

congratulating the Mr Peter 

Igbifa on his election as IYC 

president, said: ‘We urge the new 

leadership to work in critical 

agencies like the NDDC, and 

other relevant agencies to 

monitor and track down 

democratic derivable, which in the 

immediate past has been 

hijacked by greedy politicians with 

zero benefit to the people of the 

region. 

“We urge the IYC to close ranks 

and marshal out a clear cut 

agenda that will usher in peace 

and prosperity all over the Ijaw 

nationality for a new release of 

fresh air. 

“To the new executives, we say 

that the time for politics and 

brinkmanship is over and now is 

the time to work for the 

betterment of the Ijaw nation and 

the Niger Delta region. We also 

use this medium to commend 

President Buhari for declaring a 

forensic audit of NDDC and 

appointing Senator Akpabio as a 

minister and entrusting him with 

the supervision and power over 

the NDDC that has led to the 

exposure of the numerous 

atrocities committed by our socalled 

leaders and elders of the 

Niger Delta. 

“We, therefore, call on Mr 

President to ensure that the 

forensic audit of the NDDC is 

completed and not truncated,” 

the agitators added.


:Vanguard News 


VSIT: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (middle) Chairman, Senate Committee on Science 

and Technology, Sen. Uche Ekwunife (2nd right), Senator Obinna Ogba, Ebonyi Central (2nd left), Sen. 

Alkali Saidu Ahmed, Gombe North (left) and Senator Istifanus Gyang, Plateau North, when members 

of the Committee paid a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday. 

2023: We'll back IPoB to 

actualize Biafra, if... 

—Okwesilieze Nwodo 

•Nigeria will break if North refuses South presidency in 

2023 —Sen Okon •Reiterates support for Igbo presidency 

•Rotational presidency will enhance national unity— 

Akpulonu, Abia Minority Leader 

By Ikechukwu Odu, 

Ugochukwu Alaribe & 

Chioma Onuegbu 

N 

S U K K A — 

FOLLOWING the 

call by elder statesman, 

Tanko Yakassai, for Igbo 

presidency in 2023, the 

former national chairman of 

People’s Democratic Party, 

PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze 

Nwodo, has declared that 

Ndigbo would join 

Nnamdi Kanu to seek 

Biafra secession from 

Nigeria, if South East did 

not produce president of the 

country in 2023. 

This came as an Akwa 

Ibom elder and pioneer 

National Publicity Secretary 

of the People’s Democratic 

Party PDP, Senator Anietie 

Okon also said that Nigeria 

will break up if the North 

refuses to concede the 

Presidency to the South in 

2023 

Nwodo, who was also the 

former governor of Enugu 

State and former national 

secretary of PDP, said 

Ndigbo have suffered 

grevious marginalisation in 

Nigeria and should be 

given a chance to produce 

a president for the sake of 

equity and national unity. 

He said this during an 

exclusive interview with 

Vanguard on Tuesday, 

adding that South East 

geo-political zone has been 

persecuted for over 50 

years even though the 

region is more patriotic 

than any other geo-political 

zone in terms of economic 

development of the nation. 

He said: “Yakassi’s call is 

very fair and that is the 

correct thing. In the first 

republic, the country was 

led by Tafawa Balewa and 

in the second republic, it 

was led by Shehu Shagari. 

And then, those of us in 

PDP made a very strong 

case to move the 

Presidency to South East 

because, even the military 

people were all from the 

north, apart from Aguiyi 

Ironsi who presided for a 

very short time. 

“We managed to convince 

them at the party and 

Olusegun Obasanjo and 

Alex Ekwueme contested. 

That was when Obasanjo 

won and after his tenure, 

he handed power to 

another northerner, late 

Musa Yar’Adua who 

unfortunately died in office 

and the Vice president 

completed the tenure. 


Buhari will complete his 

eight years in office by 

2023. Following equity, the 

presidency should come to 

the South East because 

Obasanjo was president for 

eight years, now Yemi 

Osinbajo is also the vice 

president and would finish 

his eight-year tenure by 

2023. 

“So, in Southern Nigeria, 

it would be a total disaster 

if we do not produce the 

next president because we 

have been terribly 

marginalised since the end 

of the civil war. For 50 years 

now, we have been 

persecuted for having 

fought for freedom. When 

will this marginalisation 

stop? Anybody who loves 

Nigeria and who wishes 

Nigeria well should go for 

Igbo Presidency in 2023 for 

unity, fairness, equity and 

for Nigeria to move forward. 

“It is only an Igbo man 

that will not marginalise 

any part of Nigeria because 

we constitute the semen 

that hold the country 

together. We are the only 

tribe that you find in every 

nook and cranny of Nigeria, 

doing business and 

developing wherever we 

are as if it was our own 

place. 

“I don’t believe that the 

Igbos are not united. There 

has never been a time when 

any region produced a 

consensus candidate. 

Everybody emerged 

through primary elections. 

The last election was zoned 

to the north and Atiku 

Abubakar contested with 

other aspirants before he 

emerged PDP’s candidate, 

so did Buhari contest with 

other candidates before 

emerging the candidate of 

the All Progressives 

Congress, APC. There is no 

zone that has produced a 

candidate by consensus. It 

doesn’t matter how many 

people are interested. They 

will be subjected to party 

primaries and the person 

with highest vote will win. 

“I agree with Nnamdi 

Kanu in everything he says 

about the marginalisation of 

the Igbos. He, more than 

any other person, has put 

it on the international map. 

If Nigeria tells the elites 

from South East that they 

would be treated as second 

class citizens in Nigeria 

and that they can never be 

president, almost all of 

them will go with Kanu to 

fight for Biafra. 

"Anybody who wants to be 

a second-class citizen can 

support whoever he wants. 

Any Igbo man who wants 

to bequeath secured future 

for himself and generation 

yet unborn should support 

this call for Igbo 

presidency. In the spirit 

of fairness and equity, 

Nigeria should give the 

presidency to the South 

East in 2023, otherwise, we 

will join him and fight for 

Biafra." 

Nigeria’II break 

up if North 

refuses South 

Presidency 

in 2023— 

Senator Okon 

In his assertion, Okon 

who spoke in Uyo while 

reacting to statements by 

some northern elders that 

the presidency would be 

retained in the North in 

2023, commended some 

prominent leaders and 

elders from the north who 

have come to acknowledge 

the fact that it is the turn of 

the South to produce the 

next president in 2023 , 

particularly the South East 

geo-political zone. 

Okon said he was in 

supports of the opinion of 

other South South leaders 

that the South East should 

be given the opportunity to 

produce the next president 

in 2023 as the only zone 

left to lead the country. 

His words: “The 2023 

presidency is coming to the 

South. There is rotation 

between North and South. 

And since we brought in 

the rotational arrangement 

for the presidential 

leadership of this country, 

the North has had its turn 

more than once. 

"If the north refuses, then 

the country will break up. 

So they should let the 

South have it in 2023 and 

after that, comes the micro 

zoning. And in the South, 

the only geopolitical zone 

left is the South East.The 

South West has had its turn 

once, also the South South 

has had its turn once. 

“And I am completely in 

tune with the position of 

prominent and respected 

Leaders of the South 

South, like Edwin Clark, 

Air Commodore Idongesit 

Nkanga who at the 

moment is the national 

chairman of Pan Niger 

Delta Forum, PANDEF that 

the 2023 presidency should 

go to the Igbos. 

“ It is only the Igbos that 

have not had the 

opportunity to lead this 

country. And this country 

has been so badly led in the 

past years and the Igbo 

man maybe the salvaging 

agent that this country 

deserves. 

“And I think and 

strongly believe that is why 

we in the South South are 

unrepentant advocates for 

the presidency to be given 

to the South east. We also 

believe that they have 

enough brilliant and 

capable people to come 

forward” 

Senator Okon however 

expressed disappointment 

over the factionalisation of 

‘Ohanaeze Ndigbo’ which 

happens to be the most 

respected and generally 

acceptable umbrella body 

of the Southeast. 

“As somebody who has 

shared a common goal and 

destiny with them, being 

part of the former Eastern 

region, I urge them to get 

their acts together and 

purge most rigorously and 

fundamentally these 

agents of disunity among 

them”, Okon stressed. 

Rotational 

Presidency will 

enhance 

national unity — 

Akpulonu, Abia 

Majority Leader 

Joining his voice in the 

ongoing agitation, 

Majority Leader of Abia 

State House of Assembly, 

Chief Solomon Akpulonu, 

said rotational presidency 

would boost national unity 

and give a sense of 

belonging to all sections of 

the country. 

Akpulonu stated that it 

was a grave injustice for 

one or two sections of the 

country to hold on to the 

presidency in a federation 

of over 250 ethnic groups 

and treat others as second 

class citizens. 

He explained that the 

injustice has led to 

agitation for self 

determination and 

restructuring and urged 

the presidency to listen to 

what he described as 

‘voices of reason.’ 

In his words: “There is 

need for rotation of the 

Nigerian presidential seat. 

Without rotation, some 

parts of Nigeria will never 

produce the President to 

govern this country. And 

that won’t be good for the 

unity of the nation. We must 

promote such ideals that 

will enhance our unity in 

diversity. One of such is 

inclusiveness. You don’t 

beat a child and expect him 

not to cry. Ndigbo have 

been treated as second 

class citizens in Nigeria. 

There are too many 

injustices in Nigeria. This 

is why you see some of 

these agitations coming up 

daily. 

“How can Mamman 

Daura say that they no 

longer want rotation but 

competence? He is calling 

for abolition of rotational 

presidency when his 

nephew, President 

Muhammadu Buhari was 

elected president through 

rotational presidency. Is this 

not double standard? Is this 

not a recipe for 

confusion?There is no zone 

that doesn’t have 

competent hands. If you 

zone the presidency to my 

constituency, Obingwa 

East, there over 100 

competent hands that can 

man the Nigerian 

presidency efficiently. 

Anybody calling for the 

abolition of rotational 

presidency in a multi ethnic 

and religious federation like 

Nigeria wants to cause 

crisis and should be put on 

the watch list. 

“I strongly believe that a 

Nigerian president of Igbo 

extraction is possible in 

2023. Ndigbo should 

negotiate with other zones, 

it is a give and take kind of 

thing. Gain the trust and 

confidence of our brothers 

across the Niger. Nigeria is 

ripe for Igbo presidency. I 

have no doubt we will 

achieve it if we play our 

cards well." 

The Majority Leader who 

represents Obingwa State 

Constituency insisted there 

was nothing wrong with 

agitation for selfdetermination 

as Nnamdi 

Kanu and his group, IPOB, 

are doing. 

“There is nothing wrong 

with self determination as 

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and 

his group are doing. It is an 

internationally recognized 

method of achieving 

independence. You don’t 

force people to belong to a 

place where they are being 

marginalized, where their 

rights are abused and 

where they are treated as 

second class citizens. They 

must seek freedom. 

“However, my thinking is 

that the agitation by Nnamdi 

Kanu should not stop Igbo 

people from clamouring for 

a Nigerian president of Igbo 

extraction. Ndigbo are still 

members and integral part 

of Nigeria. Igbo presidency 

doesn’t mean that those 

agitating for self 

determination should stop. 

When we get to the bridge, 

we know how to cross it.”

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020 

VISIT: Engr. Emeka Okwuosa, Chairman, Oilserv Group (left) and Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman, 

Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, IVM, during a partnership visit to Innoson factory at Nnewi, Anambra State. 

Edo Assembly impeaches Deputy 

Speaker 

BENIN CITY—The Edo 

State House of 

Assembly, yesterday, 

impeached its Deputy 

Speaker, Yekini Idaiye, over 

alleged gross misconduct. 

The impeachment was 

sequel to a motion moved by 

Henry Okhuarobo, member 

representing Ikpoba-Okha 

and seconded by Marcus 

Onobun, representing Esan 

West. 

Okhuarobo said: “Mr 

Speaker, with me is a notice 

Benue uncovers 724 ghost teachers on its payroll 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI— 

BENUE State 

government has uncovered 

no fewer than 724 ghost 

teachers on the payroll of 

the State Teaching Service 

Board, TSB. 

Among the fictitious 

teaching staff on the payroll 

were 18 dead staff, 70 

retired staff and 193 

redeployed staff. 

of impeachment of the Deputy 

Speaker of the House signed 

by two-third members of the 

House. 

“The impeachment of the 

deputy speaker is on the 

grounds of gross misconduct 

and divulging of official 

secrets,” Okhuarobo said. 

The lawmakers after 

deliberations on the petition, 

unanimously adopted the 

motion through a voice-vote. 

The Speaker, Francis Okiye, 

thereafter, pronounced the 

deputy speaker impeached. 

Meanwhile, the House 

Leader, Roland Asoro, was 

•Dead, retired, redeployed staff still drawing salary 

The Executive Secretary of 

the Board, Dr. Frank 

Kyungun, who made the 

discovery known yesterday 

while presenting the report 

of the screening exercise 

recently conducted by the 

Board, to Governor Samuel 

Ortom in Makurdi, said the 

discovery was made after 

4,473 staff of the Board were 

screened across the three 

made the deputy speaker 

shortly after he was nominated 

and administered oath of office 

and oath of allegiance by the 

speaker. 

The motion for the 

nomination of Roland Asoro 

as the new deputy speaker 

was moved by Emmanuel 

Okoduwa, representing Esan 

North-East and seconded by 

Ephraim Aluebhosele, 

representing Igueben 

constituency. 

Also during plenary, Henry 

Okhuarobo, former Chief 

Whip was elevated to the 

position of the Leader of the 

senatorial zones of the 

state. 

“The screening 

uncovered 433 ghost 

workers on the payroll after 

verification of 4,473 staff 

across the three senatorial 

zones of the state. The 

screening committee also 

uncovered 18 dead 

persons, 70 retired staff, 193 

redeployed staff among 

MTN seeks to sell $243mn stake in Jumia 

Technologies 

By Peter Egwuatu 

with agency report 

There are indications 

that MTN Group Ltd. 

is planning to sell part or 

all of its $243 million 

interest in Jumia Technologies 

AG as it looks to pay 

down debt and enter new 

markets. 

Reuters, yesterday, said 

its sources had revealed 

this, saying MTN which 

had previously marked the 

online retailer as a non-core 

business, is reviving plans 

for a sale after Jumia’s 

shares surged 142% this 

year, recovering from a dip 

in 2019. No final 

decisions about the sale 

have been made, the 

sources told Reuters. 

It will be recalled that 

Jumia operates in 14 African 

countries including Nigeria 

and Ivory Coast where the 

U.S. giant still lacks 

distribution infrastructure. 

The Company headquartered 

in Germany and run 

by its two French founders, 

Sacha Poignonnec and 

Jeremy Hodara had 

dropped below its initial 

public offering price in 2019 

after improper transactions 

in its Nigeria business were 

uncovered. 

MTN has been disposing 

of non-core assets as part of 

the company’s strategy to 

reduce debt and drive future 

growth. 

The Company also has a 

29% stake in IHS Towers, 

which it may sell in the 

future, one of the people 

said. Africa’s largest 

wireless carrier by footprint 

has generated 14 billion 

rand ($812 million) in asset 

sales that included selling 

its towers holdings in 

Ghana and Uganda to 

American Towers Inc. The 

company plans include 

bidding for a license to 

enter Ethiopia, one of the 

largest markets that have 

not yet privatized its telecommunications 

industry. 

A spokeswoman for 

MTN declined to comment 

because the company is in 

a closed period ahead of 

financial results. A representative 

for Jumia declined 

to comment. IHS 

didn’t immediately 

respond to a request for 

comment from Reuters. 

House, while Marcus 

Onobun, deputy leader, was 

made the Chief Whip and 

Sunny Ojiezele as deputy 

leader. 

Ephraim Aluebhosele was 

elevated to the position of the 

deputy whip, while 

Emmanuel Okoduwa was 

made a co-opted member of 

the principal officers council. 

Only seven members were 

in the House when they took 

the decision. 

All efforts to reach the 

impeached deputy speaker 

proved abortive as his phone 

was switched off. 

other irregularities on the 

payroll who were 

accordingly expunged,” Dr. 

Kyungun said. 

Receiving the report, 

Governor Ortom 

announced the constitution 

of a committee headed by 

the Commissioner for 

Education, Prof. Dennis 

Ityavyar, to immediately 

implement the report. 

He ordered that those 

who milked the board 

through ghost workers must 

be identified and 

prosecuted, even as he 

directed that the ghost 

names be immediately 

deleted from the payment 

voucher. 

Governor Ortom also 

charged the TSB boss to 

ensure that the deleted 

names did not find their 

way back on the payroll. 

Other members of the 

implementation 

committee constituted by 

the Governor included 

representatives of the 

Head of Service, 

representatives each from 

the Commissioner for 

Finance, office of the 

Accountant General, 

Attorney General and 

Commissioner for justice 

while the Executive 

Secretary of TSB will 

serve as secretary of the 

implementation 

committee. 

Help secure our 

de-proscription, IPOB tells 

Ohanaeze 

By Anayo Okoli & 

Dennis Agbo 

E 

N U G U — 

FOLLOWING 

the reconciliation brokered 

between the apex Igbo 

socio-cultural body, 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the 

Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB, by elder 

statesman and aviation 

minister in the First 

Republic, Chief Mbazulike 

Amechi, IPOB has called 

on the Igbo apex body to 

assist it in working towards 

lifting the proscription 

imposed on it by the 

Federal Government. 

IPOB made the request 

Tuesday, when its 

leadership paid a visit 

to Ohanaeze Ndigbo 

National Executive 

Committee at their monthly 

meeting, in Enugu. 

Led by one of its principal 

officers, Mazi Benjamin 

Madubugwu, IPOB 

explained that their visit 

was in continuation of the 

rapport reached with 

Ohanaeze at the recent 

reconciliation meeting. 

Madubugwu said IPOB 

realized that Ohanaeze 

leadership is strong and 

capable of working for the 

interest of Ndigbo. 

He said Ohanaeze 

president general; Chief 

Nnia Nwodo remains the 

undisputed leader of 

Ndigbo and expressed 

happiness with his fatherly 

disposition and fight for the 

Igbo in the country. 

Madubugwu regretted 

that Ndigbo are highly 

marginalized despite their 

contribution to the building 

of the Nigerian nation. 

A statement by Chief 

Emeka Attamah, Special 

Adviser on Media & 

Publicity to the President 

General quoted Mazi 

Madubugwu as saying 

that IPOB was not a 

IPMAN directs members to 

sell petrol at N150 per litre 

By Bashir Bello 

KANO—THE Kano 

branch of 

Independent Petroleum 

Marketers Association of 

Nigeria, IPMAN, yesterday 

directed its members to sell 

petrol at N150 per litre. 

IPMAN chairman, Bashir 

Dan-Malam, who gave the 

directive in a statement, 

said the development 

followed the new price 

modulation announced by 

the Petroleum Products 

Marketing Company, 

PPMC, and had 

accordingly instructed its 

members to comply by 

selling the product at N150 

per litre. 

According to him, “the 

directive was also in 

compliance with the 

government’s earlier 

statement that it would 

review upward or 

downward the price of the 

commodity on monthly 

terrorist organization, 

adding that it was just 

being given a bad name 

to hang it. 

According to him, most of 

the actions of their leader, 

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, had 

been coloured by the 

information given to him 

which he said, were 

sometimes distorted. He 

assured that Mazi Nnamdi 

Kanu was always available 

for discussions with Chief 

Nwodo on matters 

concerning the Igbo. 

In his remarks, another 

leader of IPOB, Barrister 

Ejimakor, said that Chief 

Nwodo has the clout and 

charisma to help IPOB out 

of its present predicament, 

adding that he was happy 

that the gap hitherto 

existing between IPOB 

and Ohanaeze had been 

bridged for a united voice 

for Ndigbo in Nigeria. 

In his response, Chief 

John Nnia Nwodo, 

welcomed the IPOB 

leaders and reassured 

them that he was always 

ready to accept his children 

back into the fold no matter 

their earlier recalcitrance. 

Nwodo recalled all efforts 

he had made to establish 

an amicable relationship 

with IPOB since assuming 

office but were frustrated by 

the IPOB leader, Mazi 

Nnamdi Kanu. 

The President General 

stated that Ohanaeze 

Ndigbo had no quarrel with 

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and 

that he believed that 

whatever evil machinations 

of detractors have come to 

naught with the recent 

reconciliation. 

Chief Nwodo prayed that 

this latest development 

should be the opening of 

the door for mutual 

cooperation between IPOB 

and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, 

and urged IPOB to also 

share views with Mr. Tony 

Nnadi whom he said was 

working towards the same 

objective as IPOB. 

basis depending on the 

price at International 

market. 

“Please be informed that 

the Management has 

approved ex-depot price of 

petroleum products 

including Premium motor 

spirit (petrol) at N138. 62 

per litre. 

“Similarly, the private 

depots had also increased 

their price as they would 

sell the commodity to their 

members at N139.5 per 

litre. All members under 

our jurisdiction are 

therefore asked to 

comply with the new 

price regime by making 

sure no one sells above the 

approved selling of N150 

per litre”. 

Recall that the PPMC had 

in a memo by its Manager 

Sales, Mohammed Bello 

on August 4, 2020 fixed the 

depot price of premium 

motor spirit, known as 

petrol at N138. 62 per litre.


C 

M 

Y 

K


READING the biographies of 

the eight candidates for the 

next Director General of the World 

Trade Organisation, WTO, it’s 

obvious that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- 

Iweala has the most intimidating 

and awe-inspiring credentials. 

Nigeria’s two-time finance minister 

and later foreign minister, Okonjo- 

Iweala is a also former managing 

director of the World Bank, first 

female and African candidate for the 

presidency of the World Bank and 

current chair of GAVI, the Vaccine 

Alliance. She also sits on the Boards 

of Standard Chartered and Twitter. 

In recognition of her global 

influence, Okonjo-Iweala has been 

named about 10 times as one of the 

top 100 people in the world by 

reputable publications such as 

TIME, Fortune, Forbes and Newsweek, 

and awarded honorary degrees from 

15 universities worldwide. She is 

truly a global icon, a world citizen! 

When Dr Okonjo-Iweala ran for 

the World Bank presidency in 2012, 

major Western publications, 

including the Economist and the 

Financial Times, wrote editorials 

supporting her candidature. She lost 

only because the head of the World 

Bank is traditionally an American, 

while a European always leads the 

IMF. 

Thankfully, such an unfair 

arrangement doesn’t apply to the 

post of Director General of the WTO. 

Since its establishment in 1995, the 

WTO has had directors general from 

Europe, Oceania, Asia and South 

America. But no African has led the 

organisation. Of the eight 

candidates for the next DG, three are 

from Africa, two each from Europe 

and Asia and one from North 

America. 

WTO’s DG race: Okonjo-Iweala should 

win, but Nigeria has few friends 

Surely, if having an awe-inspiring 

CV is enough to become the WTO’s 

director general, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- 

Iweala would be a shoo-in for the 

job. But an intimidating CV is not 

enough. Politics will play a major 

role too! Put simply, the candidate 

whose country is viewed positively 

by other WTO members will attract 

more support than the one whose 

country is not. Unfortunately, Nigeria 

belongs to the latter category; it’s 

seen as isolationist and unreliable, 

with very few genuine friends among 

other nations. 

The shambolic manner in which 

President Buhari nominated Dr. 

Okonjo-Iweala for the WTO DG job 

by unceremoniously withdrawing his 

government’s support for Yonov Fred 

Agah, currently Deputy Director- 

General of the WTO, played into the 

narrative of Nigeria being a 

perfidious country, and has caused 

consternation among other African 

countries. 

What’s more, it does Dr Okonjo- 

Iweala no favours that she became 

a candidate only after President 

Buhari had second-thoughts and 

following the public humiliation of 

another Nigerian. For, having 

announced Agah as Nigeria’s 

nominee – it was reported in the 

Financial Times – suddenly 

replacing him with someone else is 

a public embarrassment, especially 

for someone who is currently a 

deputy director-general of the WTO. 

But why was Okonjo-Iweala not 

considered ab initio? Why was her 

The manner of Okonjo- 

Iweala's nomination is 

deeply embarrassing and 

takes the shine out of her 

remarkable candidature 

nomination a second thought? Well, 

the answer is probably because there 

was no love lost between her and the 

Buhari administration. 

In her book, Fighting Corruption 

Is Dangerous, Okonjo-Iweala 

narrated how policemen invaded 

and ransacked her house on the 

suspicion that someone was “hiding 

bags of currency” there, but, instead, 

found bags containing “only old 

newspapers”. Later, a police officer 

told her personal assistant to tell her 

boss “to keep calm”, adding: “It was 

nothing but politics.” Okonjo-Iweala 

wrote that the Buhari 

administration’s anti-corruption 

campaign was being used “to settle 

scores and intimidate”. So, she 

wouldn’t have been President 

Buhari’s first choice. 

My guess is that Professor Ibrahim 

Gambari, President Buhari’s new 

chief of staff, was instrumental to the 

decision to replace Agah with 

Okonjo-Iweala. As a former linchpin 

of the UN, Gambari must have told 

Buhari that Okonjo-Iweala had a 

better chance than Agah. Yet, the 

decision has ruffled feathers. 

First, the Office of the legal counsel 

of the African Union said Okonjo- 

Iweala’s candidature “violates the 

rules of the AU” because the AU was 

already considering Agah’s 

nomination along with others with 

a view to endorsing a consensus 

candidate. Egypt later asked the 

WTO to reject Nigeria’s nomination 

of Okonjo-Iweala. 

Although the WTO dismissed 

Egypt’s request, the issue has 

needlessly created ill-feelings among 

African countries. What’s more, the 

way Agah was dropped in favour of 

Okonjo-Iweala reportedly caused 

some consternation in Geneva. 

Truth is, Agah is respected in 

Geneva. In 2011, when the WTO’s 

eighth Ministerial Conference was 

widely predicted to fail, it was Agah, 

then Nigeria’s ambassador to the 

WTO, who, as chair of the WTO 

General Council, built consensus 

among the members to ensure the 

success of the conference. When I 

met Dr. Agah in Geneva in 2013, he 

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explained the intricate negotiations 

he undertook to salvage the 

conference from collapse. Later that 

year, I was arranging to invite Agah 

to the LSE to share his experiences 

with the students when, suddenly, the 

new Director General, Roberto de 

Azevedo, appointed him as one of 

his four Deputy DGs. It was a fitting 

recognition of his outstanding 

leadership of the 2011 ministerial 

conference and other important 

leadership roles in the WTO. 

Now, none of this is in opposition 

to Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination. 

She is absolutely the best person for 

the WTO job, and I fully support her 

candidature. 

When she came to the LSE in 2018 

to present her book Fighting 

Corruption Is Dangerous, I attended 

the event to support her, and bought 

the two books she wrote on her 

experiences in government. As 

she autographed the books, she 

remarked: “Oh, you bought the two 

books, thank you!” I later wrote a 

column on the event titled: “Okonjo- 

Iweala’s big reminiscence day in 

London” (BusinessDay, May 28, 

2018). 

So, I am a big fan of Dr Okonjo- 

Iweala. But the manner of her 

nomination, which is a reflection of 

the dysfunctionality of the Buhari 

government, is deeply embarrassing 

and takes the shine out of her 

remarkable candidature. Yet, that 

said, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala can and 

should become the WTO’s next DG, 

but only if her global personality can 

overshadow Nigeria’s poor 

reputation. Truth is, she can only win 

in spite of, not because of, Nigeria. I 

wish her well! 

NDDC legislative inquiry: Emotions from the South-South 

By OTOKS DAN-PRINCEWILL 

AS a result of revelations from the 

recent legislative inquiry into affairs of 

the Niger Delta Development Commission, 

NDDC, the South-South Study Group, 3SG, a 

think-tank made up of professionals 

representing the diverse South-South Region, 

believes it is imperative to express its strong 

views as it relates to the region. The truth is, 

there is no amount of resources (irrespective 

of the quantum and even if said funds are not 

misappropriated) that the NDDC receives, that 

will be sufficient to address the developmental 

needs of the region. 

Suffice to state that the unfortunate 

revelations emanating from the NDDC are not 

peculiarly representative of the South-South 

culture but a condemnable and emblematic 

national culture where unscrupulous 

individuals see government institutions as fair 

game for plunder. Recently, and to the 

embarrassment of most Nigerians, this 

invidious perception has worsened to the point 

where some political groups have developed 

the act of looting the national wealth into a 

system of privilege reserved only for their 

families, ethnic or geopolitical kith and kin. 

The NDDC, like most national agencies, is a 

caricature of the national culture of disdain 

for public accountability. 

In any event, as stakeholders and supposed 

beneficiaries, the Niger Delta remains 

undaunted by the on-going setbacks and 

continues to hope that the Federal Government 

will overcome the challenge. How can this be 

achievable when political office holders 

continue to collect revenue and disburse same 

without regard for due process? The question 

that readily comes to mind is: should there be 

legal provisions for the oil-bearing 

communities to be directly involved in the 

process? 

The Niger Delta deserves equity, fairness and 

justice. Therefore, going forward, the Federal 

Government must ensure that all revenue 

accruing to the NDDC be judiciously and 

equitably channeled to benefit the people 

directly. And there should be consequences for 

abuse by Federal Government appointed 

functionaries. It is most unfortunate that this 

cry for justice by the Niger Delta dates as far 

back as the Henry Wilkins Commission of 

1958. Sixty two years later, all we hear is 

egregious, rambunctious and uncontrollably 

exuberant bad behaviour by Federal 

Government appointees. This is nothing but a 

crying shame. 

The NDDC was established as a Federal 

Government agency for the singular purpose 

of developing the oil-rich Niger Delta which 

continues to be the revenue lifeline for the 

Federal Republic of Nigeria. But in spite of the 

quantum of revenue generated from the region, 

the area has not only suffered from devastating 

environmental degradation, howbeit, the 

region can be regarded as the ‘slum’ in terms 

of social and economic infrastructure. But this 

was not the intent of the law establishing the 

Commission. The law clearly states thus: 

“Establish a Commission with a reorganised 

management and administrative structure for 

more effectiveness and for the use of the sums 

received from the allocation of the Federation 

Account for tackling ecological problems 

which arise from the exploration of oil 

minerals in the Niger Delta and for connected 

purposes.” 

The Law, an enactment of the National 

Assembly, clearly spells out the functions and 

powers of the NDDC, including but not limited 

to the formulation of policies and guidelines, 

and the conception, planning and 

implementation of projects and programmes 

for the sustainable development of the Niger 

Delta Area. Also established in the Act is a 

Monitoring Committee whose members shall 

be appointed by the President with functions, 

among other things, clearly stated thus: “The 

Monitoring Committee shall (a) monitor the 

management of the Funds of the Commission 

and the implementation of the projects of the 

Commission and (b) have access to the books 

of account and other records of the 

Commission at all times and submit periodical 

reports to the President, Commander-in-Chief 

of the Armed Forces.” 

It is pertinent to reiterate at this point that 

the NDDC remains a Federal Government 

agency under the management and control of 

the President. We will not be distracted by 

current events but will remain focused in our 

duty to highlight key issues which can motivate 

a turnaround for those genuinely interested in 

the development of the geopolitical zone, and 

thus bolster the capacity of the NDDC to meet 

its mandate and service delivery expectations 

to the suffering people from the neglected and 

devastated region. In this regard, we call on 

the Federal Government upon which the final 

accountability for all the NDDC appointees 

rests, to account for the full amount of statutory 

funds due to the NDDC since its inception, 

including actual allocated funds and those to 

date unpaid. 

By 2009, it was published in public records 

that the Federal Government owed the NDDC 

over N308 billion as unremitted funds 

statutorily due to the Commission. Many 

credible sources insist that if the funds 

statutorily due to the NDDC is compared with 

the actual funding made by the Federal 

Government and purportedly received by the 

NDDC, a wide embarrassing gap in trillions 

of naira owed to the NDDC will be found. The 

The NDDC like most national 

agencies is a caricature of the 

national culture of disdain for 

public accountability 

current shameful revelations in the NDDC 

serves to reinforce the position of the South- 

South that the over-centralisation of 

governance in a Federal Government has 

failed the nation and in particular the people 

of the South-South. While the NDDC has failed 

to significantly impact the region with 

development from the resources already 

provided it, the Federal Government has also 

failed to provide the enabling environment to 

make such development possible by failing to 

provide adequate security, stable and regular 

power supply, functional ports and connecting 

rail lines to name just a few. Moreover, the 

control mechanisms to ensure accountability 

and transparency by the NDDC and other 

government entities are non-existent as 

illustrated by the current events. 

Since the Federal Government appoints all 

the key actors heading and managing the 

NDDC without reference to the people of the 

region and without transparency whatsoever, 

the failure of the NDDC rests solely on its 

shoulders for which it must singlehandedly 

take responsibility. These failures are further 

supported and amplified by the gross social 

injustice and administrative asymetries that 

characterise governance in the deliberately 

distorted federalism system practised in 

Nigeria. Nigeria must be one of the few 

democracies, and worse still, one with a 

segmented society comprising very diverse 

nationalities, that has a Constitution created 

by narrow internal and external interests which 

imposes a unitary institutional imprimatur of 

a warped Exclusive List upon a so-called 

federal union of diverse federating units. 

Several National Conferences have affirmed 

these abnormalities but at the point of 

implementing reforms to reverse these settled 

abnormalities, a deliberate political impasse 

continuously emerges (in order) to perpetuate 

the political deformities while enabling and 

exacerbating a callous and insensitive mode 

of governance to reinforce the status quo. 

Current developments substantiate this 

insensitivity. 

Whereas the South-South geopolitical zone 

has always demanded for resource control as 

envisaged and largely practiced after the 

Lancaster House Agreement was enacted, 

years of erosion of this right by several 

governments has stripped the oil and gas host 

communities of their derivation rights. Yet, 

despite recent initiatives to lift this economic 

‘choke hold’ by encouraging the initiative of 

modular refineries in the Niger Delta, the 

insensitive asymmetries persist, and the 

modular refineries were stalled while, at the 

same time, government was reported to have 

offered mining rights to unstated entities to 

mine gold through the PAGMI project, a 

unilateral distortion of the Exclusive List 

without consultation with other Federating 

Units. To this extent, it is clear to objective 

observers that the much distorted Exclusive 

List is operated with regional bias, wherein 

Federal authorities cherry-pick what suits their 

regional agenda. The South-South, therefore, 

sees the NDDC revelations for what they truly 

represent: a bad sign of a dangerous disease, 

the ‘disease of failed Federalism’, in a manner 

of speaking. 

Continues online:www.vanguardngr.com 

•Dan-Princewill, member of the South 

South Study Group (3SG), wrote from Port 

Harcourt

By Godwin Oritse 

INTERNATIONAL Oil 

Companies, IOCs, 

operating in Nigeria may have 

commenced moves to institute 

a legal action against the 

Nigerian Maritime 

Administration and Safety 

Agency, NIMASA, over the 

controversial stevedoring 

charges. 

Although Vanguard 

Maritime Report could not get 

comments from any of the 

IOCs, sources close to 

NIMASA said that the Agency 

has received notice of the 

action. 

Recall that the National 

Association of Stevedoring 

Companies have alleged that 

the IOCs have not been 

operating within the laws of 

Nigeria in respect of 

stevedoring services, adding 

that they have continued to 

flout the nation's labour laws. 

NIMASA, last month, gave 

the IOCs and other employers 

of dock labour operating in 

Nigeria a 30 days ultimatum 

to remit the 0.5 percent 

stevedoring charges or face 

sanctions. 

Speaking on the 

development, a former 

Director General of the 

Nigerian Maritime 

Administration and Safety 

Agency, NIMASA, Mr. 

Temisan Omatseye told 

Vanguard Maritime Report 

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020 

IOCs threaten NIMASA with legal action over Stevedoring charges 

•Stakeholders condemn IOC’s position 

that the IOCs see the 

stevedoring charge as too 

high. 

The former NIMASA boss 

described as illegal the refusal 

of the IOCs to allow approved 

stevedoring companies into 

their operational areas. 

He explained that NIMASA 

can also shut down the 

operation of the IOCs by 

Continues on page 2 

maritimerepor6005@gmail.com 

VOl. 2 No. 110 

Apapa traffic crises may linger till 

Dec 2020 — Presidential Team 

•Says it has no control over situation 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

LATEST information from 

the Presidential Task 

Team, PTT, on Restoration of 

Law and Order in Apapa 

environment has indicated that 

sufficient relief on the traffic 

crises in the area would come 

in December 2020 when the 

reconstruction work is targeted 

for completion. 

Meanwhile the PTT has 

declared that it has no control 

over the delay in transit 

ranging from three to six 

weeks for trucks to reach the 

ports from Mile-2, a distance 

of about 10 kilometres. 

Vice Chairman of PTT, 

Kayode Opeifa, who made 

these disclosures during a 

media tour of the Apapa port 

environment also identified 

inefficiency and lack of proper 

coordination among 

stakeholders as the major 

issues affecting port and traffic 

in Apapa and its environs. 

Commenting on the 

seemingly teething problems 

and challenges confronting 

residents and workers around 

Apapa axis, he said, “There is 

no problem on this axis of 

Apapa, what we have are 

issues. Some of the issues are 

that the construction is 

ongoing but a lot of 

transporters don’t have the 

information which their 

agencies, authorities owe 

them. They need to inform 

their clients and find a way to 

inform the public. 

“This is because a lot of 

people are taking advantage 

of the happenings to extort 

their principals, drivers 

exploiting the managers; 

mangers exploiting the 

shippers, shippers exploiting 

me and you. So there is a need 

for information for the public 

to understand what’s going on 

here. Then the stakeholders 

should take ownership of the 

place. 

“Terminal operators should 

be interested in how people 

access their terminals and not 

just attending to whoever they 

see. Transporters should be 

interested in the welfare of the 

drivers. The port management 

needs to be concerned with all 

the issues because somebody 

needs to tell them when the 

road will be closed and when 

they need to come, our job in 

PTT is to maintain the law and 

order by ensuring that only 

those who are asked to come 

are allowed to move on the 

road. 

“Unfortunately, we are at the 

receiving end; everyone thinks 

we are the one deciding. No 

we are not. We only carry out 

order on restoration based on 

the directives of the operations 

of the port. But when that 

FACTORS FOR MARINE ACCIDENTS 

operation of the port has 

efficiency issue, it is a problem 

to the entire system. The 

contractor needs to gain access 

to certain places to do his 

work, the earlier the 

contractor gains access to 

where he needs to work, the 

better for the operation of the 

port. These are the issues. 

“However, the ports must 

keep working too. We need the 

port managers to be more 

responsive in the overall 

scheme of things. We believe 

in few months time the Apapa 

area will take better shape for 

movements and port activities, 

and much more orderliness 

would be restored.” 

Speaking on the transit park 

for trucks, Opeifa stated: 

“Regardless of restriction from 

construction site, from Mile 2 

to major parts along the 

corridor, you can see you no 

longer see trucks from Mile 2 

to Oshodi, and once the trucks 

move inside here, (Berger, 

Coconut area), they feel more 

relaxed in the port corridor. 

“We have no control over how 

Continues on page 2


2 

News 


Trans-shipment: How former CBN 

leadership killed local participation 

By Godfrey Bivbere 

AMIDST the several 

misfortunes of Nigeria’s 

local content drive in the marine 

transport sector, an industry 

chieftain has painted another 

picture of how the former 

leadership of the Central Bank of 

Nigeria, CBN, rolled out a policy 

that eroded indigenous 

participation under the Cabotage 

law. 

The CBN policy, according to 

him, barred Nigerian shipowners 

from trans-shipment 

services, where mother vessels 

bringing in petroleum products 

stay offshore Nigerian waters 

from where smaller ones 

belonging to foreigners are used 

to take delivery of the products to 

facilities ashore. 

Chief Executive Officer of 

Apapa traffic crises may linger till 

Dec 2020 — Presidential Team 

Continues from page 1 

many hours they will spend 

before getting into the port 

which depends on port 

operations. If not for the 

construction work going on, 

the movement into the port 

should be faster. Many of the 

trucks you see don’t have any 

business at the port and if you 

ask them, they don’t even 

know they are not supposed to 

be on the road. 

“We were sent by the 

Presidency to restore law and 

order and we have honestly, 

achieved that to a large extent. 

What I need at the ports now 

is the efficiency in all 

operations and there is need 

for proper definition of those 

who supposed to be at the port 

and not. Most of the issues 

around here come from one or 

two terminals out of 15 

terminals. So those who are 

charged with the 

responsibility of regulating the 

port should be at their best 

efficiency.” 

On the construction timeline, 

Opeifa noted that the 

contractor has done a fantastic 

work so far with the target to 

complete work between 

November and December, 

2020. 

“Opeifa stated: “Our job is to 

work pending the introduction 

of electronic call up system, 

earlier scheduled to 

commence in August 1, 2019, 

but a year after, we are not 

there yet. We believe by the 

time the road is completed and 

electronic call up system 

commences, in December, 

2020, 80 per cent of restoration 

of order would have been 

achieved and we will see less 

of human disorderliness. 

Digitalisation will replace 

operations and we have to 

deal with less issues.” 

Molap Shipping and pioneer 

chairman of the Indigenous Shipowners 

Association of Nigeria, 

ISAN, Isaac Jolapamo, 

confirming this in a chat 

with Vanguard Maritime Report, 

explained that the CBN policy led 

to the death of local participation 

in trans-shipment of the nation’s 

petroleum products imports. 

Jolapamo said: “They got CBN 

to issue a circular on this. In fact 

when we explained to the then 

CBN governor, Lamido Sanusi, 

and one of his deputies they were 

surprised but they also went back 

into their shells and up to today 

that circular is still in force. 

“That was the beginning of 

piracy, oil theft and the multiplier 

effects that followed. We all know 

that Cotonu or Lome where they 

go and do trans-shipment, they 

do not produce oil there but for 

some strange reasons, either 

people do not know or they know 

and they just want to be silent or 

do the bidding of their masters.” 

Jolapamo noted that after the 

collapse of the Nigeria National 

Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman receiving a 

plaque from the Executive Secretary of Shippers Council, 

Hassan Bello after a meeting in Lagos. 

Shipping Line, NNSL, which 

signalled the end to Nigeria’s 

involvement in international 

shipping, the focus then moved 

to trade on the coastal waters 

through the Cabotage law. 

He, however, noted that the 

foreigners were one step ahead 

and, therefore, the law did not 

achieve its purpose. 

In his words: “That is what 

brought about the Cabotage, 

saying okay we have lost at the 

international trade let us now 

come back to domestic and start 

from there which is the Cabotage; 

the brown water. If we are able to 

capture that, then we can now 

venture out to the international 

trade. But unfortunately, as I said, 

these foreigners are always one 

step ahead of us. 

“If you look into how the three 

refineries went comatose, it is to 

preempt the Cabotage Act. The 

connection is that if we are still 

producing, then the Cabotage will 

be effective because we can take 


PRESIDENT of the Char 

tered Institute of Transport 

Administration of Nigeria, 

CIoTA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has 

restated the institute’s commitment 

to safety of all modes of 

transportation in the country, 

especially those operating 

within the port environment. 

Jamoh stated this on Tuesday 

in Lagos while reacting to a recent 

incident where a container 

fell from a truck and landed on 

a commercial vehicle, killing 

the occupants, including two 

employees of the Federal Airports 

Authority of Nigeria, 

FAAN. 

The CIoTA president, who is 

also Director-General of the Nigerian 

Maritime Administration 

and Safety Agency, NIMASA, 

had in a separate telephone 

conversation with the parents of 

the deceased conveyed the 

institute’s condolences. 

He promised that the association 

would intensify its advisory 

role on transportation matters to 

IOCs threaten NIMASA with legal action over Stevedoring charges 

control from the loading point 

which is under our control. 

“If for instance the Warri refinery 

wants to load a foreign vessel that 

is not supposed to be loaded, we 

(the local vessel owners) can stop 

it, but of course if we have to 

import then we have fallen into 

the hands of the cartel. So in order 

to avoid a situation where we stop 

their operations, they went round 

even when everybody was 

fighting that we take our coastal 

trade back, they were already one 

step ahead. 

“When they finished with the 

refinery, they now discovered that 

even the trans-shipment that is 

taking place, if it is within the 

Nigerian waters, then they are 

still at disadvantage because with 

pressure from people like us 

government can direct that all 

trans-shipment within our waters 

should be done by Nigerian 

vessels, whether it is rust bottom 

or whatever they call it.” 

CIoTA advocates safer road 

transportation 

rid the sector of unsafe practices 

and ensure smooth and safe 

movement. 

He said: “I spoke with both 

parents (Mrs. Ajoku and Mr. 

Nnaekpe) of the two youthful 

FAAN employees whose lives 

were sadly terminated by the 

fallen container while in a bus 

on their way from work. As your 

president, I extended our collective 

heartfelt sympathies to 

them in separate phone conversations. 

“While comforting them, I also 

assured them that CIoTA will 

not only be lending a voice to 

this matter but will play its full 

leadership role of advocating for 

transportation safety on our 

roads.” 

He disclosed that CIoTA had 

started engaging stakeholders 

in the industry in a bid to find a 

lasting solution to the issue of 

safety, particularly with regard 

to proper latching of containers 

onto articulated vehicles, a major 

challenge that has faced 

transportation within the port 

environment in recent times. 

Continues from page 1 

virtue of the International Ship 

and Port Facility Security, ISPS 

Code, for refusing to allow 

approved stevedores into their 

facilities. 

He stated: "The function of 

stevedoring is to provide dock 

labour services at points where 

they are needed, where you 

are loading at the terminal or 

at the ports and this falls 

under the International Labour 

Organisation, ILO. 

"This was the role of the Joint 

Maritime Labour Industrial 

Council, JOMALIC, and by 

virtue of the merger of 

NIMASA and JOMALIC the 

issue of maritime labour now 

domiciles in NIMASA. 

"In order to carry out its 

function as part of the 

NIMASA Act, NIMASA is 

supposed to set tariff for 

stevedores. In setting out 

these tariffs, NIMASA has also 

specified the tariffs for 

terminals. It may not be 

equitable, the amount being 

charged because what we find 

out is that the IOCs have 

provided all the equipment. 

"The bottom-line is that the 

IOCs challenge is that why 

should we be paying so much 

money to somebody who is not 

providing that service? That is 

their position, but I think their 

major position is the fact that 

the tariff which NIMASA has 

set is rather high because they 

see these payments as 

additional cost of operation. 

"But it is illegal for the IOCs 

not to allow the stevedoring 

contractors into their areas of 

operations because NIMASA 

itself can also shut them down 

by virtue of the ISPS Code 

because of the issue of the 

Safety of Life at Sea, SOLAS, 

Convention. By virtue of that, 

you have to put in place a 

registered stevedore in their 

facilities.'' 

Speaking in same vein, 

Barrister Chris Ebare, a 

maritime lawyer and Vice 

Chairman of Institute 

Chartered Shipbrokers, 

Nigerian Chapter, said 

NIMASA was too quiet over 

the collection of the 

stevedoring charges. 

He commended efforts of the 

current Director General of 

NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, 

for taking the bull by the horn 

and taking on the IOCs 

adding that the oil companies 

really have no choice than to 

cooperate with the current 

leadership of the Agency. 

He said: "I do not blame the 

IOCs; what steps have 

NIMASA taken all these years 

to ensure that these levies are 

collected effectively. There has 

been this lukewarm attitude on 

the part of NIMASA over the 

collection of these charges. 

“Previous leaderships of 

NIMASA had overlooked 

these things for too long 

because NIMASA 

concentrated its efforts on 

other sources of revenue and 

ignored revenue sources like 

the stevedoring charges. I 

have to really commend the 

effort of the current 

management of NIMASA led 

by Dr. Bashir Jamoh who has 

seen that every revenue 

accruable to government must 

be collected. 

"These IOCs have been 

feeding fat because past 

NIMASA managements did 

not take some things serious; 

if I were the director general, 

I would have retroactively 

asked to pay this charge ten 

years back. If there were any 

arrears being owed by these 

recalcitrant IOCs, they will 

pay; we have to make them 

understand that it is no 

business as usual."

Regulations & Policies 


3 

L-R: Executive Director, Maritime Labour & Cabotage Services, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, 

Rt. Hon Victor Ochei; President, National Association of Stevedoring Companies ,NASC, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola; Director General, 

NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh; Executive Director, Operations, NIMASA, Mr. Shehu Ahmed and Executive Director, Finance & 

Administration, NIMASA, Hon. Chudi Offodile during a courtesy visit by NASC to the Agency in Lagos. 

Stevedoring Regulations: Maritime workers threaten 

industrial action over non-compliance by IOCs, others 

•Take side with NIMASA, NPA’s measures 

By Victor Ahiuma-Young & 

Godwin Oritse 

MARITIME Workers 

Union of Nigeria, 

MWUN, may resort to 

industrial action against the 

International Oil Companies, 

IOCs, jetties and other 

employers of stevedoring 

services for allegedly flouting 

government directives 

on Stevedoring regulations 

issued by the Nigerian 

Maritime Administration and 

Safety Agency, NIMASA. 

The alleged disregard of the 

directives, according to them, 

has denied registered 

dockworkers legitimate 

employment. 

The union, in a statement, 

named 

other 

affected employers to include 

jetties, bonded terminals, 

inland container depots, ICDs, 

off dock terminals, dry ports 

and platforms, insisting that it 

is being pushed to the wall 

and will be forced to take 

appropriate industrial action. 

They also said the action will 

take effect any moment from 

now if the affected employers 

refuse to comply with 

the NIMASA notice No. 106 

as well as the associated 

Stevedoring regulation of 

2014. 

MWUN’s President- 

General, Prince Adewale 

Adeyanju, in the statement, 

said: “Government notice No. 

106 as well as the associated 

Stevedoring regulation 2014 

are operational guidelines 

issued by NIMASA to all dock 

labour employers and private 

operators of any work location 

including ports, jetties, 

onshore or offshore oil and gas 

or bonded terminals, inland 

container depots, ICDs, off 

dock terminals, dry ports and 

platforms. 

“We have noticed with 

dismay that some of the 

stakeholders mentioned above 

have continued to flout this 

government directive by their 

blatant refusal to grant the 

government appointed and 

NIMASA registered 

stevedores and dock workers 

access to the operational areas 

allocated to them by the 

Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA. 

“This is not acceptable to us 

as we cannot sit back, fold our 

arms and watch our members 

being disallowed to perform 

their statutory duties that fetch 

them their daily bread. 

“We, therefore, want to use 

this medium to sound a note 

of warning to the affected 

stakeholders that continue to 

flout government directive 

with impunity and expose our 

members to untold hardship 

and suffering to retrace their 

steps in the interest of 

industrial peace. 

“They should, in the interest 

of peace, allow the 

government approved and 

NIMASA registered 

stevedores and dockworkers 

access without hindrance to 

the operational areas 

government allocated to them 

to perform their legitimate 

duties. 

“As a union, we have been 

pushed to the wall and our 

OKUN ALAFIA: Navy arrests 2 ships with suspected 

stolen 320mt of diesel 


TWO ships, MV Mother 

Comfort and MV Sea 

Supply, suspected to be used for 

petroleum product theft, have 

been intercepted by personnel of 

the Western Naval Command of 

the Nigerian Navy, Apapa, Lagos, 

in the ongoing exercise, Okun 

Alafia II. Also arrested were 

four persons in connection with 

the theft. 

The exercise, aimed at 

addressing insecurity in the 

maritime environment within its 

Command spanning from 

Lagos up to 200 nautical miles 

of the nation’s Exclusive 

Economic Zone, kicked off 13 

days ago, with eight ships, two 

helicopters and a detachment of 

the Nigerian Navy Special Boat 

Service, SBS, deployed. 

Briefing journalists on the 

arrest on Monday, the Fleet 

Commander, Western Naval 

Command, who is also the 

Operation’s Tactical 

Commander, OTC Rear Admiral 

Tanjuma Moses, disclosed that 

the arrested ships were laden 

with 240 metric tons of Diesel 

and 80 metric tonnes of diesel 

respectively. 

According to him: 

“Exercise Okun Alafia II, a 

Yoruba word for calm water, was 

flagged off by the Flag Officer 

Commanding, FOC, Western 

Naval Command, on Friday, July 

24, 2020 in the course of 

carrying out statutory 

responsibility of protecting the 

Nation’s maritime domain in 

Western Naval Command Area 

of Responsibility. 

“This was done in order to 

sustain the gains of previous 

operations and exercises which 

the command has conducted in 

the past. The efforts form part 

of the Chief of the Naval Staff, 

Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas’ 

patience is being pushed 

beyond limit. We will not 

hesitate to bite to defend the 

rights of our members as 

guaranteed by extant 

regulations and laws. 

“We, however, wish to 

applaud the Director General, 

NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, 

for the numerous successes 

recorded in his first 100 days 

in office. The energy and spate 

of innovation he has brought 

into the Agency is a pointer to 

many laudable achievements 

in the pipeline. 

“We also want to 

acknowledge and commend 

the commitment of the 

Managing Director of NPA, 

Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman, for 

what she is doing in the 

Authority, among which 

include the payment of 

severance package to the 

erstwhile Tally Clerks and On- 

Board ship gangway security 

men, the drastic face lift of 

decayed infrastructure in NPA, 

etc. 

“We wish once again to 

express gratitude to 

stakeholders such as the 

Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, 

management led by Hajia 

Hadiza Bala Usman, 

management of Nigerian 


Safety Agency, NIMASA, led 

by Dr Bashir Jamoh and the 

Chairperson of the Seaport 

Terminal Operators of Nigeria, 

STOAN, Princess Vicky 

Haastrup, for creating 

conducive work environment 

for our members.” 

operations objectives of his 

strategic directive. 

“In the last eleven days, officers 

of the command intercepted and 

interrogated two vessels of 

interest observed to have been 

engaged in suspicious 

movements. One of the vessels 

was once intercepted, boarded 

and searched by NNS NGURU 

on June 17, 2020 at the Atlas 

Cove Single Buoy Mooring 

area. Furthermore, narrations 

of one the captains on the voyage 

of the vessel were inconsistent 

with its movements, when 

tracked”. 

He restated the FOC’s resolve 

to ensure secured waterways for 

seafarers with genuine 

businesses, even as he called on 

the need for members of the 

public to avail the command 

information that would assist in 

ensuring a safe corridor on the 

sea.


4 

WACT to deepen 

investment in 

Nigeria, 

celebrates 20th 

anniversary 


NIGERIA’s major container 

terminal, the West Africa 

Container Terminal, WACT, has 

restated its commitment to deepen 

its investments in Nigeria, 

particularly in increasing 

container handling capacities at 

the Onne Port. 

WACT Managing Director, 

Aamir Mirza, stated this during the 

company’s 20th anniversary 

celebration at Onne, Rivers State 

on Monday, noting that further 

investment in cargo handling 

equipment is in response to the 

significant volume growth 

witnessed in the Eastern Nigerian 

market since the company started 

operations 20 years ago. 

He said: “We are celebrating our 

achievements of the past 20 

years. In year 2000 when we 

started, we did about 35,000 

container moves but last year we 

did over 200,000 moves, so cargo 

volume has grown over the years 

and recognising this growth, we 

are investing in this business. 

“We are at that point where we 

will experience new changes. With 

more equipment coming in, the 

mode of operation will change, and 

we believe we are setting that up 

for the next 20 to 25 years so that 

we can serve our customers better 

in terms of service delivery, 

customer satisfaction and 

improved capacity. 

“Right now, we are going to 

invest $100 million and will 

continue to invest over the years. 

For example, in 2019, we did 

about $14 million and in 

previous years, we have been doing 

that regularly.” 

He said WACT has done a lot of 

work in marketing Onne Port to 

the global community even as “the 

service level that the customers are 

getting in Onne is far superior to 

what they are getting elsewhere in 

Nigeria. 

“For example, we don’t have 

vessel waiting time, we don’t have 

issues with delivery of containers 

to our customers but customers 

taking delivery of cargoes from 

other locations still have 

challenges with vessel waiting time 

and service delivery. ” 

The WACT managing director 

commended the dedication and 

hard work of the company’s 

workforce, which he said 

contributed in no small measure 

to the company’s growth and 

success. 

Also speaking at the event, the 

Country Manager of APM 

Terminals Nigeria, Klaus Laursen, 

described as impressive the 

successes recorded by WACT in its 

20 years of existence, which he 

attributed to the growth in Nigeria’s 

economy. 

Laursen said, ”There will be no 

cargo coming in or going out if it 

wasn’t for the economy of Nigeria. 

We serve only the population of 

Nigeria. So the first part of it is 

that Nigeria’s economy is still 

growing every year.” 

While applauding the effort and 

contribution of the staff to the 

growth of the company, Laursen 

urged them not to rest on their 

laurels in making WACT the most 

preferred container terminal in 

Nigeria. 


THE Nigerian Ports 

Authority, NPA, and the 

Presidential Task Team, PTT, may 

have resorted to turning back 

trucks at the gates of the Apapa 

ports due to alleged breach of its 

call up procedure. 

Some truck owners and barge 

operators are claiming that they 

were being forced to cough out 

hefty amounts as bribes or their 

trucks would either be turned 

By Eguono Odjegba 

NIGERIAN Shippers’ 

Council, NSC, has 

directed the immediate 

stoppage of arbitrary charges 

imposed on transportation of 

cargo to off-dock terminals, 

describing the act as unethical 

and unacceptable. 

The ports economic regulator 

also directed that “all transfer 

charges collected from 

consignees of cargoes 

transferred from seaport 

terminals to off-dock terminals, 

from June 1, 2020 to date, at the 

instance of the shipping 

companies/agencies, seaport 

terminal operators or off-dock 

terminal operators, without the 

consignees requesting for such 

transfer, must be refunded to 

the consignees immediately. 

NSC, in a statement signed 

by the Deputy Director, Public 

Relations, Rakiya Zubairu, 

expressed concern over the 

deluge of complaints it received 

from stakeholders over arbitrary 

levies on container demurrage, 

storage and transfer charges by 

shipping companies, terminal 

operators and off-dock facilities, 

and warned that the Council 

will no longer tolerate such 

charges imposed arbitrarily 

without carrying the consignee 

along. 

Terminals & Ships 

From left, Head, Human Resources, West Africa Container Terminal, WACT, Josephine Eneje; Vessel Planner, WACT, Sokari Soopu; WACT 

Managing Director, Aamir Mirza; Senior Supervisor, Berth Planning & Cargo Control, Ifeoma Nwabekee; and Country Manager, APM 

Terminals Nigeria, Klaus Laursen; during the 20th anniversary celebration of WACT at Onne Port, Rivers State. 

Why NPA, Task-Force Team turn back trucks from jetties 

back or impounded from the 

conveying barges. 

But the NPA and PTT officers 

are saying that the trucks were 

moved by a cartel through jetties 

to illegally access the ports in 

Lagos as a result of the Apapa 

traffic gridlock. 

Former Port Manager of Tincan 

Island Port, Abubakar Umar, 

in an interview with Vanguard 

Maritime Report, said that 

normally, the call-up system 

arrangement is made for the 

Shippers’ Council halts cargo transfer charges 

It stated: “All transfer charges 

collected from consignees of 

cargoes transferred from 

seaport terminals to off-dock 

terminals, from June 1, 2020 to 

date, at the instance of the 

shipping companies/agencies, 

seaport terminal operators or 

off-dock terminal operators, 

without the consignees 

requesting for such transfer, 

must be refunded to the 

consignees immediately.” 

The statement added, 

“Nigeria Shippers’ Council 

have been inundated with 

complaints against shipping 

companies/agencies, seaport 

terminal operators and off-dock 

terminals on the arbitrary levy 

of container demurrage, storage 

and transfer charges on 

innocent consignees, for 

transportation of cargoes to offdock 

terminals unilaterally 

initiated by terminals without 

the consignees’ consent. 

“It should be noted that based 

on international standard and 

recognised practice, freight paid 

at origin covers movement of 

cargo to final port of delivery at 

destination. It follows, 

therefore, that cargoes 

earmarked for transfer to offdock 

terminals, at the request 

of the shipping company, 

seaport terminal operator or offdock 

terminal, without the 

control of the traffic in and out of 

the port, but trucks from these 

jetties find their way into the 

picture and distort the 

arrangement put in place. 

He stated: “Yes, there are illegal 

trucks coming from illegal 

destinations. They push them and 

because we do not have enough 

space for such trucks to turn; we 

have to manage them but 

sometimes when we discover 

them early, we try to push them 

consent of the consignees or 

their 

authorized 

representatives, should not 

attract charge(s) against the 

consignees.” 

Accordingly, the Council 

rolled out three set of work-inrule 

framework to guide all 

service providers. 

One, that “Import cargoes 

should be delivered to the 

nominated port of destination 

as stated in the Bill of Lading;” 

and two, that “Where the 

operational convenience of the 

seaport terminals or some other 

prevailing circumstances 

necessitate the transfer of 

cargoes from the seaport 

terminals to off-dock terminals, 

the concerned consignees or 

their authorised agents must be 

notified in good time, and must 

not be charged the cost 

associated with such transfer, 

including barging cost.” 

Thirdly, that “Storage and 

demurrage charges on cargoes 

earmarked for transfer from 

seaport terminals to off-dock 

terminals, without the consent 

of the consignee, should take 

effect only after arriving at the 

designated off-dock terminals.” 

The statement warned that, 

“Failure to refund such charges 

will lead to the Council 

invoking its regulatory powers 

to enforce compliance.” 

back to where they are coming 

from.” 

Vanguard Maritime 

Report gathered that the cartel 

charged truck drivers and their 

owners between N120,000 and 

N150,000 to convey them by 

barges from various jetties away 

from the gridlock and ferry them 

to jetties close to or within the 

ports. 

A truck driver who spoke 

with Vanguard Maritime 

Report said that it is better to go 

through the water route to get into 

the port than to stay in traffic for 

as long as three to six weeks 

before gaining access to the port. 

The truck driver noted that apart 

from the time wasted in traffic, the 

truck owner would still cough out 

up to N200,000 as bribes to the 

various security officials, PTT and 

the unions. 

Recall that the PTT recently 

blocked some trucks at a jetty in 

Apapa from getting into Creek 

Road for their onward journey into 

the port. Owners of the trucks 

have alleged that the refusal by 

the team was not unconnected 

with demand for gratification. 

When contacted, Vice 

Chairman of PTT, Kayode Opeifa, 

spoke of the facility along Creek 

Road which he said registered as 

an events centre. He noted that 

the owners of the facility illegally 

converted it to a Trailer Park. 

Opeifa said ENL terminals, Tin 

Can Island Container Terminal 

TICT and APM Terminal have 

stopped barge operators from 

using their terminal and that is 

why they have gone to the private 

property which they have 

converted to a trailer park. 

He explained that the owner of 

the property has been calling the 

team to get appointment to hold 

meeting with them but that he 

told them that it is the 

responsibility of NPA to license 

them for operation. He further 

noted that trailers from that facility 

are the ones causing hold-up on 

Creek Road.

Customs & Imports 


5 

N500bn revenue: Nwabunike lauds Customs brokers, freight forwarders 


NATIONAL President of 

the Association of Nigeria 

Licensed Customs Agents, 

ANLCA, Tony Uju Nwabunike, 

has applauded customs brokers 

and freight forwarders for 

helping to realise the 

N500billion revenue collected by 

the Nigeria Customs Service, 

NCS, in the first half of 2020. 

Nwabunike in his Eid 

Kabir message to customs 

brokers and freight forwarders, 

described practitioners as 

economy builders and agents of 

trade facilitation. 

He further eulogised the 

practitioners for standing in the 

frontline at this critical period of 

coronavirus, COVID-19, as 

essential service providers, even 

as he urged them to remain 

steadfast in their trade and help 

to ensure that the gross domestic 

product target for 2020 is 

achieved. 

His words: “Most of you have 

shown love for our country and 

the maritime, aviation, general 

transport and total logistics 

industries through selfless 

commitment to our importation 

dependent economy by being out 

there working as essential service 

providers even in the face of 

lockdown occasioned by 

COVID-19 pandemic. 

“As customs brokers and 

freight forwarders, we 

contributed immensely to the 

realisation of over N500billion 

half year revenue collection by 

Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, 

and ensured goods arrived 

importers’ warehouses after 

exiting our ports through 

seamless logistics.” 

He said by carrying out 

essential services in the face of 

logistics constraints like bad 

roads, suspended rail services for 

cargo movement, unfriendly and 

exploitative practices by 

shipping companies and 

terminal operators, “our 

professionalism truly stands us 

out as economic care givers”, 

adding: “We have roles to play in 

helping Nigeria to attain her 

expected Gross Domestic 

Product, GDP, of 250 billion US 

Dollars by the end of 2020. Let’s 

keep our eyes on the ball.” 

The union leader further 

admonished members and other 

practitioners to play safe in the 

course of carrying out their duty, 

stressing “while joining the 


DESPITE the lull in the 

economy occasioned by 

coronavirus, COVID-19, global 

pandemic, the Nigeria Customs 

Service, NCS, Ogun Area 1 

Command, generated a total 

revenue of N19.6 million in the 

Ogun Customs Area 1 Controller, Compt. Michael Agbara, left; newly promoted Assistant Comptroller A. M Jamairi, middle, 

and DC Ops, Dep Compt. Dera Nnadi, right, after the decoration of Jamairi with his new rank in ldiroko. 

Seme Customs’ recovery hits N413.4m 


NIGERIA 

Customs 

Service, NCS, Seme 

Command, anti-smuggling 

operation has made a total 

N413.4 million from 824 

seizures. Its revenue collection 

stood at N22.5 million in the first 

half of the year. 

The acting Customs Area 

Controller, Dalha Cheidi Wada, 

said the seizures include 79 

vehicles, 3,236 bags of 50kg 

foreign parboiled rice, 136,350 

litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 

PMS, otherwise known as 

petrol, 1,302 cartons of frozen 

poultry products, 156 parcels of 

cannabis sativa, 156 by 25litres 

jerry cans of and 7,763 general 

merchandise items. 

A statement by Command 

Public Relations Officer, 

Hussaini Abdullahi, quoted the 

controller as saying that all the 

79 vehicles were means of 

conveyance of smuggled 

items. 

Wada who reiterated the 

closure of the border, said the 

Customs was working in 

collaboration with other security 

agencies to ensure that Federal 

Government policies that 

prohibits entry or exit of goods 

through the land border is 

complied with. 

He said, “Recall that Nigeria 

government had on August, 20, 


THE Nigeria Customs 

Service, NCS, Kwara Area 

Command has generated a total 

sum of N2.3 billion in the first 

half of this year, H1’20. 

A statement by Command 

Public Relations Officer, Chado 

Zakari, said the figure 

represents 29.16 per cent of its 

annual revenue target, adding 

that a total of sixty seizures with 

duty paid value, DPV, of N320.8 

million was made during the 

period under review. 

The Customs Area controller, 

Compt. Ahmed Hussaini Bello, 

explained that the command’s 

revenue drive was affected by 

the global coronavirus, COVID- 

19, pandemic which occasioned 

2019 closed its land borders, 

placing temporary embargo on 

the movement of goods through 

the land borders nationwide to 

curb rice smuggling, increasing 

insecurity across the country. 

The successes recorded are as 

a result of designed and 

a decline in global economy 

and importation, leading to zero 

revenue generation in April 

2020. 

Hussaini said four suspects 

were arrested in connection 

with the seizures, adding: “It 

is no longer news that COVID- 

19 has affected global economy 

in which Nigeria is not an 

exception. It is obvious that 

there is a steady decline in 

revenue generation with nil 

collection in the month of April 

which was the effect of lockdown 

necessitated by the upsurge in 

the number confirmed COVID- 

19 cases. 

“With gradual ease of 

lockdown nationwide, we were 

able to bounce back in May 

world to celebrate this feast of 

sacrifice and selfless giving, let’s 

not lose our guard against the 

corona virus that has altered our 

global economy, religious orders 

and social lifestyles.” 

Ogun Customs Area 1 generates 

N19m Q2’20 

implemented strategies and 

renewed synergy between 

different components of antismuggling 

units. It also assisted 

the Command in forming a 

formidable force that helps to 

counter the activities of 

smugglers.” 

Kwara Customs revenue at 26.19% of annual target in H1’20 

2020 with a tremendous 

increase in our collection.” 

He listed the items seized to 

include 2,598 bags of foreign 

parboiled rice, estimated to be 

over four trailers, 34 kegs of 

vegetable oil of 25 liters each, 

41units of various types of used 

vehicles and 372 Jerry cans of 

PMS of 25 litres each. The 

others are 3,742kg of Cannabis 

Sativa, which has been handed 

over the state office of the 

National Drug Law 

Enforcement Agents, NDLEA. 

He said the fight against 

smugglers is a collective one 

and urged the general public 

to support the Customs with 

credible information. 

second quarter, April to June, 2020 

(Q2’20). 

The Customs Area Controller, 

Compt. Michael Agbara, who 

disclosed this added that the 

command recorded a total of 439 

seizures, which includes 11,841 

bags of rice, 130 vehicles, 98,200 

litres of premium motor spirit, 

PMS, popularly known as petrol, 

and 3,204 cartons of frozen 

poultry products. 

He said total duty paid value, 

DPV, of the seized items is N500.8 

million and gave the breakdown 

as follows: motorcycle, vegetable 

oil, secondhand clothing, used 

shoes and new handbags, palm oil 

and diesel. Others are kerosene, 

body cream, margarine, sugar, 

kola nut, bitter kola, Cannabis 

Sativa, fairly used tyres, spaghetti, 

Ethanol, mosquito coil and 

chemicals. 

The customs boss attributed the 

performance to strategic 

enforcement measures put in 

place. He said: “As you all know 

that the border is still closed to 

import/export and this made our 

traditional revenue not feasible. 

However, we are able to generate 

some fees from the sales of 

petroleum products and other 

perishables that cannot be 

warehoused. 

Customs 

restructures 

public 

relations unit 


MANAGEMENT of the 

Nigeria Customs Service, 

NCS, has carried out a major 

reorganisation in its public 

relations department, to 

strengthen the steady progress 

that has been recorded in the past 

four years. 

Some of those affected includes 

Haruna Ephraim who was moved 

to headquarters from Murtala 

Muhammed Airport Command, 

Nkiru Nwala, from Apapa 

Command to Zonal 

Headquarters Lagos, Wey 

Kayode, from Kirikiri Lighter 

Terminal Command to Oyo/Osun 

Command, N. Eunice from Edo/ 

Delta to Murtala Muhammed 

Airport Command, Peter Duniya 

from Katsina Command to 

Federal Operations Unit Zone A, 

and Abubakar Usman from 

Federal Operations Zone B to 

Apapa Area Command. 

Others are Lagos Abdullahi 

posted to Kano/Jigawa 

Command, A.A Ajao to Oil $ Gas 

Command Onne; Chioma 

Onuoha to headquarters, M. A 

Magaji to FOU Zone B, H. B 

Oloyede to Ogun 1 Command, 

Jerry Attah to FOU Zone C, Ngozi 

Okwara to Tin Can Island 

Command as 2IC, R. Nche to Edo/ 

Delta Command and I. Sulaiman 

to Western Marine Command.


6 


THE persistent boat 

accidents that have 

claimed the lives of several 

citizens have been blamed on 

the failure of regulatory 

agencies to enforce safety 

measures and control 

certification of the boat drivers. 

This is even as the National 

Inland Waterways Authority, 

NIWA, said that it will, 

henceforth, de-register all 

indicted boat operators. 

Speaking with Vanguard 

Maritime Report on the 

development, former General 

Manager at the Nigerian Ports 

Authority, NPA, and now a 

maritime consultant, Chris 

Borha, said that they should 

have done more to check the 

increasing incidences of boat 

mishap that has cut short the 

lives of hundreds of water 

transport users. 

Borha noted that there had 

been several boat accidents in 

the past and wondered 

whether there were no 

investigative panels set up to 

find out the causes of such 

mishap. He noted that all the 

regulatory agencies, both 

states and federal, should step 

up their activities and ensure 

that commuters using water 

transport are protected, 

especially now that water 

transport has begun to catch 

up. 

He further stated the water 

transport is like that of road 

and wondered who was 

responsible for ensuring the 

safety of the passengers, the 

certification of the boat drivers 

as well as the boats. 

However, the Lagos Area 

Manager of NIWA, Sarat 

Lara Braimah, said the agency 

can no longer fold its hands 

and watch some 

deviant operators and their 

employees ruin the water 

transport system, noting that 

it will go for zero tolerance on 

boat accidents. 

She stated: “We have tried 

to provide needed enabling 

environment for the operators 

including training 

programmes to expose them to 

operational standards, yet 

some have chosen the path of 

desperation and dangerous 

behaviour, leading to loss of 

lives and property. 

“Time has also come for 

passengers to take 

responsibility, listen and obey 

boat crew when emergencies 

or turbulence occur. Sadly, 

some passengers go into 

frenzy and panic mood, and 

trigger off fearful alarm and 

cause bedlam leading to 

avoidable deaths.” 

She added that the new 

normal on water transportation 

will see to detailed take off 

protocols, pre-boarding checks 

and physical inspection of use 

of life jackets and safety talks 

to adequately prepare the 

minds of passengers in case 

of emergency situations. She 

also informed that 

unscheduled and random 

checks of boats to ascertain 

their seaworthiness will be 

News 

Regulatory agencies get knocks over 

boat mishaps 

•NIWA, NIMASA explain roles 


TWO groups, the Council of 

Managing Directors of Nigeria 

Licensed Customs Agents, 

CMDNLCA, and the All Ports Unified 

Freight Forwarding Practitioners 

Association, APUFFPA, have 

accused the National Association of 

Government Approved Freight Forwarders, 

NAGAFF, of attempt to uplift 

itself to a quasi-regulatory body. 

Their reactions came at the backdrop 

of NAGAFF’s setting up of what 

it called a Technical Committee to 

evaluate the performance of port 

concessions. 

NAGAFF had during the inauguration 

of the said technical committee, 

given it 60 days to come up with 

its report for onward submission to 

the Ministry of Transportation. 

National President of NAGAFF, 

Chief Increase Uche, explained that 

the committee would embark on reevaluation 

and assessment of port 

concessionaires such as APM Terminals 

Apapa and proceed to other terminal 

operators in Lagos ports. 

He said: “NAGAFF high command 

in her wisdom has decided to 

carry out a holistic re-evaluation/a 

comprehensive assessment of the 

performance of APMT among others. 

As the link that brings all the players 

together in the general supply 

chain, the freight forwarders have 

been dutifully carrying out their role 

as required particularly, in ensuring 

a seamless flow of ports operations, 

covering all the terminals including 

the APMT. 

incorporated into the 

enforcement strategy. 

Reacting to the death of the 

former industrial training 

student in the Nigerian 


Safety Agency, NIMASA, 

Head Corporate and Strategic 

Communications, Phillip 

Kyanet, said: “We at NIMASA 

are indeed saddened by the 

death of Zainab in that boat 

mishap, a former intern with 

the Agency. It is quite 

regrettable that it happened. 

“The moment the Agency’s 

attention was drawn to the 

incident, two top management 

staff led a delegation to the 

family to commiserate and 

empathise with them. The 

Agency was involved in 

arrangements leading to her 

final interment. Prior to this 

unfortunate incident, the 

Agency had met with NIWA 

and LASWA to discuss more 

L-r: Unit Commander, Mile 2 of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Adebisi Solanke in a hand shake 

with the President General of United Berger Motor Dealers Association, UBMDA, Don Metche Nnadiekwe 

who led a team of the association to present a generating set to FRSC yesterday. Photo: Godfrey Bivbere 

Stakeholders challenge NAGAFF over 

committee on port concessionaires 

“From our informed knowledge 

the APMT has remained one of the 

terminals that have not achieved the 

purpose for which the government 

carried out the reform in the maritime 

industry. It is based on this fact 

and for numerous other reasons that 

this assignment is hereby bestowed 

on these selected members with the 

onerous task.” 

Also speaking at the inauguration, 

founder NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface 

Aniebonam tasked the committee to 

be diligent in their fact finding mission. 

Commenting, APUFFPA President, 

Prince Mike Okorie, described 

the action of NAGAFF as curious. 

He stated: “When I read the report 

online, I pinched myself, because it 

sounds funny and worrisome. Has 

the system and our government 

fallen to the level where individuals 

now arrogate government tasks to 

themselves? NAGAFF mentioned 

Ministry of Transport, and am wondering 

if the ministry has divested its 

agencies of their regulatory assignments 

and handed them over to individuals. 

“Some of their self assigned tasks 

carry presidential committee tags. I 

don’t really know what is happening 

in the industry anymore, whether 

government has taken the backseat 

from its regulatory function. Sometimes 

I wonder whether its all an attempt 

to hijack the function of Council 

for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding 

of Nigeria, CRFFN, because 

NAGAFF has about six seats 

in CRFFN.” 

Also reacting, Ari Ayuba, PTML 

chapter chairman of the Council of 

Managing Director of Association 

of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, 

CMDANLCA, said NAGAFF's exercise 

was in futility and will lead nowhere. 

He stated: “I saw them wearing 

apron in the port. It is preposterous 

for anybody to just wake up and 

say you want to set up a presidential 

anti-corruption body, who gave you 

the powers? NAGAFF’s committee 

is unacceptable and illegal. The issue 

is not corruption but attitude of 

the Customs: customs-agents relationship; 

Customs-Importers-agents 

relationship; and vice versa. Customs 

needs to improve on that and the suspicion 

of collusion with these people 

to engage in corrupt practices can 

then be taken care of. NAGAFF 

doesn’t have any power to set up 

compliance committee; it can only 

monitor the conduct of its members. 

“As freight forwarders NAGAFF’s 

concern should be to raise awareness 

about un-motorable port access 

roads. Since their primary job is 

freight, they should also focus on the 

roadworthiness of trucks picking 

containers at the port, and maybe 

partner with VIOs to ensure road 

worthiness compliance. The rate at 

which containers are falling down, 

damaging goods worth millions of 

naira on the road is alarming. Apart 

from those, there is high cost of transportation 

freight; these are the areas 

NAGAFF should concern itself 

with.” 


collaborative ways towards a 

safer and more secure 

maritime domain.” 

NIMASA, 

dockworkers 

close ranks 

T 

HE Nigerian Maritime Ad 

ministration and Safety 

Agency, NIMASA, and the National 

Association of Stevedoring 

Companies, NASC, have resolved 

to work more closely to advance 

the nation’s maritime interests. 

The NIMASA has also declared 

a renewed commitment towards 

furthering the interest of stevedores 

as captured in the 2014 Stevedoring 

Regulation. Director-General 

of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, 

disclosed this in Lagos during a 

courtesy visit by the leadership of 

the National Association of Stevedoring 

Companies, NASC. 

Jamoh pledged to work more 

closely with the NASC to improve 

the working conditions of 

dockworkers in the country, even 

as he sought closer partnership 

between the Agency and NASC, 

and greater involvement of the stevedoring 

companies in the ongoing 

effort to amend the NIMASA 

Act. 

The director-general stated: “We 

understand our responsibility towards 

the dockworkers and we are 

committed to ensuring that their 

rights and welfare are safeguarded 

at all times. Our recent directive 

to registered stevedoring companies, 

via a marine notice, to 

mobilise to their work locations 

and commence operation is in line 

with that commitment. 

“NIMASA is, as always, willing 

and available to assist 

dockworkers. We remain committed 

to facilitating an enabling environment 

for stevedores to operate, 

and thrive. As an agency, we 

need deeper partnership with the 

stevedoring companies and, indeed, 

more participation from you 

in the current effort to amend the 

NIMASA Act and realise a more 

robust law that works for all of us. 

But we also urge the NASC to be 

more proactive in communicating 

challenges you face to facilitate 

more timely interventions by the 

Agency.” 

Jamoh appreciated the steps the 

leadership of NASC was taking to 

improve capacity and welfare of 

stevedores. He said closer collaboration 

between the association and 

NIMASA would result in more efficient 

operations at the ports and 

better working conditions for 

dockworkers. 

Earlier, President of NASC, Mr. 

Bolaji Sunmola, who led the delegation, 

stated that since its inception, 

the association had provided 

a platform for discussion, formulation, 

and implementation of policies 

affecting maritime labour, 

with focus on cargo handling operations. 

Sunmola added that assisting 

NIMASA in the administration 

of Maritime Labour, as 

specified in the relevant enabling 

Acts, remained a primary focus of 

the NASC. 

He acknowledged the ongoing 

efforts of NIMASA to enforce the 

new Stevedoring Regulations and 

reiterated his association's readiness 

to work with the Agency to 

successfully implement the regulations 

aimed at improving revenue 

generation and sustaining 

capacity building within the maritime 

industry.



Foreign Maritime 7 

•Vessel in distress 

Maritime transport efficiency confab confirmed for October 5-6 in Geneva 

THE event will bring 

together the main players 

in research, innovation and 

technological development as 

well as key actors in the 

maritime transport industry. 

Postponed to October 5-6 due 

to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 

Maritime Transport Efficiency 

Conference (MTEC) will 

provide an exceptional 

opportunity for shipping 

industry representatives and 

technology solution providers to 

finally get together, exchange 

ideas, share projects and do 

business in a safe and 

comfortable environment. 

The Maritime Transport 

Efficiency Conference is 

committed to delivering a 

successful event in Geneva and 

acknowledges that health and 

safety is integral to this 

objective. MTEC will ensure 

that it has a high quality health 

and safety policy in place which 

is appropriate for the prevailing 

A 

TOTAL of 317,900 TEUs 

of containers were 

traded between South Korea 

and eight other economies in 

Asia in June, which decreased 

6.5% year on year from 340,000 

TEUs, according to statistics 

compiled by the Korea Customs 

Service (KCS). South Korea 

exported 163,800 TEUs, down 

10.6%, and imported 153,000 

TEUs, down 1.6%, indicating 

that exports diminished much 

more severely than imports. 

By trade partner, 97,000 TEUs 

were moved to and from 

Vietnam, down 6%; 46,900 

TEUs to and from Thailand, 

down 17%; 38,000 TEUs to and 

from Malaysia, down 5%; and 

34,900 TEUs to and from 

Indonesia, down 9%. 

Containers to and from the 

Philippines also declined 9% to 

18,800 TEUs, but improved 

from April and May, when they 

advice in October. 

New partners and speakers, 

including Siemens, Louis 

Dreyfus Armateus, Syroco, 

ZESTAs (Zero Emission Ship 

Technology Association) and 

Swiss Shipowners Association 

RECENTLY published 

figures from Swedish 

Confederation of Transport 

Enterprises for the first quarter 

of 2020 show a clear trend. 

APM Terminals in Gothenburg 

is growing four times faster than 

the market. Through creative 

and customized solutions, APM 

Terminals Gothenburg ends the 

first quarter of the year with a 

market share of 44%. 

The trend in the first quarter 

of 2020 continues the pattern 

seen for the full year 2019. It is 

evident that APM Terminals in 

Gothenburg is growing more 

than the market and gaining 

market share. Volume is being 

moved from the East Coast and 

S. Korea and 8 Asian economies record 

lull in container shipping for 3 months 

registered double-digit 

contractions for two months 

running. In contrast, those to 

and from Taiwan and Hong 

Kong were both robust, growing 

7% to 39,100 TEUs and 5% to 

have joined the conference this 

month. Over 100 delegates and 

12 exhibitors have already 

confirmed their presence at the 

Maritime Transport Efficiency 

Conference in October. There is 

still room, but space is limited. 

transported with climate-smart 

train solutions via Gothenburg, 

instead of via feeder transport 

along Sweden’s long coast. 

“Over the past two years, we 

have consistently seen that 

flows are directed to 

Contact us rapidly if you wish 

to take advantage of this 

excellent opportunity, and 

register at https://mteconference.com 

if you wish to 

attend the conference as a 

delegate. 

APM Terminals Gothenburg grows four times faster than the market 

Shanghai port sees container throughput 

hit record high in July 

THE container throughput of 

Shanghai port exceeded 3.9 

million TEUs in July, hitting a 

record high, according to 

Shanghai International Port 

(Group) Co Ltd (SIPG). The port 

saw its container throughput total 

149,565 TEUs on Thursday, 

representing a record single-day 

high. 

As China’s economic recovery 

picked up speed in the second 

quarter, the country has seen rapid 

growth in cargo trade. Shanghai 

port has been receiving more 

EXPORTERS in the United 

States will have a busy 

start to the upcoming marketing 

year after the record or nearrecord 

soybean and corn sales 

this month, though they will have 

to keep an eye on shipments out 

of Brazil, which will continue to 

compete with U.S. supplies well 

into next year. 

The South American country is 

the No. 1 exporter of soybeans 

and in the top three in corn. 

Brazil’s soy supplies should soon 

be winding down to give way to 

U.S. exports, though next month’s 

shipments may be at least 

average or above. 

Brazil soy export industry group 

containers since the second 

quarter, said Huang Haidong, 

general manager of the operation 

and business department of the 

SIPG. 

Under scientific management 

and the assistance of automation 

technology, staff of Shanghai port 

have overcome obstacles brought 

by COVID-19, summer heat and 

the flood season to secure this 

great achievement, Huang said. 

The container throughput of 

Shanghai port totaled 43.3 million 

TEUs last year, ranking the first in 

Gothenburg thanks to the 

terminal’s high service level 

and the market’s demand for 

stable solutions. The Corona 

pandemic has only accelerated 

this trend, says Dennis Olesen, 

CEO of APM Terminals Nordic. 

Brazilian exporters unfazed by strong 

U.S. corn, soy demand 

Anec this week reduced its 

forecast for July soybean and 

corn exports, but the numbers 

remain strong. Anec sees this 

month’s corn shipments at 5.4 

million tonnes, shy of last July’s 

record of 5.9 million, but easily 

second-best. 

The next three months are 

usually Brazil’s biggest corn 

shipping months. Last year’s 

August-October volume reached 

a new high of nearly 20 million 

tonnes, though this year’s total 

exports are seen lighter than in 

the previous year. 

Anec pegs July soybean exports 

at 8.4 million tonnes, well short 

of 2018’s record of 10.2 million. 

That would place exports since 

February, when the new harvest 

began arriving at ports in 

earnest, at 67.4 million tonnes, 

some 23% more than 2018’s high 

for the period. 

Industry estimates suggest this 

year’s Brazilian soy exports 

around 80 million tonnes or 

more, which means at least 

another 12 million would ship 

over the next few months. As of 

this week, the shipping lineup 

shows 5.3 million tonnes of 

soybeans scheduled to depart in 

August. 

August 2019 exports reached 5 

million tonnes, well off the 

month’s high of 8.1 million 

tonnes set in 2018, when the U.S.- 

Greece reopens 

six ports to 

cruise ships 

GREECE 

on Saturday 

reopened six of its main 

ports to cruise ships for the first 

time in the coronavirus-shortened 

tourism season, but no ships are 

expected before three weeks. 

In a letter to the Cruise Lines 

International Association and 

three major cruise operators early 

this week, Tourism Minister Harry 

Theoharis said the ports of Piraeus 

in Athens, Rhodes, Iraklio, Volos, 

Corfu and Katakolo would accept 

passengers, state agency ANA 

reported. 

After docking at one of the six 

ports, cruise ships will be able to 

travel elsewhere in Greece, 

depending on local coronavirus 

conditions. But shipping minister 

Giannis Plakiotakis said on 

Thursday that cruises would only 

restart after August 20. 

He said foreign cruise lines had 

expressed their interest in 

operating in Greek waters but that 

“cruises are an international 

operation and face serious 

problems because of the 

coronavirus”. With a quarter of the 

economy dependent on tourism, 

Greece has sought to capitalise on 

its relatively low infection rate to 

bring in visitors. So far officials 

have announced nearly 4,500 

infections and 206 deaths. 

Last month, Greece began to 

reopen its land borders to select 

countries, before allowing mostly 

European flights to all its airports 

on July 1. 

U.S. sells record 

amount of corn to 

China as tensions 

rise 

CHINESE buyers booked 

their single biggest-ever 

purchase of U.S. corn, extending 

their flurry of large U.S. purchases 

even as tensions between 

Washington and Beijing rise. 

The U.S. Agriculture 

Department said on Thursday that 

private exporters sold 1.937 

million tonnes of corn to China for 

delivery in the 2020/21 marketing 

year. That topped the previous 

biggest deal to China of 1.762 

million tonnes, reported just two 

weeks ago. 

In a separate report, the USDA 

said soybean sales to China rose 

to 1.925 million tonnes in the week 

ended July 23, the biggest weekly 

total since Nov. 17, 2016. 

The recent purchases place 

China closer to the ambitious 

$36.5 billion target for imports of 

U.S. farm goods this year set in the 

Phase 1 trade deal. Analysts and 

traders say that target may be 

achievable, but it is looking like a 

stretch. The corn sale reported on 

Thursday was valued at around 

$325 million, based on new-crop 

prices at the U.S. Gulf. China’s 

American farm purchases 

amounted to $6 billion through 

May – the latest data available – 

up just 9.1% from the same period 

in 2019 and 31% below 2017’s 

level. 

China on Thursday accused the 

United States of stoking a new 

Cold War ahead of its presidential 

election in November. U.S. 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo 

also called the Chinese


Data & Figures 


Vessels Expected At Lagos Port, August 3, 2020 

Motor Vehicles Awaiting Berth At Lagos, August 3, 2020 

Vessels Expected at Calabar Port, August 3, 2020

Insecurity: As Buhari goes 

around in circles 

WHY is President Muhammadu 

Buhari going around in circles was 

the question that concentrated my mind 

on Tuesday after the latest security council 

meeting circus in Abuja. 

Why is the president and his stuntoriented 

military artists more interested 

in public spectacles than providing 

Nigerians with security? Since it is obvious 

that the country is not making any 

headway in security matters, why is Buhari 

insisting on doing the same thing over and 

over again, knowing full well that he will 

keep on coming back to the same point? 

Could it be that he is unaware of Albert 

Einstein, the German-born theoretical 

physicist’s definition of insanity: Doing the 

same thing over and over again, but 

expecting different results? 

On Tuesday, Buhari held yet another 

security council meeting with his top 

security apparatchiks, including the 

service chiefs. The only reasonable 

outcome that many Nigerians expected 

from that meeting was a friendly 

handshake with the security chiefs and 

their immediate replacement. But there 

was nothing like that as Buhari instead 

called for new strategies and the 

overhauling of security architecture. 

But, what exactly does that mean? Maybe 

a fine-tuning of the Chief of Army Staff 

Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai’s famous 

push-up skill. What other strategy will 

Buratai bring to bear on the war that he 

has not tried? How many times has he 

relocated to Borno State, the epicentre of 

the war? 

Since the president, the Commander-in- 

Chief of the Armed Forces, knows that his 

military commanders have done their best, 

which he said is unfortunately not good 

enough, to stem the tide of insecurity, 

doesn’t common sense dictate that he 

brings in new people to carry out the reengineering 

he seeks in the nation’s 

security architecture? 

The National Security Adviser, NSA, 

Major General 

Babagana 

Monguno (retd.), 

said the president 

restated his 

displeasure with 

the security 

chiefs’ inability 

to safeguard lives 

Why does 

Buhari prefer 

shedding 

crocodile tears 

on insecurity 

than doing the 

needful? 

and property, a 

sentiment he first expressed nearly two 

months ago, which is shared by a majority 

of Nigerians who have called for their 

resignation or sack. Governors are also 

voicing out the same concerns. Last week, 

Prof. Babagana Zulum of Borno, who 

survived an ambush by gunmen in his state, 

pointedly accused the military of 

sabotaging the anti-insurgency war. 

Lawmakers have joined the chorus. On 

July 21, barely 48 hours after an ambush 

by bandits in Katsina, the president’s home 

state, left at least 16 soldiers dead and 28 

others wounded, the Senate passed a 

resolution calling on the service chiefs to 

resign or be sacked. 

Ironically, the same president who said 

the efforts of the service chiefs were not 

good enough to stem the tide of insecurity 

spurned the legislators’ political backing, 

reminding them that the appointment and 

sacking of security chiefs remains a 

presidential prerogative, as if the 

lawmakers didn’t know. 

If the lawmakers didn’t know whose 

responsibility it is, they would have easily 

done the sacking without burdening the 

president with the responsibility because 

unlike many other issues, the clamour 

enjoys bi-partisan support. Perhaps, the 

presidency’s big idea of Buhari doing 

“what is in the best interest of the country 

at all times”, is this re-engineering 

bugaboo. But how can the 

country’s extant security 

architecture be overhauled 

with the same service chiefs 

who the president said had 

overstayed their welcome still 

in charge, the same service 

chiefs that the rank and file 

in the military are openly 

calling out and rebelling 

against? 

Is it possible, given the 

prevailing circumstances, for 

Nigerians to trust their president when he 

implores them to be patient and await the 

fruits of the re-engineering process? Does 

the president even believe himself when he 

assures distraught Nigerians that the 

situation is redeemable? 

Monguno said Buhari reaffirmed his 

position at the June 18 security council 

meeting that the security chiefs were not 

doing enough and hence should do more. 

“What he said today was virtually a 

reaffirmation of what he said the first time. 

Yes, Mr. President said you are doing your 

best, as far as I’m concerned, but there’s 

still a lot more to be done. I’m more 

concerned about the promise we made to 

the larger Nigerian society and I am 

ordering an immediate re-engineering of 

the entire security apparatus. This is 

something that I believe will be done in a 

very short time, but I just want us to keep 

hope alive,” he stated. 

It is doubtful that Buhari knows how 

Nigerians feel as he claims. But the 

statement by Monguno that “since he is 

not an octopus, since he is not a spirit, if he 

delegates to people, then the onus is on 

them to actually fulfill the legitimate 

expectations of the larger Nigerian 

society”, is ridiculous because the bulk, as 

he reminded the lawmakers, stops at his 

table. 

So, if the service chiefs fail to fulfil the 

legitimate expectations of the people, 

rather than wringing his fingers in 

exaggerated frustration, the president 

knows what to do. And if he fails to do the 

needful, then he should carry the can. 

Security 

situation 

The sad reality is that Nigerians have 

tolerated Buhari’s absolute lack of 

capacity to govern for too long and the 

consequences are dire. But the question 

that is begging for answer is what next? 

Where do we go from here? Between June 

18 when the president gave his service 

chiefs their marching orders and August 5, 

the security situation has not improved. 

Instead, it has deteriorated alarmingly. 

After the June 18 meeting, Monguno told 

Nigerians that: “Mr. President expressed 

great concern over the declining security 

situation in the country. He is extremely 

unhappy about what is happening and he 

feels that, even though the security 

agencies are doing their best, their best is 

not good enough for him and wants an 

immediate reversal of the current trend 

and immediate reversal of our misfortunes 

in all their dimensions.” 

Today, Nigerians are more traumatised. 

Ironically, it is not only the bloody civilians 

that have lost faith in the ability of the 

extant security architecture to do the job. 

Even soldiers on the frontlines are 

resigning in their hundreds. So, why does 

Buhari prefer shedding crocodile tears on 

insecurity than doing the needful? Why is 

he pretending to be sad about the 

precarious security situation in the country 

and yet sits on his palms and does nothing 

about it? Truth be told, Buhari does not 

really get it. But if he does, then he does not 

care about Nigerians. 

Pretending to sympathise with Nigerians 

over their security predicament without 

doing the needful is the height of dishonesty. 

Worse still, doesn’t honour demand that in 

the face of a near national consensus that 

their best is no longer good enough for the 

country, the security chiefs should 

voluntarily quit without waiting to be 

kicked out? The truth is that the president 

and his security commanders are playing 

games with the security of Nigerians for 

reasons only known to them. 


Economy 

#NBADecides2020: The election of 

unintended consequences 

By CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU 

BALLOTING for the leadership vote of 

the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, on 

July 29, had both indeterminacy and 

predictability - indeterminacy as to whom the 

outgoing leadership truly backed to succeed it 

but predictability as to the inadequacy of the 

arrangements for the vote. 

With just over 130,000 lawyers on Roll, the 

Nigerian Bar prides itself as the largest 

professional organisation in Africa. Since 

2016, its leadership elections had been 

conducted digitally, granting every living 

Nigerian the notional right to vote as long as 

they have paid their annual practicing fees for 

the year of the election and also subscribed to 

one of the 125 branches of the Association. 

In 2016, balloting in the NBA was followed 

by acrimonious claims of election rigging, 

which ended up in the civil courts. By the time 

judgement was reached in January 2019, the 

tenure against whom the suit was instituted 

was long ended. In 2018, the rigging was barefaced 

and would result two years later in 

criminal charges for digital fraud. 

In the month before the most recent ballot, it 

turned out that a senior lawyer had launched 

a not-so-quiet advocacy for the contest for the 

position of presidency of the NBA to be 

somewhat pre-determined. Thereafter, the 

campaigns caught fire and public 

imagination. Many factors were at play. No 

one knew how the COVID-19 pandemic 

would affect turn out. 

Ethnic politics was huge factor. Money was 

present. The competence and good faith of the 

Electoral Committee of the NBA, ECNBA, 

were in doubt. Yet, #NBADecides2020 may 

ultimately have been determined by two 

curveballs outside the control of the 

Association: its organs or the candidates - the 

misguided sense of professional entitlement 

of one Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and 

a criminal indictment by the Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. It was 

arguably a contest framed and determined by 

the laws of unintended consequences. 

Two-by-two ethnic politics 

This year, as always, the marquee position 

was for presidency of the NBA. Three 

candidates, all men, were in the running but, 

wherever you looked, they showed up in pairs. 

Dr. Babatunde Ajibade and Olumide Akpata 

were both of the Lagos Bar. 

Dele Adesina, the other candidate, belonged 

to the Ikeja Bar. Adesina and Ajibade were 

both from Ekiti State in South-West Nigeria; 

Akpata came from Edo State in the Mid-West. 

Ajibade and Akpata were both born in Ibadan, 

Oyo State. Adesina was born in the state of his 

origins. Ajibade and Akpata were both 

products of Nigeria’s Unity School system – 

Ajibade went to 

the Federal 

Government 

C o l l e g e , 

Odogbolu in 

Ogun State, 

while Akpata 

attended Kings 

College, Lagos. 

Two factors 

PROF CHIDI ODINKALU 

would ultimately 

feature the most in the campaigns and 

prefigure the outcome. One was that both 

Adesina and Ajibade were Senior Advocates 

of Nigeria, SAN, while Akpata, a former chair 

of the NBA’s Section on Business Law, SBL, 

built his practice and reputation as an expert 

in transactions, with him being one. The other 

was that both Adesina and Ajibade are seen as 

Yoruba from the South Western states of 

Nigeria. This is where the story gets interesting. 

Eligibility to contest for the office of the 

president of the NBA is based on a policy of 

regional inclusion or rotation. For this 

purpose, Nigeria is divided into three zones 

approximating to the three founding regions 

of Nigeria at Independence in 1960, namely: 

East, North and West. 

The office rotates to the next zone after two 

years. This year, it was the turn of the West. In 

1960, Nigeria’s Western Region included the 

territories and communities that became Mid- 

West Region in 1964 and are today known as 

Edo and Delta states. Until 2012, the rotation 

appeared to exclude the Mid-West. In 2014, 

they insisted on fielding a candidate, Augustine 

Alegeh, SAN, when the rotation to produce a 

president last landed in the West. Alegeh beat 

three other candidates then to emerge 

victorious. 

This year, a conclave claiming to represent 

Yoruba lawyers, better known as Egbe Amofin, 

weighed in on the contest by endorsing Dele 

Adesina as their preferred candidate for the 

presidency. In doing this, they persuaded some 

other aspirants from their part of the country 

to stand down their ambitions. 

Tunde Ajibade, who is no less Yoruba than 

Adesina, resolutely declined to stand down his 

own ambition, effectively denying the Egbe 

Amofina consensus (unlike in 2010). This was 

the first chink in the armour of ethnic bar 

politics in the 2020 election cycle. The second 

was the failure of the cauldron of a single- 

Eligibility to 

contest for the 

office of the 

president of the 

NBA is based on a 

policy of regional 

inclusion or 

rotation 

narrative, ethnic 

politics to burn 

Olumide Akpata, 

whose paternal 

origins are in the 

Mid-West, by 

suggesting that he 

did not come 

from the West. 

Rather than derail 

his candidacy, this 

early whispering 

effort appeared in failing to burn his ambitions 

to have propelled it. The early trajectory of 

unintended consequence had been set. 

Asiwaju’s misguided epistle 

Sometime in June 2020, Asiwaju Gboyega 

Awomolo, SAN, one of Nigeria’s more senior 

lawyers, addressed a letter to Chief Thompson 

Onomigbo Okpoko, the most senior living 

former president of the NBA. The letter 

complained of an “unannounced but powerful 

and potent revolutionary move by our junior 

colleagues, who are very much in larger 

numbers, to wrestle the office of the NBA (sic) 

from the rank of SAN”. To redress this, Chief 

Awomolo suggested that Chief Okpoko should 

lead a counter-revolution, requiring him to 

exert his utmost to see that the presidency of 

the NBA is kept within “the tradition of the 

rank and seniority” of SAN. Rounding off his 

advocacy, Chief Awomolo, lamented that “it 

will be a great failure of leadership for the 

Senior Advocate to surrender leadership to 

(sic) Outer Bar when there are willing and able 

Senior Advocates”. 

This letter was not meant to be public. 

Sometime in the last week of June 2020, it 

leaked, suggesting that someone among its 

recipients found it in poor taste. But taste was 

the least of the problems with it. First, it was a 

mis-guided attempt to clothe narrow ethnic 

advocacy with high purpose and to end-run 

the democratic process. To understand its 

direction of travel, Adesina became SAN in 

2007, ahead of Ajibade who took the rank in 

2009. If the club of SAN were to be the 

consideration and seniority in terms of 

admission into it dispositive as Awomolo 

advocated, there was only one way the election 

was to be determined: in favour of Adesina, 

whose claim to the inside track, mind you, was 

that he was endorsed by the Egbe Amofin, an 

ethnocentric conclave not exactly part of the 

NBA. 

Second, it should have been evident to Chief 

Awomolo that Chief Okpoko was probably 

the wrong person to whom to address such 

advocacy. Apart from being the senior-most 

former Bar President, Chief Okpoko is also 

the leader of the Mid-West Bar, which had a 

candidate in the contest in Olumide Akpata. 

Akpata began his legal practice in Warri, the 

city in the Niger Delta where Chief Okpoko 

built his practice. 

In a contest in which ethnic origins had high 

salience, Chief Okpoko could only support 

Awomolo’s design at the risk of suffering exile 

from his natal origins and professional home 

in the twilight of his life. Far from his design, 

Awomolo triggered an unintended 

consequence in a ferocious blowback. 

To be concluded 

•Prof. Odinkalu, a co-convenor of the Open 

Bar Initiative, OBI, wrote in his individual 

capacity. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


MANY Nigerians must be shocked 

to know that the Nigerian Postal 

Service, NIPOST, still exists. The 

deregulation of the Posts and 

Telegraph, P&T, sector which enabled 

the private GSM companies to 

bankrupt the Nigerian 

Telecommunications Ltd., NITEL, had, 

for almost 20 years, also rendered 

NIPOST irrelevant. 

The recent outrageous “licencing” 

Gone are the days when a posted 

fees issued by the comatose NIPOST 

letter would take six months to get to 

is simply unfathomable in logic and 

its destination, if it ever gets there. 

commonsense. On July 23, 2020, 

Text messages, emails and the plethora 

NIPOST set new guidelines for 

of social media have given the people 

courier and logistics companies which 

direct control of their messaging, in 

are clearly meant to cripple the private 

real time and at minimal cost. 

sector operators and restore 

Postal services all over the world 

NIPOST’s unearned relevance. 

responded to the Information and 

Licence fees for international 

Computer Technology, ICT, revolution 

courier companies (example, DHL) 

by privatising or folding up. But our 

were doubled from N10m to N20m 

own NIPOST did neither. It became 

with renewal fee increased by 40 per 

another bottle-fed, salary-guzzling 

cent. National operators (such as GIG) 

federal agency. Many of its branches 

are to pay N10m instead of N2m with 

in the 774 local government areas of 

N4m renewal cost. Regional licences 

the country were abandoned. 

are now N5m with N2m renewal cost, 

NIPOST’s monstrous licence fees 

while state operators will pay N2m and 

N800,000 renewal cost. 

Smaller state zonal operators will 

pay N1m with N400,000 renewal cost, 

while operators with less than five 

bikes are to pay the SME licence of 

N250,000 per bike. Besides, 

companies are required to remit two 

per cent of their annual revenues. 

The Ministry of Communications 

and Digital Economy has suspended 

the policy due to public outcry. There 

is no guarantee they won’t bring it 

back. The first anomaly here is that 

NIPOST is regulating an industry in 

which it is a participant. It does not 

happen in any civilised, market 

economy because of obvious conflict 

of interests which will work against 

the private sector. As an operator, 

NIPOST must hands off regulation. 

It should pursue its partnership with 

the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, 

aimed at converting its offices 

nationwide to microfinance banks. 

This increase is a declaration of war 

against struggling and innovative 

Nigerian youth exploring their ICT 

savvy to boost the service industry and 

support the COVID-19 economy 

through home deliveries. 

Governments at all levels must resist 

the evil impulse of harassing, 

intimidating, extorting and 

asphyxiating the logistics companies 

and their delivery bikers. 

The federal and state governments 

must not frustrate efforts by small and 

medium scale businesses through the 

predatory use of state power. They 

must be serious in implanting 

government’s touted Ease of Doing 

Business, EODB, policy. 

OPINION 

COVID-19: Dealing with fear and stigma 

By CHIDIRIM NDECHE 

WHAT would you do if you woke up 

in the morning and found out you 

had recently come in contact with 

someone who tested positive for the 

dreaded COVID-19? What if, even after 

you’ve successfully kept this information 

to yourself, a couple of days down the line, 

you start to experience some symptoms 

associated with the disease? 

What would be your next line of action 

and how would you handle it? Would you 

visit a nearby market to buy as much 

ginger and garlic as you can find? Would 

you stay indoors and pray that the cup 

passes over you? Would you call 

08000CORONA to get yourself tested for 

the disease? Is your heart beating heavily 

right now, just weighing all the possibilities 

and what they could mean for you and 

your family? 

While people’s reactions to a pandemic 

are difficult to predict, it is no news that 

the attitude to this pandemic ranges from 

a crippling fear to complete denial that 

the virus exists. 

The response so far: Only a few months 

after the discovery of the novel 

coronavirus, it exploded into a major 

pandemic, spread to 216 countries around 

the world and sent billions of people into 

mandatory or voluntary confinement. 

In those months, the world watched as 

religious centres and schools closed down 

and economies came to a halt. Many 

misconceptions arose, and reputable 

health institutions struggled to debunk the 

myths and conspiracies associated with 

the virus. But while it was essential to 

encourage the practices that would 

contain the spread of the virus, it became 

more difficult to deduce what was reliable 

and safe. 

On March 18, Nigerian polling service 

NOIPolls announced that 26 percent of 

Nigerians were in doubt about the 

existence of the disease. While some 

claimed that their religion protected them 

from contracting COVID-19, others 

believed their strong genes, alcohol and 

the hot climate were the antidotes to the 

deadly virus. This led to people not 

Stigma can drive people to 

hide their illness to avoid 

discrimination; it can also 

prevent them from seeking 

medical care immediately and 

discourage them from adopting 

healthy behaviours 

protecting themselves and others 

effectively, as advised by the authorities, 

thus putting their immediate community 

and health workers at risk. 

Causality in COVID: Among health 

workers, fear of infection and lack of 

protection are some of the factors 

militating against the effective 

dispensation of their jobs. Improvement 

in workplace safety and the welfare of 

healthcare workers will boost their 

willingness to effectively carry out their 

duties in the face of the pandemic. 

Meanwhile, many patients fail to 

disclose their infections or underlying 

health conditions when they go to 

hospitals for treatment for other health 

conditions. 

This largely stems from the fact that 

news on the COVID-19 disease, which 

continues to evolve, is characterised by 

extreme uncertainty. Much about the 

coronavirus remains unclear, including 

the health complications it may cause to 

the human body, its spread, and whether 

antibodies can deliver long-lasting 

immunity. This reflects in the insufficient 

or contradictory data and statistical 

shortcomings. 

Misinformation is not new to Nigeria. 

At the height of the Ebola epidemic in 

2014, false news swirled around the 

country, leading to two deaths. This 

pattern reemerged during the COVID-19 

outbreak. Lagos health officials reported 

news of people overdosing on Chloroquine 

after a reputable personality opined that 

the drug could treat the coronavirus. 

Misinformation is, perhaps, the major 

reason why many fear to report to 

authorities when they suspect they have 

contracted the virus. This reluctance to be 

tested for COVID-19 could be for a variety 

of reasons. 

People might want to avoid the 

consequences of a positive result, and so 

some live in denial that the disease exists. 

Those who fear that they have contracted 

it fail to get tested because of the waiting 

list in testing centres and fear of the 

perceived pain and discomfort of the test 

procedure itself. These people, in turn, put 

their families and other members of the 

community at risk of contracting the 

disease. Some feared they may be 

stigmatised by people around them even 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

after they have been cured of the virus. 

The way forward: There are many 

negative effects caused by the coronavirus, 

including stigmatisation and 

discrimination of people affected by the 

outbreak which in turn hampers response 

efforts. Stigma can drive people to hide 

their illness to avoid discrimination. It can 

also prevent them from seeking medical 

care immediately and discourage them 

from adopting healthy behaviours. 

To address these issues and prevent 

further transmission of the communicable 

disease, an environment needs to be 

created in which the disease and its impact 

can be discussed and addressed openly, 

honestly and effectively. The community 

also needs to work together to build trust 

in reliable health services, understand the 

disease, empathise with those affected, 

and adopt practical and effective 

measures to protect its members. The way 

we communicate about COVID-19 is 

critical in combating the disease and 

avoiding further fuelling of harmful 

stereotypes. 

The Lagos State Government aims to 

ensure the protection of all its citizens, 

curtail the spread of the disease and 

preserve the healthcare system. Knowing 

the extent to which fear, denial and 

discrimination can hamper the efforts of 

its public health institutions in the fight to 

curtail the spread of the disease, the state 

has provided psychological care services 

through its COVID-19 call centres and 

outreach programmes to assist Lagosians 

dealing with the psychological issues that 

come with the disease and clarify general 

misunderstandings associated with the 

pandemic. 

•Ndeche, a public health consultant, 

wrote from Lagos


C 

M 

Y 

K


NEWS HOTLINES: 

08052867023, 08052867058 

Idjerhe kindship crisis: C'ttee members abandon 

inauguration, as Unugborodo of Jesse Central resigns 

By Paul Olayemi 

THE Idjerhe Kingship 

cisis in Ethiope West 

Local government area of 

Delta State took a new twist, 

yesterday, after nine 

members of the 13-man 

committee selected to pick 

a king by the 

Unugbrogodos of the 

kingdom stayed away from 

the inauguration venue. 

The Unugbrogodos, 

Chief Godwin Ofishe, 

Chief Solomon Odemero 

Ojariefe and the eldest, 

Chief William Atiti of Jesse 

Central, Boboroku, and 

Oyonbru subclan 

respectively were last week 

mandated to select a 13- 

man committee to screen the 

Kingship aspirants, after 

the previous one was 

dissolved by the council 

chairman in a peace 

meeting in Oghara. 

The selected members, 

whom Vanguard learnt 

were informed of the 

inauguration date and 

venue refused to turn up. 

Chief William Atiti told 

Vanguard on behalf of the 

other chiefs that they were 

putting on hold the issue 

of selecting a king for the 

kingdom, "nine of the 

Idjerhe Central members 

are not here, so we have 

decided that the issue of 

selecting a new king 

should be put on hold till 

further notice" adding he 

will consult with the 

kingdom political leaders 

before a decision can be 

reached. 

Chief Godwin Ofishe, 

who also spoke, said the trio 

was putting hold to the 

whole process, because 

there were certain forces 

working against the 

committee. 

However, in a shocking 

move, the Unugbrogodo of 

Jesse Central, Chief 

Solomon Odemero 

Ojariefe, said he was 

stepping down from his 

position, saying he would 

be reaching out to other 

chiefs who were 

suspended from the council 

in Chief, after they were 

alleged to have crowned 

one of the aspirant in the 

night. 

Ogodo extols Omo-Agege at 57 

THE 

Deputy 

Chairman of the All 

Progressives Congress, 

and former House of 

Assembly aspirant in 

Sapele, Delta State, Mr 

Moses Ogodo, has 

congratulated the Deputy 

Senate President, Sen. 

Ovie Omo-Agege on his 

57th birthday. 

In a statement issued on 

Monday, August 4, by the 

former Sapele Okpe 

community chairman, in 

Sapele, he praised the 

Senator for the stability and 

focused legislation, he has 

brought to Delta Central 

and the Senate. 

Ogodo also felicitated 

with the Omo-Agege 

political family, and 

friends. 

Ogodo said: "Agege's 

tenure as deputy senate 

president had brought 

about the passing of many 

bills that has helped to 

redefine politics, loyalty and 

the advancement of Niger 

Delta. 

"I believe that his 

emergence as Delta 

Central Senator and rise to 

the Deputy Senate seat has 

brought wealth of 

experience that would be 

most useful for the country's 

development especially in 

peace sustainance across 

Niger Delta and the 

country.” 

Ogodo also prayed that God will 

grant the Deputy senate 

president longer life, good health 

and wisdom to continue serving 

his people and the country.

•The sealed hotel 

Hotel, wedding guests, incur wrath of 

COVID-19 Task Force in Ekiti 

•We have been pardoned — Manager 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

ADO-EKITI—IT was 

like a movie from the 

popular Nollywood 

stable last Saturday in Ado- 

Ekiti, Ekiti State when 

wedding guests, resplendent in 

their different attires and 

designers’ shoes, abandoned the 

bride and groom, took to their 

heels, scampered in different 

directions as if they had sighted 

ghosts. 

As the guests showed clean 

pairs of heels, leaving behind 

By Deola Badru 

IBADAN—IN its bid to tackle 

looming food scarcity and 

hunger, FarmKonnect 

Agribusiness Nigeria Limited, 

has inaugurated ‘Wave City’ an 

agricultural project aimed at 

promoting food sufficiency, 

national development and 

agricultural inclusion. 

The wave city project cited at 

Wasimi area of Osun State was 

inaugurated by the State 

Commissioner for Agriculture, 

Mr. Adewole Adedayo,. 

Founder of the agribusiness 

farm, Mr. Azeez Oluwole, stated 

that the mission of the project was 

to take agriculture beyond just 

planting and making money, but 

a business that promote food 

sufficiency, national development 

as well as agricultural inclusion 

of all. 

Oluwole said: ”In 

FarmKonnect, we run a model 

we call agricultural real estate 

and we are the first to do that. 

This allows multiple people to 

own a portion of the farm and they 

don’t necessarily have to step on 

the farm. 

“All they just need to do is 

engage their money and we take 

all the performances around. The 

greenhouses you are seeing here 

their belongings and the purpose 

of their gatherings, operatives of 

the COVIDS-19 Task Force 

quietly moved in, arrested those 

who couldn’t make it through the 

exit door and sealed the venue of 

the unholy gathering with chains 

and lock. 

Delight Hotel and Suites, a 

popular four-star Hotel, fun spot 

for the high, mighty and upwardly 

mobile in the cosmopolitan city of 

Ado-Ekiti, would be under lock 

and key for some time to come for 

violating the state government 

regulations to contain the spread 

of the deadly coronavirus 

pandemic. 

Flouting COVID-19 protocols 

The wedding guests had already 

settled down, with their tables 

adorned with different exotic 

dishes, assorted wines and drinks 

and the Dj was already 

serenading them with different 

high life and Afro-hip pop tunes 

when the COVID-19 task force 

stormed the venue. 

The unexpected swoop created 

a bedlam, the wedding was 

brought to an abrupt end as some 

of the guests fled on sighting 

security men on the team. 

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020— 21 

regulations noting that the 

government won’t relax in 

enforcing the regulations to 

safeguard public health. 

Aluko said: “We got a report that 

an elaborate wedding party was 

held at Delight Hotel and Suites 

on Ilawe Road and we swung into 

action to know the veracity of the 

claim. 

“Then we discovered that the 

hotel broke the COVID-19 

protocols. We sent security 

operatives to go there and check 

and when the team went to check, 

they saw a large crowd of people 

in the hotel eating and drinking.” 

Aluko, however, declined to 

reveal whether arrests were 

made during the raid stressing 

that the task force closed down 

the hotel for violation of COVID- 

19 regulations. 

As part of efforts to contain the 

spread of COVID-19 in Ekiti, the 

state government directed that 

social gatherings, like weddings, 

burials and other parties, must 

not exceed 20 persons in 

attendance. 

It also insisted that such 

gatherings must comply with 6- 

feet social distancing, wearing of 

face masks and hand-washing 

facilities must be made available 

at such events. 

The hotel, located on Ilawe 

Road in the state capital, ran into 

trouble for completely 

disregarding all the COVID-19 

regulations, especially loading 

people in covered space with no 

respect for social distancing and 

also for breaching the 

government’s order on lockdown 

during weekends. 

The hotel was deserted and 

desolate for three days before it 

was pardoned by the state 

government. 

The two main gates, leading to 

the complex and its glass doors 

leading to its reception were 

firmly under lock and keys until 

Tuesday before it was opened for 

business. 

Why we sealed hotel— Task 

Force leader 

The Coordinator of Ekiti State 

COVID-19 Task Force, Prof. 

Bolaji Aluko, said the operatives 

acted on a tip-off that the hotel 

contravened the government’s 

regulations of gathering more 

than 20 persons. 

He warned residents of the 

state especially owners of 

relaxation centres against 

violating the COVID-19 

We have been pardoned – 

Hotel mgt 

Speaking with Vanguard, the 

hotel manager, Mr. Ayoola Ayeni, 

said the Task Force has pardoned 

their misdemeanors and has also 

been allowed to open for business 

but this was not without some 

session on the regulations and 

protocols that govern COVID-19. 

Ayeni said: “We have been 

pardoned and we have been 

allowed to return to business. The 

Task Force educated the 

management and staff of the hotel 

on the regulations to control the 

spread of coronavirus in the state 

and they said that would be the 

template for other hotels. 

“We were not completely in the 

know of the regulations, we have 

apologized to the concerned 

authorities and we have pledged 

our support to Task Force. We are 

in Ekiti, for the greater good of 

all.” 

Food security: FarmKonnect tasks youths to embrace farming 

•Sets up WAVE CITY in Osun 

are specifically designed for the 

tropic. 

“The vision is to build 1,000,000 

square metres of greenhouses, a 

controlled farming environment 

technology using greenhouses 

and net houses to produce fruits 

and leafy vegetables from 

tomatoes to pepper. 

“This is the first of its kind in 

Nigeria. This is specifically 

designed for minimal electricity 

as well as to expand our yield.” 

Youths must embrace farming 

He advised youths to align with 

the current trend in the 

agricultural sector by recognising 

the opportunities in the industry. 

He said: “Youths should align 

now to stop looming hunger. With 

the youth population that we 

have, sub-Saharan Africa should 

not be malnourished region on 

the planet. 

Oyetola hails FarmKonnect 

Speaking on behalf of Governor 

Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State, 

the State Commissioner for 

Agriculture, Mr. Adewole 

Adedayo noted that every 

responsible government must 

create enabling environment for 

farmers, describing the project as 

one of its kind in the state and 

south-west region. 

Adedayo said: “Today, I believe 

FarmKonnect is now realising a 

dream that started about three 

years ago; having FarmKonnect 

in Osun State is another dream. 

“Having these facilities on 

ground to develop agriculture in 

the south-west is a dream realised. 

So, FarmKonnect has realised a 

dream. 

“Like I keep saying, agriculture 

has the highest potentials to create 

jobs, both for skilled and unskilled 

labour. So, I will like to thank 

FarmKonnect for bringing this 

project to Osun State.” 

Experts harp on food security 

In a similar event, experts in the 

agricultural sector stressed the 

need for Nigerians to place 

premium on food and nutrition 

security. 

These were the views of 

participants at the Wave City 

virtual press conference of 

FarmKonnect Agribusiness 

Nigeria Limited, held in Ibadan. 

The agribusiness experts noted 

that if innovative solutions were 

not found, they would not respect 

the lockdown and social 

We sent security 

operatives to go 

there and check 

and when the team 

went to check, they 

saw a large crowd 

of people in the 

hotel eating and 

drinking 

•The Osun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Adewole 

Adebayo, during the inauguration of Farmkonneck project 

in Osun, while the founder of the project, Mr. Azeez Oluwole 

(left) looks on. 

distancing that are necessary to 

combat the COVID-19 

pandemic. 

According to Mr. Fajemirokun 

of Faj Bio-tech, COVID-19 is 

already pushing economies 

around the world into turmoil, 

adding that this would have 

direct, negative consequences 

for hunger and food insecurity. 

Fajemirokun said: “If food 

prices go up, consumers may 

resort to changing their 

consumption habits or 

purchasing less nutritious foods, 

which are often cheaper. 

“Governments can help with 

the accessibility of fresh fruits and 

vegetables to ensure they remain 

part of a healthy diet. In addition, 

governments should also 

encourage producers of fresh food 

and provide them the needed 

incentive to stay in business and 

access to markets while ensuring 

their protection and food safety. 

“Governments should monitor 

prices and release food from these 

reserves if prices spike. In 

addition, governments should 

also not hesitate to distribute or 

request assistance from 

businesses or international and 

national organizations to 

distribute food to those in need.


MSMEs' contribution to 

Nigeria Economy is vital— 

Amb Katagum 

By Victoria Ojeme 

THE Minister of State for 

Industry, Trade and 

I n v e s t m e n t , 

Ambassador Mariam Katagum, 

has said that Micro Small and 

Medium Enterprises, MSMEs 

play an important role to 

sustainable economic 

development of Nigeria. 

She made this known at the 

2020 Virtual National MSME 

award. She however, 

emphasized that the 

contributions made from the 

MSMEs create a solid platform 

for a sustainable economy, 

which could have a positive 

effect on the unemployment 

situation in the country. 

According to her, the federal 

government would 

continuously make effective 

policies that would help foster 

the growth of MSMEs, so that 

they do not get discouraged and 

Nigeria could glide on a 

sustainable economy. 

THE Federal 

Government has 

condemned the 

sidelining of sexual and 

reproductive health 

programmes as a result of 

COVID-19. 

The Minister of Women 

Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen 

said this at the launch of the 

State of the World Population, 

SWOP, 2020 Report in Abuja 

recently. 

She said the intervention to 

curb COVID-19 pandemic, has 

truncated the progress made 

on the issues and concerns of 

women and girls; particularly 

in fragile and low-income 

She said, “This would trigger 

the emergence of a platform 

for a sustainable 

entrepreneurial ecosystem 

towards energizing the 

Nigerian MSMEs to a path of 

inclusive growth and 

sustainable development. 

“This sector plays a pivotal 

role in stimulating economic 

growth and providing 

employment to vulnerable 

groups such as the youth, 

women and the poor. 

Therefore, this forms the 

bases for the commitment and 

sustained interest by the 

Federal Government of 

Nigeria in repositioning the 

sector for efficiency, growth 

and development. 

“The Federal Government of 

Nigeria continuously ensures 

that policies and programmes 

towards MSME development 

are deliberately crafted to 

yield the desired output of 

MSME growth and 

development. This means 

Pauline Tallen 


countries, where health and 

social systems are already 

inadequate. 

According to her, “Several 

sexual and reproductive 

health programmes have 

been disrupted, leading to 

higher maternal mortality 

and morbidity. Nigeria, like 

many other countries has 

recorded a spike in genderbased 

violence and an 

unprecedented surge in rape 

cases, even of minors and 

older persons. The situation 

is so depressing that we now 

refer to it as a ‘pandemic 

MSMEs across the country are 

once again given the 

opportunity to be recognized 

and rewarded for their 

creativity, steadfastness and 

diligence towards their 

different chosen businesses 

within the last one year. 

“This important gathering is 

designed to acknowledge, 

encourage, reward and 

recognize the vital 

contributions made by the 

Micro, Small and Medium 

Enterprises to Nigeria’s 

economic growth and 

development. It is gladdening 

that the impact of our work in 

‘Ease of Doing Business’ is 

gradually being felt by 

businesses, small and large; its 

success has allowed us to follow 

up with the MSME Clinics and 

the annual MSME Awards like 

the one we are holding today. 

“Let me congratulate all the 

finalists, who have joined us 

virtually, from different 

locations across the nation. 

“I must also pay tribute to the 

numerous MSME Associations 

across the country and our past 

COVID-19: FG 

condemns 

disruption of 

maternal 

health prog. 

within a pandemic. 

“With the restrictions placed 

on movements, household 

incomes were negatively 

impacted and many 

developing countries, such as 

ours where women have 

greater representation in the 

informal sector risked a slide 

into food insecurity, poverty 

and malnutrition thereby 

increasing gender inequality. 

“This has made Government 

at all levels respond positively 

to the national outcry that 

trailed the unacceptable 

trends and patterns witnessed 

in the last few months. 

"We are constantly engaging 

with the Nigeria Police on the 

need to promptly address 

issues of Rape and GBV in the 

country. 

“As a follow-up, Wives of the 

Governors of the States have 

also formed themselves into a 

Coalition with the support of 

the First Lady, Dr. Aisha 

Buhari and the wife of the Vice 

President, Mrs. Dolapo 

Osinbajo in a bid to address the 

hydra-headed monster of rape 

and other 

National MSME Award 

winners, who are now MSME 

Clinic Ambassadors for 

ABUJA- AS Federal 

intensifies efforts to 

position the solid 

minerals sector of the economy; 

women across the country have 

been assured 60 per cent 

employment in gold processing 

and buying centres. 

This was disclosed by the 

Secretary, Presidential Artisanal 

Gold Mining Development 

Initiative, PAGMI, Hajiya 

Fatima Shinkafi, during a media 

briefing recently. 

Shinkafi explained the 

initiative will enable the 

country’s gold industry across 

every gender, hence women 

have strategic role to play in 

value addition and wealth 

creation. According to her, 

“Women are going to be trained 

in various aspects of the gold 

value chain that would make 

them professionals, and in turn 

also train other women. 

“The main policy is to 

empower artisanal miners and 

give them better value to what 

Ambassador 

Katagum 

Women to get 60% 

employment in gold 

processing, buying centres— 

Shinkafi 

By Gabriel Ewepu 

constantly promoting our 

MSME initiatives at their 

various events”, she said. 

they are doing, right now it is 

poverty driven eking out a 

living and they are doing it 

blindly. 

“It is geared towards limiting 

those negative ramifications 

that come from artisanal 

mining. 

“PAGMI estimates that the 

Federal Government could 

realize an annual average of 

$150 million in taxes, $25 

million in royalties, and $500 

million accretion to foreign 

reserves from the integration of 

artisanal gold mining activities 

implemented by PAGMI. 

“This will result in the creation 

of over 500,000 new mining 

and formalized jobs, leading to 

poverty alleviation for more 

than 1 million households. 

“Through it, the Central Bank 

of Nigeria will purchase locally 

produced gold in Naira to boost 

the nation’s foreign reserves. 

“It will buy all the gold 

produced by artisanal and 

small-scale miners and 

aggregated by licensed buying 

centers and aggregators for 

supply to the Central Bank of 

Nigeria”, she stated. 

L-R: Hon. Minister, 

Mines 

and Steel Development, 

Arc Olamilekan 

Adegbite 

with the Executive 

Secretary 

SMDF 

and Secretary 

of PAGMI, 

Hajia Fatima 

Shinkafi at an 

interactive 

session with 

journalists


MSMEs' contribution to 

Nigeria Economy is vital— 

Amb Katagum 


THE Minister of State for 

Industry, Trade and 

I n v e s t m e n t , 

Ambassador Mariam Katagum, 

has said that Micro Small and 

Medium Enterprises, MSMEs 

play an important role to 

sustainable economic 

development of Nigeria. 

She made this known at the 

2020 Virtual National MSME 

award. She however, 

emphasized that the 

contributions made from the 

MSMEs create a solid platform 

for a sustainable economy, 

which could have a positive 

effect on the unemployment 

situation in the country. 

According to her, the federal 

government would 

continuously make effective 

policies that would help foster 

the growth of MSMEs, so that 

they do not get discouraged and 

Nigeria could glide on a 

sustainable economy. 

THE Federal 

Government has 

condemned the 

sidelining of sexual and 


programmes as a result of 

COVID-19. 

The Minister of Women 

Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen 

said this at the launch of the 

State of the World Population, 

SWOP, 2020 Report in Abuja 

recently. 

She said the intervention to 

curb COVID-19 pandemic, has 

truncated the progress made 

on the issues and concerns of 

women and girls; particularly 

in fragile and low-income 

She said, “This would trigger 

the emergence of a platform 

for a sustainable 

entrepreneurial ecosystem 

towards energizing the 

Nigerian MSMEs to a path of 

inclusive growth and 

sustainable development. 

“This sector plays a pivotal 

role in stimulating economic 

growth and providing 

employment to vulnerable 

groups such as the youth, 

women and the poor. 

Therefore, this forms the 

bases for the commitment and 

sustained interest by the 


Nigeria in repositioning the 

sector for efficiency, growth 

and development. 

“The Federal Government of 

Nigeria continuously ensures 

that policies and programmes 

towards MSME development 

are deliberately crafted to 

yield the desired output of 

MSME growth and 

development. This means 

Pauline Tallen 


countries, where health and 

social systems are already 

inadequate. 

According to her, “Several 


health programmes have 

been disrupted, leading to 

higher maternal mortality 

and morbidity. Nigeria, like 

many other countries has 

recorded a spike in genderbased 

violence and an 

unprecedented surge in rape 

cases, even of minors and 

older persons. The situation 

is so depressing that we now 

refer to it as a ‘pandemic 

MSMEs across the country are 

once again given the 

opportunity to be recognized 

and rewarded for their 

creativity, steadfastness and 

diligence towards their 

different chosen businesses 

within the last one year. 

“This important gathering is 

designed to acknowledge, 

encourage, reward and 

recognize the vital 

contributions made by the 

Micro, Small and Medium 

Enterprises to Nigeria’s 

economic growth and 

development. It is gladdening 

that the impact of our work in 

‘Ease of Doing Business’ is 

gradually being felt by 

businesses, small and large; its 

success has allowed us to follow 

up with the MSME Clinics and 

the annual MSME Awards like 

the one we are holding today. 

“Let me congratulate all the 

finalists, who have joined us 

virtually, from different 

locations across the nation. 

“I must also pay tribute to the 

numerous MSME Associations 

across the country and our past 

COVID-19: FG 

condemns 

disruption of 

maternal 

health prog. 

within a pandemic. 

“With the restrictions placed 

on movements, household 

incomes were negatively 

impacted and many 

developing countries, such as 

ours where women have 

greater representation in the 

informal sector risked a slide 

into food insecurity, poverty 

and malnutrition thereby 

increasing gender inequality. 

“This has made Government 

at all levels respond positively 

to the national outcry that 

trailed the unacceptable 

trends and patterns witnessed 

in the last few months. 

"We are constantly engaging 

with the Nigeria Police on the 

need to promptly address 

issues of Rape and GBV in the 

country. 

“As a follow-up, Wives of the 

Governors of the States have 

also formed themselves into a 

Coalition with the support of 

the First Lady, Dr. Aisha 

Buhari and the wife of the Vice 

President, Mrs. Dolapo 

Osinbajo in a bid to address the 

hydra-headed monster of rape 

and other 

Woman's Own 03/08/2020 

National MSME Award 

winners, who are now MSME 

Clinic Ambassadors for 

ABUJA- AS Federal 

intensifies efforts to 

position the solid 

minerals sector of the economy; 

women across the country have 

been assured 60 per cent 

employment in gold processing 

and buying centres. 

This was disclosed by the 

Secretary, Presidential Artisanal 

Gold Mining Development 

Initiative, PAGMI, Hajiya 

Fatima Shinkafi, during a media 

briefing recently. 

Shinkafi explained the 

initiative will enable the 

country’s gold industry across 

every gender, hence women 

have strategic role to play in 

value addition and wealth 

creation. According to her, 

“Women are going to be trained 

in various aspects of the gold 

value chain that would make 

them professionals, and in turn 

also train other women. 

“The main policy is to 

empower artisanal miners and 

give them better value to what 

Ambassador 

Katagum 

Women to get 60% 

employment in gold 

processing, buying centres— 

Shinkafi 

By Gabriel Ewepu 

constantly promoting our 

MSME initiatives at their 

various events”, she said. 

they are doing, right now it is 

poverty driven eking out a 

living and they are doing it 

blindly. 

“It is geared towards limiting 

those negative ramifications 

that come from artisanal 

mining. 

“PAGMI estimates that the 

Federal Government could 

realize an annual average of 

$150 million in taxes, $25 

million in royalties, and $500 

million accretion to foreign 

reserves from the integration of 

artisanal gold mining activities 

implemented by PAGMI. 

“This will result in the creation 

of over 500,000 new mining 

and formalized jobs, leading to 

poverty alleviation for more 

than 1 million households. 

“Through it, the Central Bank 

of Nigeria will purchase locally 

produced gold in Naira to boost 

the nation’s foreign reserves. 

“It will buy all the gold 

produced by artisanal and 

small-scale miners and 

aggregated by licensed buying 

centers and aggregators for 

supply to the Central Bank of 

Nigeria”, she stated. 

L-R: Hon. Minister, 

Mines 

and Steel Development, 

Arc Olamilekan 

Adegbite 

with the Executive 

Secretary 

SMDF 

and Secretary 

of PAGMI, 

Hajia Fatima 

Shinkafi at an 

interactive 

session with 

journalists


COVID-19: Elumelu, Okonjo-Iweala, Songwe, others 

emphasis need to diversify economy 

...Say African countries spend more annually on debt servicing than education, healthcare 

NIGERIA’S former 

finance minister Mrs. 

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala 

has emphasised the need to 

diversify the economy through 

strengthening the manufacturing 

sector. 

Okonjo-Iweala disclosed this at 

a recent virtual roundtable 

hosted by the New York Forum 

Institute and organised by Tony 

Elumelu, Chairman of the pan- 

African bank, United Bank for 

Africa Plc, UBA. 

Other facilitators who spoke at 

the roundtable, Tidjane Thiam, 

African Union Special Envoy on 

Covid-19, harped on the need to 

create more jobs on the 

continent. 

Also, the moderator Vera 

Songwe, Executive Secretary of 

TAWN rallies women for growth 

as it celebrates anniversary 

....seeks women inclusion in nation building 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

THE African Women 

Network, TAWN, a 

non-profit organization 

established to give African 

women a voice in society 

and empower them to contribute 

to societal growth, has 

called for the full engagement 

of the womenfolk in all aspects 

of society to ensure inclusive 

growth and development. 

This call was made by the 

group during its week-long 

celebration, themed ‘Stand 

Out and Speak Up’, to mark its 

third anniversary. 

TAWN said it is particularly 

important to involve women 

in the task of nation building 

because of their special natural 

talents to nurture and 

transform. 

“A woman is the full circle. 

Okonjo-Iweala 

By Ebunoluwa Sessou 

the United Nations Economic 

Commission for Africa, UNECA, 

stated that the African 

Continental Free Trade Zone 

may just be the policy needed to 

kick starts the transformation – 

this is the best time to achieve it. 

Speaking on the topic “Resilient 

World: An African Call for a New 

World Order,” at the New York 

Forum Institute Virtual 

Roundtable, they jointly noted 

that , many African countries 

already spend more annually on 

debt servicing than on education, 

healthcare and social welfare 

combined 

For Elumelu, prioritising the 

youth, ensuring access to 

electricity and stabilising the 

macroeconomic environment 

are additional focus areas 

needed at this time. 

A Task to Reset Africa 

Calls for a Marshall Plan 

According to them, 

“Mobilising the level of finance 

that will give Africa room to 

begin this hard task of resetting, 

will require a Marshall plan, akin 

to America’s Marshall Plan for 

Europe after World War II. This 

Marshall Plan for Africa will be 

in collaboration with the World 

Bank, IMF, G20 countries and all 

other relevant agencies but must 

be led by African multilateral 

financial institutions as in the 

case of AFREXIM under the 

leadership of Prof. Okey Oramah, 

whose efficient and immediate 

deployment of US$3 billion to 

finance and support trade and 

SME business through African 

banks, is commendable and 

deserves emulation. 

“The Covid-19 pandemic 

presents a bittersweet moment 

of clarity and reflection which we 

must seize to reset our continent. 

It provides the opportunity to 

Elumelu 

Within her is the power to produce, 

nurture and transform. 

Our organization understands 

that women are the real architects 

of the society because 

when they participate in the 

economy, everyone benefits. 

They are needed at all levels,” 

says Mrs Gift Ozy Martins, the 

founder of TAWN. 

Mrs Martins said the call became 

necessary at this time 

because societies all over the 

world, particularly in Africa, 

are going through a difficult 

phase in their development 

circle brought about by the 

dangerous coronavirus pandemic 

that is ravaging the 

world and destroying economies. 

According to her, rebuilding 

communities will be an arduous 

task that will require contributions 

from every citizen, 

especially the special skills 

and talents that women possess. 

The President of TAWN, 

Mrs Patoris Okeahialam, in 

her contribution, said more 

than ever before African 

women must be vocal against 

the injustices and oppression 

plaguing the women folk, especially 

the weak in the society. 

“More than ever before, 

in the history of the continent 

of Africa, now is the time for 

that woman of substance, engaged, 

informed and fit to 

stand out and speak up in a 

continent plagued by domestic 

and sexual violence 

against the female gender,” 

Mrs Okeahialam said. She 

thus encouraged every TAWN 

member, in line with the anniversary 

theme, to “stand 

out in our various spaces and 

endeavours and speak up on 

behalf of the voiceless and the 

weak in our society.” 

Activities organised to celebrate 

the third year anniversary 

included award ceremonies, 

virtual conference, 

trainings, and raffle draws, 

business startup sponsorships, 

among others. 

finally place Africa on the right 

path of sustainability built on the 

bedrock of competitiveness”. 

Sustained Investment in 

Infrastructure 

“We can engender African 

competitiveness by sustained 

investment in basic 

infrastructure, electricity, 

internet access and digital 

connectivity, and most 

importantly by enabling and 

encouraging entrepreneurship. 

This combination will provide 

economic hope and opportunity 

that will productively engage 

our young Africans who 

account for over 60% of our 

1.3b population. This is the only 

way we can reset the economy, 

create employment, eliminate 

poverty, generate revenue and 

attract capital to the continent. 

Be Ready for Disruption 

“Africa must embrace the new 

normal. The disruptions we 

have seen across sectors, 

healthcare, logistics, supply 

chain, digital economy, IT, are 

here to stay. This presents a 

unique opportunity for a united 

Africa, a strong regional bloc 

acting in a coordinated fashion 

in response to this new era. As 

globalisation, trade and foreign 

policy adjusts in response to 

COVID-19: Police woman distributes 

palliatives to widows, others 


ABOUT 200 widows ben 

efited and 500 families 

within Aswani, Okota 

and Isolo areas of Lagos State 

benefitted from the maiden 

edition of COVID-19 Outreach 

palliatives distributed by Aswani 

Divisional Police Officer, 

CSP Oyin Frances to cushion 

the impact of the gradual ease 

of lock down. 

The initiative code named 

COVID-19 Outreach , according 

to the CSP, was to extend a 

hand of help to widows and underprivileged 

families whom 

she said were most affected by 

the present situation. 

The palliatives also included 

cooked foods, which were also 

distributed to family members 

who throng out of their apartments 

to have their share. 

Vera Songwe 

these times, Africa will only 

enjoy more traction, increased 

leverage and more influence by 

forging a united front. 

“This is the time for the 

continent to fully leverage its 

competitive advantage in 

agriculture, through focused 

investments in mechanisation, 

storage facilities, logistics, pest 

control, quality assurance, and 

processing, while strengthening 

our expertise in textile, 

manufacturing, supply chain 

among others. 

“In truth, disruption is here. It 

may not be ideal, but disruption, 

in the many facets it presents 

itself, has heralded new eras, and 

economic powers. If Africa 

treats this pandemic as a warning 

and begins to put in place the 

systems to ensure economic 

stability, this could be the 

beginning of the next global 

economic power, all business 

leaders agreed. 

The CPS explained that it was 

also borne out of the desire to 

sensitize members of the public 

on the need to adhere strictly 

to the precautionary measures 

outlined by the Nigeria 

Centre For Disease Control , 

NCDC to prevent the spread of 

the coronavirus in the communities. 

She emphasized the need for 

them to wash their hands regularly, 

observe social distancing 

, wear face masks and also 

use hand sanitisers. 

Most beneficiaries expressed 

surprise that such a 

gesture was coming from the 

Police. 

For Mrs Akeju Peju, a widow 

with five children, she said: “If 

someone had told me that a 

police man or woman would 

do this, I would have had a rethink", 

she said. 

CSP Oyin Frances handing over a pack of the palliative to a 

beneficiary in Lagos recently


Mystery surrounds UI student’s death 

•Family petitions Oyo govt, as activists allege cover-up 

•Factory remains closed indefinitely—Oyo govt 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young & Adeola Badru 

I BADAN—FOLLOWING 

the tragic death of 

Gbadebo Richard, a 300- 

level University of Ibadan 

student, who died last 

Monday, while on a night 

shift at the Henkel 

Industries Ltd, makers of 

WAW detergent, located at 

Oluyole Industrial Estate, 

Ibadan, Oyo State, facts 

emerged that no single 

blood was found on his 

body or stains around the 

body-bag that conveyed his 

remains to the mortuary, 

despite claims that the 

machine had shredded off 

a larger part of his hands 

and intestinal organs. 

Richard’s death has 

remained shrouded in 

mystery. 

Family petitions Oyo 

govt as activists allege 

cover-up 

But the family of Richard 

has petitioned the state 

government, seeking 

justice over the perceived 

culpability of the owners of 

the firm in the untimely 

demise of Richard 

Gbadebo. 

Already, Campaign for 

Workers’ Democratic 

Rights, CWDR, Alliance 

On Surviving COVID-19 

And Beyond, ASCAB, Oyo 

State Chapter and 

International Lawyers 

Assisting Workers, ILAW, 

Network, Nigeria Chapter, 

have alleged moves by the 

owners of the company to 

cover up the death and 

sweep under the table its 

alleged negligence and 

failure to observe duty of 

care in respect of Richard 

Gbadebo who died in the 

course of working for the 

two companies. 

The family, in a 15 

paragraph petition to the 

Attorney-General and 

Commissioner for Justice 

Ministry of Justice, Oyo 

State, lamented that that 

there was no official of the 

companies available to give 

account of the 

circumstances that led to 

the death of Richard. 

In the petition through 

t h e A B O P E 

CHAMBERS, headed by 

Femi Aborisade, the family 

claimed the “corpse of Late 

•Gbadebo Richard: 

Justice for late UI 

student 

Richard Gbadebo was not 

removed from the 

companies’ premises until 

around 12noon and taken 

to Teju Hospital, Ring 

Road, Ibadan, between the 

hours of 1-2pm on the 28th 

day of July 2020. For 

undisclosed reasons, the 

two companies delayed 

taking the corpse for an 

autopsy until August 3, 

2020.” 

They decried that 

whereas it had never 

discussed any issue about 

monetary compensation 

with the companies, it 

(family) was surprised and 

embarrassed to read 

statements credited to the 

company which tended “to 

trivialize the murder of 

their son. The statements 

are attributed to one Aliyu 

Jibril, the Human 

Resource Manager of 

Expand Global Industries 

Ltd, who is alleged to have 

said that the companies 

have “reached out to 

compensate the family of 

the deceased”. 

According to the legal 

firm of ABOPE 

CHAMBERS, among 

others, “The family only 

gathered from Richard’s 

colleagues that he slipped 

and fell into the bowel of 

the machinery he was 

working with; that the 

machinery is meant to be 

operated by at least four 

persons. But that Richard 

was the only person 

operating the machine at 

the time of the incident. The 

colleagues who were 

outside the engine room 

claimed they noticed blood 

mixed with water where 

only water was supposed 

to flow out. The blood 

alerted them and they 

went to check the machine 

only to find Richard 

trapped in the machine. 

However, upon the retrieval 

EDITOR: Dayo Johnson (08033509763) 

Deputy Editor: Dapo Akinrefon 

08023844928 (sms only) 

CORRESPONDENTS: 

Ola Ajayi 

Ibadan 

Dare Fasube 

(Photo) 

Rotimi Ojomoyela 

Ekiti 

Monsuru Olowoopejo Lagos 

Adeola Badru 

Ibadan 

Shina Abubakar 

Osogbo 

James Ogunnaike 

Abeokuta 

•Seyi Makinde: Oyo 

state governor 

of the corpse on 28th July 

2020, at about 12noon, the 

stomach was sliced open, 

his trousers and boot were 

on and the head was intact 

but without any trace of 

blood on his body. The 

family of Richard Gbadebo 

is perplexed at the strange 

observations made when 

the agents of the companies 

brought out their son from 

the factory. 

”We have the brief of 

Our Clients to invite the 

Oyo State Government to 

thoroughly investigate the 

circumstances surrounding 

the death of Richard 

Gbadebo. According to the 

family, Richard was the only 

son in the family and a 300- 

level student in the 

Department of European 

Studies. The urge to assist 

the family finances pushed 

him to accept to work to earn 

some income during the 

COVID-19 lockdowns 

involving stay at home of 

students. 

“Unless the Oyo State 

Government ensures justice 

for Richard Gadebo, 

employers of labour may 

not take seriously the life, 

safety and health of workers 

by providing the necessary 

Personal Protective 

Equipment (PPE) and 

fencing of every dangerous 

part of any machinery. It is 

the concern of our clients 

that Richard Gbadebo 

would not have been killed 

by the machinery he was 

working with if the 

necessary PPE was 

provided and the 

dangerous parts of the 

machinery were properly 

fenced to prevent the kind 

of calamity that befell 

Richard Gbadebo. 

He was the only son of 

his parents—Family source 

Similarly, a reliable source 

told Vanguard how the 

father of the deceased found 

it hard to believe when the 

remains of Richard were 

unwrapped from the bodybag 

which had conveyed 

him to the mortuary. 

The late Richard was 

described as a hardworking 

Nigerian youth, 

who had decided to engage 

himself in a holiday job 

having been at home for 

close to four months, due 

to the COVID-19 

pandemic. 

Edo Govt on auto-pilot — APC campaign council 

•Obaseki's govt remains robust, says aide 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

THE Vice Chairman of Media and 

Publicity Committee of the APC 

National Campaign Council,Hon 

Patrick Obahiagbon, yesterday, accused 

Governor Godwin Obaseki of 

abandoning governance for plots on 

how to rig rig the September 19 election. 

Addressing a press conference, 

Obahiagbon said Obaseki has failed in 

bringing dividends of democracy to the 

people of the state, adding that the 

administration has become an 

automated teller machine for the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP. 

His words: “Matters of governance in 

Edo State which was the primary 

ratiocination why the Governor was 

elected, which in any case have been 

hereinbefore handled with Olympian 

aloofness and magisterial pontifications, 

have now been completely abandoned, 

jettisoned, and forgotten completely as 

the outgoing Governor has turned his 

attention, full-time, on how to subvert 

the September 19th election through 

rigging, intimidation, arm-twisting, 

unbriddled threats, violence, and other 

anti-democratic underhand tactics.” 

He also accused the governor of not 

paying attention to warnings that the 

Akeredolu reconciles with Oke, 

aggrieved Unity Group leaders 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—GOVERNOR 

Rotimi 

Akeredolu of Ondo State, yesterday, 

met with the aggrieved leaders of the Unity 

Group in the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, for reconciliation. 

The group had consistently kicked 

against the second term bid of Akeredolu. 

The Unity Group was led to a closeddoor 

meeting by Chief Olusola Oke, who 

came second in the primary election. 

Sources told Vanguard that the group 

tabled some demands before the governor 

as a precondition for its support in the 

coming election. 

The demands, Vanguard gathered 

included the governor running an allinclusive 

government after winning the 

second term election. 

Vanguard learned that the meeting also 

discussed how to incorporate the Olusola 

Oke campaign group and the Unity 

Forum into the campaign team for the 

election. 

Speaking with Vanguard, a leader in 

the group said: “Our team is ready to 

participate in any reconciliation efforts, 

genuinely undertaken by the parties.” 

We’ve agreed to work together, says 

Oke 

When contacted, Mr. Oke’s media aide, 

Rotimi Ogunleye, told Vanguard that the 

reconciliation meeting went well. 

He said: “The bottom line is that we have 

agreed to work together for the success of 

the party in the coming election.” 

Akeredolu’s days as governor 

numbered — Ondo PDP chairman 

Meanwhile, the newly elected chairman 

of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 

Ondo State, Mr. Fatai Adams has served 

the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 

state would be affected by torrential 

rainfalls hence the flooding in parts of 

the state capital whenever it rains. 

In his reaction, the Special Adviser to 

Obaseki on Media and Communication 

Strategy, Crusoe Osagie said the 

Obaseki-led government has a robust 

governance system in place that is 

responding to the daily needs of Edo 

people in all sectors of the state. 

He said: “The governor is renowned 

for his best-in-class managerial skills, 

a fact the opposition All Progressives 

Congress cannot controvert, and has 

been multi-tasking amid the demands 

of his re-election campaigns. 

“Specifically, salaries and pension for 

Edo workers and pensioners for the 

month of July, 2020, were paid on the 

23rd, to enable our Muslim brothers and 

sisters celebrate the Eid-El-Kabir 

festival. The APC continues to reinforce 

its disadvantage each time it attempts 

to fault the managerial ability of 

Governor Obaseki because Edo people 

know that the governor is head and 

shoulder above Osagie Ize-Iyamu in 

human and material resources 

management, and feel secure with 

Governor Obaseki in charge of 

governance, especially in the 

application of our scarce resources.’’ 

APOLOGY 

IN our Tuesday, August 4, 2020 edition, we wrongly ascribed the statement ‘’we’ll 

meet violence with violence’’ to former Governor of Edo State, and immediate past 

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole. We have since discovered that he did not make the statement. We 

sincerely apologise to Comrade Oshiomhole for the error, and assure him we hold 

him in high esteem. 

the state a quit notice ahead of the October 

10 governorship election. 

In his acceptance speech, after defeating 

his close rival Dennis Alonge-Niyi, during 

the state party congress in Akure, the 

chairman said that the days of the 

Akeredolu-led administration are 

numbered. 

Adams won the election polling 1,343 

votes to defeat the former youth leader of 

the party, Dennis Alonge- Niyi, who 

scored 369 votes. 

He said: “My vision and that of the new 

executives is to lead the party’s 

governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, 

to victory in the October election. 

“No doubt, the task and focus of the new 

excos will be on the October 10 Ondo 

governorship election that is around the 

corner. We are going to win and send 

packing the Akeredolu led administration 

for non-performance.” 

646 observers to monitor Ondo polls 

The Director of Programmes, Yiaga 

Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu, has said that 

647 observers would be deployed to 

monitor the Ondo poll in 300 polling units. 

Mbamalu, in a media chat with newsmen 

in Akure ahead of the poll, said that 

WatchThe Vote, WTV, will deploy the 

observers in pair to a representative 

random sample of 300 units in every 

council area of the state out of the total 

3,009 units across the state. 

She said: “WTV will also have 27 mobile 

(roving) observers present in all the 18 

council areas in the state. 

“They will use their mobile phones to 

send coded text messages of observation 

reports yo Yiag Africa WTV Data Centre 

in Benin.”

Lagos is prepared for new normal in 

education —Adefisayo 

Lagos State Commissiiner for Education, Mrs. 

Folashade Adefisayo, took part in a symposium organised 

via Zoom by the Association of Nursery and Primary 

Education instructors in Nigeria, ANPEIN, under the 

leadership of Mr. Sunday Fowowe. Among the participants 

was the Special Adviser to the Governor of Ogun State on 

Primary, Secondary and Technical Education, Mrs. Ronke 

Soyombo.The commissioner spoke on the theme "Choose 

your government, schools and home right in this 

dispensation to learn and live well." Excerpts 

By Elizabeth Osayande 

ON school resumption 

for all pupils and 

students 

Lagos State is approaching 

school resumption from three 

points of view. The first is 

safety. People need to feel safe 

and not just physically safe but 

emotionally safe when they 

come to school. This is 

something that we in the state 

must continue working on 

because it is not likely that this 

pandemic is going out 

anytime soon. So we must not 

plan for its end, we must plan 

for how to live with it. You have 

seen the safety guidelines, 

these are what I have insisted 

on that whatever standard we 

hold private schools by, we 

must hold our own schools by 

them.Therefore, we as public 

schools will keep to the safety 

standards. We in Lagos State 

are looking at the possibility 

of staggered resumption. That 

is children do not all come in 

at 8.00 a.m since they are 

going to be in schools for 

shorter periods owing to a 

terrible learning slide over 

shutdown. Therefore, we may 

probably lose third term. And 

beginning a new session, we 

have to start to think about 

how to teach the children via 

staggered resumption, 

children won’t have to come 

to school the same time. We 

are looking at time table for 

Mondays, Wednesdays and 

Fridays for a set and Tuesdays, 

Thursday for another set. They 

will not spend up to four hours. 

Again, when we talk about 

physical safety, we are also 

going to look at a situation 

where we have to look at other 

stakeholders because of this 

COVID-19, you have to 

protect adults, the teachers, 

the administrators, and the 

parents as well. 

Government provision 

towards providing safety at 

schools: In terms of physical 

safety, in which case we have 

to provide the schools with a 

lot of guidelines among 

others. Don’t forget during this 

period, a lot of things would 

have happened to the children. 

Some of them may have lost 

their loved ones. Some have 

been traumatised and 

sexually abuse. 

So one of the things we are 

doing is that we have got all 

our districts together, there 

are free phone lines so that 

children can phone in and talk 

about their problems. As we 

must also take care of their 

emotional safety. And that is 

where all schools have to 

prepare for the guidance 

counsellors to be more active 

and more involved. And to 

really support the children 

emotionally and 

academically. 

Learning and the 

curriculum: The second point 

we are to discuss is learning. 

The learning slide that occur 

during the pandemic must 

have severely affected a lot of 

things. For some, it is mild, to 

some it is major. And so, how 

do we address learning to 

ensure that the children are 

able to make up and able to 

continue with their studies? In 

Lagos State, we have talked 

about many things. But one 

thing is clear, because of the 

staggered resumption and 

staggered school days, we are 

going to have to think outside 

the box. We talked about 

developing a whole 

•Lagos State Education 

Commissioner, Mrs 

Folashade Adefisayo 

ecosystem. So, we know that 

at a point that there is will be 

physical school where the 

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020—25 

children will meet their technology into their teaching 

teachers, do their works and and learning. 

submit their assignments Resumption and 

among other things. assessment: The third factor. 

And secondly, we talked Remember I said safety, 

about the fact that we now learning and assessment. 

supplement these on the days Now, we cannot have children 

that they are off. And on the learning without assessing 

days they close early with them. One of the things we are 

additional learning. So that doing in this 360 degree 

learning goes on and that ecosystem that we have drawn 

children start to understand up is to use multiple system of 

the 360 degree kind of assessments. So assessment 

learning situation. Because for will not only be a summative 

me as a teacher, I believe every test at the end of the period, 

moment is a teachable but will also be formative. 

moment. We have beef up Again, it is a culture change, a 

online classes, we have way of shifting paradigm. It is 

already started giving devices a way of making our teachers 

to students; and we have think differently. Summative 

started populating our pages test cannot tell you everything 

with online contents. We are about a child’s learning. And 

also looking at other novel that you should be willing to 

solutions like Cloud based use multiple choice of 

solution for children who are learning for children in the 

in areas with bad network school. 

among others. It is going to I am excited that the children 

be ecosystem around teaching will move into another mode 

and learning. 

of 100 percent learning. It is 

The curriculum: Another not easy and I am not glossing 

thing we have to look at is our over the fact that I am finding 

curriculum and there has been this an extremely tough thing 

curriculum review We have to do. But it is doable. And if 

agreed that we make the we are trying to do all these in 

curriculum more nimbus and public schools, I can imagine 

we are going to integrate what private schools will do. 

learning methodology into It is clear that it will not be the 

our curriculum so that our same. And when people say it 

teachers have understanding is a new normal, I totally 

on how to integrate agree. 

COVID-19: Hard hit school owners sell off properties 

By Adesina Wahab 

SOME private school 

owners, hard hit by the cash 

crunch brought about by the 

closure of schools because of 

the outbreak of coronavirus 

disease in the country, are now 

selling off their schools, while 

some are converting 

classrooms to accommodation 

for people to rent. Some 

operators, who are not the 

owners of the properties they 

use as schools, are also handing 

over such premises to the 

owners, as rent and other dues 

keep piling up. 

Investigation by Vanguard in 

some parts of Lagos such as 

Ikorodu, Alagbado among 

others, showed that the affected 

school owners and operators 

are reeling under one form of 

financial obligations or the 

other. The obligations include 

loan repayment, rent on 

properties, payment due to 

contractors/ suppliers and 

salaries of workers. 

Commenting on the hard 

times some school owners are 

facing, the Lagos State 

President of the National 

Association of Proprietors of 

Private Schools, NAPPS, Chief 

Olawale Amusa, said his 

members need urgent support 

and help at this period. He said: 

"School business is not 

something you begin and start 

to make profit immediately. "

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6 , 2020 —27 

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

VERIFICATION: Some officials of Kaduna State Ministry of Finance checking 

the credentials of staff members of the state judiciary, at the State High Court in 

Kaduna on Wednesday. NAN Photo. 



Continues from Page 5 

violators, not 

protesters – FCT 

Police Command 

Indeed, the FCT Police 

Command, in its reaction, 

said its personnel did not 

arrest any protesting member 

of the #RevolutionNow group 

at any point in the FCT, Abuja, 

contrary to insinuations that 

62 protesters were arrested. 

Rather, the command said 

its operatives arrested some 

persons who violated the 

COVID-19 protocols 

banning the convergence and 

gathering of people without 

face masks and those violating 

social distancing principles. 

Commissioner of Police, 

FCT, Bala Ciroma, said all the 

persons arrested were taken 

to Eagle Square in 

compliance with the COVID- 

19 protocols to appear before 

a magistrate and be 

arraigned for the violations. 

The said offenders were, 

however, let off the hook 

because the magistrate that 

would have presided over their 

case failed to show up at Eagle 

Square. 

Consequently, the CP 

directed his operatives to issue 

warnings to the arrested 

persons to desist from further 

violation of FCT COVID-19 

protocols, after which they 

were released. 

Asked why it was during the 

Revolution Now protest that 

the Police decided to swing 

into action and arrest 

violators of COVID-19 

protocols, the CP said: “Their 

arrest had nothing to do with 

the protest. It is their right to 

protest as long as they don’t 

disturb the peace and other 

law abiding Nigerians. 

“The FCT Command has 

remained steadfast in 

ensuring people follow the 

COVID-19 protocols and this 

has resulted in the arrest and 

prosecution of over 1,000 

person’s in the past. So this has 

nothing to do with any 

protest.” 

25 protesters 

arrested, charged 

to court in Lagos 

In Lagos, 25 protesters were 

arrested for allegedly causing 

obstruction for road users in 

Ikeja, the state capital. 

Some of them were also 

alleged to have driven in 

vehicles with covered number 

plates. 

Though identities of those 

arrested could not be 

immediately ascertained, one 

of them was Agba Jalingo, a 

journalist and activist, who 

was recently released from 

detention by the Cross Rivers 

State Government. 

When contacted, 

spokesman of the command, 

SP Elkana Bala, said they had 

been charged before a mobile 

court. 

He said: “The arrest was 

because they came out in 

vehicles with covered number 

plates which is an offence, and 

also caused a hitch in the free 

Naira down to N389.25/$ 

in I&E window 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

THE Naira yesterday depreciated to N389.25 per 

dollar in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange 

rate for the window rose to N389.25 per dollar yesterday 

from N388 per dollar on Tuesday, translating to 25 kobo 

depreciation of the Naira. 

The volume of dollars (turnover) traded in the window 

dropped by 58 percent to $10.49 million from $24.66 million 

on Tuesday. 

However, the Naira yesterday was stable at N473 per 

dollar in the parallel market. 

flow of traffic. As much as they 

have a right to protest, others 

also have a right to free flow 

of traffic. They have been 

charged to the Mobile Court.” 

In fact, armed policemen 

prevented protesters on the 

banner of Coalition for 

Revolution CORE, from 

joining the planned nationwide 

protest against what they 

described as “massive 

corruption, rising 

unemployment and 

worsening misery of the 

masses in Nigeria.” 

The protest, tagged: “Grand 

Corruption Mass Misery,” 

was to mark the first 


#RevolutionNow Movement 

and relaunch a campaign for 

an end to looting of public 

resources to pave way for 

revamping of the social and 

economic fabric of the 

country. 

Also, the group demanded 

greater accountability in the 

management of public funds. 

As early as 7 am, the Police 

barricaded the Ikeja under 

bridge venue, where the 

protesters were supposed to 

converge for a march to Lagos 

House, Alausa, Ikeja and 

prevented them from 

gathering. 

As soon as the police sighted 

some of the protesters coming 

to the venue, they fired tear gas 

canisters to disperse them. 

The protesters, mainly 

youths, displayed placards 

with various inscriptions, such 

as: “Put an end to insecurity 

and mass killings now;” 

“Stop destroying our homes, 

invest in social housing;” “No 

to increase in electricity tariffs, 

fraudulent bank deduction;” 

“Embezzlement and looting 

is affecting our nation,” “Is 

this how to fight corruption?” 

among others. 

Despite police presence and 

appeal by authorities of the 

Area F Command to vacate 

the area, the Convener, 

Comrade Babatunde 

Ayelabola, popularly called 

“Baba Aye” urged the 

demonstrators to continue 

with the peaceful protest in an 

orderly manner in the face of 

police threat. 

Consequently, the police 

fired tear gas canisters which 

made the demonstrators 

scamper in different directions 

through the Computer 

Village and adjoining streets. 

At press time, it could not be 

confirmed if the police made 

any arrest. 

CORE accuses 

FG 

Ayelabola accused the 


unleashing unprecedented 

repression, incarceration of 

some leaders of the 

movement, and brutalization 

of not less than 50 CORE 

activists all over the country 

during the protests. 

His words: “This was with 

the mistaken belief that such 

jackboot tactics would silence 

the yearnings and aspiration 

of the people for equitable 

development, social justice 

and improved standards of 

living. 

“Since then, the situation in 

the country for most working 

people keeps getting worse. 

While poverty continues to 

increase for many, the rate of 

stealing of monies that could 

be used to improve lives and 

livelihoods keeps accelerating 

on a daily basis. 

“The gross mismanagement 

of the COVID-19 pandemic 

has further aggravated the 

suffering of the masses to 

historic proportions as 

inhuman lock-downs were 

imposed, resulting in massive 

retrenchment of workers, 

terrible hunger, insecurity, 

and death for people working 

in the informal sector, while 

at the same time, prices of the 

most basic utilities, including 

electricity and fuel, have been 

whimsically increased 

“ M e a n w h i l e , 

unprecedented looting of the 

national treasury continues 

unabated as exemplified in 

the pilfering of N81 billion at 

the NDDC by a few officials 

even during the difficult and 

trying period of the lockdown!” 

Some of the protesters later 

gathered at the Committee 

for Defense of Human Rights, 

CDHR, Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja 

where CORE National 

Secretary, Comrade Gbenga 

Komolafe, commended them 

for their resilience. 

Komolafe noted that despite 

intimidation by the Nigeria 

Police, the protesters were able 

to register their plight, saying, 

“the protest was successful 

because we have made an 

impact in fighting social 

injustice in Nigeria and this 

will be a continuous exercise 

until our plights are 

hearkened to by the 

government,” 

Komolafe said. Four 

protesters who were arrested 

by law enforcement 

operatives were soon set free. 

DSS re-arrests 

Bakare, 5 others 

in Osun 

In Osogbo, Osun State, 

Olawale Bakare, co-convener 

of Revolution Now was rearrested 

by operatives of the 

Department of Secret Service, 

DSS, yesterday. 

On August 4, 2019, a human 

rights activist, pro-democracy 

campaigner and former 

presidential candidate, 

Omoyele Sowore staged a 

protest in Lagos which led to 

his arrest and detention 

Similarly, Olawale Bakare 

was also arrested in Osogbo 

and arraigned alongside 

Sowore. 

Olawale, alongside other 

members of the Revolution 

Now converged on the 

popular Olaiya junction in 

Osogbo to stage a protest 

against bad governance, lack 

of infrastructure, and extrajudicial 

activities among 

others. 

The protesters, led by 

Samuel Olowolefa, while 

having a peaceful protest, 

addressed the police officers 

at the scene on their mission. 

A yet-to-be identified 

member of the 

RevolutionNow movement, 

while addressing security 

agents and onlookers, was 

abruptly arrested by DSS. 

Bakare and four others, 

including Abiodun Sanusi, 

Samuel Olowolefa, one Gift 

Martin and Okunlola were 

also arrested. 

Peaceful protest 

in Ondo 

In Ondo State, youths 

converged on Ore, Odigbo 

Local Council to participate 

in the 

#RevolutionNow protest. 

The protesters moved round 

the commercial town of Ore, 

demanding a better society, 

and called on the people to 

rise and fight for their rights. 

They urged President Buhari 

to give priority to welfare of 

the citizenry, and address the 

rising insecurity in the country, 

which .they described as 

embarrassing. 

Meanwhile, armed security 

personnel manned strategic 

locations within the town to 

prevent miscreants from 

hijacking the protest. 

Security beefed up in Kano 

There was heavy security 

presence in Kano metropolis 

in readiness for the protest in 

the state capital. 

Combined teams of security 

personnel including the 

National Security and Civil 

Defence Corps, NSCDC, 

Police, KAROTA, among 

others, were stationed in 

strategic areas with their 

vehicles around the Kofar 

Nassarawa bridge, Gadan 

Lado and Dangi bridge. 

At the time of filing in this 

report, there was no protest in 

the area as residents were 

going about their daily 

activities. 

SERAP 

condemns police 

action 

Meanwhile, the Socio- 

Economic Rights and 

Accountability Project, 

SERAP, condemned the 

attacks on protesters in Abuja, 

Osogbo, Lagos and other 

parts of the country. 

In a statement by its Deputy 

Director, Kolawole 

Oluwadare, the organization 

asked what government of 


Buhari was doing to end the 

use of excessive force against 

protesters. 

The statement read: “By 

failing to adequately protect 

protesters from violent 

attacks, Nigerian authorities 

have blatantly violated their 

obligations under the 

Nigerian Constitution of 1999 

(as amended), the 

International Covenant on 

Civil and Political Rights and 

the African Charter on 

Human and Peoples’ Rights 

to which Nigeria is a state 

party. 

“Nobody should be arrested 

or subjected to torture and illtreatment 

simply for taking 

part in peaceful protests. The 

authorities should stop 

criminalising peaceful 

protesters. 

“Rather than suppressing 

peaceful protests, the 

authorities ought to protect 

peaceful protesters and 

ensure a safe and enabling 

environment for people to 

exercise their constitutionally 

and internationally 

guaranteed rights to freedom 

of expression and peaceful 

assembly.’’ 

SERAP, therefore, urged the 

international community, 

including the UN Human 

Rights Council, the Office of 

the High Commissioner for 

Human Rights, the African 

Union and the African 

Commission on Human and 

Peoples’ Rights to publicly 

condemn attacks on peaceful 

protesters, pressure the 

Nigerian authorities to 

effectively investigate attacks 

on protesters, prosecute 

perpetrators, respect and 

protect the human rights of 

everyone. 

NCFront kicks, 

calls for 

immediate 

release of 

protesters 

Also, the leadership of the 

NCFront demanded 

immediate freedom for 

protesters arrested during the 

protests. 

NCFront in a statement 

signed by Dr Tanko Yunusa, 

Head of Public Affairs Bureau, 

also condemned the latest 

increase in hate speech fine 

by government 

The group described protest 

as a constitutional right of 

every citizen of Nigeria, 

adding that the arrest and 

continued detention of the 

young protesters was illegal 

and high handed 

“For this reason, those 

forcefully taken into custody 

by security agents today 

deserve unreserved apology 

and compensation for abuse 

of their constitutional and 

fundamental human rights of 

Speech, association and 

movement apart from 

deserving of being 

immediately released from 

their illegal detention,” the 

group stated. 

Arrest 

undemocratic, 

unjustifiable 

– RULAAC 

Similaerly, the Rule of Law 

And Accountability Advocacy 

Centre , RULAAC, 

condemned the arrest, 

describing it as undemocratic 

and unjustifiable. 

In a statement signed by its 

Executive Director, Mr 

Okechukwu Nwagunma, the 

group, asserted that “right to 

freedom of expression is 

guaranteed under Nigerian 

Constitution and other 

regional and international 

human rights legislation 

which Nigeria is a signatory 

to. Peaceful protest is one of 

the means of exercising the 

right to freedom of 

expression.’’


08152060944 

How Akpata emerged NBA president 

By Innocent Anaba 

THE Nigerian Bar Association, 

NBA's national elections have 

been won and lost. Though one of 

the presidential candidates, Deacon 

Dele Adesina, SAN, has called for 

the cancellation of the entire 

exercise, another candidate, Chief 

Babatunde Ajibade, SAN, has 

conceded defeat. While Presidentelect, 

Olumide Akpata awaits his 

swearing in later this month, Law 

and Human Rights examine some 

of the issues that shaped the polls. 

The emergence of Akpata, former 

Chairman of Nigerian Bar 

Association, Section on Business 

Law, in the association’s election for 

the office of the President, has been 

attributed to young lawyers, who 

decided this time around to be part 

of the exercise, among other issues. 

There was also the issue of a letter 

by a SAN, who wrote a former 

president of the association, 

expressing the readiness of the 

SANs to hold on to the position of 

the Presidency of the association, 

which caused a backlash, as young 

and other lawyers, who are not SAN 

yet, saw the letter as an affront and 

joined in mobilising against the two 

SANs in the election. 

Also was the issue of endorsement 

by the regional South-West lawyers’ 

body, Egbe Amofin, which many 

saw as limiting the choice of the 

entire Nigerian lawyers to their 

choice of candidate to lead the bar. 

During the campaigns, the issue 

of remuneration for young lawyers 

played a role, as the younger 

lawyers, some of who are paid 

meagre salaries by some of the senior 

lawyers, were surprised that the law 

firm where Akpata works, pays 

about the highest among law firms 

in the country. 

As the campaigns for the elections 

progressed, Akpata took out time to 

talk on issues that affect young 

lawyers and promised to do his bit 

to address them if he emerged, just 

as he promised the young lawyers 

of their involvement in the affairs of 

the association. 

As some of the young lawyers 

attested, Akpata took out time to 

reach out to them during the 

lockdown with palliatives and even 

made calls to reassure them. This 

particular action endeared him to 

many young lawyers. 

Some of the young lawyers, who 

feared that the election process 

would not be transparent were 

reassured and encouraged to trust 

the system and be part of the process 

by Akpata, it was learned. 

Many of the young lawyers, in 

turn, promised to take part in the 

exercise, which they actually did. 

Again, before the just-concluded 

NBA election, the presidency was 

viewed as the reserve of SANs. 

As a matter of fact, before the ban 

on politicking was lifted, a certain 

SAN had written a former President 

of the association, expressing the 

readiness of SANs to take over the 

headship of the bar. For sure, the 

non-SANs took him up. 

The SAN issue caught the 

attention of the younger lawyers, 

who saw the development as 

capable of denying them the chance 

of ever heading the Bar, if not 

frontally tackled. Disenchanted with 

the development, some of the 

*Incoming President of NBA, Olumide Akpata (right), 

receiving certificate of return from ECNBA chairman, Taiwo 

Taiwo, SAN. 

lawyers and the young ones 

inclusive, who complained openly, 

said it was wrong to be denied the 

opportunity of heading the Bar on 

account of a privilege, which does not 

in any way detract from the fact that 

they are also very competent in the 

law profession, though they have not 

been privileged to attain the rank. 

There was also the regional 

endorsement of candidates, which 

many lawyers felt should be 

discountenanced with this era. 

They argue that since the NBA 

president, though zoned to a 

particular region, the zone should not 

decide who takes it, as all lawyers in 

the country should be allowed to 

decide collectively on who emerges 

from the list of candidates from the 

zone. 

With young lawyers, who constitute 

a larger percentage of lawyers in the 

country, it was, therefore, not 

surprising that in the first hours after 

the NBA Electoral Committee 

opened the portal for the elections, 

most of the young lawyers had voted 

and given Akpata an early lead which 

he sustained until the close of the 

election at 11 p.m., on Thursday. 

Akpata was later on July 3, 2020, 

presented certificate of return and is 

to be sworn in later this August. 

Meanwhile, reactions have 

continued to trail the elections. 

NBA poll as electronic 

fraud — Adesina 

One of the aspirants for the position 

of President of the NBA, at the justconcluded 

elections of the association, 

Deacon Adesina, has again petitioned 

the Body of Trustees of NBA describing 

the election as “electronic fraud, 

illegal and unconstitutional.” 

In a petition addressed to the 

Chairman, Board of Trustees of NBA, 

Adesina said he was one of the 

builders of the Association before 

“some of the godfathers who are 

plunging the NBA into avoidable 

crisis today ever became involved in 

the affairs of the Association.” 

Adesina, SAN, alleged that the data 

in the election results monitoring site 

was programmed to produce a 

premeditated result and many voters 

were disenfranchised. 

He said: “The election in a most 

disgraceful, brazen and 

unconscionable manner, was 

conducted in violation of the clear, 

express and unambiguous provisions 

of the Constitution of the NBA 2015 

(as amended). 

“It was riddled with electronic fraud 

where the server used for the 

election was loaded with 

predetermined data. It is significant 

to note that the system used for this 

election was said to have been 

registered the very day the election 

was to start and the MoU was 

signed on that same day. 

“The appointment of the Service 

Provider was done solely by the 

President contrary to the provisions 

of Section 18 (2) of the NBA 

Constitution which obligates the 

ECNBA to engage the Service 

Provider for the Election. There was 

no opportunity to interrogate the 

System before the commencement 

of the Election in order to determine 

its vulnerability, security and 

capacity. 

“The inability to deliver 14,000 

notices to prospective voters 13 

hours after the commencement of 

the election was not only evidence 

of lack of capacity on the part of the 

system but also a clear 

disenfranchisement of these 

prospective voters. Therefore, the 

election failed to conform to the 

minimum principle of fairness and 

transparency.” 

Egbe Amofin kicks 

On its part, Egbe Amofin has 

rejected the outcome of the NBA 

National Officers election, saying 

the election was conducted in 

“arrogant breach of the NBA 

The election 

in a most 

disgraceful, 

brazen and 

unconscionable 

manner was 

conducted in 

violation of 

the clear, 

express and 

unambiguous 

provisions of 

the 

Constitution 

of the NBA 

2015 (as 

amended) 

constitution.” 

In the communique after its 

meeting on August 1, 2020, Egbe 

Amofin called on all the 

stakeholders of the association to 

investigate its claims about the 

conduct of the elections in order to 

put a stop to electoral manipulation 

that has bedevilled the association 

since it started electoral voting in 

2016. 

The communique by Chief 

Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, 

Chairman, Steering Committee, 

and the Secretary, Dr Oluwole 

Akintayo warned that “failure on 

the part of our great association to 

urgently address the issues 

contained herein might, wittingly 

or unwittingly lead members of the 

association to consider other options 

available in the exercise of the 

fundamental right of members to 

freedom of association.” 

A credible mess? 

—Odinkalu 

In his appraisal of the poll, Prof. 

Chidi Odinkalu said: “When the 

votes were eventually tallied in the 

early hours of July 31, there were 

18,256 votes cast, a turnout of 62 

per cent. Olumide Akpata polled 

9,891 or 54.3% to beat Ajibade, who 

polled 4,328 or 23.7% and Adesina, 

with 3,982 votes or 21.81%. Eight 

hours to the end of voting, over 

14,300 (48.25% of the voting roll) 

notices to prospective voters sent 

by the SMS channels were 

undelivered. 

“The margin was substantial but 

the process was messy. In the end, 

reluctantly, most people appeared 

to agree that the most popular 

candidate was declared the winner 

in the contest for the presidency 

but the flaws in the process created 

a mess. 

"If and when he assumes office 

as the 30thpresident of the NBA at 

the end of August 2020, Akpata will 

have his work cut out. 

“Restoring the credibility of the 

Association, distracted as it is by 

the incredulous lows of electoral 

fraud and financial malfeasance of 

the past few years will be high on 

his list of priorities. An 

intergenerational dialogue 

between younger and older 

lawyers is needed. 

“The choice of Mr Akpata is not 

a rejection of responsible elders at 

the Bar but of the entitled, 

unaccountable, old ways of doing 

things exemplified by Chief 

Awomolo’s letter. Above all, 

however, he will have to work hard 

to keep his campaign promise of 

bequeathing to his successor a 

reformed and much less flawed 

process than the one that has 

produced him. This begins with 

making the NBA credible in the 

management of membership data 

and information. That will be the 

biggest – and most fitting – 

unintended consequence of 

#NBADecides2020.” 

His promises 

Meanwhile, Akpata who made 

the welfare of members his major 

campaign focus, which was broken 

down into Welfare Fund for NBA 

branches; Remuneration of 

Lawyers; Standardisation of Fees 

and Charges; Expanding and 

Deepening the Legal Services 

Market; Protecting the Business of 

Lawyers; Stamp and Seal Issues; 

Health Insurance; Improved NBA 

Life Assurance Policy; and Young 

Lawyers, is now being watched to 

keep his promise when he takes over 

the reign of power. 

His other promises include: 

Lawyers with Disabilities; Aged 

Lawyers; Abuse and Harassment of 

Lawyers; Lawyers’ Defence Fund; 

Protection of Lawyers against Sexual 

Harassment; Access to Finance/ 

Establishment of NBA Micro- 

Finance Bank; and NBA Education 

Fund. 

Welfare of members 

On the welfare of members, he 

said: “The promotion of the welfare 

of Nigerian lawyers is the raison 

d’etre of the NBA. It is my belief 

that while the Bar should remain a 

watchdog in the society, it must not 

do so to the neglect of the welfare of 

its members. As part of the core 

mandate of my administration, the 

NBA will use its best endeavours to 

ensure that, among other things, its 

members earn decent wages, have 

better working conditions, have 

access to finance to set up or fund 

their law practice and enjoy 

improved access to healthcare under 

a workable insurance scheme. 

On Welfare Fund for NBA 

Branches, he said: “My 

administration shall ensure that the 

refund to Branches of 10 per cent of 

the Bar Practising Fees attributed to 

each Branch shall be paid promptly 

and, in any case, in April of every 

year during my tenure. 

“In the course of my interactions 

with different branches across the 

country, I have been made to 

understand that the inability of the 

branches to promptly receive such 

remittances has adversely affected 

their ability to execute some of their 

plans for their members. 

“Furthermore, realising the critical 

role that the branches play as the 

last mile interface with the members, 

with the approval of the NBA-NEC, 

we shall reintroduce the payment 

of an additional 10 per cent of the 

total sum of BPF to each branch as 

Welfare contribution from the NBA. 

These funds will be paid into the 

branches’ welfare accounts and will 

be used strictly to promote the 

welfare of members at the branch 

levels, in line with proposals on 

welfare submitted by the branch 

leadership to the National 

Secretariat.” 

On remuneration of lawyers, he 

said: “The question of the working 

conditions of lawyers especially the 

remuneration of legal practitioners 

in private practice is undoubtedly 

one of the most controversial issues 

for an NBA President to tackle. A 

number of our colleagues who are 

not in private practice also suffer a 

similar fate as they are poorly 

remunerated by their employers 

relative to their other professional 

counterparts who occupy the same 

rank or position as them. 

“Shorn of all pretences, the 

remuneration of legal practitioners 

is purely a contractual issue between 

the lawyer and his employer, and 

the NBA as presently constituted, 

lacks the powers to determine or 

police that. That being said, a good 

number of lawyers work without any 

formal employment contract. 

"Thus, leaving them at the mercy 

of their employers, in some cases, 

the paltriness of the remuneration 

that our lawyers receive is a function 

of the inability of their employers to 

do better given the revenue base of 

their law firms." 

C 

M 

Y 

K


08052202308 (sms only) 

Jobless father cries out: 

Lack of funds threat to my son’s 

recovery from cancer 

By Chioma Obinna 

JOSEPH Emeruwa, 

father of nine-year-old 

cancer patient, Daniel 

Joseph, has cried out about 

his lack of money, a 

development that may 

hinder total cure of his son 

who is about to lose his left 

eye if help does not come 

fast. 

Emeruwa said that after 

multiple sessions of 

chemotherapy at the Lagos 

State University Teaching 

Hospital, LASUTH, Daniel 

has started responding to 

treatment , however, the 

distraught man lamented 

that he is unable to 

continue with the therapy 

which costs about N50,000 

weekly, because he has 

run out of cash. 

To date, Emeruwa 

explained that he has 

spent up to N950,000 

which was recouped from 

donations by publicspirited 

Nigerians into the 

cause, but Daniel’s case 

requires up to N6 million 

to achieve total cure. 

The jobless man, whose 

wife abandoned him in the 

course of the challenge 

saving his son, is now 

crying out that he has 

reached a dead end. 

Speaking, to Good 

Health Weekly, Emeruwa, 

who hails from Abia State 

recounted: “My son is 

responding to treatment 

now but I am totally broken 

because it appears that this 

is how far I can go. I have 

no job. My wife 

abandoned me and my two 

children. 

“All the money donated 

by kind Nigerians has 

gone into his treatment. 

Now, whom do I run to? 

How can I sit and watch my 

son die? I am still begging 

that Nigerians should help 

me and save my son’s life.” 

He called on Abia state 

governor, Dr Okezie Victor 

Ikpeazu to come to his 

rescue. 

A few months back, Good 

Health Weekly had 

published a pathetic story 

of Daniel Joseph who is 

suffering from cancer of the 

eye and seeking N7 million 

to enable him go for a lifesaving 

surgery as part of 

his treatment. 

Daniel’s story which was 

published twice, generated 

reactions from kindhearted 

Nigerians who 

responded and contributed 

generously. 

While Daniel and his 

family are grateful and 

appreciate the outpouring 

of love and kindness 

expressed by benevolent 

Nigerians who donated 

towards his treatment, the 

journey is far from over as 

Daniel is not yet out of the 

wods. 

A total sum of N520, 000 

was realised from the 

appeals and the sum was 

utilised to offset part of the 

bills for his treatment. 

Currently, Daniel has 

undergone 22 sessions of 

chemotherapy, sadly, it is 

Daniel Joseph 

there are still several 

hurdles to cross in the 

course of his treatment as 

is he requires more 

sessions of life-saving 

surgeries. 

Daniel is yet to obtain the 

needed financial assistance 

to enable him complete 

treatment at the Paediatrics 

and Child Health 

Department of the Lagos 

State University Teaching 

Hospital, LASUTH. 

According to a medical 

report signed by Consultant 

Paediatrician, Dr I.N 

Akinwumi, a brain CT scan 

done at the time of his 

presentation revealed 

features suggestive of a left 

By Sola Ogundipe 

AS the world 

continues to battle 

the outbreak of COVID-19, 

a family planning expert 

has called for actions to 

sustain progress made in 


health as well as the need 

to check unintended 

pregnancies, reduce 

maternal deaths and 

population explosion. 

Speaking during a 

webinar on the 2020 World 

Population Day with the 

theme “Sustaining Sexual 

and Reproductive Health 

during COVID-19 

Pandemic”, the Country 

Director, Pathfinder 

International, Nigeria, Dr 

Amina Dorayi, said there is 

need to ensure the 

pandemic does not become 

a setback in the successes 

recorded in improving 

access to sexual and 


services worldwide and 

Nigeria in particular. 

Dorayi noted that 


services were essential to 

the overall wellbeing of 

children and families, and 

not just women and girls. 

She said the current 

COVID-19 pandemic has 

brought a lot of challenges 

to the floor and in Nigeria, 

orbit lymphangioma and 

histopathology report of left 

eye tissue revealed 

embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. 

The report revealed 

Daniel had subsequently 

had therapies to the left eye 

with excisional biopsy to be 

followed with 

chemotherapy. He 

requires about N7 million 

to complete his treatment. 

If you are touched by 

Daniel’s predicament, 

kindly forward your 

donation to Joseph C. 

Emereuwa UBA account, 

2022421531 or contact 

Daniel’s father on 

08136413668. 

Pathfinder seeks actions 

to sustain progress in 

family planning services 

directly or indirectly related 

to the population under 

development. 

“Also, we know that the 

security situation is also a 

challenge, and we know 

that this is directly or 

indirectly related to 

population challenge. 

“Another major one is rape 

and gender-based violence 

we are facing currently, and 

all these coupled with the 

weak health structures. 

“If we do not take action 

to safeguard the rights, 

health of women and 

vulnerability during this 

pandemic, a lot will be 

witnessed in the future.’’ 

She said that the COVID- 

19 crisis had taken a 

struggling turn on people 

and also the economy. 

“The supply chain around 

the world is being disrupted 

and this affects the 

availability of contraceptive 

services, heightens the risk 

of pregnancies and also 

countries have also been in 

total or partial lockdown. 

“So, the health system is 

struggling to cope with these 

demands and the services 

that are not COVID-19 

services are being sidelined. 

All these issues cause a lot 

of challenges that could 

affect the population going 

forward.” 

Labour to govs still paying old wage: 

You're playing with fire 

By Victor 

Ahiuma-Young 

AS at today no fewer 

than 11 states across 

the country are yet to 

begin 

the 

implementation of the 

N30, 000 new National 

Minimum Wage, NMW. 

Recall that took effect on 

April 18, 2019, following 

the repealing of NMW 

Act of 2011 and signing 

of NMW Act of 2019 into 

law by President 

Muhammadu Buhari. 

The affected states are 

Adamawa, Akwa 

Ibom, Anambra, Benue, 

Ekiti, Kogi, Plateau, Imo, 

Nasarawa, Osun and 

Taraba. 

Similarly, the Federal 

Capital Territory, FCT, 

Bauchi, Oyo, Yobe and 

Kebbi states are 

implementing the new 

wage partially. 

However, organised 

labour is not taking this 

development and slash 

in workers’ salaries 

lightly, declaring that 

state governors who are 

yet to implement the 

NMW, are slashing or 

refusing to pay salaries 

are playing with fire. 

Sounding the note of 

warning during his 

valedictory speech at 

during the 4th national 

Quadrennial Delegates’ 

conference, outgoing 

president of Association 

of Senior Civil Servants 

of Nigeria, ASCSN, 

Bobboi Kiagama, 

declared that the effected 

governors were aiming to 

social disorder 

He recalled that after 

President Buhari signed 

the N30,000 monthly 

National Minimum Wage 

bill into law, a Committee 

on Consequential 

Adjustment was set up to 

ensure that all categories 

of public service 

employees benefited 

from the new salary 

regime. 

According to him, after 

a protracted negotiations 

and threat of a 

nationwide industrial 

action, both parties 

signed an agreement on 

October 18, 2019, that 

“salaries of civil servants 

under the Consolidated 

Public Service Salary 

Structure, CONPSS, 

should be adjusted as 

follows: GL 07= 23%; GL 

08 = 20%; GL 09 =19%; 

GL 10-14 = 16%; GL 15- 

17 = 14%. Adjustments 

for other salary structures 

in the public service were 

also effected. The new 

salary regime for public 

service employees took 

effect from April 2019. It 

is instructive to note that 

while the Federal and 

some State Governments 

implemented the NN30, 

000 per monthly National 

Minimum Wage and the 

Consequential 

Adjustments arising 

there-from, negotiations 

were still ongoing in 

some States of the 

Federation before the 

CONFERENCE: Musa Lawal, Secretary General Trade 

Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Bashir Alade Lawal, 

Secretary General of ASCSN, Bobboi Kiagama, 

immediate past President of Association of Senior Civil 

Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, during their 4th quadrennial 

delegates' conference in Abuja 

outbreak of COVID-19 

pandemic. 

“I wish to call on all the 

States that are yet to 

conclude the process to 

return back to the 

negotiating table with a 

view to doing the 

needful. COVID-19 

should not be used as an 

excuse to derail the 

legitimate right of 

workers. The issue of 

minimum wage is a law 

that is binding on all 

employers of labour. 

Observation of the law in 

the breach is therefore 

illegal and will surely 

meet stiff resistance from 

labour. 

“It will interest you to 

note that some State 

Governments which 

negotiated the 

Consequential 

Adjustment arising from 

the minimum wage of 

N30,000 per month with 

the Organised Labour in 

their States and duly 

signed the agreement 

that arose from the 

negotiation suddenly 

reverted to the old salary 

regime (Pre-2019 

Minimum Wage), a 

decision that was 

unilaterally taken. This 

unwholesome practice is 

an invitation to anarchy. 

The affected states are 

therefore advised to 

return the salary chart in 

their States to what was 

agreed with Labour in the 

interest of industrial 

peace and harmony in 

the States concerned and 

the country at large. 

COVID-19 not an 

excuse 

On his part, President 

of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, in 

a solidarity message 

lamented that “many 

states and employers are 

taking advantage of the 

COVID-19 pandemic 

to owe workers 

salaries. 

He said, "Let me 

warn that with or 

without COVID-19, 

we are ready to take the 

fight to their doorsteps. 

There should be no 

pretence about it 

because we have 

realised that they 

(governors and 

employers) are acting 

under the pretence of 

COVID-19 to deny 

workers their rights. 

Even in the midst of 

COVID-19, you 

cannot deny workers 

their legitimate rights 

.You must respect the 

fundamental 

principles and rights at 

work, which say you 

cannot reduce my wage 

without negotiation, 

without collective 

bargaining, without 

bringing the issues to 

the table. If the 

governors must reduce 

any anything, it must be 

the cost of governance 

and their security votes. 

They have failed to 

reduce their security 

votes, yet they have 

refused to pay salaries 

and are slashing 

workers’ wages. 

“We demand that 

instead of reducing 

workers’ salaries, go 

and reduce your 

security votes. You must 

account for your 

security votes because 

it is our common 

wealth. If any state has 

issues paying salaries, 

the state should bring it 

to the table and not 

deny workers their 

legitimate salary. 

Workers have been at 

the receiving end both 

in the formal and 

informal sector. The 

fundamental rights of 

workers should not in 

any way be 

undermined. We have 

notified all our affiliate 

and we will do 

everything possible 

within the provisions of 

the law. In all of these, 

the workers and union 

must be carried along. 

“If that is not done, 

then they have violated 

the law, and we are 

ready to take them 

headlong, we will 

engage them thorough 

the table or through 

confrontation to protect 

workers at this 

vulnerable period. We 

are taking the states one 

after the other. You 

cannot unilaterally 

reduce workers pay 

without social dialogue. 

Once the information is 

brought to our notice 

we will take them up. 

Workers can no longer 

be treated as slaves 

without dignity. If there 

is such challenge from 

states, we will 

shutdown such states.”

30— Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020 

Top 25 most clinical strikers in 2020 named 

•Ronaldo behind two shock stars 

CRISTIANO RONALDO is 

only the third-most clinical 

striker of 2020 - despite 

scoring 21 times. 

The Juventus star, 35, has defied 

his age to put in another unreal 

shift since the turn of the new year, 

in spite of the three-month 

lockdown. 

Despite that incredible record, 

Ronaldo ranks only THIRD in the 

list of the most-lethal forwards of 

2020. 

In fact, the two players to beat 

CR7 to the punch are both also in 

Serie A. 

Atalanta ace Luis Muriel has 

thrived in their attack-minded 

system, scoring a goal every 61 

minutes, netting eight times in 

2020. 

Sampdoria star Federico 

Bonazzoli has scored five times, 

just 77 minutes apart. 

Then Ronaldo comes in third 

having scored every 81 minutes. 

So while the Portuguese legend 

may have been firing the goals in 

all year, he’s not been as efficient 

as his Serie A rivals. 

Ronaldo sits level with Borussia 

Dortmund goal machine Erling 

Haaland with a goal every 81 

minutes. 

Haaland has scored 13 times 

since the turn of the year. 

Robert Lewandowski is good 

enough only for fifth despite his 

ridiculous season at Bayern 

Munich, scoring 15 times in 2020 

at 84 minutes apiece. 

He’s level with Hellas Verona 

star Giampaolo Pazzini on that 

tally. 

Neymar (90 minutes per goal), 

Sergio Aguero (91) and Nikola 

Kalinic (98) sit seventh, eighth and 

ninth respectively. 

And Ciro Immobile - the winner 

of the European Golden Boot in 

2019-20 - finished just tenth, 

scoring 19 times in 2020 at 99 

minutes apiece. 

Arsenal to make 55 staff redundant 

Arsenal have announced they are 

proposing 55 staff 

redundancies as the coronavirus 

pandemic continues to negatively 

impact the Gunners’ finances. 

In a statement made by the club’s 

sporting and financial chiefs Raul 

Sanllehi and Vinai Venkatesham on 

Wednesday, the north London club 

admitted that these cuts are 

necessary in order to make sure 

they ‘operate in a sustainable and 

responsible way’. 

Sanllehi and Venkatesham 

confirmed that investment in the 

first-team squad is a ‘key priority’ 

and that a 30-day consultation 

period will begin to determine the 

redundancies. 

‘Iheanacho is not finished’ 

Kelechi Iheanacho might have 

struggled at the beginning of his 

career with Leicester City, but according 

to former Queens Park Rangers and 

Fulham striker, Leroy Rosenior, Iheanacho 

is not yet finished. 

Leicester City crashed to fifth position in 

their quest for a top four finish in the 

Premier League after holding to the 

number two spot for a long period before 

the Coronavirus break. Coach Brendan 

Rogers blamed lack of firepower for the 

club’s slump and are looking to sign 40mrated 

Celtic striker, Odsonne Edouard, 

meaning Iheanacho may have to make 

way. 

UCL: Real Madrid drop Bale 

from City trip 

Wales forward Gareth Bale has been 

left out of Real Madrid’s 24-man 

squad for the Champions League last-16 

second-leg tie against Manchester City 

on Friday. 

City won 2-1 in the first leg in Spain in 

February before the coronavirus 

pandemic caused the competition to be 

halted for almost five months. 

Bale, 31, has played twice, with only one 

start, in 11 Real games since football in 

Spain restarted in June. 

The winners of the tie will play either 

Lyon or Juventus in the quarter-finals. 

All the games in the Champions League 

from the last eight onwards will be played 

in Portugal over a 12-day period from 12 

August with the final on 23 August. 

Bale joined Real in a then-world record 

transfer of £85m from Tottenham in 

September 2013. He has helped the 

Spanish champions win the Champions 

League on four occasions, scoring in the 

2014 final against Atletico Madrid, 

converting a penalty in the shootout 

against the same side in 2016 and netting 

twice against Liverpool, including a 

spectacular bicycle kick, in 2018. 

“It was difficult for him to settle 

because he’s not been the main man 

but when Brendan Rodgers worked on 

him, he became better, a lot calmer on 

the ball too but the fact is that he is a 

natural goal scorer and at the age he 

is, he can only get better,” Rosenior 

stated on EPL’s Fanzone. 

“I think the problem with him is that 

he is only 23 years old and coming 

from Manchester City, there was a lot 

of pressure on him as people expected 

him to hit the ground running because 

£25m at that time was a lot of money, 

so it took a bit of a long time for him 

ionel Messi has paid tribute to 

LReal Madrid hero Iker Casillas 

following his retirement, insisting the 

shot stopper’s “status as a legend of 

the game was secured long ago.” 

Casillas called time on an illustrious 

22-year career on Tuesday, as he 

delivered a heartfelt message to his 

Sanchez joins Inter Milan on a free 

transfer 

Alexis Sanchez is leaving 

Manchester United for Inter 

Milan on a free transfer. 

Sanchez’s loan at Inter was due 

to run out on Thursday, but the two 

clubs have agreed terms for the 

Chile winger to rip up the 

remaining two years of his 

contract at United and make a 

permanent move to the San Siro. 

Sanchez is set to sign a three-year 

deal at Inter and take a pay cut 

that will see him earn £130,000-aweek 

after tax. 

It ends Sanchez’s ill-fated United 

career that began with a 

spectacular move in January 2018 

when the club gazumped rivals 

Manchester City to sign him from 

Arsenal in exchange for £35mrated 

Henrikh Mkhitaryan. 

Sanchez was handed the most 

lucrative contract in the Premier 

League worth up to £560,000-aweek 

including a basic wage of 

£300,000 and image rights of 

£100,000. 

Gunners tempt Willian with three-year 

contract 

Arsenal have made a formal 

three-year contract offer to 

Willian, edging them to the front 

of the race to sign the Brazilian 

forward. 

Joining Mikel Arteta’s 

rejuvenated side and the chance 

to work with fellow Brazilian Edu 

are the reasons Arsenal are 

favourites to secure Willian’s 

Premier League shareholders 

are set to vote on a number of 

issues today as the 20 clubs, 

including newly promoted Leeds, 

West Brom and Fulham, are 

formally invited to take part in the 

2020/2021 season. 

Last season, as the clubs 

prepared for Project Restart amid 

lockdown restrictions, they voted 

to allow five substitutions and 

increase the matchday squad from 

18 to 20. 

There will be a vote on whether 

to continue with the five 

Messi pays tribute to Casillas 

signature. The Gunners have 

made a formal three-year contract 

offer to Willian, still some way 

short of the terms offered by 

Barcelona and Inter Miami. 

Despite wanting the 31-yearold 

to extend his stay at Stamford 

Bridge, Chelsea have refused to 

offer more than a further two 

years - and the chances of him 

being a Chelsea player when the 

new season begins in five weeks 

now look remote. 

EPL shareholders vote on VAR, five 

substitution 

followers on social media 

announcing his decision. 

Barcelona superstar Messi came up 

against Casillas on numerous 

occasions while he was at Santiago 

Bernabeu, with their battles in El 

Clasico destined to live long in the 

memory of supporters from both 

clubs. 

The six-time Ballon d’Or 

winner acknowledged the 

Spaniard’s achievements after 

seeing him hang up his gloves, 

telling AS: “Iker is retiring, but 

his status as a legend of the 

game was secured long ago - 

not just because he was one of 

La Liga’s best players, but also 

because he won everything at 

international level.” 

Messi also addressed 

Casillas directly to thank the 

shot-stopper for bringing the 

best out of him, adding: “You’re 

a fantastic goalkeeper and 

were a really tough opponent, 

I have to say. Looking back, I 

think it was a really special 

rivalry that pushed us to reach 

new levels every time we came 

up against each other.” 

substitution rule or revert back to 

three. 

The shareholders will also run 

through how to implement VAR for 

the coming season which will now 

be overseen by FIFA after they took 

control of all VAR related matters 

from IFAB (International FA 

Board) on July 1. 

Clubs to forfeit 

European games if... 

Travel bans may force clubs to 

forfeit European games next 

season 

Clubs in next season’s European 

competitions could be forced to 

forfeit matches if they fail to 

inform UEFA of travel restrictions 

in place to curb the spread of 

COVID-19, according to 

guidelines issued by European 

soccer’s governing body. 

UEFA said it would publish a list 

of known travel restrictions 

between countries before each 

draw is made. Clubs would then 

have to inform UEFA of any other 

unknown restrictions at least 48 

hours before the draw, failing 

which they will be handed a 3-0 

defeat. 

“If a club fails to inform the 

UEFA administration two days 

prior to the relevant draw of any 

restrictions other than those 

published by UEFA ... the club will 

be held responsible ... and the 

match will be declared to be 

forfeited by the club in question,” 

the governing body said. 

UEFA also said that if a club was 

drawn against an opponent that 

was not allowed to travel to the 

country then it must find a neutral 

venue for its home fixture. If the 

home club failed to propose a 

suitable alternative venue it would 

have to forfeit the game.


C 

M 

Y 

K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER 

ACROSS 

1 Weepy (7) 

5 Inexpensive (5) 

8 Biblical measure (5) 

9 Conundrums (7) 

10 Eight-sided figure (7) 

11 Strange and disturbing (5) 

12 Bloom, blossom (6) 

14 Cosmetics (4-2) 

18 Wait in line (5) 

20 Exterior (7) 

22 Accumulated (7) 

23 Balm, ointment (5) 

24 Curt, abrupt (5) 

25 Meander (anag) (7) 

DOWN 

1 Rebuke (4,3) 

2 Head of a community of monks (5) 

3 Weariness (7) 

4 Upper part of the windpipe (6) 

5 Scrounge (5) 

6 Make bigger (7) 

7 Ski slope (5) 

13 Out-of-doors (4-3) 

15 Skilled worker (7) 

16 Make believe (7) 

17 Chillier (6) 

18 Two pints (5) 

19 Follow as a consequence (5) 

21 Muslim religion (5) 

How to Play Sudoku 

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have 

two of the same number). 

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine 

lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block 

(nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means 

that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or 

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

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Road. Benin City: 4E, Arusa Street. Port Harcourt: 50, Ikwerre Road; Warri: 102, Efurun-Sapele Road. Advert: advertproduction@yahoo.com; E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, 

news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01-4548355. All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

06082020 - Insecurity: Protests in Abuja, Lagos, Ondo, Osogbo

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