24022021 - Banditry designed to 9 destroy Nigeria — GOVS
Vanguard Newspaper 24022021
Vanguard Newspaper 24022021
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CRYPTOCURRENCY:<br />
We acted in<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns' best 19<br />
interest <strong>—</strong> EMEFIELE<br />
FG concessions 12<br />
highways <strong>to</strong> inves<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
•Expects N1.34 trn investments, 250, 000<br />
jobs <strong>to</strong> be created•Obtains nod from ICRC<br />
<strong>to</strong> proceed with project 5<br />
Zenith Bank’s profit before tax rises 5% <strong>to</strong> N255.9bn<br />
8<br />
VOL. 27: NO. 64278 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
<strong>Banditry</strong> <strong>designed</strong> <strong>to</strong><br />
9<br />
<strong>destroy</strong> <strong>Nigeria</strong> <strong>—</strong> <strong>GOVS</strong><br />
•As S-West govs vow <strong>to</strong> fight criminality with every legal means<br />
•Herdsmen, farmers now carry AK-47, Northern govs lament •Say farmers/herders crisis would have been<br />
averted if lives<strong>to</strong>ck plan was implemented •PDP intervenes in Or<strong>to</strong>m/Mohammed’s rift over herdsmen<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> operating fatherism,<br />
not federalism<br />
<strong>GOVS</strong> VISIT NIGER...<br />
– Adesina, AfDB boss 10<br />
10<br />
Chairman of the <strong>Nigeria</strong> Governors' Forum and Governor of Ekiti State,<br />
Dr Kayode Fayemi (2nd left) with a delegation of the Forum in Minna, Niger<br />
State, yesterday, <strong>to</strong> commiserate with government and people of Niger State<br />
on the series of kidnappings in the state.<br />
Mr & Mrs<br />
COLUMNISTS DEAR BUNMI 16 FASAN 17 AFE 34<br />
STATE OF THE NATION: How <strong>to</strong> save <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
<strong>—</strong> U<strong>to</strong>mi, Na'Ábba, Ozekhome, others 35<br />
Uzodimma, 12<br />
Ohanaeze differ<br />
over military<br />
invasion of Orlu<br />
Oando’s shareholder<br />
wins court case<br />
against SEC 32
2 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 <strong>—</strong> 3
4 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021
vanguardnews<br />
@vanguardnews<br />
@vanguardnews<br />
NEWS HOTLINES<br />
018773962,<br />
08052867058<br />
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<strong>—</strong> 5<br />
POCKET CARTOON<br />
private sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
investment will flow in<strong>to</strong><br />
the highways, while no<br />
fewer than 50,000 direct<br />
jobs and 200,000 indirect<br />
jobs would be created by<br />
the concessioning of the<br />
highways <strong>to</strong> the private<br />
opera<strong>to</strong>rs.<br />
UZODINMA IN ASO ROCK<strong>—</strong>President Muhammadu Buhari receives Imo<br />
State Governor Hope Uzodinma in State House, Abuja, yesterday. Pho<strong>to</strong>:<br />
State House.<br />
FG concessions 12<br />
highways <strong>to</strong> inves<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
•Expects N1.34 trn investments, 250, 000 jobs<br />
<strong>to</strong> be created•Obtains nod from ICRC <strong>to</strong><br />
proceed with project<br />
By Soni Daniel,<br />
Northern Region<br />
Edi<strong>to</strong>r<br />
ABUJA<strong>—</strong>In its bid <strong>to</strong><br />
ensure regular<br />
maintenance of road<br />
networks across the<br />
country, the Federal<br />
Ministry of Works and<br />
Housing plans <strong>to</strong><br />
concession no fewer than<br />
12 federal highways <strong>to</strong><br />
private entities <strong>to</strong><br />
manage.<br />
The arrangement will<br />
enable the private<br />
companies introduce <strong>to</strong>ll<br />
gates on the 12 highways<br />
and generate revenue<br />
which they would use <strong>to</strong><br />
regularly maintain such<br />
roads.<br />
This information is<br />
contained in a<br />
document, which<br />
Vanguard obtained,<br />
yesterday, from the<br />
Federal Ministry of<br />
Works and Housing in<br />
Abuja.<br />
The 12 highways <strong>to</strong> be<br />
concessioned under the<br />
Ministry’s “Highway<br />
M a n a g e m e n t<br />
Development Initiative”,<br />
HMDI, are: Benin-<br />
Asaba, Abuja-Lokoja,<br />
Kano-Katsina, Onitsha-<br />
Owerri, Shagamu-Benin<br />
and Abuja-Keffi-<br />
Akwanga.<br />
Others are: Kano-<br />
Shuari, Potiskum-<br />
Damaturu, Lokoja-<br />
Benin, Enugu-Port<br />
Harcourt, Ilorin-Jebba,<br />
Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta and<br />
Lagos-Badagry-Seme<br />
Border.<br />
The roads, according <strong>to</strong><br />
the ministry, come under<br />
the pilot phase of the<br />
HDMI <strong>to</strong> be managed by<br />
selected private sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
inves<strong>to</strong>rs under its<br />
V a l u e - A d d e d<br />
Concession, VAC,<br />
arrangement.<br />
The 12 highways,<br />
according <strong>to</strong> the<br />
document, reviewed by<br />
Vanguard represent<br />
merely 5.6 per cent or<br />
1,963 kilometres of the<br />
country’s 35,000 km<br />
federal highway<br />
network.<br />
The document<br />
estimates that not less<br />
than N1.34 trillion of<br />
Not about revenue<br />
“It’s not really about<br />
revenue, it is about the<br />
expected injection in<strong>to</strong><br />
the economy. The<br />
estimated private sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
investment required for<br />
the development and<br />
maintenance of the 12<br />
routes is N1.34 trillion<br />
and the impact such<br />
investment will have on<br />
the economy cannot be<br />
overstated.<br />
“The anticipated<br />
private sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
investment will stimulate<br />
thousands of job<br />
opportunities for<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns as the<br />
Highway Economy<br />
comes alive along<br />
federal highways.<br />
“A minimum 50,000<br />
direct jobs and over<br />
200,000 indirect jobs are<br />
envisaged <strong>to</strong> be created,<br />
spanning construction<br />
works, installations,<br />
steel fabrication, security,<br />
hospitality, vehicle<br />
repairs, waste<br />
management and<br />
administrative work as<br />
the value chain along the<br />
Highway Economy is<br />
activated.<br />
“The combined impact<br />
of this mini economy<br />
will be a significant<br />
boost <strong>to</strong> our national<br />
GDP as productivity and<br />
earnings are enhanced,”<br />
the document read.<br />
Beyond the Value-<br />
Added Concession, VAC<br />
arrangement, the<br />
FMWH is also planning<br />
<strong>to</strong> use another vehicle,<br />
known as the Unbundled<br />
Assets Approvals<br />
initiative, UAAI, <strong>to</strong><br />
maximize the use of its<br />
assets on the highways.<br />
Under this category,<br />
the ministry plans <strong>to</strong><br />
issue approvals/permits<br />
<strong>to</strong> individuals <strong>to</strong> use<br />
assets on the right of<br />
way on a Build, Operate<br />
and Maintain basis.<br />
Both the VAC and the<br />
UAAI, according <strong>to</strong> the<br />
ministry, aim <strong>to</strong> provide<br />
adequate highway<br />
services through the<br />
development of<br />
revenue-generating<br />
assets along the<br />
highway.<br />
“This is key <strong>to</strong><br />
maintaining the<br />
functionality of the<br />
highway as well as<br />
engaging and<br />
generating wealth for<br />
indigenous small and<br />
medium enterprises,” it<br />
says.<br />
Approval obtained<br />
The ministry explained<br />
that it has already<br />
obtained the approval of<br />
the Infrastructure<br />
Concession and<br />
Regula<strong>to</strong>ry Commission,<br />
ICRC, <strong>to</strong> go ahead with<br />
the implementation of<br />
the HMDI which<br />
incorporates the<br />
concessioning of the<br />
highways and the right<br />
of way <strong>to</strong> private sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
opera<strong>to</strong>rs.<br />
Explaining the<br />
objectives of the HMDI,<br />
the ministry said: “The<br />
objective is <strong>to</strong> develop<br />
an eco-system along the<br />
federal highway<br />
network by bringing<br />
multi-dimensional<br />
resources of skills,<br />
manpower, finance,<br />
technology, and<br />
efficiency in<strong>to</strong> the<br />
National Highway<br />
governance.<br />
“Ultimately, this homegrown<br />
initiative will be<br />
the lasting solution <strong>to</strong> the<br />
development and<br />
management of federal<br />
highways by introducing<br />
order, accountability and<br />
p r o f i t a b l e<br />
entrepreneurship <strong>to</strong> the<br />
operation, management,<br />
and maintenance of<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s 35,000 km<br />
federal highways.<br />
“The Initiative is<br />
expected <strong>to</strong> be anchored<br />
on private sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
engagement via<br />
concessioning of<br />
economically viable<br />
routes <strong>to</strong> technically and<br />
financially capable<br />
private companies,<br />
through<br />
the<br />
management and<br />
development of the righ<strong>to</strong>f-way.<br />
“A major hindrance <strong>to</strong><br />
highway development<br />
and management has<br />
been paucity of required<br />
funds <strong>to</strong> service the vast<br />
and ever-expanding road<br />
network. To negate this<br />
handicap, the FMWH<br />
proposes<br />
engagement<br />
Continues on Page 35<br />
the<br />
of<br />
By Yinka La<strong>to</strong>na<br />
Should FG grant amnesty <strong>to</strong> bandits? (3)<br />
Lemony Snicket was right<br />
when he said: ‘Criminals<br />
should be punished, not fed<br />
pastries.’ When you pardon a<br />
criminal, you have just<br />
encouraged him or sent a<br />
message <strong>to</strong> some people<br />
somewhere that they can<br />
always go Scot-free whenever<br />
they break the laws. Bandits<br />
are criminals. They have no<br />
good intentions. They don’t<br />
deserve amnesty. They<br />
deserve a visitation <strong>to</strong> the<br />
gallows.<br />
<strong>—</strong>Folorunso F.Adisa,<br />
Mediaprenuer<br />
Bandits are threats <strong>to</strong><br />
national security and<br />
if a country cannot allow<br />
peaceful protesters <strong>to</strong><br />
have their way, they<br />
shouldn’t in any way<br />
negotiate with anything<br />
that threatens the peace<br />
of the nation. In my<br />
opinion, several innocent<br />
untried individuals in<br />
prison need amnesty.<br />
Adeleke Kehinde,<br />
Content crea<strong>to</strong>r<br />
I<br />
actually do not believe<br />
amnesty should be<br />
granted <strong>to</strong> bandits. Besides,<br />
more people will see it as a<br />
shortcut <strong>to</strong> success looking<br />
at how past repented<br />
criminals are treated when<br />
granted amnesty. If they can<br />
take weapons and start<br />
killing people for no reason,<br />
I don’t see any reason why<br />
they won’t keep going back<br />
<strong>to</strong> the same crimes when<br />
their demands are not met.<br />
<strong>—</strong>Sunkanmi Ade,<br />
Make-up artist<br />
Bandits don’t deserve<br />
amnesty. Why should<br />
they be granted one? I<br />
support what Gov El-Rufai<br />
said on BBC Hausa Service.<br />
If they are granted amnesty,<br />
they will never honour it.<br />
Then the government will<br />
have <strong>to</strong> be meeting with<br />
different groups and new<br />
ones will continue <strong>to</strong> spring<br />
up here and there.<br />
<strong>—</strong>Odunayo Ayobami,<br />
Student<br />
I<br />
don’t think it’s the right<br />
step. Those who commit<br />
crime should be punished;<br />
it’s strange <strong>to</strong> be thinking of<br />
granting them amnesty. It’s<br />
high time we started<br />
implementing our laws<br />
religiously. The law says that<br />
if you offend, you face the<br />
consequences. Should we<br />
grant amnesty <strong>to</strong> people who<br />
had killed and maimed us?<br />
It's unfair.<br />
<strong>—</strong>Mrs. Shokoya Yetunde,<br />
Businesswoman<br />
The northern elders<br />
based their requests on<br />
the fact that Niger-Delta<br />
militants got amnesty.<br />
Comparing that struggle <strong>to</strong><br />
this one is baseless. That<br />
struggle was based on<br />
resource control,<br />
environmental<br />
degradation of a resourcerich<br />
region. They had<br />
regard for human lives<br />
unlike the bandits who kill<br />
at will. What economic<br />
reason is their struggle<br />
based? They are terrorists<br />
that should be treated as<br />
such . <strong>—</strong>Aremu Precious,<br />
Entrepreneur
6<strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
Court<br />
discharges,<br />
acquits engine<br />
oil trader over<br />
death of<br />
pregnant<br />
fiancee<br />
By Peter Okutu<br />
ABAKALIKI<strong>—</strong> AN Ebonyi<br />
State High Court, Abakaliki<br />
Division, has discharged and<br />
acquitted one Chukwudi Omeh,<br />
who has been standing trial for<br />
eight years over the death of his<br />
pregnant fiancee.<br />
Omeh, an engine oil trader, was<br />
accused in 2012 of killing his<br />
pregnant fiancee, Chinagorom<br />
Agama.<br />
The mutilated corpse of the<br />
deceased, a student of Ebonyi<br />
State College of Education, ÊkwÍ,<br />
and her bag were discovered at<br />
the Alisaoko forest in Ohaukwu<br />
Local Government Area with her<br />
private part, hair and breasts<br />
missing.<br />
At the time of her death, she<br />
was three months pregnant.<br />
Her fiance, Omeh, was<br />
sponsoring her in school from<br />
proceeds of his engine oil<br />
business at ÌkwÍ Ngbo market in<br />
the local government.<br />
Their relationship, it was<br />
gathered, started in 1999 while<br />
they were in secondary school but<br />
they decided <strong>to</strong> marry in 2012.<br />
Following the discovery of her<br />
corpse, Omeh was arrested and<br />
accused of killing her and<br />
arraigned in 2013 before the court.<br />
However, the court presided<br />
over by Justice Vincent Nwanchor<br />
declared the defendant<br />
discharged and acquitted.<br />
He held that the prosecution<br />
failed <strong>to</strong> prove beyond a<br />
reasonable doubt that the accused<br />
committed the crime.<br />
The prosecuting counsel for the<br />
state, Lilian Okorie, blamed the<br />
inability of the police <strong>to</strong> carry out<br />
a diligent investigation on the<br />
matter before charging the<br />
accused <strong>to</strong> court.<br />
She also advised the discharged<br />
man <strong>to</strong> make a lasting peace with<br />
the deceased’s family members<br />
irrespective of the court<br />
judgement.<br />
Counsel <strong>to</strong> the defendant,<br />
Cletus Nwokposi, appreciated the<br />
court for discharging his client,<br />
noting: “The court has<br />
demonstrated that it is indeed the<br />
last hope of the common man.”<br />
Omeh, while thanking the court<br />
for acquitting him, prayed for the<br />
repose of the souls of his late<br />
fiancee and unborn baby.<br />
Cultists kill bricklayer in Delta<br />
By Ochuko Akuopha<br />
WALE<strong>—</strong> SUSPECTED<br />
Kcultists have reportedly<br />
killed a bricklayer, simply<br />
identified as Mr Jerry, at his<br />
residence around Utagba-Uno<br />
Street, Kwale, headquarters of<br />
Ndokwa West Local<br />
Government Area of Delta<br />
State, Monday.<br />
Sources said the deceased,<br />
who is also a member of the<br />
commercial mo<strong>to</strong>rcycle task<br />
force in the area, was shot at a<br />
close range by his assailants,<br />
who broke in<strong>to</strong> his house while<br />
he was with his wife.<br />
Policeman killed as suspected hoodlums<br />
attack police station in Aba<br />
•Govt places N1m bounty on attackers<br />
•Bans Keke, Okada operations from 7 pm <strong>to</strong> 7 am<br />
By Steve Oko<br />
ABA<strong>—</strong>A policeman on duty was,<br />
yesterday, killed in an early<br />
morning attack on a police station<br />
at Abayi Osisioma Local<br />
Government Area, near Aba, Abia<br />
State.<br />
It was gathered that the attackers<br />
s<strong>to</strong>rmed the station around 2:00 am<br />
and set the station ablaze after<br />
killing one of the police personnel<br />
on duty.<br />
An unspecified number of<br />
vehicles parked at the station were<br />
also set ablaze by the invaders<br />
whose identities are yet <strong>to</strong> be<br />
ascertained.<br />
Meanwhile, the Abia State<br />
government has promised N1<br />
million reward for any credible<br />
information that could lead <strong>to</strong> the<br />
arrest of the invaders.<br />
Confirming the attack, yesterday,<br />
Abia State’s Police Public Relations<br />
Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, said<br />
investigations in<strong>to</strong> the incident had<br />
commended <strong>to</strong> apprehend the<br />
perpetra<strong>to</strong>rs.<br />
It would be recalled that another<br />
police station was also in a similar<br />
fashion set on fire at Omoba in<br />
Isialangwa South Local<br />
Government Area in early January.<br />
The Abia State government,<br />
yesterday, described the attack on<br />
the police station and the killing of<br />
the police officer as “mindless and<br />
cowardly.”<br />
Govt places N1m<br />
bounty on attackers<br />
The government in a statement<br />
by the Commissioner for<br />
Information, John Okiyi, promised<br />
N1 million reward for any credible<br />
information that could lead <strong>to</strong> the<br />
arrest of the invaders.<br />
The government also announced<br />
an immediate ban on tricycle and<br />
mo<strong>to</strong>rcycle operation between 7 pm<br />
and 7am in all major cities<br />
throughout the state.<br />
The statement made available <strong>to</strong><br />
Vanguard in Aba read in part: “The<br />
attention of Abia State Government<br />
has been drawn <strong>to</strong> a mindless and<br />
cowardly attack on a police station<br />
in Aba by yet <strong>to</strong> be identified armed<br />
hoodlums in the early hours of <strong>to</strong>day<br />
(yesterday) leading <strong>to</strong> loss of<br />
precious lives.<br />
“We wish <strong>to</strong> assure members of<br />
the public that the government is<br />
working with security agencies in<br />
the state <strong>to</strong> fish out the perpetra<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
of this dastardly crime and bring<br />
“There have been series of<br />
cult clashes in Kwale in the<br />
last few months. This is<br />
making it eight persons that<br />
have been killed by cultists<br />
since January. Some survived<br />
the attacks.<br />
“They shoot every day and<br />
on Valentine’s day, two<br />
persons were killed," a source<br />
who craved anonymity <strong>to</strong>ld<br />
Vanguard.<br />
Effort <strong>to</strong> get comments from<br />
Delta State Police Public<br />
Relations Officer, Mr Bright<br />
Edafe, was abortive at press<br />
time, but a security source in<br />
the area confirmed the<br />
incident.<br />
them <strong>to</strong> justice as quickly as possible.<br />
“No part of Abia land will be ceded<br />
<strong>to</strong> criminals operating under any<br />
guise and we will not spare any<br />
resource in ensuring that the<br />
perpetra<strong>to</strong>rs of this dastardly act are<br />
brought <strong>to</strong> book in no distant time<br />
and the s<strong>to</strong>len arms and ammunition<br />
recovered completely.<br />
“Government, therefore, calls on<br />
citizens <strong>to</strong> avail law enforcement<br />
agencies with vital information that<br />
will lead <strong>to</strong> the arrest of the criminals<br />
and recovery of these arms.<br />
“We are determined <strong>to</strong> pay N1<br />
million for any information leading<br />
<strong>to</strong> the recovery of any of the s<strong>to</strong>len<br />
arms and or arrest of any suspect.<br />
“Consequently, the Government<br />
hereby imposes a ban on Keke/<br />
Okada operations between 7 pm<br />
and 7 am in all major cities of the<br />
state starting from <strong>to</strong>day,February<br />
23, 2021.<br />
“Once again, we call for <strong>to</strong>tal<br />
vigilance and prompt information<br />
from citizens <strong>to</strong> ensure the arrest and<br />
prosecution of the hoodlums. We call<br />
on banks and other vulnerable<br />
institutions <strong>to</strong> fortify security around<br />
their places of business while<br />
strongly advising all security<br />
formations in the state <strong>to</strong> remain on<br />
red alert until the situation is fully<br />
pacified.<br />
“Law-abiding citizens and visi<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
are advised <strong>to</strong> go about their normal<br />
businesses while maintaining<br />
vigilance as measures have been<br />
put in place <strong>to</strong> ensure their safety.<br />
"Those attacking security agents<br />
and formations only seek <strong>to</strong><br />
engender anarchy. We will,<br />
therefore, continue <strong>to</strong> support<br />
security agencies with whatever<br />
they need <strong>to</strong> foil the agenda of the<br />
hoodlums.<br />
“While we implore community<br />
leaders <strong>to</strong> be vigilant, we urge<br />
parents and guardians <strong>to</strong> take more<br />
interest in the activities of their<br />
children and wards <strong>to</strong> avoid their<br />
falling prey <strong>to</strong> criminally minded<br />
individuals.”<br />
Police arrest 2 ex-convicts for robbery in Ogun<br />
By James Ogunnaike<br />
TWO ex-convicts, Abiodun<br />
Oshoba and Mustapha Sakiru,<br />
have been arrested by operatives of<br />
the Ogun State police command for<br />
robbing one Aminu Iliyasu of his<br />
Bajaj mo<strong>to</strong>rcycle at gunpoint.<br />
The suspects, according <strong>to</strong> a<br />
statement by the command<br />
spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi,<br />
were arrested following a complaint<br />
lodged at Sagamu police station by<br />
the victim.<br />
Iliyasu reported that the two<br />
suspects boarded his mo<strong>to</strong>rcycle as<br />
passengers and asked him <strong>to</strong> take<br />
them <strong>to</strong> the Conference Hotel at<br />
G.R.A quarters, Sagamu.<br />
Oyeyemi said: “On their way <strong>to</strong><br />
the place, the suspects brought out<br />
a gun and ordered him <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p. They<br />
subsequently dispossessed him of<br />
the mo<strong>to</strong>rcycle and made away with<br />
it.<br />
“Upon the report, the DPO<br />
Sagamu Division, Okiki<br />
Agunbiade, mobilised his men and<br />
in-conjunction with members of<br />
Vigilante Group blocked all the exit<br />
points of the GRA and commenced<br />
s<strong>to</strong>p and search.”<br />
He added that their efforts yielded<br />
positive result when the mo<strong>to</strong>rcycle<br />
was sighted at one of the exit points,<br />
in possession of Abiodun Oshoba<br />
The suspects.<br />
with the number plate folded.<br />
Oyeyemi said: “On sighting the<br />
policemen, he abandoned the<br />
mo<strong>to</strong>rcycle and <strong>to</strong>ok <strong>to</strong> his<br />
heels. He was chased and<br />
apprehended by the<br />
policemen and his arrest led<br />
<strong>to</strong> the apprehension of his<br />
accomplice, Mustapha<br />
Sakiru.”<br />
A locally made pis<strong>to</strong>l with<br />
one live cartridge was<br />
recovered from them.<br />
The Police spokesman<br />
disclosed that preliminary<br />
investigation revealed that<br />
the duo met in Igbeba prison<br />
where they served different<br />
jail terms and decided <strong>to</strong><br />
form a gang after their terms<br />
in the prison.<br />
“While Sakiru Mustapha<br />
was jailed in 2016 for<br />
hijacking a truck, Abiodun<br />
Oshoba was jailed in 2019<br />
for snatching a phone; both<br />
of them came out of prison<br />
in 2020 and decided <strong>to</strong><br />
continue their devilish<br />
trade,” he said.<br />
Meanwhile, the state<br />
Commissioner of Police,<br />
Edward Ajagun, has<br />
ordered the transfer of the<br />
suspects <strong>to</strong> the State Criminal<br />
Investigation and Intelligence<br />
Department for discreet<br />
investigation and prosecution.<br />
Mother of 3 jailed 28 years for child theft in A-Ibom<br />
By Chioma Onuegbu<br />
UYO<strong>—</strong>A mother of three, Mary<br />
Effiong, was yesterday,<br />
sentenced <strong>to</strong> 28 years imprisonment<br />
for child theft by an Akwa Ibom State<br />
High Court sitting in Uyo.<br />
It was gathered that Effiong s<strong>to</strong>le<br />
two pupils of Saint Philip’s Primary<br />
School, Use Offot and sold them in<br />
Osisioma Ngwa, Abia State.<br />
Effiong had in her statement <strong>to</strong><br />
the police confessed that on<br />
November 12, 2018, she lured the<br />
pupils, five and six years old, with<br />
biscuits, claiming <strong>to</strong> be a friend <strong>to</strong><br />
their mothers.<br />
She testified that she had an<br />
agreement with one Blessing<br />
Sunday alias Mummy Vom from<br />
Osisioma Ngwa in Abia State, who<br />
engaged her <strong>to</strong> look for children in<br />
Akwa Ibom for her.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> her statement, a man<br />
saw her in a bush while trying <strong>to</strong><br />
escape with the two pupils and<br />
raised the alarm, and she was<br />
eventually caught and taken <strong>to</strong> the<br />
primary school where the<br />
headteacher identified the pupils<br />
and denied knowing the convict.<br />
In his judgement, yesterday,<br />
Justice Okon Okon described<br />
Mary Effiong's conduct as<br />
despicable, abominable and an<br />
embarrassment <strong>to</strong> motherhood,<br />
adding that for her <strong>to</strong> leave her<br />
children <strong>to</strong> abduct other people’s<br />
children for financial gains, speaks<br />
volume of her wickedness.<br />
He held that the defendant “is a<br />
joy killer set <strong>to</strong> cause grief and inflict<br />
pains on other parents, while<br />
jealously protecting and guiding<br />
her children.<br />
“But for providence, she would<br />
have succeeded in trafficking the<br />
two children <strong>to</strong> Abia State and<br />
ultimately sold them <strong>to</strong> a ready and<br />
willing buyer.”<br />
The trial judge ruled that the<br />
convict needed <strong>to</strong> be punished<br />
severely <strong>to</strong> serve as a deterrent <strong>to</strong><br />
others, who engaged in the illicit<br />
trade.<br />
He found her guilty and<br />
sentenced her <strong>to</strong> 28years<br />
imprisonment.<br />
Child stealing is punishable<br />
under Section 380 of the Criminal<br />
Code, Cap. 38, Volume 2, Laws of<br />
Akwa Ibom State of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, 2000.<br />
Gunmen invade poultry farm, kidnap 24-yr-old man in<br />
Oyo<br />
By Ola Ajayi<br />
IBADAN<strong>—</strong>A popular poultry farm<br />
at Oke Odan, Olomo area in Apete<br />
community, Ido Local Government<br />
Area of Oyo State was, Monday night,<br />
invaded by gunmen, who abducted a<br />
24-year-old man.<br />
It was gathered that the attackers shot<br />
severally <strong>to</strong> scare people when they<br />
s<strong>to</strong>rmed the farm before kidnapping<br />
the young man, who is the son of the<br />
owner of the farm.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> information, the<br />
hoodlums on arrival demanded <strong>to</strong> see<br />
the owner of the farm. So, when they<br />
did not find him, they went away with<br />
his son.<br />
Contacted, National President of<br />
Soludero Hunters Association, Oba<br />
Wahab Anabi promised <strong>to</strong> mobilise his<br />
men.<br />
Also, the Divisional Police Officer at<br />
Apete Division and other officers, a local<br />
vigilante group have since been<br />
combing the surroundings of Olomo<br />
community in search of the abduc<strong>to</strong>rs.<br />
It was gathered that the abduc<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
escaped through a forest between the<br />
University of Ibadan and Ajibode.
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<strong>—</strong>7<br />
Police rescue 81-yr-old monarch from kidnappers<br />
in Calabar •They made me trek for more than a mile <strong>—</strong>Monarch<br />
By Ike Uchechukwu<br />
CALABAR<strong>—</strong>THE 81-year-old<br />
monarch, Chief Bassey<br />
Iyamba, whisked away from his<br />
house at Ambo by Idang in<br />
Calabar South Local Government<br />
Area, late Monday night,<br />
yesterday, recounted how he was<br />
made <strong>to</strong> trek for more than a mile<br />
before he was rescued by the<br />
police.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, ”Three men<br />
entered my compound<br />
pretending <strong>to</strong> be cus<strong>to</strong>mers, who<br />
came <strong>to</strong> buy chicken from our<br />
poultry not knowing they came<br />
<strong>to</strong> kidnap me, Although I got<br />
information that they wanted <strong>to</strong><br />
kidnap me a month ago and I<br />
restricted my movement, not<br />
knowing I was still a target.<br />
•Says they came pretending <strong>to</strong> be cus<strong>to</strong>mers<br />
“One of them entered my sitting<br />
room and started harassing me,<br />
he molested my wife and my<br />
children while asking me <strong>to</strong> bring<br />
the money, I <strong>to</strong>ld him I had no<br />
money in the house.<br />
“They dragged me, hit my head<br />
and face before succeeded <strong>to</strong><br />
whisk me away. They <strong>to</strong>ok me <strong>to</strong><br />
the creek, where I trekked for<br />
more than a mile before we<br />
arrived at our destination because<br />
they <strong>to</strong>ok me from one camp <strong>to</strong><br />
another.<br />
“I must commend the police<br />
and the youths of my community,<br />
they did a lot of work <strong>to</strong> ensure<br />
my cap<strong>to</strong>rs did not succeed in<br />
taking me across the water in<strong>to</strong><br />
the other side of the creek. I am<br />
most grateful because God used<br />
them <strong>to</strong> save my life.<br />
“I am an 81-year-old man, those<br />
men would have killed me inside<br />
the creek were it not for the timely<br />
intervention of the police because<br />
they escaped when they<br />
discovered that the police were<br />
on their trail and were closing in<br />
on them.<br />
“They left me alone in the creek,<br />
and when I started shouting I<br />
realised no one was with me. That<br />
was when police rescued me this<br />
early morning (Tuesday).”<br />
Speaking on the incident, the<br />
state Commissioner of Police,<br />
Sikiru Akande, said the incident<br />
had given them a platform <strong>to</strong><br />
prove that they can react promptly<br />
and swiftly during emergencies.<br />
His words:”I want <strong>to</strong> thank God<br />
for helping us react swiftly in the<br />
rescue of the 81-year-old<br />
traditional ruler. Our response is<br />
an insight and a tip of the iceberg<br />
<strong>to</strong> the fact that we have started<br />
keeping our promise <strong>to</strong> Cross<br />
Riverians.<br />
“We are sending a message <strong>to</strong><br />
hoodlums and all criminals alike,<br />
who want <strong>to</strong> test our strength or<br />
will that we are not going <strong>to</strong> relent<br />
until they are completely flushed<br />
out of the state.<br />
“I want <strong>to</strong> thank the youths of<br />
the community, Operation Puff<br />
Adder, Operation Akpakwu, the<br />
Efut Division and most especially<br />
the Marine police, who <strong>to</strong>ok the<br />
risk of securing the waterways,<br />
ensuring the hoodlums did not<br />
escape through the waterways<br />
with their victim.”<br />
53-yr-old man stabs neighbour <strong>to</strong> death while defending<br />
his brother<br />
By Esther Onyegbula<br />
TRAGEDY struck in the<br />
early hours of Monday at<br />
8, Akpaku Lane, Mafoluku-<br />
Oshodi area of Lagos when a<br />
man allegedly stabbed his<br />
neighbour <strong>to</strong> death during an<br />
altercation.<br />
Vanguard gathered that the<br />
incident occurred about an<br />
hour after the deceased,<br />
Chibuike Nwanne, returned<br />
from a party, with his wife.<br />
A report had it that Chibuike<br />
Nwanne had an altercation<br />
with one of his neighbours,<br />
Ifeanyi Emmanuel, over an<br />
unknown issue.<br />
In the course of the quarrel,<br />
another tenant, Sunday<br />
Amaefula, was said <strong>to</strong> have<br />
dashed out of his room with a<br />
broken bottle <strong>to</strong> defend<br />
Emmanuel, claiming he<br />
(Emmanuel) was his brother.<br />
He allegedly stabbed<br />
Nwanne at the chest region,<br />
causing him <strong>to</strong> slump. The<br />
victim’s pregnant wife was<br />
said <strong>to</strong> have raised the alarm<br />
that jolted other occupants<br />
from sleep.<br />
Efforts <strong>to</strong> save the life of 43-<br />
year-old Nwanne said <strong>to</strong> have<br />
wedded last year, failed as he<br />
reportedly bled <strong>to</strong> death.<br />
Tenants prevented<br />
Amaefula, 53, from escaping,<br />
until the arrival of policemen<br />
from Mafoluku division.<br />
During interrogation,<br />
Amaefula <strong>to</strong>ld policemen that<br />
he did not know what came<br />
over him. Besides,<br />
investigation also revealed<br />
that he and Ifeanyi<br />
Emmanuel, the tenant he <strong>to</strong>ok<br />
side with during the<br />
altercation, were not blood<br />
brothers.<br />
Police nab 2<br />
suspected robbers<br />
In another development, two<br />
suspected robbers were,<br />
yesterday, arrested around<br />
Alakara area of Lagos State.<br />
The Divisional Police Officer<br />
of Alakara and his men on<br />
patrol, according <strong>to</strong> Muyiwa,<br />
intercepted two men on a<br />
mo<strong>to</strong>rcycle.<br />
The suspected robbers.<br />
He said: “During a search,<br />
two brand new Beretta pis<strong>to</strong>ls<br />
with three magazines and 22<br />
live ammunition were<br />
recovered from them.<br />
“The suspects, Mojeed<br />
Satan and Kudaisi Ajetumobi,<br />
could not give satisfac<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
explanation on their means of<br />
livelihood.<br />
"Meanwhile, Commissioner<br />
of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem<br />
Odumosu, has ordered that the<br />
Sunday Amaefula, suspected killer.<br />
suspects and exhibits be<br />
transferred <strong>to</strong> the State<br />
Criminal Investigation and<br />
Intelligence Department,<br />
SCIID, for proper<br />
investigation.”<br />
23-year-old man killed in Imo cult clash<br />
By Chinonso Alozie<br />
OWERRI<strong>—</strong>A cult clash<br />
between rival groups at<br />
Agwa Secondary School in<br />
Oguta Local Government<br />
Area of Imo State has<br />
reportedly claimed the life of<br />
a 23-year-old man, Tobechi<br />
Duru.<br />
Confirming the death of the<br />
man, the state Police Public<br />
Relations Officer, Orlando<br />
Ikekwo, said the command<br />
got the information through a<br />
distress call and moved their<br />
men <strong>to</strong> the scene.<br />
Okonkwo said another 23-<br />
year-old man, Wisdom<br />
Uzoma, was arrested in<br />
connection with the incident<br />
after he allegedly confessed <strong>to</strong><br />
committing the crime.<br />
The PPRO in a statement,<br />
yesterday said: “On the 20/02/<br />
21, through a distress call,<br />
operatives of the command<br />
moved <strong>to</strong> Agwa Secondary<br />
School, Agwa, in Oguta Local<br />
Government Area.<br />
Wisdom Uzoma, the suspect,<br />
“Upon arrival at the scene,<br />
operatives met the remains of<br />
a young man, who was later<br />
identified <strong>to</strong> be Tobechi<br />
Chijioke Duru, 23-year-old, of<br />
Obudi Agwa, in Oguta Local<br />
Government<br />
Area, Imo<br />
State. He<br />
was said <strong>to</strong><br />
have been<br />
killed while<br />
two rival<br />
cult groups<br />
clashed at<br />
the school<br />
premises.<br />
“However,<br />
on the 21/<br />
0 2 / 2 1 ,<br />
based on<br />
discreet and<br />
painstaking<br />
investigations,<br />
operatives<br />
of the<br />
command<br />
arrested the<br />
fleeing<br />
suspect, one Wisdom Uzoma,<br />
23-year-old, of Obudi Agwa,<br />
in Oguta Local Government<br />
Area of Imo State. He<br />
confessed <strong>to</strong> the crime, and<br />
will be prosecuted<br />
accordingly.”<br />
SON arraigns<br />
bizman for<br />
engine oil<br />
adulteration,<br />
logo forgery<br />
By Onozure Dania<br />
A<br />
Federal High Court<br />
sitting in Lagos,<br />
yesterday, ordered the<br />
remand in police cus<strong>to</strong>dy of<br />
a businessman, Chidi<br />
Nwanyanwu, charged with<br />
adulteration of engine oil<br />
and inscribing forged<br />
Standard Organisation of<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>, SON, logos on the<br />
product.<br />
Trial judge, Justice<br />
Maureen Onyetenu,<br />
ordered the remand of the<br />
defendant following his<br />
arraignment alongside his<br />
two firms, Two Ocean Oil Ltd<br />
and Hi-Power Lubricants.<br />
In the four-count charge,<br />
SON accused the defendants<br />
of dealing in adulterated<br />
engine oil, non-compliance<br />
with SON’s Conformity<br />
Assessment Programme and<br />
forging of the SON’s logo,<br />
the mark of quality and<br />
certification number.<br />
The SON’s counsel, Joseph<br />
Olofindare, said the<br />
defendants, of 21, Kenneth<br />
Obas Place Estate, Ojo,<br />
Lagos committed the offence<br />
on or about February 1, 2021<br />
at the Trade Fair<br />
Administrative Block<br />
Complex, Badagry<br />
Expressway, Lagos.<br />
The offences, according <strong>to</strong><br />
Olofindare, are punishable<br />
under sections Section 26,<br />
26(a)&(b) of the SON Act,<br />
2015, and section 1(18a)(ii)<br />
of the Miscellaneous<br />
Offences Act, 2004.<br />
The defendants pleaded<br />
not guilty.<br />
Their counsel, Uchenna<br />
Umoneke, informed the<br />
court that his client’s bail<br />
motion had been filed and<br />
served on the prosecution.<br />
Olofindare did not oppose<br />
the application but noted that<br />
Nwanyanwu had been<br />
evasive since 2016 and had<br />
dishonoured all of the SON’s<br />
invitations for a meeting on<br />
how <strong>to</strong> find a remedy for the<br />
problems created by his<br />
products.<br />
Following the allegation,<br />
Umoneke prayed for a short<br />
adjournment <strong>to</strong> enable him<br />
<strong>to</strong> file a further and better<br />
affidavit for Nwanyanwu’s<br />
bail.<br />
Granting his prayer,<br />
Justice Onyetenu,<br />
adjourned till March 10,<br />
2021, for the hearing of the<br />
defendant’s bail application<br />
and remanded Nwanyanwu<br />
at the Force Criminal<br />
Investigation and<br />
Intelligence Department,<br />
CIID, Ikoyi, Lagos.
8 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
:Vanguard News<br />
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />
VISIT: From left <strong>—</strong> Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Aliyu Ahmed; Minister of Finance,<br />
Dr Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed; and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; during a<br />
courtesy visit by the governor <strong>to</strong> the minister's office, in Abuja.<br />
We’re ready <strong>to</strong> end insecurity in <strong>Nigeria</strong>,<br />
new service chiefs tell Senate<br />
•Reps urge service chiefs <strong>to</strong> rescue abducted Kagara<br />
students, staff<br />
By Henry Umoru &<br />
Tordue Salem<br />
ABUJA <strong>—</strong> The new serv<br />
ice chiefs yesterday assured<br />
the Senate and <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns<br />
of their readiness <strong>to</strong> end<br />
insecurity in the country.<br />
Speaking separately in the<br />
Upper Chamber yesterday,<br />
the Chief of Defence Staff and<br />
other service chiefs-designate<br />
all expressed their individual<br />
and collective readiness <strong>to</strong><br />
bring the scourge of insecurity<br />
in the form of Boko Haram,<br />
banditry, kidnapping,<br />
among others, <strong>to</strong> an end. The<br />
Senate Joint Committee of<br />
Defence, Army, Air-force and<br />
Navy, led by Sena<strong>to</strong>r Aliyu<br />
Wamakko, APC, Soko<strong>to</strong><br />
North, yesterday screened<br />
the new service chiefs.<br />
Other chairmen of the committees<br />
are Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ali<br />
Ndume, APC, Borno South for<br />
Army; Sena<strong>to</strong>r George Sekibo,<br />
Peoples Democratic Party,<br />
PDP, Rivers East, Chairman,<br />
Navy; and Sena<strong>to</strong>r Bala<br />
Ibn Na’allah, APC, Kebbi<br />
Central, Chairman, Airforce.<br />
The new service chiefs were<br />
led <strong>to</strong> room 211, Senate New<br />
building, venue of the<br />
screening by the Senior Special<br />
Assistant <strong>to</strong> the President<br />
on National Assembly matters<br />
( Senate) Sena<strong>to</strong>r Babajide<br />
Omoworare.<br />
The service chiefs include<br />
Maj. Gen. Lucky Eluonye lrabor,<br />
Chief of Defence Staff<br />
(CDS); Maj. Gen. Ibrahim<br />
Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff<br />
(COAS); Rear Admiral Awwal<br />
Zubairu Gambo, Chief of<br />
Naval Staff (CNS); and Air<br />
Vice Marshal Isiaka O.<br />
Amao,Chief of Air Staff (CAS).<br />
When the nominees appeared<br />
before the Joint Senate<br />
Committee on Defence,<br />
Army, Navy and Air Force yesterday,<br />
they all pledged their<br />
best <strong>to</strong> ensure that insecurity<br />
became a thing of the past.<br />
Recall that President Muhammadu<br />
Buhari had in a<br />
letter dated January 27, 2021,<br />
forwarded the nominations of<br />
the military chiefs <strong>to</strong> the Senate<br />
for confirmation.<br />
Also recall that Buhari had<br />
in a letter <strong>to</strong> the President of<br />
the Senate, Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ahmad<br />
Lawan, dated January 27,<br />
2021, said the screening was<br />
being sought in furtherance of<br />
Section 18 (1) of the Armed<br />
Forces Act Cap A.20 Laws of<br />
the Federation of <strong>Nigeria</strong>.<br />
To begin the screening process,<br />
President of the Senate,<br />
Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ahmad Lawan had<br />
last week, referred the names<br />
of the newly appointed Service<br />
Chiefs <strong>to</strong> its Joint Committee<br />
on Defence, Army, Airforce<br />
and Navy <strong>to</strong> commence the<br />
screening exercise and report<br />
back <strong>to</strong> the Senate at Plenary<br />
for other legislative actions.<br />
In his remarks, Major<br />
General Lucky Eluonye lrabor,<br />
Chief of Defence Staff,<br />
CDS, said the mandate of President<br />
Buhari was very clear <strong>to</strong><br />
him and his colleagues, stressing<br />
that they would deliver on<br />
the core mandate.<br />
He said: “I have had extensive<br />
experience as a commissioned<br />
officer of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
Army. I have had experiences<br />
in both operational and, of<br />
course, instructional and field<br />
experiences and I hope as we<br />
interact <strong>to</strong>gether, you will see<br />
more of what we could deliver<br />
in a manner <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns will be<br />
happy.” On his part, the<br />
COAS-designate, Major General<br />
Attahiru, assured the panel<br />
that if confirmed for the position,<br />
he will provide the right<br />
leadership for the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
Army and reposition it.<br />
He said: “My vision is <strong>to</strong><br />
reposition it for professionalism,<br />
defeat all adversaries in<br />
joint environment.<br />
“Futhermore, let me assure<br />
you all that I will do all that is<br />
necessary <strong>to</strong> work assiduously<br />
with other service chiefs <strong>to</strong><br />
bring an end <strong>to</strong> the security<br />
challenges in the country.’’<br />
Also speaking, the Chief of<br />
Naval Staff Designate, Rear<br />
Admiral Auwal Gambo, said<br />
his vision was <strong>to</strong> leverage on<br />
all fac<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> re-energise the<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n Navy in fulfillment<br />
of national security objectives.<br />
On his part, the Chief of<br />
Air Staff Designate, AVM Isiaka<br />
Amao, recalled how the<br />
country has spent taxpayers<br />
money <strong>to</strong> train him right from<br />
1984 <strong>to</strong> date, promising not<br />
<strong>to</strong> let the country down in his<br />
new capacity. ‘’Of course, for<br />
my resume, you can see that I<br />
have the experience <strong>to</strong> hold<br />
this appointment. I want <strong>to</strong><br />
promise that I will not let the<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n people down and I<br />
will do my best, with the coordination<br />
of my colleagues, <strong>to</strong><br />
ensure that the insecurity in<br />
the country becomes a thing<br />
of the past,’’ he said.<br />
Meanwhile, the House of<br />
Representatives yesterday<br />
urged the new service chiefs<br />
<strong>to</strong> rescue Government Science<br />
Secondary School, Kagara,<br />
Niger State, students<br />
that were abducted last<br />
Wednesday. The legisla<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
called for the rescue through<br />
a motion of urgent national<br />
importance, sponsored by<br />
Unyime Idem(Akwa-Ibom/<br />
PDP). Presenting the motion,<br />
Unyime said: “On Wednesday,<br />
February 17, 2021, at<br />
about 2:00am, Government<br />
Science College, Kagara, Niger<br />
State, was attacked by<br />
unknown gunmen reportedly<br />
dressed in military uniforms<br />
and killed one student. abducted<br />
27 students and three<br />
members of the staff alongside<br />
12 of their relatives and<br />
several others running in<strong>to</strong><br />
nearby bushes for safety.<br />
“At least 30 travelers were<br />
abducted on Sunday, February<br />
14, 2021, by gunmen<br />
who ambushed commuters<br />
along the TeginaZungeru<br />
highway in Rafi Local Government<br />
Area of Niger State.<br />
‘’It was confirmed by the officials<br />
of the drivers’ union in<br />
the area who said the victims<br />
were travelling in a bus of the<br />
Niger State Transport Authority,<br />
NSTA, when they ran in<strong>to</strong><br />
an ambush by the bandits.<br />
The gunmen also killed three<br />
members of the local vigilante<br />
group which attempted <strong>to</strong><br />
foil their operation.<br />
“While the government and<br />
the security agencies were<br />
working in securing the release<br />
of the several abducted<br />
persons, another attack occurred<br />
in Shiroro also in Niger<br />
State, on Thursday, February<br />
18, 2021, where gunmen<br />
attacked and killed one<br />
person, injured two, and a yet<br />
<strong>to</strong> be ascertained number was<br />
abducted.<br />
Zenith Bank’s PBT rises 5% <strong>to</strong> N255.9bn<br />
LAGOS <strong>—</strong> Zenith Bank<br />
Plc has announced an<br />
impressive result for the year<br />
ended December 31, 2020,<br />
with Profit Before Tax (PBT)<br />
rising by five per cent <strong>to</strong><br />
N255.9 billion from N243.3<br />
billion in the corresponding<br />
period of 2019.<br />
This is in spite of a challenging<br />
macro-economic environment<br />
exacerbated by the<br />
COVID 19 pandemic.<br />
The increase arose from a<br />
combination of growth in the<br />
<strong>to</strong>p-line and a significant reduction<br />
in interest expense <strong>to</strong><br />
N121.1 billion in 2020 from<br />
N148.5 billion in 2019, as<br />
the net interest income increased<br />
<strong>to</strong>N299.7 billion in<br />
2020 from N267.0 billion in<br />
2019.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> the bank’s audited<br />
financial results for the<br />
2020 financial year presented<br />
<strong>to</strong> the <strong>Nigeria</strong> S<strong>to</strong>ck Exchange<br />
(NSE) on Tuesday, the<br />
Group recorded a growth in<br />
gross earnings of five per cent<br />
<strong>to</strong> N696.5 billion from<br />
N662.3 billion in the previous<br />
year.<br />
The Group recorded eight<br />
per cent growth in non-interest<br />
income <strong>to</strong> N251.7 billion<br />
in 2020 from N232.1 billion<br />
in 2019 and a one per cent increase<br />
in interest income <strong>to</strong><br />
N420.8 billion in 2020 from<br />
N415.6 billion in 2019 The<br />
Group’s increased retail activities<br />
translated <strong>to</strong> a corresponding<br />
increase in retail<br />
deposits and loans.<br />
Thus, retail deposits grew by<br />
N612.7 billion from N1.11<br />
trillion <strong>to</strong> N1.72 trillion Yearon-Year<br />
(YoY), while savings<br />
balances significantly grew by<br />
88 per cent Year on Year, YoY<br />
and closed at N1.16 trillion.<br />
This retail drive, coupled with<br />
the low-interest yield environment,<br />
helped reduce the cost<br />
of funding <strong>to</strong> 2.1 per cent from<br />
3.0 per cent and also reduced<br />
interest expense. However, the<br />
low-interest environment also<br />
affected the net interest margin,<br />
which declined <strong>to</strong> 7.9 per<br />
cent from 8.2 per cent due <strong>to</strong><br />
the re-pricing of interest-bearing<br />
assets.<br />
Other performance indica<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
showed that operating<br />
costs grew by 10 per cent YoY<br />
but are still tracking well below<br />
inflation which at the end<br />
of the year s<strong>to</strong>od at 15.75 per<br />
cent.<br />
The Group also increased<br />
corporate cus<strong>to</strong>mer deposits,<br />
which alongside the growth in<br />
retail deposits, delivered <strong>to</strong>tal<br />
deposit growth of 25 per cent ,<br />
<strong>to</strong> close at N5.34 trillion, driving<br />
growth in market share.<br />
Total assets also increased<br />
significantly by 34% <strong>to</strong> N8.48<br />
trillion from N6.35 trillion.<br />
Govs should decide what <strong>to</strong><br />
pay workers <strong>—</strong> Reps<br />
•Want states <strong>to</strong> run prisons<br />
Cryp<strong>to</strong>currency used <strong>to</strong> fund<br />
#EndSAR protests, ICPC<br />
tells Senate<br />
By Henry Umoru<br />
ABUJA <strong>—</strong> THE Independent<br />
Corrupt Practices<br />
and Other Related Commission,<br />
ICPC, yesterday <strong>to</strong>ld<br />
the Senate that the #End-<br />
SARS protest was largely financed<br />
by cryp<strong>to</strong>currency<br />
According <strong>to</strong> ICPC, there<br />
are strong indications that<br />
cryp<strong>to</strong>currency could be used<br />
<strong>to</strong> fund insurgency.<br />
Speaking yesterday in Abuja<br />
during an interactive session<br />
with Senate Joint Committee<br />
on Banking, ICT, Cybercrime<br />
and Capital Market,<br />
led by Sena<strong>to</strong>r Uba Sani, All<br />
Progressives Congress, APC,<br />
Kaduna Central on the decision<br />
of the Central Bank of<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> <strong>to</strong> ban cryp<strong>to</strong>currency<br />
in <strong>Nigeria</strong>, chairman of<br />
ICPC, Bolaji Owasanoye,<br />
threw his weight behind the<br />
Central Bank.<br />
He said cryp<strong>to</strong>currency lent<br />
itself <strong>to</strong> money laundering<br />
and terrorism financing.<br />
Speaking further, the ICPC<br />
boss noted the anti-graft agency<br />
currently had a number of<br />
cases linked <strong>to</strong> cryp<strong>to</strong>currency<br />
but was unable <strong>to</strong> track the<br />
suspects. He reminded the<br />
Senate how in 2018, a<br />
number of globally rated financial<br />
institutions had their<br />
financial statements hacked,<br />
with the perpetra<strong>to</strong>rs asking<br />
<strong>to</strong> be paid in cryp<strong>to</strong>currencies.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, the CBN<br />
as a regula<strong>to</strong>r, has responsibility<br />
<strong>to</strong> ensure sound financial<br />
stability. ‘’It will be difficult<br />
<strong>to</strong> achieve in the case of<br />
cryp<strong>to</strong>currencies where the<br />
role of players are unknown,’’<br />
he said. The ICPC boss warned<br />
the lawsmakers <strong>to</strong>, as a matter<br />
of urgency, take decisive<br />
action against cryp<strong>to</strong>currencies,<br />
sharing with them the experience<br />
of the Indian Supreme<br />
Court and how it ruled<br />
and admitted that it “does not<br />
know what it is”.<br />
By Tordue Salem<br />
ABUJA <strong>—</strong> The House of<br />
Representatives yesterday<br />
passed for second reading<br />
a bill <strong>to</strong> allow state governors<br />
determine how much<br />
they will pay their workers.<br />
The issue of remuneration<br />
is at the moment on the concurrent<br />
list(duties shared by<br />
federal and states) in the 1999<br />
Constitution, as amended.<br />
Besides, the House also<br />
passed another legislation for<br />
the federal government <strong>to</strong><br />
hands off from the administration<br />
of correctional centres<br />
in the country.<br />
The two bills, after a thorough<br />
debate, were referred <strong>to</strong><br />
the ad hoc committee of the<br />
House on the review of the<br />
1999 constitution (as amended).<br />
The bill seeking <strong>to</strong> remove<br />
establishment correctional<br />
centres from the exclusive<br />
list aims <strong>to</strong> empower<br />
the states <strong>to</strong> establish and<br />
manage correctional centres<br />
in their various states, so as <strong>to</strong><br />
reduce the menace of prisons<br />
congestion.<br />
Chairman of the House<br />
Committee on Media and<br />
Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu<br />
who sponsored the bill, argued<br />
that the growing population<br />
of inmates in correctional<br />
facilities across the nation<br />
and resultant over-stretching<br />
of the facilities had made it<br />
impossible <strong>to</strong> reform the inmates,<br />
adding that as a result,<br />
most inmates return <strong>to</strong> the society<br />
unreformed.<br />
He also said that Section<br />
12(8) of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n Correctional<br />
Act empowers the state<br />
controllers of correctional<br />
service <strong>to</strong> reject inmates where<br />
it is apparent that the operational<br />
centre is filled <strong>to</strong> capacity,<br />
noting that inmates will<br />
soon be rejected if the bill was<br />
not passed.<br />
Although the bill was stiffly<br />
opposed by some lawmakers,<br />
it was eventually passed for a<br />
second reading. In the same<br />
vein, the bill seeking transfer<br />
of the subject matter of minimum<br />
wage from the exclusive<br />
list <strong>to</strong> the concurrent list, sponsored<br />
by Garba Dattj Muhammed<br />
(APC-Kaduna), was<br />
passed after a long debate.<br />
Muhammed while leading<br />
the debate, said the proposed<br />
legislation “would allow individual<br />
states negotiate remuneration<br />
with their staff<br />
according <strong>to</strong> their workforce<br />
and resources”.<br />
He said: “Virtual and<br />
cryp<strong>to</strong>currencies pose serious<br />
legal and law enforcement<br />
risks for <strong>Nigeria</strong>. The current<br />
National Identification<br />
Number registration and linking<br />
with SIM cards is a pointer<br />
<strong>to</strong> the fact that insurgents,<br />
terrorists, kidnappers, bandits,<br />
and drug merchants have<br />
used the anonymity of unregistered<br />
SIM cards <strong>to</strong> commit<br />
crimes with relative ease.<br />
“Cryp<strong>to</strong>currencies guarantee<br />
similar anonymity and<br />
can easily be used as leverage<br />
for terrorist financing and<br />
other crimes. With the NIN<br />
registration, cryp<strong>to</strong>currencies<br />
may become an alternative<br />
payment platform for kidnappers<br />
and this would be impossible<br />
for law enforcement <strong>to</strong><br />
agencies <strong>to</strong> trace.”<br />
The ICPC boss cited a case<br />
study of a current investigation<br />
by the commission on<br />
money laundering involving<br />
several hundreds of millions<br />
of naira. He said: “The main<br />
suspect used technology in<br />
placing the money in the banking<br />
sec<strong>to</strong>r. A sizable amount<br />
was traced <strong>to</strong> several bank<br />
accounts but before investiga<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
recovered some of the<br />
money, a large proportion had<br />
been made <strong>to</strong> disappear using<br />
serpentine ICT-aided<br />
transfer schemes that has so<br />
far eluded investiga<strong>to</strong>rs.<br />
“This ongoing case is a<br />
glimpse in<strong>to</strong> the world of anonymity<br />
of virtual or digital<br />
transactions. With cryp<strong>to</strong>currencies,<br />
the wallet of the user<br />
of cryp<strong>to</strong>currency system only<br />
s<strong>to</strong>re information, or encrypted<br />
links in the Blockchain<br />
where transaction confirmation<br />
can be found. “There is<br />
no movement of any ‘currency’<br />
in the real sense of the word.<br />
By their very nature, they provide<br />
considerable anonymity<br />
that is almost impossible <strong>to</strong><br />
be accessed by unauthorized<br />
persons, including law enforcement<br />
authorities.”
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 <strong>—</strong> 9<br />
:Vanguard News<br />
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />
INSECURITY: <strong>Banditry</strong> <strong>designed</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>destroy</strong><br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> <strong>—</strong> <strong>GOVS</strong><br />
By Wole Mosadomi & Mary<br />
Therese-Nanlong<br />
ABUJA<strong>—</strong>THE <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
Governors Forum, NGF,<br />
said yesterday that there was no<br />
other term <strong>to</strong> describe acts of<br />
banditry and kidnapping than<br />
terrorism, noting that banditry<br />
was <strong>designed</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>destroy</strong> <strong>Nigeria</strong>.<br />
The NGF spoke on a day<br />
Northern governors lamented<br />
the proliferation of arms,<br />
including AK-47 rifles among<br />
herdsmen and farmers in the<br />
country.<br />
Chairman of NGF and<br />
governor of Ekiti State, Kayode<br />
Fayemi, who stated this during a<br />
solidarity visit <strong>to</strong> Niger State<br />
governor, Abubakar Bello, in<br />
Minna over the abduction of<br />
students and staff of Government<br />
Science College, Kagara, by<br />
bandits, said the President and<br />
governors were worried about<br />
insecurity in the country.<br />
He said: “At the level of the<br />
governors’ forum, we met last<br />
week and we came out with some<br />
specific ideas we have shared with<br />
the federal authorities but for us,<br />
our visit is in commiseration,<br />
solidarity and in identifying with<br />
you, the government, and the<br />
good people of Niger State.<br />
“We want <strong>to</strong> reassure you that<br />
even this difficult time shall pass<br />
but we must put our heads<br />
<strong>to</strong>gether, put all our efforts<br />
<strong>to</strong>gether, demonstrate resilience,<br />
reassure our people not <strong>to</strong> give<br />
up hope because ultimately we<br />
can only defeat terrorism<br />
collectively, not in isolation.<br />
“What we are witnessing is<br />
terrorism, there is no other name<br />
for it. We may call it banditry,<br />
kidnapping, these are the<br />
remnants of the ac<strong>to</strong>rs in the<br />
north-east that have found<br />
themselves in other parts of the<br />
country. Whether they are<br />
known as ISWAP, Shekau faction,<br />
they are remnants of what we<br />
are still dealing with in that part<br />
of <strong>Nigeria</strong>.<br />
“That is why we must not treat<br />
the north-east in isolation of this<br />
problem. We are all victims as long<br />
as any section of our country is<br />
ravaged by this problem.<br />
“On behalf of all your brother<br />
governors, I want <strong>to</strong> assure our<br />
people in Niger State that we are<br />
all for Niger State. We shall not<br />
rest until we resolve the<br />
challenges we have here as we<br />
have in other states.”<br />
Fayemi said the country<br />
cannot run away from the fact<br />
that the problem had <strong>to</strong> do with<br />
poverty, inequality, illiteracy and<br />
loss of hope among <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns.<br />
“The ultimate agenda is <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>destroy</strong> <strong>Nigeria</strong>, let’s not make<br />
any mistake about it. It’s either<br />
we succumb <strong>to</strong> that agenda or<br />
fight it with every fibre in our<br />
being,” he said.<br />
Responding, the Niger<br />
governor thanked his<br />
counterparts and expressed his<br />
happiness at the visit, describing<br />
it as a “morale booster.”<br />
He said the state had always<br />
been peaceful but noted that<br />
there was an agenda by some<br />
groups <strong>to</strong> deprive “our young<br />
ones of having a good education.<br />
“Everyone you see here has<br />
been on his/her <strong>to</strong>es praying for<br />
the safe return of the kidnap<br />
victims. Niger State has always<br />
been a peaceful state. Agreed<br />
from time <strong>to</strong> time we’ve had<br />
incidences of kidnapping but not<br />
<strong>to</strong> this magnitude.<br />
“I think the time has come for<br />
us <strong>to</strong> come <strong>to</strong>gether and impose<br />
on the federal authorities <strong>to</strong> do<br />
the needful. I think there is need<br />
for the federal authorities <strong>to</strong> key<br />
in and work with state<br />
governments, so we are able <strong>to</strong><br />
provide adequate intelligence<br />
and find a final solution <strong>to</strong> this<br />
menace.”<br />
Also yesterday, Northern<br />
governors lamented the<br />
proliferation of arms, including<br />
AK-47 rifles among herdsmen<br />
and farmers in the country.<br />
Chairman of Northern<br />
Governors’ Forum and governor<br />
of Plateau State, Simon Lalong,<br />
who stated this in a Channels<br />
Television breakfast programme,<br />
Sunrise Daily, also said recurring<br />
farmers/herders clashes could<br />
have been averted, had states<br />
implemented the federal<br />
government’s National Lives<strong>to</strong>ck<br />
Transformation Plan, NLTP.<br />
Lalong, who insisted on ban of<br />
open grazing in the country <strong>to</strong><br />
stave off the frequent clashes<br />
between farmers and herders,<br />
said: “Today, we are now seeing<br />
the hazard of allowing people do<br />
open grazing here and there.<br />
‘’But they (herders) also want<br />
solution. By the time you explain<br />
<strong>to</strong> them, they also want <strong>to</strong> stay in<br />
one place, they would also s<strong>to</strong>p<br />
carrying AK-47.<br />
‘’I’m not justifying anybody <strong>to</strong><br />
carry AK-47 but don’t forget that<br />
in the course of our deliberations<br />
and investigations, it was not<br />
only Fulani herdsmen that were<br />
carrying AK-47, even farmers<br />
were carrying AK-47.<br />
‘’It is just proliferation of arms<br />
in respect <strong>to</strong> guarding<br />
themselves. Everybody is trying<br />
<strong>to</strong> protect himself, we shouldn’t<br />
allow self-help.<br />
“At the time there were<br />
farmers-herdsmen clashes here<br />
(in Plateau), we arrested people,<br />
farmers also had AK-47 and the<br />
herdsmen were also holding AK-<br />
47 <strong>to</strong>o.<br />
‘’But if you want all of them not<br />
<strong>to</strong> hold AK-47 again, you must<br />
put deliberate efforts <strong>to</strong> curtail the<br />
influx of light arms and secondly<br />
find ways <strong>to</strong> take these people<br />
away from the old type of farming<br />
and then introduce them <strong>to</strong> the<br />
modern system.”<br />
Speaking further, Governor<br />
Lalong said the country would<br />
have avoided the frequent<br />
clashes between farmers and<br />
herders, if the National Lives<strong>to</strong>ck<br />
Transformation Plan, NLTP. was<br />
well implemented.<br />
NLTP was proposed by former<br />
Minister of Agriculture, Audu<br />
Ogbeh, in 2018 and was adopted<br />
by the National Economic<br />
Council, NEC, headed by Vice-<br />
President Yemi Osinbajo.<br />
The plan, a voluntary initiative<br />
that allows state governments <strong>to</strong><br />
implement whichever aspect<br />
they feel comfortable with, was<br />
<strong>to</strong> run for a period of 10 years,<br />
from 2019 <strong>to</strong> 2028.<br />
But the governor expressed<br />
regrets that some states rejected<br />
the plan on the grounds that<br />
they didn’t have land for it.<br />
“When we came and<br />
realised that what was really<br />
very prevalent was the Boko<br />
Haram and farmersherdsmen<br />
issue, the national<br />
lives<strong>to</strong>ck plan was<br />
introduced.<br />
‘’But when we got <strong>to</strong> the<br />
period of implementation,<br />
there were a lot of problems<br />
here and there, even from some<br />
regions of the nation.<br />
‘’Some said they don’t want the<br />
national lives<strong>to</strong>ck plan because<br />
PARLEY: Managing<br />
Direc<strong>to</strong>r of the<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n Ports<br />
Authority (NPA),<br />
Hadiza Bala Usman<br />
(left) with Governor<br />
Babajide Sanwo-Olu of<br />
Lagos State, during the<br />
NPA MD’s courtesy<br />
visit <strong>to</strong> the governor <strong>to</strong><br />
discuss collaboration<br />
for the take-off of the<br />
E<strong>to</strong> Electronic Truck<br />
Call-up app for the<br />
management of trucks<br />
at the ports in Lagos.<br />
•Herdsmen, farmers now carry AK-47, Northern govs<br />
lament •Say farmer/herder crisis would have been<br />
averted if lives<strong>to</strong>ck plan was implemented •PDP<br />
intervenes in Or<strong>to</strong>m/Mohammed’s rift over herdsmen<br />
bearing AK-47 rifles<br />
they don’t have the land. At that<br />
time, if the policy had been well<br />
implemented, <strong>to</strong>day we would not<br />
have been talking about farmersherdsmen<br />
crisis because that<br />
policy was well drafted,’’ he said.<br />
The governor said some people<br />
did not care about reading the<br />
plan because they believed it was<br />
for a particular ethnic group.<br />
He explained further: “Now<br />
people don’t even care about<br />
reading it. By the time ranching<br />
and grazing is mentioned, people<br />
believe it belongs <strong>to</strong> a particular<br />
ethnic group.<br />
‘’We don’t even want <strong>to</strong> read<br />
what is contained in the policy <strong>to</strong><br />
even talk about accepting it <strong>to</strong> be<br />
implemented in our various states.<br />
Now you can see the menace<br />
everywhere.<br />
“The policy is still there, why<br />
don’t we go back and address this<br />
issue because it was specifically<br />
not only about grazing. It was <strong>to</strong><br />
assist the farmers-herdsmen crisis<br />
and also empower the farmers and<br />
herdsmen <strong>to</strong> be kept in one place.”<br />
Recall that the clashes between<br />
farmers and herders had caused<br />
verbal exchange between Benue<br />
State governor, Samuel Or<strong>to</strong>m,<br />
and his Bauchi State counterpart,<br />
Bala Mohammed, who justified<br />
the bearing of arms by herders,<br />
saying they used such arms <strong>to</strong><br />
protect themselves against cattle<br />
rustlers.<br />
But Or<strong>to</strong>m and even Ondo<br />
State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu,<br />
disagreed with the Bauchi State<br />
governor, contending that he<br />
(Governor Mohammed) was<br />
encouraging the herders <strong>to</strong><br />
continue <strong>to</strong> kill innocent people<br />
in their ancestral lands.<br />
In fact, the umbrage between<br />
Or<strong>to</strong>m and the Bauchi governor<br />
degenerated on Monday, as the<br />
Benue governor accused his<br />
Bauchi counterpart of being a part<br />
of the terrorist group terrorising<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>.<br />
He also said Governor<br />
Mohammed should be held<br />
accountable should anything<br />
happen <strong>to</strong> him as, according <strong>to</strong><br />
him, the Bauchi governor was<br />
profiling him for assassination by<br />
the herdsmen.<br />
The disagreement<br />
between both governors of<br />
Peoples Democratic Party,<br />
PDP, has attracted the<br />
intervention of the party.<br />
NASS confirms Buratai, others<br />
as ambassadors-designates<br />
amid minority protest<br />
•Buhari should post them <strong>to</strong> neighbouring<br />
countries, says Lawan<br />
By Henry Umoru &<br />
Levinus<br />
Nwabughiogu<br />
A protest BUJA<strong>—</strong>AMID<br />
from the Minority<br />
at the hallowed chamber<br />
yesterday, the Senate confirmed<br />
the immediate past Chief of Army<br />
Staff , Lt-Gen Yusuf Tukur Buratai<br />
from Borno State and other former<br />
service chiefs as non-career<br />
ambassadors-designates.<br />
Also confirmed by the Senate<br />
were General Abayomi<br />
Olonisakin, retd, from Ekiti State;<br />
Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, retd,<br />
Cross River; Air Marshal Sadique<br />
Abubakar, retd, Bauchi; and Air<br />
Vice Marshal Muhammad S.<br />
Usman, retd, Kano.<br />
The appointment of the former<br />
service chiefs was also confirmed<br />
in the lower chamber, the House<br />
of Representatives.<br />
Presenting the report,<br />
chairman of the Committee on<br />
Foreign Affairs, Adamu<br />
Muhammad Bulkachuwa, All<br />
Progressives Congress, Bauchi<br />
North, said their appointments<br />
were made in line with section<br />
171(40) of the 1999 Constitution<br />
as amended.<br />
Bulkachuwa said: “Their<br />
experiences as service chiefs in<br />
the military where they rose <strong>to</strong><br />
the highest ranks in their careers<br />
have made them eminently<br />
qualified; and the nominees were<br />
very knowledgeable and<br />
articulate in their response <strong>to</strong><br />
questions directed at them by the<br />
committee.<br />
“The committee received<br />
petitions against their<br />
nominations as non-career<br />
ambassadors of the Federal<br />
Republic of <strong>Nigeria</strong> but the<br />
petitions were dismissed.”<br />
Immediately after Sena<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Bulkachuwa presented the report<br />
of his committee for<br />
consideration, the Senate<br />
LASG <strong>to</strong> take 24 % equity in TBS,<br />
Trade Fair Complex<br />
By Emma Ujah<br />
LAGOS<strong>—</strong>LAGOS State<br />
government, yesterday,<br />
offered <strong>to</strong> take up 24 per cent of<br />
Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, and<br />
the Lagos International Trade<br />
Fair Complex, according <strong>to</strong><br />
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at<br />
a virtual inves<strong>to</strong>rs’ forum<br />
Under the arrangement, Lagos<br />
State government would<br />
contribute 24 per cent of required<br />
investment in exchange for the<br />
same amount of shares in<br />
concession Special Purpose<br />
Vehicle, SPVs, in partnership<br />
with the concessionaires.<br />
The Direc<strong>to</strong>r-General of the<br />
Bureau of Public Enterprises,<br />
BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh, disclosed<br />
that the concession would be<br />
for a period of 30 years, renewable<br />
by the federal government for<br />
another 30-year period.<br />
Okoh said: “The purpose of this<br />
Inves<strong>to</strong>rs’ Forum is <strong>to</strong> showcase<br />
two government enterprises<br />
which require private sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
investment, as well as,<br />
innovative management capacity<br />
<strong>to</strong> unlock their full potentials<br />
which hither<strong>to</strong> had been suboptimally<br />
utilized.<br />
‘’Both of these enterprises had<br />
Minority Leader, Sena<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Enyinnaya Abaribe, PDP, Abia<br />
South, referred the Senate <strong>to</strong><br />
page three of the report and asked<br />
the chairman of the committee<br />
<strong>to</strong> explain the recommendation<br />
that the nominees be confirmed,<br />
even with a petition hanging<br />
around their nominations.<br />
Abaribe, while coming under a<br />
point of order, demanded<br />
explanation as <strong>to</strong> the rationale<br />
behind the dismissal of the<br />
petition against the nominees by<br />
the committee, particularly<br />
against the backdrop of the<br />
Senate resolutions in the past<br />
calling for their removal as service<br />
chiefs.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> Abaribe, the<br />
petitioner had that for integrity<br />
sake, the Senate cannot confirm,<br />
especially considering the fact<br />
that it had repeatedly called for<br />
their sack because of continued<br />
insecurity challenges in the<br />
country.<br />
At this point, the President of<br />
the Senate, Sena<strong>to</strong>r Ahmad<br />
Lawan, interrupted Abaribe,<br />
saying the fact that the Senate<br />
had called on President Buhari<br />
<strong>to</strong> sack them as service chiefs did<br />
not forestal their appointments<br />
for different national<br />
assignments.<br />
Lawan, who pointed out that<br />
the Senate resolution<br />
demanding their removal was in<br />
no way related <strong>to</strong> President<br />
Muhammadu Buhari’s request<br />
for the Senate <strong>to</strong> confirm them<br />
as ambassadors-designate, said<br />
the two roles were different.<br />
“Without prejudice <strong>to</strong> what the<br />
executive will do, where we need<br />
<strong>to</strong> fight Boko Haram insurgency<br />
and banditry, because of their<br />
experience in the field, they<br />
should be able <strong>to</strong> interact very<br />
closely and sufficiently <strong>to</strong> advice<br />
and create the atmosphere for<br />
working <strong>to</strong>gether, for partnership<br />
and cooperation between<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> and its neighbours.''<br />
previously been concessioned but<br />
government had <strong>to</strong> act decisively<br />
<strong>to</strong> terminate the concessions in<br />
view of the fact that the former<br />
concessionaire acted contrary <strong>to</strong><br />
the expectations guiding the<br />
development of those iconic and<br />
legacy facilities in <strong>Nigeria</strong>.<br />
“The fact that these two<br />
enterprises are being showcased<br />
again <strong>to</strong>day for private sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
investment speaks <strong>to</strong><br />
government implicit confidence<br />
in the ability of the private sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
<strong>to</strong> reinvigorate these national<br />
assets and make them, not just<br />
viable, but <strong>to</strong> again stand as<br />
monuments of national pride.”<br />
The BPE boss said the<br />
expectation of the Federal<br />
Government in undertaking the<br />
concession of Lagos Trade Fair<br />
Complex was <strong>to</strong> catalise business<br />
in West Africa through strategic<br />
trade exhibitions that project the<br />
vast potentials of the industrial<br />
axis of Lagos and Ogun states.<br />
He said: “Similarly, it is<br />
government’s expectation that<br />
the TBS must move beyond<br />
disjointed cluster of business<br />
premises <strong>to</strong> a world-class<br />
integrated events and business<br />
facility comparable <strong>to</strong> its<br />
counterparts globally.’’
10 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
:Vanguard<br />
News<br />
#EndSARS: Lagos panel<br />
summons IGP<br />
By Gabriel Olawale,<br />
with agency reports<br />
LAGOS<strong>—</strong>LAGOS State<br />
Judicial Panel of<br />
Restitution and Inquiry, set<br />
up <strong>to</strong> investigate cases of<br />
police brutality, especially<br />
involving officers of the<br />
now-defunct Special Anti-<br />
Robbery Squad, yesterday,<br />
summoned the Inspec<strong>to</strong>r-<br />
General of Police,<br />
Mohammad Adamu.<br />
The IGP was summoned<br />
over a case involving one<br />
Adewale Adewuyi, a<br />
petitioner, whose 26 acres<br />
of farmland were allegedly<br />
seized by police since 2013.<br />
This came on a day a<br />
rights activist and a lawyer,<br />
Dele Farotimi, alleged<br />
threat <strong>to</strong> his life over his<br />
position on the reopening<br />
of Lekki <strong>to</strong>ll gate.<br />
Lagos panel<br />
summons IGP<br />
Debo Adeleke, the<br />
petitioner’s lawyer, alleged<br />
that the police invaded the<br />
farmland located at Age-<br />
Mowo near Badagry on<br />
December 17, 2013, and<br />
<strong>destroy</strong>ed it.<br />
The development, the<br />
counsel said, affected the<br />
health status of his client.<br />
Adeleke, who asked the<br />
panel <strong>to</strong> summon the IGP,<br />
said his client – brought on<br />
a stretcher – could not feed<br />
himself after the incident.<br />
The lawyer also said a<br />
Federal High Court had in<br />
2017 ordered the police <strong>to</strong><br />
release the farmland and<br />
pay damages for physical<br />
assault.<br />
The petitioner’s lawyer<br />
said: “That order is needed,<br />
although I’m not supposed<br />
<strong>to</strong> say this is a fact-finding<br />
panel, we need <strong>to</strong> summon<br />
the IGP, so that he can tell<br />
the commissioner of police<br />
<strong>to</strong> release this land <strong>to</strong> us.<br />
They are not using the<br />
land, it is just there.<br />
“Everybody fears the<br />
Lagos state judicial panel<br />
on restitution. We will be<br />
grateful if my lord will issue<br />
the order.”<br />
On his part, police<br />
counsel, Cyril Ejiofor,<br />
requested two weeks <strong>to</strong> get<br />
the issue resolved.<br />
But Chairperson of the<br />
panel, Doris Okuwobi,<br />
ordered that the parties<br />
mentioned in the petition<br />
should be served the<br />
summons and adjourned<br />
till March 30.<br />
Farotimi, activist,<br />
alleges threat <strong>to</strong><br />
life<br />
Meanwhile, Mr.<br />
Farotimi, who is a member<br />
of the Radical Agenda<br />
Movement in the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
Bar Association, NBA, said<br />
that he has already filed a<br />
petition <strong>to</strong> the DSS and<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> Police over alleged<br />
plans <strong>to</strong> assassinate him by<br />
some people, who are not<br />
comfortable with his<br />
position.<br />
Farotimi, who addressed<br />
newsmen in Lagos, said: “I<br />
am already aware that I was<br />
...as Farotimi<br />
alleges threat <strong>to</strong><br />
life<br />
offending a lot of powerful<br />
people due <strong>to</strong> my position<br />
as regards the EndSars<br />
protest, the killings at the<br />
Lekki <strong>to</strong>ll gate and the<br />
planned reopening of the<br />
<strong>to</strong>ll gate.<br />
“But on Tuesday last<br />
week, I was threatened by<br />
some state ac<strong>to</strong>rs that my<br />
life is not safe so long as I<br />
am in Lagos. I was <strong>to</strong>ld <strong>to</strong><br />
watch my back because I<br />
can be killed at any time if<br />
I don’t back down.<br />
“Somebody, who is also<br />
privileged <strong>to</strong> certain<br />
conversations at a certain<br />
level which I won’t want <strong>to</strong><br />
disclose, now revealed the<br />
calculated plan <strong>to</strong><br />
assassinate me. I won’t<br />
reveal the name of my<br />
sources and I know it is not<br />
one of those empty threats<br />
because the threat was<br />
specific, names were<br />
mentioned and I know one<br />
of those mentioned at a<br />
personal level because he<br />
is someone I have known<br />
for years.<br />
“I have written a petition<br />
<strong>to</strong> security agencies and<br />
also requested protection<br />
from the <strong>Nigeria</strong> state. I am<br />
not a drug baron, I don’t<br />
cheat people, if anything is<br />
<strong>to</strong> happen <strong>to</strong> me look no<br />
further than the person I<br />
mentioned in my petition.<br />
The identity I have already<br />
made clear <strong>to</strong> my associates<br />
and family.”<br />
Farotimi, however, made<br />
it clear that his position on<br />
the EndSars protests was<br />
not for personal gains, but<br />
an obligation he owed<br />
future generations.<br />
He said: “I am speaking<br />
for the voiceless, my<br />
activism did not start <strong>to</strong>day,<br />
the threat <strong>to</strong> my life did not<br />
start <strong>to</strong>day, but this<br />
particular one is coming as<br />
a function of my role in<br />
questioning the rationale<br />
behind the rush <strong>to</strong> reopen<br />
the <strong>to</strong>ll gate."<br />
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />
INSECURITY: We’ll fight criminality<br />
with every legal means <strong>—</strong>S-West govs<br />
....Say Amotekun not against any ethnic group or business<br />
....Moves against open grazing<br />
By Dayo Johnson<br />
Aof KURE<strong>—</strong>CHAIRMAN<br />
the South-West<br />
Governors’ Forum,<br />
Governor Rotimi<br />
Akeredolu, yesterday,<br />
declared that governors in<br />
the region would fight<br />
criminality with every legal<br />
means. He also dismissed<br />
insinuations by some<br />
Northern governors and<br />
leaders that Amotekun was<br />
established <strong>to</strong> attack ethnic<br />
nationalities or businesses.<br />
Akeredolu, who said this<br />
during his second term<br />
inauguration lecture, held<br />
in Akure, stated: “What we<br />
have set out <strong>to</strong> do in the<br />
South Western states is not<br />
targeted at any ethnic<br />
nationality or business.<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> operating fatherism, not federalism <strong>—</strong>Adesina, AfDB boss<br />
By Dayo Johnson<br />
Aof<br />
KURE<strong>—</strong>PRESIDENT<br />
African<br />
Development Bank, AfDB,<br />
Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina,<br />
yesterday, lamented that<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> is not practicing<br />
true federalism, but<br />
fatherism.<br />
Adesina, who was the<br />
guest lecturer at the second<br />
inaugural lecture of<br />
Governor Rotimi<br />
Akeredolu, in Akure, said<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s system is<br />
essentially a revenuesharing<br />
system.<br />
Speaking on the theme:<br />
'Towards a New <strong>Nigeria</strong>:<br />
From Federal Fatherism <strong>to</strong><br />
a Commonwealth’, the<br />
AfDB boss said: “With<br />
stupendous resources, all<br />
concentrating at the centre,<br />
states are ever dependent<br />
on the centre. With the<br />
magnetic field of Federal<br />
Revenue Allocations, states<br />
are constantly pulled,<br />
powerless, in<strong>to</strong> perennial<br />
LECTURE<strong>—</strong>From left: Ondo State All Progressive Congress Chairman, Ade Adetimehin; wife of the<br />
state governor, Betty Akeredolu; Governor Rotimi Akeredolu; former Osun State deputy governor,<br />
Sena<strong>to</strong>r lyiola Omisore; Deputy Governor-elect, Lucky Ayedatiwa and wife, during Governor<br />
Akeredolu's Second Term Inaugural Lecture, in Ondo.<br />
“But we are against<br />
criminality and we shall<br />
fight criminality with every<br />
legal means.<br />
“It is in the interest of our<br />
collective wellbeing. All we<br />
require is the support and<br />
understanding of all<br />
federating units, including<br />
the Federal Government.<br />
“The simple truth is that<br />
we have lived in self-denial<br />
amid an excruciating pain<br />
that is almost cancerous<br />
now.<br />
“Notwithstanding our<br />
challenges <strong>to</strong>day, my firm<br />
belief in the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
Project is strengthened by<br />
my fact of a true <strong>Nigeria</strong>n.<br />
“That I desire a more<br />
united <strong>Nigeria</strong> with every<br />
ingredient of freedom, rule<br />
of law, patriotism, love,<br />
mutual respect and<br />
harmony is an<br />
understatement.<br />
“I am prepared <strong>to</strong> fight for<br />
it legitimately for the benefit<br />
of all. Today, the most<br />
potent threat <strong>to</strong> national<br />
belief is insecurity.<br />
“And because we have<br />
allowed a sustained, nonbeneficial<br />
stagnation for <strong>to</strong>o<br />
long in our approach, the<br />
consequences are<br />
increasingly becoming<br />
more dire.<br />
“The time <strong>to</strong> act is now,<br />
not <strong>to</strong>morrow. As leaders,<br />
the choices we make create<br />
the path <strong>to</strong> our desires. “We<br />
cannot pretend that all is<br />
well when indeed, more<br />
things are going wrong.<br />
“Today, rather than our<br />
nation, <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns are more<br />
• Twisted federalism responsible for sectional activism, says Akeredolu<br />
dependency.”<br />
His words: “This financial<br />
pilgrimage creates a sense<br />
of helplessness and overt<br />
dependency on the centre.<br />
“State governors now<br />
spend more time in Abuja<br />
than they do in their states,<br />
seeking the monthly<br />
federal manna.<br />
“Like a pendulum, ever<br />
moving from side <strong>to</strong> side in<br />
constant motion, so <strong>to</strong>o has<br />
this unfortunate<br />
dependency become<br />
seemingly uns<strong>to</strong>ppable.<br />
“The truth, however, is<br />
that <strong>to</strong> survive and strive,<br />
states must become<br />
financially independent of<br />
the centre in Abuja.<br />
“This is federalism of<br />
fiscal dependency. It’s<br />
federalism that’s fiscally<br />
unhealthy for the states and<br />
the federal government.<br />
Because <strong>Nigeria</strong> depends<br />
on oil for over 70 per cent<br />
of government revenue,<br />
any decline in the price of<br />
oil creates fiscal and<br />
economic volatilities that<br />
reverberate across the<br />
states.<br />
“What’s needed is<br />
greater economic and fiscal<br />
au<strong>to</strong>nomy for the states.<br />
The issue is less about<br />
states or regional au<strong>to</strong>nomy,<br />
but the financial and<br />
economic viability of<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s constituent states.<br />
“If <strong>Nigeria</strong> were <strong>to</strong> be a<br />
conglomerate firm, it would<br />
not be economically viable<br />
because 92 per cent of its<br />
constituent subsidiary<br />
companies are not viable<br />
without the support of the<br />
holding company.<br />
“<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s federalism<br />
doesn’t grow its constituent<br />
entities. It simply makes<br />
them perpetual dependent.<br />
“The <strong>Nigeria</strong> system is,<br />
therefore, not federalism,<br />
but fatherism. The<br />
agitations for<br />
decentralization can be<br />
unders<strong>to</strong>od when viewed<br />
in the light of a craving for<br />
greater au<strong>to</strong>nomy.<br />
“But let us face it, political<br />
au<strong>to</strong>nomy is meaningless<br />
unless it’s backed by greater<br />
fiscal self-reliance at the<br />
state level<br />
“We tend <strong>to</strong> copy a system<br />
that is not well suited <strong>to</strong> our<br />
context. The United States<br />
that we copied from does<br />
not control resources at the<br />
state level. Instead, the<br />
states generate the bulk of<br />
their income from taxes.”<br />
Speaking on the<br />
restructuring of the country,<br />
Adesina said it should not<br />
be driven by political<br />
dependency but by<br />
economic and financial<br />
viability.<br />
He said: “As a way out of<br />
the economic quagmire,<br />
much has been said about<br />
the need for restructuring.<br />
Restructuring should not be<br />
driven by political<br />
expediency, but by<br />
economic and financial<br />
viability for political viability.<br />
“The achievements of<br />
economically viable entities<br />
inclined <strong>to</strong> ethnic<br />
nationalism.<br />
“We have resorted <strong>to</strong><br />
clannish satisfaction in<br />
place of nation-building.<br />
We are gradually and<br />
unconsciously replacing<br />
national patriotism with<br />
sectional activism.<br />
“No one, I repeat, no one<br />
should be blamed. Our<br />
very faulty and twisted<br />
federalism is responsible.<br />
“Regrettably, even those<br />
with palpable national<br />
passion and patriotism are<br />
<strong>to</strong>day, gradually tilting <strong>to</strong><br />
the unintended ethnic<br />
nationality cabin.<br />
“Most <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns are<br />
losing faith in our “Unity in<br />
Diversity” sloganeering, but<br />
there is an opportunity <strong>to</strong> res<strong>to</strong>re<br />
national consciousness through<br />
true federalism. It hurts none, it<br />
pays all."<br />
and the viability of the<br />
national entity, require<br />
constitutional changes <strong>to</strong><br />
devolve more economic and fiscal<br />
powers <strong>to</strong> the states or regions.<br />
“Our union would be equitable.<br />
Our union would be fully<br />
participa<strong>to</strong>ry. We must be<br />
audacious.”<br />
Twisted<br />
federalism<br />
responsible for<br />
sectional<br />
activism, says<br />
Akeredolu<br />
In his opening remarks,<br />
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu<br />
blamed the growing sectional<br />
activism, which he said is<br />
gradually replacing national<br />
patriotism on the faulty and<br />
twisted federalism as operated in<br />
the country.<br />
He lamented that most<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns are losing faith in unity<br />
in diversity sloganeering while<br />
urging that the only opportunity<br />
<strong>to</strong> res<strong>to</strong>re national consciousness<br />
is through True Federalism.
Vanguard, , WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 <strong>—</strong> 11<br />
:Vanguard<br />
:@vanguardnews<br />
:@vanguardnews<br />
• NO ROAD<strong>—</strong>Traffic gridlock at Oshodi-Apapa expressway, along the Mile 2 axis, yesterday.<br />
APAPA GRIDLOCK: NPA, Lagos <strong>to</strong> impound<br />
trucks without call-up slip<br />
• 8 truck holding bays <strong>to</strong> take-off; move <strong>to</strong> end corrupt practices<br />
By Olasunkanmi Akoni<br />
LAGOS<strong>—</strong>THE <strong>Nigeria</strong>n Ports<br />
Authority, NPA, and Lagos<br />
State government, yesterday,<br />
disclosed plans <strong>to</strong> finally<br />
commence a three-month trial on<br />
enforcement and compliance of<br />
Electronic Call-Up System from<br />
February 27, 2021, as part of<br />
measures <strong>to</strong> ensure the free-flow<br />
of traffic in Apapa access port<br />
areas and environs.<br />
Governor Babajide Samwo-Olu<br />
and the NPA Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r,<br />
Hadiza Usman, said this when<br />
the latter led a delegation of NPA<br />
management on a courtesy visit<br />
<strong>to</strong> the governor at the Lagos<br />
House, in Alausa, Ikeja.<br />
While receiving the delegation,<br />
the governor said: “There have<br />
been conversations around the<br />
call-up system, It has been a<br />
tedious and rigorous process and<br />
we are happy it is taking off now;<br />
it is will be a transparent system,<br />
there will be a virtual dashboard<br />
that people will see at the various<br />
stations.<br />
“We are starting with eight<br />
holding pass at the first instance,<br />
and as numbers and investments<br />
improve, NPA will approve<br />
others, our target is <strong>to</strong> take about<br />
3,000 and 5,000 articulated<br />
trailers off the road <strong>to</strong> be able <strong>to</strong><br />
feed and serve our ports well.<br />
“This will certainly be the<br />
beginning of better cus<strong>to</strong>mers’<br />
ASOHON seeks govt's intervention on<br />
kidnappings in orphanages<br />
By Providence Adeyinka<br />
LAGOS<strong>—</strong>ASSOCIATION of<br />
Orphanages and Homes<br />
Opera<strong>to</strong>rs in <strong>Nigeria</strong>, ASOHON,<br />
yesterday, urged the Federal<br />
Government <strong>to</strong> intervene in the<br />
invasion of orphanages and<br />
homes by kidnappers and, at the<br />
same time, pay attention <strong>to</strong><br />
funding of social services.<br />
Speaking at a media briefing in<br />
Lagos, the National President of<br />
ASOHON, Gabriel Oyediji, said<br />
kidnappers have now included<br />
orphanages and homes in their<br />
checklists of terror, raiding<br />
orphanages and abducting<br />
children for ransom.<br />
Oyediji said: “This is a new<br />
cancer, a horrible phenomenon<br />
threatening the future of <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
journey in the ports and people<br />
living around the port areas.<br />
Since it will be app-based and no<br />
one had <strong>to</strong> interface with security<br />
agents or call at ungodly hours,<br />
enforcement will be that if you<br />
don’t have any business on the<br />
road, we will have enough <strong>to</strong>wing<br />
vehicles <strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>w your truck off the<br />
road.<br />
“There will also be fines <strong>to</strong> deter<br />
others so that people can<br />
understand the seriousness of<br />
this. The Lagos State Traffic<br />
Management Authority,<br />
LASTMA, Federal Road Safety<br />
Commission, FRSC, and Police<br />
should work <strong>to</strong>gether <strong>to</strong> ensure<br />
the free flow of traffic around the<br />
ports and Apapa/Oshodi<br />
Expressway.<br />
“There are regulations <strong>to</strong><br />
ensure that shipping firms have<br />
holding bays <strong>to</strong> park their trucks<br />
rather than park on the roads and<br />
then cause gridlock and pay<br />
demurrage on empty containers.<br />
“They are not responsible for<br />
ensuring their trucks get in<strong>to</strong> the<br />
port, they are not under pressure<br />
<strong>to</strong> ensure the best time since their<br />
deposits will be refunded so they<br />
are not under any form of<br />
pressure<br />
Three months’ trial of<br />
e-call up<br />
“This is the beginning of a<br />
strong collaboration among the<br />
NPA, Lagos state and the people.<br />
orphans. If orphanages are now<br />
being targeted and therefore<br />
made unsafe, then where else is<br />
safe? This is a new cancer<br />
traumatizing children. It needs<br />
an urgent cure before it begins <strong>to</strong><br />
spread like wildfire. We call on<br />
relevant authorities <strong>to</strong> help protect<br />
our orphanages and homes.”<br />
The ASOHON boss also said<br />
that apart from insecurity, which<br />
at the moment is the number one<br />
problem plaguing orphanages<br />
and homes in <strong>Nigeria</strong>, the poor<br />
attention being paid <strong>to</strong> social<br />
services in the country which<br />
opera<strong>to</strong>rs face and must be<br />
addressed.<br />
He also identified scarcity of<br />
adoptable children <strong>to</strong> be the major<br />
cause of child kidnapping,<br />
explaining that many people<br />
Our officers should ensure this<br />
project works; we are starting<br />
with a two-three month trial.<br />
“There could be initial teething<br />
problems but we would ensure we<br />
smoothen the journey so that the<br />
trailers can get <strong>to</strong> the ports early<br />
enough. “Lagos will ensure these<br />
resolutions come <strong>to</strong> life and give<br />
relevant strength and support <strong>to</strong><br />
make it work.”<br />
Menace of trucks<br />
embarrassing<br />
<strong>—</strong>NPA boss<br />
Earlier, Usman, in her address,<br />
said: “We are here <strong>to</strong> strengthen<br />
the collaboration with Lagos State<br />
Government on the<br />
implementation and compliance<br />
as we commence deployment of<br />
E- Call up system on February<br />
27, 2021.<br />
“We have worked seamlessly<br />
with the Lagos State Government<br />
<strong>to</strong> ensure that Apapa and Tincan<br />
ports are rid of the menace of<br />
trucks that have bedevilled that<br />
location.<br />
“It’s quite an embarrassment <strong>to</strong><br />
all of us in government year in<br />
year out. Now, we believe we<br />
have a strong e-call up that will<br />
remove human interference from<br />
the process.”<br />
She, however, stated that one<br />
of the key aspects of the new<br />
system is that truck parks have<br />
been approved where it is safe <strong>to</strong><br />
access port location.<br />
wishing <strong>to</strong> adopt children from<br />
homes and orphanages get easily<br />
frustrated by the legal hurdles and<br />
cumbersome process they have <strong>to</strong><br />
scale in <strong>Nigeria</strong> before achieving<br />
their dreams.<br />
Oyediji pointed out that the way<br />
forward is <strong>to</strong> empower the<br />
supervising ministries so that<br />
they could provide needed reliefs<br />
in the areas of funding,<br />
engagement of professional<br />
security outfits, maintenance of<br />
facilities in orphanages and<br />
homes, among others.<br />
He said that the solution <strong>to</strong> the<br />
many challenges bedeviling<br />
orphanage homes is robust<br />
funding and adequate provision<br />
of modern security equipment<br />
and security agencies for homes<br />
and orphanages.<br />
Consult your ances<strong>to</strong>rs!<br />
Try Native Law and Cus<strong>to</strong>m!
12 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
:Vanguard News<br />
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />
LAUNCHING:<br />
From left;<br />
Speaker, Anambra<br />
State House of<br />
Assembly, Rt.<br />
Hon. Uchenna<br />
Okafor; MD/CEO,<br />
Esso Properties<br />
Ltd, Mr. Smith<br />
Ezenagu and Com.<br />
Nweke Oliver at<br />
the launching of<br />
Berry Prime<br />
Estate, Agu-Awka<br />
and Sunray Estate,<br />
Amansea Awka,<br />
Anambra State at<br />
Park<strong>to</strong>nian Hotel,<br />
Awka, Anambra<br />
State.<br />
Uzodinma, Ohanaeze differ over<br />
military invasion of Orlu<br />
•As Uzodinma explains why he invited military<br />
•It's another war <strong>—</strong>IPOB<br />
By Johnbosco<br />
Agbakwuru & Steve<br />
Oko<br />
OWERRI<strong>—</strong>APEX Igbo so<br />
cio-cultural organisation,<br />
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has<br />
decried the use of force by the<br />
military in Orlu <strong>to</strong> tackle the<br />
Eastern Security Network,<br />
ESN, even as the Imo State<br />
governor,<br />
Hope<br />
Uzodinma,yesterday, explained<br />
why he invited the<br />
military <strong>to</strong> the state.<br />
President-General of Ohanaeze<br />
Ndigbo, Prof. George<br />
Obiozor on Monday, expressed<br />
dismay on the use of<br />
force, intimidation and violence<br />
in the crisis in Orsu in<br />
Orlu zone of Imo State, adding<br />
that it will amount <strong>to</strong> national<br />
catastrophe.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him: “The use<br />
of the violent method will lead<br />
<strong>to</strong> a synchronised national crisis<br />
and ultimate disintegration<br />
of <strong>Nigeria</strong> and this <strong>to</strong>o<br />
must be avoided”.<br />
The Ohanaeze leader who<br />
spoke on Monday when his<br />
team visited the traditional<br />
ruler of Amaifeke in Orlu Local<br />
Government Area of Imo<br />
State, said that those who<br />
preached or preferred military<br />
solution <strong>to</strong> <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s problem<br />
were equally a threat <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s unity as those enemies<br />
they were fighting.<br />
He said: “<strong>Nigeria</strong> is in a<br />
precarious situation and a<br />
great caution must be taken<br />
by the leadership <strong>to</strong> avoid<br />
events that have the capacity<br />
of incrementally aggravating<br />
or opening more threats of<br />
national crisis.”<br />
He stated that insecurity in<br />
the country was real and<br />
should be treated as a matter<br />
of national emergency.<br />
Obiozor, however, thanked<br />
the South-East traditional<br />
leaders for their role in maintaining<br />
peace in the zone, adding<br />
that the Orlu sena<strong>to</strong>rial<br />
zone was relatively the most<br />
peaceful in the country.<br />
In his reaction, Eze Okeke,<br />
who is the chairman of the<br />
state Council of Traditional<br />
Rulers thanked God that<br />
peace had eventually returned<br />
<strong>to</strong> Orlu.<br />
He said that the recent crisis<br />
between the Eastern Security<br />
Network, ESN, of Indigenous<br />
People of Biafra and the<br />
military started from the<br />
#EndSARS riots.<br />
The monarch said: “It is<br />
surprising <strong>to</strong> people that this<br />
crisis is happening in Orsu in<br />
Orlu zone. It should have taken<br />
place in the bush instead<br />
of the <strong>to</strong>wn. We don’t want war<br />
but peace.”<br />
Why I invited<br />
military <strong>to</strong> Orlu<br />
<strong>—</strong>Uzodinma<br />
Explaining why he invited<br />
the military, Governor Hope<br />
Uzodinma yesterday, said<br />
the military came <strong>to</strong> Orlu as<br />
the situation at hand was beyond<br />
the capacity of the local<br />
arrangement.<br />
Governor Uzodinma, who<br />
stated this after meeting with<br />
President Muhammadu Buhari<br />
at the Presidential Villa,<br />
Abuja, said it was the responsibility<br />
of government <strong>to</strong> protect<br />
lives.<br />
Speaking with State House<br />
Correspondents after meeting<br />
with the President, the<br />
Imo<br />
State<br />
governor explained that his<br />
decision <strong>to</strong> invite the military<br />
was <strong>to</strong> douse the uprising in<br />
Orlu district, adding that his<br />
action was precautionary especially<br />
with the experience<br />
and the destructions that followed<br />
the #EndSARS protests.<br />
He said that the situation<br />
in Orlu region of the state<br />
had gone beyond what could<br />
be handled locally, hence his<br />
invitation <strong>to</strong> the military.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, “On the<br />
issue of bringing the military<br />
<strong>to</strong> Imo State,you would recall<br />
during the #EndSARS<br />
protests that a lot of properties<br />
were damaged in Imo<br />
State, police stations were<br />
burnt down, soldiers were<br />
killed and their rifles removed<br />
from them.<br />
“And immediately after the<br />
#EndSARS, we thought it<br />
was over but issues of kidnapping<br />
began, where you know,<br />
a Catholic Bishop was kidnapped<br />
who was killed. And<br />
these militants came out and<br />
begin <strong>to</strong> shoot. We’ve lost<br />
lives, market women were<br />
killed, old women were raped<br />
in Orlu area of Imo State and<br />
they visited this serious terror<br />
on the citizenry.<br />
“And I came here (presidential<br />
villa), pleaded with Mr.<br />
President for his support and<br />
he sent additional support by<br />
sending in more police. The<br />
military also came in and that<br />
is where we are.<br />
“It was on my invitation<br />
that the military came. And I<br />
did that because I know the<br />
situation was beyond the local<br />
arrangement. We needed<br />
help and the help was given<br />
<strong>to</strong> us.<br />
“And as I speak <strong>to</strong> you, the<br />
situation has come down <strong>to</strong><br />
normal. People are now going<br />
about their businesses<br />
and those caught will soon be<br />
charged <strong>to</strong> court. And all those<br />
military riffles from the army,<br />
the police, AK 47, and so on,<br />
were recovered by the people<br />
that came.<br />
“We are a government. It is<br />
our responsibility <strong>to</strong> protect<br />
lives and we have the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
Army, <strong>Nigeria</strong>n Police. We<br />
had security challenges and<br />
we invited them <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> work."<br />
Governor Uzodinma has<br />
been under serious attack that<br />
he brought the military <strong>to</strong><br />
crush the people he was supposed<br />
<strong>to</strong> protect, unlike some<br />
of his governor colleagues<br />
who are negotiating with<br />
bandits <strong>to</strong> solve their security<br />
problems.<br />
But he denied the insinuation,<br />
saying that he used the<br />
security personnel he invited<br />
<strong>to</strong> res<strong>to</strong>re peace and normalcy.<br />
“I don't know what you<br />
mean. I <strong>to</strong>ld you that our initial<br />
intelligence and the efforts<br />
<strong>to</strong> control the sporadic<br />
shootings in Orlu that led<br />
many <strong>to</strong> death, innocent<br />
women in the market being<br />
killed by a group of people<br />
that we were not able <strong>to</strong> identify.<br />
Preliminary intelligence<br />
reviewed where they were in a<br />
bush. Our local police and<br />
local military who went there<br />
and confronted them were<br />
repelled.<br />
“So, we discovered that the<br />
people had serious fire power.<br />
And that, of course, <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
is a federation, Imo State<br />
is a federating unit and all over<br />
the world, you have provincial<br />
police, you have federal police.<br />
So, there was a need for<br />
me <strong>to</strong> report the situation and<br />
that I did and we were supported<br />
<strong>to</strong> deal with the situation.<br />
“It is not about crushing<br />
anybody and those that came<br />
didn't do any crushing. Those<br />
that came through their intelligence<br />
identified where these<br />
people were and I can tell you,<br />
all the people were arrested,<br />
all the rifles recovered are intact.<br />
The people are under interrogation,<br />
not even one soldier<br />
or one of those militants<br />
died in the process.<br />
“I must commend DCP<br />
Abba Kyari for a brilliant job<br />
he did. So, let anybody politicize<br />
it. But I have a responsibility<br />
<strong>to</strong> protect the lives of my<br />
people.”<br />
On his meeting with the<br />
President, he said he informed<br />
Buhari about the progress on<br />
the effort <strong>to</strong> tackle insecurity.<br />
“I informed Mr. President<br />
that we were already making<br />
progress. And of course,<br />
you know, the President is a<br />
very peaceful man.<br />
“The federal government<br />
maybe negotiating with the<br />
Boko Haram but God knows<br />
that if I have the opportunity<br />
<strong>to</strong> see any man who is taking<br />
lives, I will confront the person<br />
head-on. That is why we<br />
are government.”<br />
No personal issues<br />
with Okorocha<br />
<strong>—</strong>Uzodinma<br />
Governor Uzodinma also<br />
dismissed allegations that he<br />
has a personal score <strong>to</strong> settle<br />
with his predecessor, Rochas<br />
Okorocha and denied there<br />
was an assassination attempt<br />
on the former governor.<br />
“Who will assassinate him?<br />
I don't know about any attempt<br />
<strong>to</strong> assassinate Okorocha.<br />
What I know is that I<br />
have no personal issues with<br />
Okorocha.<br />
“You will recall that before<br />
I became the governor, the<br />
Ihedioha's administration set<br />
up a judicial panel of inquiry<br />
<strong>to</strong> look in<strong>to</strong> acquisitions and<br />
allegations of lands, converting<br />
government lands <strong>to</strong> personal<br />
property and then removing<br />
private lands from individuals<br />
and giving <strong>to</strong> other<br />
individuals.<br />
“The judicial panel of inquiry<br />
chaired by a judge met and<br />
they concluded the job and a<br />
white paper has since been<br />
raised. You know institutions<br />
and agencies that are involved<br />
with implementation<br />
are doing their job.<br />
“And the only thing I know<br />
is that few days ago, the<br />
former governor went with his<br />
thugs <strong>to</strong> one of the properties<br />
sealed by government. You<br />
people saw it, it was was live.<br />
He went there with thugs himself<br />
physically, wounded the<br />
policemen there, wounded the<br />
Civil Defense Civil people, the<br />
Civil Defense officer is currently<br />
in the hospital and then<br />
broke in .<br />
“Of course, you must have<br />
heard him saying that he is<br />
richer than government and<br />
that he is above the law. I am<br />
not directly involved. It is a position<br />
taken by government.<br />
There is a difference between<br />
governor and government.<br />
“The government of Imo<br />
State sealed a property. And I<br />
think that if there is anything<br />
anybody considered that is not<br />
right, the person should go <strong>to</strong><br />
court <strong>to</strong> address the issue and<br />
not <strong>to</strong> take laws in<strong>to</strong> their<br />
hands.<br />
“I remember that under<br />
Ihedioha, there was a recovery<br />
committee chaired by one<br />
Jasper Ndubaku. When they<br />
tried <strong>to</strong> visit Okorocha’s house,<br />
they were beaten <strong>to</strong> a stupor.<br />
And the same man who did<br />
that is now also doing the<br />
same thing and almost killed<br />
the man who did it during his<br />
time.<br />
“So, I don't want <strong>to</strong> go in<strong>to</strong><br />
that matter because government<br />
is a serious business and<br />
I'm very serious. I don't even<br />
have enough time <strong>to</strong> run the<br />
affairs of the state.<br />
“But people should know<br />
the difference between being<br />
a governor and the government<br />
decisions and policies.<br />
“And you know, we <strong>to</strong>ok<br />
oath <strong>to</strong> protect the rule of law,<br />
<strong>to</strong> protect our laws and we<br />
shouldn't be part of any arrangement<br />
<strong>to</strong> violate our<br />
laws", he said.<br />
It's another war<br />
<strong>—</strong>IPOB<br />
In his reaction <strong>to</strong> the military<br />
raid , the leader of the<br />
Indigenous People of Biafra,<br />
IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu said that<br />
the Orlu military raid marked<br />
the beginning of the second<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>/Biafra war and<br />
vowed <strong>to</strong> mobilise the people<br />
in defense of their ancestral<br />
land "no matter the consequences".<br />
He said that besides statesponsored<br />
persecutions and<br />
brazen infuriating marginalisation<br />
and exclusion against<br />
Biafrans, killer herdsmen<br />
and terrorists have continued<br />
<strong>to</strong> raid communities in the region<br />
unchallenged by the security<br />
agencies.<br />
" Herdsmen will attack us,<br />
rape our women, <strong>destroy</strong> our<br />
farms, kill our farmers and<br />
nobody will arrest them but<br />
when we try <strong>to</strong> defend ourselves,<br />
government will come<br />
after us rolling out the tanks<br />
and using their helicopter<br />
and gun boats", he fumed.<br />
Kanu explained that the incessant<br />
unprovoked genocidal<br />
attacks by herdsmen and<br />
the docility of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
authorities gave rise <strong>to</strong> the<br />
formation of the Eastern Security<br />
Network, ESN, <strong>to</strong> protect<br />
the hapless Biafran locals<br />
against terror.<br />
But he regretted that instead<br />
of going after the perpetra<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
of the heinous<br />
crimes against innocent citizens,<br />
the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n State rather<br />
chose <strong>to</strong> declare war<br />
against a mere vigilante volunteer<br />
group.<br />
" If defending our ancestral<br />
land against conquest by Fulani<br />
Janjaweed invaders will<br />
take me <strong>to</strong> the Hague, I am<br />
ready <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> the Hague",<br />
Kanu thundered.<br />
" The world has the indicting<br />
report by the UN Reportuer<br />
against <strong>Nigeria</strong> but they<br />
have not done anything. Do<br />
we have <strong>to</strong> wait until we are<br />
all killed before we defend<br />
ourselves?"<br />
Kanu expressed shock that<br />
the world had helplessly<br />
watched the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n State<br />
use brute force against mere<br />
peaceful agita<strong>to</strong>rs while on<br />
the other hand, dialoguing<br />
with and facilitating amnesty<br />
and payment of ransom <strong>to</strong><br />
bandits and terrorists who<br />
have not shown any remorse<br />
or sign of ceasation <strong>to</strong> their<br />
killing spree.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, world<br />
leaders ought <strong>to</strong> have demanded<br />
probe of <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
leaders including some northern<br />
governors and Islamic<br />
clerics over their romance<br />
with bandits.<br />
Don't turn Imo in<strong>to</strong> war zone <strong>—</strong>Imo PDP<br />
By Chidi Nkwopara<br />
OWERRI<strong>—</strong>THE Peoples<br />
Democratic Party, PDP,<br />
Imo State, has strongly condemned<br />
what it called "the<br />
horrific, violent and bloody<br />
battle, which recently occurred<br />
in the state, between<br />
supporters of Sena<strong>to</strong>r Rochas<br />
Okorocha and Governor<br />
Hope Uzodimma, where they<br />
were engaged in a bizarre sporadic<br />
shooting over the sealing<br />
of Royal Spring Palm Estate<br />
hotel by the government."<br />
The PDP position which<br />
came on the heels of last Sunday's<br />
confrontation, was<br />
signed by the state Publicity<br />
Secretary, Mazi Ogubundu<br />
Nwadike and made available<br />
<strong>to</strong> newsmen in Owerri.<br />
His words: "It is highly disgusting<br />
that the present All<br />
Progressives Congress, APC,<br />
government in the state has<br />
turned Imo in<strong>to</strong> a terror zone,<br />
theatre of war and conflict. In<br />
recent times, Imolites have<br />
had the most tragic and excruciating<br />
experience, ranging<br />
from the recent military invasion<br />
in Orsu, which led <strong>to</strong> loss<br />
of lives and properties, insecurity<br />
and other forms of gruesome<br />
attacks, leading <strong>to</strong><br />
breakdown of peace and order<br />
in the state.<br />
"The recent violence perpetrated<br />
by supporters of Sena<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Rochas Okorocha and<br />
Governor Hope Uzodimma<br />
has stirred up tension and apprehension<br />
in the state, thereby<br />
<strong>to</strong>ppling the atmosphere<br />
of saturated peace and tranquility.<br />
"It is indeed, highly despicable<br />
that under the present<br />
administration, Imo State,<br />
which used <strong>to</strong> be the centre<br />
and cynosure of public peace<br />
and orderliness has turned<br />
in<strong>to</strong> a jungle of terror where<br />
hooliganism, rascality, thuggery<br />
and abuse of the dignity<br />
of human peace have become<br />
the order of the day.<br />
"The APC government in the<br />
state has created a Frankenstein<br />
monster which haunts<br />
the relative peace and social<br />
order in the state. Imolites are<br />
now living under fear and apprehension<br />
and can no more<br />
sleep with their two eyes<br />
closed."<br />
While saying that it was<br />
most disheartening that "Imo<br />
has become a laughing s<strong>to</strong>ck<br />
and object of mockery and<br />
caricature due <strong>to</strong> the present<br />
psychopathic leadership that<br />
is creating unnecessary tension<br />
and mortgaging the<br />
peace of the state", Nwadike<br />
also recalled that only last<br />
week, Uzodinma invited the<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n Army <strong>to</strong> Orsu local<br />
council area and environs,<br />
"on what is purely a failure of<br />
intelligence gathering by appropriate<br />
security agencies,<br />
leading <strong>to</strong> the death of innocent<br />
civilians."
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 <strong>—</strong> 13<br />
:Vanguard News<br />
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />
CONFERENCE:<br />
From left: Mr. Premier<br />
Oiwoh, MD/CEO,<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> Inter-Bank<br />
Settlement System,<br />
NIBSS, Plc.; Mr. Seye<br />
Awojobi, Registrar/<br />
CEO, The Chartered<br />
Institute of Bankers of<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>, and Mr. Niyi<br />
Ajao, DMD, NIBSS<br />
Plc., during a press<br />
conference for the<br />
official launching of<br />
the e-payment<br />
certifications, held at<br />
Bankers House,<br />
Vic<strong>to</strong>ria Island, Lagos,<br />
yesterday.<br />
PANDEF, Ikponmwen, others lambast<br />
Gumi over comments on militants<br />
By Emma Amaize,<br />
Regional Edi<strong>to</strong>r,<br />
South-South<br />
ASABA<strong>—</strong>PAN Niger-Del<br />
ta Forum, PANDEF,<br />
former Provost Marshal,<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n Army, Brigadier-<br />
General Idada Ikponmwen<br />
(retd), agita<strong>to</strong>rs and other<br />
Niger Delta stakeholders,<br />
yesterday, upbraided Muslim<br />
cleric, Sheikh Gumi,<br />
over his claim that rampaging<br />
Fulani herdsmen were<br />
militants and not bandits.<br />
National Publicity Secretary,<br />
PANDEF, Ken Robinson,<br />
said, "It is unfortunate<br />
that the nation should be<br />
hearing one absurd statement<br />
or the other from this<br />
man, every day. It is high<br />
time that the media s<strong>to</strong>pped<br />
giving him attention. He is<br />
nothing other than an eccentric<br />
bigot, a paladin of<br />
marauders and murderers,<br />
dressed in cleric's <strong>to</strong>ga.<br />
"It is vexing that he would<br />
have the effrontery <strong>to</strong> say<br />
Fulani herders are not<br />
criminals but militants<br />
fighting for 'their ethnic<br />
survival'. What nonsense in<br />
a hither<strong>to</strong> illustrious country<br />
reduced <strong>to</strong> almost a Lilliputian<br />
Republic by a Fulani<br />
president.<br />
"<strong>Nigeria</strong> has never experienced<br />
the kind of nepotism<br />
and prejudice being<br />
perpetrated under the Buhari<br />
administration, in a<br />
constitutional democracy.<br />
"Virtually all strategic positions<br />
in the nation's public<br />
sec<strong>to</strong>r, including the<br />
military, paramilitary and<br />
intelligence agencies are<br />
firmly under Hausa-Fulani<br />
hegemony.<br />
"Oil blocks and marginal<br />
fields in the Niger Delta<br />
have been mostly exploited<br />
by northerners. The <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
National Petroleum<br />
Corporation, NNPC, has<br />
become a 'grazing' ground<br />
for a few.<br />
"In the last four years, several<br />
eminent <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns,<br />
across the country, including<br />
patriotic Northerners,<br />
have spoken out against<br />
the skewed and lopsided<br />
nature of appointments by<br />
Mr President.<br />
"As we speak, PANDEF<br />
national leader and distinguished<br />
elder statesman,<br />
Chief Edwin Clark and 15<br />
other eminent <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns<br />
are in court over the several<br />
violations of the Federal<br />
Character Act.<br />
"But the administration<br />
continues <strong>to</strong> play deaf and<br />
dumb <strong>to</strong> the protestations<br />
and genuine concerns put<br />
forward by well-meaning<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns, in the interest of<br />
peace, equity and justice.<br />
"Look at the recent appointments<br />
made by the<br />
President for the headship<br />
of the <strong>Nigeria</strong> Security<br />
and Civil Defence Corps,<br />
NSCDC; the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
Correctional Service, formerly<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n Prison<br />
Service, and the Economic<br />
and Financial Crimes<br />
Commission, EFCC.<br />
"And in the face of these<br />
irking circumstances, a socalled<br />
Sheikh Gumi could<br />
imagine asserting killerherders<br />
are fighting for<br />
their ethnic survival. It<br />
then becomes necessary <strong>to</strong><br />
reckon that the rest of <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
needs <strong>to</strong> be on the<br />
alert," he said.<br />
No time <strong>to</strong> play<br />
pranks<br />
<strong>—</strong>Ikponmwen<br />
Former Provost Marshal,<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n Army, Brigadier<br />
General Don Idada<br />
Ikponmwen (retd), <strong>to</strong>ld<br />
Vanguard: "At a time when<br />
all reasonable persons are<br />
putting heads <strong>to</strong>gether <strong>to</strong><br />
fashion out solutions <strong>to</strong> our<br />
worrisome security problems,<br />
it is utterly disturbing<br />
that an otherwise acclaimed<br />
religious cleric<br />
would speak in this manner.<br />
Sheikh Gumi's utterances<br />
are diversionary, illogical,<br />
inflamma<strong>to</strong>ry and<br />
provocative."<br />
"As most <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns know,<br />
the killer- herdsmen are<br />
simply murderous invaders.<br />
Militancy relates only<br />
<strong>to</strong> conscientious believers<br />
fighting for justifiable causes."<br />
Speaking through the<br />
Coordina<strong>to</strong>r, 21st Century<br />
Youths for Niger Delta and<br />
Agita<strong>to</strong>rs with Conscience,<br />
21st CYNDAC, self-styled<br />
"General" Izon Ebi, campaigners<br />
in the oil-rich region<br />
said: "Which ethnic<br />
survival in the name of killing<br />
and kidnapping innocent<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns? It's not<br />
RUGA and cow rustling<br />
anymore. <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns know<br />
the truth about their agenda.<br />
It is a shame that <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns<br />
are quiet.<br />
"It is so unfortunate and<br />
disheartening that this<br />
government of President<br />
Buhari is playing politics<br />
with the lives of innocent<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns. Is this government<br />
taking <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns for<br />
a fool or what? First, the<br />
government <strong>to</strong>ld <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns<br />
that they are mercenaries<br />
from Libya and Mali and<br />
later blame it on foreign<br />
herdsmen because their<br />
cows are being rustled."<br />
Reacting also, activist,<br />
Mr Emmanuel Igbini,<br />
said: "It is very unfortunate<br />
that AIT did not immediately<br />
cut off Sheik Gumi<br />
when he started uttering<br />
'destructed words'. He<br />
should have been treated<br />
exactly the way Tweeter<br />
shut out Trump and his lunacy.<br />
"He is just seeking attention.<br />
It would have been<br />
better he did so by going <strong>to</strong><br />
offer himself freely as a<br />
medical doc<strong>to</strong>r at the IDPs<br />
in Maiduguri and other<br />
parts of <strong>Nigeria</strong>."<br />
Asaba Airport: Delta signs concession<br />
agreement with state Airport company<br />
•Concessionaire <strong>to</strong> pay an initial sum of N1bn <strong>to</strong> the state govt<br />
By Festus Ahon<br />
ASABA<strong>—</strong>THE Delta State<br />
government, yesterday,<br />
signed a concession agreement<br />
with Asaba Airport Company<br />
<strong>to</strong> manage and run the Asaba<br />
Airport for 30 years.<br />
The agreement is coming<br />
after five years of negotiations<br />
between parties in the concession.<br />
The negotiation started<br />
in 2016 when Governor Ifeanyi<br />
Okowa indicated his intention<br />
<strong>to</strong> concession the airport<br />
for better management.<br />
The Asaba Airport Company<br />
Limited, the concessionaire,<br />
is a consortium that has technical<br />
partners as sub-concessionaires.<br />
They are Air Peace as the<br />
Anchor Airline and MRO opera<strong>to</strong>r,<br />
Multifreight Cargo and<br />
Logistics for the cargo and Logistics<br />
centre, Arbico Construction<br />
Company <strong>to</strong> build the Business<br />
Park, Hotel and Convention<br />
Centre, Rainoil Limited<br />
and Cybernetic Limited <strong>to</strong> develop<br />
the Tank Farm and provide<br />
aviation fuel, and Quorum<br />
Aviation Limited <strong>to</strong> develop the<br />
private jet and Helicopter Terminal<br />
of the airport.<br />
Speaking on the agreement<br />
and how it was arrived at,<br />
Chairman of Delta State government,<br />
Asaba International<br />
Airport Concession Committee,<br />
Mr Chiedu Ebie, who is also<br />
the Secretary <strong>to</strong> the State Government,<br />
said, "The Delta State<br />
government is delighted that<br />
after an extensive bid process,<br />
which spanned five years, with<br />
two major consortia emerging<br />
in the last round of bidding process,<br />
the FIDC-Menzies Consortium<br />
was selected as the preferred<br />
bidder <strong>to</strong> operate as the<br />
Master Concessionaire.<br />
"FIDC is an emerging and<br />
fast-growing <strong>Nigeria</strong>n building,<br />
construction and civil engineering<br />
company. Menzies<br />
on the other hand is one of the<br />
biggest airports opera<strong>to</strong>rs in<br />
the world. It operates in over<br />
200 airports around the world,<br />
showing dominance in most<br />
major airports in the United<br />
Kingdom, United States of<br />
America, Europe and South<br />
Africa."<br />
Meanwhile, Governor<br />
Okowa in his speech at the signing<br />
ceremony said that the Concessionaire<br />
would "pay an annual<br />
fee of N100 million <strong>to</strong> the<br />
state while the agreement lasts.<br />
They will also pay an initial<br />
sum of N1billion <strong>to</strong> the state<br />
government hours after the<br />
agreement is signed."<br />
Okowa who enumerated<br />
other benefits of the concession<br />
of the airport <strong>to</strong> the people<br />
of Delta State praised the<br />
efforts of the Airport Concession<br />
Committee for making<br />
his vision for the airport a reality.<br />
Alema bags Warri Voice Award<br />
of Excellence<br />
Assembly passes bills for establishment of 3 varsities<br />
in Delta<br />
By Festus Ahon<br />
ASABA<strong>—</strong>DELTA State<br />
House of Assembly, yesterday,<br />
passed three bills for<br />
the establishment of University<br />
of Delta, Agbor, Dennis<br />
Osadebe University, Anwai,<br />
Asaba and Delta State University<br />
of Science and Technology,<br />
Ozoro.<br />
The passage of the three<br />
bills which were sent by Governor<br />
Ifeanyi Okowa, seeking<br />
legislative backing of the<br />
House for the upgrade of the<br />
College of Education Agbor,<br />
Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro<br />
and Delta State University,<br />
Anwai Campus <strong>to</strong> Universities,<br />
was done at plenary pre-<br />
Edo govt, APC fight over N30bn<br />
s<strong>to</strong>rmwater project<br />
•Security beefed up at Palm House as<br />
govt alleges arson attempt<br />
By Gabriel<br />
Enogholase &<br />
Ozioruva Aliu<br />
BENIN CITY<strong>—</strong>THE Edo<br />
State Government and<br />
the All Progressives Congress,<br />
APC, have engaged in<br />
a war of words over plans by<br />
the state government <strong>to</strong> probe<br />
the multi-phased Benin Water<br />
S<strong>to</strong>rm project which the first<br />
phase of N30billion, Governor<br />
Godwin Obaseki on<br />
Monday, said was not <strong>designed</strong><br />
<strong>to</strong> work and was a plot<br />
<strong>to</strong> defraud the state.<br />
The state government, also<br />
said, yesterday, that it had deployed<br />
security operatives on<br />
Monday night <strong>to</strong> safeguard<br />
the premises of the state Government<br />
Secretariat also<br />
known as Palm House, in Benin<br />
City, following intelligence<br />
reports of an arson attempt<br />
at the Ministry of Environment<br />
and Sustainability<br />
offices, <strong>to</strong> <strong>destroy</strong> critical documents<br />
about the N30 billion<br />
Benin s<strong>to</strong>rmwater project.<br />
But a statement by Publicity<br />
Secretary of APC, Chris Azebamwan,<br />
yesterday, dared<br />
Governor Obaseki <strong>to</strong> carry<br />
out his threat <strong>to</strong> probe the<br />
project and make its "findings<br />
public, so that the very enlightened<br />
and informed Edo<br />
people would know the truth<br />
of the matter."<br />
A statement by the Secretary<br />
<strong>to</strong> State Government, SSG,<br />
Osarodion Ogie, said that the<br />
government would ensure<br />
WARRI<strong>—</strong>THE Alema of<br />
Warri Kingdom, Delta<br />
State, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan<br />
has been conferred with<br />
the prestigious Warri Voice<br />
Newspaper Award of Excellence<br />
as the 'Outstanding Itsekiri<br />
Man of the year.'<br />
Edi<strong>to</strong>r of Warri Voice Newspaper,<br />
Ms Tetsoma Neyin in<br />
her address, said that the<br />
award conferred on Chief<br />
Uduaghan was due <strong>to</strong> his outstanding<br />
contributions <strong>to</strong> the<br />
growth and development of<br />
Delta State, which was made<br />
in specific reference <strong>to</strong> his timely<br />
palliative distribution <strong>to</strong><br />
Deltans in the ongoing coronavirus<br />
pandemic that is ravaging<br />
the world.<br />
that it uncovers the details<br />
surrounding the project, its<br />
execution and also assured<br />
that all those culpable were<br />
brought <strong>to</strong> justice.<br />
Ogie noted, "Following the<br />
commitment of the Edo State<br />
Government <strong>to</strong> probe the N30<br />
billion Benin s<strong>to</strong>rmwater<br />
project, the state received intelligence<br />
of a possible arson<br />
at the offices of the Ministry<br />
of Environment and Sustainability,<br />
which houses vital<br />
documents on the project.<br />
"The government immediately<br />
deployed security operatives<br />
<strong>to</strong> guard the premises<br />
of the Ministry overnight <strong>to</strong><br />
protect its assets.<br />
"We have successfully evacuated<br />
these vital documents<br />
<strong>to</strong> a safe location <strong>to</strong> ensure<br />
their integrity and in readiness<br />
for a probe."<br />
Meanwhile, APC in a statement<br />
by Azebamwan said the<br />
project was jointly handled by<br />
the State Ministry Environment<br />
and Public Utilities and<br />
Ministry of Works with several<br />
commissioners including<br />
Ogie, who was in charge of<br />
the Works Ministry.<br />
He said: "While the project<br />
was ongoing, Obaseki as<br />
chairman of the Economic<br />
Team, regularly accompanied<br />
his predecessor <strong>to</strong> inspect<br />
the progress of work after he<br />
played the key role of sourcing<br />
the first N25 billion from<br />
the Capital Market through<br />
his company, Afrinvest, which<br />
reportedly got N1.5billion<br />
commission from the deal.‘‘<br />
The ceremony <strong>to</strong>ok place in<br />
Warri.<br />
Publisher of Warri Voice<br />
Newspaper, Mr Femi Odonmeta,<br />
while presenting the<br />
award <strong>to</strong> the recipient, called<br />
on him <strong>to</strong> see the award as a<br />
stepping s<strong>to</strong>ne for greater<br />
achievements as well as a<br />
challenge <strong>to</strong> do more by increasing<br />
the temple of his<br />
charitable work <strong>to</strong> humanity,<br />
for which he is known.<br />
Responding, Chief Uduaghan,<br />
who was represented<br />
by Monday Agbeyi, thanked<br />
the Warri Voice Newspaper<br />
crew for finding him worthy<br />
of the award, noting that the<br />
award would spur the recipient<br />
<strong>to</strong> do more for the people<br />
of Delta State as well as the<br />
media, especially the Warri<br />
Voice Newspaper.<br />
sided over by the Speaker,<br />
Chief Sheriff Oborevwori.<br />
Vanguard reports that separate<br />
motions for the third reading<br />
of the three bills were<br />
moved by the Deputy Majority<br />
Leader, Mr Oboro Preyor<br />
and adopted at plenary presided<br />
over by the Speaker,<br />
Oborevwori.<br />
The names of two of the institutions<br />
were, however,<br />
changed during the Committee<br />
of Whole by members in<br />
line with law making processes<br />
of the legislature.<br />
The Delta State University<br />
of Education, Agbor, was<br />
changed <strong>to</strong> University of Delta,<br />
Agbor, while the Delta State<br />
University of Science and Agriculture,<br />
Anwai, is now known<br />
as Dennis Osadebay University,<br />
Anwai-Asaba.<br />
The House Committee on<br />
Education, had presented its<br />
reports on the three bills,<br />
where it said rigorous legislative<br />
scrutiny was carried out<br />
by members on the bills.<br />
Chairman of the Committee,<br />
Mr Charles Emetulu, explained<br />
that some amendments<br />
were proposed for the<br />
consideration of the House.<br />
The Speaker, Oborevwori<br />
expressed happiness over the<br />
passage of the bills, saying<br />
that it would further grow the<br />
educational sub sec<strong>to</strong>r of the<br />
state and commended the<br />
naming of one of the universities<br />
after the former Premier<br />
of the defunct Midwestern region,<br />
Chief Dennis Osadebay.<br />
The House adjourned plenary<br />
<strong>to</strong> March 9, 2021.
14 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
:Vanguard News<br />
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />
From left: Chief Vic<strong>to</strong>r Okuyemi; Mr. Dayo Keshinro, and Bayo<br />
Adeniran.<br />
FUNERAL<strong>—</strong>Mrs. Olufemi Akinbiyi, widow of the deceased (sitting), and from left:<br />
Adeyemi Akinbiyi; Bioku Bankole; Busola Akinbiyi; Ronke Akinbiyi; Laolu Akinbiyi;<br />
Simi Bankole, and Bisi Akinbiyi, all children of the late Prince Edward Olajide Akinbiyi,<br />
the pioneer Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r of Radio Lagos and Lagos Television and also Direc<strong>to</strong>r<br />
of Publicity in the Jakande Administration, during his (Akinbiyi's) funeral ceremony<br />
held at Grailland Temple, Iju Hills in Lagos, yesterday. Pho<strong>to</strong>s: Akeem Salau.<br />
Miyetti Allah blames Or<strong>to</strong>m for enmity btw<br />
Fulani herders, Tiv<br />
•Urges Buhari <strong>to</strong> call Benue, Ondo,<br />
Ekiti govs <strong>to</strong> order<br />
By Charly Agwam<br />
B Miyetti AUCHI<strong>—</strong>THE<br />
Allah Cattle<br />
Breeders Association of <strong>Nigeria</strong>,<br />
MACBAN, yesterday accused<br />
Governor Samuel Or<strong>to</strong>m of<br />
Benue State of creating the<br />
hostility between Fulani<br />
herdsmen with the Tiv by his<br />
utterances and actions.<br />
By Ndahi Marama<br />
M AIDUGURI<strong>—</strong><br />
NIGERIAN Troops<br />
have successfully charged<br />
through Marte Local<br />
Government Area, LGA, of Borno<br />
State, killing scores of ISWAP/<br />
Boko Haram terrorists who seized<br />
the area few days ago.<br />
This came as heavy explosions<br />
and sound of gunshots late<br />
which yesterday engulfed parts<br />
of Maiduguri, the Borno State<br />
capital, reportedly claimed several<br />
lives with many others<br />
Chairman of Bauchi State<br />
MACBAN, Sadiq Ibrahim,<br />
named Benue, Ekiti and Ondo<br />
states as anti-herders states,<br />
urging President Muhammadu<br />
Buhari <strong>to</strong> call their governors <strong>to</strong><br />
order.<br />
At a briefing, he also said if the<br />
government did not protect the<br />
herders, they would have no<br />
option than <strong>to</strong> protect<br />
themselves.<br />
sustaining different degrees of<br />
injuries.<br />
A Military Officer while<br />
confirming the successful<br />
operation said troop successfully<br />
and safely de<strong>to</strong>nated series of<br />
IEDS laced along the routes and<br />
finally dominated the general<br />
area.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, “new Marte<br />
is effectively in our hands since<br />
3pm. Our will and determination<br />
are unshaken. We are ever<br />
determined not <strong>to</strong> let our Service<br />
Chiefs and the nation down.”<br />
Recall that after insurgents<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, “The current<br />
problem of the Fulani was<br />
authored by Or<strong>to</strong>m. In recent<br />
time, Bauchi State Governor<br />
tactically called for protection of<br />
herdsmen because he<br />
understands the sufferings of<br />
herders in the country. Benue<br />
governor was first <strong>to</strong> ask Fulani<br />
herders <strong>to</strong> leave his state. Prior<br />
<strong>to</strong> Or<strong>to</strong>m’s election, the Tiv people<br />
were our playmates.<br />
I stand <strong>to</strong> be corrected; Terwase<br />
Garase (alias Gana) was one of<br />
the sponsors of terrorism who<br />
caused a lot of crises in Benue<br />
State and neighbouring states.<br />
captured Marte Local<br />
Government Area, and allegedly<br />
hoisted their flag in the area,<br />
weekend, Chief of Army Staff,<br />
COAS, Major General Ibrahim<br />
Attahiru on Sunday, gave<br />
troops of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n Army,<br />
‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ 48 hours<br />
<strong>to</strong> clear insurgents off Marte<br />
LGA.<br />
General Attahiru also<br />
directed troops <strong>to</strong> clear off<br />
terrorists from Kirenowa,<br />
Kirta, Wulgo, Chikingudo<br />
communities of Marte and<br />
Ngala LGA in the state.<br />
He even caused the death of<br />
many people but these deaths<br />
were blamed on Fulani. When<br />
Gana died in a battle with the<br />
army, Or<strong>to</strong>m queried why Gana<br />
was killed.<br />
“Benue, Ekiti and Ondo states<br />
are no longer safe for Fulani. We<br />
urge President Buhari <strong>to</strong> call the<br />
governors of these states <strong>to</strong> order.<br />
If the government does not<br />
protect us, we will have no option<br />
than <strong>to</strong> protect ourselves. We will<br />
also ask our members <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p<br />
transporting our foodstuff <strong>to</strong><br />
these parts of <strong>Nigeria</strong> if our<br />
members are not protected.”<br />
Troops kill scores of terrorists, recapture Marte<br />
•Scores feared dead as heavy explosions, gunshots rock Maiduguri<br />
Union invites EFCC <strong>to</strong> probe alleged fraud in CAC<br />
Housing Scheme<br />
A BUJA<strong>—</strong>SENIOR<br />
Staff Association of<br />
Statu<strong>to</strong>ry Corporations and<br />
Government Owned Companies,<br />
SSASCGOC, an affiliate of the<br />
Trade Union Congress of <strong>Nigeria</strong>,<br />
TUC, has invited the Economic<br />
and Financial Crimes<br />
Commission, EFCC, <strong>to</strong><br />
investigate alleged fraud in<br />
Corporate Affairs Commission,<br />
CAC; housing scheme.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> SSASCGOC, “a<br />
situation where staff and even<br />
members of our union in other<br />
establishments were made <strong>to</strong> pay<br />
for provision of Houses under<br />
CAC Staff Housing Scheme in<br />
2012 and are yet <strong>to</strong> get the house<br />
after full payment nine years after<br />
is worrisome.”<br />
At a briefing in Abuja yesterday,<br />
Secretary General of<br />
SSASCGOC, Ayo Olorunfemi,<br />
demanded for forensic audit of the<br />
housing scheme, saying “The<br />
issue of forensic audit <strong>to</strong> be carried<br />
out must be part of the fight<br />
against corruption which is a<br />
major policy of government that<br />
NLC, its affiliates and all of us<br />
must support. A situation<br />
whereby staff and even members<br />
of our Union in other<br />
establishments were made <strong>to</strong> pay<br />
for provision of Houses under<br />
CAC Staff Housing Scheme in<br />
2012 and are yet <strong>to</strong> get the house<br />
after full payment nine years after<br />
is worrisome. EFCC should be<br />
invited <strong>to</strong> unravel the mysteries<br />
going on with people’s money.”<br />
On the issue of planned<br />
picketing by the NLC, <strong>to</strong>day,<br />
Olorunfemi said the members of<br />
TUC and SASCGOC would<br />
vehemently resist the action,<br />
arguing that a judgment by the<br />
National Industrial Court, NIC,<br />
and in line with the Trade Union<br />
Act had made a declaration that<br />
SSASCGOC and the TUC were<br />
the ones vested with the power<br />
<strong>to</strong> organize and unionize the<br />
statu<strong>to</strong>ry corporations including<br />
CAC, rather than the<br />
Amalgamated Union of Public<br />
Corporations, Civil Service<br />
Technical and Recreational<br />
Services Employees, AUPCTRE,<br />
an affiliate of NLC.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, “It is therefore<br />
wrong for NLC <strong>to</strong> claim any form<br />
of jurisdiction on affairs that affects<br />
senior staff in CAC. It is<br />
SSASCGOC and TUC that have<br />
such power.<br />
He gave the ultimatum while<br />
addressing troops of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
Army Super camp 9, Dikwa,<br />
saying “areas around Marte,<br />
Chikingudu, Wulgo kirenowa and<br />
Kirta must be cleared in the next<br />
48 hours. You should be rest<br />
assured of all support you<br />
required in this very onerous<br />
task.<br />
“I have just spoken <strong>to</strong> the<br />
Theater Commander, and the<br />
General Officer Commanding 7<br />
Division, you must not let this<br />
nation down. Go back and do the<br />
needful and I will be right behind<br />
you.”<br />
Meanwhile heavy explosions<br />
and sound of gunshots which<br />
engulfed some parts of<br />
Maiduguri, the Borno State<br />
capital, reportedly claimed many<br />
lives with others sustaining<br />
various degrees of injuries, forcing<br />
many residents <strong>to</strong> scamper for<br />
safety.<br />
The explosion and firing of<br />
Rocket Propelled grenades<br />
which started at about 5:45pm<br />
up <strong>to</strong> the time of this report were<br />
heard around Kaleri behind<br />
University of Maiduguri, Adam<br />
Kolo, Limanti and Kagarmari<br />
wards of the metropolis.<br />
Sources also said sounds of<br />
gunshots were heard around Fori<br />
and Cashew plantation general<br />
area near Giwa military barracks.<br />
It was gathered that insurgents<br />
attempting <strong>to</strong> infiltrate the city,<br />
encountered strong resistance<br />
from troops who engaged them<br />
in heavy gun battle.<br />
FG secures •400,000 grant <strong>to</strong><br />
kick off Nat’l Lives<strong>to</strong>ck<br />
Transformation Plan in 4 states<br />
By Gabriel Ewepu<br />
A Federal BUJA<strong>—</strong>THE<br />
Government,<br />
yesterday announced securing<br />
•400,000 grant <strong>to</strong> kick off National<br />
Lives<strong>to</strong>ck Transformation Plan,<br />
NLTP, in four states.<br />
In a statement by the Federal<br />
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural<br />
Development, and Project for<br />
Agricultural Coordination and<br />
Planning, PACE, President<br />
Muhammadu Buhari, secured<br />
the grant from the Dutch<br />
Investment Agency, RVO, after<br />
approval of the grant, which<br />
Buhari signed an Memorandum<br />
of Understanding, MoU, during<br />
his visit <strong>to</strong> the Netherlands.<br />
The states for the NLTP include<br />
Nasarawa, Adamawa, Plateau<br />
and Gombe.<br />
The statement by the Senior<br />
Special Assistant <strong>to</strong> the President<br />
on Agriculture, Dr Andrew<br />
Kwasari who was accompanied by<br />
members of the FMARD-PACE<br />
Team, on a two-day visit <strong>to</strong> the<br />
Nasarawa State Lives<strong>to</strong>ck<br />
Transformation Office <strong>to</strong> ensure<br />
that the State Lives<strong>to</strong>ck<br />
Transformation team was fully<br />
aware of the requirements for<br />
successful implementation of the<br />
pilot, said the •400,000 covered<br />
50 per cent cost of the pilot startup<br />
of NLTP model in Nasarawa<br />
State for 30 pas<strong>to</strong>ralist households<br />
with a start date of March, 2021.<br />
He said: “On the back of the<br />
MoU signed during the State visit<br />
of Mr. President <strong>to</strong> the<br />
Netherlands, the Dutch<br />
Investment Agency (RVO)<br />
approved a grant of about 400,000<br />
Euros <strong>to</strong> cover 50% cost of the<br />
pilot start-up of NLTP model in<br />
Nasarawa State for 30 pas<strong>to</strong>ralist<br />
households with a start date of<br />
March, 2021.<br />
“In each of these states, a pilot<br />
farm, which will also serve as a<br />
training centre, will be developed.<br />
Cownexxion (the lead consultant<br />
in this bilateral collaboration,<br />
leading the Dutch Consortium;<br />
the Holland Dairy House Group)<br />
will serve as technical partner for<br />
the implementation of the NLTP<br />
pilot ranches in Nasarawa,<br />
Adamawa, Plateau and Gombe.''<br />
“Cownexxion, is a leading<br />
Dutch consultancy focused on<br />
dairy farming. It has carried out<br />
projects in Europe, Asia, Africa,<br />
and the Middle East. The<br />
Company is experienced in<br />
improving technical and<br />
economic performance of dairy<br />
farming systems.”<br />
According <strong>to</strong> the statement the<br />
focus of the two and a half -year<br />
project will be on feed production,<br />
transfer of knowledge and skills<br />
plus the transformation of<br />
management. Cownexxion will<br />
work <strong>to</strong>gether with the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
Federal and State teams, led by<br />
Dr Andrew Kwasari.<br />
....Flags off gold processing<br />
cluster, others in Kogi<br />
By Boluwaji Obahopo<br />
L Federal OKOJA<strong>—</strong>THE<br />
government,<br />
yesterday stepped up efforts at<br />
diversifying the nation’s<br />
economy with a<br />
groundbreaking ceremony of<br />
the Gold Processing Cluster,<br />
located in Mopa, Mopamuro<br />
Local Government Area of Kogi<br />
State.<br />
Permanent Secretary,<br />
Federal Ministry of Mines and<br />
Steel Development, Dr.<br />
Oluwa<strong>to</strong>yin Akinlade, who led<br />
the Federal government's team<br />
for the event, said the project<br />
was part of the government’s<br />
efforts at refocusing the<br />
economy from heavily<br />
depending on oil.<br />
He said the gold processing<br />
cluster would also cater for<br />
other gems s<strong>to</strong>nes and solid<br />
mineral mining activities in the<br />
North Central.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, “The<br />
Ministry of Mines and Steel<br />
Development has commenced<br />
the implementation of<br />
programmes aimed at<br />
establishing and accelerating<br />
mineral value chain activities<br />
through the development of a<br />
Mineral Mining cluster in each<br />
of the six geopolitical zone.<br />
“The objective of the project<br />
is <strong>to</strong> assembly and coordinate<br />
the activities of the artisanal<br />
and small scale miners in the<br />
identified areas based on the<br />
identified mineral type for each<br />
geopolitical zone.<br />
•
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 <strong>—</strong> 15
16 <strong>—</strong> VANGU<br />
ANGUARD, ARD, WEDNESDAY, , FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
He knows my past and is<br />
blackmailing me<br />
Dear Bunmi,<br />
IN my student days<br />
abroad in the early 80s,<br />
life was <strong>to</strong>ugh and I did a<br />
lot of things <strong>to</strong> keep going,<br />
as funds coming from home<br />
were virtually non-existent.<br />
I slept with a lot of men for<br />
money and was able <strong>to</strong><br />
finish my studies.<br />
I got married and had two<br />
children, but the marriage<br />
didn’t last and I returned<br />
home. I have a good job<br />
because I’m well qualified.<br />
I have my own flat and a<br />
loving partner. Recently,<br />
my partner, who is married,<br />
visited my flat with one of<br />
his good friends, and you<br />
can imagine my shock and<br />
embarrassment when he<br />
turned out <strong>to</strong> be one of my<br />
‘regular cus<strong>to</strong>mers’ during<br />
my student days abroad.<br />
Dear Bunmi,<br />
I<br />
’M a single mum and<br />
I’m 29. I’ve never been<br />
that lucky with men, as my<br />
partners have always been<br />
violent and cheats.<br />
Although I still care for the<br />
father of my child, we’ve<br />
been apart for close <strong>to</strong> two<br />
years.<br />
Now I’ve fallen in love<br />
with a friend who works in<br />
the same office as I do. As<br />
a matter of fact, he is my<br />
boss. We’ve been sleeping<br />
<strong>to</strong>gether for close <strong>to</strong> a year<br />
now. It was meant <strong>to</strong> be just<br />
a bit of fun, till we fell in<br />
love.<br />
I’ve asked him <strong>to</strong> make<br />
me his second wife, but he<br />
He didn’t let on that he<br />
knew me and I was grateful<br />
<strong>to</strong> him for that. However, a<br />
few weeks after the visit, he<br />
came calling on his own,<br />
and it was plain what he<br />
wanted. I <strong>to</strong>ld him I was<br />
now involved with my<br />
partner and he said he<br />
wasn’t looking for a<br />
permanent relationship<br />
and that he would keep his<br />
mouth shut.<br />
Of course, it was<br />
blackmail and, I’m<br />
ashamed <strong>to</strong> say, I let him<br />
have sex with me. He left<br />
some money and went<br />
away.<br />
I feel dirty and used and<br />
dread his coming back. I<br />
would hate for my partner<br />
<strong>to</strong> find out about my sordid<br />
past. What can I do <strong>to</strong> get<br />
rid of this shameless man?<br />
says that he’s not ready for<br />
that. I want <strong>to</strong> be his wife<br />
but, instead, I am the other<br />
woman...and I hate it.<br />
He says he hasn’t slept<br />
with his wife since we<br />
started sleeping <strong>to</strong>gether,<br />
but I don’t believe him and<br />
we argue a lot. I’m scared<br />
of losing him.<br />
Faith, by e-mail.<br />
Dear Faith,<br />
Why are you afraid <strong>to</strong> lose<br />
what you haven’t really<br />
got? The sooner you dump<br />
this liar and cheat the<br />
better. You need a man you<br />
can trust <strong>to</strong> be a true and<br />
caring person for you and<br />
your child.<br />
Nonye, by e-mail.<br />
Dear Nonye,<br />
Your past should be well<br />
behind you and you have <strong>to</strong><br />
call the bluff of this<br />
shameless man from your<br />
past. It is a pity that you<br />
gave in <strong>to</strong> his blackmailing<br />
tactics.<br />
When and if he comes<br />
calling again, let him know<br />
you’re not having any of<br />
his crude overtures, and<br />
that if you had <strong>to</strong>, you could<br />
come clean with your<br />
partner. It would be nice if<br />
you had a tape recorder <strong>to</strong><br />
record what would<br />
transpire between the two<br />
of you, in case he denied<br />
anything.<br />
I am sure if your man is<br />
any friend of this creep, he<br />
wouldn’t breathe a word<br />
about pestering you for sex<br />
<strong>to</strong> him.<br />
I hate being the other woman<br />
Are my friends selfish not <strong>to</strong> help?<br />
Dear Bunmi,<br />
BECAUSE of the type<br />
of friends I keep, and<br />
our life-style, I’m in<br />
terrible debt. I have a<br />
thriving business and it’s<br />
not that I spend a lot on<br />
myself per se. But I’ve run<br />
up huge debts trying <strong>to</strong><br />
keep up with the various<br />
aso-ebi I bought for my<br />
friends’ numerous social<br />
engagements.<br />
As things are, I don’t<br />
even have my rent, which<br />
is due soon, and I haven’t<br />
got a clue how I’m going <strong>to</strong><br />
survive. Thanks <strong>to</strong> the<br />
months of lockdown, due <strong>to</strong><br />
the COVID-19 pandemic.<br />
My business is also<br />
suffering.<br />
A lot of my friends know<br />
how bad things are, but<br />
they have refused <strong>to</strong> help<br />
me when I asked for<br />
assistance from them. I was<br />
always very generous <strong>to</strong><br />
them. I can’t believe<br />
they’re being so selfish.<br />
Mandy, by e-mail.<br />
Dear Mandy,<br />
It seems <strong>to</strong> me as if you’re<br />
very laid-back about<br />
money. The good side of<br />
that is you’re generous <strong>to</strong><br />
your friends. The bad side<br />
After a series of<br />
unfortunate relationships,<br />
and on the rebound from<br />
parting with the father of<br />
your kid, you’ve taken up<br />
with a man whose loyalty<br />
and duty is <strong>to</strong> his wife,<br />
although he’s delighted <strong>to</strong><br />
have a willing young bit on<br />
the side!<br />
Your self-esteem right<br />
now is low. You may feel<br />
that you and your child<br />
don’t merit more than men<br />
who beat and cheat on<br />
women. But this is not the<br />
case.<br />
Ditch the adulterer and<br />
hold out for a man who can<br />
give you the love and<br />
respect you deserve.<br />
is it means you let your<br />
spending get out of hand.<br />
Your friends are obviously<br />
much more careful about<br />
money and don’t indulge in<br />
every aso-ebi as you do,<br />
and they don’t lend money<br />
<strong>to</strong> others. It’s nothing<br />
personal; it’s just the way<br />
they are...in the same way<br />
as you’re easy come, easy<br />
go. And for all you know,<br />
your friends <strong>to</strong>o might be<br />
having their own financial<br />
crisis, due <strong>to</strong> the aftereffect<br />
of the lockdown.<br />
Don’t feel <strong>to</strong>o bad about<br />
your friends. Instead, ask<br />
them <strong>to</strong> help you learn how<br />
<strong>to</strong> budget, so this situation<br />
doesn’t occur in future.<br />
Not all men fancy flashy<br />
women<br />
Dear Bunmi,<br />
IREAD a letter on your<br />
page from a woman<br />
who complained that all<br />
men think women are just<br />
“sex on legs.” Well, she’s<br />
wrong. Not all of us think<br />
that way.<br />
I’m a divorced man of 49<br />
and I live on my own with<br />
my teenage son. I think<br />
that a woman’s personality<br />
matters most, than her<br />
sense of humour, trust and<br />
understanding.<br />
She doesn’t have <strong>to</strong> be<br />
sexy or very attractive. All<br />
that glitters is not gold!<br />
Gbogbo, by e-mail.<br />
Dear Gbogbo,<br />
The cruel experience of a<br />
broken relationship<br />
humbles a man and<br />
teaches him <strong>to</strong> value the<br />
emotional qualities that<br />
help a couple <strong>to</strong> get on. But<br />
you must admit that sexual<br />
attraction and the need for<br />
a mate are what draw men<br />
and women <strong>to</strong>gether.<br />
Men want <strong>to</strong> know that<br />
sex will be on the cards if<br />
they invest love on a<br />
woman, and demand sex as<br />
soon as they can. Women<br />
are inclined <strong>to</strong> resist sex<br />
without the commitment <strong>to</strong><br />
care for her that she needs.<br />
With time, when needs<br />
are identified and trust<br />
comes in, the relationship<br />
takes deeper roots, or just<br />
withers and dies.<br />
He won’t have sex after<br />
surviving prostate cancer<br />
Dear Bunmi,<br />
LAST YEAR, my<br />
husband was<br />
diagnosed with prostate<br />
cancer. He’s now much<br />
better, but our sex life has<br />
deteriorated.<br />
I’m only 40 and I’ve tried<br />
<strong>to</strong> be understanding, but<br />
don’t know how much<br />
longer I can go without<br />
making love. I want things<br />
back <strong>to</strong> the way they used<br />
<strong>to</strong> be.<br />
Christina, by e-mail.<br />
Dear Christina,<br />
A major life-threatening<br />
illness can put people off<br />
Dear Bunmi,<br />
I<br />
CURRENTLY live<br />
with my boyfriend, and<br />
we have been trying for a<br />
baby for close <strong>to</strong> a year now<br />
with no success. I’ve had<br />
fertility tests and so has he<br />
– they’re all positive. I’m<br />
getting really depressed at<br />
not being able <strong>to</strong> conceive<br />
yet. I’ve noticed that every<br />
time we have sex, the<br />
sperm seems <strong>to</strong> run back out<br />
of me. Do you think this<br />
could be the reason why I’m<br />
not pregnant yet?<br />
Jola, by e-mail.<br />
Dear Jola,<br />
Even if some sperm leaks<br />
out when you make love,<br />
enough should be able <strong>to</strong><br />
travel up through the<br />
cervix <strong>to</strong> your ovaries. But<br />
She doesn’t<br />
have <strong>to</strong> be<br />
sexy or very<br />
attractive. All<br />
that glitters is<br />
not gold!<br />
sex completely. So, I can<br />
see where your husband is<br />
coming from. But I also<br />
appreciate your point of<br />
view – this crisis has hit<br />
you hard and you need the<br />
comfort of sex.<br />
There’s no easy answer,<br />
but two things will help.<br />
The first is <strong>to</strong> listen <strong>to</strong> how<br />
your husband is feeling,<br />
and lovingly explain the<br />
impact his illness has had<br />
on you.<br />
The second is physical<br />
affection. Even if love<br />
making is not on the<br />
agenda, ask your husband<br />
<strong>to</strong> give you cuddles and<br />
kisses <strong>to</strong> show you’re still<br />
close.<br />
I want <strong>to</strong> conceive soon<br />
if you think there’s a<br />
problem, try sexual<br />
positions that let your<br />
partner penetrate you<br />
deeply – the missionary<br />
position with your legs on<br />
his shoulders is particularly<br />
good. When he climaxes, he<br />
should thrust in as far as<br />
possible, then withdraw in<br />
a straight line, so the semen<br />
pools at the far end of your<br />
vagina.<br />
You should try <strong>to</strong> orgasm,<br />
as this will dip your cervix<br />
in<strong>to</strong> the semen. Afterwards,<br />
lie on your back for 30<br />
minutes with your knees up<br />
<strong>to</strong> your breast and a pillow<br />
under your pelvis, <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p<br />
sperm leaking out. If after<br />
three months you’ve still<br />
had no good results, ask for<br />
further tests.<br />
Share your problems and release<br />
your burden. Write now <strong>to</strong><br />
Dear Bunmi,<br />
Vanguard Newspapers,<br />
P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or<br />
bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk
Where federalism works<br />
THE world has for more than a week<br />
now been treated <strong>to</strong> images from<br />
Texas, in the United States of America,<br />
that many Americans thought belonged<br />
in the “Third World”. The state was<br />
plunged in<strong>to</strong> prolonged darkness<br />
caused by extreme weather conditions<br />
that froze and disabled the power grid<br />
that was not winterised. It’s stating it<br />
mildly <strong>to</strong> say that the entire state was<br />
grounded.<br />
While the sub-zero weather,<br />
characterised by snow s<strong>to</strong>rms, made<br />
outside movement impossible, life<br />
indoors was no less harrowing. It was<br />
really heart-rending <strong>to</strong> see some of the<br />
four million people affected by the dire<br />
situation breaking up and <strong>destroy</strong>ing<br />
their own home furniture in order <strong>to</strong><br />
make fire that would keep them warm<br />
while wondering how they would make<br />
it through the next day.<br />
Many were frozen <strong>to</strong> death right inside<br />
their homes while broken water and gas<br />
pipes left many homes flooded with<br />
water. The disaster, avoidable as it was,<br />
was a firm reminder of the awesome<br />
power of nature and how nature could<br />
humble human ingenuity. Not only were<br />
residents compelled <strong>to</strong> put out<br />
containers <strong>to</strong> collect s<strong>to</strong>rm water for<br />
domestic use, as we normally do in our<br />
part, entire families filed out with their<br />
own bottles and other means <strong>to</strong> stand<br />
on queues where they could collect<br />
water from taps in open spaces made<br />
muddy by human feet. Texans carried<br />
water in buckets <strong>to</strong> flush their <strong>to</strong>ilets and<br />
lit their homes by candle light.<br />
After days in darkness the state<br />
gradually returned <strong>to</strong> civilisation by<br />
rationed power. Not every home could<br />
have it at the same time in order not <strong>to</strong><br />
ground the entire power system again.<br />
Does that sound familiar? We here in<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> are used <strong>to</strong> the peculiar magic<br />
of our power providers, be it the defunct<br />
NEPA or its successor PHCN, providing<br />
power <strong>to</strong> two adjacent streets where one<br />
is lit and the other remains in pitch<br />
darkness. Texans had their own<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n moment when they let out loud<br />
cheers after power was res<strong>to</strong>red <strong>to</strong> parts<br />
of the state. There are online images of<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns in Texas cheering the<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n way of “Up NEPA!” after power<br />
was res<strong>to</strong>red <strong>to</strong> their home. These are<br />
moments that show that, when reduced<br />
<strong>to</strong> the same condition, human beings are<br />
the same anywhere.<br />
One telling evidence of this are reports<br />
of rich or influential Texans, especially<br />
politicians like Ted Cruz, bailing out of<br />
the situation rather than thinking of what<br />
<strong>to</strong> do <strong>to</strong> bring succour <strong>to</strong> the people they<br />
claim <strong>to</strong> represent. Ted Cruz <strong>to</strong>ok the<br />
next available flight and bolted out of<br />
<strong>to</strong>wn with his family <strong>to</strong> neighbouring<br />
Cancun in Mexico. Caught in the act,<br />
he responded that he was only being a<br />
good father <strong>to</strong> his daughters. Of course,<br />
other Texans don’t know how <strong>to</strong> be good<br />
parents or they would not stay back <strong>to</strong><br />
face the situation back home. As<br />
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<strong>—</strong>17<br />
and solar power, etc. But he was quickly<br />
reminded that the bulk of Texas electricity<br />
supply came from fossil fuel. Like<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> that produces oil that is beyond<br />
the reach of <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns, Texas is the<br />
largest producer of electric power in<br />
America. But its fixation on fossil fuel,<br />
refusal <strong>to</strong> upgrade its power grid by<br />
winterising it, were more crucial fac<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
in the energy crisis of a state that rejects<br />
any form of federal intervention in its<br />
affairs.<br />
As an affirmation of its right of selfdetermination<br />
within a federal setting,<br />
Texas runs an independent power grid<br />
outside the one controlled by<br />
Washing<strong>to</strong>n. If Texas could exercise its<br />
right in this manner, it also follows that<br />
it should take responsibility for its action.<br />
Save its attempt at buck-passing, is it not<br />
remarkable <strong>to</strong> <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns that Governor<br />
Abbot and not Joe Biden is being held<br />
responsible for the power situation in his<br />
state? But that, <strong>to</strong>gether with the fact that<br />
he is a Republican, is no reason for<br />
President Biden <strong>to</strong> stand aloof. He is not<br />
issuing releases through spokespersons<br />
while staying back in the White House.<br />
He is doing what a president does at<br />
these times, even offering <strong>to</strong> visit Texas<br />
if it won’t disrupt things in the state.<br />
But it was here in <strong>Nigeria</strong> that the plan<br />
by Lagos <strong>to</strong> begin a metro line system or<br />
even run an independent power system<br />
under ENRON was run aground and<br />
scuttled by so-called federalists who<br />
probably thought Lagos has no right <strong>to</strong><br />
develop at its own pace. As terrorists<br />
misnamed bandits, insurgents and<br />
armed herders run over the country,<br />
making life ever more precarious, it is<br />
governors who have no control of<br />
anything outside their ill-spent security<br />
votes, without oversight or power over<br />
any of the military or paramilitary<br />
agencies- it is these governors that are<br />
called upon <strong>to</strong> secure the country even<br />
by “the presidency” in which all these<br />
powers are vested. This is what happens<br />
in a polity where it is crippled and other<br />
handicapped <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns that stand at<br />
road intersections <strong>to</strong> control vehicles<br />
driven by abled bodied people.<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns remain without hopes for a<br />
vaccine, some of our politicians have<br />
been quick <strong>to</strong> make their way <strong>to</strong> America,<br />
the United Arab Emirates and other parts<br />
of Europe <strong>to</strong> get one of the available<br />
vaccines out there. Not satisfied with<br />
their acts of betrayal of a people they<br />
are supposed <strong>to</strong> be responsible for, they<br />
sent back proud pho<strong>to</strong>graphs of<br />
themselves taking the jabs, no doubt<br />
passing the message that only<br />
politicians and others of influence<br />
deserve <strong>to</strong> live in times of danger and<br />
that taking care of oneself at the<br />
expense of the majority is good<br />
business.<br />
Following the power debacle in Texas,<br />
Americans have been asking questions<br />
about how they found themselves in the<br />
place where they were reduced <strong>to</strong> a<br />
Banana Republic. Well, they have been<br />
on that path in the last four years they<br />
chose <strong>to</strong> Make America Great Again<br />
under Donald Trump. The situation in<br />
which America finds itself <strong>to</strong>day with its<br />
loss of influence and respect, while<br />
floundering where other countries are<br />
Texans had their own <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
moment when they let out loud<br />
cheers after power was res<strong>to</strong>red<br />
<strong>to</strong> parts of the state<br />
standing tall in their management of<br />
global crises like the COVID-19<br />
pandemic, was at least four years in the<br />
making. It all came <strong>to</strong> a head with the<br />
attempted coup of January 6, 2021 when<br />
Donald Trump, straining for tenure<br />
elongation, made one last ditch attempt<br />
<strong>to</strong> bend the elec<strong>to</strong>ral will of Americans.<br />
For us in <strong>Nigeria</strong> what the four years<br />
of Donald Trump’s presidency should<br />
tell us is the importance of good<br />
leadership. Where a leader fails <strong>to</strong> step<br />
up and lead as their position demands<br />
they endanger those they lead. That is<br />
where <strong>Nigeria</strong> is <strong>to</strong>day with its failed<br />
leaders. Greg Abbot, the governor of<br />
Texas, tried <strong>to</strong> pass the buck for the<br />
power crisis in his state by being<br />
political, blaming the crisis on the<br />
inadequacy of renewable energy – wind<br />
08055069060 (SMS Only)<br />
For Telecoms, a place in the sun<br />
for alarmists<br />
THERE was suppressed<br />
excitement across the land<br />
last week. The country’s economy<br />
dealt a massive blow in<strong>to</strong><br />
depression by COVID-19 suddenly<br />
witnessed a renaissance, a stirring<br />
out of that dazed stupor in<strong>to</strong> some<br />
place under the sun, making some<br />
of us <strong>to</strong> learn how <strong>to</strong> smile again.<br />
The news was so sudden that<br />
some people didn’t know how <strong>to</strong><br />
believe it and are only now trying<br />
<strong>to</strong> respond in a way <strong>to</strong> encourage<br />
the economic minders <strong>to</strong> do even<br />
more. Because the possibility is<br />
that if we mistake these tiny ripples<br />
of life <strong>to</strong> be strong signs of real<br />
recovering, there is the more<br />
likelihood that we go in<strong>to</strong> a more<br />
serious one as we often don’t know<br />
how <strong>to</strong> dance our way out of<br />
trouble but instead force ourselves<br />
down the slippery slope like<br />
somebody courting disaster.<br />
This is why the people walk about<br />
wearing forlornness as garment.<br />
The economy is dreary. Life is cruel<br />
and the danger which stalks us can<br />
break in<strong>to</strong> death any time.<br />
Therefore, the announcement that<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> witnessed 0.11per cent in<br />
Q4’2020 sounded more like music<br />
<strong>to</strong> the ears although <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns are<br />
not about breaking in<strong>to</strong> a dance.<br />
They have been so disappointed<br />
over the years, taking promises in<br />
their face value <strong>to</strong> the effect that<br />
they are unable <strong>to</strong> seek forgiveness<br />
for attracting this moment of<br />
hazardous folly upon themselves.<br />
But good news is good news and<br />
even in its infinitesimal<br />
manifestation in our land, we must<br />
manage a smile with suspicious<br />
restraints.<br />
The smile came last week, giving<br />
a justification <strong>to</strong> the alarmists,<br />
those always shouting about the<br />
protection of the<br />
telecommunications sec<strong>to</strong>r, that<br />
they are not wrong and that there<br />
is, indeed, a justification <strong>to</strong><br />
jealously secure the sec<strong>to</strong>r for our<br />
collective good. The cliché<br />
instructs that you do not kill the<br />
fowl that lays the golden eggs! The<br />
ICT sec<strong>to</strong>r of which Telecoms<br />
remains a very visible component<br />
is heading down that lane that<br />
attracts protection and<br />
preservation.<br />
The figures released by the<br />
National Bureau of Statistics,<br />
NBS, which showed a mild positive<br />
economic growth of 0.11 per cent<br />
also credited the Information and<br />
Communications Technology<br />
Sec<strong>to</strong>r with an encouraging<br />
growth of 15.06 per cent in Quarter<br />
4, 2020, thus remaining one of the<br />
few sec<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> enjoy a double digit<br />
growth throughout the year in spite<br />
of the pandemic, with others being<br />
13.47 per cent Quarter 3, 2020, 17.<br />
83 per cent Quarter 2, 2020, and<br />
14.07 Quarter 1, 2020.<br />
Comparatively, the Oil sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
contributed 5.87 per cent in the<br />
same quarter down from 8.73 per<br />
cent in Quarter 3, 2020. The report<br />
noted that oil production s<strong>to</strong>od at<br />
1.56m barrels per day which is way<br />
What showed on the<br />
GDP is not a fluke and,<br />
without being a prophet,<br />
technology is going <strong>to</strong><br />
provide the support<br />
structure for our GDP in<strong>to</strong><br />
the foreseeable future<br />
below the 2.00m per day recorded<br />
in the same quarter of 2019. In<br />
everything production there is<br />
unpredictability especially in our<br />
part of the world and the oil sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
is not sequestered from such<br />
vagaries. And this should give us<br />
some concerns because we are still<br />
some years away from what Jeremy<br />
Rifkin called the ‘carbon bubble’<br />
in his book, The Green New Deal,<br />
when the world will rely more on<br />
cleaner sources of energy, and what<br />
we have always bragged about as<br />
our massive investment in the oil<br />
sec<strong>to</strong>r, the magic mono product<br />
that sustains our economy, will<br />
become stranded assets. That day<br />
is not far away and yet our oil<br />
production is not stable enough <strong>to</strong><br />
meet the exigencies of the<br />
immediate.<br />
So, in a troubled world the ICT<br />
sec<strong>to</strong>r rallied <strong>to</strong> a surge. This is<br />
hardly surprising because<br />
technology has always been there<br />
<strong>to</strong> ameliorate the worries of the<br />
world in moments of crisis. This is<br />
what has happened in <strong>Nigeria</strong>.<br />
When the world started <strong>to</strong> shut<br />
down last year under the weight of<br />
COVID-19 and shifted the<br />
breathing pattern <strong>to</strong> a new normal,<br />
ICT provided the vessels of<br />
communication. There were no<br />
movements but people were<br />
talking. There were no cinemas yet<br />
people were entertained. Even<br />
when jobs were lost and people<br />
suffered hunger they still<br />
scrounged enough <strong>to</strong> buy air time<br />
so that they could stay connected.<br />
But for technology it would have<br />
been a nightmare far beyond what<br />
anybody could ever imagine. What<br />
showed on the GDP is not a fluke<br />
and, without being a prophet,<br />
technology is going <strong>to</strong> provide the<br />
support structure for our GDP in<strong>to</strong><br />
the foreseeable future.<br />
You, therefore, need <strong>to</strong><br />
understand the alarmists when<br />
they cry that the<br />
telecommunications sec<strong>to</strong>r needs<br />
<strong>to</strong> be delivered and protected. As I<br />
write, there still some states that<br />
put strictures on the path of rollout<br />
of services by telecom opera<strong>to</strong>rs or<br />
even allow expansion where<br />
services are already available. In<br />
parts of the country where there are<br />
security challenges – and the<br />
challenges are pervasive – but<br />
obviously more serious in some<br />
areas, telecommunications<br />
services have been seriously<br />
disrupted and or <strong>to</strong>tally decoupled<br />
from existence.<br />
Plus the security challenges are<br />
the activities of some highly<br />
placed government officials, the<br />
politicians among them who throw<br />
their weight around some<br />
regula<strong>to</strong>ry agencies while trying <strong>to</strong><br />
approximate the laws setting up<br />
these agencies. This writer has<br />
always shouted on this column that<br />
the telecommunications and<br />
broadcast sec<strong>to</strong>rs are <strong>to</strong>o<br />
important <strong>to</strong> be subjected <strong>to</strong> the<br />
mood swings of an ephemeral<br />
politician. They need <strong>to</strong> be freed<br />
up for growth <strong>to</strong> enable the sec<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
build up the strength <strong>to</strong> leverage<br />
the country in<strong>to</strong> the future. Those<br />
who doubt the importance of ICT<br />
should ask themselves just these<br />
questions: Where was Zoom two<br />
years ago and where is it now?<br />
Which technology supplies the<br />
oxygen <strong>to</strong> the new normal?<br />
One other matter. The<br />
government seems <strong>to</strong> be thinking<br />
right when, last week, the Federal<br />
Executive Council, FEC, approved<br />
about N8.9bn for a new National<br />
Information and Communication<br />
Technology park in the Federal<br />
Capital Terri<strong>to</strong>ry, FCT. My little<br />
warning is that this project should<br />
not be a packaged deal for any<br />
politician or a political stunt. This<br />
nation obviously needs such<br />
intervention projects that can<br />
withstand or at least attenuate a<br />
headline inflation of 16.47 per cent<br />
and food inflation of 20.57<br />
percent. We need <strong>to</strong> put an end <strong>to</strong><br />
the hunger in the land using<br />
technology.
18 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
IN a sense, and as in the case of<br />
petrol, countries that do not have as<br />
much sunshine as Africa are already<br />
‘selling sunshine’ <strong>to</strong> <strong>Nigeria</strong> through<br />
pho<strong>to</strong>voltaic solar panels and other<br />
renewable energy equipment.<br />
In February 2018, the <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
Cus<strong>to</strong>ms Service arbitrarily imposed<br />
a five per cent duty and five per cent<br />
VAT on solar panels coming in<strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>, triggering protests from the<br />
Renewable Energy Association of<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>, REAN, a private sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
renewable energy interest group.<br />
Already, batteries needed for s<strong>to</strong>rage<br />
of solar energy are suffering a 20 per<br />
cent duty. Yet, solar panels are<br />
supposed <strong>to</strong> be exempted from duties,<br />
according <strong>to</strong> <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s Harmonised<br />
Systems Codes classification. These<br />
duties hiked the cost of solar<br />
equipment, resulting in the closure of<br />
many solar firms.<br />
There was general outrage among<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns on February 16, 2021 when<br />
the Minister of Power, Mamman<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s dream of renewable energy<br />
revolution (2)<br />
Saleh, disclosed, while receiving<br />
members of the Hausa Guild of Ac<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
and Film Producers, Kannywood, that<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> has been spending N50 billion<br />
monthly as subsidy for electricity<br />
supply.<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> is obviously still paying<br />
dearly for the miscarried involvement<br />
of the private sec<strong>to</strong>r in our power<br />
supply. If this amount was dedicated<br />
<strong>to</strong> our renewable energy efforts our<br />
power supply woes would change for<br />
the better in ten years.<br />
Considering the monumental<br />
problems bedeviling electricity supply<br />
in <strong>Nigeria</strong> – non-availability of gas,<br />
operation and maintenance<br />
difficulties, corruption, underfunding<br />
and others – it is obvious that one of<br />
the solution <strong>to</strong> the country’s power<br />
problems lies in the massive<br />
investment in renewable energy.<br />
With sincerity of purpose, the right<br />
legislations, policies and the correct<br />
deployment of <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s tech savvy<br />
youths, green energy can light up the<br />
country once and for all and solve the<br />
perennial power crisis. It will reduce<br />
our carbon overload and eliminate the<br />
air and noise pollution arising from<br />
millions of power-generating sets used<br />
everyday in the country.<br />
As Chief Olu Falae, a former<br />
Secretary <strong>to</strong> the Government of the<br />
Federation, once advised in an<br />
interview<br />
published<br />
in Vanguard Newspaper of January<br />
13, 2020, which underscored the prime<br />
place power generation occupies in<br />
the economy and every aspect of the<br />
life of a nation. “President Buhari<br />
should give priority <strong>to</strong> power<br />
generation, because if you don’t solve<br />
the power problem, nothing else is<br />
going <strong>to</strong> work well. We need power<br />
for everything,” he said.<br />
A country without reliable and<br />
steady power supply in this age of<br />
Information Communication<br />
Technology, is doomed. <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns,<br />
who are part of the modern world,<br />
practically live their lives and earn<br />
their living on the internet through<br />
smart electronic devices. How will they<br />
cope if they cannot access adequate<br />
electricity <strong>to</strong> power those gadgets?<br />
Renewable energy is the solution as<br />
well as the future.<br />
OPINION<br />
Why we must not ignore his<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
By SUNNY IKHIOYA<br />
RECENTLY, some people brought up the<br />
Asaba massacre saga as a reminder of<br />
the outstanding issues of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n civil war<br />
(1967-1970) and someone said we should<br />
forget it.<br />
For those involved in perpetrating or<br />
upturning of the status quo, it is very easy <strong>to</strong><br />
forget. However, those who lost dear ones and<br />
their means of livelihood terminated will never<br />
forget, and will pass their grievances as his<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
<strong>to</strong> generations <strong>to</strong> come.<br />
It is not possible <strong>to</strong> erode his<strong>to</strong>ry; that is why<br />
those responsible for our education curricula<br />
must be very careful in what they do.<br />
His<strong>to</strong>ry is fact as it records past events as<br />
they happened. Because of ethnic and religious<br />
sentiments some of us have tried <strong>to</strong> bend the<br />
facts <strong>to</strong> suit individual and collective interests.<br />
But like Uthman Dan Fodio noted:<br />
"Conscience is an open wound and only the<br />
truth can heal it".<br />
So it is with his<strong>to</strong>ry: you cannot kill it; what<br />
you fail <strong>to</strong> do with your tainted education, the<br />
people will, on their own, pass it <strong>to</strong> their<br />
children through oral tradition, his<strong>to</strong>rical<br />
relics or monuments or whatever means of<br />
communication.<br />
Those in leadership positions <strong>to</strong>day, trying<br />
<strong>to</strong> rewrite his<strong>to</strong>ry because of their privileged<br />
positions must be very careful, as examples<br />
abound of their predecessors who have failed<br />
in this venture.<br />
What does his<strong>to</strong>ry say we should do? Simple.<br />
Record the facts as you see them without any<br />
tainting. Are you doubting the possibility of<br />
this? Okay, let us take a trip <strong>to</strong> the his<strong>to</strong>ry of the<br />
Jews as recorded by all the major his<strong>to</strong>rical<br />
books. At a time, they were slaves in the land of<br />
Egypt, until they left for the land God had<br />
prepared for them. After a lengthy sojourn and<br />
uncountable battles, they finally arrived the<br />
Promised Land where they settled, with<br />
Jerusalem as the capital. Again their stay in<br />
Jerusalem was truncated by superior forces<br />
and all of them had <strong>to</strong> be taken again <strong>to</strong> foreign<br />
lands.<br />
Before year 1948, the Jews had no land that<br />
they could call their own. It <strong>to</strong>ok them 1,948<br />
years, after the death of Christ <strong>to</strong> be able <strong>to</strong><br />
settle in a country of their own. Can you<br />
imagine this? And <strong>to</strong>day, they are one of the<br />
strongest nations on the face of this earth. When<br />
you imagine what Hitler and his accomplices<br />
Those who fail <strong>to</strong> learn from<br />
his<strong>to</strong>ry will keep on repeating<br />
their mistakes; we must tell our<br />
s<strong>to</strong>ries correctly<br />
did <strong>to</strong> them during the Second World War, you<br />
would not have imagined this: A small country,<br />
with so much power and influence. People will<br />
tell you that the hand of God is in it, but you<br />
cannot doubt what you see, it is clear for the<br />
whole world <strong>to</strong> see.<br />
The s<strong>to</strong>ry of the Jews is recorded in his<strong>to</strong>ry. A<br />
people with no land and country until the year<br />
1948, but <strong>to</strong>day, boast one of the strongest<br />
countries in the world. In fact, they are in<br />
control of the Middle East region presently.<br />
What does this tell us? We must deal fairly<br />
with people and neighbours because we cannot<br />
tell what <strong>to</strong>morrow will bring. At the time Jesus<br />
was crucified, the Israelis were under the<br />
control of the great Roman Empire, with<br />
Pontius Pilate as governor of the province of<br />
Judea, under Emperor Tiberius, from year 26/<br />
27 <strong>to</strong> 36/37 AD. The question <strong>to</strong> ask is: Where<br />
is the Roman Empire <strong>to</strong>day?<br />
His<strong>to</strong>ry can be likened <strong>to</strong> the symbol of<br />
justice, the lady with a blindfold, a sword on<br />
one hand and a set of scales on the other. "She<br />
symbolises fair and equal administration of<br />
the law without corruption, favour, greed or<br />
prejudice.” That is his<strong>to</strong>ry when you tell it as it<br />
is; there will be no need for people <strong>to</strong> try <strong>to</strong><br />
change it and it will also serve as lessons for<br />
mistakes of the past.<br />
Those who tried <strong>to</strong> change the course of<br />
his<strong>to</strong>ry in the past found it difficult <strong>to</strong> appreciate<br />
the changes taking place in the world <strong>to</strong>day.<br />
His<strong>to</strong>ry is a reservoir of knowledge: those<br />
who are interested go through it and learn but<br />
those who refuse <strong>to</strong> learn from his<strong>to</strong>ry are stuck<br />
in the past and subsequently are conquered by<br />
the change that will surely happen.<br />
The recent American presidential election<br />
afforded us the benefit of seeing his<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
unfolding; we witnessed Black<br />
discriminations; how they have been sacrificed<br />
<strong>to</strong> build a nation of freedom and justice.<br />
Yet a Blackman had occupied the highest<br />
seat in the land as President, with a Black<br />
female vice president currently in power. Who<br />
would have thought that this will happen in<br />
the 21st century. And the change is still going<br />
on. I have gone this far <strong>to</strong> help us understand<br />
that, like justice, his<strong>to</strong>ry is slow but it will finally<br />
have its way.<br />
Look at the great British empire; look at<br />
France with the great Emperor Napoleon<br />
Bonaparte bestriding the whole of Europe like<br />
a colossus; look at the great Soviet Republic:<br />
all that is left of them have collapsed within<br />
their respective boundaries.<br />
Those who fail <strong>to</strong> learn from his<strong>to</strong>ry will keep<br />
on repeating their mistakes and failures; we<br />
must tell our s<strong>to</strong>ries and we must tell them<br />
correctly. It is not the Biafran s<strong>to</strong>ry alone. The<br />
Send Opinions & Letters <strong>to</strong>:<br />
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his<strong>to</strong>ry of the entire <strong>Nigeria</strong>n nation must be<br />
<strong>to</strong>ld correctly. The Biafran s<strong>to</strong>ry must be<br />
included in our curriculum; we must know<br />
what caused it, consequences and why it must<br />
not be allowed <strong>to</strong> repeat itself. If we fail <strong>to</strong> do<br />
this, we will only be postponing the evil day.<br />
It is year 2021 and <strong>Nigeria</strong> is 61 years in<br />
existence but no his<strong>to</strong>ry <strong>to</strong> tell. We must learn<br />
how the British manipulated the s<strong>to</strong>ry of this<br />
great nation, a nation that is full of vibrant<br />
and hospitable people, a people classified as<br />
one of the happiest in the world. The British<br />
must open up their museums and libraries and<br />
let us study the manipulations that <strong>to</strong>ok place;<br />
how people in a desert land became more<br />
populous than those in the coastal areas and<br />
the Middle Belt. How the Fulani people were<br />
able <strong>to</strong> hold their own and force the British <strong>to</strong><br />
hand power over <strong>to</strong> them.<br />
How the Fulani with their minority<br />
population, are able <strong>to</strong> impose themselves over<br />
a vast landscape with millions of people. We<br />
must understand our his<strong>to</strong>ry, how the Hausa<br />
nation became docile and allowed a nomadic<br />
people <strong>to</strong> rule over their land. We must open<br />
our his<strong>to</strong>ry books because there lies the answer<br />
<strong>to</strong> all of the problems facing this nation<br />
presently.<br />
In his<strong>to</strong>ry, you are taught <strong>to</strong> understand the<br />
immediate and remote causes of events; a wise<br />
ruler will learn from it and avoid previous<br />
pitfalls. As it is <strong>to</strong>day, we have not learnt any<br />
lessons from the Biafran civil war, we must<br />
look for the root causes. The solution is the<br />
acceptance of all nations under the<br />
geographical space called <strong>Nigeria</strong> as one, with<br />
rulership based on love, fairness and progress.<br />
But how is this possible? Again I repeat, we<br />
must go back <strong>to</strong> our true his<strong>to</strong>ry, based on justice<br />
and fairness.<br />
•Ikhioya wrote via: www.southsouthecho.com
CURRENCY BUYING SELLING<br />
US DOLLAR<br />
POUNDS<br />
EURO<br />
FRANC<br />
YEN<br />
CFA<br />
WAUA<br />
RENMINBI<br />
RIYAL<br />
RAND<br />
ENERGY<br />
129.25 +0.10<br />
2,498.00 +55.00<br />
16.99 +0.10<br />
64.71 +1.80<br />
61.05 +1.81<br />
379 379.5 380<br />
530.5242 531.2241 531.924<br />
460.0681 460.6751 461.282<br />
423.7004 424.2594 424.8183<br />
3.5968 3.6016 3.6063<br />
0.6791 0.6891 0.6991<br />
544.8413 545.5601 546.2789<br />
58.7042 58.7821 58.86<br />
101.0505 101.1838 101.3171<br />
25.8442 25.8783 25.9124<br />
CBN Exchange rate as at 23/02/2021<br />
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 <strong>—</strong> 19<br />
60% of electricity consumers lack prepaid meters<br />
<strong>—</strong> NERC *Says exploitation through estimated billing persists<br />
By Udeme Akpan<br />
EXHIBITION: From left - MD. Patrons, Peter Imo, Direc<strong>to</strong>r Patrons, Keturah Ovio, Programs<br />
Manager Heartwells Foundation, Sandra Ukele, Cura<strong>to</strong>r Luciano Uzuegbu, General Manager,<br />
Bunmi Obanawu, DIDI Museum and CEO Heartwells Foundation, Ogbonnaya Igbokwe at the<br />
Art exhibition “Arts For Cancer” organised by Heartwells Foundation in Lagos recently.<br />
ABOUT 60 per cent of<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s electricity consumers<br />
lack prepaid meters and<br />
are currently being exploited<br />
through estimated billing.<br />
Disclosing this in its Second<br />
Quarter 2020 Report, <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
Electricity Regula<strong>to</strong>ry Commission,<br />
NERC, said: “The huge<br />
metering gap for end-use cus<strong>to</strong>mers<br />
remains a key challenge in the<br />
industry. The records of the Commission<br />
indicate that, of the<br />
10,516,090 registered electricity<br />
cus<strong>to</strong>mers as at 30 June 2020, only<br />
4,234,759 (40.27%) have been<br />
metered.<br />
“Thus, 59.73% of the registered<br />
electricity cus<strong>to</strong>mers are still on<br />
estimated billing which has contributed<br />
<strong>to</strong> cus<strong>to</strong>mer apathy <strong>to</strong>wards<br />
payment for electricity bills.<br />
In comparison with the first quarter<br />
of 2020, the numbers of registered<br />
and metered cus<strong>to</strong>mers increased<br />
slightly by 0.36% and<br />
0.07% respectively.<br />
“The increase in registered cus<strong>to</strong>mers<br />
was, in addition <strong>to</strong> new<br />
connections, due largely <strong>to</strong> the ongoing<br />
cus<strong>to</strong>mer enumeration exercise<br />
by DisCos through which<br />
unregistered consumers of electricity<br />
were brought un<strong>to</strong> the<br />
DisCos’ billing platform. Similarly,<br />
the increase in metered cus<strong>to</strong>mers<br />
was attributed <strong>to</strong> the roll-out of<br />
meters under the MAP scheme.<br />
The Abuja, Benin and Eko DisCos<br />
had metered more than 50% of<br />
their registered electricity cus<strong>to</strong>mers<br />
as at 30 June 2020.”<br />
Order<br />
However, NERC, which ordered<br />
the DisCos, <strong>to</strong> ensure the metering<br />
gap is closed by the end of<br />
2021, stated: “To ensure speedy<br />
metering of electricity cus<strong>to</strong>mers<br />
in order <strong>to</strong> meet the target of closing<br />
the metering gap in NESI by<br />
31 December 2021, the Commission,<br />
in addition <strong>to</strong> securing<br />
waiver of the levy previously imposed<br />
on imported meters, continued<br />
its moni<strong>to</strong>ring of DisCos’<br />
implementation of and compliance<br />
with the provisions of the<br />
MAP Regulations <strong>to</strong> fast-track<br />
meter roll-out.”<br />
Consumer complaints<br />
Continuing, it stated: “During<br />
the second quarter of 2020, the<br />
eleven (11) DisCos received<br />
203,116 complaints from consumers,<br />
indicating 0.68% fewer complaints<br />
than those received during<br />
the first quarter of 2020. In <strong>to</strong>tal,<br />
the DisCos attended <strong>to</strong> 189,684<br />
complaints representing an increase<br />
of 1.09 percentage points<br />
from the preceding quarter.<br />
“The report shows that Ibadan<br />
followed by Benin DisCos had the<br />
lowest cus<strong>to</strong>mers’ complaints resolution<br />
rates based on the proportion<br />
of complaints not addressed<br />
in the second quarter of 2020.”<br />
Estimated billing<br />
Nevertheless, it added: “The<br />
estimated billing, metering and<br />
service interruption remain the<br />
most significant areas of concerns<br />
for cus<strong>to</strong>mers, accounting for<br />
64.88% (131,789) of the <strong>to</strong>tal complaints<br />
in the second quarter of<br />
2020. As stated in the preceding<br />
reports, <strong>to</strong> ensure improved cus<strong>to</strong>mer<br />
service delivery, the Commission,<br />
on regular basis, continued<br />
<strong>to</strong> moni<strong>to</strong>r and audit cus<strong>to</strong>mers’<br />
complaint handling and resolution<br />
process by DisCos. The<br />
Commission also continuously<br />
moni<strong>to</strong>rs the operation and efficacy<br />
of its Forum Offices which<br />
were set up <strong>to</strong> redress on consumers’<br />
complaints not adequately resolved<br />
<strong>to</strong> the cus<strong>to</strong>mers’ satisfaction<br />
by the responsible DisCos.”<br />
Prices of<br />
petrol, others<br />
fall in January<br />
By Elizabeth Adegbesan<br />
ENERGY<br />
CONSUMERS paid less for<br />
Premium Mo<strong>to</strong>r Spirit,<br />
PMS, (petrol), National Household<br />
Kerosene (NHK) and Liquefied<br />
Petroleum Gas (Cooking<br />
Gas), in January following decline<br />
in prices of the commodities<br />
during the month.<br />
On the contrary, the price of<br />
Au<strong>to</strong>motive Gas Oil (diesel) rose<br />
during the month.<br />
The National Bureau of Statistics,<br />
NBS, disclosed this in its<br />
Petrol Price Watch Report for<br />
January released yesterday.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> the report, the<br />
price paid by consumers for petrol<br />
fell month-on-month (MoM) by<br />
0.97 percent <strong>to</strong> N164 in January<br />
2021 from N165 in December<br />
2020.<br />
Similarly, the NBS Kerosene<br />
watch report disclosed that the<br />
price per litre paid by consumers<br />
for NHK fell by-0.64 percent<br />
MoM <strong>to</strong> N350 in January 2021<br />
from N352 in December 2020.<br />
Furthermore,the NBS in its<br />
Cooking Gas Watch Report, said<br />
that the price for the refilling of a<br />
5kg cylinder for Cooking Gas fell<br />
by 0.04 percent MoM <strong>to</strong><br />
N1,949 in January 2021 from<br />
N1,949 in December 2020.<br />
However, the price of diesel rose<br />
by 0.22 percent MoM <strong>to</strong> N224 in<br />
January 2021 from <strong>to</strong> N224 in<br />
December 2020.<br />
The NBS stated: “Average<br />
price paid by consumers for petrol<br />
increased by 13 percent year-onyear<br />
(YoY) and decreased MoM<br />
by 0.97 percent <strong>to</strong> N164 in January<br />
2021 from N165.70 in December<br />
2020.<br />
“States with the highest average<br />
price of petrol were Abia<br />
(N173), Adamawa (N166) and<br />
Gombe (N165).<br />
Cryp<strong>to</strong>currency: CBN acted in <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns’ best interest<br />
– Emefiele *SEC <strong>to</strong> develop regulation for cryp<strong>to</strong>currency trading<br />
MONEY MARKET<br />
By Babajide Komolafe and<br />
Obas Esiedesa<br />
THE Governor, Central<br />
Bank of <strong>Nigeria</strong> (CBN),<br />
Mr. Godwin Emefiele says the<br />
Bank’s decision <strong>to</strong> prohibit deposit<br />
money banks, non-banking<br />
institutions and Other Financial<br />
Institutionsfrom facilitating<br />
trading and dealings<br />
in cryp<strong>to</strong>currency<br />
is in the best interest of<br />
deposi<strong>to</strong>rs and the<br />
country’s financial system.<br />
Meanwhile, the Securities<br />
and Exchange<br />
Commission, SEC, has<br />
said it would work with<br />
other regula<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> develop<br />
a regula<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
framework that will ensure<br />
safe trading in<br />
cryp<strong>to</strong>currency and protect<br />
inves<strong>to</strong>rs in the sec<strong>to</strong>r.<br />
Emefiele defended<br />
the decision of the apex<br />
bank yesterday, while<br />
briefing a joint Senate<br />
Committee on Banking,<br />
Insurance and<br />
Other Financial Institutions;<br />
ICT and<br />
Cybercrime; and Capital<br />
Market, on its directive<br />
<strong>to</strong> institutions under<br />
its regulation.<br />
Describing the operations of<br />
cryp<strong>to</strong>currencies as dangerous<br />
and opaque, the CBN Governor<br />
said the use of<br />
cryp<strong>to</strong>currency contravened an<br />
existing law. He said given the<br />
fact that cryp<strong>to</strong>currencies were<br />
issued by unregulated and unlicensed<br />
entities made it contrary<br />
<strong>to</strong> the mandate of the Bank, as<br />
enshrined in the CBN Act (2007)<br />
declaring the Bank as the issuer<br />
of legal tender in <strong>Nigeria</strong>.<br />
Emefiele, who also differentiated<br />
between digital currencies,<br />
which Central Banks can<br />
issue and cryp<strong>to</strong>currencies issued<br />
by unknown and unregulated<br />
entities, stressed that the<br />
anonymity, obscurity and concealment<br />
of cryp<strong>to</strong>currencies<br />
made it suitable for those who<br />
indulge in illegal activities<br />
such as money laundering, terrorism<br />
financing, purchase of<br />
small arms and light weapons<br />
and tax evasion.<br />
Citing instances of investigated<br />
criminal activities that<br />
had been linked <strong>to</strong><br />
cryp<strong>to</strong>currencies, he stated that<br />
the legitimacy of money and<br />
the safety of <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s financial<br />
system was central <strong>to</strong> the mandate<br />
of the CBN, even as he<br />
declared that “Cryp<strong>to</strong>currency<br />
is not legitimate money” because<br />
it is not created or backed<br />
by any Central Bank.<br />
“Cryp<strong>to</strong>currency has no place<br />
in our monetary system at this<br />
time and cryp<strong>to</strong>currency transactions<br />
should not be carried<br />
out through the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n banking<br />
system,” he added.<br />
Also addressing the senate<br />
session, the Direc<strong>to</strong>r General<br />
of the SEC, Mr. Lamido<br />
Yuguda disclosed intention of<br />
the Commission <strong>to</strong> develop a<br />
regula<strong>to</strong>ry framework that will<br />
ensure safe trading in<br />
cryp<strong>to</strong>currency and protect inves<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
in the sec<strong>to</strong>r.<br />
Yuguda said the SEC recognizes<br />
the disruption of FinTech<br />
in the financial industry and<br />
aims <strong>to</strong> create an enabling<br />
regula<strong>to</strong>ry environment that<br />
would ensure a balance between<br />
inves<strong>to</strong>r protection and<br />
technological advancement.<br />
He said, “We believe that<br />
FinTech would not only bring<br />
about efficiency <strong>to</strong> the capital<br />
market but would also serve as<br />
a veritable <strong>to</strong>ol for advancing<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s Financial Inclusion<br />
agenda.<br />
“However, there is a need <strong>to</strong><br />
develop an appropriate regula<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
framework <strong>to</strong> ensure the<br />
safety of innovation <strong>to</strong> inves<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
and preserve market integrity.<br />
The SEC boss said <strong>to</strong> develop<br />
an appropriate regula<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
framework; regula<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
need <strong>to</strong> understand the cryp<strong>to</strong><br />
asset space <strong>to</strong> be better positioned<br />
<strong>to</strong> address identified<br />
risks.<br />
He said the SEC will advance<br />
efforts <strong>to</strong>wards developing a comprehensive<br />
regula<strong>to</strong>ry framework<br />
that ensures that opera<strong>to</strong>rs in the<br />
cryp<strong>to</strong> asset space conduct their<br />
activities in a manner that protects<br />
inves<strong>to</strong>rs and maintains financial<br />
system stability.<br />
“The SEC will continue <strong>to</strong><br />
moni<strong>to</strong>r developments in the<br />
digital asset space and further<br />
engage/collaborate with all critical<br />
stakeholders, including the<br />
CBN, <strong>to</strong> create a regula<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
structure that enhances economic<br />
development while promoting a<br />
safe, innovative and transparent<br />
capital market” he added.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> Yuguda, the<br />
SEC’s approach is consistent<br />
with the approaches of several<br />
securities regula<strong>to</strong>rs around<br />
the world as in the United<br />
States of America, the US SEC<br />
requires platforms that offer<br />
trading in digital asset securities<br />
and operate as exchanges<br />
<strong>to</strong> register or seek <strong>to</strong> be exempted<br />
from registration.
20 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
By Rosemary Iwunze<br />
IN 2012, the Central Bank<br />
of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, CBN,<br />
launched the National<br />
Financial Inclusion Strategy<br />
with the aim of increasing the<br />
number of adults that have<br />
access <strong>to</strong> financial services <strong>to</strong><br />
80 per cent by 2020.<br />
To achieve this, different<br />
targets were set for each<br />
sec<strong>to</strong>r of the financial system.<br />
For the Insurance industry,<br />
the target was 40 per cent<br />
insurance penetration<br />
amongst the adult population<br />
by the year 2020.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> a survey<br />
released by Enhancing<br />
Financial Innovation and<br />
Access, EFInA, in 2018 titled:<br />
“Access <strong>to</strong> Financial Services<br />
in <strong>Nigeria</strong> 2018 Survey”, out<br />
of a <strong>to</strong>tal adult population of<br />
99.6 million, only about 1.6<br />
million adults representing<br />
1.6 per cent had any form of<br />
insurance in 2018,<br />
representing 0.1 per cent<br />
decline from 1.7 million adult<br />
population in 2016.<br />
Further research show that<br />
only about five per cent of the<br />
<strong>to</strong>tal adult population had any<br />
form of insurance as at the<br />
end of 2020.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> National<br />
Insurance Commission,<br />
NAICOM: “The insurance<br />
penetration in the country is<br />
still very low as only about five<br />
per cent of adult population<br />
have one form of insurance or<br />
the other. ”<br />
The poor performance of the<br />
industry in attracting more<br />
adults and hence, patronage,<br />
is further reflected in a report<br />
by AM Best, a rating agency,<br />
which indicated that the<br />
industry contracted in real<br />
terms by four percentage points<br />
between 2014 and 2018.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> the report titled:<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s Insurance Market<br />
Offers Significant Potential<br />
despite Headwinds, the<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> Insurance industry<br />
generated N426 billion as<br />
gross written premium (GWP)<br />
in 2018, representing 14.5 per<br />
cent growth over the previous<br />
year. In the five years between<br />
2014 and 2018, the compound<br />
annual growth rate of <strong>to</strong>tal GWP<br />
grew on average by 8.6 per<br />
cent per annum.<br />
“But that growth is not what<br />
it appears. AM Best analysts<br />
note that although growth has<br />
seemingly been strong, when<br />
viewed in real terms, the<br />
market actually contracted by<br />
approximately four percentage<br />
points due <strong>to</strong> inflation that<br />
averaged 12 per cent over the<br />
same period,” the report<br />
stated.<br />
Role of insurance in financial<br />
inclusion<br />
According <strong>to</strong> the World Bank,<br />
financial inclusion is achieved<br />
when every member of the<br />
adult population has easy<br />
access <strong>to</strong> a broad range of<br />
formal financial services that<br />
meet their needs at affordable<br />
•Sunday Thomas, Commissioner for Insurance<br />
cost.<br />
Financial inclusion implies<br />
not only access but usage of a<br />
full spectrum of financial<br />
services including but not<br />
limited <strong>to</strong> payments, savings,<br />
credit, insurance and pension<br />
products <strong>designed</strong> according <strong>to</strong><br />
the need of the cus<strong>to</strong>mers.<br />
Unfortunately, the majority of<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns are living below<br />
poverty line of below one dollar<br />
per day. Evidently, such a class<br />
of people can hardly afford<br />
insurance services and as such,<br />
remain largely uninsured<br />
against any form of disaster.<br />
Hence, when disaster strikes,<br />
they find it difficult or even<br />
impossible <strong>to</strong> find their feet<br />
again.<br />
Speaking on the issue, former<br />
President of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
Council of Registered<br />
Insurance Brokers, Mr.<br />
Babajide Agbeja stated: “The<br />
impact of not being able <strong>to</strong><br />
secure adequate cover can be<br />
extremely serious, particularly<br />
for those with lower incomes.<br />
Being uninsured leaves people<br />
unable <strong>to</strong> plan beyond their<br />
immediate future, protect<br />
themselves against unexpected<br />
financial hardship and enjoy<br />
the peace of mind an insurance<br />
cover can bring. In other words,<br />
insurance products should be<br />
made affordable <strong>to</strong> every<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n, especially <strong>to</strong> the<br />
grassroots <strong>to</strong> mitigate against<br />
unforeseen risks and place<br />
them back <strong>to</strong> the position they<br />
were before the loss occurred.”<br />
Also speaking, Deputy<br />
Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r of African<br />
Reinsurance Corporation, Mr.<br />
Ken Aghoghovbia noted that<br />
access <strong>to</strong> insurance services is<br />
critical <strong>to</strong> financial inclusion<br />
particularly at the grassroots,<br />
hence insurance being a<br />
veritable <strong>to</strong>ol <strong>to</strong> bringing<br />
people out of poverty, will<br />
greatly enhance the spread of<br />
financial inclusion.<br />
Speaking at an Insurance<br />
Direc<strong>to</strong>rs’ conference in<br />
Lagos, Direc<strong>to</strong>r, Policy &<br />
Regulation, National Insurance<br />
Commission, NAICOM, Mr.<br />
Pius Agboola said that there<br />
is a strong positive correlation<br />
between insurance and<br />
economic development, as<br />
such, there is a need <strong>to</strong> improve<br />
insurance acceptance in<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>, particularly <strong>to</strong> the<br />
underserved and excluded<br />
segment of the populace.<br />
Why insurance penetration is<br />
low<br />
Several reasons have been<br />
Although growth<br />
has seemingly been<br />
strong, when<br />
viewed in real<br />
terms, the market<br />
actually contracted<br />
by approximately<br />
four percentage<br />
points due <strong>to</strong><br />
inflation that<br />
averaged 12<br />
percent over the<br />
same period<br />
•Muftau Oyegunle, President, Chartered Insurance Institute<br />
of <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
Financial Inclusion: Challenges,<br />
prospects of increasing access<br />
<strong>to</strong> insurance<br />
adduced for the poor insurance<br />
penetration in <strong>Nigeria</strong>. These<br />
include: peculiar market<br />
environment, limited public<br />
awareness and negative public<br />
perception by those who are<br />
aware of insurance.<br />
Explaining, Direc<strong>to</strong>r, Policy &<br />
Regulation, National Insurance<br />
Commission, NAICOM, Mr.<br />
Pius Agboola said that the very<br />
low acceptance of insurance in<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> is largely due <strong>to</strong><br />
ignorance on the part of the<br />
consumers and the general<br />
public.<br />
“This is further aggravated by<br />
sheer lack of special purpose<br />
machinery for the continuous<br />
enlightenment campaign <strong>to</strong> the<br />
members of the general<br />
public,” Agboola said.<br />
On its part, A.M Best noted<br />
that obstacles <strong>to</strong> insurance<br />
market growth include low<br />
consumer awareness, lax<br />
enforcement of manda<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
coverage laws and new<br />
proposed capital requirements.<br />
The report stated: “A key fac<strong>to</strong>r<br />
behind the relatively slow real<br />
GWP growth has been the low<br />
insurance penetration in retail<br />
lines. Low retail penetration<br />
can be partly explained by the<br />
low level of awareness and<br />
trust in insurance, as well as<br />
the absence of strong financial<br />
literacy across large parts of the<br />
population.<br />
“Furthermore, the extremely<br />
shallow level of economic<br />
growth in recent years has<br />
affected both the demand for<br />
insurance as well as the value<br />
Continued on page 21<br />
Effina Survey on Access <strong>to</strong> Insurance in 2018)
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 <strong>—</strong> 21<br />
Financial Inclusion: Challenges, prospects of increasing<br />
access <strong>to</strong> insurance<br />
Continued from page 20<br />
stated: “To help close the<br />
protection gap, insurers need<br />
the support of the government<br />
<strong>to</strong> enforce and promote the<br />
benefits of insurance. Also,<br />
there must be additional steps<br />
<strong>to</strong> enforce the uptake of<br />
manda<strong>to</strong>ry coverage.<br />
“Insurers could improve their<br />
distribution and premium<br />
collection via mobile<br />
applications <strong>to</strong> reach a greater<br />
proportion of the population.<br />
The industry needs the support<br />
of the government <strong>to</strong> improve<br />
trust and understanding of<br />
insurance if the market is <strong>to</strong><br />
grow in the country.”<br />
For Agboola, there is need for<br />
the implementation of financial<br />
inclusion initiatives in the<br />
insurance sec<strong>to</strong>r such as microinsurance<br />
for low income<br />
earners and those given credit<br />
loans by various state<br />
governments which will help<br />
<strong>to</strong> deepen insurance<br />
penetration in all the states of<br />
the federation.<br />
He said: “The goal of<br />
achieving and surpassing the<br />
target of 40 per cent adult<br />
population penetration will be<br />
Distribution of Net Premium in 2018)<br />
of insurable assets across a<br />
number of lines of business.”<br />
Another challenge: there is<br />
also a shortage of technical<br />
expertise across some lines of<br />
business.<br />
How <strong>to</strong> grow insurance<br />
penetration<br />
Despite the various<br />
challenges confronting the<br />
insurance sec<strong>to</strong>r, opera<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
•Ganiyu Musa, Chairman, <strong>Nigeria</strong>n Insurers Association<br />
achieved by providing an<br />
enabling environment and<br />
framework for the excluded<br />
and low income population <strong>to</strong><br />
participate and benefit from<br />
insurances.<br />
This will be done through:<br />
argue that <strong>to</strong> boost financial<br />
inclusion through insurance,<br />
there is need <strong>to</strong> carry out<br />
sensitization and awareness on<br />
insurance business campaigns.<br />
They also stressed the need <strong>to</strong><br />
build confidence and promote<br />
public understanding on<br />
insurance mechanisms, as well<br />
as development of insurance<br />
education across the board.<br />
In this regard, A.M Best<br />
development of legal and<br />
regula<strong>to</strong>ry frameworks on<br />
takaful and microinsurance;<br />
definition<br />
and<br />
implementation of insurance<br />
literacy programmes;<br />
enforcement of quick<br />
settlement of claims and<br />
sanctions for infractions; as well<br />
as incentivise insurance<br />
companies <strong>to</strong> develop microinsurance<br />
products, takaful<br />
insurance and index-based<br />
insurance products <strong>to</strong> serve<br />
low-income/rural individuals.”<br />
Also speaking, Anike<br />
Okechukwu, Vice-Chancellor,<br />
Enugu State University said at<br />
the root of poverty lies the<br />
depriving the people access <strong>to</strong><br />
basic necessities such as food,<br />
shelter, healthcare, education,<br />
security and assets, and <strong>to</strong> solve<br />
these issues there must be<br />
concerted efforts <strong>to</strong>ward<br />
financial inclusion for all<br />
citizens.<br />
Speaking at a conference by<br />
the Chartered Insurance<br />
Institute of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, CIIN,<br />
Okechukwu noted that<br />
financial exclusion is a<br />
burden that must be lifted,<br />
and which requires adequate<br />
financial planning through<br />
insurance.<br />
He said: “Appropriate<br />
financial services can help<br />
vulnerable<br />
households<br />
reduce<br />
risk, build<br />
resilience,<br />
smoothen<br />
consumption,<br />
safeguard<br />
savings,<br />
b e t t e r<br />
manage<br />
t h e<br />
consequences<br />
o f<br />
unforeseen<br />
events,<br />
•Eddie Efekoha, Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r,<br />
Consolidated Hallmark Insurance<br />
and invest in assets and grow<br />
businesses. To achieve this,<br />
insurance remains strategic.”<br />
Okechukwu also noted that<br />
health insurance can ensure<br />
adequate healthcare for many<br />
families and reduce out-ofpocket<br />
expenditure. “In fact,<br />
health insurance is linked <strong>to</strong><br />
economic growth and<br />
reduction in poverty.<br />
“<strong>Nigeria</strong> is battling with a<br />
number of scary health issues<br />
including malaria,<br />
tuberculosis, infant and<br />
maternal mortality, all of<br />
which have a sweeping<br />
impact on productivity.<br />
Insurance services can make<br />
a significant difference in the<br />
lives of vulnerable<br />
individuals by helping<br />
households mitigate shocks<br />
and improve the<br />
management of expenses<br />
related <strong>to</strong> unforeseen events<br />
such as medical emergencies<br />
and death in the family,” he<br />
said.<br />
He stated that another<br />
critical area that insurance<br />
could cover is education,<br />
noting that this could ensure<br />
that parents and guardians<br />
save enough money <strong>to</strong><br />
ensure stability in the<br />
education of their wards.<br />
“If education insurance is<br />
taken up, the stability in<br />
providing quality education<br />
is guaranteed even in the<br />
event of the death of parents<br />
and guardians.<br />
“Housing or property<br />
insurance is fundamental in<br />
ensuring that a great majority<br />
of <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns have access <strong>to</strong><br />
affordable shelter and<br />
protection against natural or<br />
man-made disasters.<br />
Effectively, if one is covered<br />
by housing insurance, it will<br />
ensure easy access <strong>to</strong> funds<br />
in any event. As you know,<br />
many families are homeless<br />
<strong>to</strong>day because they are<br />
financially excluded.”<br />
Also speaking, Managing<br />
Direc<strong>to</strong>r of Consolidated<br />
Hallmark Insurance Plc, Mr.<br />
Eddie Efekoha said that it is<br />
common knowledge that<br />
insurance penetration is<br />
nowhere near where it<br />
should be in the country. “As<br />
practitioners, we can also<br />
acknowledge that companies<br />
are doing all that they can<br />
within the tenets of the law<br />
<strong>to</strong> reach out <strong>to</strong> cus<strong>to</strong>mers in<br />
order <strong>to</strong> create a sustained<br />
demand for insurance<br />
products.<br />
“The question is, are our<br />
best efforts enough? What<br />
more can we do <strong>to</strong> improve<br />
our lot? Efekoha queried.<br />
He said: “Even the smallest<br />
molecule of our operations<br />
should be clear and concise<br />
<strong>to</strong> our target audience and<br />
our messages should reach<br />
them wherever they are. Only<br />
then can we truly retain <strong>to</strong>p<br />
of mind awareness and<br />
agree that we have taken a<br />
significant step in what we<br />
collectively desire <strong>to</strong> achieve,<br />
an insurance industry that is<br />
a significant contribu<strong>to</strong>r in<br />
terms of numbers <strong>to</strong> the<br />
economic growth.”<br />
In essence, opera<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
believe that the low<br />
insurance penetration means<br />
there is room for geometric<br />
growth. However, there must<br />
be improved market conduct,<br />
service delivery, value<br />
creation as well as prompt<br />
and fair claims settlement,<br />
among others, if the sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
hopes <strong>to</strong> contribute<br />
significantly <strong>to</strong> financial<br />
inclusion strategy going<br />
forward.<br />
C<br />
M<br />
Y<br />
K
22 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
Ehingbeti 2021: 9mobile pledges support for Lagos Smart City initiative<br />
By Prince Osuagwu<br />
HE Chief Executive Officer of<br />
T9mobile, Alan Sinfield, has<br />
said his company will support the<br />
‘Smart City’ initiative of the Lagos<br />
State Government.<br />
Sinfield at a panel session , Digital<br />
Transformation Solutions for<br />
Smart Cities at the Lagos State Economic<br />
Summit - Ehingbeti 2021,<br />
noted the significance of the Smart<br />
City Masterplan of Lagos State and<br />
how 9mobile would facilitate its realisation.<br />
He said: “At 9mobile, we are continually<br />
innovating, and smart city ,<br />
smart building and other IoT solutions<br />
will be delivered through the<br />
deployment of technologies and infrastructure<br />
. This will be made possible<br />
by collaborating with stakeholders<br />
<strong>to</strong> provide seamless access.<br />
Telecommunications is the foundation<br />
and the critical building block<br />
for the delivery of a smart city. It<br />
supports the delivery of digital transformation<br />
and inclusion and underpins<br />
how the goals of full financial<br />
inclusion for everyone will be realised,”<br />
he said.<br />
He also noted that “one additional<br />
critical element will be the service<br />
management element. We<br />
should never lose sight that once envisioned,<br />
developed, and implemented,<br />
nothing ever works well or<br />
is sustainable without the necessary<br />
support teams <strong>to</strong> maintain and keep<br />
things working. There is a real need<br />
<strong>to</strong> focus on developing the skills and<br />
support framework and not just the<br />
appealing AI/ML and technology<br />
aspects.”<br />
Sinfield highlighted the telco’s<br />
outstanding service quality and<br />
noted that digital and tech hubs are<br />
crucial for building talent. “At 9mobile,<br />
we have plans <strong>to</strong> further support<br />
an environment that enables<br />
creativity and visions <strong>to</strong> be realised<br />
by using our resources <strong>to</strong> build ICT<br />
development areas and sandboxes<br />
for entrepreneurs <strong>to</strong> develop their<br />
ideas for the future.”<br />
He also highlighted the importance<br />
of big data and data mining<br />
as the lifeline of a smart city. “Data<br />
is the building block of the digital<br />
revolution, s<strong>to</strong>ring and profiling<br />
this for various uses will support<br />
the achievement of the necessary<br />
smart city au<strong>to</strong>mation. While discussions<br />
continue as <strong>to</strong> the extent<br />
<strong>to</strong> which humans can participate<br />
and provide real-time data input<br />
<strong>to</strong> the collective data feeding au<strong>to</strong>mated<br />
machine learning, first<br />
steps in this journey will rely on<br />
sensors and machine-based data<br />
which is much more reliable.”<br />
CYBERSECURITY: Beware, new hacking<br />
method, Agent Tesla comes through email<br />
attachment<br />
By Juliet Umeh<br />
research firm, Sophos, has<br />
A joined in the call for African<br />
mobile money, and internet<br />
users generally, <strong>to</strong> guard their<br />
data jealously as fintech growth<br />
appears <strong>to</strong> be astronomical in<br />
the continent.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> Sophos, as data<br />
explosion sets <strong>to</strong> happen in Africa<br />
considering the growth in<br />
mobile money and other financial<br />
services accounts, users in<br />
Africa should adopt the method<br />
of first considering every mail as<br />
a potential threat before opening<br />
it.<br />
A report released recently by<br />
the company revealed that a new<br />
information stealer, Agent Tesla<br />
which spreads through malicious<br />
email spam is being used<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>destroy</strong> hapless internet users<br />
and vulnerable corporate organisations.<br />
Although Sophos says the hacking<br />
method is seven-year-old,<br />
and goes through new phases, it<br />
has, however, remained a powerful<br />
threat <strong>to</strong> people. The research<br />
firm warned that people<br />
should be cautious with email<br />
attachments from unknown<br />
senders.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> the company,<br />
Agent Tesla steals information<br />
from web browsers, email clients,<br />
virtual private network clients,<br />
and other software that s<strong>to</strong>res<br />
usernames and passwords.<br />
It explained that it can capture<br />
keystrokes while users are typing,<br />
for example entering their<br />
password, and record screenshots,<br />
so it can see what is on<br />
their screen.<br />
It noted that the more recent<br />
version of the info-stealer can use<br />
the Telegram messaging service<br />
<strong>to</strong> communicate with its opera<strong>to</strong>rs,<br />
as well as a software programme<br />
called Tor (that’s very<br />
popular on the dark web) <strong>to</strong> hide<br />
activity like the removal of s<strong>to</strong>len<br />
data. It also tries <strong>to</strong> alter software<br />
code <strong>to</strong> block security protection.<br />
Senior Security Researcher at<br />
the company, Sean Gallagher<br />
said: “Agent Tesla malware has<br />
been active for more than seven<br />
years, yet it remains one of the<br />
most common threats <strong>to</strong> Windows<br />
users.<br />
“The most widespread delivery<br />
method for Agent Tesla is malicious<br />
spam attachments. The<br />
email accounts used <strong>to</strong> spread<br />
Agent Tesla are often legitimate<br />
accounts that have been compromised.<br />
Organisations and<br />
individuals should, as always,<br />
treat email attachments from<br />
unknown senders with caution,<br />
and verify all attachments before<br />
opening them.”<br />
The firm recommended that<br />
Information Technology, IT admin<br />
checklist for email security<br />
should include:<br />
*Installation of an intelligent<br />
security solution that can screen,<br />
detect and block suspicious<br />
*Cyber attacker<br />
emails and their attachments<br />
before they reach users.<br />
*Implementing the recognised<br />
authentication standards <strong>to</strong> verify<br />
emails are what they claim<br />
<strong>to</strong> be.<br />
*Educating employees <strong>to</strong> spot<br />
the warning signs of suspicious<br />
emails and what <strong>to</strong> do if they encounter<br />
one.<br />
*Advising users <strong>to</strong> doublecheck<br />
that emails come from the<br />
address and the person they<br />
claim.<br />
*Advising users <strong>to</strong> never open<br />
attachments or click on links in<br />
emails from unknown senders.<br />
*Sophos endpoint protection,<br />
Intercept X, detects Agent Tesla<br />
malware.<br />
Another internet security outfit<br />
recently disclosed that out of<br />
over one billion mobile money<br />
accounts in the global financial<br />
technology space, Africa has<br />
about 46 per cent of the accounts.<br />
The one billion accounts were<br />
said <strong>to</strong> be processing up <strong>to</strong> $1.9<br />
billion daily, meaning that 46<br />
per cent of that is processed in<br />
Africa. The continent is also expected<br />
<strong>to</strong> exceed half a billion<br />
accounts before the end of first<br />
quarter 2021.<br />
Signal Alliance @ 25, pushes ambitious holdco structure<br />
By Prince Osuagwu<br />
T 25 years old, technology<br />
Acompany, Signal Alliance is<br />
beginning a new phase of life. The<br />
company is on the verge of completing<br />
a holding company (holdco)<br />
structure that will see it become<br />
even a bigger player in the<br />
IT sec<strong>to</strong>r.<br />
The proposed holdco structure<br />
would have three subsidiaries -<br />
one focused on cloud business,<br />
another on technology consulting<br />
while the third, Sasware, which<br />
is already operating as a venturing<br />
company, would harmonise<br />
current investments and further<br />
invest in tech start-ups and techenabled<br />
businesses.<br />
Signal Alliance is looking <strong>to</strong><br />
make an emphatic statement in<br />
the tech ecosystem in <strong>Nigeria</strong>.<br />
Foreign inves<strong>to</strong>rs have dominated<br />
the venture activities in <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
and Africa and they are increasing<br />
their positions in the<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n tech market.<br />
Executive Vice-Chairman of<br />
the company, Collins Onuegbu,<br />
said: “Diversification of our business<br />
portfolio is imperative and<br />
we believe that these activities, in<br />
line with our medium <strong>to</strong> longterm<br />
strategy, would produce<br />
compelling returns. Size and efficiency<br />
are key fac<strong>to</strong>rs for our<br />
new outlook.”<br />
Onuegbu also believes the tech<br />
market in <strong>Nigeria</strong> is still evolving<br />
despite the strides it has made<br />
in recent years, adding that there<br />
is still a lot of room for growth<br />
*Onuegbu<br />
and the company is being positioned<br />
<strong>to</strong> be part of that growth<br />
process.<br />
He revealed that in the coming<br />
months, the company will be<br />
looking <strong>to</strong> either acquire a majority<br />
stake in promising ventures<br />
or minority interest.<br />
“There is no more sitting on the<br />
fence while the good deals get<br />
done. We need <strong>to</strong> gain a foothold<br />
in the tech space venturing in<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> and are targeting 50 tech<br />
and tech-enabled companies<br />
within a 3-year horizon,” he said.<br />
For him, “last year, Stripe, the<br />
second-largest payment company<br />
in the world, acquired <strong>Nigeria</strong>n-based<br />
payment gateway company,<br />
Paystack. <strong>Nigeria</strong>n startups<br />
also dominated the venture capital<br />
activities in Africa in 2019<br />
only <strong>to</strong> fall behind South Africa<br />
in 2020 due <strong>to</strong> the impact of the<br />
COVID-19 pandemic.<br />
There are also local venture<br />
capital firms and equity funds that<br />
are springing up and positioning<br />
for the market. In January, Iyinoluwa<br />
Aboyeji, founder and<br />
CEO of Future Africa, a new venture<br />
capital that launched in 2020<br />
said it has returned $3.7 million<br />
<strong>to</strong> some of the firm’s limited partners<br />
and invested over $1 million<br />
in 16 startups. So, there is a need<br />
<strong>to</strong> consolidate and grow our investments<br />
in technology-enabled<br />
start-ups”<br />
Signal Alliance said it would<br />
also be looking <strong>to</strong> grow its cloud<br />
market position - a market it<br />
knows very well given its partnership<br />
with Microsoft.<br />
Signal Alliance is a Gold LSP<br />
Partner of Microsoft; among the<br />
other three partners in <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
and intends <strong>to</strong> utilise this partnership<br />
for its cloud business focus.<br />
Interswitch links HF on International Money Transfer Service<br />
By Juliet Umeh<br />
IGITAL payments and com-<br />
company, Interswitch<br />
Dmerce<br />
Group, has partnered another giant<br />
in the sec<strong>to</strong>r, HF Group <strong>to</strong> expand<br />
digital banking services <strong>to</strong><br />
include International Money<br />
Transfer (IMT). The IMT service<br />
will enable people in the diaspora<br />
<strong>to</strong> remit funds seamlessly in<strong>to</strong><br />
any HF account and also provide<br />
a simplified channel for them <strong>to</strong><br />
make their loan/mortgage payments.<br />
The partnership is coming<br />
on the heels of the company’s diversification<br />
efforts in<strong>to</strong> full-service<br />
banking.<br />
Robert Kibaara, HF Group<br />
Chief Executive Officer said: “We<br />
Soft skills will help girls appreciate tech<br />
career, says Afro-Tech Girls<br />
By Juliet Umeh<br />
ON-profit organization<br />
NAfro-Tech Girls, has said<br />
that provision of soft skill capacity<br />
building could help girls and<br />
women appreciate Information<br />
and Communications based careers.<br />
The group made the statement<br />
at a conference it held <strong>to</strong> commemorate<br />
the 2021 International<br />
Day of Women and Girls in<br />
Science themed ‘Women Scientists<br />
at the forefront of the fight<br />
against COVID-19.’<br />
Afro-Tech Girls is focused on<br />
encouraging and empowering<br />
females in the areas of Science,<br />
Technology, Engineering and<br />
Maths (STEM).<br />
The event which was hosted in<br />
partnership with IHS <strong>Nigeria</strong>, a<br />
subsidiary of IHS Towers, saw<br />
female speakers from the medical,<br />
science and technology sec<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
interact with over 100 participants<br />
in attendance online<br />
and a further 100 girls from public<br />
secondary schools watching<br />
from their classrooms. The event<br />
was also used as a soft launch of<br />
a longer-term partnership between<br />
Afro-Tech Girls and IHS<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>.<br />
Co-founder, Afro-Tech Girls,<br />
Adeola Shasanya said the theme<br />
of the event, reinforced present<br />
challenges associated with the<br />
current pandemic and high-<br />
have made significant investments<br />
in technology in order <strong>to</strong><br />
bolster our full service banking<br />
proposition. Our focus is in building<br />
a digital first bank that is responsive<br />
<strong>to</strong> emerging cus<strong>to</strong>mer<br />
trends. Designing the best cus<strong>to</strong>mer<br />
experience is a continuous process<br />
and our vision is <strong>to</strong> empower<br />
cus<strong>to</strong>mers <strong>to</strong> make their personal<br />
and business transactions at the<br />
click of a but<strong>to</strong>n.”<br />
Kibaara added: “Our understanding<br />
of the cus<strong>to</strong>mer and the<br />
market, coupled with strategic<br />
partnerships with fintech, enables<br />
us <strong>to</strong> design solutions that are simplified<br />
<strong>to</strong> address our cus<strong>to</strong>mers’<br />
needs."<br />
lighted how women in science<br />
are currently playing a critical<br />
role <strong>to</strong> address these challenges.<br />
Shasanya said that confidence<br />
and soft skills needed <strong>to</strong> be improved<br />
<strong>to</strong> drive more interests<br />
among the young females looking<br />
<strong>to</strong> build careers in STEM<br />
She said: “We are grateful for<br />
organisations like IHS <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
that have committed <strong>to</strong> improve<br />
STEM outcomes in <strong>Nigeria</strong> particularly<br />
within young females.<br />
We are confident that their support<br />
will go a long way <strong>to</strong> ensure<br />
these females are equipped with<br />
the skills required <strong>to</strong> compete<br />
and contribute immensely in<br />
STEM related careers.”<br />
Some of the speakers at the<br />
event included - Dr. Ngozi Onyia,<br />
MD, Paelon Memorial Hospital;<br />
Ms. Cima Sholotan, Direc<strong>to</strong>r<br />
of Sustainability & Corporate<br />
Communications, IHS<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>; Dr. Yetunde Adewunmi,<br />
Microbiologist, Wadsworth Center,<br />
New York State Department<br />
of Health; Dr. Mobola Oyefule,<br />
Medical Doc<strong>to</strong>r, Mayo Clinic,<br />
Rochester, Minnesota; Dr. Kemi<br />
Ezenwanne, Medical Doc<strong>to</strong>r,<br />
Armoured Shield Medical Centre;<br />
Ms. Jessica Uwoghiren,<br />
Data Analytics Expert; and Ms.<br />
Gloria Okereke, Team Lead,<br />
Network Operating Centre, IHS<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>.<br />
*From left: Romana Rajput,<br />
Interswitch Kenya Country<br />
Manager; Robert Kibaara, HF<br />
Group CEO and Regina Anyika, Ag.<br />
HFC Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r during the<br />
launch of the HF Whizz<br />
International Money Transfer in<br />
Kenya recently.
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 <strong>—</strong> 23
24 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 <strong>—</strong> 25
26 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
VOL. 2 NO. 71<br />
Why the first son is accorded<br />
high respect in Igboland<br />
<strong>—</strong> Monarchs, Igbo leaders<br />
By Anayo Okoli, Vincent<br />
Ujumadu, Chidi Nkwopara,<br />
Ugochukwu Alaribe,<br />
Nwabueze Okonkwo,<br />
Chinenye Ozor, Chinedu<br />
Adonu, Chinonso Alozie,<br />
Ikechukwu Odu &<br />
Steve Oko<br />
ENUGU<strong>—</strong>IN Igboland, the<br />
first son is generally<br />
accorded high recognition and<br />
respect by the family. He also<br />
wields enormous traditional<br />
powers in the family’s decisionmaking.<br />
Whether he is rich or<br />
poor, his opinion is always<br />
sought and respected by<br />
members of the family. This age<br />
long tradition has not changed<br />
and may not likely change in the<br />
near future. Question is; what is<br />
special in first sons of Igbo<br />
families?<br />
According <strong>to</strong> the revered<br />
monarch of Abriba ancient<br />
kingdom, Enachioken Abriba,<br />
Eze Kalu Kalu Ogbu (iv), Igbo<br />
accord high recognition <strong>to</strong> the<br />
first son because he is the<br />
family’s first hope for continuity.<br />
The first son, he said, is the first<br />
proof of his father’s strength and<br />
symbol of hope for the family’s<br />
continuity, hence, the special<br />
place he occupies in the family.<br />
This strong position, he<br />
explained, stems from the<br />
tradition and common mentality<br />
among the Igbo that male<br />
children are sine-qua-non for<br />
the family lineage <strong>to</strong> be<br />
maintained.<br />
“The first son is the first male<br />
blood of the man; his alter ego,”<br />
the monarch explained, "and he<br />
is considered the heir apparent<br />
of the family. Besides,because<br />
male children unlike their female<br />
siblings carry on the family’s<br />
name, it becomes necessary that<br />
the first son who is also the<br />
evidence of the progeni<strong>to</strong>r’s<br />
manhood, is highly revered.<br />
“Ndigbo have the culture that<br />
female children will eventually<br />
be married off; so any family<br />
without a male child is seen <strong>to</strong><br />
have gone in<strong>to</strong> extinction. That<br />
is why the first son has much<br />
respect”, the monarch said, but<br />
however, noted that some first<br />
sons tend <strong>to</strong> get carried away by<br />
their coveted position while some<br />
act irresponsibly.<br />
He noted that such<br />
unbecoming attitude is not<br />
enough <strong>to</strong> deprive them of their<br />
birthright as doing so is not<br />
without some consequences.<br />
The Enachioken also cited a<br />
case in his kingdom where a<br />
certain wealthy subject who<br />
trained his first son abroad and<br />
upon graduation, he returned <strong>to</strong><br />
•He is the family’s first hope for continuity <strong>—</strong> Enachioken Abriba<br />
•First son has same authority as his father <strong>—</strong> Igwe Ekere<br />
•A Jewish tradition, confirms Igbo connection <strong>to</strong> Jews <strong>—</strong> Ezekwesiri<br />
•He enjoys special privileges in the family <strong>—</strong> Eze Nwabeke<br />
•He represents the father, whether dead or alive <strong>—</strong> Igwe Ukuta<br />
•Plays prominent role in family, upon father's death <strong>—</strong> Lawyer<br />
•A group of Igbo entertainers.<br />
the country and he assisted him<br />
<strong>to</strong> secure a lucrative job but<br />
unfortunately, that man’s son<br />
was later got involved in stealing<br />
of the firm’s property, a situation<br />
that landed him in jail.<br />
“In those days when there was<br />
bucket latrine, the boy, from<br />
prison, would carry bucket of<br />
faeces past their house and the<br />
father who felt disgraced,<br />
stripped him of his right as the<br />
first son. But till <strong>to</strong>day, that family<br />
has not known peace.”<br />
In the opinion of the traditional<br />
ruler of the Iggah Ancient<br />
Kingdom in Isi-Uzo Uwani Local<br />
Government Area of Enugu<br />
State, Igwe Herbert Ukuta, the<br />
respect being accorded every<br />
first son in Igbo families is<br />
because he represents the father,<br />
whether dead or alive.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> Igwe Ukuta,<br />
because the daughters of the<br />
family would be married off<br />
eventually, only the first son<br />
bears the family symbol with or<br />
without the father of the house.<br />
“The culture has been there<br />
from time immemorial. In Igbo<br />
tradition, he inherits whatever<br />
the father left for the siblings. It<br />
is left for the first son, whether<br />
he is a good or a bad one <strong>to</strong> be<br />
in unity with the siblings,<br />
especially after the death of the<br />
father.<br />
“Sometimes, the first son can<br />
be the last born of the family but<br />
the sisters still nurture him and<br />
accord him huge respect in Igbo<br />
tradition,” the monarch said.<br />
The Chairman, Abia State<br />
Council of Traditional Rulers,<br />
Eze Ndubuisi Nwabeke, agreed<br />
that it is the tradition of the Igbo<br />
people for the first son of the<br />
family <strong>to</strong> enjoy special privileges<br />
and explained that enjoyment of<br />
the special privileges has<br />
nothing <strong>to</strong> do with whether he<br />
is rich or poor.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, most<br />
families treasure the training of<br />
Ndigbo have<br />
the culture that<br />
female children<br />
will eventually<br />
be married off;<br />
so, any family<br />
without a male<br />
child is seen <strong>to</strong><br />
have gone in<strong>to</strong><br />
extinction<br />
the first son because he is<br />
expected <strong>to</strong> take care of the family<br />
on the retirement of his parents.<br />
The respected monarch noted<br />
that such special privileges<br />
include the fact that the family<br />
cannot take any major decision<br />
without the consent of the first<br />
son and taking over the control<br />
of the family when his father<br />
dies. “It is a known fact that in<br />
Igboland, high recognition and<br />
respect is accorded the first son<br />
of the family. He is accorded this<br />
respect not minding his financial<br />
and social status, wealthy or<br />
poor.<br />
“The family cannot take any<br />
major decision without seeking<br />
the opinion of the first son. Most<br />
times, a father may want <strong>to</strong><br />
dispose of his property but the<br />
buyer of such property will like<br />
<strong>to</strong> get the approval of the first<br />
son because if he didn’t get the<br />
approval, there may be<br />
problems. In most cases, you<br />
can’t buy a property from a<br />
family without the consent of the<br />
first son. Such transactions are<br />
invalid until the first son<br />
appends his signature. It is a<br />
tradition in Igboland that in the<br />
absence of the father of the<br />
family, the first son takes over<br />
the administration of the family.<br />
He is expected <strong>to</strong> take care of<br />
the mother and assist his<br />
siblings.”<br />
•An Igbo first son.<br />
Eze Nwabeke further<br />
explained that on the sharing of<br />
the family’s wealth on the death<br />
of the father, the first son gets<br />
ther largest share.<br />
“At the demise of the father, the<br />
traditional system of sharing the<br />
father’s property allocates<br />
bigger shares <strong>to</strong> the first son. The<br />
father while alive takes time <strong>to</strong><br />
show the first son his property,<br />
his money in the bank and even<br />
his liabilities. The father also tells<br />
his first son his life s<strong>to</strong>ry.<br />
Whenever his father dies, the<br />
first son is answerable <strong>to</strong> the<br />
kinsmen on the burial plans and<br />
other issues pertaining <strong>to</strong> the<br />
sharing of the father’s assets and<br />
liabilities. So, the first son enjoys<br />
special privileges in the family.<br />
It is a revered and time-tested<br />
tradition in Igboland,” Eze<br />
Nwabeke declared.<br />
In his contribution, the<br />
traditional ruler of Amandim Olo<br />
in Ezeagu Local Government<br />
Area of Enugu State, Igwe<br />
Hayford Agana agrees that the<br />
first son plays vital roles in the<br />
administration of his late father’s<br />
property. The position under the<br />
cus<strong>to</strong>mary law of succession in<br />
Igboland, according <strong>to</strong> him, is<br />
that the first surviving son takes<br />
over the leadership of the family<br />
when the father dies.<br />
Igwe Agana, however, noted<br />
that in Olo heterogeneous<br />
cultural affinity, the first son does<br />
not enjoy all the property without<br />
responsibilities.<br />
He is responsible for the<br />
upkeep of the spouses of his late<br />
father in a polygamous family.<br />
He also takes care of the needs<br />
of the younger ones from the<br />
inherited property which he<br />
cannot shy away from.<br />
The paramount ruler of<br />
Isuochi, Eze Godson Ezekwesiri<br />
links the special recognition of<br />
the first son <strong>to</strong> Jewish tradition<br />
which he said lends credence <strong>to</strong><br />
the theory that Igbo have their<br />
roots in the Jewish tradition.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, birthright is a<br />
serious matter even in the Bible<br />
as seen between Jacob and Esau<br />
following the animosity by Esau<br />
against Jacob for taking over<br />
his birthright. The monarch said<br />
the first son is also revered in<br />
Igbo tradition because the<br />
responsibilities of his father<br />
squarely fall on him upon the<br />
death of his father.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, the first sons<br />
sometime deny themselves of<br />
certain pleasures and<br />
opportunities in their bid <strong>to</strong> cater<br />
for the family or ensure their<br />
siblings are reasonably trained.<br />
He cautioned that under no<br />
circumstance should the first son<br />
be robbed of his birthright.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, the first son<br />
even if he happens <strong>to</strong> be the last<br />
born of the family, should be<br />
accorded his rights and<br />
privileges.<br />
“The first son indisputably<br />
inherits the father’ s Obi<br />
(ancestral compound), his gun<br />
Continue on Page 27
•The jetty at the Ogurugu seaport in Uzo-Uwani<br />
local government area of Enugu State.<br />
By Ikechukwu Odu<br />
NSUKKA <strong>—</strong> RESIDENTS<br />
of the agrarian<br />
community of Ogurugu, in Uzo-<br />
Uwani Local Government Area<br />
of Enugu State are lamenting<br />
the hardship they currently face<br />
following the collapse of Isi<br />
Bridge linking the community<br />
<strong>to</strong> the rest of the state.<br />
They have therefore sent a<br />
save our soul message <strong>to</strong> Enugu<br />
State Government <strong>to</strong> come <strong>to</strong><br />
their rescue by repairing the<br />
bridge.<br />
The aged bridge was said <strong>to</strong><br />
have caved-in when a heavy<br />
duty truck conveying goods <strong>to</strong><br />
the community impacted on it<br />
on the first day of January, 2021.<br />
Community members who<br />
cried out for help in<br />
rehabilitating/reconstructing the<br />
bridge, <strong>to</strong>ld South-East Voice<br />
that it provided the linkage <strong>to</strong><br />
their only access road, adding<br />
that they have been cut off from<br />
the other parts of the state since<br />
the incident happened.<br />
The traditional ruler of the<br />
community, HRH, Igwe<br />
Emmanuel Egwuaba, while<br />
regretting the inability of the<br />
community members <strong>to</strong> move<br />
their farm produce <strong>to</strong> the rest of<br />
the state since the collapse of<br />
the bridge, said life has become<br />
THE TEAM<br />
SUPERVISING EDITOR:<br />
Chioma Gabriel, Lagos<br />
(08052201257)<br />
EDITOR<br />
Anayo Okoli, Enugu<br />
08034046839<br />
Vincent Ujumadu, Awka<br />
Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri<br />
Dennis Agbo, Enugu<br />
Peter Okutu, Abakaliki<br />
Chinonso Alozie, Owerri<br />
Chinedu Adonu, Enugu<br />
Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Nnewi<br />
Ugochukwu Alaribe, Aba<br />
Nwabueze Okonkwo, Onitsha<br />
Chinenye Ozor, Nsukka<br />
Ikechukwu Odu, Nsukka<br />
Steve Oko,Umuahia<br />
•The collapsed Isi Bridge in<br />
Ogurugu, Uzo-Uwani local<br />
government area of Enugu<br />
State.<br />
Collapsed bridge cuts off Enugu<br />
community...indigenes lament<br />
attendant hardship<br />
difficult for farmers and other<br />
persons doing business in the<br />
Igala-speaking community of<br />
Enugu State, adding that<br />
unless urgent steps are taken<br />
<strong>to</strong> put the bridge in shape,<br />
farmers in the community<br />
would incur heavy losses due<br />
<strong>to</strong> their inability <strong>to</strong> move their<br />
produce out of the community.<br />
The monarch while calling for<br />
the speedy completion of the<br />
jetty at their seaport, also called<br />
on the government <strong>to</strong> support<br />
the farmers in the community<br />
with trac<strong>to</strong>rs in order <strong>to</strong> explore<br />
the agricultural potentialities of<br />
the community <strong>to</strong> the fullest. He<br />
also said that the jetty, when<br />
completed, would boost<br />
employment generation in the<br />
rustic community.<br />
The President-General of the<br />
community, Dennis Uba, while<br />
calling for the rehabilitation/<br />
reconstruction of the collapsed<br />
bridge, said the community has<br />
written a letter <strong>to</strong> the state<br />
governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi,<br />
and the council chairman,<br />
Chukwudi Nnadozie for the<br />
reconstruction of the bridge.<br />
Some of the community<br />
members who spoke <strong>to</strong> South-<br />
East Voice narrated how the<br />
collapsed bridge made life very<br />
difficult for them, adding that<br />
they sand-filled part of the road<br />
<strong>to</strong> enable only those on foot and<br />
mo<strong>to</strong>rcycles access in<strong>to</strong> the<br />
community.<br />
Regarded generally as the<br />
Food basket of Enugu State,<br />
Uzo-Uwani Local Government<br />
Area is endowed with other<br />
mineral deposits and<br />
uncompleted infrastructure<br />
which can aggressively<br />
transform the economic fortunes<br />
of the state when harnessed.<br />
Apart from the vast arable<br />
farmlands in the rustic council<br />
area, it is also blessed with crude<br />
oil, gas and gold deposits which<br />
were discovered in the 50s by<br />
Safraab Oil Company at Iga.<br />
Part of the key infrastructure<br />
which now lie fallow in the<br />
council area are a seaport and<br />
an airport started by the military<br />
regime of General Olusegun<br />
Obasanjo at Ogurugu.<br />
The coastal community,<br />
Ogurugu, would have attained<br />
unprecedented development<br />
and equally become a<br />
commercial hub of the state just<br />
as Onitsha is <strong>to</strong> Anambra State<br />
because of its early connection<br />
with the Europeans but for the<br />
abandonment of the key<br />
infrastructure in the<br />
community.<br />
Traders like UAC, JOHN<br />
HOLT and others who<br />
purchased local products like<br />
palm oil, palm kernel, and<br />
timber, brought their products<br />
which were largely gotten from<br />
the community <strong>to</strong> the Ogurugu<br />
seaport from where they are<br />
shipped <strong>to</strong> other parts of the<br />
country or exported abroad.<br />
The abandoned airport, also<br />
in Ogurugu served as an<br />
aerodrome <strong>to</strong> the former<br />
military head of state, Obasanjo.<br />
By Dennis Agbo<br />
ENUGU <strong>—</strong>Residents of the<br />
coal city, particularly those<br />
residing in Nike area of Enugu<br />
metropolis have become excited<br />
at the news that the state governor,<br />
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has concluded<br />
plans <strong>to</strong> resolve the perennial<br />
traffic jam being experienced<br />
along Nike Lake and Abakpa-<br />
Nike roads with the construction<br />
of a flyover at the T-junction nexus<br />
of Enugu-Nsukka new road.<br />
Following the development of<br />
the Abakpa-Ugwogo-Nsukka<br />
road by the preceding<br />
administration in the state, and<br />
with the collapse of the 9 th Mile-<br />
Nsukka road, vehicular traffic had<br />
constituted frustration for<br />
mo<strong>to</strong>rists and residents in Nike<br />
area as most vehicles coming<br />
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 <strong>—</strong> 27<br />
Why the first son is accorded<br />
high respect in Igboland<br />
<strong>—</strong>Monarchs, Igbo leaders<br />
Continues from page 26<br />
(if there is any), machete and<br />
other personal effects. He then<br />
picks a choice parcel of land as<br />
the right of first son before the<br />
remaining property of their father<br />
is shared among him and his<br />
siblings.”<br />
Eze Ezekwesiri noted that even<br />
if the first son is irresponsible or<br />
insane, Igbo tradition forbids that<br />
he be denied of his rights.<br />
For the traditional ruler of<br />
Ogrute au<strong>to</strong>nomous community<br />
in Enugu-Ezike, Igbo-Eze North<br />
Local Government Area, Enugu<br />
State, Igwe Wilfred Ogbonnaya<br />
Ekere, the first son has same<br />
authority as his father in a family.<br />
He said that the first son in<br />
Igbobland is designated <strong>to</strong> inherit<br />
his father’s property as the heirapparent,<br />
adding that he is the<br />
successor of his father. He said<br />
that a woman may love her first<br />
son more than her husband<br />
because the first son determines<br />
her power in the family.<br />
Noting the importance of the<br />
first son <strong>to</strong> the Igbo, the monarch<br />
also linked it <strong>to</strong> what happened<br />
in the Old Testament and said the<br />
first son was the one who<br />
normally received double<br />
inheritance. However, he notes<br />
that God sometimes reverses this<br />
order, as he did with Jacob and<br />
Esau in Genesis 25:21-26.<br />
“The first son is known as the<br />
Okpala and he plays a very<br />
important role in the<br />
administration of his father’s<br />
property. The first son is the chief<br />
administra<strong>to</strong>r of his father’s<br />
property. In the absence of any<br />
direction by the father, the right<br />
of the eldest son cannot be taken<br />
away. “If a woman is married and<br />
has not gotten a male child in that<br />
family, it is assumed that she is<br />
not established because that first<br />
son is the heir-apparent of that<br />
family. That first son is the<br />
representative of the family.<br />
Our people are more interested<br />
in getting a son when they get<br />
married because of his role in<br />
the family.<br />
•Gov Ugwuanyi inspecting the Ava bridge at Ugbene<br />
“In a polygamous family, any<br />
woman that bears the first son is<br />
assumed <strong>to</strong> own the family<br />
because the first son must be<br />
consulted before anything could<br />
be done. Women have more love<br />
for their first son than their<br />
husband. Without a son, nobody<br />
will represent you when you are<br />
gone.<br />
“If someone wants <strong>to</strong> marry my<br />
daughter and my son doesn’t<br />
approve of it, the marriage will<br />
not hold. As a family, if you want<br />
<strong>to</strong> sell a property like land and<br />
the first son doesn’t sign it, it will<br />
not augur well because he can<br />
contest it in the law court. In a<br />
family, any property that the<br />
father wishes <strong>to</strong> sell, he must<br />
make the first son a signa<strong>to</strong>ry <strong>to</strong><br />
perfect the deal. It is the first son<br />
that represents his father in the<br />
meetings of the kinsmen when<br />
he is dead.”<br />
For Chief Clifford Iloegbune<br />
Okoye, a legal practitioner, the<br />
first son has prominent roles <strong>to</strong><br />
play in a family upon the demise<br />
of his father.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, in the family<br />
circle, the first son is regarded<br />
as head of the family. The<br />
decision of the first son, as the<br />
family head, in terms of<br />
moveable and immoveable<br />
property, is given priority<br />
attention as against the decision<br />
of any other family member.<br />
For Nze Dozie Nweke, a<br />
community leader and<br />
President-General of Aboji<br />
Akanano Union, Oba community<br />
in Idemili South Local<br />
Government Area of Anambra<br />
State, the issue of first son is<br />
Biblical, just as Jesus Christ is<br />
the first son or Diokpala of<br />
God.<br />
Nweke noted that the first son<br />
being the symbol and<br />
representative of his father owns<br />
his father’s property with his<br />
other siblings such that when<br />
sharing their father’s<br />
inheritance, he will take a<br />
special share and then share the<br />
rest with others.<br />
Applause, worries, as Ugwuanyi plans flyover, new road<br />
from parts of South-East and South-<br />
South states, except for heavy duty<br />
trucks, ply the road <strong>to</strong> Nsukka and<br />
parts of northern <strong>Nigeria</strong>.<br />
The Nike Lake road was marked<br />
for dualisation by the past<br />
administration in the state but was<br />
unable <strong>to</strong> execute the project when<br />
the administration ended with the<br />
hope that the promised ‘seamless<br />
transition’ mantra of the Ugwuanyi<br />
campaign team in 2015 will continue<br />
from where his predecessor s<strong>to</strong>pped.<br />
The road was, however,<br />
abandoned until 2016 when the<br />
new administration reconstructed<br />
the road in just a single lane <strong>to</strong> the<br />
amazement of the residents that<br />
expected dualisation with street<br />
lights as obtained under the<br />
Sullivan Chime administration.<br />
Not long after, traffic congestion<br />
on the road became an<br />
embarrassment <strong>to</strong> all the residents<br />
and travellers, <strong>to</strong> the extent that even<br />
the convoy of the governor, most<br />
times, was trapped in the hold up<br />
that sometimes lasts for hours.<br />
There were smiles on the faces of<br />
the residents in December 2020<br />
when Governor Ugwuanyi while<br />
presenting the 2021 budget <strong>to</strong> the<br />
state House of Assembly, dropped a<br />
hint that his administration will<br />
construct a flyover at the T-junction<br />
of Nike Lake road in order <strong>to</strong><br />
decongest traffic in the area.<br />
Ugwuanyi got further applause<br />
when, unannounced, he<br />
commenced construction of a<br />
bridge that will serve as a bye-pass<br />
from Trans-Ekulu GRA through<br />
Ugbene II-Alulu <strong>to</strong> Nkwo-Nike,<br />
when the Nike Lake road will be<br />
closed from traffic during the<br />
construction of the anticipated<br />
flyover.<br />
Residents interviewed at Ugbene<br />
II said they were excited that<br />
Governor Ugwuanyi remembered<br />
the suburb after the internal road<br />
developed by the administration<br />
was left uncompleted by the<br />
preceeding administration for close<br />
<strong>to</strong> six years.<br />
A tailor in the area, Chibuzor<br />
Okpatu said he was happy <strong>to</strong> see the<br />
governor pass through the ‘forgotten’<br />
part of the capital city when he<br />
inspected the Ava Bridge constructed<br />
by the state government in<br />
preparation for construction of the<br />
road that would be used for diversion<br />
when work begins at the flyover.
28 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
EFCC: Bawa as game-changer<br />
By JOHN OLORUNTOBA parts of the world. Aside being a Certified<br />
Fraud Examiner, CFE; Certified Anti-<br />
WITH the appointment of Money Laundering Specialist, CAMS, he<br />
Abdulrasheed Bawa, President was also trained by the United States<br />
Muhammadu Buhari may have finally Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI,<br />
found the magic wand <strong>to</strong> reinvigorate the United States Financial Crime<br />
Economic and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, FINCEN, the<br />
Commission, EFCC, and combat graft. World Bank, the United Nations Office of<br />
This was the preponderant thinking Drug and Crimes, the <strong>Nigeria</strong> Police<br />
among stakeholders following the Force, the <strong>Nigeria</strong> State Security Services,<br />
statement announcing a change of guard the EFCC Academy and United<br />
at the iconic Tunde Idiagbon House, thus Kingdom’s Global Training Consulting.<br />
sealing the hopes of embattled Ibrahim Armed with such variegated training<br />
Magu <strong>to</strong> return <strong>to</strong> his exalted office after from such <strong>to</strong>p-notch institutions, it can<br />
his dramatic suspension last year and even then be said that EFCC has finally come<br />
melodramatic trial by the Justice Ayo under the command of a young turk<br />
Salami-led panel.<br />
weaned on EFCC’s originating doctrine -<br />
EFCC came in<strong>to</strong> being in 2003 as part forensic and professional approach <strong>to</strong><br />
of a national response <strong>to</strong> address the tackling corruption.<br />
challenge posed by the Financial<br />
Action Task Force on Money<br />
Laundering, FATF, which had<br />
indicted <strong>Nigeria</strong> as one of 23<br />
countries that were not<br />
cooperating in the global efforts<br />
<strong>to</strong> fight money laundering.<br />
In seeking power in 2015,<br />
President Buhari had anchored<br />
his promise <strong>to</strong> the nation around<br />
three key pillars - security, anticorruption<br />
and economy. Aside<br />
sundry allegations of impropriety<br />
levelled against Magu which<br />
necessitated his removal,<br />
government insiders had often<br />
confided that the president’s<br />
vision of the anti-graft agency all<br />
along is one driven by core<br />
professionals independent of the<br />
police.<br />
From his own rich experience<br />
in governance over the past five<br />
•Abdulrasheed Bawa, EFCC chairman designate<br />
decades, President Buhari is said<br />
<strong>to</strong> be of the view that specialised agencies<br />
like EFCC are better run by core<br />
professionals exposed <strong>to</strong> vigorous<br />
specialised training. Until now, all past<br />
chief executive officers of the commission<br />
- from Ribadu <strong>to</strong> Farida Waziri <strong>to</strong> Ibrahim<br />
Lamorde <strong>to</strong> Magu - were seconded <strong>to</strong> the<br />
commission from the police.<br />
But Magu<br />
had the<br />
distinction of<br />
being the<br />
o n l y<br />
chairman <strong>to</strong><br />
have served<br />
more than<br />
five years in<br />
At 40, welleducated<br />
and<br />
decorated, Bawa<br />
obviously brings<br />
youthful energy<br />
<strong>to</strong> the table<br />
a c t i n g<br />
capacity. The serial nominations of Magu<br />
<strong>to</strong> the Senate by President Buhari after<br />
repeated rejections were said <strong>to</strong> have been<br />
informed by a powerful lobby within the<br />
ruling party alleging blackmail, whipping<br />
up the sentiments that his confirmation<br />
was being stalled only because he had<br />
acted against the interests of principal<br />
officers of the Senate, including the then<br />
Senate president, Bukola Saraki.<br />
At 40, well-educated and decorated<br />
Bawa obviously brings youthful energy <strong>to</strong><br />
the table, perhaps serving as a signal that<br />
President Buhari is quite conscious of the<br />
growing popular clamour for more<br />
inclusiveness of younger <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns in the<br />
commanding height of governance.<br />
Aside a Bachelor of Science degree in<br />
Economics from Usmanu Danfodio<br />
University in Soko<strong>to</strong>, he obtained a<br />
Masters in International Affairs and<br />
Diplomacy from the Usman Danfodio<br />
University in 2012. He is currently<br />
studying for a Bachelor of Laws, LLB,<br />
degree at the University of London.<br />
But much more significant is the fact<br />
that Bawa belongs <strong>to</strong> the select cadre who<br />
joined the commission from foundation<br />
as cadets and were bred and men<strong>to</strong>red by<br />
Nuhu Ribadu widely acclaimed as the<br />
most impactful chairman of the anti-graft<br />
commission in his<strong>to</strong>ry.<br />
Since joining the commission in 2004<br />
as Assistant Detective Superintendent, the<br />
chairman-designate has undergone<br />
several specialised trainings in different<br />
“By settling for someone who joined the<br />
commission as a greenhorn and has<br />
undergone rigorous training locally and<br />
internationally, and has indeed risen<br />
through the ranks in the past 17 years, the<br />
deduction one can make is that President<br />
Buhari is determined <strong>to</strong> do things<br />
differently this time in order <strong>to</strong> achieve a<br />
different outcome,” said Mr. Benjamin<br />
Anyaoku, a senior researcher at the<br />
University of Abuja.<br />
In his last posting as the head of the<br />
Lagos operations, Bawa definitely showed<br />
capacity and character. Of course, Lagos<br />
is the biggest operations zonal office of<br />
the EFCC with 604 officers.<br />
Under his watch, EFCC secured 227<br />
convictions. He supervised the<br />
investigation of all cases in the Port<br />
Harcourt Zonal office in which a record<br />
215 convictions were secured in eleven<br />
months. He also secured the final<br />
forfeiture of hundreds of property <strong>to</strong> the<br />
Federal Government.<br />
Bawa supervised the investigation of all<br />
cases in the Ibadan Zonal office in which<br />
113 were concluded and 54 were charged<br />
<strong>to</strong> court within six months. He was<br />
involved in the recovery of millions of<br />
dollars worth of property belonging <strong>to</strong><br />
former Minister of Petroleum Resources,<br />
Diezani Allison-Madueke.<br />
He was also involved in the fraud cases<br />
involving former Governor of Niger State,<br />
Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu. He equally<br />
participated in several other periodic<br />
raids on no<strong>to</strong>rious 419 cyber cafés.<br />
It is perhaps a measure of his<br />
professional brilliance and dedication<br />
that he received the EFCC Merit Award in<br />
2020. Just as he earned the appreciation<br />
of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation<br />
(Criminal Investigative Division) in 2019<br />
after facilitating the collaboration<br />
between the EFCC and the FBI, which<br />
resulted in a mutual fight against<br />
Economic and Financial Crimes on an<br />
international scale.<br />
Definitely, with Bawa, <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns can<br />
look forward <strong>to</strong> a reinvigorated EFFC in<br />
the times ahead.<br />
*Olorun<strong>to</strong>ba, a security expert, wrote from<br />
Abuja.
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 <strong>—</strong> 29
30 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
vicahiyoung@yahoo.com<br />
NLC demands upward review of<br />
minimum pension<br />
AMIDST poor pension and<br />
unpaid benefits <strong>to</strong> the<br />
nation’s senior citizens,<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> Labour Congress,<br />
NLC, has demanded for an<br />
immediate upward review of<br />
minimum pension in line with<br />
Section 173 of <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s<br />
Constitution.<br />
While lamenting the plight<br />
of pensioners in the country<br />
at the National Executive<br />
Council, NEC, meeting,<br />
President of NLC, Ayuba<br />
Wabba, a few days ago,<br />
contended that the nation’s<br />
constitution clearly demanded<br />
for a review of minimum<br />
pension every five years.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him: “We are<br />
also mindful of national<br />
minimum pension for our<br />
pensioners. Section 173 of<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>’s Constitution<br />
demands review of minimum<br />
pension every five years. This<br />
must be dutifully complied<br />
with.”<br />
Recall that the <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
Union of Pensioners, NUP, had<br />
for years now been pleading<br />
with the Federal Government<br />
<strong>to</strong> approve a National<br />
Minimum Pension for<br />
pensioners.<br />
The NUP which lamented<br />
that some pensioners were<br />
earning as little as N4,000<br />
monthly as pension, backed<br />
their demand with sections<br />
173 (3) and 210 (3) of the 1999<br />
Constitution (as amended)<br />
which states that “pensions<br />
shall be reviewed every five<br />
years or <strong>to</strong>gether with any<br />
Federal Civil Service salary<br />
reviews, whichever is earlier.”<br />
Speaking in Abuja, NUP<br />
president, Dr Abel Afolayan<br />
recalled that the last pension<br />
review was in July 2010 and<br />
a new review should have<br />
been due in July 2015.<br />
He said: “Despite our efforts<br />
and submissions, nothing has<br />
been done in compliance with<br />
the above constitutional<br />
provisions. This is the reason<br />
why the union has been very<br />
vocal and unrelenting in<br />
restating its position on the call<br />
and demand for a new minimum<br />
pension alongside the on-going<br />
negotiation for a new minimum<br />
wage which by all indications,<br />
will soon be implemented by the<br />
Federal Government.<br />
“It is, therefore, our humble<br />
request, in accordance with the<br />
above constitutional provisions<br />
that a uniformed national<br />
minimum pension be approved<br />
for <strong>Nigeria</strong>n pensioners <strong>to</strong> be the<br />
same as any minimum wage. In<br />
other words, whatever amount<br />
is approved as minimum wage<br />
for workers, should also apply<br />
as minimum pension for<br />
pensioners.<br />
“We believe that whatever is<br />
good for the goose is also good<br />
for the gander, as both workers<br />
and pensioners go <strong>to</strong> the same<br />
market for their daily needs.<br />
Regrettably and pathetically <strong>to</strong>o,<br />
many pensioners <strong>to</strong>day earn as<br />
low as N4, 000 per month which<br />
is nothing <strong>to</strong> write home about.<br />
With the present economic<br />
*Aggrieved pensioners protesting over unpaid allowances.<br />
situation in the country, it is<br />
unacceptable and in fact,<br />
inhuman for a pensioner <strong>to</strong> earn<br />
less than N30, 000 which is not<br />
even enough <strong>to</strong> cater for his<br />
needs.”<br />
Also, retired Federal Civil<br />
Service workers under the<br />
Defined Benefits Scheme, DBS,<br />
had demanded adjustment in<br />
their pension payment <strong>to</strong> reflect<br />
the new N30,000 national<br />
minimum wage already being<br />
implemented in the Federal Civil<br />
Service.<br />
National Chairman of the<br />
Federal Civil Service Pensioners,<br />
Sunday Omezi, expressed<br />
dismay that government had<br />
contrary <strong>to</strong> provisions of the<br />
Constitution, not reviewed their<br />
pensions since 2010.<br />
He said it was unfortunate that<br />
Defunct PHCN retirees cry over unpaid benefits<br />
Defunct Power Holding<br />
Company of <strong>Nigeria</strong>,<br />
PHCN, pensioners,<br />
under the aegis of Concerned<br />
Pensioners, CPP, have<br />
appealed <strong>to</strong> the Federal<br />
Government <strong>to</strong> intervene<br />
over shortfalls in payment of<br />
their pension benefits by the<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> Electricity Liability<br />
Management Limited,<br />
NELMCO.<br />
The CPP alleged unethical<br />
practice by NELMCO in<br />
shortchanging the retirees in<br />
payment of pension benefits.<br />
CPP Secretary, Mr Julius<br />
Ayodeji, said some of the<br />
pension benefits,<br />
harmonisation, monitisation<br />
and electricity rebates, were<br />
trapped in NELMCO.<br />
Ayodeji said NELMCO<br />
officially transferred pension<br />
payment obligations <strong>to</strong><br />
Pension Transitional<br />
Arrangement Direc<strong>to</strong>rate,<br />
PTAD, in July 2014, however,<br />
the Budget Office remitted<br />
arrears <strong>to</strong> NELMCO instead<br />
of PITAD, thereby causing<br />
administrative conflicts.<br />
The CPP scribe lamented<br />
that the pensioners were yet<br />
<strong>to</strong> receive the 33 per cent<br />
arrears of pension increment<br />
approved during President<br />
the retirees were not fac<strong>to</strong>red in<strong>to</strong><br />
the consequential adjustment<br />
negotiation arising from the new<br />
minimum wage.<br />
Omezi in a statement , insisted<br />
that it was time government<br />
harmonised pensions of its<br />
workers just as it did in the<br />
military in January 2019.<br />
He regretted that some<br />
pensioners were still receiving<br />
paltry N4,000 monthly pensions,<br />
urging the government <strong>to</strong><br />
increase pension <strong>to</strong> a minimum<br />
of N25,000 against the N4,000 in<br />
place at the moment.<br />
He said: “We appeal <strong>to</strong> the<br />
Federal Government <strong>to</strong> as a<br />
matter of urgency, harmonise our<br />
monthly pensions. They have<br />
harmonised military pensions.<br />
Military pensions were<br />
harmonised in January 2019. We<br />
Goodluck Jonathan’s regime<br />
by PTAD.<br />
He noted that 16,000<br />
retirees spread all over the<br />
country were affected by the<br />
shortfall in payment of<br />
pension benefits.<br />
“We were prematurely<br />
retired in year 2000, with<br />
some of us spending about 15<br />
<strong>to</strong> 18 years in service,” the<br />
CPP secretary lamented.<br />
He explained that before<br />
their premature retirement,<br />
there was increment in the<br />
workers’ salary by 100 per<br />
cent under former President<br />
Abdulsalami Abubakar and a<br />
further increment of 42 per<br />
cent by former President<br />
Olusegun Obasanjo.<br />
“However, when we were<br />
prematurely retired in year<br />
2000, our gratuities were<br />
computed only on 100 per<br />
cent approved by<br />
Abubakar’s regime; we were<br />
not paid the 42 per cent<br />
increment by Obasanjo,” he<br />
said.<br />
Ayodeji said CPP appealed<br />
<strong>to</strong> NELMCO when it realised<br />
the pensioners were<br />
shortchanged and the<br />
organisation agreed <strong>to</strong> rectify<br />
the problem.<br />
“Till this moment, we are<br />
expected the government <strong>to</strong><br />
equally harmonise the pensions<br />
of civilians. But they don’t want<br />
<strong>to</strong> harmonise ours. That is why<br />
we said they have taken us as<br />
second class citizens.<br />
“Also, in line with the<br />
Constitution of the Federal<br />
Republic of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, the Federal<br />
Government is supposed <strong>to</strong> be<br />
reviewing our monthly pensions<br />
every five years.<br />
“The last one they did was in<br />
2010. It was due for another<br />
review in 2015 which was not<br />
done. In 2019, workers’<br />
salaries were increased and<br />
the Constitution says they are<br />
supposed <strong>to</strong> review our<br />
monthly pensions every five<br />
years or whenever workers’<br />
salaries are increased but<br />
nothing is happening.”<br />
are yet <strong>to</strong> be paid the<br />
benefits. These benefits<br />
consist of harmonisation,<br />
monetisation and electricity<br />
rebates. We were short-paid<br />
by 42 per cent for 10 years<br />
from 2003 <strong>to</strong> 2014. We made<br />
several efforts, even<br />
protested for these arrears<br />
<strong>to</strong> be paid but <strong>to</strong> avail. PTAD<br />
also did not pay the 33 per<br />
cent pension increment. We<br />
are using this opportunity <strong>to</strong><br />
appeal <strong>to</strong> President<br />
Muhammadu Buhari <strong>to</strong><br />
direct those holding our<br />
pensions <strong>to</strong> release them <strong>to</strong><br />
us,” he said.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, some of<br />
the retirees that started the<br />
struggle had died because<br />
there was no money <strong>to</strong> take<br />
care of their medical and<br />
other needs.<br />
“We worked under<br />
hazardous conditions; some<br />
pensioners were partially<br />
burnt, some paralysed and<br />
have several dependents. I<br />
trained all my children <strong>to</strong><br />
university level but how<br />
many of them are working? I<br />
still feed them, if the<br />
economy is good, the<br />
children should have been<br />
the ones taking care of us,”<br />
he added.<br />
UNIBEN<br />
retirees raise<br />
alarm over<br />
ghost<br />
pensioners<br />
By Gabriel Enogholase<br />
NIGERIA Union of<br />
Pensioners, NUP,<br />
University of Benin,<br />
UNIBEN branch, has<br />
alleged that the Federal<br />
Government has been losing<br />
N1billion monthly <strong>to</strong> ghost<br />
pensioners.<br />
It claimed the loss is due <strong>to</strong><br />
shoddy verification exercise<br />
carried out by the Pension<br />
Transitional Arrangement<br />
Direc<strong>to</strong>rate, PTAD, and the<br />
Federal Ministry of Finance.<br />
This was disclosed by<br />
UNIBEN NUP branch in a<br />
Save-Our-Soul, SOS, plea <strong>to</strong><br />
President Muhammadu<br />
Buhari by the Chairman,<br />
Michael Ehinyameh and<br />
Secretary, Samanu Momodu<br />
respectively.<br />
The pensioners lamented<br />
that over N2 billion was<br />
spent in the verification<br />
carried out by the PTAD and<br />
Federal Ministry of Finance<br />
in 2017 without achieving<br />
any success.<br />
They expressed sadness<br />
that the last management of<br />
PTAD did not help their<br />
cause, claiming that during<br />
that time, pension arrears<br />
were paid for only three or<br />
six months.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> them: “The<br />
Federal Government lose<br />
over N1billion <strong>to</strong> ghost<br />
workers monthly and we<br />
brought it <strong>to</strong> the attention of<br />
the then management<br />
during a meeting with us on<br />
February 27, 2017. It was a<br />
thing of joy that the<br />
management of the<br />
University of Benin did its<br />
internal verification and<br />
over 300 names were sent <strong>to</strong><br />
PTAD. Those names are still<br />
in the payroll as at January,<br />
2021 but their families never<br />
received such money.<br />
“Many pensioners were<br />
not paid their monthly<br />
entitlements and there were<br />
always short payments after<br />
suffering for 35 years with<br />
unblemished records.<br />
"The palliatives <strong>to</strong> the<br />
vulnerable given by the<br />
Federal Government was<br />
never given <strong>to</strong> the<br />
pensioners and may have<br />
been hijacked by unknown<br />
persons.”<br />
They, however, lauded the<br />
Federal Government for<br />
establishing PTAD, even<br />
though the agency had not<br />
fully met the aspirations of the<br />
pensioners.<br />
The pensioners called on<br />
President Muhammadu<br />
Buhari <strong>to</strong> immediately direct<br />
the resolution of their<br />
plights, adding that "the<br />
verification exercise carried<br />
out by the PTAD and Federal<br />
Ministry of Finance did not<br />
see the light of day."
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 <strong>—</strong> 31<br />
:Vanguard News<br />
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />
AWARD<strong>—</strong>From left: Mrs.<br />
Tochukwu Emewulu<br />
(left), receiveing The<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n National<br />
Legacy Award for<br />
Leadership, in honour<br />
of the MD, Seamfix<br />
Ltd., Chimezie<br />
Emewulu, in<br />
recognition of his<br />
relentless commitment<br />
<strong>to</strong> Nation Building,<br />
from Amb. Ovie Odubu,<br />
Executive Secretary,<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n National<br />
Legacy Awards. With<br />
them is Miss Deborah<br />
Babudoh of Seamfix<br />
Ltd., during a brief<br />
award presentation<br />
ceremony, held in<br />
Lagos, weekend.<br />
Sen Adeyemi under fire over anti-Ikpeazu<br />
remarks<br />
By Henry Umoru &<br />
Steve Oko<br />
THE SENATOR represent<br />
ing Kogi West sena<strong>to</strong>rial<br />
zone, Sena<strong>to</strong>r Smart<br />
Adeyemi, has come under fire<br />
over his remarks that "Abia is<br />
governed by drunkards".<br />
Adeyemi had while contributing<br />
<strong>to</strong> a debate on the floor<br />
of the Senate yesterday, veered<br />
off from the subject on ground<br />
and began <strong>to</strong> attack Gov.<br />
Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.<br />
The motion being debated<br />
was how <strong>to</strong> protect schools<br />
across the country against attacks<br />
by bandits but the sena<strong>to</strong>r<br />
in his contribution, stated<br />
that while his state governor,<br />
Yahaya Bello, had awarded<br />
contracts for the renovation of<br />
schools, "Abia is governed by<br />
drunkards."<br />
But in a swift reaction, the<br />
Chief Press Secretary <strong>to</strong> the<br />
Governor, Mr. Onyebuchi<br />
Ememanka, said the Kogi<br />
sena<strong>to</strong>r needed "psychiatric<br />
examination."<br />
Another aide of the Governor,<br />
Sir Isaac Nkole, described<br />
Adeyemi as " a disgrace and<br />
national embarrassment".<br />
Ememanka in a release,<br />
asked the former National<br />
President of the <strong>Nigeria</strong> Union<br />
of Journalists, NUJ, <strong>to</strong> first<br />
address issues of underdevelopment<br />
in his home state before<br />
commenting on Abia.<br />
The release read: "Our initial<br />
response was <strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>tally ignore<br />
the s<strong>to</strong>ry because it is difficult<br />
<strong>to</strong> believe that a Sena<strong>to</strong>r<br />
of the Federal Republic of <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
will reduce both himself<br />
and the institution of the Senate<br />
<strong>to</strong> such gutter level, but<br />
having confirmed that indeed,<br />
the Sena<strong>to</strong>r made such comments,<br />
a response has become<br />
imperative.<br />
"Our view is that the sena<strong>to</strong>r<br />
is either suffering from a protracted<br />
case of mental illness<br />
or is battling with occasional<br />
fits of schizophrenia which<br />
manifests in making careless,<br />
dishonorable, unrelated and<br />
incoherent statements.<br />
"This conclusion becomes<br />
irresistible judging from the<br />
<strong>to</strong>tal disconnect between the<br />
matter being discussed by the<br />
Senate and the comments<br />
made by the sena<strong>to</strong>r as they<br />
affect the Governor.<br />
"If Sena<strong>to</strong>r Adeyemi was of<br />
sound mind, he should have<br />
known that when it comes <strong>to</strong><br />
education, Abia is miles ahead<br />
of his home State of Kogi. Indeed,<br />
not just in education but<br />
in every single area of development.''<br />
"If Sena<strong>to</strong>r Adeyemi had his<br />
•He needs psychiatric evaluation <strong>—</strong>Ememanka<br />
•He's a national disgrace <strong>—</strong>Nkole<br />
•Ikpeazu's champagne drinking gov, says Adeyemi<br />
PDP petitions security agencies over<br />
destruction of Anyim's birthday billboard<br />
in Ebonyi<br />
By Peter Okutu<br />
ABAKALIKI<strong>—</strong>THE Peo<br />
ples Democratic Party,<br />
PDP, in Ebonyi State, led by<br />
Elder Fred Udeogu, yesterday<br />
petitioned various heads of security<br />
agencies in the state<br />
over the removal of the birthday<br />
billboard of the former<br />
Secretary <strong>to</strong> the Government<br />
of the Federation, Sena<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Pius Anyim in the state.<br />
Elder Udeogu who made<br />
this known while speaking<br />
with newsmen in Abakaliki,<br />
charged the Commissioner of<br />
Police, Department of State<br />
Security, DSS, among others<br />
<strong>to</strong> fish out the perpetra<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
without delay.<br />
He said: "We are not having<br />
issues with the state government<br />
but the attacks and<br />
victimization that we have<br />
been receiving is very unbearable,<br />
like the removal of our<br />
billboards.<br />
"Last Friday, some concerned<br />
indigenes of Ebonyi<br />
State placed a giant billboard<br />
for the birthday of the former<br />
Senate President, Anyim Pius<br />
Anyim at the Union bank<br />
junction and the next morning,<br />
the bill board including<br />
the PDP billboard were all<br />
removed by thugs and we<br />
know those who sponsored<br />
them.<br />
"We don't encourage hooliganism<br />
in this state. If we have<br />
been doing that, this state<br />
wouldn't have been governable.<br />
I am using this opportunity<br />
on behalf of my friends<br />
and the good people of the<br />
genuine PDP, <strong>to</strong> advise the<br />
people that are sponsoring<br />
these young men <strong>to</strong> desist<br />
from that. I have always emphasised<br />
that nobody has the<br />
monopoly of violence.<br />
"The point is that the state is<br />
faculties intact, he should<br />
have known that under the<br />
watch of Governor Okezie<br />
Ikpeazu, Abia State has<br />
maintained first position in<br />
WAEC Examinations in the<br />
entire country for five years<br />
now. Kogi has not come close<br />
<strong>to</strong> the first 20. Never!''<br />
Making his contribution on<br />
the floor of the Senate, Sena<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Adeyemi had said: "Despite<br />
the fact that some governors<br />
are doing their best, we<br />
are lucky <strong>to</strong> have a governor<br />
who has taken the issue of security<br />
as a serious priority.<br />
''We are bordered by nine<br />
states, but we had an experience<br />
of the unfortunate incidents<br />
that are happening in<br />
neighboring states.“<br />
Some governors are committed<br />
<strong>to</strong> the protection of<br />
<strong>to</strong>o dear <strong>to</strong> us. This is a PDP<br />
state. And this is my state and<br />
I was one of the youths that<br />
fought for the creation of Ebonyi<br />
State. I wouldn't like <strong>to</strong><br />
watch s ome people <strong>destroy</strong><br />
the state.<br />
"I will never at any point in<br />
time join them in doing what<br />
they are doing. And they cannot<br />
lure us in<strong>to</strong> fight because<br />
we are more matured than<br />
them. But if they continue, we<br />
will have no option.<br />
"It will be good for them <strong>to</strong><br />
be warned. If they want <strong>to</strong> get<br />
money from their sponsors,<br />
there are some other ways <strong>to</strong><br />
get money from them and not<br />
by inciting people <strong>to</strong> go in<strong>to</strong><br />
crisis.<br />
"They have more billboards<br />
in this state more than us. Assuming<br />
we start removing<br />
their own billboards, it won't<br />
go down well with them. And<br />
it will be stupid of any human<br />
being that you draw blood<br />
because of billboard. What is<br />
billboard? Why not allow the<br />
billboard <strong>to</strong> be there? It was<br />
paid for.<br />
"I condemn that act. And I<br />
Lagos East: Tribunal strikes<br />
out APM's petition against<br />
Sena<strong>to</strong>r Abiru<br />
S<strong>to</strong>p using Uzodimma's name <strong>to</strong> seek attention,<br />
Imo govt warns Okorocha<br />
O WERRI<strong>—</strong>FORMER<br />
governor of Imo State,<br />
Rochas Okorocha has been<br />
warned <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p using the<br />
name of Governor Hope<br />
Uzodimma <strong>to</strong> seek attention.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> a statement<br />
signed by Oguwike<br />
Nwachuku, the Chief Press<br />
Secretary and Media Adviser<br />
<strong>to</strong> the governor, “No day<br />
passes without Sena<strong>to</strong>r Okorocha<br />
trying <strong>to</strong> use the name<br />
of Governor Uzodimma <strong>to</strong><br />
either seek or divert attention<br />
of the public from activities<br />
linked <strong>to</strong> him, most of them<br />
their people, in my state the<br />
governor awarded contracts<br />
for the renovations of schools<br />
and provides security services<br />
<strong>to</strong> them.<br />
"In some states of <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
<strong>to</strong>day, where we have highly<br />
intelligent people, highly educated<br />
people, very enterprising<br />
people, like Abia they are<br />
governed by drunkards. The<br />
governor of Abia is a champagne<br />
drinking man.''<br />
am emphasising that no right<br />
thinking person will allow<br />
himself or herself <strong>to</strong> be used<br />
in that dastard act. And I assure<br />
you that those people who<br />
did it must be found out. I am<br />
giving them one month, we<br />
will get at them.<br />
"I am calling on the security<br />
agencies <strong>to</strong> note what is happening<br />
because these people<br />
are trying <strong>to</strong> cause problem<br />
in this state.<br />
"This billboard belongs <strong>to</strong><br />
his Excellency, the former<br />
Senate president and secretary<br />
<strong>to</strong> the government of the<br />
federation, Sena<strong>to</strong>r Anyim<br />
Pius Anyim. Anyim is our leader<br />
in PDP. In fact, he is a national<br />
figure. This is his state.<br />
"His birthday was generally<br />
celebrated by all <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns<br />
and even outside this country.<br />
And so, why would people attack<br />
his billboard at his own<br />
state. Attacking his billboard<br />
does it s<strong>to</strong>p people from celebrating<br />
him? They are just<br />
being stupid and petty. There<br />
must be bitter repercussions<br />
on this thing they have done"<br />
he stated.<br />
reprehensible.<br />
“Sena<strong>to</strong>r Okorocha's recent<br />
ordeal where he wilfully broke<br />
the law by approaching the<br />
Royal Spring Estate belonging<br />
<strong>to</strong> his wife, <strong>to</strong> forcefully<br />
unseal it after the government<br />
had legally sealed the place,<br />
says it all about his mischievous<br />
intention <strong>to</strong> use Governor<br />
Uzodimma's name <strong>to</strong><br />
seek public notice. Sena<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Okorocha does not do this<br />
alone, but with the People's<br />
Democratic Party in Imo<br />
State, his newest political ally.<br />
But we are not surprised.<br />
N10m trademark judgment:<br />
A-Court strike-out Facebook's<br />
appeal<br />
By Innocent Anaba<br />
LAGOS<strong>—</strong>THE Court of<br />
Appeal sitting in Lagos,<br />
yesterday, dismisses Facebook's<br />
appeal challenging the<br />
judgment of a Federal High<br />
Court, Lagos, which awarded<br />
N10 million against it (Facebook)<br />
in favour of a <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
firm, Double Paws Enterprise,<br />
as damages for unlawfully interfering<br />
with the use of the<br />
firm's trademark.<br />
The appellate court justices<br />
that decided the matter were<br />
Justices Haruna Tsammani,<br />
Oluwayemisi Williams-Dawodu<br />
and Abdullahi Bayero.<br />
Justice Bayero read the lead<br />
judgment.<br />
Facebook had appealed the<br />
“It is on record that Sena<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Okorocha recently said he is<br />
working in cahoots with the<br />
opposition <strong>to</strong> achieve his political<br />
ambition, and he has not<br />
hidden his romance with key<br />
PDP figures in Imo State <strong>to</strong><br />
undermine the All Progressive<br />
Congress government of Governor<br />
Uzodimma.<br />
“Nothing can be as embarrassing<br />
and unfortunate as a<br />
former governor deliberately<br />
flouting the law and instead<br />
of facing the reality, he is busy<br />
s<strong>to</strong>king flame with inciting<br />
comments he knows are not<br />
true representation of what the<br />
APC government of Governor<br />
Uzodimma stands for.”<br />
By Onozure Dania<br />
LAGOS<strong>—</strong>THE National<br />
Assembly and State House<br />
of Assembly Election Tribunal<br />
sitting in Ikeja, yesterday,<br />
struck out a petition by Allied<br />
Peoples' Movement, APM,<br />
challenging the December 5,<br />
2020 election vic<strong>to</strong>ry of Sena<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Ade<strong>to</strong>kunbo Abiru of the<br />
All Progressives Congress,<br />
APC.<br />
The three-man panel struck<br />
out the petition while granting<br />
an application by APM<br />
and its candidate, Olusola<br />
Baba<strong>to</strong>pe <strong>to</strong> withdraw the petition.<br />
The panel is chaired by Justice<br />
Bassey Ikpeme with Justice<br />
Mohammed Abubakar<br />
and Justice M. Odanya as<br />
members of the team.<br />
Abiru, following his vic<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
at the poll, represents Lagos<br />
East sena<strong>to</strong>rial district in the<br />
National Assembly.<br />
But, dissatisfied with the election<br />
outcome, the APM approached<br />
the tribunal seeking<br />
<strong>to</strong> nullify it.<br />
Other defendants in the petition<br />
were the APC, and Independent<br />
National Election<br />
Commission, INEC.<br />
Yesterday's session was the<br />
scheduled for hearing of the<br />
APC and INEC's objections <strong>to</strong><br />
APM and Baba<strong>to</strong>pe's petition.<br />
But the petitioners did not<br />
file any response <strong>to</strong> the respondent's<br />
objections.<br />
Rather, APM and Baba<strong>to</strong>pe,<br />
having appraised the<br />
respondents' defence <strong>to</strong> their<br />
petition, filed an application<br />
seeking <strong>to</strong> withdraw it.<br />
Abiru's counsel, Mr. Kemi<br />
Pinheiro, SAN, confirmed receipt<br />
of the petitioners' application<br />
<strong>to</strong> withdraw.<br />
Pinheiro informed the Tribunal<br />
that under paragraph<br />
30 of the First Schedule <strong>to</strong> the<br />
Elec<strong>to</strong>ral Act, 2010 (as<br />
Amended), Abiru had filed the<br />
affidavit required and would<br />
not be opposed <strong>to</strong> the application.<br />
The APC's counsel, Mr<br />
Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN,<br />
and INEC also confirmed receipt<br />
of the petitioner's application<br />
<strong>to</strong> withdraw.<br />
Consequently, the APM and<br />
Baba<strong>to</strong>pe's application <strong>to</strong><br />
withdraw their petition was<br />
heard, granted and the tribunal<br />
struck it out.<br />
lower court judgment<br />
through its counsel, Jackson<br />
Etti. However, counsel <strong>to</strong> the<br />
respondent, Double Paws Enterprise,<br />
was Mr Gideon<br />
Okebu.<br />
Facebook challenged the<br />
competence of the appeal and<br />
urged the Appeal Court <strong>to</strong><br />
dismiss same for being fundamentally<br />
flawed.<br />
Justice Bayero in the lead<br />
judgment, yesterday, upheld<br />
the arguments of Okebu,<br />
counsel <strong>to</strong> the respondent and<br />
struck out the appeal.<br />
It will be recalled that Justice<br />
Ayokunle Faji of the lower<br />
court had in March last<br />
year, in his judgment, also<br />
granted a perpetual injunction<br />
restraining the social<br />
media firm from interfering<br />
with the plaintiff's statu<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
rights under the Trademark<br />
Act.<br />
Gas Flaring: Group wants FG <strong>to</strong><br />
initiate environmental audit of<br />
Bayelsa community<br />
By Samuel<br />
Oyadongha<br />
YMENTAL ENAGOA<strong>—</strong>ENVIRON<br />
Rights Action/<br />
Friends of the Earth <strong>Nigeria</strong>,<br />
ERA/FoEN, has expressed<br />
concern over the safety of Ogboinbiri<br />
community in Southern<br />
Ijaw Local Government<br />
Area of Bayelsa State, where<br />
the natives are daily exposed<br />
<strong>to</strong> gas flaring from a flow station<br />
in the area operated by<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n Agip Oil Company,<br />
NAOC.<br />
It urged the Federal Government<br />
<strong>to</strong> initiate a move for<br />
an environmental audit or<br />
post-impact assessment of the<br />
community.<br />
ERA/FoEN in its report<br />
presented <strong>to</strong> newsmen in<br />
Yenagoa described the Ogboinbiri<br />
situation as pathetic<br />
due <strong>to</strong> the intensity of the roaring<br />
flares from the two vertical<br />
gas flare stacks in the area<br />
which sometimes causes panic<br />
among the natives.<br />
The report by Alagoa Morris,<br />
Head of ERA/FoEN<br />
Bayelsa office lamented the<br />
plight of the locals, noting<br />
that apart from the destruction<br />
of their means of livelihood,<br />
the extreme heat and<br />
buildings vibration they are<br />
confronted with, their sources<br />
of drinking water have also<br />
been polluted.
32 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
:Vanguard News<br />
DINNER/AWARD NIGHT<strong>—</strong>Chief Nosa Edo-Osagie (left) exchanging pleasantries with Dr.<br />
Nat Bunuji, Manager, Vanguard, Benin, during the 2020 Annual Bar Dinner/Award Night of<br />
The <strong>Nigeria</strong>n Bar Association, Lion Bar, Benin Branch, in Benin City. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Barnabas Uzosike.<br />
INSTALLATION<strong>—</strong>Celebrants Rotn Sanjueen Tandon (4th left), his wife, Rotn Geetika,<br />
(4th right), flanked by Charter President, Rotary Club of Eko Atlantic, Rotn Sunit<br />
Debroy (2nd right), his wife and incoming president of the club, Rotn Mamta (3rd<br />
right); the club President, Rotn Vinod Kauani (2nd left), with other exco members of<br />
the club, during the celebration of the Tandon's 35th wedding anniversary and cutting<br />
of cake, and the installation of Rotn Bola Oyebade as the 2020/2021 District 9110<br />
Governor, Rotary International, at The Heavens Events Centre, in Ikeja GRA, Lagos.<br />
BRIEFING: From left; Oladipo Maiye, Partner and Head, Oil, Gas and Power<br />
Services; Joshua Bamfo, Partner and Head, Transfer Pricing Services; Omawunmi<br />
Martins, Head, Marketing and Branding; Lateef Surakatu, Partner and Head, Business<br />
Advisory Services and Amaka Samuel-Onyeani, Associate Direc<strong>to</strong>r, Transfer Pricing,<br />
all of Andersen at the press conference <strong>to</strong> announce the change of name from<br />
Andersen Tax <strong>Nigeria</strong> <strong>to</strong> Andersen in Lagos yesterday.<br />
WAKE-KEEPING: From left; Prophet Dr Oluwademilade Akpata (G.O. Divine<br />
Ewulomi Church), Snr PRO E.K Ogunlesi (The Church Of The Sogunle) Rt<br />
Rev Bishop Mary Licien (The Church of The Lord, Agege) and Prophertess<br />
Ade<strong>to</strong>unawoseso (Church of The Lord, Oshodi) during a Christian Wakekeeping<br />
for late, Mrs Mariam Adike-Ohunene Otubu (82yrs) By Church Of<br />
The Lord Aladura, Lagos Centre, Agege on Thursday.<br />
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058<br />
Oando’s shareholder wins<br />
court case against SEC<br />
A<br />
shareholder of<br />
Oando Plc, Engr. Patrick<br />
Ajudua, has won a case<br />
challenging the directive of the<br />
Securities and Exchange<br />
Commission, SEC suspending<br />
Oando’s Annual General<br />
Meeting (AGM) on the ground<br />
of breach of his right <strong>to</strong> freedom<br />
of association as guaranteed<br />
under Section 40 of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
Constitution and Articles 9, 10 &<br />
11 of the African Charter on<br />
Human and Peoples Rights.<br />
The shareholder <strong>to</strong>ok it upon<br />
himself <strong>to</strong> legally challenge the<br />
commission in a suit filed at the<br />
High Court of the FCT.<br />
Engr Patrick has been hailed a<br />
savior of Oando Plc following his<br />
big win in court yesterday.<br />
In a hearing presided by<br />
Honorable Justice O. A Musa,<br />
all cases filed were granted in his<br />
favor. Engr. Patrick who has<br />
painfully endured the SEC’s<br />
infringement of his rights as a<br />
shareholder and an individual, for<br />
the past two years, was the much<br />
needed respite that the<br />
shareholders required especially<br />
at a time when many are<br />
grappling for survival following<br />
the country’s second recession<br />
in three years.<br />
Recall that in 2019, the SEC<br />
suspended the AGM of Oando<br />
indefinitely. AGM’s are an<br />
important platform for the<br />
protection of the shareholders of<br />
a company, furthermore they are<br />
a legal requirement for all publicly<br />
listed companies the world over.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> Patrick Ajudua,<br />
the SEC has denied him this<br />
right over the last two years. Since<br />
the suspension of Oando’s 2019<br />
AGM shareholders have been<br />
kept in the dark on the<br />
company’s affairs – specifically<br />
corporate initiatives and<br />
financials.<br />
Presiding over the case,<br />
Honorable Justice O. A Musa,<br />
made the following declarations;<br />
Ordered that Engr. Patrick as a<br />
member and shareholder of<br />
Oando has a right and freedom<br />
of association and assembly with<br />
other shareholders and right <strong>to</strong><br />
receive information at the AGM;<br />
declared the May 31, 2019 letter<br />
of SEC <strong>to</strong> Oando sanctioning its<br />
management,<br />
as<br />
unconstitutional, null and void<br />
and violation of Engr. Patrick’s<br />
fundamental right <strong>to</strong> fair hearing<br />
and his human right <strong>to</strong> receive<br />
information on the affairs of<br />
Oando and his interest and<br />
shares in Oando; an order setting<br />
aside the directive of SEC<br />
suspending/postponing<br />
indefinitely the AGM of Oando<br />
in violation, breach and<br />
contravention of Engr. Patrick’s<br />
right and freedom of association<br />
and assembly with other<br />
shareholders and right <strong>to</strong><br />
information from other<br />
shareholders and Oando Plc; an<br />
order restraining SEC and Oando<br />
from interfering with, disrupting<br />
and or interfering with the Engr.<br />
Sun Edi<strong>to</strong>r, Femi Babafemi, appointed<br />
NDLEA’s Direc<strong>to</strong>r of Media<br />
ABUJA<strong>—</strong>THE National<br />
Drug Law Enforcement<br />
Agency, NDLEA, yesterday,<br />
appointed edi<strong>to</strong>r of the<br />
Saturday Sun, Mr. Femi<br />
Babafemi as the agency’s<br />
Direc<strong>to</strong>r of Media and<br />
Advocacy.<br />
The appointment, which<br />
takes immediate effect will<br />
enable the new appointee<br />
leverage on his almost two and<br />
half decades experience in<br />
journalism, media and strategic<br />
communications <strong>to</strong> lead the<br />
publicity and advocacy<br />
campaigns of the Agency as<br />
envisioned by its new<br />
Chairman/Chief Executive,<br />
Brig. General Mohamed Buba<br />
Marwa (retd).<br />
The Board and management<br />
of The Sun Publishing Ltd has<br />
since approved a leave of absence<br />
for him <strong>to</strong> enable him take up the<br />
national assignment.<br />
Babafemi holds a Master’s<br />
degree in Public and<br />
International Affairs from the<br />
University of Lagos and a<br />
Bachelor of Arts in English<br />
Language from the Obafemi<br />
Awolowo University, O.A.U, Ile-<br />
Ife.<br />
Besides, he holds certificates in<br />
Communication Strategies,<br />
Royal Institute of Public<br />
Administration, RIPA, London,<br />
2008; Managing People For<br />
Strategic Advantage, Lagos<br />
Business School, Pan-African<br />
University, Lagos, 2009; and<br />
Effective Public Relations<br />
Planning, The Management<br />
School, London, 2011.<br />
Babafemi, who joined The Sun<br />
in 2003 as a pioneer staff, left as<br />
Deputy News Edi<strong>to</strong>r in 2008<br />
when he joined the Economic<br />
and Financial Crimes<br />
Commission, EFCC, as the<br />
agency’s Head of Media and<br />
Publicity.<br />
He returned <strong>to</strong> The Sun in<br />
April 2012 as an Assistant Edi<strong>to</strong>r<br />
and promoted Deputy Edi<strong>to</strong>r in<br />
June 2013. In January 2017, he<br />
was appointed the substantive<br />
Edi<strong>to</strong>r of Saturday Sun.<br />
With over 24 years postgraduation<br />
experience in<br />
Journalism, Media and Public<br />
Relations, Communication<br />
Strategies and Reputation<br />
Management, Babafemi started<br />
his career in the pen profession<br />
in the defunct National Concord.<br />
THE Chief Executive<br />
Offficer of Rolex<br />
Emameyan Foundation and<br />
Rox Mny Entertainment,<br />
Ambassador Rolex Erhomo<br />
Emameyan has condemned<br />
the killing of youths in Sapele<br />
as a result of cult and other<br />
related cases.<br />
Speaking <strong>to</strong> journalists<br />
yesterday in Sapele<br />
Emameyan described the<br />
killings as barbaric act that<br />
needed <strong>to</strong> be s<strong>to</strong>pped.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, youths in<br />
Sapele needed <strong>to</strong> be united<br />
in bringing culprits <strong>to</strong> book.<br />
He also noted that Sapele<br />
before now used <strong>to</strong> be a<br />
peaceful city and the current<br />
cult and other related cases<br />
are uncalled for.<br />
Patrick’s constitutional right of<br />
association, assembly and right<br />
<strong>to</strong> receive information from other<br />
shareholders and members of<br />
Oando PLC at the postponed<br />
2019 AGM; an order of injunction<br />
restraining SEC from acting and<br />
/or taking any steps pursuant <strong>to</strong><br />
its letter of 31st May 2019 or<br />
interfering in any manner<br />
whatsoever with Direc<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
lawfully appointed by the Engr.<br />
Patrick and Shareholder; an order<br />
directing Oando <strong>to</strong> convene and<br />
hold AGM of Oando plc within<br />
90 days of the order of the court<br />
in compliance with the provisions<br />
of Companies Allied Matters Act.<br />
Speaking on his win, Engr.<br />
Ajidua said: “A win for me is a win<br />
for all shareholders. The lingering<br />
delay in resolution of the conflict<br />
have brought un<strong>to</strong>ld hardship,<br />
financial difficulty and loss of<br />
capital appreciation on our<br />
investment. Therefore, the<br />
shareholders received this<br />
judgement with high sense of<br />
humility and praying that all<br />
hands must be on deck <strong>to</strong> move<br />
the company forward. We plead<br />
with the regula<strong>to</strong>rs and others <strong>to</strong><br />
give peace a chance and allow<br />
for harmonious resolution of the<br />
conflict.<br />
''The shareholder community<br />
will continue <strong>to</strong> protect their<br />
investment, ensure high<br />
compliance with code of corporate<br />
governance & ensure integrity<br />
of company operating in the<br />
capital market.”<br />
Mr. Femi Babafemi.<br />
Emameyan condemns Sapele<br />
killings, sues for peace<br />
"Our youths needed <strong>to</strong><br />
shun cultism as it is inimical<br />
<strong>to</strong> human and economic<br />
development in Sapele.<br />
“There is no gain in joining<br />
cultism and killing your fellow<br />
youths.<br />
“Our security agencies<br />
needed <strong>to</strong> be alert and our<br />
parents have <strong>to</strong> take it upon<br />
themselves <strong>to</strong> educate their<br />
children on the dangers of<br />
cultism.<br />
“We need Peace <strong>to</strong> return <strong>to</strong><br />
Sapele and this can happen if<br />
we all come <strong>to</strong>gether <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p<br />
the unnecessary killing of our<br />
young ones.<br />
“My condolence <strong>to</strong> the<br />
families of those we have lost<br />
and may all culprits be<br />
brought <strong>to</strong> book."
CHANGE OF NAME<br />
SAIFULLAH<br />
I, formerly known and addressed<br />
as Ashiru Saifullah, now<br />
wish <strong>to</strong> be known and addressed<br />
as Ashiru Raifullah<br />
Inuwa. All former documents<br />
remain valid, general public take<br />
note.<br />
FESTUS SUNDAY<br />
I, formerly known and<br />
addressed as Maryam<br />
Sunday Shawulu, now wish<br />
<strong>to</strong> be known and addressed as<br />
Maryam Alhassan. All<br />
former documents remain valid,<br />
general public take note.<br />
ISMAHIM<br />
I, formerly known and addressed<br />
as Suleiman Ismahim, now wish<br />
<strong>to</strong> be known and addressed as<br />
Ismail Suleiman. All former<br />
documents remain valid,<br />
Access Bank and general public<br />
take note.<br />
OLALEKAN<br />
This is <strong>to</strong> confirm that Ajayi<br />
Ezekiel and Ajayi Olalekan Ezekiel<br />
is one and same person.<br />
Henceforth, wish <strong>to</strong> be known<br />
and addressed as Ajayi Olalekan<br />
Ezekiel. All former documents<br />
remain valid, Access Bank and<br />
general public take note.<br />
FALLANG<br />
I, formerly known and addressed<br />
as Fallang Paul Bernard, now wish<br />
<strong>to</strong> be known and addressed as<br />
Bernard Konang Paul. Date of<br />
birth is 22/02/1994. Not 12/12/<br />
1992. All former documents<br />
remain valid, general public take<br />
note.<br />
IJI<br />
I, formerly known and addressed<br />
as Ahulo Iji Lawrence, now wish<br />
<strong>to</strong> be known and addressed as<br />
Ahulo Lawrence Iji. My correct<br />
date of birth is 7/07/1983. All<br />
former documents remain valid,<br />
general public take note.<br />
EKANEE<br />
I, formerly known and addressed<br />
as Ekani Monday, now wish <strong>to</strong><br />
be known and addressed as Ekani<br />
Ekanee Monday. My correct date<br />
of birth is 10/10/1998. All former<br />
documents remain valid, general<br />
public take note.<br />
ANI<br />
I, formerly known and addressed<br />
as Chidera Ani, now wish <strong>to</strong><br />
be known and addressed as<br />
Sherif Lawal. All former<br />
documents remain valid, general<br />
public take note.<br />
SAIDU<br />
I, formerly known and addressed<br />
as Saidu Adamu Kani, now wish<br />
<strong>to</strong> be known and addressed as<br />
Adamu Kani. All former<br />
documents remain valid, FCMB<br />
PLC and general public take<br />
note.<br />
TIMILEYIN<br />
I, formerly known and addressed as<br />
Abass Obatayo Saheed, now wish<br />
<strong>to</strong> be known and addressed<br />
as Abass-obatayo Saheed<br />
Timileyin. My correct date of birth<br />
is 3/10/2000 and not 3/10/1999. All<br />
former documents remain valid,<br />
general public take note.<br />
RAHMA<br />
I, formerly known and addressed<br />
as Miss Rahma Muhammad<br />
Danzaki, now wish <strong>to</strong> be known<br />
and addressed as Mrs. Rahma<br />
Muhammad Danzaki. All former<br />
documents remain valid, NYSC<br />
and general public take note.<br />
:Vanguard News<br />
:@vanguardnews<br />
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 <strong>—</strong> 33<br />
:@vanguardnews<br />
NEWS HOTLINES:<br />
08052867023,<br />
08052867058<br />
$2.6bn AKK pipeline project: Reps query contrac<strong>to</strong>rs,<br />
summon BPP<br />
By Levinus<br />
Nwabughiogu-<br />
ABUJA<strong>—</strong>HOUSE of Rep<br />
resentatives last night<br />
raised questions over the alleged<br />
exclusion of Bablinks<br />
Resource Ltd, a <strong>Nigeria</strong>n firm,<br />
in the construction contract<br />
of the 40’’× 318.6km BVS12<br />
Kaduna-Kano section or Segment<br />
2 of Ajaokuta-Kaduna-<br />
Kano.<br />
Acting on a petition by<br />
Local Content Advocacy and<br />
Management Group, alleging<br />
that contrac<strong>to</strong>rs in the consortium<br />
who submitted bid<br />
for the project had been<br />
changed by the authorities,<br />
the House Committee on Local<br />
Content which met with<br />
some contrac<strong>to</strong>rs over the<br />
matter, said it was interested<br />
in the implementation of the<br />
local contents in the project.<br />
Similarly, the Executive<br />
Vice Chairman, Brentex <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
Ltd, Sani Abubakar, in<br />
his testimony, said the company<br />
was owned by <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns,<br />
admitting however a<br />
partnership with Bablinks.<br />
But the Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r/<br />
ALIYU<br />
I, formerly known and addressed<br />
as Muhammed Ammar, now<br />
wish <strong>to</strong> be known and addressed<br />
as Muhammed Ammar Aliyu.<br />
Wrong date of birth 2/11/1992.<br />
Correct date of birth 2/11/1995.<br />
All former documents remain<br />
valid, general public take note.<br />
EMENIKE<br />
I, formerly known and addressed<br />
as Ogbuehi Bright Emenike, now<br />
wish <strong>to</strong> be known and addressed<br />
as Ogbuehi Bright Chikadibia.<br />
All former documents remain<br />
valid, general public take note.<br />
ACHINAULO<br />
I, formerly known and addressed<br />
as Oyinye Josephine Achinaulo,<br />
now wish <strong>to</strong> be known and<br />
addressed as Oyinye Josephine<br />
Imonigie. All former documents<br />
remain valid, general public take<br />
note.<br />
IBRAHIM<br />
I, formerly known and addressed<br />
as Amina Aliyu, now wish <strong>to</strong> be<br />
known and addressed as Amina<br />
Aliyu Ibrahim. Date of birth is<br />
28/12/1976. Not 28/12/1978. All<br />
former documents remain valid,<br />
general public take note.<br />
MARK<br />
I, formerly known and addressed<br />
as Ishaku Dogo, now wish <strong>to</strong> be<br />
known and addressed as Ishaku<br />
Dogo Mark. All former documents<br />
remain valid, general public take<br />
note.<br />
TITUS<br />
I, formerly known and addressed as<br />
Titus Christiana, now wish <strong>to</strong> be<br />
known and addressed as Titus<br />
Christiana N.(NANI). Wrong date<br />
of birth 30/08/1989. Correct date of<br />
birth is 30/08/1996. All former<br />
documents remain valid, general<br />
public take note.<br />
OBI<br />
I, formerly known and addressed<br />
as Obi Michael Uzomma, now<br />
wish <strong>to</strong> be known and addressed<br />
as Mr. Obidigwe Michael<br />
Uzomma. All former documents<br />
remain valid, general public take<br />
note.<br />
Chief Executive Officer of<br />
Bablinks, Bolaji Isiaka, said<br />
the company was sidelined<br />
after providing the technical<br />
expertise that made the bid<br />
for the contract successful.<br />
Ruling on the matter, the<br />
committee decided <strong>to</strong> invite<br />
the Bureau of Public Procurement<br />
<strong>to</strong> appear before it and<br />
give testimony about the true<br />
position.<br />
It also asked Brentex CPP<br />
and Bablinks <strong>to</strong> furnish the<br />
committee with every contractual<br />
documents with them,<br />
directing its clerk <strong>to</strong> Corporate<br />
Affairs Commission for<br />
details of owners of the companies.<br />
Speaking with journalists,<br />
the lead consultant and solici<strong>to</strong>r<br />
for the advocacy group,<br />
John Lebor, alleged that the<br />
contrac<strong>to</strong>rs didn't not give recourse<br />
<strong>to</strong> the local content<br />
law, <strong>Nigeria</strong>n export regulation,<br />
among others.<br />
He said: “That project is<br />
about $2.6bn. At the award of<br />
that project, BPP insisted that<br />
there must be a local content<br />
company with the capacity<br />
and Bablinks <strong>Nigeria</strong> Limited<br />
is the company that has<br />
that local content capacity, in<br />
the sense that they have done<br />
a lot of pipeline projects in<br />
Warri with Shell and they are<br />
one of the best in the country.<br />
“Now, Brentex Consortium,<br />
being a company without experience<br />
in<strong>to</strong> oil and gas pipeline,<br />
entered in<strong>to</strong> partnership<br />
with Bablinks. In legal terms,<br />
there is supposed <strong>to</strong> the Chinese<br />
company, Bablinks and<br />
Brentex.<br />
“The due process document<br />
produced by the Bureau for<br />
Public Enterprise that was<br />
taken <strong>to</strong> the Federal Executive<br />
Council <strong>to</strong> approve this contract,<br />
clearly specify that<br />
Brentex should be responsible<br />
for procurement of the<br />
pipelines while Bablinks<br />
should be responsible for construction<br />
and engineering services.<br />
“So, as technical partners,<br />
after they entered the agreement,<br />
they now removed<br />
Bablinks. If Bablinks was not<br />
part of the due process, there<br />
would have been no local content<br />
that the contract would<br />
have been awarded.<br />
“Remember that Brentex<br />
Consortium brought in the<br />
Chinese Company, CPP, because<br />
they claimed <strong>to</strong> be the<br />
company financing the<br />
project.<br />
“The Chinese government<br />
now offered loans <strong>to</strong> us at inhumane<br />
sovereign guarantee.<br />
They are not doing us a favour,<br />
they gave us money and we<br />
are going <strong>to</strong> pay for 10 years.<br />
What they have done is that,<br />
they now imported content.<br />
“One Chinese engineer that<br />
they are bringing would earn<br />
what up <strong>to</strong> 500 <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns cannot<br />
earn in that project. You<br />
have a job of $2.6bn and you<br />
cannot find <strong>Nigeria</strong>n companies<br />
and <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns there.<br />
“What we want the Parliament<br />
<strong>to</strong> do is <strong>to</strong> force Chinese<br />
company and other <strong>to</strong> come<br />
<strong>to</strong> the table and provide and<br />
take away the Chinese content<br />
from the contract and allow<br />
the local content <strong>to</strong> provide<br />
it.<br />
“Let nobody deceive you,<br />
China is not doing us a favour<br />
by borrowing us money.<br />
They have collected sovereignty<br />
guarantee, meaning<br />
that we are going <strong>to</strong> pay at<br />
very high rate. They have taken<br />
more than 60 per cent. We<br />
will not accept it and if we<br />
need <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> Court, we will<br />
do that."<br />
LG polls: Work hard for vic<strong>to</strong>ry, Muturu<br />
charges PDP candidates in Bomadi<br />
By Chris Ochayi<br />
ABUJA<strong>—</strong>A Peace Ambas<br />
sador in Bomadi Local<br />
Government Area of Delta<br />
State, Amb. Kingsley Muturu,<br />
has charged all the Peoples<br />
Democratic Party, PDP,<br />
flag bearers in the March 6,<br />
2021, Local Government elections<br />
in the state <strong>to</strong> work hard<br />
for vic<strong>to</strong>ry.<br />
Ambassador Muturu, who<br />
gave this charge in a press<br />
statement made available <strong>to</strong><br />
journalists urged the PDP flag<br />
bearers <strong>to</strong> see this opportunity<br />
as a stepping s<strong>to</strong>ne <strong>to</strong> something<br />
greater. He advised them<br />
<strong>to</strong> work hard and not see the<br />
PDP ticket as vic<strong>to</strong>ry already<br />
secured but “<strong>to</strong> reach out <strong>to</strong><br />
the voters <strong>to</strong> sell the party and<br />
their candidacy.”<br />
According <strong>to</strong> him, “you<br />
should not rest having been<br />
handed the PDP flag. It is now<br />
the real work should start; the<br />
work of campaign, going <strong>to</strong><br />
the grassroots <strong>to</strong> mobilise the<br />
people, telling them what they<br />
stand <strong>to</strong> gain when you are<br />
elected. Use this opportunity<br />
<strong>to</strong> aspire <strong>to</strong> something greater.<br />
“Consider yourselves privileged<br />
<strong>to</strong> bear this flag because<br />
many had sought for it. Do<br />
not abuse this rare privilege.<br />
When elected, do not turn your<br />
back on the people at the<br />
grassroots who you are meant<br />
<strong>to</strong> represent.<br />
“Local government is the<br />
tier of government closest <strong>to</strong><br />
the people. Therefore, I urge<br />
you <strong>to</strong> let the people feel your<br />
presence and impact when<br />
elected. Distinguish yourselves<br />
from ineffective predecessors<br />
so that if, and when<br />
you seek higher things, the<br />
people will still be there <strong>to</strong> see<br />
you through.”<br />
The PDP in Delta state had<br />
recently handed its flags <strong>to</strong> its<br />
chairmanship, vice chairmanship<br />
and councillorship<br />
candidates in the 25 local<br />
government areas in the state<br />
prepara<strong>to</strong>ry <strong>to</strong> the local government<br />
council elections<br />
slated for March 6th.<br />
Office of Senior POLAD,<br />
Christian community pray for<br />
peaceful Delta LG polls<br />
ASABA<strong>—</strong>A body of Clergy<br />
men, the Christian Community<br />
Platform, and the Office<br />
of the Senior Political<br />
Adviser <strong>to</strong> the Governor of<br />
Delta State have organized a<br />
prayer session <strong>to</strong> seek the face<br />
of God in the March 6 local<br />
government election.<br />
The event, which <strong>to</strong>ok place<br />
at the Life and Power Christian<br />
Assembly audi<strong>to</strong>rium on<br />
Maryam Babangida way,<br />
Asaba, featured praise and<br />
worship, Bible readings, exhortation,<br />
hymns and special<br />
prayer sessions.<br />
In his remarks on the occasion,<br />
the Senior Political Adviser<br />
<strong>to</strong> the Governor,<br />
Funkekeme Solomon, said it<br />
was informed by the understanding<br />
that peace was key<br />
<strong>to</strong> a successful election.<br />
Solomon noted that<br />
though Deltans had the right<br />
<strong>to</strong> choose who would represent<br />
them in the local government<br />
councils, it was important<br />
<strong>to</strong> submit <strong>to</strong> Him in prayer<br />
<strong>to</strong> guide the elec<strong>to</strong>rate in<br />
making the right decision.<br />
The Senior POLAD maintained<br />
that the PDP believed<br />
in the possibility of election<br />
vic<strong>to</strong>ry going either way and<br />
had chosen not <strong>to</strong> leave anything<br />
<strong>to</strong> chance, including resorting<br />
<strong>to</strong> prayer for vic<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
for its candidates.<br />
He thanked the Christian<br />
Community Platform for<br />
partnering with his office in<br />
the search for peace in the<br />
Council polls, stressing that<br />
the time had come <strong>to</strong> deemphasize<br />
violence in politics<br />
and elections, as power could<br />
only come from God.<br />
The Chairman, Board of<br />
Trustees of the Christian<br />
Community Platform, Bishop<br />
Greatman Malagu, described<br />
the prayer session as<br />
a wise decision by the PDP<br />
hence the involvement of the<br />
Platform, urging Deltans <strong>to</strong><br />
vote wisely.<br />
Earlier in a brief exhortation,<br />
Bishop Gim Bright<br />
Adaigho, noted that the PDP<br />
governnent of Governor Ifeanyi<br />
Okowa of Delta state had<br />
positively impacted on the<br />
lives of the people, and expressed<br />
optimism that the<br />
party would do well at the local<br />
government level if given<br />
the opportunity.
34 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
:Vanguard News<br />
Open grazing: challenges (2)<br />
Cattle farming are private owned<br />
businesses, the responsibility for<br />
which should be borne by the owners<br />
and not the other way round.<br />
LAST WEEK, I commenced a<br />
discussion on the menace of<br />
criminal herdsmen who continue<br />
<strong>to</strong> pose major security challenges.<br />
Also, I discussed the attempt by the<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n government <strong>to</strong> placate<br />
the herders by the subtle<br />
suggestion of acquisition of<br />
massive lands all over <strong>Nigeria</strong> for<br />
grazing, a move which will no<br />
doubt create more chaos as it will<br />
engender the acquisition of private<br />
lands <strong>to</strong> satisfy the spatial<br />
requirement for grazing ranches.<br />
It is, however, important <strong>to</strong> note<br />
that the clashes brought about by<br />
open grazing is not limited <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>. Similar clashes have<br />
occurred in other African<br />
countries. In examining the<br />
development across West Africa,<br />
the Cable, an online publication<br />
wrote as follows:<br />
Eighteen killed in Niger: In<br />
November 2016, eighteen people<br />
were killed in various clashes<br />
between herdsmen and farmers.<br />
The clash, which broke out near<br />
the village of Bangui along the<br />
country’s southern border with<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>, also left 20 others injured,<br />
the country’s officials had said.<br />
What happened? Lives<strong>to</strong>ck<br />
belonging <strong>to</strong> the herders were said<br />
<strong>to</strong> have invaded the field of one of<br />
the farmers, damaging crops.<br />
“The nomadic herders fought<br />
with a farmer, whom they wounded.<br />
He was taken <strong>to</strong> the medical centre<br />
and everything started from there,”<br />
Oumarou Mohamane, Bangui’s<br />
mayor, had <strong>to</strong>ld Reuters. In a<br />
reprisal attack, a group of farmers<br />
then attacked the camp, burning<br />
down houses numbering about 15.<br />
Ghana <strong>to</strong>o…: Villages in the<br />
Kwahu east district of the eastern<br />
region of Ghana were thrown in<strong>to</strong><br />
mourning after clashes between<br />
herdsmen and some of their<br />
farmers left a reported number of<br />
15 persons dead, including five<br />
Fulanis. Hundreds were also left<br />
stranded and displaced after<br />
fleeing their communities in the<br />
incident which occurred in<br />
November.<br />
The clashes, which were between<br />
residents of Dwibease and<br />
Hweehwe, and the herders,<br />
followed the death of an<br />
unidentified boy at Dwerebeafe.<br />
Solomon Aboagye, an indigene,<br />
was quoted by Ghana Web, an<br />
online platform, <strong>to</strong> have said: “In<br />
retaliation, three of the Fulanis<br />
were also killed at Aboyan. Two of<br />
the natives went <strong>to</strong> the farm and<br />
did not return. I asked some people<br />
<strong>to</strong> search for them and<br />
unfortunately, they found them<br />
dead.” It was also reported that the<br />
deaths occurred at night in the<br />
farms and the bodies spotted<br />
daytime.<br />
Bloodshed in Ivory Coast:<br />
Seventeen persons were confirmed<br />
dead and 39 others injured after a<br />
clash broke out between herdsmen<br />
and farmers in Bouna, north-east<br />
of Ivory Coast, in 2016. Among<br />
those injured in the clash, which<br />
There is no doubt that<br />
there is an urgent need<br />
by the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
government <strong>to</strong> resolve<br />
the issue of open<br />
grazing once and for all<br />
spanned two days, were five of the<br />
security personnel deployed <strong>to</strong><br />
quell the crisis. The attack was said<br />
<strong>to</strong> be just one out of many other<br />
violent clashes between the two<br />
parties “but none has been of this<br />
magnitude”.<br />
“On the night of March 23 <strong>to</strong> 24,<br />
the situation was particularly<br />
aggravated and it was at this time<br />
that 17 people died,” Vincent Toh<br />
Bi, one of the residents, had <strong>to</strong>ld<br />
AfricaNews. Indeed, some contend<br />
that clashes between herdsmen or<br />
cattle herders and farmers are as<br />
old as mankind itself as indicated<br />
by the biblical verse in the book of<br />
Exodus Chapter 22 verse 5 which<br />
enjoins anyone who allows his<br />
animal <strong>to</strong> stray and graze in the<br />
field of another <strong>to</strong> pay<br />
compensation <strong>to</strong> that other. What<br />
is, however, clear is that while<br />
mankind, inclusive of many<br />
African countries have developed<br />
policies aimed at reducing the<br />
conflict, <strong>Nigeria</strong> is yet <strong>to</strong> come up<br />
with any identifiable means of<br />
bringing about peaceful coexistence<br />
between farmers and<br />
herdsmen.<br />
Rethinking the incidence of open<br />
grazing: There is no doubt that<br />
there is an urgent need by the<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n government <strong>to</strong> resolve<br />
the issue of open grazing once and<br />
for all. One of the ways <strong>to</strong> deal with<br />
the matter is <strong>to</strong> encourage largescale<br />
farming by the cattle owners.<br />
The US has led the world in largescale<br />
farming, pioneering the use<br />
of intensive lives<strong>to</strong>ck rearing in hog<br />
farms, cattle sheds and sheep pens.<br />
There are now more than 50,000<br />
facilities in the US classified as<br />
“concentrated animal feeding<br />
operations,” CAFOs, with another<br />
quarter of a million industrialscale<br />
facilities below that<br />
threshold.<br />
Around the world, developing<br />
countries in particular were quick<br />
<strong>to</strong> catch up. Intensive farming of<br />
lives<strong>to</strong>ck offers many advantages<br />
over traditional open ranges, not<br />
least in the economies of cost and<br />
scale, it provides more efficient<br />
healthcare for the herds and flocks,<br />
and ultimately cheaper food.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> the UN, globally<br />
CAFOs account for 72 per cent of<br />
poultry, 42 per cent of egg, and 55<br />
per cent of pork production.<br />
Instead of the present itinerant<br />
method of grazing prominent in<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>, owners of cattle should<br />
acquire or lease land for the<br />
purpose of grazing. However<br />
rather than directly foot the bill for<br />
development of such large-scale<br />
farming, all that the government<br />
should do is <strong>to</strong> make loans<br />
available <strong>to</strong> cattle owners and<br />
other farmers. The Punch<br />
newspaper edi<strong>to</strong>rial was quite<br />
detailed in pointing that as the<br />
Federal Government did with the<br />
Anchor Borrowers Programme for<br />
rice, it should facilitate such loans<br />
for cattle farmers. Such loans<br />
would be used <strong>to</strong> buy land in their<br />
states of choice.<br />
In Brazil, government has grown<br />
<strong>to</strong> become a major player in the<br />
meat business and the country’s<br />
foreign trade secretariat states that<br />
from an income of $1.9m in 1994,<br />
beef export income of the country<br />
rose <strong>to</strong> $1.9bn in 2004, providing<br />
360,000 direct jobs as the records<br />
show. What the country does is <strong>to</strong><br />
aid the business by facilitating<br />
low-interest loans <strong>to</strong> farmers.<br />
In Spain, lives<strong>to</strong>ck farming is<br />
intensive, with animals living on<br />
farms and consuming fodder and<br />
this practice became further<br />
entrenched following the country’s<br />
admission in<strong>to</strong> the European<br />
Union, which caused the country<br />
<strong>to</strong> change some of its agricultural<br />
practices.<br />
The country received significant<br />
economic assistance from the EU<br />
<strong>to</strong> modernise the sec<strong>to</strong>r, increase<br />
productivity and improve the<br />
quality of its products.<br />
In Argentina, the practice is not<br />
any different. Lives<strong>to</strong>ck farming as<br />
a form of agriculture is aimed with<br />
increased productivity and<br />
modernity at the base of its<br />
practice. The role of government<br />
differs slightly from country <strong>to</strong><br />
country but it is poignant <strong>to</strong> note<br />
government’s intervention is<br />
limited <strong>to</strong> making available<br />
assistance in terms of roving loans<br />
at low interest rate and regulated<br />
policies and not for government <strong>to</strong><br />
undertake financial burdens as<br />
being suggested in government<br />
quarters.<br />
In Botswana, the country’s beef<br />
and cattle farming has grown<br />
exponentially from a few hundred<br />
thousand cattle in 1950 <strong>to</strong> close <strong>to</strong><br />
three million <strong>to</strong>day. The growth is<br />
traceable <strong>to</strong> deliberate<br />
government’s policies which<br />
averted this kind of crisis currently<br />
rocking the middle belt and<br />
southern region with occasional<br />
flares in other parts of the country<br />
with mindless deaths and<br />
destructions in its wake.<br />
Conclusion: In conclusion, the<br />
dangers inherent in the<br />
government’s proposal are<br />
numerous <strong>to</strong> say the least. It is<br />
brazenly discrimina<strong>to</strong>ry and<br />
offensive <strong>to</strong> common sense, law<br />
and good judgement. How can a<br />
purely private business become the<br />
burden of a central government or<br />
constitute a menace <strong>to</strong> other<br />
private citizens? Cattle farming are<br />
private owned businesses, the<br />
responsibility for which should be<br />
borne by the owners and not the<br />
other way round. Examples<br />
suggested in the above listed<br />
countries of how their<br />
governments have handled<br />
potentially intractable issues can<br />
be imbibed here. Borrowing from<br />
all that, government in <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
should encourage herders <strong>to</strong><br />
acquire lands and modernise their<br />
practice in conformity with global<br />
best practices.<br />
Concluded<br />
Makinde reopens Shasha market,<br />
lifts curfew<br />
By Adeola Badru<br />
IBADAN<strong>—</strong>GOVERNOR Seyi<br />
Makinde of Oyo State,<br />
yesterday, ordered the reopening<br />
of Shasha market.<br />
The order for reopening of the<br />
market was reached during a<br />
meeting with the two warring<br />
communities in Shasha, held at<br />
the Western Hall, Secretariat,<br />
Ibadan, weeks after it was shut<br />
down.<br />
The governor said:<br />
“Considering the economic<br />
situation and the peculiarities we<br />
have with us, I have heard what<br />
you said, and we will immediately<br />
reopen the Shasha market. They<br />
will bring a bulldozer <strong>to</strong> the<br />
market <strong>to</strong>day.<br />
“When my brother Governors<br />
visited Seriki Shasha’s palace,<br />
while we were working around, I<br />
realised that both the people I saw<br />
at Seriki’s place and those I met<br />
at Baale’s place were not happy<br />
because they have been<br />
deprived of doing their job.<br />
“If you look at Oyo State, even<br />
By Ozioruva Aliu<br />
BENIN CITY<strong>—</strong>THE Enogie of<br />
Irue N’Owina, Iyekogba area of<br />
Oredo local government area, Chief<br />
Efemwenkiekie Eresoyen and the<br />
Catholic church are at loggerhead<br />
over allegation that St Paul Catholic<br />
Church, Benin City in connivance<br />
with some persons in his community<br />
acquired several plots of his<br />
ancestral land for their church’s<br />
expansion.<br />
In two letters by his counsel,<br />
Olayiwola Afolabi <strong>to</strong> the Archbishop<br />
of the Roman Catholic Church,<br />
Most Rev Augustine Akubeze and the<br />
Parish Priest of St Paul Catholic<br />
Church, Rev Fr. Nosakhare<br />
Omorogbe said the church acquired<br />
the said land in connivance with<br />
“some infamous young men in the<br />
village parading themselves as<br />
community development<br />
association (CDA) illegally<br />
purchased and <strong>to</strong>ok over our client’s<br />
community lands including our<br />
client’s own ancestral home which<br />
was utterly <strong>destroy</strong>ed and bulldozed.<br />
The extent of the land wrongfully<br />
taken amounts <strong>to</strong> over thirty five<br />
plots on which your church has<br />
erected several structures even after<br />
been aware of the confirmation of<br />
the position of our client by an order<br />
of court vide a judgement delivered<br />
on the 23rd Day of June 2014 in suit<br />
number B/339/2009 in a case which<br />
lasted for about four years.”<br />
The letter claimed the church was<br />
still meeting with the people he<br />
when the COVID-19 was at its<br />
peak, I decided not <strong>to</strong> shut our<br />
market places because I know and<br />
also explained <strong>to</strong> the leadership<br />
of the country at the national level<br />
that in our state, we have people<br />
that the proceeds from what they<br />
get <strong>to</strong>day will determine if they<br />
will eat <strong>to</strong>morrow or not.<br />
“Since peace more or less<br />
returned <strong>to</strong> the market and the<br />
community, we have given the goahead<br />
that the market should be<br />
reopened.<br />
“I have also given instructions<br />
for some palliative works <strong>to</strong> be<br />
done. I have instructed that solar<br />
light be installed in the market<br />
any time of the day or night; we<br />
will see what is going on in the<br />
market.”<br />
Speaking on the existing curfew<br />
placed on the market, the<br />
governor said: “You can see the<br />
CP and the DIG; they are the ones<br />
maintaining the curfew. And if<br />
they tell me peace has returned<br />
<strong>to</strong> the community, the curfew will<br />
also be lifted. But security<br />
agencies will still dominate the<br />
area.”<br />
Edo community head, Catholic church<br />
bicker over land acquisition<br />
claimed misled the church in<strong>to</strong> the<br />
crisis but that it was ready <strong>to</strong><br />
amicably resolve the crisis but<br />
without people he claimed were<br />
masquerading as CDA which has<br />
been banned.<br />
But reacting <strong>to</strong> the incident,<br />
Chancellor, Catholic Archdiocese of<br />
Benin City, Very Rev Fr. Michael<br />
Oyanoafor denied the allegation<br />
saying the Church acquired the land<br />
from the elders of the community <strong>to</strong><br />
build schools with a view <strong>to</strong> bringing<br />
development <strong>to</strong> the community.<br />
He said: “I do not think his case is<br />
tenable because St Paul's Catholic<br />
Church was given a land in that<br />
community <strong>to</strong> build a church and<br />
they did, that church has been there<br />
now for more than ten years, then<br />
the community said they don’t have<br />
school, they gave land by the church<br />
and a school was built nursery and<br />
primary school, they were <strong>to</strong> pay<br />
stipend but the church discovered<br />
that they could not pay, the church<br />
requested for more land <strong>to</strong> also build<br />
a secondary which is on-going and<br />
then decide <strong>to</strong> make education free<br />
for the community, the church<br />
employed teachers and paying<br />
them.”<br />
He said the Church requested <strong>to</strong><br />
meet with Eresoyen and the<br />
community when he claimed <strong>to</strong> be<br />
the Enogie but that he failed <strong>to</strong> attend<br />
the meeting and that when the<br />
church requested that the meeting<br />
be held in the community, he also<br />
declined, an indication that he was<br />
not in charge of his community.<br />
Esso Properties launches 2 estates in<br />
Anambra<br />
A<br />
LEADING real estate<br />
companies, Esso Properties<br />
Ltd has launched two estates:<br />
Berry Prime Estate and Sunray<br />
Estate in Anambra State.<br />
The event started with a<br />
roadshow, with the company’s<br />
canvassers and the Head,<br />
Corporate Communications, Miss<br />
Blessing Ugbem <strong>to</strong>uring the state.<br />
Briefing journalists at the<br />
unveiling of Sunray Estate in<br />
Amansea, Awka, the marketing<br />
manager of Esso Properties<br />
Limited, Mr Humphrey Odie said<br />
the company was attracted by the<br />
huge development potentials of<br />
Anambra State.<br />
Odie said, “Anambra is a very<br />
attractive state in the South East.<br />
We are actually launching two<br />
estates in the state, Sunray Estate<br />
in Amansea, Awka and Berry<br />
Prime Estate in Agu-Awka, both<br />
in Anambra State.<br />
“Our coming <strong>to</strong> Anambra is<br />
because of its potentials, Anambra<br />
is a state you cannot ignore in<br />
terms of investment. We are in<br />
Anambra <strong>to</strong> give the people<br />
affordable accommodation, and<br />
that is what we are here <strong>to</strong> do.”
Continues from Page 5<br />
concessionaires who will<br />
manage and develop the<br />
right of way, whilst<br />
maximizing its<br />
commercial potential.<br />
Main objective<br />
“The main objective of<br />
the Initiative is <strong>to</strong> attract<br />
expertise and<br />
sustainable investment/<br />
funding in the<br />
development of road<br />
infrastructure and <strong>to</strong><br />
maximize the use of<br />
assets along the Right of<br />
Way and develop other<br />
highway furniture,” the<br />
ministry pointed out.<br />
The government,<br />
according <strong>to</strong> the<br />
document will soon call<br />
for bidders in a<br />
transparent process that<br />
would be conducted in<br />
collaboration with the<br />
ICRC.<br />
It said: “The Federal<br />
Ministry of Works and<br />
Housing,<br />
in<br />
collaboration with the<br />
ICRC, will soon<br />
advertise the Request for<br />
Qualification (RFQ)<br />
bidding process for the<br />
available categories<br />
under the HDMI<br />
scheme.<br />
“The process will be<br />
transparent <strong>to</strong> allow the<br />
most effective bids <strong>to</strong><br />
compete vigorously in a<br />
process that delivers<br />
service and dividend <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns. (technically<br />
and financially capable<br />
firms/consortiums).<br />
“We are determined <strong>to</strong><br />
ensure our assets are<br />
entrusted in<strong>to</strong> capable<br />
hands. Therefore,<br />
interested persons,<br />
companies and groups<br />
are advised <strong>to</strong> form<br />
consortium of<br />
construction/road<br />
maintenance companies,<br />
financiers, <strong>to</strong>ll opera<strong>to</strong>rs,<br />
rest house opera<strong>to</strong>rs,<br />
advertising companies,<br />
lane marking experts,<br />
refuse managers and<br />
other partners.”<br />
Some of the revenuegenerating<br />
assets and<br />
highway services being<br />
targeted by the ministry<br />
are <strong>to</strong>ll plazas,<br />
weighbridges,<br />
advertising assets,<br />
directional signage<br />
structures and space,<br />
street lighting with<br />
advertising space and<br />
open spaces, including<br />
but not limited <strong>to</strong> truck<br />
parks and rest areas,<br />
By Elizabeth Adegbesan<br />
vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews<br />
FG plans <strong>to</strong>lling on 12 highways<br />
refuse management,<br />
<strong>to</strong>wing services,<br />
highway moni<strong>to</strong>ring and<br />
emergency services.<br />
The ministry made it<br />
clear that it was carrying<br />
out the new initiative<br />
since it had a legal<br />
framework under the<br />
Federal Highway Act,<br />
which vests the Minister<br />
of Works and Housing<br />
with authority over<br />
federal highways’<br />
network and empowers<br />
him <strong>to</strong> administer <strong>to</strong>lls on<br />
federal highways.<br />
Besides, the ministry<br />
said the Infrastructure<br />
Concession Regula<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
Commission, ICRC,wass<br />
mandated by law with<br />
regula<strong>to</strong>ry oversight<br />
over Ministries,<br />
Departments and<br />
Agencies, MDAs, in<br />
developing bankable<br />
PPP projects, pointing<br />
out that the ICRC<br />
worked closely with it in<br />
the conception of the<br />
initiative.<br />
“The ICRC has just<br />
issued a Certificate of<br />
Compliance <strong>to</strong> the<br />
Ministry of Works and<br />
Housing. What this<br />
means is that the<br />
ministry has met all the<br />
conditions necessary <strong>to</strong><br />
proceed <strong>to</strong> the next stage<br />
of procurement of the<br />
HDMI scheme.<br />
“So, we are about <strong>to</strong><br />
kick-off with the pilot<br />
phase of the HDMI<br />
scheme. In the first<br />
phase, the government is<br />
proposing the concession<br />
of 12 selected federal<br />
highways <strong>to</strong> private<br />
sec<strong>to</strong>r inves<strong>to</strong>rs, under<br />
the Value-Added<br />
Concession, VAC<br />
arrangement.”<br />
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<strong>—</strong>35<br />
NEWS HOTLINES<br />
018773962,<br />
08052867058<br />
ON CRYPTOCURRENCY <strong>—</strong>From left: Chairman, Independent Corrupt<br />
Practices And Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Prof Bolshoi<br />
Owasanoye; Executive commissioner, Legal and Enforcement, Securities and<br />
Exchange Commission, Mr Reginald Karawusa; Direc<strong>to</strong>r General, SEC, Mr<br />
Lamido Yuguda and CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, during the Public<br />
Hearing <strong>to</strong> investigate reason for the scrapping of Cryp<strong>to</strong>currency in <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
at the National Assembly, yesterday.<br />
STATE OF THE NATION: How <strong>to</strong> save <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
<strong>—</strong> U<strong>to</strong>mi, NaÁbba, Bugaje, Ozekhome, Awolowo-Dosunmu, others<br />
By Clifford Ndujihe,<br />
Politics Edi<strong>to</strong>r<br />
A group of eminent<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>ns, yesterday,<br />
looked at the state of nation<br />
and returned a grim<br />
verdict: <strong>Nigeria</strong> is at the<br />
precipice of disaster and all<br />
hands must be on deck <strong>to</strong><br />
save her.<br />
The solutions <strong>to</strong> the critical<br />
problems of the world’s<br />
largest black nation, they<br />
said include fashioning<br />
and implementing a<br />
people’s constitution,<br />
enjoining elite consensus,<br />
getting professional bodies<br />
<strong>to</strong> hold their members<br />
accountable for their<br />
misdeeds, observing rule of<br />
law, and ensuring justice,<br />
equity and fair-play in the<br />
country.<br />
Eminent <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns, who<br />
shared this view include<br />
former Speaker of the<br />
House of Representatives,<br />
Alhaji Ghali Umar<br />
Na’Abba; former<br />
presidential candidate,<br />
Professor Pat U<strong>to</strong>mi; Chief<br />
Mike Ozekhome, SAN;<br />
Rev. Fr. George Ehusani;<br />
Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-<br />
Dosunmu; and Dr Usman<br />
Bugaje.<br />
They spoke, yesterday,<br />
during the inauguration of<br />
the Constitution Drafting<br />
Committee and Coordinating<br />
Committee of<br />
the People’s Constitutional<br />
Dialogue initiated by the<br />
National Consultative<br />
Front, NCFront <strong>to</strong> rescue<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> from the precipice<br />
Naira appreciates <strong>to</strong> N408.60/$ in<br />
I&E window<br />
The naira yesterday appreciated <strong>to</strong> N408.60 kobo<br />
per dollar in the Inves<strong>to</strong>rs and Exporters (I&E)<br />
window.<br />
Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative<br />
exchange rate for the window fell <strong>to</strong> N408.60 kobo<br />
per dollar from N410 per dollar on Monday,<br />
indicating N1.40 kobo appreciation for the naira.<br />
The volume of dollars (turnover) traded in the<br />
window yesterday rose by 135 percent <strong>to</strong> $123.37<br />
million from $52.58 million on Monday.<br />
and brink of nationwide<br />
insecurity, ethnic and civil<br />
anarchy.<br />
The ceremony, which held<br />
both physically and<br />
virtually in the light of the<br />
second wave of COVID- 19<br />
pandemic ravaging the<br />
world was flagged off by<br />
NCFront Co Chairpersons,<br />
Hon Ghali Umar Na’aba<br />
and Prof Pat U<strong>to</strong>mi, who<br />
charged the Committee <strong>to</strong><br />
work assiduously <strong>to</strong> make<br />
the Draft People’s<br />
Constitution of <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
available by December<br />
2021.<br />
Members of the<br />
coordinating committee of<br />
the National Constitutional<br />
Dialogue are Dr Olisa<br />
Agbakoba, SAN, Dr<br />
Hakeem Baba Ahmed,<br />
Reverand Father George<br />
Ehusani, Alhaji Buba<br />
Galadima, Dr Tokunbo<br />
Awolowo Dosunmu,<br />
Hadjia Najatu<br />
Mohammed, Chief Mike<br />
Ozekhome, SAN, Amb Mrs<br />
Nkoyo Toyo, Sena<strong>to</strong>r Chris<br />
Anyanwu, Dr Usman<br />
Bugaje, Sena<strong>to</strong>r Mike<br />
Ajegbo, Femi Falana<br />
(SAN), Rev. Chris Nubia,<br />
Dr Bilikisu Magoro, Prof<br />
Ademola Abbas, Comrade<br />
Joe Ajaero, and Sidi Ali<br />
Nasser.<br />
The committee would be<br />
supported by Prof. Isawa<br />
Elaigwu, Prof Attahiru<br />
Jega, and Ambassador<br />
Martins Ohomoibi as<br />
advisors; and draw from the<br />
elderly experience of<br />
Professor Wole Soyinka,<br />
Alhaji Ahmed Joda,<br />
Professor Ango Abdullahu,<br />
Chief Edwin Kiagbodo<br />
Clark, Professor Ben<br />
Nwabueze and Chief Olu<br />
Falae among others.<br />
National Constitutional<br />
Consultation will open on<br />
May 1, 2021, U<strong>to</strong>mi and<br />
Na’Abba said, disclosing<br />
that the structure of the<br />
committee is broken in<strong>to</strong><br />
four categories. The Cochairs,<br />
Dr Olisa, Agbakoba<br />
(SAN), Dr Usman Bugaje,<br />
Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-<br />
Dosumu, and Rev Fr. (Dr)<br />
George Ehusani, with<br />
Agbakoba. Dr Hakeem<br />
Baba-Ahmed is secretary of<br />
the coordinating<br />
committee.<br />
The NCFront said the<br />
objectives and terms of<br />
reference of the committee<br />
shall be <strong>to</strong> ‘’engage all key<br />
Stakeholders within the<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n project<br />
nationwide, facilitate robust<br />
national consultations and<br />
dialogue among them,<br />
Collate Memoranda and<br />
build consensus among<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n Stakeholders on<br />
various <strong>Nigeria</strong>n national<br />
questions such as and not<br />
limited <strong>to</strong>; Proper and<br />
Acceptable federating units<br />
for <strong>Nigeria</strong>, Devolution of<br />
constitutional powers,<br />
appropriate governance<br />
system and structures for<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>, Citizenship,<br />
Indigenes - Settlers<br />
(Farmers - Herders)<br />
matters, Independent State<br />
Institutions<br />
&<br />
Commissions, Justiceable<br />
rights of Citizens,<br />
Framework for State<br />
Constitutions, Policing,<br />
Military Operations,<br />
Democracy and Guidelines<br />
for Political Parties, Tenure<br />
of office, Judicial Reforms<br />
& Access <strong>to</strong> Justice in<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>, Parliamentary<br />
Reforms & Principle of<br />
P r o p o r t i o n a l<br />
Representations in <strong>Nigeria</strong>,<br />
Civil Service Reforms,<br />
Youth and Women<br />
empowerments, Self<br />
determination Principles,<br />
Referendum/Plebiscite,<br />
among others that may be<br />
duly proposed by <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
stakeholders in the process<br />
of the National<br />
consultation.<br />
“This intervention has<br />
become imperative for us in<br />
the NCFront, as Citizens of<br />
Conscience, as it’s now<br />
quite clear that the<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>n Government and<br />
ruling political leadership<br />
in <strong>Nigeria</strong> have lost the<br />
legitimacy and capacity <strong>to</strong><br />
foster national harmony<br />
and political stability for the<br />
country and it will be<br />
formally be open <strong>to</strong><br />
delegates and the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n<br />
stakeholders on May 1st<br />
2021.”<br />
Our moves <strong>to</strong> save<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> – U<strong>to</strong>mi<br />
Stressing the need <strong>to</strong> save<br />
the country, U<strong>to</strong>mi said:<br />
“Beginning next week the<br />
NCF will collaborate with<br />
the New Fabian Society of<br />
the Concerned<br />
Professionals and select<br />
media organizations <strong>to</strong><br />
host Town Hall discussions<br />
on why <strong>Nigeria</strong> is sliding<br />
backward and how <strong>to</strong> save<br />
and rebuild it.<br />
“The first in the series will<br />
seek <strong>to</strong> hold professional<br />
bodies like The Bar<br />
Association, ICAN, ANAN,<br />
etc accountable for the<br />
conduct of their members<br />
in public life. The Bar<br />
Association can sure not<br />
escape blame and must call<br />
their members in public life<br />
<strong>to</strong> order if the judiciary,<br />
At<strong>to</strong>rneys-General and<br />
Elections Lawyers are the<br />
ones messing up our<br />
democracy.<br />
“We can challenge ICAN<br />
and Accountants on the<br />
corruption and<br />
transparency challenges in<br />
government. We can say<br />
the same for Bankers and<br />
abuse of state finances.<br />
So our Town Hall<br />
meetings will bring <strong>to</strong>gether<br />
experts, ordinary people<br />
and categories of<br />
stakeholders in conditions<br />
of frank talk.”<br />
We’re in unusual times –<br />
Ehusani<br />
Supporting the move,<br />
Ehusani said: “These are<br />
unusual times. Unusual<br />
times call for unusual<br />
measures, and sometimes<br />
from unusual quarters. I<br />
am happy <strong>to</strong> be part of the<br />
team <strong>to</strong> fashion measures<br />
<strong>to</strong> save our country. We<br />
can’t continue with what<br />
Britain gave us. We need<br />
<strong>to</strong> continuously review the<br />
basis of our staying<br />
<strong>to</strong>gether.”<br />
Lack of elite consensus,<br />
cause of our problems –<br />
Bugaje<br />
Also speaking, Bugaje<br />
said with elite consensus all<br />
of <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s nagging<br />
problems<br />
are<br />
surmountable.<br />
“We can resolve all the<br />
problems of <strong>Nigeria</strong> if we<br />
are determined. Absence of<br />
elite consensus is the major<br />
problem. The elites are<br />
pulling in different<br />
directions. Once we agree<br />
<strong>to</strong> pool resources <strong>to</strong>gether<br />
and work for the benefit of<br />
all instead of individuals,<br />
we will start making<br />
progress,” he said.<br />
We’re running out of<br />
time, says Awolowo-<br />
Dosunmu<br />
In like manner, Dr<br />
Awolowo-Dosunmu<br />
stressed the need for<br />
urgent measures <strong>to</strong> save<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong>,saying: “We are<br />
very close <strong>to</strong> the brink. We<br />
are running out of time for<br />
peaceful resolution of the<br />
problems. We can this from<br />
what is happening all over<br />
the country. I pray that this<br />
initiative will succeed.”<br />
We need political will <strong>to</strong><br />
save <strong>Nigeria</strong> – Ozekhome<br />
To Chief Ozekhome,<br />
pretence and lack of<br />
political will on the part of<br />
leaders are the stumbling<br />
blocks <strong>to</strong> rescuing <strong>Nigeria</strong>.<br />
‘’There is need <strong>to</strong> save<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> from the brink of<br />
the precipice. Some people<br />
are pretending that all is<br />
well but we know that all is<br />
not well. That a sore is not<br />
bleeding does not mean it<br />
has healed.”<br />
Wondering how far the<br />
NCFront move would go,<br />
Ozekhome recalled past<br />
efforts via the PRONACO<br />
conference of 2005, and the<br />
2014 conference, which<br />
leaders elected <strong>to</strong> throw<br />
in<strong>to</strong> the archive despite the<br />
over 600 resolutions and<br />
recommendations that<br />
would have saved <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
if implemented.<br />
“My worry is what has<br />
changed? What is our new<br />
narrative? The 1999<br />
Constitution is a fraudulent<br />
document. While we are<br />
working for <strong>Nigeria</strong>, some<br />
don’t believe in <strong>Nigeria</strong>.<br />
These are my worries so<br />
that we don’t engage in a<br />
fruitless journey,” he said.
36 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
YOUR LUCK TODAY<br />
By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139<br />
AQUARIUS: You should not have it <strong>to</strong>ugh while trying <strong>to</strong><br />
win the needed supports of others. Take good advice from some<br />
of your friends who are creatively gifted.<br />
PISCES: Your creativity quotient is enhanced <strong>to</strong>day and if<br />
you demonstrating this within your working arena, you’ll earn<br />
success and consolidate on your recent progress.<br />
ARIES; It is important you don’t take things for granted.<br />
Watch carefully what you agree <strong>to</strong> do.<br />
TAURUS: Better than yesterday. Others will be willing <strong>to</strong><br />
give you the needed co-operation both at home and within<br />
your working arena. This is a good day for lovers.<br />
GEMINI: Those of you who are more enterprising will have<br />
much <strong>to</strong> show for your efforts. The more cooperative you. Don’t<br />
neglect love.<br />
L E I S U R BE<br />
TAKE HEART <strong>—</strong> ELLA RANDLE<br />
Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the<br />
thrill of creative effort.” <strong>—</strong>Franklin D. Roosevelt<br />
Let your light shine more brightly, as you inspire<br />
others <strong>to</strong> be cheerful, be confident <strong>to</strong> be yourself.<br />
Trust your inner feelings and ideas, as they are<br />
divinely given <strong>to</strong>ols <strong>to</strong>wards inner peace and happiness.<br />
-Ella Randle -<br />
SAYINGS OF<br />
OUR PEOPLE<br />
The hyena<br />
with a cub<br />
does not consume<br />
all the<br />
available<br />
food.<br />
~Akamba<br />
Proverb<br />
CANCER: You will need <strong>to</strong> re-examine both your personal<br />
ideas and advice given <strong>to</strong> you by other people. Be family<br />
minded.<br />
LEO: Provided you don’t allow others <strong>to</strong> mislead you, things<br />
will not go wrong. The more willing you are <strong>to</strong> take the initiative<br />
the better for you. Take your love life more seriously.<br />
VIRGO: Although you will need <strong>to</strong> be as secretive as you can,<br />
your success will attract others’ attention <strong>to</strong> you <strong>to</strong> the betterment<br />
of your cause. Be ambitious.<br />
LIBRA: People who more influential than you will be willing<br />
<strong>to</strong> support your cause but you will need <strong>to</strong> make the necessary<br />
move. The more self assertive you are the better.<br />
SCORPIO: Challenges of yesterday will <strong>to</strong>day bring you<br />
good opportunities along your career/business lines <strong>to</strong> the betterment<br />
of your finances. Seek supporters of powerful ones.<br />
SAGITTARIUS: Think of the best way <strong>to</strong> improve on your<br />
working pattern in order <strong>to</strong> enhance your career prospects if<br />
you listen <strong>to</strong> your creative self, things will work out fine for you.<br />
Be more loving.<br />
TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”<br />
By Kola Fayemi<br />
CAPRICORN Think of both immediate and far future while<br />
you are savouring goodies offered you by mother nature.<br />
ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING<br />
DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O.OLAIDE<br />
ASTROLOGICAL our date and place of COUNSELLING<br />
birth <strong>to</strong> the Astr<br />
tr<br />
Send your dat<br />
trological<br />
Counselling, P.M.B 100<br />
007, Apapa, Lagos<br />
What does future have for me<br />
Dear Joshua,<br />
I don’t want you <strong>to</strong> publish my data. However, I want<br />
<strong>to</strong> know how the planets lined up when I was born. And<br />
which day of the week was I born, would I record success<br />
in life? When would my success come?<br />
Mathias, Jos.<br />
Dear Mathias,<br />
You were born on a Jupiter ruled day – Thursday.<br />
You’ll succeeded earlier than you think.<br />
Your Horoscope Data<br />
DAY OF BIRTH: THURSDAY<br />
SUN SIGN = PISCES: SUN IN 25TH DEGREE OF<br />
PISCES<br />
MOON SIGN: PISCES: MOON IN 21ST DEGREE<br />
OF PISCES<br />
MERCURY IN 28TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS<br />
VENUS IN 28TH DEGREE OF ARIES<br />
MARS IN 7TH DEGREE OF CANCER<br />
JUPITER IN ZERO DEGREE OF AQUARIUS<br />
SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN<br />
URANUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO<br />
NEPTUNE IN 11TH DECREE OF SCORPIO<br />
PLUTO IN 6TH DEGREE OF VIRGO<br />
NORTH NODE IN 6TH DEGREE OF PISCES<br />
CARDINAL AND MUTABLE STAR SIGN HOSTED<br />
THREE PLANETS<br />
EACH, FIXED AND WATER FOUR EACH, FIRE<br />
EARTH AND AIR<br />
HOSTED TWO EACH.<br />
PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 40%<br />
NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 60%<br />
HIGHLY HIGHLIGHTED STAR SIGN =<br />
AQUARIUS<br />
FINAL DISPOSITOR = SATURN<br />
ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA<br />
Saturn as the final deposi<strong>to</strong>r-the most influential<br />
planet at home when you were born, pointed <strong>to</strong> you as<br />
an ambitious person who must have a well developed<br />
career. You are a disciplined person with higher degree<br />
of leadership quality in yourself. Although, you<br />
can be emotional, you are stable and reliable. Less<br />
than 50 per cent of push-full influence in you is an<br />
indication of your being an amiable person. Both your<br />
natal sun/moon in Pisces and Aquarius are indications<br />
of characteristic of star signs are highly pronounced<br />
in your inner-self Having your hands on public pulse<br />
will always bring you unexpected success and<br />
fulfilment.<br />
Around your 30th birthday an endless cycle of great<br />
success and achievements will start for you. Oil-petrol<br />
chemicals will feature in your life when the predicted<br />
great cycle gets started for you.<br />
Congratulation.<br />
VIRGINIA<br />
dadadekola@yahoo.com<br />
HOME & ABROAD<br />
By Lawrence Akapa
VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 <strong>—</strong> 37<br />
El Chapo’s wife arrested in US<br />
over drug trafficking<br />
THE wife of jailed Mex<br />
ican drug lord<br />
Joaquín “El Chapo”<br />
Guzmán has been arrested<br />
in the US on suspicion<br />
of drug trafficking, US authorities<br />
say.<br />
Emma Coronel Aispuro,<br />
31, was detained at Dulles<br />
International Airport outside<br />
Washing<strong>to</strong>n DC.<br />
She is charged with participating<br />
in a conspiracy <strong>to</strong><br />
distribute heroin, cocaine,<br />
methamphetamine and<br />
marijuana.<br />
Guzmán is currently serving<br />
a life sentence in New<br />
York for drug trafficking and<br />
money laundering.<br />
The 63-year-old is a<br />
former head of the Sinaloa<br />
cartel, which officials say<br />
was the biggest supplier of<br />
drugs <strong>to</strong> the US.<br />
His trial in 2019 heard<br />
shocking revelations about<br />
his life, from drugging and<br />
raping girls as young as 13<br />
<strong>to</strong> carrying out the coldblooded<br />
murders of former<br />
cartel members and rivals.<br />
Ms Coronel Aispuro is<br />
due <strong>to</strong> appear in a federal<br />
court in DC via video conference,<br />
the US justice<br />
department said.<br />
As well as facing drug<br />
trafficking charges, she is<br />
also accused of conspiring<br />
with others <strong>to</strong> help her husband<br />
escape from prison in<br />
Mexico in 2015.<br />
He was sprung from<br />
Mexico’s maximum-security<br />
Altiplano prison after<br />
his sons bought a property<br />
near the prison and a GPS<br />
watch smuggled in<strong>to</strong> the<br />
prison gave diggers his exact<br />
location. He escaped by<br />
riding a specially adapted<br />
small mo<strong>to</strong>rcycle through<br />
the tunnel.<br />
Court documents said Ms<br />
Coronel Aispuro was allegedly<br />
involved in planning<br />
another prison escape for<br />
her husband before he was<br />
extradited <strong>to</strong> the US in January<br />
2017.<br />
She has not commented<br />
on the charges. Mexican<br />
President Andrés Manuel<br />
López Obrador said the arrest<br />
was “a matter that the<br />
United States will decide”,<br />
but said he hoped the US<br />
would share more of the<br />
details.<br />
Bazoum declared winner of Niger’s presidential<br />
election, opponent alleges fraud<br />
NIGER’s ruling party<br />
candidate Mohamed<br />
Bazoum was declared on<br />
Tuesday the winner of its<br />
presidential election, while<br />
his opponent alleged fraud<br />
and opposition supporters<br />
burned tyres in the streets.<br />
Bazoum, a 61-year-old<br />
former interior minister, won<br />
55.75% of the vote in Sunday’s<br />
election, according <strong>to</strong><br />
the elec<strong>to</strong>ral commission. He<br />
beat out Mahamane Ousmane,<br />
a former president<br />
who was <strong>to</strong>ppled by a coup<br />
in 1996. The provisional results<br />
must still be confirmed<br />
by the constitutional court.<br />
The election is meant <strong>to</strong><br />
usher in Niger’s first transition<br />
from one democratically<br />
elected leader <strong>to</strong> another,<br />
with President Mahamadou<br />
Issoufou stepping<br />
down after two fiveyear<br />
terms.<br />
Shortly before the results<br />
were declared, Ousmane’s<br />
campaign alleged widespread<br />
fraud, including the<br />
theft and stuffing of ballot<br />
boxes and threats against<br />
voters. It did not provide<br />
any evidence.<br />
“We demand the immediate<br />
suspension of the<br />
publication of these results,<br />
which do not in any way<br />
take in<strong>to</strong> account the expressed<br />
will of the Nigerien<br />
people for change,”<br />
Ousmane’s campaign manager<br />
said in a statement.<br />
Outside Ousmane’s<br />
campaign headquarters<br />
and in other parts of the<br />
capital Niamey, his supporters<br />
protested by burning<br />
tyres. Police fired tear<br />
gas <strong>to</strong> disperse them.<br />
The elec<strong>to</strong>ral commission<br />
has not yet commented on<br />
the allegations of irregularities.<br />
The vote was also marred<br />
by two attacks that killed<br />
eight people in two regions<br />
of the country where Islamist<br />
militants are active, commission<br />
president Issaka<br />
Souna said. Seven of the<br />
victims were election workers<br />
in the western Tillabery<br />
region, near the border with<br />
Mali, whose vehicle struck<br />
a landmine as they headed<br />
<strong>to</strong> the polls.<br />
Facebook reverses ban on news pages<br />
in Australia<br />
FACEBOOK has an<br />
nounced it will res<strong>to</strong>re<br />
news content <strong>to</strong> its users in<br />
Australia.<br />
The tech giant has blocked<br />
news <strong>to</strong> Australians on its<br />
platform since last Thursday<br />
amid a dispute over a<br />
proposed law which would<br />
force it and Google <strong>to</strong> pay<br />
news publishers for content.<br />
Australian Treasurer Josh<br />
Frydenberg said Facebook<br />
chief Mark Zuckerberg had<br />
<strong>to</strong>ld him the ban would end<br />
“in the coming days”, after<br />
the pair had talks.<br />
Mr Frydenberg said<br />
amendments would be<br />
made <strong>to</strong> the law.<br />
“Facebook has re-friended<br />
Australia,” he <strong>to</strong>ld reporters<br />
in Canberra on<br />
Tuesday.<br />
The government has been<br />
debating the law - seen as<br />
a possible test case for regulation<br />
globally - in the<br />
Senate, after it was passed<br />
in the lower house last<br />
week.<br />
Last Thursday, Australians<br />
woke up <strong>to</strong> find they<br />
could not access or share<br />
any news s<strong>to</strong>ries on their<br />
accounts.<br />
Facebook argued it had<br />
been forced <strong>to</strong> block Australian<br />
news in response <strong>to</strong> the<br />
proposed legislation.<br />
The government’s news<br />
code aims <strong>to</strong> set up a “fairer”<br />
negotiation process between<br />
the tech giants and<br />
news companies over the<br />
value of news content.<br />
But it has been strongly<br />
opposed by Facebook and<br />
Google - both argue the code<br />
misunderstands how the<br />
internet works. Facebook<br />
has also said it gets little commercial<br />
gain from news<br />
content.<br />
Hutu rebels accuse DRC, Rwanda<br />
after Italian ambassador killed<br />
RWANDAN<br />
Hutu<br />
rebels denied allegations<br />
they were behind the<br />
killing of the Italian ambassador<br />
<strong>to</strong> the Democratic Republic<br />
of the Congo and<br />
instead accused the armies<br />
of the DRC and Rwanda of<br />
responsibility.<br />
An Italian Carabinieri<br />
unit, meanwhile, was expected<br />
in DRC on Tuesday<br />
<strong>to</strong> investigate.<br />
Luca Attanasio died of<br />
his wounds on Monday<br />
after a World Food Programme<br />
(WFP) convoy<br />
came under fire near the<br />
eastern city of Goma while<br />
he was on a field trip. The<br />
Italian government said an<br />
Italian policeman, Vit<strong>to</strong>rio<br />
Iacovacci, and a driver it<br />
did not identify also died.<br />
DRC’s interior ministry<br />
blamed the killings on<br />
“members of the Democratic<br />
Forces for the Liberation<br />
of Rwanda [FDLR]”, a<br />
Rwandan Hutu rebel group<br />
that has plagued the region<br />
for more than a quarter of a<br />
century.<br />
But the FDLR rejected the<br />
allegation in a statement<br />
received by AFP news<br />
agency on Tuesday. It said<br />
the ambassador’s convoy<br />
was attacked near the<br />
Rwandan border, “not far<br />
from a position of the<br />
FARDC [DRC’s armed forces]<br />
and Rwandan soldiers”.<br />
“The responsibility for this<br />
despicable killing is <strong>to</strong> be<br />
found in the ranks of these<br />
two armies and their sponsors<br />
who have forged an<br />
unnatural alliance <strong>to</strong> perpetuate<br />
the pillaging of<br />
eastern DRC,” it said.<br />
The FDLR denied “being<br />
involved in the attack” and<br />
called on Kinshasa and UN<br />
peacekeeping force MO-<br />
NUSCO <strong>to</strong> “shed light” on<br />
the killings “instead of resorting<br />
<strong>to</strong> hasty accusations”.<br />
Govt College Kaduna arrives Lagos for<br />
Principals Cup opener<br />
•Igbobi College battle ready<br />
Players and officials of<br />
Government College,<br />
Kaduna are expected <strong>to</strong><br />
arrive Lagos <strong>to</strong>day for the<br />
opening match of the<br />
National Principals Cup<br />
football competition.<br />
The Kaduna boys have a<br />
date with Igbobi College,<br />
Lagos in the opening match<br />
of the developmental<br />
competition slated <strong>to</strong> take<br />
place at the Agege Stadium<br />
on Friday.<br />
A <strong>to</strong>tal of 18 players and<br />
three officials are <strong>to</strong> arrive<br />
Lagos <strong>to</strong>gether with the<br />
Principal of the school<br />
<strong>to</strong>day.<br />
The competition is a<br />
project of the ministry of<br />
sports in conjunction with<br />
the marketing consultants<br />
and organisers of the event,<br />
Hideaplus Limited and the<br />
event is open <strong>to</strong> all<br />
secondary schools in the<br />
country.<br />
The Minister of Sports,<br />
Sunday Dare, has<br />
reassured that the ministry<br />
was committed strongly <strong>to</strong><br />
the National Principals Cup<br />
because of its importance.<br />
Dare said: “We expect<br />
this event <strong>to</strong> bring back the<br />
lost glory in football at agegrade<br />
level especially now<br />
that our U-17 and U-20<br />
teams struggle in<br />
continental competitions.”<br />
The Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r<br />
of Hideaspus, Tony Pemu,<br />
has said all arrangements<br />
have been concluded for a<br />
very exciting Kick Off of the<br />
Anthony Joshua and<br />
Tyson Fury are on<br />
course <strong>to</strong> meet for the<br />
undisputed Heavyweight<br />
crown in the Spring, with<br />
discussions ongoing<br />
between both teams.<br />
WBC International<br />
Featherweight champion,<br />
Lowe who trains alongside<br />
WBC Heavyweight titlist,<br />
Fury and has featured on all<br />
of his recent undercards in<br />
the USA, believes the 32-<br />
year-old will s<strong>to</strong>p his rival<br />
inside five rounds and will<br />
be one of his easiest<br />
opponents.<br />
“I’ve said it from day one,<br />
I think Joshua is one of<br />
Tyson’s easiest fights,”<br />
Lowe <strong>to</strong>ld Pro Boxing Fans.<br />
“Because, he’s robotic, he<br />
hasn’t got good feet and<br />
when he throws threes and<br />
fours he gasses up.<br />
“If you notice when he<br />
hurts someone or if he does<br />
hurt them, that’s his<br />
weakness, he gets caught<br />
<strong>to</strong>urnament.<br />
Pemu said: “We have<br />
been on this for close <strong>to</strong> one<br />
year and we expect a good<br />
take off on Friday after<br />
which the preliminaries<br />
will start across the states<br />
of the federation.<br />
“I want <strong>to</strong> thank the<br />
minister of sports, Dare, for<br />
his huge support and<br />
fatherly role played as we<br />
go about this project. We<br />
want <strong>to</strong> use the event <strong>to</strong><br />
serve as feeder <strong>to</strong>urnament<br />
for the age grade<br />
competitions especially the<br />
U-15 and U-17<br />
competitions.”<br />
Meanwhile, Igbobi<br />
Thomas Tuchel has<br />
praised Kylian<br />
Mbappe’s ‘shark<br />
mentality’, but insists the<br />
Frenchman has some way <strong>to</strong><br />
go <strong>to</strong> knock Lionel Messi<br />
and Cristiano Ronaldo off<br />
their perches as the<br />
dominant forces in football.<br />
Talk of a changing of the<br />
guard heightened last<br />
week after Mbappe’s<br />
dazzling performance at the<br />
Nou Camp against Messi’s<br />
Barcelona.<br />
A stunning hat-trick has<br />
placed Paris Saint-<br />
Germain thoroughly in<br />
control of their Champions<br />
League last-16 clash and<br />
Joshua's one of Fury’s easiest<br />
fights, says Lowe<br />
College players have<br />
intensified training ahead<br />
of the opening match of the<br />
event billed for Friday. The<br />
school football team in the<br />
past two weeks has stepped<br />
up preparation at the<br />
school’s football pitch.<br />
Former internationals<br />
like Henry Nwosu, Haruna<br />
Ilerika, Stephen Keshi,<br />
Adokiye Amesimaka,<br />
Samson Siasia, Vic<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Ikpeba, Tajudeen Disu,<br />
Joseph Dosu, Franklin<br />
Howard, Paul Okoku, Chris<br />
Anigala, Godwin Odiye and<br />
Sam Bazuaye are some of<br />
the products of the<br />
Principals Cup<br />
competition.<br />
Tuchel: Mbappe has potential<br />
<strong>to</strong> be world’s best<br />
and he can’t deal with it. I<br />
think Tyson will knock him<br />
out in the first four rounds,<br />
honestly I do.<br />
“[I’ll] just say first five<br />
[rounds] I genuinely do. I<br />
think when Klitschko<br />
knocked him down and<br />
hurt him, Klitschko<br />
could’ve got him out of<br />
there, but with the old age<br />
and that maybe he was<br />
thinking about his legs and<br />
saving them a bit.<br />
“But, if Tyson catches him<br />
or hurts him, anything at all<br />
he’ll be all over him like a<br />
rag doll and he won’t be<br />
getting Tyson off."<br />
Head coach of the<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> Professional<br />
Football League Club<br />
Enyimba international,<br />
Fatai Osho has recognised<br />
the group of his team in<br />
CAF Confederation cup as<br />
one of the most difficult<br />
group, BSNSports.com.ng<br />
reports.<br />
Africa soccer governing<br />
body on Monday<br />
conducted the group stage<br />
of the CAF Confederation<br />
Cup and <strong>Nigeria</strong>’s<br />
representative were placed<br />
in the group A alongside<br />
Orlando Pirates from South<br />
Africa, Ahli Benghazi from<br />
Libya and ES Setif of<br />
Algeria.<br />
The People’s Elephants<br />
defeated Rivers United via<br />
penalty shoot-outs <strong>to</strong><br />
secure a passage <strong>to</strong> the<br />
led <strong>to</strong> suggestions Mbappe<br />
may have usurped the<br />
Argentine as one of the<br />
sport’s leading lights.<br />
Tuchel worked with the<br />
France World Cup winner<br />
during his stint in the<br />
French capital and has firsthand<br />
experience of his<br />
desire <strong>to</strong> succeed.<br />
However, he insists that<br />
he is still some way off the<br />
very <strong>to</strong>p, and that he’ll need<br />
<strong>to</strong> fight if he truly hopes <strong>to</strong><br />
overtake the two biggest<br />
names ahead of him.<br />
‘If he wants <strong>to</strong> be there, he<br />
has <strong>to</strong> push them [Lionel<br />
Messi and Crisitano<br />
Ronaldo] aside. That is<br />
clear,’ he <strong>to</strong>ld BT Sport<br />
pundit Rio Ferdinand.<br />
CAF Confed Cup: Enyimba are<br />
in a difficult group – Osho<br />
group stage of the<br />
competition.<br />
Osho while speaking on<br />
radio interview conducted<br />
by Ahmad Emmanuel on<br />
Jat<strong>to</strong> 102.7 fm, he<br />
recognised Pirate and Setif<br />
<strong>to</strong> be a strong forces in the<br />
continent.<br />
“Our group is very<br />
difficult one, ES Serif is<br />
from Algeria and we were<br />
there last year, we have Ahli<br />
Benghazi from Libya and<br />
we are playing them for the<br />
first time, then Orlando<br />
Pirates from South Africa,<br />
these are prominent names<br />
in Africa Football.<br />
“Setif and Pirates are<br />
former Africa champions<br />
just like Enyimba then one<br />
can see the pedigree of the<br />
team in that group ."
38 <strong>—</strong> Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
Falcons trounce Equa<strong>to</strong>rial Guinea<br />
9-0 <strong>to</strong> win Turkish Cup<br />
Super Falcons yesterday made<br />
his<strong>to</strong>ry as the first African<br />
winners of the invitational Turkish<br />
Women’s Cup in Antalya after they<br />
thrashed Equa<strong>to</strong>rial Guinea 9-0.<br />
The African champions won all<br />
three games in Turkey – 1-0 vs<br />
CSKA Moscow, 1-0 vs<br />
Uzbekistan and <strong>to</strong>day 9-0 vs<br />
Equa<strong>to</strong>rial Guinea.<br />
Ugonna Kanu put <strong>Nigeria</strong> head<br />
after just eight minutes of action.<br />
Captain Asisat Oshoala made it<br />
2-0 when she tucked away a<br />
penalty after the lively Toni Payne<br />
was fouled inside the box in the<br />
11th minute, before she scored<br />
again from the spot two minutes<br />
later.<br />
The Barcelona Ladies star then<br />
completed her hat-trick with a<br />
beauty on 26 minutes, when she<br />
sprung the offside trap of the<br />
Agent pockets<br />
550,000 Euros for<br />
Ezekiel loan <strong>to</strong><br />
Anderlech<br />
A<br />
<strong>to</strong>p agent pocketed as much<br />
as 550,000 Euros when Imoh<br />
Ezekiel went on a short loan <strong>to</strong><br />
Anderlecht as fresh facts have<br />
emerged over the shocking<br />
financial mismanagement at the<br />
Belgian club.<br />
Anderlecht are now heavily in<br />
debts, still reeling from such<br />
mismanagement.<br />
Het Nieuwsblad reported the<br />
shocking s<strong>to</strong>ry of how then<br />
Anderlecht <strong>to</strong>p official Herman<br />
Van Holsbeeck paid his good<br />
friend and agent Mogi Bayat a<br />
whopping 550,000 Euros as<br />
commission for the loan of the<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> forward.<br />
Imoh Ezekiel played on loan at<br />
Anderlecht from Qatari club Al<br />
Arabi between 2015 and 2016.<br />
Guineans before she rounded up<br />
the goalkeeper and slotted home.<br />
Payne provided the assist for<br />
Uchenna Kanu <strong>to</strong> make it 5-0 after<br />
36 minutes.<br />
Charity Adule scored with a<br />
header in the 38th minute and<br />
Payne will then net her first goal<br />
for <strong>Nigeria</strong> two minutes from the<br />
break.<br />
Debutant and FC Robo skipper<br />
Monday Gift made it 8-0 on 69<br />
minutes as coach Randy Waldrum<br />
gave a run out for several<br />
uncapped players.<br />
Skipper Oshoala grabbed her<br />
fourth goal of the day in the 85th<br />
minute for the Falcons <strong>to</strong> win 9-0,<br />
while Equa<strong>to</strong>rial Guinea’s misery<br />
was completed when a player was<br />
sent off soon after for dangerous<br />
play against debutant Ramat<br />
Abdulkareem.<br />
Tottenham players unhappy with Mourinho’s<br />
methods<br />
Jose Mourinho has split the<br />
Tottenham Hotspur dressing<br />
room with his “boring and<br />
frustrating” training methods.<br />
The pressure is growing on the<br />
Portuguese following a return of<br />
12 points from Tottenham’s last 12<br />
Premier League games.<br />
Spurs also exited the FA Cup at<br />
the last-16 stage <strong>to</strong> Ever<strong>to</strong>n earlier<br />
this month, though they are still<br />
in the Europa League and through<br />
<strong>to</strong> April’s EFL Cup final.<br />
However, The Athletic claims<br />
Injury threatens Awoniyi Eagles call-up<br />
Taiwo Awoniyi could miss out on a Super Eagles call-up<br />
for next month’s AFCON qualifiers against Benin and<br />
Lesotho no thanks <strong>to</strong> a thigh injury.<br />
Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has hinted on calling up the<br />
Liverpool loanee after a haul of goals in the Bundesliga.<br />
However, Awoniyi Bundesliga club Union Berlin announced<br />
the 23-year-old striker has suffered a thigh muscle injury and<br />
he will be out of action for “the foreseeable future”.<br />
Awoniyi was not listed for the team’s last Bundesliga game<br />
against Freiburg on account of the injury.<br />
He has already represented <strong>Nigeria</strong> at U17, U20 and U23<br />
levels.<br />
Suarez: Why I was annoyed with<br />
Barca<br />
Luis Suarez has lamented the<br />
way in which his time at<br />
Barcelona came <strong>to</strong> a close last<br />
summer, making clear that some<br />
people at the club were clearly<br />
trying <strong>to</strong> push him out.<br />
The 34-year-old spent six years<br />
with the Catalan club and became<br />
the second-highest goalscorer in<br />
their his<strong>to</strong>ry with 195 goals in 283<br />
appearances, yet he was <strong>to</strong>ld that<br />
he was no longer capable of<br />
playing for a team like Barcelona.<br />
“What really annoyed me was<br />
Afrobasket: D’Tigers’ debut excites Moneke<br />
Latest D’Tigers debutant, Chima<br />
Moneke is excited about what<br />
the future holds for him and the<br />
team following their qualification<br />
for the 2021 FIBA Afrobasket<br />
championship.<br />
Moneke who made his debut for<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> against South Sudan<br />
announced his presence on the<br />
international scene with 8pts and<br />
5 rebounds under 13 minutes as<br />
the D’Tigers secured a hard<br />
fought 75-70 point vic<strong>to</strong>ry.<br />
The power forward who plays<br />
for Orléans Loiret Basketball club<br />
in France, said it was an emotional<br />
moment for him, his parents and<br />
loved ones as he stepped on the<br />
court <strong>to</strong> represent his fatherland.<br />
“Making my debut for <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
was exciting and I am grateful for<br />
this opportunity. My parents, my<br />
family and friends are all very<br />
proud.”<br />
After being named in the 12<br />
man team invited <strong>to</strong> Kigali for the<br />
second window of the qualifiers<br />
last year, many <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns<br />
expected him <strong>to</strong> make his debut.<br />
Due <strong>to</strong> administrative reasons<br />
bothering on registration and<br />
eligibility; he had <strong>to</strong> sit the games<br />
out.<br />
With a decent performance in his<br />
first three games, the 25year old<br />
<strong>to</strong>ld <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns that they are yet <strong>to</strong><br />
see the best of him.<br />
He assured that with more time<br />
in the team and more games, he<br />
will surely get comfortable in the<br />
team.<br />
“I am excited <strong>to</strong> see where this<br />
can take me. As I play more<br />
games, I will get more<br />
that Mourinho is losing support<br />
from some key members of his<br />
squad due <strong>to</strong> the way that he<br />
works.<br />
The former Manchester United<br />
and Chelsea boss is said <strong>to</strong> have<br />
drastically altered the approach<br />
taken by predecessor Mauricio<br />
Pochettino, whom he replaced in<br />
November 2019, by easing the<br />
workload on his players -<br />
something that has not gone<br />
down well amid a bad run of<br />
results.<br />
comfortable and hopefully get<br />
more opportunities <strong>to</strong> show what<br />
I can do”.<br />
Not getting carried away with<br />
the recent success, Moneke is<br />
optimistic of a long and eventful<br />
career for <strong>Nigeria</strong> ladened with<br />
trophies.<br />
Five-time world champions <strong>Nigeria</strong> will know their group<br />
phase opponents at next month’s U20 Africa Cup of Nations<br />
when the draw holds <strong>to</strong>day at the Monotel Dar El Barka Hotel<br />
in Nouakchott, Mauritania.<br />
The ceremony, which will be conducted by CAF’s Direc<strong>to</strong>r of<br />
Competitions, Samson Adamu, will commence at 13hrs GMT<br />
(2pm <strong>Nigeria</strong> time) and will be broadcast on CAF’s digital<br />
platforms.<br />
Fatai Amoo’s charges made sure of a place in the finals after<br />
reaching the final of the WAFU B U17 Tournament staged in<br />
Togo last month, where they lost 2-3 <strong>to</strong> Cote d’Ivoire’s Baby<br />
Elephants. Both teams are flying WAFU B’s flag at the<br />
competition taking place in Morocco 13th -31st March.<br />
Hosts Morocco, Algeria (North Africa); Cameroon, Congo<br />
(Central Africa); Uganda, Tanzania (East Africa); Zambia, South<br />
Africa (Southern Africa); Cote d’Ivoire, <strong>Nigeria</strong> (WAFU B) and;<br />
Mali, Senegal (WAFU A) are the teams qualified for the finals<br />
and whose names will be in the pots on Wednesday.<br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> won the FIFA Cadet World Cup in 1985, 1993, 2007,<br />
2013 and 2015.<br />
Chelsea want Haaland<br />
‘at any cost’<br />
ROMAN ABRAMOVICH has<br />
ordered Chelsea’s transfer team<br />
<strong>to</strong> sign Erling Haaland ‘at any cost’<br />
as the Blues plot another bigspending<br />
summer.<br />
Chelsea are ‘quietly’ growing in<br />
confidence that they can sign Erling<br />
Haaland this summer.<br />
The lethal Borussia Dortmund<br />
striker is attracting interest from all<br />
around Europe, having scored 43<br />
goals in 43 games for the German<br />
giants.<br />
Manchester United, City, Real<br />
Madrid and Liverpool are all thought<br />
<strong>to</strong> be moni<strong>to</strong>ring the 20-year-old’s<br />
situation, and are attracted by the<br />
£65million release clause that will<br />
come in<strong>to</strong> play in 2022.<br />
But Chelsea believe that they can<br />
get ahead of the chasing pack by<br />
placing a bid BEFORE the clause<br />
becomes active.<br />
being <strong>to</strong>ld that I was old<br />
and that I couldn’t play<br />
at the <strong>to</strong>p level any more,<br />
that I couldn’t play at the<br />
level of a big team. That’s<br />
what upset me,” Suarez<br />
explained in an<br />
interview with the<br />
popular magazine<br />
France Football.<br />
“Barcelona kicked me<br />
out, they <strong>to</strong>ld me they<br />
didn’t have me in their<br />
plans anymore. Another<br />
question is if you still<br />
have a multi-year<br />
contract and the club<br />
wants <strong>to</strong> sell you.<br />
“But the club indicated<br />
that they didn’t want me<br />
anyway. They just didn’t<br />
want me anymore. I<br />
deserved a certain<br />
amount of respect.”<br />
Morocco 2021: Golden Eaglets<br />
know opponents <strong>to</strong>day<br />
QUICK TAKE!<br />
QUICK TAKE!<br />
SOUR GRAPES<br />
Luis Suarez has<br />
blasted<br />
Barcelona for kicking<br />
him out in the<br />
summer for being ‘<strong>to</strong>o<br />
old’.<br />
The Uruguayan, 34,<br />
has been a massive<br />
success at LaLiga<br />
leaders Atletico Madrid since his tearful<br />
Nou Camp exit at the end of last season.<br />
DIEGO-ING HOME<br />
Diego Costa is<br />
reportedly<br />
wanted by Sao Paulo<br />
FC, the rivals of his<br />
boyhood club.<br />
The striker, 32, left<br />
Atletico Madrid at the<br />
end of December <strong>to</strong><br />
become a free agent.<br />
Now according <strong>to</strong> Sky<br />
Sports, Costa has been<br />
offered the chance <strong>to</strong><br />
return <strong>to</strong> his home<strong>to</strong>wn.<br />
JUVE BEEN<br />
FRAMED<br />
Juventus are set <strong>to</strong><br />
star in Amazon’s latest<br />
All or Nothing behind the<br />
scenes documentary.<br />
And the trailer has<br />
revealed some unseen<br />
footage of Cristiano<br />
Ronaldo sulking in the changing room.<br />
LOADED DYCE<br />
Sam<br />
Allardyce<br />
revealed club<br />
chiefs often pressurise<br />
managers <strong>to</strong> play<br />
expensive stars even if<br />
they are flops on the<br />
pitch.<br />
The West Brom boss<br />
said having superstar<br />
players on huge<br />
salaries makes<br />
management much <strong>to</strong>ugher.<br />
DON THE<br />
SHIRT<br />
M anchester<br />
United are<br />
reportedly lining up a<br />
summer move for AC<br />
Milan keeper<br />
G i a n l u i g i<br />
Donnarumma.<br />
David De Gea’s<br />
displays have left<br />
plenty <strong>to</strong> be desired<br />
and English No2 Dean Henderson could<br />
step in.<br />
HAZ IT ALL<br />
Eden Hazard is in the world’s <strong>to</strong>p<br />
three footballers ahead of<br />
Cristiano Ronaldo, according <strong>to</strong> old<br />
Chelsea team-mate Filipe Luis.<br />
The Flamengo left-back, 35, thinks<br />
the Belgian star ranks<br />
alongside Neymar and<br />
Lionel Messi in the <strong>to</strong>p<br />
echelons of the game.<br />
In a single season at<br />
Stamford Bridge, Luis<br />
witnessed the Belgian<br />
at his scintillating best,<br />
winning the 2014-15<br />
Premier League and League Cup.<br />
Pele uses walking frame<br />
Brazil legend Pele cuts a frail figure<br />
in the new Netflix documentary<br />
focusing on his extraordinary career.<br />
Released on Tuesday, the film Pele,<br />
codirected by David Tryhorn and Ben<br />
Nicholas, involves a series of interviews<br />
with the former forward and those close<br />
<strong>to</strong> him.<br />
While the film goes in<strong>to</strong> detail never<br />
previously discussed by the 80-year-old<br />
in front of camera before, it is his<br />
physical condition that is perhaps the<br />
most telling s<strong>to</strong>ry of all.<br />
Entering the screen for the first time,<br />
Pele is only able <strong>to</strong> make his way <strong>to</strong> the<br />
chair in the centre of a room with the<br />
aid of a walking frame.<br />
Once he gets <strong>to</strong> the<br />
seat, he chucks the<br />
frame <strong>to</strong> one side before<br />
starting the interview.<br />
His mobility issues<br />
are accentuated later<br />
on, when he turns up <strong>to</strong><br />
a BBQ in a wheelchair.<br />
Pele has undergone<br />
hip surgery previously,<br />
but as his son Edinho<br />
since admitted, his<br />
recovery has not gone<br />
<strong>to</strong> plan.
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 <strong>—</strong> 39
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021<br />
TODAY’S CROSSWORD<br />
QUICK CROSSWORD<br />
YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION<br />
TODAY’S PUZZLE<br />
Sudoku<br />
YESTERDAY’S ANSWER<br />
ACROSS<br />
1 Farm lives<strong>to</strong>ck (6)<br />
4 Excellent (6)<br />
8 Workers' organisation (5)<br />
9 Sailor (7)<br />
10 Young hare (7)<br />
11 Move effortlessly (5)<br />
12 Soaked (9)<br />
17 Consumed (5)<br />
19 Russian tea-urn (7)<br />
21 Snubs (7)<br />
22 Roman meeting-place (5)<br />
23 Annually (6)<br />
24 Soundless (6)<br />
DOWN<br />
1 Pair (6)<br />
2 Robbers (7)<br />
3 Passenger ship (5)<br />
5 Perpendicular (7)<br />
6 Tedium (5)<br />
7 Gents' hairdresser (6)<br />
9 Car drivers (9)<br />
13 Melodious (7)<br />
14 Varied (7)<br />
15 Almost (6)<br />
16 Punctual (6)<br />
18 Shin bone (5)<br />
20 Civilian dress (5)<br />
How <strong>to</strong> Play Sudoku<br />
Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have<br />
two of the same number).<br />
Each row (nine lines from left <strong>to</strong> right), column, (also nine<br />
lines from <strong>to</strong>p <strong>to</strong> bot<strong>to</strong>m) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block<br />
(nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means<br />
that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.<br />
No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or<br />
multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.<br />
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