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Author: Our Correspondent

  • NBA membership nolonger compulsory for lawyers

    NBA membership nolonger compulsory for lawyers

    The recent amendment by the office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) to the rules of professional conduct of lawyer is sparking concerns within the legal profession as it has made NBA membership nolonger compulsory

    Confirming this development in a tweet is Lauretta Onochie, a special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on new media.

    Onochie in a post on twitter with a hashtag #SaiBaba, is gloating over the new amendment removing the requirement for NBA stamp and Seal on Court processes.

    She also revealed that the new amendment has removed the mandatory membership of NBA for Lawyers.

    See tweet below

    Lauretta Onochie@LaurestarA new gazette by the Federal Government has amended the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007, removing the requirement for the NBA stamp and seal on court processes. Before now, membership of the NBA was compulsory for all lawyers. Not Anymore!

  • Zulum to boost health sector in Borno

    Zulum to boost health sector in Borno

    From Dauda R Pam Maiduguri

    Borno State Government has concluded plans to recruit 84 medical doctors,410 pharmacists,nurses and midwifes  to manage the affairs of the health subsector for effective health services delivery across the state in addition to a hundred auxiliary staff, tosupplement the efforts of doctors, nurses and midwives in hospitals.

    According Governor  Zulum ,this will provide
    affordable and quality healthcare delivery to citizens of Borno state and that already, 
    government has approved the appointment of 365 nurses out of which about 50% of them are retired nurses on contract basis, while
    the remaining half are fresh graduates of the School of Nursing and
    Midwifery.

    Adding  that 84 doctors are to be
    employed on permanent basis just as other doctors to
    be engaged,would be on contract and sabbatical basis including the ones that will come to the state to work during
    their leave of absence and assured that the exercise will sustain the
    provision of what is requiredin Borno state.

    Similarly,the GOVERNOR has  also approved  the establishment of a foundation year programme
    in the School of Nursing and Midwifery in Maiduguri.

    In addition to the recruitment of the doctors, nurses, midwives and
    pharmacists, Zulum announced that 135 candidates  will be admitted into
    School of Nursing and Midwifery every year.
    Responding,the  House Committee on Health, hinted that the state government has
    directed the School of Nursing and Midwifery to admit 200 students into
    its programmes.
    Assuring that,“We shall do
    everything possible to ensure the provision of basic training
    facilities and equipment for students and teachers”,as about 200 nurses and midwifes are expected to graduate in the next three academic years.

    The Commissioner of
    Health, Dr. Salihu Kwayabura,said that stipends would be paid to all
    students.

    So that,“We shall enter into an agreement with the students that on their
    graduation; we’ll recruit them into the health sector,” he pledged.

    On infrastructure,the commissioner,hinted that the state government will soon embark on the
    construction of doctors’ and nurses’ quarters.

    “We shall also increase the carrying capacity of most of
    our General Hospitals,”Zulum said.
    This he enthused,will provide the needed
    healthcare delivery services to people across the state and urged Dr. Kwayabura, the health commissioner, the Health
    Management Board, Director of Primary Healthcare Agency, the Chairmen
    for Nurses and Midwives and Doctors Association, and the Chief of
    Staff, who is also a pharmacist, Chairman, House Committee on Health,
    to monitor the implementation of all programmes in the health sector.

    Still on employment,Zulum immediately directed the Hospital Management Board to employ
    45 pharmacists and 100 supporting staff in an attempt to revamp and bridge the gap between primary and tertiary HEALTH sytem.Ends.

  • Abia HMB Protest 14 Months Of Unpaid Salaries


    From Linus Effiong Umuahia

    Abia state Hospitals Management Board (HMB) Abia state today embarked on a protest in front of the hospital demanding from government 14 months unpaid salaries.

    The protesting workers carried placard which some of them read, “14 months Arrears of salary, HMB staff are dying, all we are saying pay us our salaries and 14 months is not 14 days”.

    Speaking to the press the chairman of  the eight labour Unions, comrade Echeta Chigozie said they are agitating for their 14 months unpaid salary.

    He said government appealed to them to forfeit the whole of 2019 salaries and assured them that they would begin to pay them fully from this year 2020, he said surprisedly government failed to pay August and September salaries which he said led to the protest.

    Comrade Chigozie stated that the most painful expect is that before any payment they are subjected to pains, “before we are been paid we must cry, raise alarm, plead to government to pay us,  our salary do not come as easy as other workers and we are pained about it.

    He said they have gone to the State House of Assembly to lay there compliant but nobody gave them an answer. He said all they kept  hearing is that there is no money adding that they stopped their subvention since 2015.

    Chigozie revealed that they have up to 17 hospitals across the state, he said the facilities in the hospitals are not working and they do not have enough equipment to work despite the fact that they provide essential services.

    He said their children can not longer go to school and the sick ones among them can not get adequate treatment.  

  • Zamfara police docks prominant APC chieftian, 16 others

    Zamfara police docks prominant APC chieftian, 16 others

    Zamfara state police command last Saturday arrested a prominant APC figure Alhaji Abubakar Dantabawa along with seventeen other party members and detained them for about seven hours.


    Findings by our correspondent reveal through reliable source that,  Dantabawa was arrested in his residence at about 9.00pm along with his political associates.


    The source said a combined team of heavily armed police and soldiers drove in trucks and stormed the residence of  Dantabawa, located at Tudun wada low cost area of the state capital Gusau, and forced themselves in  and made the arrests and immidiately conveyed them to the Head quarters of the police command.


    Official response from the police command through the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Muhammad Shehu said the arrests followed an intelligence security report that Dantabawa and his cliques were holding a meeting in his residence to reengineer the scourge of banditry in the state.


    Following their release Sunday morning, Dantabawa reacted against the claim by the police, and said the action was “flagarant violation of human rights and abuse of democracy as well as insult to humanity”.


    Narrating his experience at a press briefing today, Abubakar Dantabawa said as he spends most of his days away from the state, “I decided to come to the state last Friday when I got the information that my village was severely hit by flood desaster, destroying crops and washing away number of houses”.


    He said that moved by the magnitude of the damage done to his community, he felt obliged to render some humanitarian aid to the victims.


    And it is usual he said ” whenever I come home, my friends and relations vitit me as a welcome gesture, and at the moment of the arrests, I was with many guests as usual”, he said.


    Dantabawa further reveals that at about 9.00pm, he saw a team of heavily armed policemen trooping into his house and begun to arrest the guests, including himself, and “when I enqiure for an arrest warrant if any, the leader replied there no warrant and they were only directed to make the arrest.


    He said when they were conveyed to the police headquarters, they were asked to write a statement which ”I declined to do unless I was fully informed of the nature of our offence”, he said, “but we were later told that we were arrested for unlawful assembly”, he added.


    After pulling strings between leaders of my party and the police, “We were offered “unconditional” bail” which according to him, contradicts the claim later by the police that we were arraigned in connection with a meeting to provoke bandits activities in the state.


    He reasons that “if we were arrested based on such greivous charges bordering on security  matters, how would the police decide to grant us unconditional bail” he stressed.


    Dantabawa however claims that after the police unlawful traspass into his residence, “a sum of twenty million (N20m) naira was missing from his house, stressing that he, in collaboration with his party, have file a court case against the police to recover the Money and also claim for damages caused by the unlawful arrests.


    At another briefing hosted by the state chairman of the party Hon. Lawali M. Liman, he alleged that the illegal action was politically motivated to intimidate and scuttle the APC’S glaring chance of winning the forthcoming October Bakura Federal house of Representatives by-elections.


    He said his party is recording all the numerious unlawful actions and undemocratic attacks parpetrated and exececutef on APC members and on physical structures of the party,  but “we know the PDP is surely losing the elections based on its dismal performance and luck of administrative focus”

  • STAY OFF EDO ELECTIONS: HURIWA TELLS PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI.

    STAY OFF EDO ELECTIONS: HURIWA TELLS PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI.

    Civil Rights Advocacy group, HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has asked the President Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) (GCFR) to be a Statesman and not interfere in the coming election in Edo state to select the governor of the state.

    HURIWA said it was completely out of order for President Buhari to be seen extremely concerned about the outcome of the election when in actual fact as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he is holding office on behalf of the entirety of Nigeria and not the President of All Progressives Congress.

    The Nigerian President is by his Oath of office expected to be above board and must not be seen actively promoting one sided agenda but should be the CHAMPION OF A PAN NIGERIAN AGENDA. A PAN NIGERIAN AGENDA AS TO CONCERNS ELECTION IS THAT TENDENCY WHICH ENSURES THAT THERE IS ELECTORAL INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

    “We have observed with sock and disappointment that the campaign council setup by the ALL progressively Congress headed by the governor of Kano State Abdullahi Ganduje flew into Benin, the Edo State capital on a presidential jet belonging to all of Nigeria. If this trending news report is anything to go by, then we absolutely condemn this reckless display of political rascality and flagrant abuse of power which offends section 15(5) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states that:
    ”The state s0hall abolish all
    Corrupt practice and abuse of power”.

    “We, in HURIWA view this naked show of reckless executive power manifested in the illegal use of the people’s public jet for a partisan affair such as conveying the campaign team of the APC to Benin City as reported which we believe is meant to tell the electoral umpire that the President’s mind is that the electoral process be manipulated in favour of the party that controls presidential power which incidentally is the appointing authority of the INEC. We hereby warn INEC to ensure that the governorship poll is free, fair, transparent and peaceful. INEC must not be intimidated by either the federally controlled security forces or should they out of intimidation already displayed by the fact that the presidential jet was deployed to convey campaign team of APC, to then manipulate the electoral process. We want to caution INEC that any attempt to rig the poll may not augur well for stability of Nigeria. We appeal to both the PDP and the APC as well as other political players participating in the poll to see the election as an opportunity for the good people of Edo state to DEMOCRATICALLY ELECT THEIR FREELY CHOSEN GOVERNOR. THE PEOPLE OF EDO MUST BE ALLOWED TO EXERCISE THEIR FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS TO FREELY CHOOSE WHO SHOULD BE THEIR GOVERNOR. THERE MUST BE NO INTERFERENCE FROM EXTERNAL PERSONS BE THEY FORMER GOVERNORS, CURRENT GOVERNORS OR THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA. INEC HAS FAILED ON MANY OCCASIONS TO DELIVER FREE, FAIR, TRANSPARENT AND PEACEFUL POLL; NIGERIANS ARE WATCHING TO SEE IF THE EDO ELECTION WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MORALLY DEPRAVED INEC TO REDEEM THEMSELVES FROM PAST MISDEEDS. WE ASK THE SECURITY FORCES TO STAY OBJECTIVE AND TO ONLY WORK FOR PUBLIC GOOD AND MUST NOT BE USED AS AGENTS BY THEIR COMMANDER IN CHIER TO UNDERMINE THE WILL OF THE NIGERIAN PEOPLE.

    HURIWA wants the Edo state governorship poll to b a credible election. As stated by experts, we agree that inclusive elections provide equal opportunities for all eligible citizens to participate as voters in selecting their representatives and as candidates for election to government. This right to participate is a broad concept and can only be subject to reasonable restrictions that are provided by law. Authorities must take steps to assess and remove any barriers to the participation of all citizens. This includes removing barriers for traditionally marginalized populations such as ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities; women, youth or elderly citizens; and persons with disabilities. Reasonable restrictions on participation should be narrow, like a minimum age for voting and standing as an electoral contestant.

    Elections are transparent when each step is open to scrutiny, and stakeholders can independently verify whether the process is conducted honestly and accurately. The principle of transparency is linked to the fundamental right of citizens to seek, receive and impart information (which are elements of the freedom of expression), as well as the right to take part in government and public affairs.[2] Decision making processes must be open to scrutiny, and reasonable opportunities for public input should be provided. Information relating to all stages of the electoral cycle must be made available and accessible to citizens, including voters and candidates. Nonpartisan and partisan observers should be accredited to observe all phases of the election process and be permitted to comment publicly on the process free from unreasonable restriction.

    Accountability in elections refers to the rights of citizens with respect to the conduct of other electoral stakeholders, including the government, election management bodies (EMBs), political parties, candidates and security forces. Elections are a key mechanism through which citizens hold their governments accountable, but there must also be accountability within election processes themselves. There must be effective remedies in place for violations of citizens’ election-related rights. There must also be administrative accountability for those organizing elections and those conducting governmental activities related to elections. In addition, there must be timely procedures to bring to account those who conduct criminal acts that affect electoral-related rights.

    Elections are competitive when citizens have reasonable and equitable opportunities to compete to be elected to governmental offices. Political competition is a central component of elections that truly reflect the will of the people. The principle of competitiveness relates to aspects of the election throughout the electoral cycle. The legal framework must allow citizens to come together and register political parties to represent their interests, and provide access to spots on the ballot for parties and/or candidates. Parties and candidates must be able to campaign and voters to cast their ballots free from illegal influence, intimidation or violence.

    We condemn the reported posting of soldiers to protect the former national chairman of APC M.Adams Oshiomole . This report if proven, amount to a gross abuse of power by the President because soldiers ought not to be posted as gate men . This is against the constitutional of the Nigerian Arm forces as can be seen from relevant provisions from section 217-220

    Chapter 6. Part 3. Section 217. Establishment And Composition Of The Armed Force Of The Federation

    1) There shall be an armed forces for the Federation which shall consist of an army, a navy, an Air Force and such other branches of the armed forces of the Federation as may be established by an Act of the National Assembly.

    2) The Federation shall, subject to an Act of the National Assembly made in that behalf, equip and maintain the armed forces as may be considered adequate and effective for the purpose of
    (a) defending Nigeria from external aggression;
    (b) maintaining its territorial integrity and securing its borders from violation on land, sea, or air;
    (c) suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President, but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly; and
    (d) performance such other functions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.

    3) The composition of the officer corps an other ranks of the armed forces of the Federation shall reflect the federal character of Nigeria.

    Chapter 6. Part 3. Section 218. Command And Operational Use

    (1) The powers of the President as the Commissioner-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation shall include power to determine the operational use of the armed forces of the Federation.

    (2) The powers conferred on the President by subsection (1) of this section shall include power to appoint the Chief of Defence staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and heads of any other branches of the armed forces of the Federation as may be established by an Act of the National Assembly.

    (3) The President may, by directions in writing and subject to such conditions as he think fit, delegate to any member of the armed forces of the Federation his powers relating to the operational use of the Armed Forces of the Federation.

    (4) The National Assembly shall have power to make laws for the regulation of
    (a) the powers exercisable by the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation; and
    (b) the appointment, promotion and disciplinary control of members of the armed forces of the Federation.

    Chapter 6. Part 3. Section 219. Establishment Of Body To Ensure Federal Character Of Armed Forces

    The National Assembly shall

    (a) a) in giving effect to the functions specified in section 217 of thisConstitution;

    b) with respect to the powers exercisable by the President under section 218 of this Constitution, by an Act, established a body which shall comprise such members as theNational Assembly may determine, and which shall have power to ensure that the composition of the armed forces of the Federation shall reflect the federal character of Nigeria in the manner prescribed in the section 217 of this Constitution.

    Chapter 6. Part 3. Section 220. Compulsory Military Service

    1) The Federation shall establish and maintain adequate facilities for carrying into effect any Act of the National Assembly providing for compulsory military training or military service for citizens of Nigeria.

    2) Until an Act of the National Assembly is made in that behalf the President may maintain adequate facilities in any secondary or post-secondary educational institution in Nigeria for giving military training in any such institution which desires to have the training.

  • UBA USA CEO Sola Yomi-Ajayi Appointed to US EXIM’s Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee

    UBA USA CEO Sola Yomi-Ajayi Appointed to US EXIM’s Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee

    Sola Yomi-Ajayi, the CEO of the United Bank for Africa(UBA)’s operations in the United States, has been appointed to the Export-Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) Committee on Sub-Saharan Africa for 2020/2021.  Established by the US Congress, the Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee provides guidance and advice regarding US EXIM policies and programmes designed to support the expansion of financing for US manufactured goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    The committee is composed of prominent members of the US business community and Ms. Yomi-Ajayi is the sole representative of an African institution.  UBA USA is the only Sub-Saharan African deposit-taking institution regulated in the United States and provides a unique portfolio of banking solutions to corporates, governments, multilaterals, and development organisations transacting with Africa.  UBA USA can assist in trade finance, treasury, foreign exchange, transaction management and lending, drawing on UBA’s seventy-year heritage and unique pan-African network.

    UBA’s Group Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu, stated that the appointment is recognition of the role UBA has played over decades in promoting and supporting large and small businesses in all its 20 countries of operations in Africa.

    “The appointment of Sola, as a member of the US EXIM Advisory Committee for Sub-Saharan Africa is welcome news.  UBA’s global network of offices in New York, London and Paris, permits us to be the preferred financial intermediary between Africa and the rest of the world.  Our mission at UBA is fully aligned with the objectives of the US EXIM’.

    The EXIM President and Chairman, Kimberly A. Reed, who congratulated Yomi-Ajayi and the other appointees said, “With six of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world and more than one billion consumers, Africa is poised to play a pivotal role in the global economy.  Supporting US exports to sub-Saharan Africa is one of our top priorities at EXIM, and my deepest congratulations goes to the new members of the EXIM Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee”.

    Others appointed into the committee are Daniel Runde, who chairs the committee, C. Derek Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, Energy and Natural Resource Security, Inc; Scott Eisner, Senior Vice President, African Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Rebecca Enonchong, Founder and Chief Executive Officer AppsTech; Lori Helmers, Executive Director/Americas Export Finance Head, JPMorgan Chase Bank; Florizelle Liser, President and Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Council on Africa; Mima Nedelcovych, Chairman, AfricaGlobal Schaffer; EE Okpa, Principal, The OKPA Co; Marise Duff Stewart, Director Customer and Industry Relations, Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Company and Paul Sullivan, President – International Business, Acrow Bridge.

    EXIM is an independent federal agency that promotes and supports American jobs by providing competitive and necessary export credit to support sales of U.S. goods and services to international buyers.

  • Bandits kidnapp 17 family members in Chikum, Kaduna

    Bandits kidnapp 17 family members in Chikum, Kaduna


    From Ujah Simon, kaduna

    NEWS UPDATE
    The 17 persons earlier reported kidnapped today in a Uduwa village in Chikun local government Area of Kaduna state are all Gbagy by tribe, the chief imam of Uduwa village, Imam Hussaini has confirmed.


    Imam Hussaini who confirmed the incident in a phone conversation told our correspondence in Kaduna on Sunday night sai

    that the victims were both Muslims and Christian from one family.


    He also stated that all of the 21 Victims including the four other persons who narrowllly escaped with bullets injuries were going to their farm when Kidnappers struck.

     According to him, even thought a combined army and police personnel have launched manhunt for the bandits, nothing has been heard of the Kidnapped victims yet.


    Imam Hussaini confirmed that  the incident occurred in Uduwa village along Birnin Gwari highway on Saturday morning.


    However, the police Public Reations Officer of kaduna police Command, Mohammed Jalige, who was contecded earlier, is yet to respond.

  • Buhari Carpets Obasanjo

    Buhari Carpets Obasanjo

    Accuses him of promoting divisive tendencies

    Williams Anuku Abuja

    The presidency has reacted to recent statements credited to Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, where he stated that Nigeria is slowly becoming a failed state and a basket case that urgently needs to be pulled from the brink of collapse.

    In responding to Obasanjo’s assertions at a forum of socio-cultural groups in Nigeria which held last week, with the theme: ‘Moving Nigeria Away From Tipping Over’, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, said the former President was promoting division in the polity.

    He said Buhari has been consistent in discouraging tenure elongation at the continental level, but that on the contrary, Obasanjo was assuming a lowly level of Divider-in-Chief.

    Garba took on Obasanjo, saying, “In his most recent statement former President Olusegun Obasanjo attempts to divide the nation while President Muhammadu Buhari continues to promote nation building and the unity of Nigeria.

    ” The difference is clear. From the lofty heights of Commander-in-Chief, General Obasanjo has descended to the lowly level of Divider-in-Chief (to adapt the coinage of Time).

    “Before responding further to the unfair attacks on President Buhari and his administration by the former President, it is important that we categorically state that contrary to the assertions by a few analysts, the recent speech in which President Buhari advised West African Presidents against tenure elongation beyond constitutional limits has been consistent with his long held views on the need to adhere to the rule of law.

    “Even though he tried it and failed, the recent uptick in the number of such leaders proposing to do, or actually carrying on in office beyond term limits is sufficient to cause concern among democrats in the sub-region given its prospects of destabilizing the states and the region.

    “President Buhari’s advocacy is consistent with his principles and in line with the current policies of his administration and indeed that of the ECOWAS Charter which is that term limits must be respected and that the change of government is only permissible through the ballot box.

    “Having cleared this misperception, we hope that Chief Obasanjo would once again sheath the sword and rest the pretentiousness about the Messiah that has (mis)led him to pronounce often wrongly, as he disastrously did in the 2019 elections, about the life and death of Nigerian governments.

    “As some commentators are already suggesting, Chief Obasanjo should, in accordance with his mantra as a statesman, get involved with problems solving, when and where they exist instead of helping the mushrooming of a poisonous atmosphere of ethnic and religious nationalism.

    “Surely, he must have disappointed many of his local and foreign admirers by showering commendations on a few extremist groups who have vowed to shun the invitation to the National Assembly to participate in the process of constitutional amendment.

    “No doubt, he must have left those admirers confused in announcing the support for the boycott of a democratic process of changing the constitution, at the same time calling for dialogue and engagement.

    “The fact that the process he ushered in under his administration with the dubious intention of amendments that sought tenure elongation failed-as did two other attempts by the successor administrations of the same political party- does not in any way justify his dismissal of the exercise by the 9th Assembly as a another waste of time and resources.

    “To the credit of the All Progressives Congress-led 8th Assembly, the process of constitutional amendment was kickstarted and carried through, paving the way for, among other benefits, the financial independence of local government councils, States Houses of Assembly and the country’s Judiciary. These changes have already been signed into laws by the President as mandated by the constitution.

    “The recent decisions by the administration as they relate to subsidy withdrawal, helping to plug some of the most horrendous notorious holes and release of scarce resources for the more pressing needs of the people has also not escaped the ire of the former president.

    “It’s a known fact that the withdrawal of subsidies had been on the wish list of the Obasanjo-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. They failed in achieving these measures because, one there was a shared greed. They plundered the treasury as much as anyone could in the name of either subsidy or waiver with reckless impunity.

    “Two, is to say it takes courage and rare statesmanship on the part of a leader to do as President Buhari to shun populism and seek the best interest of the people and the state, providing the kind of reform and development that Nigeria urgently needs.

    “This President has run an administration focused on infrastructure and development. He has repaired our damaged relations with neighbours and our traditional allies such as the UK, US, China, Russia, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the others with lots of benefits to the country.

    “It is a pro-business administration that has used diplomacy to unlock bilateral trade and investment.

    “He leads a government that has liberalized the investment climate and market access by achieving reforms that have placed the country in the list of the world’s top reforming economies.

    “Nigeria, which other nations had mocked and ridiculed for so many things that were wrong is today progressing at a pace reflecting its size and potential.

    “With so much to show and many more coming, it is little surprise that President Buhari would be the object of envy and harsh unfair challenges by politicians who failed to deliver, but continue to nurse ambitions of delighting the audience long after their curtain has been drawn”.

    Recall that since Buhari assumed office as President in 2015, the Ex-President has been a major critic of the administration, especially for policies he(Obasanjo) most times describes as having less impact on the Nigerian citizens.

  • How America’s War on Huawei may boost Chinese technology

    How America’s War on Huawei may boost Chinese technology

    Huawei now looks likely to follow one of three paths. The first involves Washington granting licences to suppliers so that they can sell chips to the firm in a limited fashion. This would let Huawei stay in business—just about. MediaTek, a Taiwanese chipmaker that is one of its main suppliers, has petitioned America’s Department of Commerce (doc) for such a permit. To keep Huawei’s edge blunt, suppliers keen to produce chips designed by its in-house semiconductor unit, HiSilicon, are unlikely to be issued such dispensation.

    Even a debilitated Huawei may not satisfy America. The doc’s default setting is to deny permits. That would force the Chinese firm to take more desperate action, such as making its own chips using older technology that could be sourced from supply chains that do not include American firms. Pierre Ferragu of New Street Research, a telecoms-and-technology research firm, expects Huawei to do this within 12 months.

    This path has just become rockier. On September 4th Reuters reported that America’s Department of Defence has proposed putting Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (smic), China’s leading chipmaker, on the same blacklist as Huawei. The Pentagon alleges that smic works with China’s armed forces, and so poses a threat to national security. A blacklisting would destroy smic’s business, which relies on American machine tools. Its share price fell by almost a quarter on the news. smic denies having military ties and said it is in “complete shock”. The threat of such action may dissuade smic from teaming up with HiSilicon, as Huawei might have hoped.

    This leaves the third eventuality. Huawei may go bust, or be forced to sell off bits of its business. This would not happen immediately: at the end of 2019 it had cash reserves of 371bn yuan ($53bn), enough to cover operating costs for a year and a half. But if push comes to shove, it may offload HiSilicon. Huawei’s chip-design arm is one of the most advanced such outfits in the world. According to ic Insights, a firm of analysts, HiSilicon broke into the global top-ten design companies by revenue in the first half of 2020, the first Chinese firm to do so. Since it will no longer be able to design chips for its owner after September 14th, HiSilicon could profitably focus on doing so for third parties in China. That would generate a new revenue stream for Huawei. If instead Huawei were forced to shut HiSilicon, its laid-off engineers would be snapped up by chip-design teams at other Chinese technology giants like Alibaba, Tencent and ByteDance. Or they could start new design firms of their own; many are said to be slipping out pre-emptively.

    Each scenario worries firms like Qualcomm. The big American chip-designer lists Chinese competition as a risk in its annual filings. Last year Chinese sales made up $11.6bn out of Qualcomm’s $24.3bn in revenue. A HiSilicon liberated from Huawei would threaten those sales.

    Huawei is putting on a brave face. It says it will spend over $20bn on research and development this year, $5.8bn more than in 2019 and about as much as Amazon, a firm with double its sales. It hopes to gain new revenue streams less vulnerable to American attacks. These are unlikely to let up even if Joe Biden becomes president next year. But as Uncle Sam tightens the grip, it risks squeezing Chinese technology into a form which it no longer controls. Huawei hopes to hang on until then

    Culled from the Economist

  • Chinese Economic Bounce Back, a Demonstration of the will of Chinese people

    Chinese Economic Bounce Back, a Demonstration of the will of Chinese people

    By Austin Maho PhD

    In first quarter of 2020 the Chinese economy was in virtual lockdown as a result of COVID-19 which reach its peak by the end of March 2020.

    Business and economic activities were major casualties of the coronavirus outbreak with industrial output contracting significantly in the first quarter of 2020.

    Hubei province where the outbreak was first reported was in total lockdown and a similar faith befell many large cities in China as stringent measures were taken to contain the disease.

    By the second quarter of 2020 there was a gradual reversal as the unprecedented measures began to pay off and the Chinese economy experienced a rebound.

    While the global economy is on a tailspin, reporting negative growth as a result of COVID-19 the Chinese economy is set to record eppreciable growth this year.

    China now seems, on the face of it, to be the first economy to fully recover from COVID-19.

    J.P. Morgan recently boosted its 2020 China growth forecast to 2.5% from 1.3% in April. Economists at the World Bank and elsewhere have also upgraded their forecasts for China, the only major economy expected to grow this year. The level of total activity in China is now higher than it was going into the crisis.

    Across China, businesses are opening up and social activities are picking up. Children are preparing to return to classrooms.

    The remarkable bounce back of economic activities in China while far from China’s heady expansions of double digits in past years, should nonetheless help the world’s No. 2 economy move faster in catching up with the U.S., which is projected to shrink by as much as 8.0% in 2020.

    Furthermore the economic rebound of China no doubt projects Beijing’s belief that China’s state-led economic model, which helped the country navigate the 2008-09 financial crisis with minimal pain, is better than the U.S.’s market system, emboldening Chinese leaders at a time of rising geopolitical competition with the U.S.

    The rebound of the Chinese economy has also enabled China to come to the aid of the rest of the global community still suffering from Covid-19.

    As noted by Chinese president Xi Jinping recently at a ceremony to recognise role models in the fight against COVID-19 epidemic at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, in response to global public health “launched the most intensive and wide-ranging emergency humanitarian assistance since the founding of New China”,

    He revealed that between March and September of 2020, China exported 151.5 billion masks, 1.4 billion protective suits, 230 million goggles and 209,000 ventilators to support the global fight against COVID-19.

    China also made several donations to the World Health Organization (WHO) and dispatched Chinese medical expert teams to 32 countries.

    According to President Xi, the achievement is the result of strong leadership, the unyielding will of the Chinese people, the strengths of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, among others.

    Xi also used the occasion to state China’s commitment to its goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by working towards poverty alleviation and working to make up for the time lost and the damage incurred due to COVID-19.

    He also vowed to continue to support the WHO, aid countries and regions vulnerable to the pandemic and champion economic globalization and multilateralism so that the world economy can gain early recovery.

    The Chinese people according to Xi will continue to forge ahead on its “great journey in the new era” and would confront headlong every challenge that comes across its path.

    The remarkable recovery of the Chinese economy from Covid-19 evidently demonstrates the unyielding will of the Chinese people and the strengths of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

    Coming home, Nigeria has a lot to learn from the Chinese growth and recovery strategy.

    Notably, President Mohammadu Buhari has alluded much to the Chinese strategy and why it is a suitable model for Nigeria.

    At last week’s inauguration of the National Steering Committee for the Development of Nigeria Agenda 2050 and the Medium-Term National Development Plan 2021–2025, Buhari called on the Committe members to pay attention to the Chinese strategy.

    “The Chinese experience is an example. It has resulted in lifting over 700 million people out of poverty over the last four decades”. He said.

    He noted that China’s track record of positive economic growth, since 1992, was only halted in the first quarter of 2020, due to onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, which China has successfully overcomed and now on the path of growth.

    According to Buhari, COVID-19 presents the world - and Nigeria - with a crisis as well as an opportunity.

    The Chinese have confronted the challenge headlong and also seized the opportunity for economic growth and development.

    The world and in particular has a lot to learn from the Chinese strategy.

    Certainly as Buhari said, “the current global health and economic crises give us an opportunity to think afresh and chart an optimal path forward” , guided by the Chinese experience.