Leadership Newspaper April 03 2018

03.04.18

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No. 3,035

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Anti-apartheid Veteran, Winnie Mandela, Dies At 81

BY JONATHAN NDA - ISAIAH And OMONU NELSON with agency report

South African antiapartheid activist, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela , is dead. She passed on yesterday after a

protracted illness at the age of 81.

A spokesman of the family, Victor Dlamini, said Winnie died peacefully surrounded by her family, following a long illness that had kept her in and out of hospital since the

start of the year.

A statement by Dlamini to this effect noted: “She fought valiantly against the apartheid state and sacrificed her life for the freedom of the country.”

“She succumbed peacefully in the early

hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones.”

In her twilight years, Madikizela-Mandela had frequent run-ins with authority that further undermined her reputation as a fighter

Army Extends Operation Cat Race In Taraba

➔ Pg. 10

against the white-minority regime that ran Africa’s most advanced economy from 1948 to 1994.

During her husband’s 27-year incarceration, Madikizela-Mandela campaigned tirelessly for his release and for the rights of black South ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

APC Governors’ Forum Poised To Remove 6 Okorocha As Chairman Don’t Vote APC, PDP In 2019, OBJ Tells Nigerians

BY GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday implored Nigerians not to vote the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Party (APC) in the forthcoming 2019 general election.

Obasanjo said neither the apology being made by the major opposition party in the country nor the purported reforms being touted by the governing party should be accepted, just as he reiterated that both parties have failed the country.

The former Nigerian leader who stated this when the ‘New Nigeria 2019 Group’ led by the conveners, Chima Anyaso and Moses Siasia visited him in Ogun State added that the way forward is for all hands to be on deck.

L-R: Lagos State deputy governor, Mrs Oluranti Adebule; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; his wife, Bolanle and Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial district, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, during the commissioning of Aiyetoro bridge in Alimosho local government area, yesterday.

PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU.

➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Politicians Destroying 4 PDP Under Pressure Why We Are Focusing On National Varsity Education – ASUU To Sanction Mantu 8 Identity Number – NIMC 4

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LEADERSHIP

I

our stand

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

3

Marijuana For Medicals

n 2013, the world was taken aback when the President of the small Latin American nation of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, took a bold step of legalising marijuana. What this meant was that marijuana was made commercially available to the citizens of adult age.

Also known as Cannabis, report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Control, estimates that 183 million people worldwide used cannabis in 2015, more than 3.8 per cent of the planet’s population, while the global market worth is estimated at $7.7 billion.

The age bracket of majority of users is put at 20-24 years, with a higher number being males and in high income regions.

Such countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Western European countries such as the United Kingdom have higher problems with Marijuana. This is why efforts are being made in such countries to control the use and punish offenders.

Cannabis in Nigeria is illegal yet the country is a major source of West African grown Cannabis and ranked world’s eight highest producer of the illicit drug.

Though the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was established in 1990 to handle cases of illicit drug trade and consumption in the country, the fight still remains largely unsuccessful. Two weeks ago, the Nigerian Senate approved the use of Marijuana for medicals in the country.

Marijuana is a plant containing a psychoactive chemical, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in its leaves, buds and flowers. The short-term effects of marijuana include immediate, temporary changes in mood, thoughts, perceptions and information processing. People under the influence of Marijuana also display diminished capacity to learn and recall new information.

Other effects are feelings of panic, anxiety, and paranoia

which may be very frightening.

Occasionally, marijuana use may produce anxiety, fear, distrust, or panic, altered sensory perceptions and feelings of being invincible.

However, experts have posited that Marijuana could be recreational or social as well as medicinal. Medicinal Marijuana has been shown to be effective in reducing the

nausea and vomiting induced by cancer chemotherapy. It helps to stimulate appetite in AIDS patients, and reported to help in reducing intraocular pressure in people with glaucoma. There is also appreciable evidence that marijuana reduces muscle spasticity in patients with neurological disorders.

Recreational Marijuana is non processed and highly variable in

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Dele Fanimo

POLITICAL DIRECTOR/ STATE HOUSE Jonathan Nda-Isaiah EDITOR Muazu Elazeh

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Christian Ochiama

DEPUTY EDITOR Raliat Ahmed-Yusuf

ASS. MANAGING EDITOR George Agba COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD Suleiman Abdullahi

GENERAL EDITOR Silas Ezeugwu

GROUP LTD CHAIRMAN Sam Nda-Isaiah GMD, LEADERSHIP GROUP Abdul Gombe GMD, LEADERSHIP HOLDINGS David Chinda GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Dele Fanimo Felicia Ogbonlaiye Geoffrey Essien HR DIRECTOR Solomon Nda-Isaiah CHIEF PROCUREMENT & ASSETS OFFICER Mrs Zipporah Tanko DIRECTOR, HAUSA PUBLICATIONS Mubarak Umar GENERAL MANAGERS Ibrahim Halilu Femi Adekunle Ebriku John

LEADERSHIP is a national paper symbolically embedded in the nation’s capital.

We shall stand up for good governance. We shall defend the interest of Nigerian people even against their rulers, and we shall raise our pen at all times in defence of what is right. These are the values by which we intend to be assessed.

We shall never, ever for any reason forget the noble reason of our coming into being:

For God

and

Country!

potency. This is where the problem lies as this is often taken in by smoking.

Experts state that one would not know until ones first drag which could be quite dangerous. Marijuana use, they insist, impairs a person’s ability to form new memories and to shift focus. It also disrupts coordination and balance by disrupting parts of the brain that regulate balance, posture, coordination, and reaction time.

Therefore, learning, doing complicated tasks is also affected. At some doses, marijuana affects perception and psychomotor performance – changes which could impair driving ability.

While some experts call cannabis a public health menace that is addictive and destroys lives by robbing people of ambition, others call it a cure for everything from insomnia to glaucoma, and advocate its use as a medicine. The former wants it to be illegal; the latter wants it prescribed by doctors.

However, since the early 1980s, medical researchers have published about how cannabis relieves pressure in the eye, thus easing the symptoms of glaucoma, a disease that causes blindness. Without doubt smoking it do cause lung damage. And, like the legal intoxicant alcohol, cannabis can become addictive. This newspaper is worried that legalising medical marijuana is most likely to increase the availability and use of the illicit drugs, and pose significant health and safety risks. To this extent, it is ill-advised at this time given the preponderance of drug abuse in the society especially among the more vulnerable group-the youth. Add the legal use of the substance to the problem of unemployment, the country will have lethal bomb on her hands.

Already, Nigeria is plagued with a situation where non- enforcement of policy has become common which could embolden citizens to exploit the legalization of Marijuana for social use and other undesirable uses. We are, therefore, compelled to warn that this will endanger young people and ‘contribute to the early onset of addiction.’ In our opinion,, the classification or legalisation of drugs shouldn’t be a political issue. The views of professional must inform any legislation in that direction.

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Group News Editor: Ekele Peter Agbo Sierra Leone Presidential Runoff Result For Release Tomorrow

BY OMONU NELSON with Agency Report

L-R: Lamido of Adamawa, Dr Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa; Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II and former Vice President and Waziri Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar, at the turbaning ceremony of Aliyu Wakili Boya as Sarkin Matasa Adamawa at the Lamido’s palace in Yola at the weekend.

PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

Why We Are Focusing On National Identity Number – NIMC

BY KEHINDE SALLAH, Lagos

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) said it has not suspended the issuance of national identity card to enrollees contrary to reports in the media at the weekend.

Head, Corporate Communications, NIMC, Loveday Chika Ogbonna, in a statement sent to LEADERSHIP yesterday said, “The commission has not suspended the issuance of cards to successful enrollees at any time. Accordingly, all individuals who, upon completion of their enrolment, have received an SMS are invited to proceed to the NIMC Office where they enrolled to pick up their Cards from April 3, 2018.

“Persons who have not received an SMS can equally check the status of their cards on the NIMC website via nimc. gov.ng. Citizens and legal residents who have also relocated from where they enrolled are advised to visit any NIMC office closest to them to request a card transfer form, which they would fill, and submit to the state coordinator for processing,” he said.

Ogbonna, however, reminded Nigerians and legal residents that the National Identification Number (NIN) is the unique identifier and most important token issued by the commission and not the physical e-ID Card. “The NIN, which is fast gaining acceptance by

Nigerians, is a set of 11 nonintelligent numbers randomly assigned to an individual at the completion of enrolment into the National Identity Database (NIDB).

“The NIN is used to tie all records about an individual in the database and is verifiable via the NIMC Verification Service (NVS) portal which is made available to institutions and organisations upon request,” he said.

According to him, Section 27 (1) and (2) of the NIMC Act, 2007, states that transactions including application for and issuance of an International Passport; opening of individual and/or group bank accounts, all consumer credits;

purchase of insurance policies, purchase, transfer and registration of land by any individual; National Health Insurance Scheme, and such transactions that have social security implications, registration of voters, payment of taxes, and pensions, will be done with the NIN. “Thus, all NIMC stakeholders, including the media as well as the general public are enjoined to stop peddling half-truths, or outright falsehood, but rather, work with the commission to ensure the success of the National Identity Management System for national growth and development,” said the NIMC spokesman.

Politicians Destroying Varsity Education – ASUU

BY ADEBAYO WAHEED, Ibadan

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised the alarm over alleged plan by the ruling political class in the country to render tertiary education inefficient the way public primary and secondary education in the country were destroyed.

ASUU said in terms of education funding, all parties whether Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or All Progressives Congress (APC) have failed Nigerian children.

The chairman, ASUU, University of Ibadan chapter, Dr Deji Omole in a statement yesterday in Ibadan said the plan became obvious with the refusal of the ruling APC to inject revitalisation fund into public university education in the country to assist children of the downtrodden enjoy qualitative education and be able to challenge misrule in future.

According to ASUU, only former President Goodluck Jonathan injected N200 billion for the revitalisation of public universities after an

industrial action of almost six months in 2013.

The union and federal government agreed that a sum of N1.13 trillion would be injected into public universities over a period of six years but federal government only paid N200million in 2013 and nothing till date.

It lambasted the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for not changing anything in the area of revitalisation of public universities even after the union went on strike in 2017.

He noted that infrastruc-

ture in Nigeria’s public universities were worse now than when the federal government conducted the NEEDS assessment on public universities in 2012.

“Public universities are grossly underfunded leading to serious pressure on the available resources which have been stretched beyond elastic limits. Many qualified candidates cannot be absolved into the system due to lack of adequate facilities. Children of the masses are housed in zoo-like condition,” he added.

The final result of the Sierra Leone presidential run-off election will not be known until Wednesday, according to Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the UN envoy in West Africa.

Chambas told the BBC correspondent that the result would be announced “within the next 48 hours”.

The stalemate between the two political parties as to which system of tallying to use has been resolved, Chambas said.

“It will be a blend of the existing system and the Excel spreadsheet.

Tallying which was halted is to resume”, he said.

The two candidates, Samura Kamara of the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) and Julius Maada Bio, of the opposition SLPP have both claimed victory.

According to the result announced, Maada Bio has had 1,162,828 votes out of the 2,149,134 votes cast, representing 54.1 per cent. Kamara has 986,306 votes, representing 45 per cent.

The SLPP has been reporting various harassment of its supporters by state security forces since the end of the poll.

Budget: SGF Organises Compulsory Retreat For CEOs, MDAs The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, has ordered the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Accounting officers of Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) to attend a compulsory retreat.

The SGF gave the directive in a statement signed by Mr Lawrence Ojabo, Director, Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), yesterday in Abuja.

He quoted the SGF as saying that the retreat would centre on the Public Procurement Act,2017 and effective implementation of the 2018 budget.

He explained that the retreat, which was scheduled to hold on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja at 8.00 a.m, was organised in conjunction with the Bureau of Public Procurement(BPP).

“The retreat is to ensure effective implementation of the 2018 budget.

“It will address all identified inadequacies or deficiencies in 2017, with a view to enhancing 2018 budget implementation.”

He noted that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred E. Oyo-Ita would be the Guest of Honour, while the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Alhaji Muhammad Bello the Chief Host.

Registration and collection of retreat materials will take place on Friday, April 6, at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja from 2.00 p.m.

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APC Governors’ Forum Poised To Remove Okorocha As Chairman

BY ANDREW ESSIEN, Abuja

Indications emerged yesterday that governors under the platform of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) have concluded plans to remove Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, as chairman of their forum.

LEADERSHIP gathered reliably that majority of the governors have agreed among themselves to serve Okorocha quit notice, following what they described as highhandedness and overbearing attitude.

A competent source close to the forum told our correspondent that the governors “resolved last night to remove him (Okorocha) as chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum because he has derailed as far as providing leadership and direction for the forum is concerned.”

According to our source who did not want his name in print, the governors are not happy with Okorocha who they accused of using his influence as their chairman to mislead the ruling party, adding that his activities are also responsible for the internal wrangling within the party.

He said Okorocha is also accused of undermining the integrity of the forum by engaging in unsolicited negotiations with other caucuses of the party without due consultation.

Governor Okorocha, the source continued, also incurred the wrath of his colleagues for allegedly convening meetings without consulting them on issues to deliberate on.

“The governors are also worried about Okorocha’s undemocratic tendencies, which according to them, threaten the nation’s democracy”, our source hinted, noting that members of the forum vowed last night “to put a stop to all of these”.

Also, another source close to the party’s leadership hinted that Governor Rochas Okorocha’s troubles with his colleagues may not be unconnected to his role in the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC held in February, in which a one year extension for the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee (NWC) was approved.

The one-year extension was expected to commence on June 30, 2018 when the current tenure ended

before President Muhammdu Buhari unexpectedly upturned the NEC decision penultimate Tuesday.

LEADERSHIP learnt that while NEC members had agreed to extend the tenure of all elected and appointed officers of the party in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Governor Okoroacha and some others moved against it, a development which drew the ire of the majority that eventually carried the day.

It was further learnt that the decision for the tenure extension was finally taken after a head count in which 104 NEC members supported the tenure extension for the Oyegunled NWC and others as against four members who opposed the move.

The source said those who were opposed to the extension included Governors Okorocha and Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State.

If the APC governors eventually remove Okorocha as their chairman, it would mark the end of his over fouryear regime.

He was elected as chairman of the Okorocha forum after series of meetings by aegis of Progressive Governors Forum then opposition governors under the (PGF) in December 13, 2013.

Don’t Vote APC, PDP In 2019, OBJ Tells Nigerians FROM COVER

He said, “You see, I have publicly said and I mean it that as a party, neither PDP nor APC can get us there as they have been.

Never mind about reforms and apology and all that.

“And yet we have to get there. I asked one of the foundation members of PDP, the PDP when we started, was it a grassroots party? He said it was an elitist party. Really, we have never had the so-called grassroots party. Even NEPU which we could say is the nearest was not grassroots enough.

“And I believe strongly that we must have a strong popular grassroots movement to bring about the change, sustainability and

stability that we need in our democracy and development.

“I am happy to meet with you, but don’t take anything for granted. There will be a lot of work that we have to do. What those I call power addicts would want to do is to divide you based on gender, age, tribe, religion and region. You have one commonality – interest of Nigeria. And it doesn’t matter where you come from. We had that interest”.

Obasanjo further noted that Nigeria at the moment has an ineffective government, which has made Nigerians victims and casualties in their own country.

His words: “The truth is this: when you have an ineffective and incompetent

government, we are all victims. And don’t let anybody deceive you. Those of you who are in business, your business could have been better today if we have a competent and effective and performing government.

“As I said, stop giving excuses; we met challenges. If there are no challenges, then we wouldn’t need you to come. You come in because you know there are challenges and then giving us excuse that you have many challenges, that is why you haven’t achieved results.

“And then you still want to go. The first lesson I learnt in my military training is never reinforcing failure. What we have now is failure. Never you reinforce failure.

Let failure be failure.

Anti-apartheid Veteran, Winnie Mandela, Dies At 81 FROM COVER

Africans, suffering years of detention, banishment and arrest by the white authorities.

She remained steadfast and unbowed throughout, emerging to punch the air triumphantly in the clenched-fist salute of black power as she walked hand-inhand with Mandela out of Cape Town’s Victor Vester prison on Feb. 11, 1990.

For husband and wife, it was a crowning moment that led four years later to the end of centuries of white domination when Mandela became South Africa’s first black president.

For Madikizela-Mandela, the end of apartheid marked the start of a string of legal and political troubles that, accompanied by tales of her glamorous living, kept her in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

Blamed for the killing of activist Stompie Seipei, who was found near her Soweto home with his throat cut, she was convicted in 1991 of kidnapping and assaulting the 14-year-old because

he was suspected of being an informer.

Her six-year jail term was reduced on appeal to a fine.

She and Mandela separated in 1992 and her reputation slipped further when he sacked her from his cabinet in 1995 after allegations of corruption.

The couple divorced a year later, after which she adopted the surname Madikizela-Mandela.

Appearing at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) set up to unearth atrocities committed by both sides in the anti-apartheid struggle, Madikizela-Mandela refused to show remorse for abductions and murders carried out in her name.

Only after pleading from anguished TRC chairman Archbishop Desmond Tutu did she admit grudgingly that “things went horribly wrong”.

In its final report, the TRC ruled that Madikizela-Mandela was “politically and morally accountable for the gross violations of human rights committed by the Mandela United Football Club” (MUFC).

Four years later, she was back in court, facing fraud and theft charges in relation to an elaborate bank loan scheme.

“Somewhere it seems that something went wrong,” magistrate Peet Johnson said as he sentenced her to five years in jail, later overturned on appeal. “You should set the example for all of us.”

Born on Sept. 26, 1936, in Bizana, Eastern Cape province, MadikizelaMandela became politicised at an early age in her job as a hospital social worker.

“I started to realize the abject poverty under which most people were forced to live, the appalling conditions created by the inequalities of the system,” she once said.

Strikingly attractive and with a steely air – her given name, Nomzamo, means ‘one who strives’ – the 22-yearold Winnie caught the eye of Mandela at a Soweto bus-stop in 1957, starting a whirlwind romance that led to their marriage a year later. (Reuters/NAN) ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

“And if you do not see what you should see, you will then be a victim of what you don’t like because it’s only when you see what you should see and you do what you should do that you put away what you do not like. And if you don’t see what you should see and you don’t do what you should do, you will be a victim of what you don’t like.”

According to him, some members of the APC and PDP still have integrity and can help Nigeria succeed.

Obasanjo continued: “But let us bring together all these movements because we are pursuing the same thing. If we allow ourselves to be taken piecemeal, it is finished. Now if we are together… Yes, I said you cannot take PDP as it is and APC as it is, but they are not all made of evil people.

“There are good people. I said PDP is leprous hand, APC is leprous hand, but there are some clean fingers in them. So, let’s take those clean fingers in them and graft the clean fingers in our own. That is the way to go and if we go that way, we will get there, we will move together, and we will move fast and we will move far”.

HOW DO FRUIT AND VEGETABLES KEEP YOU YOUNG? These foods are rich in vitamins and minerals that keep the body healthy. They also contain chemicals called antioxidants, such as carotene, which are thought to protect against damaging chemicals (‘free radicals) that get into the body. Regular consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables will keep your bones, teeth and organs healthy and will improve the look of your skin. Basically, this is how they contribute to keeping you looking and feeling young, although the exact way in which they prevent disease is not fully understood.

– Culled from 100 Best Ways To Stay Young

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NEWS 7

84 Companies Fail To Pay Dividends In 5 Years

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

84 companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) have not paid dividends to their shareholders over the past five years.

According to information obtained from the NSE, the figure represents 49 per cent of the 171 companies listed on the daily official list of the NSE as at March 29, 2017.

Dividends are corporate earnings companies pass on to their shareholders, which can be in the form of cash payments or shares of stock.

Dividends may be issued over various timeframes and payout rates.

For many investors, dividend-paying stocks have come to make a lot of sense in Nigeria given the almost cultural belief that making returns on investment is the essence of engaging in any investment or business plan.

Dividend policy, no doubt, influences the decision of both local and foreign investors.

The 84 companies that have not been paying dividends are spread across different sectors of the NSE, with some of them yet to pay dividends for over 10 years.

These companies are yet to return any money to shareholders who have invested in the growth of the quoted companies.

Under the Alternative Securities Market (ASEM), out of the 10 companies listed on the sector, seven have not paid dividends to their shareholders in the last seven years.

FTN Cocoa listed paid dividend under agriculture sub-sector last in 2010, while John Holts Plc under Conglomerate sub-sector paid dividend last in 2005.

Under the Construction/ Real Estate sub-sector, John Holts, AG Leventis, SCOA, Arbico, ROADS, UAC Properties, Skye Shelter, Union Homes and UPDC Real Estate paid dividends last in 2005, 2016, 2015, 1996, 2014, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2013, 2014 and 2014, respectively.

In the brewery sub-sector, Champion Breweries Plc last paid dividend to its shareholders in 1986, Golden Guinea Breweries 1997 and International Breweries 2015.

In the chemical and paints sub-sector, First Aluminum, DN Meyer Plc and Portland Paints last declared dividends

Onyema

were in 2006, 2008 and 2011 respectively, while Africa and Premier Paints Plc’s last declaration dates back to 2001.

Also, under the Insurance sub-sector, out of the 26 stocks listed on the sector, 13 are yet to pay dividend in the last 10 years.

Investigations revealed that the poor performance of some of these stocks on the floor of the NSE arose from low returns that accrue to investors

from their investment in the companies.

Capital market analysts have attributed poor performance of the companies to harsh operating environment and bad management, while others noted that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the NSE insistence on some exorbitant levies and other unrealistic listing and postlisting requirements affected companies’ performance.

They said that for companies battling to keep their head above water due to recession and unfriendly business environment, meeting those charges and fees remain a mirage, as this is part of the reasons companies have not paid dividends to their investors in the last few years.

The managing director of HighCap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri, said it is natural for shareholders of quoted companies to anticipate dividend payment at the end of every financial calendar year and yet it must be appreciated that companies do and can decide to reinvest the profit made in the business through retained earnings.

According to Adonri, some believe that company profits are best reinvested back into the company, while others are in support of companies that return profits to shareholders.

The former group tend to view such company management as having run out of good ideas for the future of the company and may impact the fortunes of the stock in a clime that has been traditionally sold the message that dividend payout is a measure of progress.

He however said not paying

dividend for a long period of years showed that the companies might be facing serious financial constraints, adding that it is not good for shareholders to have investments that do not yield dividends.

National coordinator, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr Boniface Okezie, said it was heart-rending to have one’s investments tied down in companies that did not declare dividends.

“No one will be happy to have an investment that does not yield dividend, so the companies that do not pay dividends are not encouraging the shareholders. They should call for meetings and tell us why they have not declared dividends for this long,” he said.

A broker with Calyxt Securities Limited, Tunde Oyediran, advised investors to get close to their companies and find out why they have not been able to declare dividends.

“The companies also belong to the shareholders. So, it will be wise for investors to go nearer to their companies and find out why they are not performing in the payment of dividends,” he said.

Anti-apartheid Veteran, Winnie Mandela, Dies At 81 FROM PAGE 6

Africa Has Lost A Courageous Woman PMB Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has described the passing away of South-African antiapartheid icon, Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, as a huge loss to Africa.

Describing the late Winnie as a courageous woman, the president noted that she was a woman of uncommon determination, steadfastness and perseverance who held aloft the torch of the struggle against institutionalised discrimination even while her ex-husband, the late Madiba, Nelson Mandela was incarcerated.

A statement by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, yesterday noted that President Buhari, on behalf of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, commiserated with the family of the deceased, the government and people of South Africa Shehu said Buhari urged them to be consoled by the knowledge that the late Winnie Mandela’s contributions to ending apartheid will not be forgotten.

According to Buhari, she remained a pride not only to the African woman, but indeed all Africans.

The president prayed “God Almighty to comfort all those who mourn the departed and grant her soul eternal rest”.

Women Activists Mourn Late Winnie Mandela Also, a cross section of women activists in Enugu have expressed shock over the demise of Winnie Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid activist and former wife of late President Nelson Mandela.

A onetime UN Rapporteur on Human trafficking, Prof Joy Ezeilo, described late Winnie as an “astute activist who fought the Apartheid Government to a standstill’ under the African National Congress (ANC) banner”.

Ezeilo who is also the Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, said that Winnie popularly known as Mama Afrika, held forte all through the incarceration of late Nelson Mandela.

She said, “She was a frontline feminist and Pan Africanist who led the emancipation struggle for black South Africans. The

apartheid white minority never forgave her bravery and role in galvanizing the world to end apartheid.

“Fate dealt a blow and she never got the commendation she deserved as an extraordinary nationalist.

She had straight of

character. This is a huge loss to Africa. May her warrior soul rest in perfect peace, Amen.’’

Mrs Joy Onyenso, Executive Director, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, said she was shocked over Winnie’s

death.

She noted: “I feel so sad to learn of Winnie Mandela’s death. One of the things that I admire most about her is her sense of humour and resilience.

“Love her or judge her, we cannot take away the fact that she had

been an embodiment of complexities and she rose gallantly above the situation to carve a niche for herself. We have indeed lost another historical figure. The story of South African cannot be told without mentioning Winnie Mandela”.

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CRBDA Board Resolves To Institute Accountability, Transparency

BY TUNDE OGUNTOLA, Abuja

Officials of Nigerian Air Force during Easter celebration for service men engaged in the war against Boko Haram in Maiduguri, yesterday. PHOTO BY

FG Raises The Alarm Over Unhealthy Imported

BY TUNDE OGUNTOLA, Abuja

The federal government yesterday raised the alarm over the unhealthy status of smuggled rice being imported and dumped in the country.

The minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Lagos urged Nigerians not to consume them.

He said with his purposeful leadership, President Muhammadu Buhari has consistently said that the nation must produce what it consumes.

The minister appealed to Nigerians to complement the efforts of the government by consuming only locally grown and processed rice.

He said, “It is fresher. It is tastier. It is healthier. It has not spent months on the high seas and warehouses.

We don’t know where or how imported rice is made or how old it is?

It is reported that most of the rice dumped on us are old and probably rejects.

“The citizens of those countries do not eat this rice. The citizens of Benin also do not eat it. But they send it to us. Unhealthy foods are dangerous to health. So, let’s eat what we can vouch for.

“But Nigerians should remember that every time they eat imported rice, they are eating the jobs that

would have been created for Nigerians and instead funding the creation of jobs in the source countries.

Just imagine that less than three years into the rice revolution, millions of jobs have been created in the whole value chain”.

The minister lamented that rice smuggling is the biggest challenge facing rice production in Nigeria.

He stated: “According to the Rice Millers Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (RIMIDAN), over two million metric tonnes of parboiled rice were smuggled into Nigeria in 2017. Smuggled rice is primarily sourced from Thailand and India and comes into Nigeria through the country’s borders with Benin, Niger and Cameroon.

“Let us look at rice smuggling through Benin. The total demand for white rice (white rice is consumed in Benin, against parboiled rice in Nigeria) is 400,000 metric tonnes. Yet the country, with a population of about 11 million, imports between 1m and 1.2 million metric tonnes of rice annually. Who are they importing for?

“Nigerians of course. In fact, as Nigeria’s rice import falls, Benin’s rice import increases. Most of the parboiled rice imported by Benin eventually lands in Nigeria through smuggling.

“Both Cameroon and Benin Re-

publics have lowered tariff payable on rice to zero and five per cent respectively to encourage importation and subsequent smuggling of the product into Nigeria.”

Mohammed said the agricultural revolution in general and the rice revolution in particular have taken millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

“As a matter of fact, today, 60% of rice eaten in Nigeria is produced in Nigeria. In the words of the rice processors, the rice revolution alone is enough to guarantee reelection for President Buhari, if he decides to run again!” He noted.

The minister added that the result is the exponential growth in local rice production that has moved the nation closer to ending rice importation.

He said within two years, rice importation from Thailand fell from 644,131 Metric Tons (in September 2015) to 20,000 MT (in Sept. 2017).

His words: “That’s over 90% drop! Let me put things in perspective. So far, less than 100 billion Naira has been spent on the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme that has achieved so much.

“Meanwhile, in April 2008, the federal government had to quickly release 80 billion Naira from the Natural Resources Development Fund to import 500,000 MT of rice in or-

der to cushion what it said was the effect of a global disaster. Imagine that we have ploughed that money into rice production in 2008! We would have been exporting rice by now. Our target is to achieve selfsufficiency in our paddy rice production by 2020.”

Mohammed further hinted that Nigeria’s current rice consumption is approximately 6 million metric tonnes of milled rice.

He said, “In 2015, Nigeria produced 2.5 million metric tonnes of milled rice. By 2017, it rose to 4 million metric tonnes, leaving a gap of 2 million metric tonnes. Our target is to fill that gap by 2020.

“In 2015, there were only 13 integrated mills. By 2017, the number rose to 21, after eight more were added. The new investments were made when Nigeria was in recession, indicating investors’ confidence in President Buhari and the Nigerian economy.

“The investments have not stopped. 15 more mills are about to take off, including the Dangote Rice Mills to be established in six states with a total capacity of about 1 million metric tonnes.”

The minister said RIPAN’s total investment in the Nigerian economy is in excess of N300 billion, adding that the upcoming investments will amount to N250 billion.

respondent that the former deputy speaker needs to be strongly reprimanded for what they called his reckless comments about the party.

It was learn that some party leaders have already started deliberating on the repercussions of the statement and the best way to address the issue.

Senator Mantu, who said he has become born again, had in a TV program declare that he has helped the PDP rig elections. While members of the civil society and legal luminaries have called for his punishment by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over his admittance of electoral malpractice.

PDP national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, had in a statement denied Sen Mantu’s claims, saying they are “personal to him and

has nothing to do with the PDP, as the party has never directed any of its members to rig election on its behalf, at any point since its formation.”

But a PDP chieftain who spoke on condition of anonymity said “It not sufficient to deny him, he is not an ordinary party man, has a deputy senate president, long standing member of BoT and NEC. “No party will accept a ‘political leper’; he has just ended his political career and influence in the polity. I met with him yesterday to express my disappointment as what I politely term his ‘political carelessness & recklessness’”, the source said.

He added “Mere denial of Mantu’s self-confession in the media will be a poor decision and collaborative evidence of complacency and cover up,

definitely it is not anywhere enough; Mantu is not any ordinary political gladiator; he was former senate president, co-coordinator general of OBJ’s failed 3rd term venture, long standing leader in BoT and NEC, therefore his assertions cannot be simply dismissed! It is the heart and soul of PDP! If PDP is to be resurrected, the discerning Nigerian is waiting for PDP leadership to make a public show of shame and disgrace of Mantu; anything short of that is a major nail on PDP’s coffin.”

A BoT member also described the statement by Sen Mantu as unfortunate and in bad taste. The BoT who is from the South-east, said “well the party has reacted to it and indeed it does not represent what the party is about.”

PDP Under Pressure To Sanction Mantu

BY CHIBUZO UKAIBE, Abuja

Worried by the recent comments of former Deputy Senate president, Sen Ibrahim Mantu, indications have emerged that pressure is being mounted on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to slam the party chieftain for declaring that he aided the former ruling party to rig elections in the past.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that some party leaders were miffed at the comments by Mantu which has further exposed the party to criticism by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Although PDP has since distanced itself from the Mantu who is a Board of Trustees (BoT) member of the party, angry party chieftains told our cor-

The Cross River Basin Development Authority Board has resolved to institute a regime of accountability, fiscal discipline, transparent resource management and ethical integrity in its procurement process.

A communique issued at the end of first meeting signed by Hon Eseme Eyiboh said it will achieve this via inventorisation of assets, effective information management platform and cutting edge revenue generation strategy.

The communique said the board has accordingly solicited for the cooperation of the traditional rulers, local and state governments in particular and other stakeholders in general, to collaborate in this functional partnership of the 13th board of CRBDA. CRBDA is set out to intervene in food security and accelerate agricultural development through land and water resources management.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari in accordance with the law aforementioned, appointed and inaugurated the governing board of CRBDA on February 22, 2018 to add verve to his demonstrated commitment to rebuild our national institutions and restore public trust in our democratic engagements.

“In furtherance of this presidential effort at the restoration of public confidence and trust, Hon Eseme Eyiboh led the board members - Barr Lazarus Undie; Hon Garba Butalawa; Engr Ademola Oyadare; Alhaji Salihu Abdulkareem and Engr Bassey Nkposong to embark on courtesy visits to the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu (v) and the Ndidem of the Quas, His Royal Majesty Edidem Dr. Patrick Oquaagbor. The visits were aimed at bridging the observable communication gap between the Authority, traditional institutions and various stakeholders in the headquarters catchment area,” the communique said.

He said to jumpstart citizens participation through the introduction of advisory council that shall be chaired by the current managing director - Engr Bassey Nkposong with Lady Eta Eyo Ita; Engr MTE Essien; Engr Sixtus Abetianbe (all former managing directors of the authority); Professor Ben Ofem; Arch Ubokutom Nyah (each representing cross river and akwa ibom states); Dr Enobong Umoessien - ECOWAS and Mr Christian Ezeilo - erstwhile director; budget/national planning who shall all serve as members and with the mandate to provide technical advise, source for windows of opportunities for private public partnership, deploy their expertise to facilitate the incentives for project conceptualisation, funding, implementation, completion and commissioning.

The communique said that the advisory council is to additionally assist the authority in peace building and confidence within the host communities in particular and the respective catchment states in general.

It said: “The board in the exercise of its oversight responsibility on the implementation of its core mandates, good corporate governance and supervision of public policy directions, has decided by its resolution to suspend all activities, investments and negotiations on all new land acquisition.

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

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10 NEWS NORTH-EAST, NORTH-WEST

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Police Arrest 23 Over Murder In Kaduna

The Kaduna State police command has confirmed the arrest of no fewer than 23 persons in connection with the alleged killing of a member of “Sara Suka’’, a street gang in the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the command,ASP Muhktar Aliyu said in Kaduna that the arrest occurred yesterday at about 6:30 pm in Kawo area of Kaduna.

“What happened was that a member of the street gang, Ibrahim Ashiru, 27 lost his life when he allegedly claimed to have renounced his membership of the gang.

“So, for that, some members of the gang from different groups allegedly attacked him, stabbed him and ran away.

“He was taken to hospital and later died because of the injuries he sustained,’’ he said.

Aliyu said after Ashiru was taken to cemetery for burial, another group went out for reprisal.

“They went to the houses of those that they suspected had hands in his death, burnt two houses and a bakery,’’ he said.

He said that with the prompt intervention of the police, 23 suspects were arrested and investigation was in progress on their activities.

“The command under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Austin Iwar will not allow any group of criminals to take law into their hands,’’ he warned.

Sokoto Group Backs Danjuma’s Call For Self-defence

BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

A group under the auspices of ADALCHI DARAMDAM yesterday in Sokoto declared support for Gen. TY Danjuma’s call on self defence, saying those criticising the elder statesman were enemies of humanity.

The group who insisted that, no sane reasoning person will fault TY or label him as encouraging anarchy considering the scale with which daily killings of Nigerians go unchallenged.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP in Sokoto, leader of the group, Alhaji Mode Dankara said, the time has come for Nigerians to admit the impending danger these senseless killings potents for us as a nation and confront it collectively before we watch with divided judgement until it touches our respective houses.

According to him, what TY Danjuma has said was nothing different from the provision of Nigeria’s constitution on self defence. Adding, the elder statesman never said anybody should carry arms but defend themselves against those killing them.

He further stressed that, the challenge of calculated killings across the country should illicit proactive criticism from all Nigerians, not speaking against he who asked people to defend themselves.

Dankara added that, religion, ethnicity, political affiliation or ethnicity must not be used as a bases for speaking against truth. Hence, the call for self defence by TY Danjuma should be respected if the government and security agencies cannot guarantee the safety of the lives and properties of Nigerians.

“Afterall, one expected that by now, our security agencies should have much intelligence on the mission, nature, operational modules, identity and sponsors of those messengers of death masquerading under whatever guise to kill innocent people across the country.

“Just imagine, killings in Zamfara, Taraba, Benue, Borno, Maiduguri, Nasarawa and Kaduna just to mention but few states is almost becoming a routine.

“And if the killers are aware that, the people have the right to defend themselves, then, they will apply caution hence they can also be killed in the process of going to murder a whole community”.

Orchestral Choir performing during the combined Easter service at Cocin Church Yelwan Kagadama in Bauchi yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN

25 Die, 86 Injured In Borno Boko Haram Attacks

BY FRANCIS OKOYE, Maiduguri

The Borno Police Command has confirmed twenty five persons including five suicide bombers dead while eighty six persons sustained various degrees of injuries following Boko Haram attacks of three Borno villages on Sunday night.

Briefing newsmen over the attacks at the headquarters of Borno state police command yesterday in Maiduguri, the Commissioner of police, Mr Damian Chukwu said the 86 injured are presently receiving treatment at Borno state specialist hospital.

Chukwu said the terrorists who targeted a wedding ceremony that took place in one the three villages came in with five suicide bombers who detonated their improvised explosive devices while the insurgents

embarked on sporadic shooting before the Nigerian Military and Men of the Nigeria SARS countered and repelled the attack.

He added that the initial target of the terrorists was to infiltrate Maiduguri Metroplitan but were blocked by the timely efforts of security personnel.

“Easter celebration took place and it was well policed and hitch-free.

There was this incidence at Baale Kura and Baale Shuwari villages in Jere local government area. There was a wedding ceremony which lingered into late night hour where some suicide bombers took advantage and infiltrated the ceremony arena followed by detonation of IEDs and sporadic shooting by the Boko Haram terrorists before military countered them.

“As a result of the explosion, 18 Persons died instantly and 5 suicide bombers who are all males also died instantly . Prompt arrival of the state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), helped in evacuating the injured. “ A total of 86 persons were injured , two who were badly injured died this morning , bringing the death toll to 20 , in addition to the 5 suicide bombers, bringing total deaths to 25 .We equally deployed our EOD team to sanitize the area for normalcy to continue. I want to assure you that as we speak, normalcy has returned to the villages,” CP Chukwu said.

He added that the incident can’t be attributed to security lapses, but for the fact that the general public

are not watchful. Those of them in the rural areas take things for granted, otherwise, how can such ceremony at this point in time take place without the invitation of any security agency. If you are having any occasion and you notice strange faces, report to any of the security outfits for prompt action before the damage is done.

“Recently, the state government procured brand new excavators to dig trenches to make it impossible for enemies to cross over, especially in the Bama axis that the IDPs are returning back to their homes.

“We have equally posted over 400 police mobile force to Bama and the choice of the mobile force is for fire power. In few days time, we will be deploying another 400 to Banki,” Chukwu added.

Army Extends Operation Cat Race In Taraba

BY JOY YESUFU, Abuja

The authorities of the Nigerian Army has extended Exercise Ayem Akpatuma in Taraba state by two months. The exercise was flagged off on February 20, 2018 with the aim to practice planning and conduct of ‘Military Operations Other

Than War’ in the north central and parts of the north west.

A statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Texas Chukwu said the exercise was also aimed to further sustain Nigerian Army’s constitutional roles of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria as well

as aiding the civil authority to maintain peace and security.

Chukwu further said Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA has recorded tremendous successes in spite of challenges maintaining that the exercise needs to be sustained in some areas in other to consolidate on the initial gains.

He said in view of the development, the ongoing exercise AYEM AKPATUMA in Taraba State has been extended for 2 months, noting that the extention became necessary in order to further consolidate on the gains achieved so far and due to calls by well-meaning Nigerians.

Katsina Govt Empowers 20,000 Youths, Women In 3 years

BY ANDY ASEMOTA, Katsina

No fewer than 20,000 youths and women have been empowered by Katsina State government from 2015 to date, Governor Aminu Bello Masari has said.

Speaking at a parley with electronic media chief executives in the state, Masari noted that in addition to Katsina Youth Craft Village, his administration upgraded five of the 12 Business Apprenticeship Training Centres (BATCs) across the

state to meet the modern training needs of the beneficiaries.

Masari, in his scorecard in education, health, water, security and capital building among others emphasized that the present state administration ranked among the best in the country in the area of economic and human capacity development.

On local government, he disclosed that plans were underway for the appointment of caretaker committees for the 34 local govern-

ment areas in the state pending the decision of the Supreme Court on the appeal filed by the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to him, the care taker committees would be entitled to reasonable monthly allocation for capital expenditure and other commitments that would bring succor to the people at the grassroots in the state.

He added that his administration would construct nine nomadic pri-

mary schools and spend over three billion naira on primary education across the 34 local government areas of the state this year to further boost the teaching and learning environment.

He explained that besides the on-going massive rehabilitation of deplorable infrastructure in secondary schools, new schools, dormitories, laboratories, e-libraries and new classes were being provided to boost the standard of education across the state.

Bagudu Tasks Communities On Flooding

BY YAHYA SARKI, BIRNIN Kebbi

Kebbi State governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has urged communities in Kebbi to engage actively in cleaning and evacuation of their drainages to avoid flooding.

Bagudu made the call at Shiyar Sarakuna in Birnin Kebbi at the weekend while taking part in cleaning exercise to evacuate drainages ahead of the rainy

season in the state.

The governor said the cleaning exercise was in furtherance of his administration’s efforts to evacuate drainages before the rainy season sets in.

He said the Kebbi Urban Development Authority ( KUDA), would be provided with necessary equipment and manpower to carry out its mandate of keeping Kebbi clean.

“The government plans to

energise KUDA by providing it with equipments and manpower to be able to carry out effective sanitation of the state”.

He appealed to communities to engage actively in cleaning their environment especially drainages to reduce the risk of flooding .

The commissioner of lands and Housing , Alhaji Abubakar Chika Ladan also told journalists that 70 disposal / dump points

will be established for people to dump their waste.

On his part, the General Manager of KUDA, Engr. Adamu Shekare said the evacuation exercise was a contineous one in view of the coming rainy season.

While thanking the Governor for his support to the agency , he expressed optimism that the governor will provide more equipment and manpower to KUDA.

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

‘Kogi Will Deliver Impacful Rural Development’

BY SAM EGWU, Lokoja

Governor of Kogi State, Alh Yahaya Bello has pledged to deliver more impactful rural development to express the mission of All Progressives Congress, (APC), into the democratic governance, in Kogi and Nigeria in general.

Bello stated this yesterday at Anyigba in Dekina local government during the inauguration of empowerment program embarked upon by Hon. Hassan Abdullahi, member representing Dekina/Okura state constituency in the House of Assembly.

Represented by the special adviser on local government and chieftaincy affairs, Hon Abdullahi Ohiare, Governor Bello stated that government was not oblivious of the present predicament but wants to ensure that right thing goes to the right at the right time.

Speaking earlier at the occasion, the chief host, Hon Hassan Abdullahi reinstated his earlier pledges as contained in his manifesto that he would leave the Assembly if he could not meet the yearnings and aspirations of his constituency.

He maintained that the general atmosphere calls for everyone to be cautious about seeking white collar jobs which has become very elusive and be more devoted to the one at hand, urging individuals to be acquainted with the little one they can lay their hands upon.

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Killings: Maku Urges Nigerians To Seek God’s Intervention

BY DANJUMA JOSEPH, Lafia

A former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, has called on Nigerians to use the Easter period to pray fervently for God’s divine intervention to end security challenges in the country.

Maku, made the call yesterday while speaking with newsmen in Igbabo, Doma local government area of the state.

Maku, who is also the Nation-

al Secretary of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) said that growing insecurity was not in the interest of national peace and development, calling for Nigerians to pray harder for an end to insecurity.

According to him, “The essence of Easter celebration is mainly to remember the agony, death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ who died on the cross to give salvation to mankind.

“Let us pray for an end to poverty, wanton killings and destructions, general insecurity, economic hardship, and hunger in our land. We mustnot allow anybody to use us to forment trouble in the society as peace is priceless and non-negotiable”.

“Let us be our brother’s keeper and co-exist peacefully as no religion preaches violence and hatred but all religions preach peace and

unity.

“Let us pray for justice in our land, our leaders should be just, fair in all their activities in the interest of peace and national development”.

“Whenever you see the masses killing one another, there is conspiracy at the top, hence the need for people to shun divide and rule principle and be united against division in the interest of peace,” he said.

Provost Canvases Educational Tax To Rescue Education Sector

I Didn’t Benefit From PDP Campaign Loot–Aliyu

BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin

BY ABU NMODU, Minna

The provost of Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin,Dr Isiaka Opobiyi has canvassed the introduction of educational tax by the state government in order to bring about adequate funding of education at all levels.

He said such development is necessary to save education sector from total collapse .

Opobiyi made the call during an interview with newsmen in Ilorin , Kwara state.

The Provost observed that the education sector is dwindling due to inadequate funding and said except urgent steps were taking to source for funds to provide infrastructure and other academic projects and as well pay salaries as at when due , the situation will further degenerate .

He commended the idea of TETFUND introduced by the federal government which according to him had saved most tertiary institutions from collapse and called for a replica of the scheme at the state levels.

Opobiyi attributed incessant strikes in the tertiary institutions to anxiety , inpatience and lack of funds.

Barely twenty four hours after the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed listed Former Niger state governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu among those who looted the nation in the last dispensation,the former governor has denied the allegation, wondering why the federal government should include him

Children having fun at Magic Land during the Easter celebration in Abuja yesterday.

in the second list.

Aliyu in A swift reaction in Minna the Niger state capital yesterday threatened to challenge his inclusion on the list to a logical conclusion hence nobody had confronted him with any document(s) that he received N1.6billion from the former National Security Adviser, NSA saying, “they have to prove it”.

He said the APC government had embarked on “calculated blackmail against my person” because “I refused to join the APC” ,saying “we all have our minds and what we believe in politics is a thing of the mind”.

According to the former governor, it was an orchestrated plot “to tarnish my image. I am presently before the federal high

PHOTO BY NAN.

court and a Niger state high court for the same alleged offence.

“This is to show that the government is hell bent on bringing me down but they will not succeed. I served my people to the best of my ability.I have left a landmark for posterity, no amount of blackmail or character assassination can wipe me out from the minds of the people”.

Group Chides Senator Umaru Over Attack On Governor Bello

BY ABU NMODU, Minna

A group, East Youth Vanguard has chided the Senator representing the zone,David Umaru for deliberately attacking the governor of Niger State, Alh. Abubakar Sani Bello.

The group in a letter addressed to the Senator, signed by Ibrahim Tukura and made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday stated that the allegation of non-performance by the governor was unfortunate.

According to the letter: “It is therefore, unfortunate that instead of taking advantage of APC dominated government in Niger State, the Senator has carelessly continued to overheat the polity and thus polluting the political climate in the state.”

“How can David Umaru forget in a hurry, that it was through the goodwill and massive support of Alh. Abubakar Sani Bello, during the campaign before the 2015 general elections that ensured his election victo-

ry”,? the statement added rhetorically, The group noted that as a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic and in the same party Senator David Umaru would have sought audience with the governor to discuss on issues of mutual interest . ”Instead of enlisting himself in the hall of fame by being open, transparent and decent in his political comments, David Umaru has continued to display his illvirtues of bitterness, senti-

ments and ingratitude to the electorates, political mentors and even stakeholders,” the group noted.

The group also noted that the people of Niger East Senatorial District are politically wise and educated and could not be blindfolded into ethnic and religious antics for political reasons, saying that the bid for the formation of Gbapeka, an ethno-religious movement aimed at dividing the people of the zone “B” through the aforementioned factors will be a nullity.

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Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Rivers Elders Raise The Alarm Over Neighbourhood Watch Law

A/Ibom Gov’s Wife Donates Food Items To Leprosy Hospital

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, port harcourt

BY BERNARD TOLANI DADA, Uyo

The Rivers Elders and Leaders Council (RELEC) has expressed reservations over the recent Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps signed into law by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, saying that it may signpost another round of violence in the state.

The elders stated that given the recent violence that happened in the state, arguments by those in favour and against the law would only start another around of crisis with unimaginable consequences.

Chairman of RELEC, Chief Albert Horsfall, who addressed journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, warned that violence may erupt in the state, with both the government and opposition political party planning to set up parallel Neighbourhood Watch groups.

Horsfall said, “For this state to profess to set up the Neighbourhood Watch of armed youth all around the state, for example, and for this to be done on a purely political basis of PDP/APC is the most dangerous enterprise for our current political leadership on both sides to attempt to engage in. This development, when it fully happens, will certainly lead the state into another civil war.”

While recalling the events that trailed the Nigerian civil war, the former Director of the State Security Service (SSS) lamented that the bulk of those who died were oblivious of what the leaders were fighting for.

In the spirit of the Easter season, the wife of the Akwa Ibom State governor, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, yesterday, visited inmates of QIC Leprosy Hospital, Ekpene Obom in Etinan LGA, where she showered love and gift items on them.

Mrs. Emmanuel said that even though they are confined within a particular place, they are not rejected by the society.

Edo Govt Secures 4 Convictions On Noise Pollution

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

Edo State commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Hon. Reginald Okun has said that the state government has secured the conviction of four persons for noise pollution.

Okun, who disclosed this during an interview with journalists in Benin City, Edo State capital, said, “The state government is clamping down on persons who violate laws on noise pollution in the state. We have secured four convictions, with more persons to be charged to court soon.”

Okun said it is regrettable that people disregard laws on noise pollution, noting, “This government will not tolerate any behaviour that disregards law and order, or people being laws unto themselves.”

According to him, “There was a petition where someone alleged that his children find it difficult to sleep at night because of the noise in his neighbourhood, only for the children to go to school to sleep during the day. It is sad how people set up external speakers and live bands outdoor, which disturb entire neighbourhoods.”

Explaining how the practice is common with some religious centres, relaxation spots, night clubs and bars, he said, “They do all these without considering its adverse effect on the immediate environment. The standard practice for use of speakers in such places, is that they setup some form of soundproof system to restrict the sound.”

Okun said government has already set up a mechanism to warn people and sensitise them on the existence of the rules and would not treat lightly those who break the law.

“I am here to celebrate the risen Christ with you all, Jesus died for us all and rose on the third day to give us power over Satan. My coming here is to give you hope, peace and joy; you have not been forgotten and we will do everything to make life easy and comfortable to you all,” Mrs. Emmanuel said.

The governor’s wife further noted that Jesus Christ died for all irrespective of colour or creed and advised that no one should discrim-

inate against those with disabilities.

She promised to provide monthly stipends for the various families within the hospital to help meet their medical needs and provide the much needed security within the hospital.

She specially thanked the chief medical director of the hospital, Dr. Afia Afia and the entire staff of the institution for their commitment and love towards the inmates, praying that God will reward their labour

of love.

In his remarks the chief medical director of the hospital, Dr. Afia Afia thanked the governor’s wife for her consistent show of love for the inmates of the hospital and prayed to God to shower His blessings upon her.

Stakeholders of Etinan local government area poured encomiums on the governor’s wife for her support and urged her to do more in the years ahead.

Wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel (2nd right), presenting food items to inmates of one of the states leprosy centres in Etinan while the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong (middle), and others look on yesterday. PHOTO BY

Obaseki Congratulates Edo People On Peaceful Easter

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has congratulated Edo people on the incident-free, fun-filled Easter celebration in the state, noting that the festivities were held in peaceful atmosphere.

The governor, in a statement, said that it was delightful that the people in the state held church programmes, visited family and friends and

thronged fun spots to mark the Easter celebrations in an atmosphere that was devoid of strife and rancour.

According to him, “The Easter celebrations held in the state in a peaceful atmosphere and we are glad that it was incident-free. The Easter celebration, to mark the resurrection of Christ, affords Christian faithful opportunity to reflect on the significance of the death and resurrection of Christ.

“We are glad that our people were able to mark these celebrations and go about their everyday life without fear of attacks or intimidation.”

He thanked the security agencies in the state for working round the clock to maintain law and order, noting that their commitment to duty was responsible for the hassle-free celebrations.

“We are indeed grateful to the security agencies for ensuring that

Easter celebration was without incidents. It goes to show that the synergy we have formed with them in the past months are yielding results.

“I believe it is important to underscore the importance of this because we have been working to ensure that festive periods are safe and people can go about their activities without fearing for their lives and property,” he said.

Obaseki Hails Kachikwu Family Over Chieftaincy Titles

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has congratulated the family of the minister of state for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu over the conferment of Ochiligwe of Onicha-Ugbo and Ezinne Oligbo on Barr. (Mrs.) Josephine Ada Kachikwu, describing the honours as well deserved.

Speaking at the conferment ceremony of the chieftaincy titles, in Issele-Uku, Delta State, Obaseki said that Mrs. Ada Kachikwu, who is the stepmother of the minister of state

for Petroleum Resources, has over the years contributed to her immediate community and exhibited exemplary qualities that marked her out for the titles.

According to him, “The double titles show that she has a unique personality. This is not forgetting that her husband, late Justice Francis Okafor Kachikwu was a prominent Jurist in the defunct Bendel State and Nigeria, and they both impacted and touched lives.”

Obaseki added that Mrs Kachikwu provided support to her husband

throughout his successful career and even when her husband died, she continued to champion the cause of her community. “This tells of her character and commendable personality. We are happy to be here to celebrate her,” he said.

Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, eulogised Mrs Kachikwu’s outstanding life of service to humanity, noting that she was a mother to all. “We are happy with her, as her service to her community has earned her double chieftaincy titles by two communities here in Del-

ta State. It is wonderful to have this kind of honour.”

Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu said Barr. (Mrs.) Ada Kachikwu is a wonderful, committed, dedicated woman, who though married his father at the age of 18, was adept at managing home chores and many other maternal responsibilities of her step-children.

He said her determination saw her achieve her dreams of being a midwife, lawyer and later a politician, which she used to positively touch lives.

Though people now attach Epicurean angle to all celebrations, but the fact of their origin and very conception, such as Easter, show they truly beckon on us to show love and treat one another with kindness”, former Governor Obi stated.

Reflecting on the condition of Nigerians, Obi prayed for the deepening of the commitment toward the governed by the government so that Ni-

geria will in no distant time record improvements commensurate with her human and natural resources.

He said that this Easter particularly offers Nigerians the opportunity to think about their country and realise that the progress of the country was dependent on Nigerians working together in the spirit of love rather than building, encouraging and nurturing the culture of hate and retrogression.

Easter: Ex-Gov Obi Preaches Love

BY OKECHUKWU OBETA, Awka

Former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi has stated that Easter celebration is significant in many ways, especially in showing love to one another.

In his Easter message, he said that besides celebrating the death and resurrection of Christ, Easter encapsulated the highest exemplification of

love and sacrifice for the good of others.

Calling on Christians to use the occasion of Easter celebration to reflect on the sacrifice of Christ for the salvation of mankind, he said that it was a time for sharing and remembering the less privileged among the people.

“I have always maintained that religious celebrations have deeper significance mostly bothering on love.

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newsLagos

Tuesday April 3, 2018

BRINGING THE SOUTH-WEST TO YOU

SMARTNEWS Ambode To Lagosians : Don’t Disenfranchise Yourself In 2019 Group Canvasses Unity Among Federating Units Of Nigeria

BY CHIKA IZUORA, LAGOS

Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday appealed to Lagosians to participate in ongoing voter’s registration exercise and collect their Permanent Voters’ Card(PVC), saying refusal to participate in the process will amount to self- dis-enfranchisement.

Ambode made the appeal when he commissioned 21 network of roads and two bridges totalling 27.4 kilometre in Alimosho Local Government, with a pledge to further

develop other communities within the axis.

He said, “My good people, what i want from you. I want you to perform your civic responsibility. I want our people to take voter registration very seriously. It is our civic right. It is the only thing we can use (for the election).

“We are going to engage communities and local governments.

Let us go out and educate our people about the need to have voter card which will make us to have a voice.

We have done this for the people

of Alimosho. You need to let others know that you have the right to vote.”

Ambode, who commissioned the projects amidst celebration by elated residents in four different locations, said the delivery of the infrastructure was part of the continuous bid to transform the Alimosho federal constituency and build new economy around the axis.

While describing the commissioning as historic and momentous, Governor Ambode particularly lauded the National Leader of All Progressives Congress

(APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for activating the transformation of Alimosho when he was Governor of the State with the construction of LASU-Iba Road, and former Governor Babatunde Fashola for taking the project up to Ipaja.

He said: "What we are doing today is so historic and of great importance that we must send the message rightly so that people can understand why we are celebrating on Easter Monday the change in the life of our people which the resurrection of Christ symbolizes.

Community Donates Land To Nigerian Army

BY OGUNTADE ISMAILA, Lagos

w

As the security across the country continues to dominate public discourse, the Southern Nigeria and Middle Belt Forum, SNMBFD have come together to enlist the support of all Nigerians to seek peace and mutual co-existence as a way forward toward in attaining lofty economic height that will be beneficial to all.

At a forum in Lagos at the weekend, different stakeholders within the bloc canvassed for understanding off all ethnic groups irrespective of religious affiliation, pointing out that sharing common value and aspirations would be better than seeking individual benefits that are injurious to our collective association.

The executive secretary of Journalists for Democratic Rights, JODER Mr. Wale Adeoye in his opening remarks, said that despite several uprisings the country have experienced since 1999, they were not capable of upturning the country or setting it off the cliff.

He added that human rights have improved tremendously and Nigeria no longer suffer the trauma of sanctions and global condemnation compared with what the country was some 20 years ago.

"However, in spite of the great strides, there remain dangerous signposts that represent a constant threat to the desired aspirations for freedom and liberty of our people. Some of these challenges are the deep mutual mistrust that continues to dominate the country's landscape.

“These sometimes take the form of ethnic and religious divisions that have refused to go. These grievances continue to find expressions in violent forms, sometimes resulting in mass killings of innocent people including women and children", Adeoye lamented.

Also speaking at the forum, Hon. Garuba Yedimakudon the state coordinator Bwatiye Development Association, BDA, of Adamawa state, urged Nigerians to come together, think together and rationalize together, such that our intellect and energies be brought to bear in the resolve to resist impending dangers ahead.

BY GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

Fun seekers at the Elegushi beach during the Easter celebration in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU

Fun Seekers Storm Lagos Recreation, Shopping Malls For Easter

BY TAIWO OMILANI, Lagos

Lagosians yesterday trooped out in their large numbers with their children to recreational centres and shopping malls to celebrate their Easter.

When our correspondent visited Ikeja shopping mall situated at Alausa, parents with their children were seen in cinema and buying snacks among others.

Speaking with one of the people

selling mixing fruit, he said they have made more sales since the Easter celebration begins.

According to her, a cup of varieties of fruit mixed is costs one thousand naira, saying the fun seekers are patronising her because of the festivity and importance of fruits.

Similarly, some parents took their children to game centre where a child paid N3,500 and N2,500 respectively.

However, for some people who could not afford to buy anything moved around the shopping mall to take pictures and watch what is going on around.

At JKF garden, it was fun all the way as cultural troop entertain both children and adults. Children at the garden have all the time to relax and have fun with their parent, as they have commenced two weeks holiday.

Commissioner Harps On Robust Policy For Quality Healthcare

BY ODIRI UCHENUNU-IBEH, Lagos

Abia State Health Commissioner, Dr. John Ahukannah has stressed the need for robust healthcare policy for qualitative healthcare services to the people.

Speaking at the formal launch of a new pharmaceutical company, St. Racheal’s Pharma in Lagos, the Commissioner listed poverty, deaths from preventable causes and illiteracy, among top factors responsible for Africa’s low life expectancy ratio, especially in Nigeria.

He added that the trend can be reversed with quality healthcare

policies and a sustainable healthcare financing.

Ahukannah said Nigeria’s life expectancy at birth as at 2015 stands at 53 for males and 56 for females, saying the various reasons why life expectancy has remained low in Nigeria when compared to other countries, has to do with sickness which has the highest point with 26 percent and poverty with 24 percent.

To increase life expectancy rate, the Commissioner said government must provide quality health care policies and think of sustainable healthcare financing.

He said, “Another thing is strengthening our Primary

Healthcare centres to be able to serve our population."

Then free and affordable education at least secondary level, while government should increase job creation, employment opportunities, minimum wage for workers, and then address the stabilization of the country’s micro and macro economy.”

Earlier in his remarks, the founder and managing director of JAYKAY Pharmaceutical and Chemical Company Limited, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, who was the chairman of the occasion, lauded the founder of St. Racheal’s Pharama for the bold initiative.

The traditional rulers and community leaders of Oke-Oko, Oke-Tapa and environs of Isawo in Ikorodu-Lagos, have donated 10 acres of land to the Nigerian Army to build a barrack, saying the gesture is aimed at making the presence of the military felt in the community notorious for militancy and pipeline vandalism.

The traditional ruler (Baale) of the communities, Chief Musa who disclosed this in an interview with the LEADERSHIP said the land was given to the army owing to their efforts in sending out militants and pipelines vandals in the areas.

He emphasized that peace had returned to their communities.

According to him, the land was part of the areas occupied by suspected militants and vandals, where they unleashed terror on the residents resulting in many deaths and destruction of properties in the community.

The monarch noted that the existing presence of the Army and police had sent the militants and other criminals from operating in the area.

LEADERSHIP recalled that the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, on August 4, 2016 visited Isawo creeks and was briefed about the activities of the militants.

A military joint taskforce was drafted by the Lagos State government to the area to dislodge the militants and vandals.

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science

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300 million

Nigeria is projected to be the third largest nation in the world by 2050 just behind China and India, with a population of over 300 million people.

F E AT U R E S N E W S R E P O R T S I N T E R V I E W

Conventional Agriculture Not Sensible In Future Nigeria – NAS

S

BY NKECHI ISAAC, Abuja

Right now what we have in our food baskets may be enough if the lands are properly harnessed but as the population grows this is going to get inadequate

cientists have drummed support for modern agricultural biotechnology, saying Nigeria cannot feed its growing population with the current conventional method of farming.

Speaking exclusively to our correspondent during a stakeholder’s workshop with the theme, “Shaping the future of researchers in developing countries” organized by the Nigeria Academy of Science (NAS) and the International Council for Science (ICS) in Abuja, NAS president, Prof.

Mosto Onuoha, said the current method of farming would not sustain the nation and Its people in years to come.

He argued that modern agricultural biotechnology held the key to the nation’s food security in future, saying it had the ability to help the nation grow better seeds which are resistant to pest and diseases, and combat bad effects of climate change by reducing the use of pesticides.

Such seeds, according to him, will help farmers get good yield which can guarantee food security for the nation in future.

He said: “Feeding our people in the next generation cannot be done the way we’re doing now. Science has the ability, the right seeds even to combat the bad effects of climate

change, the adaptation is science that will be used. If the rivers are drying up it is science that will provide the solution in the types of crops that will help fight the seasonal changes and so on. We have to prepare for that and the population is increasing and we have to be thinking ahead, that’s the area that we’re lacking.”

He urged governments at all levels to invest in future by looking at longterm plans that would guarantee the nation’s food security.

Similarly, the past president of NAS, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, noted that Nigeria is not growing enough to feed her population currently and said biotechnology, however, held the potential to help the nation grow enough food to feed its population today and in the future.

“Of course, you see right now what we have in our food baskets may be enough if the lands are properly harnessed but as the population grows this is going to get inadequate. So, we need biotechnology to produce more safe foods for our people,” he pointed out.

Earlier in his presentation entitled “Responsibility in science everywhere”, the chairman of the committee on freedom and responsibility in the conduct of science at the ICS, Leiv Sydnes, noted that science has a tremendous value in its own right and that the value and importance of research for the human society is undisputable.

Leiv, a professor of chemistry at the University of Bergen, Norway, said ISC would act as the global voice of science to speak for the value of science and the need for informed understanding and decisionmaking; and stimulate and support international scientific research on major issues of global concern, pointing out that the consequence of their mission is to improve the environment for research where needed; to enable the use of sciencebased soultions of societal problems; to advocate freedom of movement for scientists all over the world; and to increased awareness to (hidden) threats to research integrity.

Speaking on the principle of universality of science, Leiv said: “The free and responsible practice of science is fundamental to scientific advancement and human and environmental well-being. Such practice, in all its aspects, requires freedom of movement, association, expression and communication for scientists, as well as equitable access to data, information, and other resources for research. It requires responsibility at all levels to carry out and communicate scientific work with integrity, respect, fairness, trustworthiness, and transparency, recognising its benefits and possible harms.”

He said despite the global controversy surrounding biotechnology, Nigeria would derive

a lot of benefits from biotechnology in areas such as improved seeds and yields.

“Nigeria as well as most other countries will benefit from progress in research in that regard. If you’ll be able to be self-sufficient I don’t know because I don’t know enough about your country to tell that but there are definitely challenges that are going to be solved regarding both improved crops and quality of the crops and prevent crops from being destroyed and this is of course in some aspects a delicate issue because you have genetically modified crops that are sort of controversial in many countries,” he stated.

He underscored the role of scientists in bridging the information divide by educating the public on the immense potentials available for the nation in biotechnology, stressing there could be no major breakthrough until the public was carried along.

“So, what we’re saying is that it is possible to make progress but the public is reluctant and that’s why I am emphasizing very much the importance of communicating very well with the public because scientists can’t be far ahead of the public because we are going to serve the public and the main task for us is really to get scientific competence so we can solve urgent and future problems and also avoid future problems doing the best we can,” he added.

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

e-Government Will Reduce Cost Of Governance – Shittu

The Minister of Communications, Barr.

Adebayo Shittu has said the adoption of e-government framework in federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) will drastically reduce cost of governance and improve service delivery in the institutions.

He stated this in his remarks at the opening ceremony of the third national steering committee meeting of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) held in Abuja.

The minister explained that the adoption of the e-Government framework in MDAs would give fresh impetus to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the current administration, saying the plan envisages a reduction of cost of governance and leveraging technology to improve public service delivery through the implementation of e-government across MDAs. “The ministry, through the e-Government department, launched an initiative that involves the identification of key business processes that relate to the delivery of services to citizens by MDAs. This would be accomplished by deploying ICTs to provide better response to citizens’ demands, improvement in service delivery and making government more efficient and more responsive as the citizens would be engaged,” he stated.

He noted that the system is currently being introduced in the ministries of power, works and housing, budget and planning as well as communications, pointed out that once it was successfully implemented and adopted in these ministries, it would be deployed to other MDAs according to funds availability.

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SCIENCE/NEWS 19

GSTC Garki, GSS Tukpechi Emerge Winners At S&T Exhibition STORIES BY NKECHI ISAAC, Abuja

Government Science and Technical College (GSTC), Garki, and Government Secondary School (GSS), Tukpechi, have emerged the best participating schools at the just concluded Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Science and Technology (S&T) exhibition.

The duo clinched the first position in the senior and junior categories in the exhibition competition of the fourth edition of the annual science and technology expo with the theme, “Technology and society in the 21st Century” organised by the FCT’s department of science and technology in Abuja.

In her remarks, the acting director of the department, Mrs Ibrahim Christiana, said the

theme was informed by the fact that the 21st century civilisation is knowledge-driven and with technology being dynamic, society must respond to it spontaneously.

It is based on this, according to her, that the expo is planned to showcase innovations from schools and stakeholders in science and technology as well as promote indigenous technology and build trust in made in Nigeria goods.

“This event therefore underscores our determination to fulfill our mandate which is clearly stated in our mission statement which is; employing science and technology in all socio-economic activities towards improving the quality of life of the FCT citizens and transforming FCT through strategic and coordinated utilization of available resources

into a developed, industrialized and modern territory,” she said.

In his keynote address, the vice chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Michael Umale Adikwu, noted that the 21st century has witnessed great advancement in science and technology and there has been uneven rates of development of science and technology around the globe with countries such as Nigeria being at the lower rung of the ladder. He said as long as the planet earth continues to exist, there is no limit to human ingenuity-things will continue to be invented. He said the fact that Nigeria is faced with so many challenges beckoned on all research-minded individuals for a change formula, emphasizing that the creative personality is one that looks on the world as fit for

change and on himself as an agent of change.

Declaring the exhibition open earlier, the FCT minister, Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello, said the expo with its theme was not just timely but a clarion call on all Nigerians especially those in science and technology fields to look inwards in order to harness and improve Nigeria’s indigenous technology by promoting and encouraging innovation, creativity and value addition.

A statement by the department’s public relations officer, Mrs Ngozi Dike-Nkemjika, said the minister who was represented by the secretary for education, Sen. Isa Maina, urged the department to ensure that the outcome of the expo was translated into concrete, rational and productive projects.

Shamaki Lauds NMA For Commitment To Humanitarian Activities

The permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Amina Shamaki, has lauded the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) for its dedication and commitment to humanity through its numerous activities.

She made the commendation when she received a delegation of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Abuja Chapter, led by its chairman, Dr Achonwa Chiedozie, who paid her a courtesy visit in her office, in Abuja.

She extolled the association for the numerous health interventions as part of its corporate social responsibility, even as she called for the display of higher professionalism among upcoming medical professionals.

Shamaki said the training of young medical personnel is critical in the medical profession and expressed concern over the conduct of medical exams for new medical students in the country.

She told the NMA to work with other stakeholders to improve the health indices in the country, and promised to support the forthcoming NMA annual conference which has the theme, “Quality care delivery, an indication of good governance.”

Noting the importance of science and technology in all human endeavors, she harped on the Federal Government’s commitment to that could transform and empower the country.

Earlier, the chairman of NMA, Abuja Chapter, Chiedozie, had said they had trained 150 primary health care workers and intended to train 50 more.

He appealed for the ministry’s support in their forthcoming annual conference scheduled to hold on May 3, 2018, in Abuja.

The chairman expressed hope that the outcome of the conference would make political leaders see health as an important campaign issue.

Management team of Education Secretariat tour the exhibition stands

FG’ll Invest N3 Trillion To Boost Energy Sector The Federal Government plans to invest N3 trillion between now and 2030 on energy infrastructure to facilitate investment in the sector.

The director-general of Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Prof.

Eli Jidere Bala stated this when he fielded questions from journalists during a courtesy visit of a delegation from the International Energy Charter Mission Team on Energy Investment Risk Assessment on the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu in Abuja.

He said the government was expected to put 30 gigawatts of

energy in the national grid from other sources of energy by 2030, adding 30 per cent of that was expected to be gotten from renewal energy sources like solar, wind, biomass and hydro.

Earlier, the minister said the federal government was vigorously exploring alternative sources of energy for the country.

“We are working very hard and identifying other sources of energy. The government has done very well in that area even utilizing fossil fuel but for us in the Ministry of Science and Technology we want to be ready to do research and inno-

Onu

vation in new areas that can help us to diversify our economy and widen the sector so that when you think of the basket for energy there will be so many things inside.

“We need to generate and transmit more energy and if you look at the energy being produced in Nigeria compared to South Africa then you cannot say that but for us here in the ministry we want to broaden and diversify the sources available and we believe that solar energy because our location as we are closed to the equator and just by our location we can utilize the solar energy especially in our rural areas and in our urban areas individuals can

use solar energy to light their homes to reduce the demand on the national grid which will now be used by our factories and all that so we are also doing research in wind energy,” he said.

Earlier, investment coordinator, International Energy Charter, Mr. Ishita Plant, said the aim of the investment risk assessment was to help countries do what was right, create synergy and bring out those things that would benefit the people.

The expansion cocoordinator for Africa, Dr Monica Emmanuel, stated that Nigeria had signed as observer on International Energy Charter.

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politics today Tuesday, April 3, 2018

REPORTS ANALYSES REVIEWS INTERVIEWS

GROUP POLITICS EDITOR: MUYIWA OYINLOLA 08054701492 (SMS ONLY )

As APC, PDP Bicker Over ‘Looters’ List KAUTHAR ANUMBA-KHALEEL writes on the tension the recently released list of alleged treasury looters is generating in the polity

D

For any democracy to be robust, there has to be a viral opposition

emocracy according to former United States President, Abraham Lincoln is “the government of the people, by the people, for the people”. Given its ability to ensure sociopolitical stability, and reflect the desires of the people, democracy seems to be the most preferred system of government lately.

It provides a platform for groups of individuals with the same ideology and interest to come together under an umbrella (political party) to push forward this ideology in line with societal values and nationalism.

Political parties are social organizations with a representative function. They represent particular interests, aggregate and communicate them to political and government institutions. Political parties epitomize the fighting spirit; a readiness for political action and confrontation. It is the only avenue to institutionally organize around different views of society. In every democracy, political parties have a crucial function in the state and future of governance any such nation.

For any democracy to be robust, there has to be a viral opposition; the basic fulcrum on which democracy thrives even as it is designed to make all voices heard. In most cases, the quality of any democracy is measured by the ability of the opposition party to present itself as a viable option if the democratic space is open for it to thrive. The role of opposition is crucial to democracy and speaks directly to any democracy’s future. These roles amongst other things include: to hold the government accountable; serve as watchdogs which ensures that government functions within the confines of the

Osinbajo

law; pursue justice when the government deviates from the law of the constitution; expose issues as corruption, nepotism and the abuse of power and most importantly, they serve as a credible alternative to ruling government given that competition is healthy in ensuring better service delivery and preventing complacency by the sitting government.

Notably, the opposition is in a vantage position to call for debate and draw media attention to key national issues and can further push for a national conversation while enhancing a culture of democratic discourse. It can also foster national debate and strengthen policy.

Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, many political parties have been conceived to serve as a platform to drive forward their ideologies or perhaps, to win elections. Evidently, all of them took the back seat following the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party’s victory in the 1999 general

Mohammed

elections thereby making the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and All People’s Party (APP) the major opposition parties back then. In 2003, it was the All Nigeria’s People Party (ANPP) and a weakened AD; ANPP and the Action Congress (AC) were the opposition in 2007. The 2011 election saw the emergence of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), ANPP and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as the major opposition however, both parties merged with a faction of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2013 to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) and remained in the opposition until its victory against the PDP in the 2015 polls.

APC’s victory suddenly saw PDP assume the position of opposition after its 16 years in power. Naturally, the party picked up its jaw as Nigerians looked on to see how it plays the part. Three years down the line, the once self-acclaimed largest party in Africa, rather than be on

the vanguard for the clamor for good governance and more democratic freedom in Nigeria, it remains a shadow of its former self and appears to be at a loss as to how to be a formidable opposition. It has yielded much ground to the ruling APC so much so that the latter has capitalized on its state of ineptitude and resumed relentlessly, new series of bashing at the same pace witnessed prior to 2015 which helped de-market the PDP thus leading to its loss at the polls. The defeat and recent bashing has put the PDP on the back-foot, ridding it of all its attacking arsenal and like in a game of football, it is now playing defensive while its role as the main opposition political party to criticize every known weakness of law of the ruling party suffers.

As pointed out above, one of the roles of opposition is to keep the ruling government on its toes by checking its excesses in a bid to ➔ CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

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As APC, PDP Bicker Over ‘Looters’ List ➔ FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE

prevent and protect the democracy from collapse but the PDP remains enmeshed in series of controversies owing to alleged corrupt practices by its members while in power. For this reason, APC has kept at its criticism of the party long after it took over power as the ruling government leaving PDP rattled with little time to be a formidable opposition.

In the past months, PDP on various occasion had to defend itself as well as actions of its members during the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and in what seemed like an epiphany, PDP resorted to apologizing to Nigerians for all the wrong it did while in office promising to turn a new leaf. The apology was tendered by the National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, at a public national discourse on “Contemporary Governance in Nigeria” in Abuja. He apologized for what he termed “impunity, the imposition of candidates and other mistakes made in the past”, and assured that under his watch, there would be no imposition of candidates or any form of impunity in the party’s activities.

“I hereby, as the National Chairman, do admit that the PDP made a lot of mistakes; we are humans, not spirits and the ability to admit is key in moving forward. We admit that we have made several mistakes; we have passed through all our challenges and have acquired the experience no other party can boast of; we were sanctioned by Nigerians at the polls in 2015. Let me use this opportunity to apologise for our past mistakes. It is the honest thing to do, a legacy to transfer to our children; we cannot continue like that; When we make mistakes, we should come out boldly to the people and apologise; we have learnt our lessons and we are ready to begin on a new agenda”, Secondus said.

But hardly had Nigerians gotten around to its apology, the party typically, challenged the APC to publicize names of PDP members who allegedly looted the nation’s treasury. The challenge followed vice president, Yemi Osinbajo’s claim that the PDP-led government at the federal level crippled Nigeria’s economy. Osinbajo who made the claim while delivering a speech during a colloquium in honor of a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, in Lagos said, “from all I have seen in government in the past three years, the corruption

Secondus

of the previous five years is what destroyed the Nigerian economy. Every time we talk, we as a party, and your government must show the difference between us and the party and government that impoverished our nation.”

Swiftly, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, faulted the Vice President’s allegations arguing that as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor Osinbajo, ought to have substantiated his allegation by providing names.

Ologbondiyan said the Buhari administration should have used the evidence it had, if it actually had any, to arrest and try corrupt members of the PDP. “We challenge him to stop branding figures. He should mention names of those whom he claims corrupted themselves. If he cannot mention their names, and he cannot cause their arrest and he cannot even list these people, he should keep quiet”.

Ologbondiyan further advised Osinbajo to stop blaming the party for corruption over the years. “Our advice to the Vice President, as a professor of law, he knows the pathway to follow when you accuse somebody of corruption. It is not enough to come to the public arena, more so as a man of God, and begin to make an allegation about corruption always.”

Twenty-four hours later, the APC took up the challenge by releasing a list which includes the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus. Speaking at a news conference in Lagos, the Minister of Information and culture, Lai Mohammed, said the identities of looters were unveiled as a result of the party’s

Ologbondiyan

challenge. “The PDP has challenged us to name the looters under their watch. They said they did not loot the treasury.

Well, I am sure they know that the treasury was looted dry under their watch yet, the decided to grandstand; this shows the hollowness of their apology; this list is just a tipoff the iceberg, and the PDP is aware of this. We did not make these cases up; many of them are in court and the records are available”, Mohammed stated.

In its reaction, the PDP while dismissing the list as hallow and laughable, again challenged the APC to name any of its (PDP) members that has been convicted for treasury looting. It also countered it by listing cases of alleged looting by officials which it said has been swept under the carpet under the APC government through its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiya, who said for the APC to accuse members of PDP of treasury looting is a case of pot calling kettle black. “This is a government that is yet to account for $26 billion (N9 trillion) stolen through corrupt oil contracts in the NNPC, N1.1 trillion worth of crude diverted to service APC interests, N18 billion Internally Displaced Persons (IDP)intervention fund stolen by APC officials, including their former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal. The N10 billion National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for which Buhari cabal were indicted, as well as the Mainagate where the APC government recalled and reinstated an individual indicted for scam running into billions of naira”.

The opposition party said the list is an extension of APC’ media trial of its members and only shows that the APC lack proof of corruption against the PDP, adding “the list put forward by the federal government as purported looters amounts to cheap blackmail as none of those listed have been indicted or convicted by any court of competent jurisdiction or panel of enquiry in our country”.

While it has the right to defend itself as well as its members, PDP needs to get its acts together and play the role of opposition rightly by coming up with alternative policies that to the people and do it consistently if it ever wants a shot at governance ever again. And for it to be able to achieve this, it needs to be mature, confident and secure; it can show this by giving the APC credit when necessary and appropriate and without contradiction; it has to be objective and constructive in its criticism, honest and strive at rebuilding confidence in Nigerians to enable them entrust it with their votes in future elections or how else does the PDP hope to win future elections if it consistently puts itself in position of ridicule before the public?

As former New Zealand’ Leader of the opposition, Dr. Don Brash says “any Government has to remain answerable to the public at all times, and a good opposition can put the spotlight on serious issues and have them resolved quickly; the other major role is proposing alternatives to what the government is doing so the public gets the benefit of political debate between different directions”.

Twentyfour hours later, the APC took up the challenge by releasing a list which includes the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

labour matters

We Won’t Accept N18,000 While Senator Takes N13.5m Monthly – Labour

BY MICHAEL OCHE, Abuja

Workers, under the auspices of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), have said they will no longer accept N18,000 as minimum wage when a Senator collects N13.5 million monthly, as a running cost.

The National President of AUPCTRE), Comrade Benjamin Anthony, and its FCT Chapter Acting Chairman, Comrade Aliyu Maradun, expressed workers’ discontentment at

the slow pace of work on the issue of minimum wage.

Comrades Anthony and Maradun who were speaking at the sixth Quadrennial State Delegates Conference of the FCT Council of AUPCTRE, said the workers were waiting patiently for government pronouncement on minimum wage; adding that the workers have been shortchanged for the past two years, based on the law on minimum wage.

Comrade Maradun said: “We observed with great discontentment, the slow pace of work on the new

A young vulcaniser working under the Abuja sun in Utako, Abuja.

national minimum wage, noting that the current minimum wage law came into effect in 2011 and it was designed for review in every five years. By implication, another minimum wage ought to have been signed into law since 2016. That is to say that, the Nigerian workers have been denied the fruit of their labour for the past two years.

“As we patiently await the pronouncement of the new minimum wage at the third quarter of the year as announced by the Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige during the just concluded 40th anniversary of the Nigeria Labour Congress. I implored Nigerian workers to be at. Alert as the road to the minimum wage may not come easy.

“I call on Nigerian workers to resist the deceit of the political class that there is no enough resources to pay minimum wage considering the wide gap that currently exist between the salaries of the political office holders and the toiling workers that produce the wealth of the nation.”

Also, Comrade Anthony said it was high time a new minimum wage which should qualify to be a living wage was paid to Nigerian workers, regretting that the process is being delayed too much.

The AUPCTRE national president said “someone sitting somewhere (Senator) cannot be collecting N13.5 million incentives in a month, and you

pay a miserable N18,000 to a worker in a month. It is unacceptable, it is not possible and it is not going to work.”

He said: “On the strength of the above, permit me to state with every seriousness that the primary objective of our union is to defend the economic interest of our members through diligent negotiations, dialogue, collective bargaining, trade dispute, protest, rallies and strikes.

“Trade Union is an integral part of the society and has become an important part of the economic fabrics of Nigeria, recognized and consulted by employers of labour and governments.

“As a general Union, our mode of operation should reflect the fact that AUPCTRE is a “Movement” whose main objective is to defend workers’ rights and welfare and remain committed to social justice in the work place and the larger society.”

He added: “As leaders and workers, we must realize that neo-liberalism and globalization has done a great havoc to workers’ solidarity and comradeship.

“The situation now is that, workers world over and communities have turned against one another; the scenario today is such that while workers or group of workers are complaining of under payment or non-payment of wages, the unemployed youth are being turned into common thugs and engage in anti-social activities.

Women Still Less Likely To Be Active In Labour Market – ILO Report Women are less likely to participate in the labour market than men and are more likely to be unemployed in most parts of the world, says a new study by the International Labour Organization (ILO) released on the eve of International Women’s Day According to the World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends for Women 2018 – Global snapshot , the global women’s labour force participation rate – at 48.5 per cent in 2018 – is still 26.5 percentage points below the rate of their male counterparts. In addition, the global

unemployment rate of women for 2018 – at 6 per cent – is approximately 0.8 percentage points higher than the rate for men. Altogether, this means that for every ten men in a job, only 6 women are in employment.

“Despite the progress achieved and the commitments made to further improvement, women’s prospects in the world of work are still a long way from being equal to men’s,” said Deborah Greenfield, ILO Deputy Director-General for Policy.

Whether it is about access to employment, wage inequality or other

forms of discrimination, we need to do more to reverse this persistent, unacceptable trend by putting in place policies tailored to women, also taking into account the unequal demands that they face in household and care responsibilities,” she added.

However, the snapshot signals significant disparities, depending on the wealth of countries.

For instance, differences in unemployment rates between women and men in developed countries are relatively small. Women even register lower unemployment rates than men

in Eastern Europe and North America.

Conversely, in regions such as the Arab States and Northern Africa, female unemployment rates are still twice as large as men’s, with prevailing social norms continuing to obstruct women’s participation in paid employment.

Another example of these differences is that the gap in employment participation rates between men and women is narrowing in developing and developed countries while it continues to widen in emerging countries.

23

LABOUR NEWS

Research Workers To Hold Roundtable On Funding

In a bid to create awareness on the negative effect of poor funding to research institutes in the country, the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), has said it has concluded arrangement to hold a twoday roundtable on research funding The event billed to hold April 17, according to a statement by the secretary general of ASURI, Dr Theophilus Ndubuaku, and the president of Co-Heritage Hunters Nigeria, Pastor Bola Oregbemi is a talk shop aimed at mobilizing the nation in support of adequate research funding.

The event is coming on the heels of the recently-passed National Research and Innovation Council Bill 2018, and appreciation event to celebrate innovativeness and beam positive light on the role of research in national development.

According to the statement, the event tagged, “Research our Hope,” will feature over 1,000 researchers while over 100 Nigerian research institutes will showcase their activities at the adjoining exhibition, alongside other exhibitors from both private and public sectors.

He stated that the secretary to the government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, is billed to be special guest of honour while the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Muhammadu Musa Bello, and the minority whip in the Senate, Senator Philip Aduda, representing FCT in the Senate, are chief host and co-host respectively.

The main speaker at the talk shop is eminent scientist and former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oye IbidapoObe, also a former president of the National Academy of Science (NAS) while the chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Senator (Prof.) Robert Ajayi Boroffice, and Senator David Umaru, the chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters who sponsored the National Research and Innovation Council Bill 2018, will lead the team of the 60 Senators who co-sponsored the Bill and several other federal lawmakers from both chambers to the event.

Labour Urges FG to hold Consultations, Deliberations Over ACFTA

BY OLAJIDE FABAMISE, LAGOS

Organised Labour has hailed the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to hold more consultations and deliberations on the controversial African Union Continental Free Trade (ACFTA).

This is even as it opined that Nigeria’s weak infrastructural base will further increase the cost of the products produced in Nigeria.

Labour also acknowledged and commended “the vigilance of all stakeholders”, namely manufacturers, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and business in calling for caution on international trade agreements that could undermine Nigerian development aspirations.

Recall that Nigeria failed to attend the meeting of the African Union members in Kigali, Rwanda last Wednesday where the agreement is

scheduled to be signed.

Speaking on the Federal Government’s position, Issa Aremu, National Executive Committee (NEC) member of NLC and Vice President Industriall global union noted that while intra-African Trade can bring economic benefits to member states, there should be broad consultation and participation in the ACFTA negotiations to avoid what he called “pit-falls of past trade agreements

which have turned to be He recalled that the uncritical Nigeria membership of World Trade Organisation (WTO) in the 1990s with attendant lowering of tariffs, trade liberalisation was the singular factor that led to the collapse of labour intensive industries like textile and automobile.

According to the labour leader “trade is the means to development, not the end itself therefore any trade pact

must foster growth, create mass decent jobs and development, falling which is counterproductive”.

“For Nigeria to further reduce import duties, as envisaged by ACFTA will fuel cheaper imports smuggled goods that would overrun domestic markets of local products which because of high production costs are unable to compete, thus perpetuating “deindustrialisation, unemployment and poverty.” he added.

24

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Tuesday, April 3, 2018

business

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

NEWS

MONEY

CAPITAL MARKET

INSURANCE

INFLATION RATE (%) 2016

OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

18.3 18.48 18.55

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

As the deadline for regulatory filing of full year 2017 earnings ended, attempts by the results of the few quoted banks to woo investors with high dividend payouts have not yielded the desired result, as the banking index fell by 9.55 per cent, the highest decline for the month of March.

For the month of March, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index declined by 4.21 per cent, the second consecutive month of loss to close at 41,504.51 on March 29, 2018 from 43,330.54 at which it opened for the month.

Also, the market capitalisation shed N557 million to close the month of March at N14.993 trillion as against N15.550 trillion on February 28, 2018.

For the month of March, all the sectoral indices closed negative except Oil and Gas sector that gained by 0.95 per cent. The banking index led the loser by 9.55 per cent, Industrial Goods index followed with a decline of 6.77 per cent, while Alternative Securities Market (ASeM) declined by 6.70 per cent.

Insurance index was down by 4.08 per cent, while Consumer Goods index depreciated by 2.54 per cent.

Reviewing the banking stocks for the period showed that out of 16 banks listed on NSE, six had released their audited results which have shown impressive performance with good dividend declared.

For example, Access declared a final dividend of 40 kobo per share, Guaranty Trust Bank proposed a final dividend of N2.40 and Zenith Bank gave a final dividend of N2.45 per share. UBA and Stanbic IBTC declared a final dividend of 65 kobo Group Business Editor Bayo Amodu 08118672002 Business Editor (Lagos) Chima Akwaja Assistant Business Editors Kingsley Alu Tony Awunor Correspondent Chika Izuora Reporters Festus Okoromadu Mark Itsibor Mbakaan Kwen Bukola Idowu Olushola Bello Abah Adah Chika Okeke

INTERVIEW

2017

15.91 15.9 15.37

ANALYSIS

Leadership Newspapers

INTER BANK LENDING RATE (AS AT MARCH 28) RATE CHANGE (%)

ON 1M 3M 6M

11.9500 15.0514 16.0237 18.4272

L-R: Group managing director/chief executive officer, Guaranty Trust Bank, Segun Agbaje; president/chairman of council, Chartered Institute of Bankers’ of Nigeria (CIBN), Segun Ajibola, and group managing director/chief executive officer, Access Bank Plc/chairman, Body of Bankers’ CEO, Herbert Wigwe, during a press conference to unveil The Shared Agent Network PlanDeepening Financial Inclusion in Nigeria, held in Lagos. PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU.

and 50 kobo per share.

Notwithstanding the dividend declared, Access Bank shares for the month of March dipped by 15 per cent, Guaranty Trust Bank’s shares went down by 8.78 per cent, while Zenith Bank share depreciated by 8.2 per cent. The overall market performance as indicated by the NSE-ASI has continued to trend southwards despite decent earnings declarations by companies.

Stocks market analysts have said the reasons are not far-fetched, the earnings declaration session fell at a time when the market was experiencing correction from the January 2018 rally when the ASI emerged as one of the best performing markets globally.

Analysts at United Capital said that in fact, nine months 2017 earnings already gave a good indication of the magnitude of full year earnings declaration and investors appeared to have priced this into their buying decisions early in the year. According to them, in effect, full year 2017 earnings declarations were not sufficient to drive the market back to the green region. The lack of clarity in the fiscal and monetary policy directions further weighed on market sentiments despite the continued deceleration in interest

rate.

They noted that “as the market lingers in the oversold region, we expect investors to seek bargains in the short term, before the onset of volatility that trails pre-election jitters later in the year.”

The chief operating officer of InvestData Consulting Limited, Mr. Ambrose Omordion said the stocks market for the month of March closed in red despite impressive financials and high dividend payout for the 2017 financial year.

According to him, the NSE All-Share index broke down the yellow trend line, confirming that the market entered its long bearish mode, since the full year earnings season has not influenced equity prices positively or supported market value.

He said:“What the stocks market is experiencing showed that liquidity is not flowing into the market. Rather, the Nigerian market is experiencing a liquidity squeeze as revealed by institutional money flow index of the NSE.” He stated that the recent performance of both the international and locally markets show that there is a clear divergent between the equity market and crude oil price movement, saying that before now, oil price movement

Business 101 with MBAKAAN KWEN

-13.60 -0.03 -0.27 0.15

Banking Stocks: High Dividend Payouts Fail To Attract More Investors

had been linked to equity market movement, unlike the present situation when oil prices are looking up while equity markets globally are going south. All of these are happening despite the growth being experienced in the world economy and recovery being experienced here in Nigeria.

Omordion said:“Despite the continued bearish mode of the market, we expect repositioning to continue, while profit taking will reduce on the strength of expected payouts and earnings surprises.

“With more income investors taking position in value and dividend paying stocks, alongside bargain hunters, we expect the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting to give direction of the interest rate as inflation continues to decline, thereby further driving the economic recovery and flow of funds.

He advised investors to not panic but go for equities with intrinsic value, especially during this season when dividend payment is ongoing, saying “we advise investors to allow numbers guide their decisions while repositioning for the year’s trading activities, especially now that stock prices remain volatile amidst improving company, economic and market fundamentals.”

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Ways Socio–Cultural Factors Can Affect Your Business Being in business is not only about knowing how to make sales and generate great profits, but it also involves understanding the environment you intend establishing your business. A complete business person ensures that he or she studies the social – cultural attributes of the people that live in the environment they intend starting their business during the feasibility studies.As culled from mytopbusinessideas. com, the following ways can affect business; •MEANS OF COMMUNICATION: Every community has a means of communication and the ability for you to key into their style of communication will go a long way to positively impact your business.

Much more than the language that is being spoken by a group of people, there are other salient and unspoken words that carry great importance. For instance some culture frowns at a younger person that present his hand first for a handshake with an elderly person.

•PURCHASING POWER: It is very important that you know the purchasing power of the people that live in the area where you intend establishing your business.

QUOTE OF THE DAY Recovery in oil exports has strengthened the country’s balance of trade. This has helped in the country’s growth in reserves.’’

Statistician-General of the Federation/chief executive officer, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Yemi Kale said.

Kale

26 NEWS/BUSINESS

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Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Q1: United Capital, Stanbic IBTC, 8 Others Account For 49.32% Trade Volume

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

L-R: Head, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), Engr. Jamiu Badmos; Chief Human Resource officer, Ibiene Okeleke, both of Ikeja Electric Plc; vice chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe; head, Corporate Communications, Ikeja Electric, Felix Ofulue, and deputy vice chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Ben Oghojafor, during the presentation of Ikeja Electric Power Play Board Game to the University, recently.

Stockbrokers Assess Impacts Of Delay In MPC Meeting

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

As the much-delayed meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is about to hold, stockbrokers have assessed the impacts of the delay on the activities in the Nigerian Capital Market.

President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr Oluwaseyi Abe who responded to media enquiries lamented that delay in the MPC’s meeting has prevented announcement of policy direction of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on some critical monetary tools which enhance investment decision on both the money and capital markets.

The MPC held its last meeting in November last year due to protracted delay in the confirmation of the new members by the National Assembly.By this delay, Abe said investors in the money and capital markets have been denied the current policy direction on the Monetary Policy

Rate (MPR), cash reserve ratio, liquidity ratio and asymmetrical corridor as they affect investment decision on the activities in the money and capital markets.

“The MPC is supposed to drive activities both in the money market and capital markets as two markets are inversely related. The inability of the MPC to meet since the beginning of the year has a major drawback on our market,” Abe explained.

He further explained that policy announcements by the MPC drives the economy, saying that the impact of policy decision should ginger activities in the capital market.

Corroborating him, the managing director and chief executive officer, Network Capital Limited, Mr. Oluropo Dada explained that lack of policy direction can bring about distortions and uncertainties. “The monetary policy guidelines are tools for managing

the economy and non-meeting of the committee is a pointer that all is not well with the economy.

“Stockbrokers and other investment analysts are interested in what happens to the interest rate now that inflation rate is declining. It is likely that MPR will go down by some basis points when the MPC eventually meets. But uncertainties, ambiguities and distortions will persist,” Dada said.

Market watchers explained that the hardest hit by the protracted delay in the meeting of MPC are the foreign investors whose risk analysis takes into cognisance the policy direction on the interest rate.

Also, speculators take advantage of MPR to determine when to switch over from the money market to capital market.

Transactions last week on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) have been moderated by profit taking, limiting price gains and other performance indicators.

Terragon Raises $5m To Link African SMEs With Mobile Channels

BY CHIMA AKWAJA, Lagos

Africa’s data analytics markets received a boost with a $5 million investment in Nigerianbased Terragon Group, Africa’s leading mobile marketing company which would be used to link small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with more customer reach, engagement and conversions with selfservice access.

The $5 million funding round led by Africa-focused TLcom Capital would help Terragon to develop further its proprietary marketing technology which connects online and offline mobile channels to African brands and SMEs. Terragon is pioneering the platform with Africa’s largest telco - MTN Nigeria. The

Adrenaline platform from Terragon offers unprecedented reach and engagement channels for the African mobile customer with associated data and intelligence as is available on mobile web.

Chief executive officer, Terragon, Elo Umeh said “the new investment will enable the Lagos-headquartered company hire the best available talents to drive business development efforts across industry verticals and solve unique mobile challenges to unlock significant value for African businesses.”

With African businesses in various industries struggling to reach and engage customers in the face of limited internet access and low literacy levels, Terragon is helping clients including FCMB and FBNQuest in financial services

and Unilever and Samsung in the consumer goods space, connect with new and existing consumers across online and offline mobile channels providing the reach and targeting to deliver on their marketing objectives.

Ido Sum, partner at TLcom who is joining Terragon’s Board said: “We have followed Terragon closely for a while, seeing it developing into a world class marketing Technology Company targeting the unique African opportunity.

“Over recent years we led investments into Upstream (exited to Actis), as well as NYC based Persado and Cubiq who are among the leaders in the MarTech space in the US, and we are convinced that Terragon’s deep market understanding and platform

quality can allow Africa’s top brands as well as SMEs to finally reach, acquire and serve African consumers at scale like never before,” Sum added.

TLcom’s commitment is the second from its $40 million TIDE Africa Fund for early and growth-stage digital companies. Terragon has over 100 employees with offices in Lagos, Nairobi, and Accra, alongside technology hubs in Bangalore, India and Ife, Nigeria. It works closely with the largest mobile network operators in Africa, fast moving consumer goods brands, agencies, financial institutions, leading publishers, mobile device manufacturers and app developers on the continent giving brands access to over 100M consumers on mobile web and non-web channels.

Data from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has shown that the top 10 stockbrokers led

by United Capital Securities Limited and Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers, accounted for 43.233 billion of the total value of trade in first quarter of the year.

According to the data, this represented 49.32 per cent of the volume for the period, with United Capital Securities pooling 11.15 billion units or 12.73 per cent. Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers followed with a total volume of 5.14 billion unit of shares or 5.86 per cent, while Cardinalstone Securities accounted for 4.32 billion or 4.93 per cent.

Apel Asset Limited transacted a total of 4.07 billion units or 4.65 per cent of the three-month total, CSL Stockbrokers followed with 3.85 billion units, while Reward Investment and Services Limited accounted for 3.36 billion shares or 3.84 per cent.

Cordros Securities exchanged through Investors’ 3.31 billion units or 3.77 per cent, Rencap

Securities traded 3.14 billion or 3.59 per cent, Morgan Capital Securities followed with 2.47 billion or 2.82 per cent, and Meristem Stockbrokers traded 2.41 billion or 2.75 per cent of total volume for the period.

In value terms, the top1o brokerage houses were responsible for N555.16 billion or 63.12 per cent of the transactions, led by Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers’ N129.32 billion or 14.59 per cent; with CSL Stockbrokers coming second with N102.2 billion and Rencap Securities, N83.27 billion or 9.47 per cent.

EFCP Limited with N62.53 billion or 7.11 per cent, Cordros Securities followed with N45.02 billion or 5.12 per cent, just as FBNQuest Securities Limited recorded N38.23 billion or 4.35 per cent, ahead of United Capital Securities’ N32.06 billion or 3.64 per cent. Cardinalstone with N23.90 billion, Chapel Hill Denham Securities traded shares worth N20.91 billion, while Apel Asset Limited accounted for N18.70 billion value of shares for the period.

Heritage Bank Partners WATIF On Sub-regional Integration

BY MBAKAAN KWEN, Abuja

Heritage Bank Limited has partnered with the first edition of West Africa Trade and Investment Forum: Conference and Exhibition on sub-regional integration of economies of West African countries in the areas of agriculture, education and skills, manufacturing and information communication technology (ICT).

The group head, Agric and Exports of Heritage Bank, Mr. Olugbenga Awe, said the bank was involved in the project because, “it speaks to its commitment to the development of Nigeria and its commitment to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) as well as its commitment to agriculture.”

He said the bank’s partnership with the organisers of WATIF “is just a continuation of a process it started as part of its commitment to SMEs which are the bedrock of the economy, because they (SMEs) employ labour and in terms of contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) they are the future of the economy.”

Besides this, Awe was also a keynote speaker in a roundtable discussion on agriculture which recommended soil quality and seed quality for

improved agricultural output, mechanised farming and cluster blocks to enhance value in terms of pricing of agricultural commodities.

Other recommendations include the use of technology, creation of market hubs, setting up of website for farmers to upload information about their products and standardisation of products across the sub-region among others.

Earlier in her address of welcome, Mrs. Michele Branco-Aiyegbusi, Director of WATIF, “WATIF 2018, themed “Enhancing Collaboration for Regional and Economic Impact” expressed the hope that they were optimistic that genuine efforts towards integration and economic collaboration would not only bring about a boost in the economic standing of Africa globally, but indeed opportunities for growth and development of the sub-region.

She remarked that with the focus of the maiden edition of WATIF on four sectors, the forum has been able to pool into the discourse industrialists and key drivers from these sectors who they hoped would be open minded in addressing the issues and barriers to trade and development in the sub-region.

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

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E-BUSINESS 27

CPN To Move Headquarters To Abuja

BY AYOMIDE AYANO, LAGOS

L- R: General manager, Cisco Nigeria and English West Africa, Olakunle Oloruntimehin; Cisco Systems Engineer, Security, Nigeria and English West Africa, Tomi Amao; and Systems Engineering Lead, Cisco West Africa, Abdelaziz Saidu, shedding light on Cisco’s 2018 Annual Cybersecurity report in Lagos, recently

Telcos Seek President’s Proclamation On Telecom Infrastructure

BY CHIMA AKWAJA, Lagos

The Association of Licenced Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to issue an Executive Order proclaiming telecoms services as critical national security and economic infrastructure as prescribed the Cybersecurity Act 2015.

National chairman of ALTON, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo speaking with LEADERSHIP at the weekend said the telecom industry supports many other economic sectors of the economy. “We are also the first layer of critical infrastructure for socio economic development and security. It is pertinent to state that unless telecoms facilities have first level of protection by government, it will be difficult to provide uninterrupted services to the citizenry.’’

The body commended the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for being in the forefront of making sure

that the ease of doing business is achieved by all stakeholders in the Industry.

“In view of the foregoing, ALTON respectfully seeks the intervention of the minister of finance to review the Amended Taxes and Levies Order 2015 which is adjudged to be inimical to the normal operations of telecommunication operations” he said.

Buttressing his point, Adebayo said there are 38 taxes and levies charged by the agencies of both federal and state governments on telecom operators. ALTON is concerned that the amended taxes & levies order, 2015 engendered the institution of multiplicity of taxes across different tiers of government,” he said.

Adebayo said the amended order failed to fix the taxable rate resulting in the imposition of arbitrary levies and charges at the state government levels.

“The industry is also burdened with enactment of laws at the state government

levels to legitimate spurious levies and charges on our members which negates the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

“Specifically, item 3 (b) of the amended schedule to the taxes and levies (approved list for collection) act introduced new levies and taxes under items 12 – 25. Most of these taxes and levies were hitherto contested by our members on the grounds that they were not applicable to telecommunications operations justified by the previous Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act 1998.

“It is disturbing that the entire instrument has given the state governments authorization to coerce and disrupt the operations of our members in order to compel the payment of sundry levies, charges and taxes. Rather than amended order addressing the issue of multiple taxation; it on the contrary increased the tax burden of our members and adversely impacted the ease of doing businesses in Nigeria,” said the ALTON chairman.

President/chairman-in-council, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), Professor Charles Uwadia has disclosed that plans are afoot to move the headquarters of the regulatory agency from Lagos to Abuja.

Uwadia who made this known during the CPN media executive forum held at Sheraton hotel, Ikeja, Lagos last week said “since the formation of the council, Lagos has been the headquarters.

We have plans and are working to move the head office to Abuja this year.”

He stressed that the current CPN board which was inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu on September 8, 2017, has the overall duty of regulating information technology (IT) professionals who have fulfilled the requirements of the council and also accredit Information Technology (IT) related programmes in tertiary institutions.

In his opening speech, the CPN

registrar, Allwell Achumba said that the “Council believes that the media is critical to improving the visibility of CPN and highlighting the importance of professionalism in the IT industry in Nigeria.

It has also become imperative to engage the media at the highest level in order to seek support for Council and ensure excellent media coverage, especially towards her forthcoming 25th anniversary celebrations”, he said.

Also speaking at the forum themed “Leveraging On Information Technology for Economic Development”, the vice president/Vice Chairman-inCouncil of CPN, Mr. Kole Jagun disclosed that the council would be organizing a forum with teachers in tertiary institutions on May 3, 2018 in Katsina.

He added that a forum will also be organised with Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government (MDAs) in order to review IT contracts, ensure that IT contracts are awarded to corporate bodies or individuals who are registered with CPN to practice in Nigeria and also ensure that IT projects are not abandoned.

Canon Retains Top Leader On Digital Camera Market For 15yrs Canon Inc has said its interchangeable-lens digital cameras (digital SLR and compact-system cameras) have maintained the number one share of the global market for 15 consecutive years, from 2003 to 2017.

Canon develops the key components featured in its interchangeable-lens cameras— CMOS image sensors, image processors and interchangeable lenses—in the pursuit of “Speed, Comfort and High Image Quality, the core concept of the EOS series.” The company effectively responds to the needs of a wide range of users through its extensive line-up of cameras, catering to all levels of photography from beginner to professional and a total of 93 EF series interchangeable lenses.

The sales and marketing director B2C, Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA), Somesh Adukia, said “as experts in imaging we believe it’s our

role to create powerful tools and services that offer consumers the best possible imaging experience.

Innovation will always play a key part in Canon, and maintaining the No.1 share of the global market for the 15th year in a row is a testament to our efforts.

“We are among the top three in patent submissions globally, and we will continuously push the boundaries of imaging technology to pioneer new experiences and creative opportunities that will deliver value to our customers and equip them to be story tellers today and in the future,” said Adukia.

In 2003, the dawn of digital SLR cameras, Canon introduced its breakthrough EOS 300D digital camera. This groundbreaking camera, which was competitively priced and featured a compact, lightweight design, captured the top share of the global market and set the stage for growth in the digital SLR market.

Cyberattack: 94% Of Companies In MEA Hacked In 2017 – Cisco The Cisco 2018 Annual Cybersecurity report released at the weekend revealed that 94 per cent of companies surveyed in the Middle East and Africa suffered cyberattack breaches and that 34 percent of breaches resulted in more than half of systems being impacted.

The report, which identified the evolution of ransomware as one of the most significant threat developments over the past year, also highlighted that malware had

become more vicious and harder to combat and that attackers are developing more skill in creating malware that can evade traditional sandboxing. It also revealed that adversaries are increasingly embracing encryption – meant to enhance security – to conceal command-and-control activity and that nearly half of the security risk that organizations face stems from having multiple security vendors and products.

The general manager of Cisco Nigeria, Olakunle Oloruntimilehin, speaking at the presentation of the report at its Nigerian office in Lagos, said Cisco is calling on businesses to adopt security measures and to take a comprehensive approach across people, process, technology and policy to protect their businesses from hackers and cyber criminals warning that cybercrimes has become more rampant and sophisticated.

He said: “Several companies are hit by cyber breaches and attacks every year causing losses in millions of naira and stealing highly classified information. It is therefore imperative that any organization that desires to stay safe and minimize risk or loss address cybersecurity at the top, with executive leadership setting the tone and engender a ‘security-firstalways-and-everywhere’ culture that flows throughout the organization.”

The study also indicated that nearly a quarter of organisations in the region manage more than 21 vendors and cite lack of security personnel as one of the biggest obstacles to security. Corroborating the importance of robust cybersecurity practices, Systems Engineer and Security expert at Cisco, Tomi Amao remarked that Cisco researchers observed a twofold increase in malicious web traffic volume in roughly over 12-months.

28 AVIATION

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NAHCO Bags Ground Handling Achievement Award STORIS BY ANTHONY AWUNOR, Lagos

Nigeria’s leading ground handling company, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, nahco aviance, has again confirmed its leadership position in the industry by clinching the Airport Ground Handling Special Achievement Award at the 2017 Nigeria Aviation (NIGAV) Awards, held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, recently.

Among the 44 categories of awards, nahco aviance was announced the winner of the only award for ground handling, while Federal Airports Authority

of Nigeria , FAAN, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited and 37 other institutions and individuals also won different categories of awards.

The Nigerian Aviation Awards, one of the nation’s most prestigious air transport awards is an annual event organised by FCI International Limited, and it seeks to recognise companies, organisations and individuals for best practices and outstanding contributions towards developing the nation’s aviation industry.

The managing director/chief executive officer of NAHCO Plc, Mr. Idris Yakubu said it was heartwarming to see that the effort of the company is to appreciate firms that have achieved exemplary services in the sector.

Mr. Yakubu thanked the organisers for the Award, adding that it will only inspire the Company to greater heights.

Speaking on the choice of nahco aviance as the winner of the Special Achievement Award, the Chairman of FCI, Mr. Fortune Idu, said that nahco aviance has consistently demonstrated excellence in the industry.

According to him, the

company’s choice as a winner had never been disputed since its culture of excellence sets it apart from other operators in the sector.

Over the years, nahco aviance has won several NIGAV awards in various categories. These include as Ground Handling Operator of the year 2009, Best Passenger Facilitation Company of the year 2010 and Handling Company of the Year award for 2012 and 2013 editions back-to- back. This latest award made it the Company’s fifth NIGAV award from inception. It is the fourth industry awards so far received by nahco aviance in the year 2018.

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Emirates Airlines Has Given Me Multi-Cultural Exposure – Pilot Ambrose Agbo Ojobo is a Nigerian trained pilot flying with Emirates Airlines based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and a subsidiary of The Emirates Group wholly owned by the government of Dubai’s Investment Corporation of Dubai. In this interview with ANTHONY AWUNOR, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) trained First Officer said that, working with Emirates has given him a multi-cultural exposure in his flying job. He also spoke on a wide range of issue surrounding his career.

As a pilot of many years’ experience, what makes Emirates Airline the ideal place for you to work?

My considerations for joining an airline are its safety culture, job security and reliability, selfimprovement opportunity, career progression, span of route network, quality of training, remuneration and benefits and more. All these qualities and more I find in Emirates making it my Ideal place of work. I have had multi-cultural exposure. It has been very rewarding and positively challenging.

What qualities should we look out for in a good pilot?

In one word- Discipline. Discipline is the bedrock of every successful pilot, which branches off to sound knowledge, good skills and resilient attitude.

R-L: Deputy editor, Politics, Southern States, LEADERSHIP, Mr. Olajidede Omojolomoju; chairman/chief executive officer, Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema; acting general manager, Southern Operations, LEADERSHIP, Mrs Angela-Tony Iji, and senior reporter, LEADERSHIP, Bukola Idowu, during LEADERSHIP’s visit to Air Peace head office in Lagos, recently. PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU.

Etihad, Swiss Sign Codeshare Deal, Relaunch Training Etihad Airways and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) have launched a new codeshare partnership with bookings effective immediately.

Under the agreement, Etihad Airways will have its EY flight code on SWISS services between Geneva and Zurich, two key gateway cities served in Switzerland from Abu Dhabi.

SWISS will market its LX code on Etihad Airways’ services between Zurich and Abu Dhabi, offering its passengers codeshare flights to and from the UAE’s capital city. The codeshare services are bookable now, for travel from 26 March.

Commenting, Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer, said “This codeshare deepens Etihad Airways’ commitment to the Swiss travel market and Switzerland, a key destination for travellers from our UAE home, neighbouring Gulf countries, and across our Asia Pacific network. The partnership further strengthens the historic cultural, business and tourism ties that the UAE and Switzerland have enjoyed over many decades.

“For travellers from Switzerland, our new relationship with SWISS will provide access to Etihad’s award-winning service and the hospitality for which our Abu Dhabi home is known.”

The new agreement is part of the codeshare cooperation which began in 2016 between the Lufthansa Group, of which Swiss is part, and Etihad Aviation Group.

Etihad Airways operates the technologically advanced Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on its daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Zurich. Both airlines’ customers will experience acclaimed inflight service and award-winning cabin interiors, including 28 Business Studios, and 271 Economy Smart Seats.

Meanwhile, Etihad Aviation Training, part of Etihad Aviation Group, has relaunched its world-class aviation training organization with the aim of becoming one of the most comprehensive aviation training facilities in the world.

Based at two locations in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, Etihad Aviation Training, previously known as Etihad Flight College, is a commercially-focused business open to external customers, while retaining the operational and safety values that have underpinned Etihad’s training services todate.

Commenting on the facility, Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, said “Etihad Aviation Training is an ambitious enterprise, pursuing its mandate to provide

outstanding training services to a global audience.

“The growth of the business will mirror the expansion of the global training market and we are excited about our expanding portfolio of programmes and products.

These services are accessible to both Etihad Airways and now, for the first time, to external customers.”

Etihad Aviation Training offers a wide range of training products and services, including airline training, type rating, cabin crew safety training, instructor training and cadet programmes, and aircraft maintenance training, making it one of the largest training facilities in the Middle East.

Ten full-flight simulators are currently in operation at with two additional devices arriving later this year, including the first Airbus A350-900 and a third Boeing 787-9.

This will enable Etihad Aviation Training to take advantage of the increasing global training demand, particularly from within the GCC, Europe, Indian sub-continent, Africa and Southeast Asia.

Captain Paolo La Cava, Director Etihad Aviation Training, said: “We are always looking for ways to expand our operations and activities, and the relaunch of the center is the perfect platform for us to do this.

Which aircraft types are you certified to fly and what factors do you take into consideration before taking the plane into the skies?

I am currently certified on the Boeing 777 aircraft. Factors to consider prior to each flight are summarised into the preflight preparation briefings; a constant review of the aircraft manual, continuous recap of the aircraft procedures. We are also provided rigorous training on flight simulators to handle any possible scenario that might arise during a flight so we are mentally prepared.

Whenever you are in the sky, what are your most important concerns?

Safety, safety and safety. The other is answering all the ‘what if’ questions.

As pilots we must never leave anything to doubt especially when you have the opportunity to fly on a global network like Emirates.

Please tell us your most memorable flight so far and why you consider it as such?

My first flight to the United States of America, Chicago to be precise and observing the ‘Northern lights’ at night during the flight. It was an orchestrated symphony of lights, it was beautiful.

The hours I have put in is approximately 6000 in the span of 10 years.

What fired your interest in aviation; please also give us a brief account of your aviation training?

What It was fired by my toy ‘Bullet train’, vehicles and how they move; cars, trucks, the fighter jets, and the big mighty Jumbo jet (Boeing 747).

My uncle who was an air force pilot, fate and my parents Mr. & Mrs. I.B. Ojobo for investing in me. I

Ojobo

started my flying career in Nigeria, at the Nigerian college of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Kaduna state. I was then retained and employed to be a flight instructor, which I did for four and half years. I then moved to actively flying airline commercial jets on the B737NG and now trained by Emirates airline flying the big dream jet Boeing 777.

How often do they train the pilots and how secure are the planes?

Training is world class at Emirates, my initial training on joining was for approximately 3 months which included, the Company induction training to the B777 type rating course comprising of the ground school classes using advanced Computer based training to the B777 simulator initial training and finally ending with the line training flying to at least all the continent’s on world within the route network.

Furthermore, every 6 months we are required by regulation and company policy to stay abreast with the latest training developments carrying out recurrent training ground school; then Validating the B777 type rating, Low Visibility Operation and a Line Operations Scenario and Evaluation.

In addition, every 3 month we refresh our UPRT (Upset recovery training).

These trainings are performed in the B777 simulator at Emirates training college. The airplanes are world class, new and maintained by a world class maintenance team.

Thirty three years ago, Emirates started flight operations with just two aircraft. Today, they are one of the best Airline globally. Only two years ago, the airline was voted the World’s Best Airline by customers at the 2016 World Airline Awards. What do you think is the magic?

First of all I feel it was not magic but, visionary approach and dedicated commitment to hard work by an excellent team always seeking best ways to improve our customer experience.

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ENVIRONMENT/BUSINESS 29

Lake Chad Basin: 10.7 million People Need Life-Saving Assistance – Mohammed STORIES BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

The United Nations deputy secretary-general, Mrs Amina Mohammed has pointed out that about 10.7 million people in the lake Chad Basin needed life-saving assistance.

She also disclosed that the humanitarian situation in the region is worrisome. This is even as she revealed that 4.5 million people are currently food insecure across the Lake Chad basin saying that the number is expected to rise to 5.8 million by June this year.

Speaking during the Security Council briefing from Monrovia on Boko haram and the situation in the Lake Chad Basin, she disclosed that 2.3 million people including 1.5 million children were forcibly displaced from their homes.

She noted that United Nations is supporting the African Union and the Lake Chad basin commission in developing a stabilization, recovery and resilience strategy for the region in line with Security Council resolution 2349.

Mohammed pointed out that the special representatives of the secretary-general for

Central Africa, West Africa and the Sahel continued their efforts in close partnership with the Economic Community for Central African States, the Economic Community for West African States and the Lake Chad basin commission to address the root causes of the crisis.

She regretted that violations of human rights continued to fuel insecurity in the Lake Chad basin.

The UN DSG stated that investments in strengthening community justice mechanisms would be essential for promoting reconciliation, ensuring accountability and sustaining peace in the region.

She added that UN accepted the recruitment of three African Union/Lake Chad Basin Commission human rights officers as part of the civilian component of the multi-national force.

Mohammed thanked the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria for their continued cooperation with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in the framework of the tripartite agreement even as she encouraged all affected states to fully implement the 2016

Abuja action statement.

According to her, “Humanitarian assistance has scaled up considerably and reached more than six million people in 2017”.

She said though food security has improved in north-east where a famine was averted last year that the progress is fragile noting that the scale-up assistance took place in an extremely volatile environment.

The DSG recalled that on 1st March this year that three aid workers were killed in Rann, Borno state following an attack by suspected boko haram insurgents regretting that three others are still missing, a situation that forced UN to temporarily suspend humanitarian.

Mohammed said that about $1.6 billion would be required to assist 7.8 million people in the four countries of Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad, just as she enjoined member states to ensure that the humanitarian appeal is wellfunded and that pledges are disbursed promptly.

She lamented that insurgency led to massive destruction of basic infrastructure, health and

educational facilities, commercial buildings, private houses and agricultural assets.

She said: “Along with the impacts of violent extremism, under-development, demographic shifts and climate change, we can see another powerful example of a complex, multi-dimensional situation that requires an integrated approach to address the humanitarian and development challenges and the links to peace”.

Mohammed disclosed that UN would continuously support governments in creating livelihoods, strengthening institutions, building community resilience and taking other steps to address the root causes of the crisis.

She emphassied that national and local non-governmental organizations as well as faithbased organizations have an invaluable role to play in efforts to prevent extremism.

The UN DSG was optimistic that restoring Lake Chad would improve livelihoods for millions of people, reduce local tensions and foster regional integration and development.

She hinted that the

L-R: Director of Pollution Control, Ecological Fund Office (EFO), Mr Chega Sanda; permanent secretary of EFO, Dr Habiba Lawal and director of Drought, Desertification & Coastal Zone Management (DDCZM), Mr Addy Yusuf, during an interactive session with the media in Abuja, recently.

international conference on Lake Chad which took place in Abuja and the adoption of the deliberations named Abuja Declaration reaffirmed the region’s commitment to increase cooperation to address the socio-economic impact of climate change and instability in the Sahel, West Africa and Lake Chad region.

Mohammed noted that the visit by the AU Peace and Security Council in July 2017 to the region further highlighted the challenges faced by the Joint Multinational Task Force

(JMTF).

She was hopeful that sustained international financial and technical support for the JMTF remained crucial to protect the fragile progress in the fight against Boko Haram.

The former minister of environment assured that UN would continue to address these complex challenges in close cooperation with the affected countries and all relevant sub-regional organizations, in line with Security Council resolution 2349.

NPS Board Members Pledge Enhanced Service Delivery The newly inaugurated board members of the National Parks Service (NPS) have pledged enhanced service delivery with the management in order to reposition the park for competitiveness.

The Board Chairman, Chief Ben Nwaobasi disclosed this in Abuja while addressing newsmen shortly after a closed door meeting with the conservator general of NPS, Alhaji Ibrahim Goni.

He said: “We will have a close working relationship with the management on proper application of public service rules and regulations to help us achieve global service delivery and boost the parks revenue potentials.’’

According to him, the board members received a comprehensive brief on the state of the park adding that members would study the brief and come up with recommendations to the problems outlined in the brief.

Nwaobasi was excited that the management team had piloted the affairs of the park creditably saying that the board members had agreed to show love and commitment to the job.

He said: “We are going to make better adjustments and make sure that we put our foot print here so that other people that will come after us will know that we have done well”.

He also disclosed that part of the board’s agenda is to

work hard and support the management by tackling some of the challenges outlined in the brief.

Earlier, the conservator general of the park, Alhaji Ibrahim Goni noted that the service would be repositioned for global service delivery in order to boost its revenue generation potentials.

He said that since one of the roles of the service is to protect the environment and indigenous genetic resources that NPS would be upgraded to international standard to enable it attract more tourists.

Goni revealed that the park played significant roles in science, research and educational development, especially in agriculture, medicine, psychology and spiritualism.

He added, “The nation’s population depends on its natural sources for food, fibre and medicine which demands that Nigeria pay more attention to the protection and conservation of its ecosystem”.

Goni said that the service is currently overhauled in the areas of capacity building, infrastructure development, research and development and among others.

He further solicited the support and collaboration of other agencies and the private sector in an effort to make the national parks one of the best in the world.

NCS Seizes N1.2bn Illegal Wildlife Tusks In One Month – Jibril The minister of state environment, Ibrahim Jibril has disclosed that the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) intercepted illegal wildlife pangolin and tusks worth N1.2billion from 15th February to 22nd March this year.

Jibril stated this in Abuja at a one-day workshop on combating illegal wildlife trade and sensitisation on convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora,

organized by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in collaboration with the ministry.

According to him, “On 15th February, the NCS intercepted and seized 55 sacks of pangolin and 218 pieces of elephant tusks worth N493, 520,000 and in less than a month, another 329 sacks of pangolins scale weighing 8,492kg valued at N732, 857,393 were also intercepted”.

He said that the wildlife species and its habitats have

been subjected to enormous pressure through over exploitation, trade and irrational use to such an extent that many are currently threatened.

Jibril who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mallam Shehu Ahmed regretted that Nigeria is used as a transit route for illegal wildlife trade thereby destroying the image of the country.

He maintained that federal government is taking necessary steps and measures to protect

and promote sustainable use of the terrestrial ecosystem, sustain forest management, combat desertification, land degradation and loss of biodiversity.

The minister promised to reverse the illegal trafficking which he lamented is capable of destroying Nigeria’s rich biodiversity and denying the country the full realisation of its economic potentials.

He stated that the disappearance of many high grade timber species

like Iroko, ebony, brown mahogany, African oak and among others is worrisome.

“The state department of forestry is now searching endlessly to be able to find some of these species through what is now regarded as tree exploitation or salvage logging,” he said.

He also informed that the ministry has programmes that constitute the framework for a dynamic and evolving process for co-operation among stakeholders.

Jibril described the programmes as catalysts for involvement of the entire society and a reference point for all agents involved in the conservation of nature in order to ensure environmental sustainability in the country.

In his presentation, Mr Paul Dunn of Wildlife Conservative Society (WCS) noted that the workshop was meant to discuss the menace of illegal wildlife trade and urgent actions needed to address the problems.

agriculture

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

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COMMODITY PRICES

FG Trains 100 Widows, Youth On Horticulture

AGRIC

BY KINGSLEY OPURUM, Abuja

Commodities Crude Oil 52.1784 0.17 Brent 55.3062 0.11 -0.20 Natural gas 3.4726 0.055 Gasoline 1.6075 0.0031 Heating oil 1.64900.0043 Ethanol 1.49 0.01 Gold 1202.40 5.1 Silver 16.83 0.01 Palladium 753.34 88.09 Platinum 984.10 0.00 Corn 358.00 5.50 Soybeans 1046.25 4 Wheat 426.00 0.25 Cotton 70.92 1.96 Rice 9.90 0.26 Canola 502.70 2.60 Cocoa 2,211.53 47.38 Rubber 303.60 14.50 Orange Juice 183.15 1.35 Coffee 149.00 0.65 Lumber 333.30 6.50 242.00 0.25 Oat Wool 1,422.00 67.00 Sugar 20.53 0.23 Live Cattle 118.29 1.27 Lean Hogs 65.38 0.17 Beef 10.27 0.04 Feeder Cattle 130.22 0.65 Copper 2.66 0.02 -0.89% Cobalt 34,450.00 1,700.00 Lead 2,308.00 268.00 Aluminum 1,811.00 69.00 Tin 21,155.00 150.00 Zinc 2,774.25 90.00 Nickel 10,399.50 208.25 Molybdenum15,000.00 0.00 Steel 312.50 0.00 Iron Ore 82.50 4.50 Coal 83.50 0.00 Baltic Dry 925.00 38.00 CRB Index 195.81 1.03 LME Index ABUJA

50kg Stallion Rice- 22,000 25kg Stallion rice- 14,500 2 kg Semovita- 3,700 25 Litres Kings Groundnut Oil12,800 25 Litres Palm Oil- 10000 70Kg Iron Beans- 19,000 70kg Red Beans- 18,000 70kg Millet10,0000 70kg Guinea corn- 10,000 70kg Maize15,000 60kg Garri13,000

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture has concluded the training of 100 widows and youths in Gombe State on horticulture.

In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP, the beneficiaries drawn from Dukku/Nafada federal constituency of the state were trained under the constituency project of a member of the House of Representatives, Hajiya Aishatu Jibril Dukku and facilitated by the Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin Kowa.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the training in Dukka LGA, the led trainer, Engineer Hamza Shehu, said the projects aimed to build the

capacity of the widows and youths on modern techniques of irrigation.

Engineer Shehu, therefore urged the beneficiaries to pay attention and not sale the agricultural inputs distributed to them. He said: “You should put them in to use in the farms for the purpose it was meant for, in order to boost the production.”

He also said the training was one of the several interventions given by Aishatu Dukku to the people of her constituency, as part of effort to bring succor and make them self-reliant.

Shehu added that the widows and youths were trained on processing of crops like tomatoes, okra and new methods of planting, harvesting and storage of the products.

He called on them to implement what they have learnt in order to develop their farms and contribute to the economy.

At the end of the training, the

beneficiaries were given starter pack which includes; liquid fertiliser, spraying machines, modern seeds, insecticides, mats and N10, 000 each.

Ogbeh

Anchor Borrowers Programme: Rice Farmers Commend FG

BY KINGSLEY OPURUM, Abuja

Rice farmers in Jega Local Government Area of Kebbi State have commended the federal government for its agricultural initiatives, especially the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP).

The rice farmers noted that under the programme, many farmers in the rural areas were able to access farm inputs easily, adding that the

feat had led to an increase in rice production in the State.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP on phone, a rice farmer, Sabi Musa described the ABP as a lifesaving programme, considering the millions of farmers who were participating in the programme nationwide.

Musa noted that the programme had created some wealthy farmers, adding that rice farmers

would continue to support the government’s efforts to make Nigeria to attain food security.

He said that more than 10,000 farmers in Jega had benefited from the supply of agricultural inputs under the programme.

He also said that each farmer was provided with bags of fertilisers as well as insecticides, herbicides, sprayers, seedlings and water pumping machines.

Another rice farmer in Jega, Aminu Ibrahim, said that 295 rice farmers were registered under the first phase of the programme in the last dry season farming, stressing that loan repayment had reached 40 per cent.

He explained that 115 farmers were registered during the last wet season farming and the beneficiaries were given assorted agricultural inputs.

Foundation Working To Revive Nigeria’s Mushroom Farming ..Says production shortfall is about 9,00 tons PA

BY CHIKA IZUORA, Lagos

The Mushroom Development Foundation Nigeria, has embarked on training programme for women farmers in mushroom cultivation as part of efforts to create export and jobs for local farmers.

President of the Foundation, Chi-Tola Robert said following the training initiative, a lot of women and even men trainees are already into mushroom cultivation.

Speaking with our correspondent in Lagos, ChiTola said in order to sustain the project, the Foundation has entered into partnership arrangement with Babcock University AgriPreneurship Centre on training people in the venture.

She said: “We just concluded the first training last week and we have over 30 participants, In fact, we are training and still training. One of our trainee is currently supplying one of the malls with dried mushroom in

large quantities currently”.

She said Mushroom cultivation is a money spinning landless form of agriculture, but regretted that a lot of people are yet to tap into this huge opportunity. “It holds high prospects both locally and internationally. More and more emphasis being placed on mushrooms health and nutritional benefits are making it something to consider by many Nigerians now and the world at large.

The financial freedom that comes with mushroom farming is one of reckoning, Mushroom cultivation offers you 100 per cent return on investment and with as low as N50, 000 you can start a mushroom business”, she said.

Speaking on challenges of the business, the president added, “In every business there are challenges, with mushroom farming there are too. I will start firstly with the process of cultivation. If one is able to go through the planting process successfully, 80 per cent of the challenges have been taken

care of. Mushrooms for now in Nigeria are either sold fresh or dried. Fresh from harvest is widely acceptable and for those who aren’t into large scale cultivation of mushroom can dried it with the ever available sunlight.”

Chi-Tola said that if all those the Foundation had trained should venture into the business on the average scale so far, they can harvest about 30 tons weekly available to Nigerians both fresh and dried.

On export potential, she said though that is not currently being envisaged because energy is just being exerted to provide this fungi to Nigerians and improve livelihoods with it. “We need to be sufficient first before we go out there. Going out there also means we have growers who are committed and dedicated to the international growing standards of these fungi. Nigerians need to know mushrooms and enjoy its benefits; it has to be provided to the rural poor as a good alternative source of protein. We

need to empower more women farmers on this venture” she said.

She also said Mushroom farming has huge prospects, but more farmers are yet to take it up as a commercial venture, adding that it takes about two months to get a mushroom harvest.

According to her, A kilogram of spawn is enough for 40 bags and each healthy bag ideally produces 3 to 4.5 kilogram of mushrooms weekly and this can be sold at a price of N1, 500 for every kilogram. Mushrooms contain a cocktail of nutrients that are good for a new born through to the aged.

However, official statistics from the National Farmers Information Service (NAFIS), have shown that Nigeria produces 300 tonnes of mushrooms per year against a demand of 1,200 tonnes (and now increasing). This implies that consumers, homes, hotels and restaurants have to look to other countries to import it since the local farmers cannot meet the demand”.

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AGRIC NEWS 31

Experts Commend Nigerian Government On Rice Production . . . Say demand dwarfing supply

BY CHIKA IZUORA, Lagos

Operators in Nigeria’s agriculture sector with major focus in rice production have admitted claims by government that giant strides have been recorded in the country’s rice production but said the feat is not being felt because demand outweighs supply.

In the view of the managing director and chief executive officer, MD/CEO of Elephant Group, Tunji Owoeye

population is dynamic, therefore the growth for rice consumption keep increasing by the dynamism of the population.

Elephant Group is a large multinational firm in the business of Imports, Exports, Production, Processing, Marketing and distribution of Agro Commodities in Nigeria. Its products, particularly Elephant Fertilizer, Elephant Pride, and Elephant Gold Rice have become popular household

brands across the country and the trend is fast growing across the sub region of West Africa.

Speaking with our correspondent in Lagos, Owoeye recalled that in 2016 to 2017, there was a marked improvement in cultivation and yield and the country currently have between 10 million metric tons of paddy rice but because the population is on the increase, “We are running after the population

so to speak, we have to keep increasing our production and yield to meet demand of the ever increasing population because population is growing at about five per cent and rice production has not grown to that level, so as per suffiecncy, I will say government has done a good job by encouraging more farmers to produce and when we came from less than seven million metric tons of paddy to about 10million metric ton , so there’s an increase

Rice farm

Firm Plans To Play Active Role In Boosting Agric Sector

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Dizengoff Nigeria has planned to play an active role in boosting agriculture sector in the country.

The company is working in line with the federal government decision to diversify the economy from oil.

Also, the company product, Case IH has been nominated as the number one brand of tractor in Nigeria.

Case IH which is being distributed by Dizengoff in Nigeria out performed every other brand, according to the figures released for agricultural machines and tools sold in the country in 2017, Case IH led the figures released, out shinning its peers with the best market

share in terms of customer preference and purchase, while Dizengoff Nigeria also won best market share award from CASE IH. Case IH is the tractor brand manufactured by Case International Harvesters, acclaimed as a leading agricultural machine tools manufacturer in the world.

Case brands are shipped to different countries across the world. In Nigeria, the brand is marketed by Dizengoff as the company’s exclusive distributor.

Speaking about the company’s accomplishments, chief executive officer, Mr. Antti Ritvonen Dizengoff said that “we feel very excited at these achievements coming within just a short while.”

He stated that “this shows that Case IH is well

received in the market. It is also a testimony to its tested superior technology as well as its overall superiority in performance, reliability and efficiency including several other parameters that we believe demonstrates its overall suitability for the Nigerian environment.”

Also, the commercial manager for Tractor and Implements, Mr. Damisa Enahoro revealed that, beyond the tractor, a key part of Dizengoff’s winning edge with Case IH in the market so far is its second to none after sales service support integral to its overall customer service delivery.

“It is at the heart of our strategy. We don’t just sell tractors. We have the parts and we back this up with maintenance service.

In addition to providing expert advice and technical support services such that the customer is never alone.”

Competition has also played a role in the company’s success, Ritvonen revealed. “we have been very successful and competition is good for everybody. Dizengoff has been in Nigeria for close to sixty years and it has been a success story. It means we are doing something right.”

Looking ahead he disclosed that “there is huge opportunity in the Nigerian agric sector, but there are a lot of challenges as well.

Our focus for the future is to play a more active role in the emerging trends that we see are evolving will resolve the limiting challenges that exists presently like finance, scale of operations and so on.

and that increase will have to continue and be sustained.” ‎ Speaking further he said on the downside is that about 30 per cent of this production is still being lost to post harvest issues like bad roads, lack of storage capacities, etc.

On why cost of rice is above purchasing power of the poor, he retorted, “I think that question is ambiguous, what do you mean by the reach of the poor, who sets the benchmark for what the poor can afford. I don’t want to pre-empt that I know the price you are referring to.

“But I know that the price it was in the year 2014, which was about #8,000, if that’s what you meant of the reach of the poor, it’s artificial because it’s based on imported scenario, currently locally processed paddy grown in Nigeria hovers around #14,000 per bag because of cost of production.

So I will be careful in tagging a price as being beyond the reach of the poor,” he said.

Owoeye’s position however slightly aligns with the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who recently claimed that the Federal Government’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme is responsible to current revolution in rice production across the country.

The minister while inspecting rice farms in Jega, Kebbi state said the benefits that have accrued to rice farmers in the provision of improved seedling, farm input and extension services have led to the increase of yield per hectare from 2.5 to between 10 and 11 metric tonnes.

“The difference between then and now is the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme because with the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, the average farmer today is assisted in terms of input, agronomic practices and seedling.

“So this system has now taken the burden off the farmer and given him what he normally would have gone out to buy or procure.

But the important thing is that from 2.5 metric tonnes to 10 to 11 metric tonnes within the same space, I think is

a new revolution,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

He said with 32 states currently covered by the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, the federal government is determined to turn Nigeria into a net exporter of rice in the not distant future.

“Two years ago, Nigeria used to import 644,000 metric tonnes of rice from Thailand.

Today, we import less than 20,000 metric tonnes. But I think the most important thing for us in Nigeria is to see that officially we have been able to eliminate over 90 per cent of rice importationinto Nigeria,” the Minister said.

He said that a new pilot scheme that targets the cultivation of 200,000 hectares of rice has taken off with 31,000 farmers being empowered by the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme.

Mohammed said under the new programme, each hectare of land will employ 25 people, thereby creating about 5 million jobs, adding that already, the Federal Government has grown the number of rice farmers from five million two years ago to over 12 million currently.

The Minister, who hailed the ingenuity of rice farmers in Kebbi State in sourcing water by sinking wells to ensure all-year-round farming, said the government will continue to support them to excel.

He also commended the synergy between the federal and state governments in rice farming, and disclosed that the federal government plans to embark on an aggressive advocacy for Nigerians to know the benefits of consuming locally-produced rice.

“The rice in Nigerian is safer, more nutritious and healthier than the one being imported. The one being imported has been stored for several years, perhaps in very bad condition and it is not safe to consume,” he said.

The Kebbi State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Garba Mohammed, conducted the Minister and his entourage round several rice farms and processing in Kebbi State.

Female Farmers Call For Interest-free Loans

BY KINGSLEY OPURUM, Abuja

Women farmers in Nasarawa State have appealed to the State, federal and local governments to grant interest-free loans to them to enhance agricultural production.

This was disclosed in a press

statement made available to LEADERSHIP recently.

In an appeal to the government across all levels, the women pleaded for increased budgetary allocations to agriculture to scale up the nation’s food production, and also for the provision of free health facilities in rural areas

to help reduce mother-child mortality rate.

“There is the need for the government, at all levels, to provide farmers with an interestfree loan in order to boost food production in the country,’’ one of the women noted.

A resident in Keffi, Mrs. Lami

Joseph noted that the major means of survival of the women in the rural areas was Agriculture and added that the provision of interest-free loans would go a long way in combating poverty and unemployment in the country, while also facilitating the nation’s socio-economic

developments.

“More than half of Nigeria’s population is living in the rural areas,’’ she stated.

Also speaking, Mrs. Talatu Nafa called on the government to donate agricultural inputs to farmers at subsidised rates, and adequate water supply should be

provided to rural dwellers.

On her part, another female farmer, Mrs. Zainab Audu appealed to the government across all levels to address the challenge of poor social amenities in rural areas, stressing the need for Nigerians to embrace peace and shun violence.

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Agric Input Suppliers Petition CBN Over Contract

BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna

A forum of Agricultural Input Suppliers on the federal government’s Anchor Borrowers Programme from Sokoto State has petitioned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over non-payment of their contract sums.

The forum in the petition signed by 15 agricultural input supplying firms said they were engaged in the first quarter of 2017 by the Project Management Team on CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme to supply inputs to farmers, with a promise that they would be paid two weeks after the supply.

The suppliers lamented that after eight months of the contract, input suppliers have not been paid. According to the petition, “That all companies who are party to this complaint were severally engaged in the first quarter of 2017 as Agricultural Input Suppliers by the Project Management Team

on CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme, Sokoto State and the companies fully executed their respective responsibilities accordingly.

“That disbursement due to us has been withheld for several months amounting to dereliction on the part of commercial banks in custody of the monies we are entitled.’’

While noting that the suppliers participate in the Anchor Borrowers Programme based on the integrity of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and that of the CBN, they said non-payment of the fund has negatively affected their business and may force them to downsize, which will

definitely increase the already saturated labour market.

They equally asked the CBN to intervene on the plight of suppliers who discharge their contract under fiduciary attachment to Access Bank Plc, which they said pulled out of the Anchor Borrowers Programme after takeoff.

NSE: Glaxosmith’s Shares Gain 62% In 2 Weeks

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

L-R: President, Finance House Association of Nigeria (FHAN), Debola Agunbiade ; managing director/ chief executive officer, Crownrise Finance Plc, Babatunde Rafiu; director, Other Financial Institution and Supervisory Department (OFISD), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Tokunbo Martins; chairman, Crownrise Finance Plc, Jonathan Abayomi Babalola, and board member, Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN), Elizabeth Ngozi Ehigiamusoe, during the stakeholders’ luncheon of Crownrise Finance Plc in Lagos, recently. PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU.

Brent Crude Oil Prices Rise To $69.71pb On Crashing US Drilling

BY CHIKA IZUORA, Lagos

Oil prices rose yesterday as U.S. drilling activity drops as well as by expectations that the United States could reintroduce sanctions against Iran.

U.S. WTI crude futures were at $65.21 barrel up 27 cents, or 0.4 percent, from their previous settlement, while Brent crude futures sold for $69.71 per barrel, up 37 cents, or 0.55 percent.

Stephen Innes, head of trading for Asia/Pacific at

futures brokerage OANDA in Singapore, said oil markets remained nervous about “whether or not the U.S. administration will scrap or maintain the fragile nuclear deal with Iran”. Innes said prices were also supported by a weekly report that there was a drop in activity of drilling for new oil production in the United States.

U.S. drillers cut seven oil rigs in the week to March 29, bringing the total count down to 797 , General Electric Co’s Baker Hughes energy services

firm said in its closely followed report last Thursday. It was the first time in three weeks that the rig-count fell. Baker Hughes published its North American rig count report on Thursday, one day earlier than usual, due to the Good Friday holiday on March 30.

Oil prices have generally been supported by supply restraint led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia, which started in 2017 in order to rein in oversupply and prop up prices.

ASHON, IRM Brainstorm On Risk Management Issues Affecting Stockbrokers

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

As part of initiatives to promote risk management culture among the capital market operators in Nigeria, the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) in collaboration with a frontline management consulting firm, IRM Professionals have been working on solutions to address a range of inherent risk management issues that impact on the operations of securities firms in the country.

Speaking at the forum, the managing partner and chief executive, IRM Professionals, Mrs. Owodunni Yussuff

explained that certain risks were peculiar to capital market operations and they should be managed in order to ensure business continuity.

Yussuff stated that the risks were usually classified into business risk and consequential risk saying that business risks include credit risk and market risk while consequential risks comprises legal risk, liquidity risk, operational risk, settlement risk and reputational risk She explained that apart from the technical risks, there are regulatory risks that are currently affecting capital market operators in Nigeria. “As part of minimum

operating standard (MOS), they are expected to have a risk management function, and a risk manager. But many of them are not well equipped in the area of risk management department for optimal performance. As of now, many of our operators have not established what we call risk culture.

“The principal risk associated with a broker dealer or a capital market operator in Nigeria is compliance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the Investment and Securities Acts (ISA).

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer (Glaxosmith) Nigeria Plc has led stocks market gainer by 62 per cent in two weeks, outperforming other stocks listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) The NSE closed last week by 0.08 per cent gain with the All-Share Index closing at 41,504.51 basis points. Last month, March was a bearish month as the All Share Index was down 4.21 per cent, bringing the year-to-date of the stocks market performance to 8.53 per cent.

Glaxosmith led the week’s top gainers, for the second consecutive week with a 61.9 per cent appreciation.

The stock opened at N21 on March 23 and closed at N34 on March 29, 2018. Stocks market analysts said that

investors may have keyed into the stock in view of the special dividend declared.

In its audited result for the year ended December 31, 2017, the company’s revenue increased to N16.09 billion up from N14.385 billion in 2016.

Also, the company proposed a total of N8.97 billion as dividend to shareholders for the 2017 business year. The board of directors of GSK indicated that it has approved the payment of N8.49 billion as special dividend and N478.4 million as ordinary dividend, bringing total payout for the 2017 business year to N8.97 billion.

A breakdown of the dividend recommendation showed that shareholders will receive a special dividend per share of N7.10 and ordinary dividend per share of 40 kobo, implying a total dividend per

share of N7.50.

Reviewing the company’s result, profit before tax also increased from N185.89 million in 2016 to N1.12 billion in 2017. Profit after tax however declined from N2.38 billion in 2016 to N486.43 million in 2017. The company’s cost of sales went up to N11.61 billion from N5.42 billion in 2016, while the gross profit declined N4.48 billion as against N8.97 billion in the corresponding year of 2016.

Glaxosmith recently distributed its surplus capital as special dividend to shareholders after it concluded sales of segment of its business to other investors. GSK had in 2016 concluded a N22.6 billion divestment of its drinks business to the Japanese group, Suntory Beverage and Food Limited (SBF).

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NEWS/BUSINESS 33

Law Union & Rock Nigeria’s Fertiliser Production Hits 2.22m Metric Tonnes – NSIA Insurance Grows

BY BUKOLA IDOWU, Lagos

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), says its investment in promoting local farming is yielding results as production of made-in-Nigeria fertiliser has presently hit 2.22 million metric tonnes.

The managing director of NSIA, Mr Uche Orji in an interview on Monday in Abuja, said NSIA’s investment was to make fertiliser affordable all year round to farmers. “Prior to Dec. 2016, Nigeria’s stock of blended Fertiliser was shipped into the country as fully finished products, even though Urea and Limestone, which constitute roughly two-thirds of the component of each bag

are available locally. “Knowing this, President Muhammadu Buhari approved a Presidential Fertiliser Initiative for the local production of blended NPK 20:20:10 Fertiliser. The objective of the project is to deliver commercially significant quantities of affordable and consistently high-quality fertiliser at the right price and in time to Nigeria’s over 500,000 farmers across the country. The target retail price regime at the time was between 50 per cent and 65 per cent of the prevailing market price,’’ he said.

Orji said that after one year of running the programme, NSIA noted that import of finished fertiliser had reduced drastically.

“For the 2017 wet season, it is estimated that about N60 billion from the 2017

budgetary provisions for fertiliser was saved, while another saving of 150million dollars was conserved from foreign exchange window.

“To date, the programme has contributed to the resuscitation of 14 moribund blending plants, which represents 55 per cent of total installed capacity in Nigeria.

“Also, more than six million bags of 50kg NPK 20:10:10 fertiliser has been produced locally, which have been distributed to farmers.

“The success of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative is evidence enough that Nigeria can sustainably produce fertilisers locally at a reasonable price without subsidy. With the right model, any constraint can be addressed,’’ he said.

L-R: Lead CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Chioma Okolie, receiving an award from the chief executive officer, Lagos State Aids Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Oluseyi Temowo, during the 1st LSACA awards and dinner held in Lagos, recently. PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU.

Nigeria Has Potential To Produce 20m Litres Of Honey Annually – Expert

BY CHIKA IZUORA, Lagos

The official in-charge of Apiculture at Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Kano State, Mr Dauda Abbas, says Nigeria has the potential to produce 20 million litres of honey annually.

Abbas made the disclosure in Katsina on Monday in an interview. He spoke

after a three-day training on poultry, fisheries and bee-keeping organised for members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). ‘‘The current production of honey liquid in Nigeria is two million but the expected production is 20 million. W e have the potential to produce that because majority of bee species in Africa reside in Nigeria due to favourable

climatic conditions. ‘‘However, Tanzania and Kenya produce more honey than Nigeria,’’ he said.

He stated that Adamawa, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Kaduna States as well as the Federal Capital Territory were producing most of the nation’s honey. Abbas expressed regret that Nigeria was producing below its capacity in honey due to

lack of commitment from government. ‘‘We have all the climatic conditions that bees required, only that we are not encouraged to live up to expectations; this aspect of agriculture is neglected by the government. ‘‘People consider bees as nuisance but bees are friends that can live with human beings at homes, farms, forests and elsewhere.

Delayed Budget: Economy Will Not Witness Meaningful Growth In Q2 – Economist

BY CHIMA AKWAJA, Lagos

An economist, Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, on Monday advised Nigerians not to expect much from the nation’s economy in the second quarter following continue delayed in the passage of 2018 budget.

Tella, a Professor of Economics from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye in Ogun, spoke in an interview with the News Agency

of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to him, the economy will not witness meaningful growth unless the budget is passed on time to complement the monetary policy to be introduced by the newly inaugurated Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

“It takes time for implemented policies to have effect on the economy. Therefore, we should not expect much improvement in output of the capital market and the economy at large,” Tella

said.

He said that the capital market was largely bearish in the first quarter of the year, while the economy remained sluggish in spite of positive indices.

“Both are symptomatic of an unsettled economy where government’s macroeconomic policy is unpredictable.

“This was so because both fiscal and monetary policies have not been put in place due to the perilous activities of the legislature.

“We can recall that up till now, the 2018 budget has not been passed.

“So, fiscal policy and fiscal actions were put on hold throughout the period.

“The Central Bank’s Monetary Policy membership committee was not properly constituted to meet and fashion out monetary policy due to failure of the legislature to approve new members submitted for consideration by the Executive.

Profit To N1.1bn

BY ZAKA KHALIQ, Lagos

Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc has recorded a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N1.1 billion as at the end of its 2017 financial year end.

This translates to a 66.8 per cent increase from the 2016 figure of N658.64 million.

Its Profit After Tax (PAT) also appreciated remarkably by 62.1 per cent, moving from N561.85 million in 2016 to N910.71 million at the end of the review year, underscoring capability of the board and management to enhance shareholder value.

With the profit, shareholders of the company will smile to the bank for a dividend payout after a long waiting of reinvestment and plaguing back for growth and expansion.

Its earnings per share stood at 21 kobo, as against 16 kobo the previous year, indicating increased shareholder value.

The company, during the period under review, also recorded a gross premium income of N4.25 billion, as against N3.9 billion in 2016, showing an 8 per cent increase.

In the firm’s full year audited result, investment and other income also appreciated remarkably to N912.5 million from N687.3 million in 2016.

A further insight into the financials show a quantum growth in total assets of the company in 2017, which grew by 16.9 per cent, from N8.58 billion

in 2016 to N10.03 billion in the review year.

The company also kept its own side of the contract with its teaming customers, paying claims as claims expenses rise to N1.4 billion, as against N967.8 million in the past year.

The positive growth in all the indices in the reviewed year, according to the Managing Director of the firm, Mr. Jide Orimolade, is attributed to management’s efforts to increase market share and deepen penetration, with launch of new products.

The products, he said, attracted more premium income into the company’s coffers, and also created enough liquidity to grow investment and meet claims obligations.

Law Union & Rock Insurance in 2017 expressed commitment to retain 90 per cent of existing customers, grow direct and retail business, and improve relationship with brokers and other channel.

It also maintained improved credit rating of A- by Global Credit Rating agency and become the preferred first choice underwriter amongst the general insurance business provider in the ćountry.

Orimolade had earlier told journalists that Law Union & Rock has come up with additional new products into the market, including: TPA Insurance Cover; Doctor-on-Cover; GPA-4-Schools and Comprehensive Motor Insurance Online.

Firm Launches New Chocolate Malt Drink

BY GODDIE OFOSE, Lagos

Sweet Nutrition Limited, formerly Bayswater Industries, has recently unveiled its their newest product, Nourishing Choco Love Chocolate Malt Drink into the chocolate drink market.

According to the head of Research and Development for the Choco Love brand, Mr. Emilio Maldonado, “Choco Love is an awesome brew, manufactured with

the highest standard we can find in the market.

When we decided on this drink, we decided to bring to Nigeria the best brew that you can find in the market.’’

The managing director of Sweet Nutrition Limited; Mr. Kumar Venkataraman, also said the company is providing a tasty and nutritious drink for kids and the entire family. ‘‘Choco Love is delicious enough to become a household name on its own merit.’’

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BUSINESS FEATURE 35

Takeaways From IMF 2018 Article IV Consultation With Nigeria SAM DIALA examines the recent report of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and highlights five takeaways from the Article IV Consultation with Nigeria.

S

alient issues critical to Nigeria’s sustainable macroeconomic development have been raised in the recent report of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) surveillance visit to the country. The visit, called Article IV Consultation, is aimed at identifying weaknesses that could result to economic or financial instability of the country and, by extension, derail the overall developmental objectives of the IMF. The annual visit is called “Article IV Consultation” because member countries are required by Article IV of the IMF Articles of Agreement to subject their economic and financial policies for scrutiny of the international community. This process of regular monitoring of economies and associated provision of policy advice is referred to as “surveillance”.

Key focus areas include policy initiatives considered conducive to orderly economic growth, reasonable price stability and check against manipulating exchange rates for unfair competitive advantage.

Sufficient data must be presented to the visiting IMF representatives to show that the economy is being driven in the right direction; while the Fund identifies areas of improvement opportunity with measurable goals.

Leadership capacity of the country to effect adequate, sustainable and appropriate policies and regulations at national, cascading into subnational and organisational levels determines the success or otherwise of the country’s economic development. Election and lawmaking processes, education, security, investment, manufacturing, agriculture, financial services, employment and other fundamentals are considered critical to this process.

An Overview The IMF report noted that Nigeria had exited the 15-month painful recession that began in the second quarter of 2016, but warned that the economy remains vulnerable.

It commended the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) initiative launched in March 2017, which could help in solving the lingering power challenge and sustain the tempo for enhanced business environment. The Fund observed that macroeconomic and structural reforms were urgently required to contain vulnerability and support sustainable private sector led growth.

It noted that economic recovery remained challenged amid sluggish

Recovery in oil exports has strengthened the country’s balance of trade. This has helped in the country’s growth in reserves

growth. It said that gross domestic product (GDP) expansion of 1.4 per cent, year-on-year, recorded in the third quarter of 2017 was largely oil-induced though agriculture played a role. The vulnerability of the economy, despite the positive development, can be ascertained from the receding growth in the non-oil-non-agriculture sector which represents about 65 per cent of the economy.

It added, “Difficulties in accessing financing and high inflation continued to weigh on companies’ performance and consumer demand”. While inflation rate continued to decline (15.9 per cent by end-November), it remained high and far from the target single-digit inflation.

The Fund acknowledged measures adopted in addressing the macroeconomic imbalances and structural impediments. These include the ERGP and Ease of Doing Business launched earlier in 2017.

Foreign exchange reform that gave birth to the Investor and Exporter (I&E) foreign exchange (forex) window has boosted forex supply.

The effect reflects in the improved foreign reserves that hit a four-year high of $46 billion as forex parallel market premium is on a decline. It welcomed steps taken to improve power supply and fight corruption.

“However, in the absence of new policies, the near-term outlook remains challenging. Growth is expected to continue to pick up in 2018 to 2.1 percent, helped by the full year impact of greater availability of foreign exchange and higher oil production, but to

stay relatively flat in the medium term. Risks to the outlook include lower oil prices, tighter external market conditions, heightened security issues, and delayed policy responses”, the IMF said in the report.

The international financial institution noted that the challenge in tackling the various macroeconomic imbalances to achieve growth that impacts on the life of the people is enormous. It also welcomed the tax reform launched by the Nigerian government under the Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAID), but advised that the Value Added Tax (VAT) be raised and more taxable avenues created to boost revenue for infrastructure and other priority investments.

According to the Fund, “Containing vulnerabilities and achieving growth rates that can make a significant dent in reducing poverty and unemployment requires a comprehensive set of policy measures. However, with oil prices expected to remain lower than in the past, upfront actions to mobilize non-oil revenues, including through reforming the VAT and removing exemptions, are needed while safeguarding priority expenditures, including scaling up social safety nets and infrastructure investment.”

The IMF pointed out that strong fiscal condition requires tight monetary policy measures to tackle inflation and general vulnerability.

According to the Fund, Nigeria should pursue unified foreign exchange policy to boost confidence in the economy and reduce potential risks from capital flow reversals.

It advocates a diversified private sector-led economy, adding “Strengthening governance and transparency initiatives, and lowering gender inequality and fostering financial inclusion would also be important.”

The Takeaways · Little to Celebrate A worrisome aspect of the postrecession growth is its oil-induced nature. Analysts express concern over the return of oil as major driver of the economy. At an Economic Summit organised by a Lagos-based media enterprise last February, experts noted that the return of oil as key revenue generating force of government underscored the fact that nothing had changed. The vulnerability is still there and the growth in the economy cannot be called ‘growth’ in the real sense of it.

“Even though we are out of recession and still growing, over 20 economic activities are still in the negative territory. Economies run in a boom and bust cycle, but the speed at which economies get into the bust is always high.

“Recovery in oil exports has strengthened the country’s balance of trade. This has helped in the country’s growth in reserves.

Though we have exited recession, economic growth is still fragile.

Unemployment remains high”, Yemi Kale, Statistician-General of the Federation/CEO of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said at the February Economic Summit in Lagos.

Amid oil-induced rebounding ➔ CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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Takeaways From IMF 2018 Article IV Consultation With Nigeria ➔ FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

of the economy, Nigeria’s unemployment rate has worsened.

From 14.2 per cent in fourth quarter (Q4) 2016 hitting 16.2 per cent in Q2 2017, unemployment jumped to 18.8 per cent as at Q3 2017. Furthermore, about 70 per cent of Nigeria’s over 190 million people live in abject poverty -- less than $1 or N305 per day. “This is abstract growth; it has not impacted on the lives of the people”, Kayode Sodipo, a Labour Economist, told Leadership Sunday.

“It is not yet ‘uhuru’. Real GDP growth rate, though now in the positive territory, remains weak and fragile, driven chiefly by the oil sector. Critical growth sectors such as manufacturing, construction, transportation are still in the negative territory. Ditto for vital social sectors such as Education and Health.

“The much talked about diversification of the productive base is still a far cry. GDP growth rate is still below population growth rate and so the impact is hardly felt by the ordinary Nigerian”, Joe Uche Uwaleke, Associate Professor and Head, Banking & Finance Department Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, told Leadership Sunday by e-mail.

Commenting further on the economic paradox, Kale said: “Oil got us into recession and oil largely took us out of recession”. He pointed out that in a situation whereby high vulnerable oil sector accounts for 80 per cent of government revenues, a consumption-driven non-oil sector, including manufacturing, real estate, public administration, trade, finance – all depend largely on the fortunes of the oil sector to thrive, is a pointer to the vulnerability of the postrecession growth being celebrated.

“There is nothing to celebrate yet’, said Sodipo. Nigeria must reduce oil revenue dependence and create space for the private sector.

•Private Sector Quagmire The IMF expressed concern over the overall negative effect on the private sector: “Revenues declined marginally, as higher oil receipts were offset by shortfalls in FG independent revenue (80 percent relative to budget). Higher financing requirements—albeit some of it increasingly met through external sources towards yearend—and increased banks’ risk aversion have crowded out private sector lending (-3.3 percent year-on-year).”

Deposit money banks are reaping bountifully from fixed-income investment. The lenders maintain that tight monetary policy, high operating cost, infrastructure deficit and hostile operating environment, among others, justify their priorities for treading the path of lesser risks by looking the way of fixed-income against traditional lending to the private sector. It is not likely that the private sector will be greatly

observed that the dividend of the post-recession growth will have to wait for the next one year, at least, after the elections. Experts have described 2018 as a year of two halves. “The first half of positive growth while rising uncertainties surrounding pre-election year, which will see economic agents take a more cautious position on the economy in the second half of the year”, said speakers at the Lagos Economic Summit meant to deliberate on the impact of government policies on the people as the economy navigates from recovery to growth.

According to IMF, “The outlook has improved but remains challenging. Higher oil prices would support a recovery in 2018 but a “muddle-through” outlook is projected for the medium term under current policies, with fiscal dominance and structural constraints leading to continuing falls in real GDP per capita. Key risks to the outlook include additional delays in policy and reform implementation in a pre-election year, increasing security tensions, and a fall in oil prices, which could trigger a capital flow reversal.”

relieved of the financing pressure that has remained a critical operating challenge, as the banks intensify survival measures.

According to Uwaleke: “Granted inflation rate is beating a retreat but remains high at over 13 per cent, well above the CBN upper regulatory band of 9 per cent. Consequently, policy rate has remained high at 14 per cent and so have lending rates by Deposit Money Banks. So SMEs get starved of loanable funds. Infrastructural gaps especially with regard to power remain a big challenge. Incessant fuel scarcity has equally not helped matters in recent times.”

•Tougher Reforms While government has maintained its stand to improve the people’s standard of living by providing the necessary infrastructure, create an enabling environment, roll out policies that facilitate the Ease of Doing Business implementation and engage in job creation, these cannot be free – at no cost to the people.

Government may bow to the pressure of increasing VAT rate and expanding the scope of VATable items. Notwithstanding the lingering challenge in the power sector whereby electricity consumers have paid astronomically high tariff without corresponding improvement in electricity supply, the distribution companies (DISCOs) maintain that only “appropriate tariff” can guarantee stable power supply.

The paradox of petroleum product

subsidy amid fixed pump price of 145 per litre of petrol, does not seem sustainable. While Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) subsidises petroleum products to the tune of N774 million per day, over 82 per cent of Nigerians still buy petrol at an average of N199 per litre according to NBS. Misery index has increased to 55 per cent.

Recent report by the NBS showed improved internally generated revenue (IGR) status of the states, suggesting that more aggressive measures are being taken towards non-oil revenue mobilisation.

Unavoidably, the people bear the brunt of multiple taxation administered with cruelty and impunity at the sub-national level.

The IMF report stated: “In addition to ongoing efforts to improve tax administration, Directors underlined the need for more ambitious tax policy measures, including through reforming the value-added tax, increasing excises, and rationalizing tax incentives.

“The implementation of an automatic fuel price-setting mechanism, sound cash and debt management, improved transparency in the oil sector, increased monitoring of the fiscal position of state and local governments, and substantially scaled-up social safety nets should support the adjustment.”

•Year of Two Halves As activities gear up in 2018 for the 2019 general elections, it is

The Nigerian government is being urged to embark on (tougher) reforms to eliminate waste, corruption, and free resources for infrastructure and human capital investment

•Structural Adjustment Imperatives The Nigerian government is being urged to embark on (tougher) reforms to eliminate waste, corruption, and free resources for infrastructure and human capital investment. As a rule, economic benefits come at a cost; Nigerians should be prepared to make the necessary sacrifice while government navigates the tough route of economic recovery and sustainable growth. It is obvious that the people cannot have their cake and eat it.

Nigeria is public-sector driven; virtually every bit of development is tied to government – employment, infrastructure, policy, education and the likes. Private sector contribution to national development is minimal.

The three factors that ICE economic development – Investment, Consumption and Export, are lagging or virtually non-existent. Because, government is the largest employer of labour, productivity is extremely low and the private sector which drives development in advanced economies is comatose here.

Nigeria has debt profile of N21.7 trillion as at December 31, 2017.

Servicing the debt and maintaining strong fundamentals for sustainable growth is a huge challenge. The infrastructure to pull the economy out of oil will take some time to materialize. In the meantime, the factors of production to support the ambitious non-oil revenue projection of 2018 will be actualized in future, depending on how things play out in the 2019 election. Irrespective of the “improvements” noticed in the economy, the proposed 2018 budget will deliver; but certainly not in 2018.

Meanwhile, the pains of adjustment will remain.

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NATIONAL NEWS 37

Dunamis Celebrates Easter With Less Privileged

BY PAUL UWADIMA, Abuja

Dunamis International Gospel Centre Phase 4, Kubwa, Abuja has celebrated the Easter with the less privileged in Kubwa.

The church shared the joy of Easter with patients at the Kubwa General Hospital, King’s Care Hospital, Unity Clinic and Maternity, children at the Divine Wounds of Jesus Orphanage, Kubwa Divine Orphanage and detainees at Police Area Command Headquarters, Kubwa.

At the various organisations visited, the church donated bags of rice, cartons of noodles, yam tubers, food-

stuffs, beverages, toiletries, diapers, baby milk, shoes, clothes, and the church’s daily devotional, Seeds of Destiny.

Pastor and Mrs Great Olusegun Ayodele who led members of the church on the visit to the less privileged in the area, said the donation was part of the church’s social responsibility to its host community.

He said the season was set aside to commemorate the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, stressing that the power of Christianity is anchored on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Poor Upbringing Responsible For Violence In Nigeria — PFN Scribe

BY RICHARD NDOMA, Calabar

The National Publicity Secretary for Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria PFN, Bishop Emmah Gospel Isong, has identified bad and poor parental upbringing of children by parents as being responsible for the high level of insurgency, that has inflicted pain upon the lives of many Nigerians, saying that parents should be held accountable for failing to raise their wards according to the dictates of God and Allah.

The clergy made the remarks while speaking at the funeral thanksgiving in honor of his late father, late Elder Isong Ntuen who died at the age of 89 at the Miracle Parade Ground, Iton Odoro,Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The clergy stated that security agents alone should not be blamed for the woes of the nation but parents also need to be blamed for failing in their duties to instill the right value and good behavior in their wards.

He said that the pain and trouble which young people

had inflicted on members of the public on a daily basis in the name of Boko Haram, Niger Delta Militants and herdsmen calls for worry, stressing that if parents had done their work well by raising their wards with the fear of God , Nigeria would have been a better place to live.

Isong, a Patron of the Nigeria Union of Journalists South South zone said that bad parental upbringing was responsible for youth restiveness troubling the nation, saying that the time has come for all hands to be on deck so as to stem the tide of restiveness like militancy, Boko Haram and activity of herdsmen which has become a thorn in the flesh of many Nigerians.

The cleric,however, called on security agents in the country to rise up to the challenge of curbing the menace of all those dragging the country to crises so that they can be made to face the full wrath of the law irrespective of tribe, religion and cultural affiliation no matter how highly placed the individuals might be.

UNILAG Set To Hold Convocation

BY ADENIYI ADUNOLA, Lagos

The University of Lagos yesterday said it has concluded plans to hold the convocation ceremony that was earlier postponed, saying it will now take place from May 8 through May 11 this year.

The Registrar of the ivory tower, Dr Taiwo Ipaye who disclosed this in Lagos said the week-long convocation ceremony for the 2016/2017 academic session was earlier scheduled to begin on Feb.19 but postponed as a result of the strike by non-academic workers.

“The university management is happy to announce a new date for the convocation ceremony.

“The schedule for the ceremony remains the same. The only additional thing is a reception for retired professors, directors and registrars; it will take place on the last day, Friday, May 11, after Ju-

mat prayers,” she said.

According to the registrar, Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State will deliver the convocation lecture on May 8.

“The lecture, with the theme: “Inclusion: The Path to a New Nation’’, previously scheduled for Feb. 19, would kick-start activities lined up for the ceremony,’’ she said.

Ipaye said that an opening exhibition and the inauguration of the 12th Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof.

Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, would however, precede the lecture.

According to her, the main convocation ceremony will be held in two sessions (morning and afternoon) each day from May 9 to May 11.

The registrar said that award of first degrees, diplomas, certificates and the announcement of prize winners for graduating students of Faculties of Education and Social Sciences would take place on the morning of May 9.

Cross section of members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) at a stakeholders meeting in Ado Ekiti, at the weekend

2019: DPC Promises Level Playing New River Basin Ground For Presidential Aspirants Boss Pledges

BY PAUL UWADIMA, Abuja

The Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC) has assured that it would provide a level playing ground for all presidential aspirants who want to contest the 2019 presidential election under the platform of the party, saying the future of the country is in the new political order which Nigerians want to establish in the next general elections.

This assurance was given by the national chairman of the DPC, Rev. Olusegun Peters in Abuja, yesterday, where he said that the old political order entrenched by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed Nigerians since 1999 and that the 2019 elections is another opportunity to salvage the country from the old order, adding that the DPC is a platform that would provide purposeful leadership for Nigeria going forward.

He revealed that already,credible Nigerians with unblemished records have approached the party seeking to use the platform to contest the upcoming presidential election and assured such aspirants that the party would not be hijacked by moneybags as the essence of its formation and registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was to have a platform where the dirty politics that characterized the PDP and the APC cannot be tolerated.

He noted that the DPC was the first political party to release its manifesto and blueprint for the 2019 general elections during its first elective national convention held in Abuja on February

22, 2018.

“It is our social contract with the good people of Nigeria aimed at progressive governance and prosperity to the longsuffering compatriots impoverished by decades of poor leadership,” he said.

He noted that the APC led federal government had failed Nigerians and that the DPC was the credible alternative to the ruling APC. “The masses are worse off today than they were three years ago when the Buhari’s government came to power with a fake promise of change”, he added.

He urged Nigerians to join DPC across the country as it holds high promise and credibility to take over the federal government from the ruling APC that suffers from leadership fatigue ever since it assumed office on 29th May 2015.

“Nigerians want a compassionate government that feels the sufferings of the people and provides dividends of democracy to assuage them. This is what DPC represents by moving forward with the people”, he said.

He said in view of this, the party would continue intensive voters education and mobilization to ensure that all eligible voters across the country are registered in the ongoing INEC voter registration and obtain their permanent voter cards.

As the country prepares for the next election, Rev. Peters urged INEC to conduct free, fair, credible, acceptable and transparent elections that meets international standards, saying the electoral umpire should also ensure that the upgraded card readers are used and results transmitted directly to its central server and collation centres across the country.

Akinfewa Harps On Restructuring

BY ADEBAYO WAHEED, Ibadan

The Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Joseph Akinfenwa has advocated restructuring of the nation to pave the way for rapid development of the country.

Speaking during a sermon delivered to mark the 2018 Easter celebration at the Cathedral of St. James The Great, Oke-Bola, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday, he urged both the federal and state governments to ensure that salaries of workers are paid regularly so as to avoid accumulation of debts which may affect socio- economic activities of the nation.

“In any nation, the first duty of government is the protection of lives and property. Any nation that fails in the

area, needs to be careful,” he said.

While expressing concern over security situation in the country, he said all and sundry needed concerted efforts to ensure that the nation is habitable for all.

According to him, the nation needs God’s intervention with its current challenges.

He said all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic and religious backgrounds needed to imbibe the principles of Christ in their daily endeavour to promote unity.

The cleric, however, said that Easter celebration paved the way for the forgiveness of sins, power over darkness as well as living a meaningful and peaceful life and called for fervent prayers for the release of a Christian girl kidnapped by Boko Haram sect, Leah Sharibu.

Transparency, Honesty

BY EJIKE EJIKE, Abuja

The newly elected Dean of the Committee of Chairmen of River Basins Development Authorities in Nigeria‎, Hon, Eseme Eyiboh has pledged to be transparent and honest in carrying out his duties.

Eyiboh, who stated this in his acceptance speech, said “I am very conscious that, leadership is a responsibility that must be accounted for, and in accordance with best international practices; I shall be transparent, proactive, honest and guided by ethical integrity.

“I shall enthrone respect, inclusiveness and responsibility as our core values.

As the Dean, Committee of Chairmen of River Basins Development Authorities, I shall, in my official and personal conduct submit myself to consultative as well as constructive collaborations.

Speaking further, he said, “the well intentioned River Basin Development Authorities Act and our core mandates shall form the fulcrum of my undertakings as Dean.

And together as colleagues, we shall form a formidable bond that would ultimately lead to the achievement of the goals and objectives for which the Basin Authorities were created and our appointment premised.

“Together we shall make the difference and we shall deliver on our mandates and provide the needed support to the innovative leadership of our honourable minister of water resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu.

“Again, this investment of trust on me by my election as the Dean of the Committee of Chairmen of River Basins Development Authorities in Nigeria is hereby accepted with humility and respected with deep sense of responsibility.”

38 NATIONAL NEWS Rivers: Abe’s Faction Moves To Reconcile With APC Leadership

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt

A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to the senator representing Rivers South-East district in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has begun moves to reconcile with the leadership of the party in the state.

The senator’s faction has been at loggerheads with the leadership of the APC in the state under the minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, over who gets the party’s governorship ticket for the 2019 general elections in the state.

Addressing a stakeholders extraordinary meeting of the party in Port Harcourt yesterday, Abe announced the setting up of an Outreach and Reconciliation Committee headed by former senator representing Rivers West district in the National Assembly, Senator Wilson Asinobi Ake, to reach out to the leadership of the party in the state.

He said, “If we continue the same we are going and don’t mend fences, we will be shortchanging our people.

Therefore, we have set up an Outreach and Reconciliation Committee to liaise with Rivers APC leadership and other APC leaders, to look for a way to mend fences so that we can move forward.”

Autism Day: NGO Tasks Lawmakers On Welfare Of The Disabled

BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin

As Nigeria joins other countries of the world to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day, the National and State Houses of Assemblies have been urged to initiate and pass bills that would alleviate the sufferings of the people living with disability.

A non-governmental organisation, the Grassroots Aid Initiatives, gave the advice in a statement issued by its executive director, Dr. Khadijat Kehinde Kadiri in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Kadiri noted that by initiating bills and passing such bills that would have positive impacts on the lives of the physically challenged people in the society, the rate of street begging would reduce drastically among the vulnerable people.

The executive director of the organization who is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin also stressed the need to have representatives of the physically challenged people in the legislative arm of government at the National and State levels to allow them have inputs in legislation.

She also advocated free education from basic level to higher institutions for people or children facing any form of disability to allow them have access to qualitative education.

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A/Ibom Seeks Partnership With Huawei Of China On ICT

BY BERNARD TOLANI DADA, Uyo

Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has met with officials of Huawei Technologies from the People’s Republic of China to explore ways of partnership in Information Communication Technology (ICT) development in the area of Education, Health, Governance and Enterprise.

Speaking during the meeting at Government House in Uyo, Governor Emmanuel thanked them for taking interest in partnering with his administration, assuring that there

are various areas available for the partnership.

He said he was especially interested in the area of Information Communication Technology, which is a major driver of development the world over.

Governor Emmanuel recounted that when Huawei came into Nigeria, it focused on the telecommunications sector, and cited his role in the company’s success with major financial institutions in the country.

“I am happy you said you can discuss areas of Education, Health,

Governance and Enterprise. Today, once you look at the 10 richest human beings on Planet Earth, at least 60-70 per cent of them will be ICT related. I am a businessman, I go where money is, so I follow money to where money is, if money is in ICT, I follow money into ICT so that nobody leaves me behind.”

Governor Emmanuel expressed belief that the strategic partnership will be of immense value to the youths who are the major focus of his leadership.

The governor was of the opinion that young bright people of Akwa Ibom origin can also make it into global

limelight with the right technological facilities and instructors in place in the state.

Governor Emmanuel said his government has done a lot in exposing the youths to ICT and urged that the programmes of the Huawei team should gear towards embracing the youths.

He maintained that the state has an E-library with thousands of e-learning processes, and the necessary infrastructure to actually develop ICT platform and launch out to the rest of Africa.

Country director, Jose Foundation, Dr. Eunice Ameh-Pius (middle), Pst. Ekezie Azovo (left), Prophet Tolu Ajayi, (2nd left) Rev. Dr. Iliya Majam (2nd right), and Mrs. Becky Majam at the opening of Jose Foundation Abuja office, yesterday.

UNIUYO VC Attributes Appointment As SAN To God’s Grace

BY BERNARD TOLANI DADA, Uyo

The Vice Chancellor of University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, Professor Aniefiok Essien has attributed his recent appointment to the position of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to God’s benevolence.

Essien who stated this at a thanksgiving service organised

in his honour by the Church of Christ to thank God for the appointment held at the University town campus in Uyo said that after series of applications and endurance God finally answered his prayers. ‘’I tried to get the SAN appointment taking several steps but I thank God for his benevolence as it eventually

came at the appointed time. ‘’I did not apply as a someone that took a leap in the dark, but as one who met all the pre-condition and criteria, but later discover that elevation to the position of SAN was much more that,’’ he stated.

He disclosed that on three occasions his name was published even when he was serving as the

dean Faculty of Law but many people were not aware because it was not in the public domain.

According to him when he was denied on several occasion he felt like giving up the aspiration until his wife encouraged him to reapply again even if it is for the last time. He said he obeyed and applied again, fortunately God answered his prayers.

Ekiti 2018: Senator Arise Tackles Fayemi Over Declaration Of Intent

BY ALO ABIOLA, ADO Ekiti

Former National Assembly member, Senator Ayo Arise, has said that no law stops the minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Fayemi from declaring interest in the governorship poll earlier than he did.

He contended that those who had earlier declared interest in the governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) didn’t break any provision of the Electoral Act. The former chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation who noted

that the Electoral Act 2010 as amended provided that aspirants can only campaign 90 days to election, said the declaration of intent by aspirants was not an open campaign but a mere mobilizing steps by party aspirants to shore up followership and supportive base as well as popularity among the party members.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Arise said the statement credited to former Governor Fayemi that he decided to tarry a while in declaring for the governorship position to prevent him from flouting the Electoral Law only portrayed those who had earlier declared

as lawbreakers, rather than being commended for mobilising for the party.

Fayemi had while declaring his intent to vie for the July 14, governorship poll on Saturday at his Isan Ekiti country home in Oye local government area, said he could not afford to break the law as a serving minister under a government that has enormous respect for the Rule of Law but would rather wait until April 14, fixed by INEC for lifting of ban on electioneering campaign.

Arise who is also a governorship aspirant on the platform of APC said, “Politics requires calculation and I want to believe that he (Fayemi) only tried

to conserve money, stay in government and observe the politics as it played out before declaring, this itself is wisdom .

“So, I see those who had declared earlier as mobilisers. My brother, Dr Fayemi is welcome wholeheartedly but I am only worried that someone was trying to come out to play smart.

“We have nothing to fear provided the primary is free, fair and credible, so that our party can be peaceful and united to fight this battle.

“The statement that all other aspirants are not law abiding is not good enough. Those of us who have declared are not lawbreakers.

CAS Celebrates Easter With Frontline Troops In North East

BY JOY YESUFU, Abuja

Frontline personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) currently serving in the Northeast and visiting members of their families have been treated to a special lunch by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on 1 April 2018, in celebration of the Easter

festivities.

The CAS, who was represented at the occasion by the Commander, Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Idi Lubo, commended the contributions of personnel towards prosecuting the fight against insurgency in the country and urged them not to rest on their oars.

A statement signed by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya stated that the CAS said that although a lot of success had been recorded in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists, the personnel should put more effort towards completely eradicating the menace.

Adesanya said the CAS later had lunch with the other NAF frontline personnel serving in Yola.

The statement said at Yola, AVM Lubo thanked Air Marshal Abubakar for the kind gesture of facilitating the lunch, and commending the troops for their relentless efforts and sacrifices, which had greatly degraded the capability of the insurgents.

HOMES & PROPERTY

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NEWS REDAN Honours Jakande, FMBN, Mabogunje, Others For Housing Devt The Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria (REDAN) has honoured its pioneer president, Dr Lateef Jakande; Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and former board chairman of FMBN, Prof.

Akin Mabogunje for their meritorious contributions towards the growth and development of the housing sector.

REDAN is the umbrella body of the organised private and public sector responsible for housing development in Nigeria which started its operation since 2002.

The pioneer general secretary of REDAN, Chief Guy Okechukwu who also received an award of excellence was hopeful that housing development would blossom in the next three years.

About 16 realty firms such as Lapic Nigeria Limited, Ekiti State Housing Cooperation, Ebonyi State Housing Cooperation, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Jedo Investment limited, Shelter Initiative limited, COPEN Group estate, Ogun state Housing Cooperation, Millard Fuller foundation and among others bagged the associations merit award.

They were honoured at the fifth investiture of re-elected president of REDAN, Rev Ugochukwu Chime in Abuja for successfully completing their estates and fully repaid back the Estate Development Loan (EDL) they collected from FMBN.

In his acceptance speech, Rev Ugochukwu promised to strengthen collaboration with stakeholders to enable Nigerians reap the benefits of real estate development.

He noted that the essence of the award was to encourage real estate developers unto more inventiveness, diligence , resourcefulness and perseverance in the sector.

The president noted that the executive council of REDAN would strive to discharge its mundane responsibilities in areas of housing advocacy and standardization of products and services.

Chime pointed out that the body has identified the challenges hindering a seamless interface and smooth transaction on the housing value chain even as he promised to deal with the issues progressively.

He assured that issues of data, finance, land administration, monitoring and compliance with extant laws and best practice and among others are top on the priority list of REDAN. Responding on behalf of the awardees, the managing director of Millard Fuller Foundation, Arc Sam Odia appreciated REDAN for the honour bestowed on them even as he thanked God that the foundation still produces houses for less than N2m.

He assured of effective collaboration with the real estate body to make housing truly affordable for the ordinary Nigerian.

Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola interacting with one of the artisans, Mr Fidelis Gonsum during the inspection of National Housing Programme project in Gwagwalada recently.

Stakeholders Task FG, States On Urban Regeneration, Infrastructure STORIES BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

Stakeholders in the real estate sector have called on governments across the federal and state levels to focus on urban regeneration and provision of infrastructure at project sites to facilitate affordable housing.

This was revealed on the sideline of a workshop organised by Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria (REDAN) in Abuja.

The director, University of Lagos Centre for Housing Studies, Prof. Olugbenga Timothy Nubi enjoined governments to focus on urban regeneration adding that 20 to 30 percent of infrastructure makes up construction.

He emphasised that real estate development processes could be designed in a way that it would produce linkages between over 250 ancillary industries.

This he said its an indication of the opportunities that existed in the building processes, meant to aid mutually beneficial relationships among stakeholders.

He lamented that only vibrant organisations would survive in the highly competitive real estate sector, regretting that Nigeria’s construction sector faced stiff competition from both local and international players.

“Chinese companies are already strong players in the country’s road construction, telecommunications

and electrical infrastructure sectors”, he said.

Nubi pointed out that housing suppliers whether government, non government or private has the ability to marshal the various risks and elements of the real estate development value chain.

The don harped on the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders in order to mitigate the risks so as to redistribute rewards with the aim of enhancing organisational efficiency.

He noted that real estate development would thrive in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement where the private sector constructs, leases and manages properties for a given period of time while the public sector maintained ownership rights.

Nubi said that a mortgage arrangement could be structured to ensure that ownership rights are transferred to the occupier rather than the government at the end of the expiration period.

He noted that over 45 estates stretching over 15 kilometres in Lagos are dying.

On his part, the president of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bobbai Kaigama stated that government should provide infrastructure at the project sites to enable contractors reduce the cost of houses.

This he believed would lessen the over 17 million housing deficit saying that workers would continue to fight institu-

tions that offer mortgage loans at double digit interest rate.

He noted that the Union cannot underestimate REDANs contributions to the development of affordable housing in the country adding that mortgages are only processed at single digit worldwide.

Accordng to him, “any developer that goes to any financial institution offering double digit interest rate is not intending to develop for Nigeria because even in Europe, mortgages are not processed in double digits”.

Kaigama said the reason for increasing unoccupied houses is due to absence of research oriented development stressing that the cost of houses are above the income level of prospective subscribers.

He noted that except government provided infrastructure on all phases of development in the Abuja materplan that the target of developing affordable housing would continue to be a mirage.

“Its the responsibility of government to provide infrastructure and any government that fails to do so is not prepared for housing development”, he added.

While urging REDAN to continue synergising with the working class, he pointed out that the union has decided to collaborate with Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to ensure that workers access affordable housing.

Infrastructure Policy Stimulating Economic Growth – Minister The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has disclosed that federal government infrastructure renewal policy is attaining the set target of stimulating socio-economic development in the country.

He stated this in Abuja at the inspection tour of National Housing Programme (NHP) site in Dukpai, Gwagwalada Area Council.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the inspection, Fashola said that the proof of the impact of the policy on the populace could be seen and experienced by people working at various project sites.

The minister noted that the actual beneficiaries of the much touted huge budgetary allocation of the ministry were workers at the project sites, suppliers of construc-

tion materials, food vendors and among others.

According to him, “from the workers, the money will get to the markets where they will buy food, household and other needs thereby passing the money to traders and business men who will also use the money to meet their diverse needs both at home and in their other commitments.”

He enjoined business men and women to be prepared to supply the market with household accessories such as curtains, carpets, bedding and household furniture to prospective home owners.

Reiterating that the programme is currently ongoing in 33 states of the country, he described the NHP as the full ecosystem of the national economy.

The minister challenged journalists on the need to disseminate the news of the housing programme to Nigerians that would be the ultimate beneficiaries of the project.

One of the workers at the site, Ibrahim Haruna informed the minister that he started working at the site last month in order to acquire more experience and make money.

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Tuesday, April 3, 2018

State Sponsored Poisoning In The UK: Why It Affects Us All

BY PAUL ARKWRIGHT

Four weeks ago, on a quiet Sunday in one of Britain’s most beautiful cathedral cities, home to people of many different nationalities, including Nigerians, a father and daughter were struck down by the first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since the Second World War. Sergei and Yulia Skripal are still lying stricken in hospital.

A police officer who went to their aid was also critically injured.

Over 100 citizens were forced to seek medical treatment simply because they were nearby when the nerve agent was released.

What happened in Salisbury on March 4 was a brazen attempt to murder civilians on British soil, endangering anyone – of any nationality – who chanced to be in the vicinity. If this could happen in Salisbury, the blunt truth is that an incident of this kind could happen anywhere.

British scientists have identified the substance used against the Skripals as a Russian militarygrade nerve agent known as “Novichok”.

Today, only Russia combines a record of state-sponsored assassinations with an avowed motive for targeting Sergei Skripal – and stockpiles of “Novichok” agents.

After the attack, the British Government gave the Kremlin an opportunity to explain if any of this substance had gone missing.

But this request was contemptuously ignored, leaving the Government with no choice except to conclude that the Russian state was guilty of attempted murder in a British city, using a lethal nerve agent banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The incident in Salisbury falls into a pattern of the Kremlin’s lawless and reckless

Arkwright

behaviour. Since 2014, Russia has annexed Crimea, ignited the flames of conflict in eastern Ukraine, hacked the German Bundestag and the Danish government and interfered in European elections.

Now they have gone so far as to use a banned nerve agent on European soil. The fact that more people are not in hospital in Salisbury is only down to luck; the perpetrators obviously did not care how many innocents they endangered.

Britain has responded by expelling 23 undeclared intelligence officers from the Russian Embassy in London. And, in an unprecedented display of international unity and condemnation, twenty seven other countries around the world, including the United States, Australia, Canada, France and Germany, have expelled or announced plans to expel Russian diplomats. This sends a clear message that there are costs and consequences for the Kremlin’s lawless behaviour.

This is a time for allies and friends to stand together to uphold the rules on

which the safety of every nation depends.

No country should see what happened in Salisbury as something far away from its shores. If we do not call out against such deplorable conduct, then the Russian state will continue its pattern of dangerous and destructive behaviour.

Our quarrel is not with the Russian people, whose cultural and literary achievements shine down the centuries. We will never forget the fortitude shown by the Russian nation during the Second World War, nor our common alliance against Nazism.

But we all share an obligation to oppose the Kremlin’s ambition to divide and weaken the international community.

This outrage took place in a peaceful provincial city in Britain; next time it could be anywhere. All the more reason for peaceloving democracies everywhere to stand united in voice and action, condemning this deplorable incident.

Arkwright is the British High Commissioner to Nigeria

TRIBUTE 41

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Winnie Mandela: The End Of An Era

BY OMONU NELSON with Agency Reports

W

innie MadikizelaMandela has passed away at 81 in the early hours of Monday. Her family said she suffered from a long illness and died peacefully.

“Mrs Madikizela-Mandela was one of the greatest icons of the struggle against Apartheid.”

Analysts and opinion leaders described her life and times as a phenomenal generosity of spirit. She spoke truth to power. Because of her indomitable spirit, she refused to be conquered by fear.

Even when there was credible reasons to chicken out, she remained undaunted.

Winnie suffered isolation, incarceration in the hands of the brutal apartheid ‘lords.’ She became the face of the anti apartheid struggle.

In appreciation of selfless service to humanity, South African President Cyril Raphama gave the following tribute when he addressed the crowd that gathered at her home in Soweto.

“Winnie was a voice of defiance and resistance. In the face of exploitation, she was a champion of justice and equality,” he said in a televised address, adding that she “was an abiding symbol of the desire of our people to be free”.

Last year on her 80th birthday, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela captured South Africa and the world’s imagination.

Unlike the partners of other liberation struggle icons, Madikizela-Mandela refused to live a quiet life in a free South Africa, courting controversy and making great personal sacrifices throughout her career as a political activist.

Born on Sept. 26 in 1936, in one of South Africa’s most scenic corners in the Eastern Cape, Madikizela-Mandela is today a globally recognized figure. Her life has been captured on television, in film and even opera, thanks in part to the reputation of her late husband Nelson Mandela, whose name she reportedly once described as a burden. When Mandela was first jailed, MadikizelaMandela was indeed the young wife and mother who took up her husband’s fight. But by the time he was released, that fight for a non-racial South Africa was just as much her own.

Legend has it that Nelson Mandela felt he’d been hit by lightning the first time he spotted the young social worker in 1957. But soon after they married, Mandela was arrested again, tried a second time for treason, and sentenced to 27 years in prison.

Throughout her husband’s incarceration, the young woman withstood police harassment and defied the apartheid government, continuing her political activism. She was detained under terrorism laws for 17 months in 1969. On her release, she continued to organize for racial equality, establishing groups like the Black Women’s Federation and the Black Parents’ Association during the 1976 youth uprising.

From 1977 to 1986, she was banned from her beloved Soweto. As soon as she returned home, she resumed duties in the African National Congress. The ANC was banned, but MadikizelaMandela sheltered young activists and helped build an underground network of insurgents. She was known all over South Africa’s largest black township, and today her small home is a museum.

She recently opened a restaurant nearby to take advantage of what is today a busy

tourist destination.

Yet hers is not a biography that fits neatly into the narrative of a liberation hero. Many believe Madikizela-Mandela has blood on her hands, after a group of her loyalists beat a 14-year-old boy to death over rumors that he was an apartheid government spy in 1988.

Years later, witnesses at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission claimed that Madikizela-Mandela had carried out the boy’s murder herself. She was eventually cleared when one of the men who were among her loyalists admitted to the murder. Those young men, under cover as a local football club, went on to commit twelve more murders.

During the 1980s, when South Africa’s black townships resembled a war zone, Madikizela-Mandela’s fiery rhetoric is also believed to have contributed to the phenomenon of necklacing—when suspected traitors were doused with petrol, trapped with a tire around their necks and bodies, and burned alive in the street.

Later, as a member of parliament,she was embroiled in scandal over mismanagement of public funds. At times, Mandela and the party distanced themselves from her, but MadikizelaMandela continued to broad mass support.

After Mandela’s release from prison, the couple separated. After they divorced in 1996, Madikizela-Mandela became Mandela’s most outspoken critic. In an infamous 2010 interview with Nadira Naipul, wife of author V.S. Naipul, in the UK’s Evening Standard, MadikizelaMandela accused the global peace icon of selling out South Africa’s liberation struggle.

“I am not alone. The people of Soweto are still with me. Look what they make him do. The great Mandela. He has no control or say any more,” she said. “They put that huge statue of him right in the middle of the most affluent ‘white’ area of Johannesburg. Not here where we spilled our blood and where it all started.

Mandela is now a corporate foundation.”

Madikizela-Mandela later dismissed the interview as a fabrication.

But Naipul stuck to her story and challengedMadikizela-Mandela to stick to hers.

Her last battles Years later, she would be left out of Mandela’s will. She also recently lost her claim to his sprawling home at Qunu in the Eastern Cape. But her own home still sits on a hill in Soweto among her people.

There she’s entertained political enemies, global dignitaries, and even MTV Base Africa. Among South Africans, she remained a complex figure that refused to be quietly resigned to history.

Just weeks ago, she lost her last court bid to challenge Mandela’s will, insisting that she was entitled to the house in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, or at the very last that her ex-husband did not have full claim to the land on which the house was built.

Theirs was a complex partnership, one in which from the outside at least, it seemed Madikezela-Mandela would not conform quietly to the role of supportive wife of an icon. Too big for the role, she was an icon in her own right. Often, her insistence on having her own voice heard bristled against the status quo—whether it was her life-threatening defiant against the apartheid government or openly challenging the leadership of the ANC once it came into power. For the late Winnie, it is the end of an era.

Winnie at Mandela’s trial in 1964.

Madikizela-Mandela mourns her former husband.

Flanked by actor Idriss Elba and an unamed woman

The Late Winnie

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NEWS

Nigeria Assumes Chairmanship Of AU Security And Peace Council

BY OMONU NELSON, Abuja

Nigeria, Sunday, assumed the one month rotational Chairmanship of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU-PSC). The Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the AU, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, takes over from Ambassador Zackariaou Maiga, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Niger, who held the Chairmanship for the month of March, 2018.

Crucial in Nigeria’s Chairmanship of the African Union Peace and Security Council for the month of April will be focus on the addressing the threats posed by Nuclear Weapons and the imperative of preventing terrorists from accessing these weapons of mass destruction, and their control regimes, including the urgent need for the promotion of peaceful uses of Nuclear Energy. Importantly, the PSC will consider the nexus between Corruption & Conflict Resolution and the Imperative of promoting good economic policies in the context of Nigeria’s Championing of the 2018 AU annual theme on anti-corruption under the leadership of H.E. President

Muhammadu Buhari. A statement from Ministry of Foreign Affairs says.

Under the Nigerian chairmanship, PSC will explore strategies towards “Saving the Lake Chad” by Enhancing Environmental Sustainability & Human Security in West & Central Africa and undertake a prospective analysis of Africa’s peace and security landscape by 2023 (End of First Ten Year Plan of AU Agenda 2063). Similarly, it will engage on fashioning a comprehensive approach towards the prevention of the ideology of hate, genocide and hate crimes on the continent.

The statement further said, the Council will will consider the following: the need for Effective takeoff of the AU Humanitarian Agency (AUHA), and ameliorating the Impact of Terrorism and Armed Conflict on Africa’s Social Fabric; Essentially, Nigeria as chairperson of the Council will prioritize the operationalization of the African Standby Force, which is a key element of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the Sustainable Financing of the African Union Peace Support Operations with particular emphasis on the African Peace Fund.

Ukrainian Trade Mission Visits Nigeria Tomorrow

BY OMONU NELSON, Abuja

A trade delegation, “First Trade Mission of Ukraine is set to visit Nigeria from April 3-6, 2018.

The Ukrainian Trade Mission will be headed by H.E. Trade Representative of Ukraine – Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, Mrs. Nataliia Mykolska, who is also a special envoy of H.E. President of Ukraine Mr. Petro Poroshenko to Nigeria.

Others in the Ukrainian delegation includes Deputy Minister for Agrarian policy and Food of Ukraine Mrs. Olga Trofimtseva, Vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine Mr. Sergii Svystil as well as representatives of number of Ukrainian companies working in such fields as international trade, agrarian and food industry, automotive and aviation, engineering and IT-technology, chemical and pharmaceutical production.

The visit of Ukrainian Trade delegation is at the instance of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and Office for Trade Negotiations, NACCIMA and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Abuja and Lagos.

The Mission is expected to visit Lagos on April 4, 2018, where the following events will be held: Nigeria-Ukrainian Business Forum in Lagos CCI, meetings with the Lagos State Governor and with Director of “Dangote-Group” company.

A Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between Lagos CCI and CCI of Ukraine is expected to be signed.

The delegation will be in Abuja on April 5, 2018, it is envisaged the Nigeria-Ukrainian Trade & Investment Integration Forum with support of the Secretariat of Nigerian Federal Government with participation of number of Heads of Nigerian Ministries and Government bodies.

Israel Scraps African Migrant Deportation Plan

BY BLESSING BATURE, Abuja

Israel has cancelled plans to deport migrants en masse to Africa after reaching a deal with the United Nations refugee agency.

More than 16,000 asylum seekers will instead be resettled in Western countries, including Canada, Italy and Germany, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

The rest, more than 18,000 people, will be given permanent residency in Israel.

Israel’s Supreme Court had blocked deportations meant to begin on Sunday.

The plan to send the migrants to African countries - reported to be Uganda and Rwanda - was condemned by Israeli

activists and sparked protests.

The new plan will be implemented over a five-year period. Mr Netanyahu’s office described the agreement as “unprecedented”.

“These understandings will allow the removal of more migrants from Israel than in the previous plan, and under UN and the international community’s auspices,” a statement said.

Canada, Italy and Germany are yet to officially confirm their participation in the agreement.

Most of the Africans are from Eritrea a one-party state whose leaders have been accused of crimes against humanity by a UN inquiry - and war-torn Sudan.

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S’African Anti-apartheid Campaigner, Winnie Mandela Dies At 81

BY BLESSING BATURE, Abuja

South African anti-apartheid campaigner Winnie Mandela has died aged 81, her personal assistant says.

Winnie Madikizela Mandela was the former wife of South Africa’s first black president, Nelson Mandela.

The couple - famously pictured hand-in-hand as Mr Mandela walked free from prison after 27 years - were a symbol of the antiapartheid struggle for nearly three decades.

However, in later years her reputation became tainted legally and politically.

Family spokesman Victor Dlamini said in a statement: “She died after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year.

“She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Mrs Mandela was born in 1936

in the Eastern Cape - then known Jacob Zuma.

The comments came on the day as Transkei.

She was a trained social worker South Africans celebrated what when she met her future husband in would have been the 99th birthday the 1950s. They were married for a of her former husband, Nelson total of 38 years, although for almost Mandela, the country’s first black three decades of that time they were president. separated due to Mr Mandela’s imprisonment.

Despite their separation two years after his release, and their divorce in 1996, she kept his surname and maintained ties with him.

Winnie became an ardent critic of the ANC because of failed expectations.

She told the BBC in July 2017, that South Africa is in a political crisis and a no confidence vote against President Winnie Mandela

Ethiopia PM Abiy Ahmed Wants To Resolve Eritrea Dispute

Ethiopia’s new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has pledged his readiness to resolve disputes with neighbour Eritrea.

Speaking on state television after his swearing-in ceremony, Mr Abiy called for an end to “years of misunderstandings”.

“I call on the Eritrean government to take the same stand,” he said.

The two countries have had poor relations since a two-year border war, which claimed 70,000 lives.

Mr Abiy - who was chosen to lead the ruling coalition after the unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in February - said the country was ready to resolve differences between the two peoples, who are “not only intertwined in interests but also in blood”.

“We will stand by our African brothers in general and our neighbours in particular, during good and bad at times,” he said.

But Eritrea’s information minister Yemane Gebre Meskel told the BBC relations cannot be resolved until Ethiopia withdraws “from the occupied territories”.

Ethiopia still holds land at the heart of the 1998-2000 conflict,

around the town of Badme, even though an international court said it fell within Eritrean territory more than 15 years ago.

“The ball has stayed for too long in Ethiopia’s court,” Mr Yemane said.

“There is no dispute as the litigation process ended 16 years ago. Ethiopia needs to honour its treaty obligations and respect Eritrea’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by withdrawing

from the occupied territories including Badme.

“Peace will indeed be beneficial to the two peoples but obviously, this must be predicated on respect of international law, which Ethiopia continues to flout to date.”

Mr Abiy is Ethiopia’s first Oromo leader - an ethnic group which has been at the centre of antigovernment protests since 2016.

Seven Dead In Massive India Caste Protests Seven people have died amid violent protests involving tens of thousands of protesters from the Dalit (formerly untouchable) community across India.

They have taken to the streets to protest against a Supreme Court order that they say weakens a law designed to protect lower caste communities.

Train services have been affected and some main roads blocked in a number of states where protests turned violent.

The federal government has asked the court to review its decision.

In its ruling, the court had said that the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, popularly known as the SC/ST Act, had been “misused” in the past.

Caste violence continues to be a problem in the country. More than 40,000 crimes against lower castes were reported in 2016 alone, according to official statistics.

Dalit leaders said the ruling made them feel “vulnerable”.

“The SC/ST Act ensured the protection of Dalits in India by making any discrimination against our community a punishable offence.

With this new Supreme Court order, these legal obligations have ended.

We’re all sad and shocked,” said KP Choudhary, the general secretary of an all India association for lower castes.

In the central state of Madhya Pradesh, senior police officials told BBC Hindi that six people had died.

Sierra Leone Poll: Heads Of Int’l Observation Missions Meet Ahead Result Announcement The heads of International Observation Missions have met ahead of announcement of official results of Saturday’s Sierra Leone presidential run-off election.

The meeting, according to a statement issued by a member of the ECOWAS Observation Missions, Paul Ejime, was held on Sunday in Freetown.

At the preventive diplomacy meeting were Amos Sawyer (ECOWAS), John Mahama (Commonwealth), Kgalena Motlanthe (AU) and Mohamed Ibn Chambas, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and

the Sahel.

Also represented at the meeting according to the statement were the EU, UNDP, Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), the Mano River Union and the Women’s Situation Room for credible elections in Africa.

The run-off contest was between the opposition SLPP’s flag bearer Julius Bio and his ruling APC contender Samura Kamara, both of whom were front runners in the March 7 first round general elections.

“As happened in the aftermath of the announcement of the first round results, there appears to be

rising tension in the build up to the outcome of the run-off poll.

“This tension is what the heads of observation missions are resolved to douse, for a successful conclusion of the electoral process.”

It noted that the election was largely peaceful with heavy security presence in a few polling centres.

“As counting and tallying of ballots continue, it is expected that the announcement of final results of the poll could take some time, in view of the pre-election agreement by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and the two political parties to carry out ballot tallying according to districts.”

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RANKINGS

1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 2. Roger Federer (SUI) 3. Marin Cilic (CRO) 4. Alexander Zverev (GER) 5. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 6. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 7. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 8. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 9. John Isner (USA) 10. David Goffin (BEL) 11. Lucas Pouille (FRA) 12. Pablo Carreno (ESP) 13. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 14. Sam Querrey (USA) 15. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 16. Jack Sock (USA) 17. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 18. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 19. Hyeon Chung (KOR) 20. Fabio Fognini (ITA)

Tuesday April 3, 2018

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JUVENTUS, MADRID,

Nadal Reclaims Top Spot, Federer Slips

Rafael Nadal reclaimed top spot in the men’s ATP rankings on Monday a day after Swiss rival Roger Federer crashed out in Miami to American John Isner.

Nadal, who hasn’t hit a ball in anger since pulling out of the Australian Open quarterfinals in January, saw Federer take over top spot on 18 February.

The Swiss veteran, however, slipped 10 points behind his Spanish rival and into second place after a second round defeat to Thanasi Kokkinakis. Towering American John Isner leapt eight places to ninth thanks to his eventual victory Sunday in the Masters 1000 event.

Isner thus equals his previous best ranking of ninth, reached in April 2012, while beaten finalist Alexander Zverev of Germany moved up one place to fourth.

South Korea’s Hyeon Chung meanwhile continued to chip away at the rankings, the 21-year-old breaking into the top 20, to 19th, for the first time in his fledgling career thanks to his quarterfinal appearance in Miami.

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Re-kindle Europe’s Majesty Rivalries

One of Europe’s most enduring head-to-heads, Juventus and Real Madrid have delivered drama aplenty down the decades – and meet again in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals Continental institutions who faced off in last season’s UEFA Champions League final, Juventus and Real Madrid boast a combined 14 European Cups and an almost perfectly balanced record in their matches against each other.

Juventus welcome Real Madrid to Turin on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions

League quarter-final.

It is a repeat of the 2017 final and the home side will be hoping for an improved display against Zinedine Zidane’s men as they attempt to seize the advantage ahead of the second leg on April 11.

Madrid, meanwhile, are on the hunt for a third successive Champions League title and an away victory would set them up nicely for the tie’s decisive game at the Santiago Bernabeu.

With one of the tournament’s most formidable defences coming up against its top scorer of all time in Cristiano Ronaldo, it promises to be a spectacle.

Mehdi Benatia is suspended for the game, while Alex Sandro is a doubt as he recovers from injury, which means there will be some reshuffling in defence.

Midfielder Miralem Pjanic is also serving a suspension and Federico Bernardeschi is definitely out with an injury, but Mario Mandzukic could feature.

Potential Juventus starting XI: Buffon; De Sciglio, Chiellini, Barzagli, Lichtsteiner; Khedira, Matuidi, Marchisio, Dybala,

Cuadrado, Higuain.

Los Blancos have a near-full panel to choose from for the game, with defender Nacho the only real doubt.

Potential Real Madrid starting XI: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos; Ronaldo, Benzema, Isco.

Real Madrid are favourites to win the match with dabblebet pricing them at 6/4.

Juventus are rated 9/5 to beat the Liga giants and a draw is available at 21/10.

World Cup: ‘Super Eagles Still On Course’

BY WALE AYENI, ABUJA Despite Super Eagles’ failure to fly in London last week’s Tuesday night as two second half goals from Serbian forward, Aleksandr Mitrovic condemned Gernot Rohr to only his second defeat in 14 matches in charge of Nigeria, chairman of Super Eagles Supporters Club, Prince Vincent Okumagba has urged Nigerian not to lose faith in the team.

While speaking with newsmen on the outcome of the match, he commended the Franco-German tactician that has spent 20 months in-charge of Eagles, wining eight matches, with four draws (all 1-1) and just two loses, describing his feet as a respectable.

“The squad was quite depleted before this game, as you can remember that Captain Mikel Obi was unable to leave China due to work permit issue, the midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo still down with injury and forward Kelechi Iheanacho knocked out by a broken arm, the defender Leon Balogun was reported sick and had to be replaced.

“So we can’t really measure the strength of our team in this manner, although the players used also needed to be tested and we all see what they’re capable of doing, that’s the

essence of friendly match, I believe the team is still on course and there no course alarm,” Okumagba posited.

Next match for the Eagles in their pre-FIFA World Cup build-up is

Kanu To Run For 2019 Presidential Election Nigerian soccer legend Nwankwo Kanu has been inspired by Liberian icon George Weah’s feat, by announced his intention to run for President of Nigeria in 2019 general elections.

Weah, who had a very successful football career in Europe, was elected President of Liberia in the 2017 election, defeating the incumbent Vice President Joseph Boakai, and sworn in on 22 January 2018.

“My presence here today is about the future of our country and the hap-

piness of our people,” Kanu told Goal. com.

“The last 18 years of leadership has witnessed a decline in all critical sec-

against Democratic Republic of Congo in Nigeria on Monday, May 28t, and would be followed by a prestige game against England’s Three Lions at Wembley, five days later. tors of life in Nigeria, plus general insecurity in the land.

“Also, I’ll do all it takes to wrestle corruption which has become blatant and widespread.

The rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of corruption,” Kanu, who also had a successful career in Europe, added.

“If I get your mandate, I promise to do things differently and restore honour and integrity to public service by keeping the best and attracting the best.

“George Weah’s victory in Liberia is a pointer that this dream is very realistic with you all on my side.”

Tueesday, April 3, 2018

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Man City

Pogba: France Need Support To Win World Cup

Eye ‘Historic’ Title Victory Against Man United

Manchester City want to give their supporters a “historic” day by clinching the Premier League title against bitter rivals Manchester United, their midfielder Kevin de Bruyne said.

Pep Guardiola’s City face the mouthwatering prospect of being crowned league champions for the third time since 2012 if they beat United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

“We are going to relish this position,” De Bruyne told British media.

“These are the games you play the whole season for. It would be wonderful, something different – you know how it

goes between them, you know the history, so it would be historic,” the Belgian added.

“The sooner we do it, the better. Then we can focus on other games. It’s a tough run. We play Liverpool, United, Liverpool again and then Tottenham (Hotspur).

It’s pretty impressive, eh?”

City cruised to a 3-1 victory over Everton on Saturday to maintain their 16-point advantage at the top of the table.

De Bruyne felt the team delivered a sublime display at Goodison Park and the Belgian playmaker is hopeful they can deliver a similar performance at Liverpool in the first leg of Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday.

City’s only league defeat this season came at Anfield where they conceded three goals in nine second-half minutes as Liverpool won 4-3.

“It’s the Champions League, the quarterfinal, it is all or nothing. You have two games, so hopefully we will go there, do

our thing and have a good game,” De Bruyne added.

“I think in last game against Liverpool we had a spell of 10 minutes where we lost the control... otherwise I think we did alright.

“In the end it was 4-3, it happens, you learn about these things, and I think we know we have to control it better. Let’s see if we can control it better, do these things properly.”

NWBF To Establish Associations In Seven North-west States

BY ABDULGAFAR OLADIMEI, KANO

The Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation (NWBF)has commenced the formation of state associations of the body in the seven North-west states.

The North-west zonal coordinator of the federation, Hon Usman Yusuf, made the disclosure while chat with newsmen in Kano, yesterday.

According to him, efforts are ongoing towards ensuring that all the states that make North-west geopolitical zone of the country have their Wheelchair Basketball State Association in place within the next 90 days.

He said, the zonal office of the federation is currently monitoring the developments in the concerned states, to ensure compliance with the statues governing the activities

SPORTS 47

of the federation.

He note that, on completion of the formation of the state bodies, seminars will be arranged to educate wheel chair basketball players, officials and other critical stakeholder on the rules of the game.

Usman, further note that, plans are underway to hold inaugural North-west wheelchair basketball tournament that will feature the seven North-west states, namely Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states.

Paul Pogba believes France have the potential to win the World Cup, but has told Telefoot the demanding French public need to support the team, not criticise them.

France will travel to Russia this summer as one of the favourites to win the tournament as coach Didier Deschamps boasts one of the strongest squads in the competition on paper.

Despite their potential, however, France limped through qualifying, losing in Sweden before being held to a surprise goalless draw at home to Luxembourg among a string of unconvincing performances.

Their recent 3-2 defeat in a friendly at home to Colombia -- a game in which France had led 2-0 -- has raised more question marks over the team’s attitude, but Pogba remains confident he and his teammates have what it takes to claim their country’s second second World Cup tournament win.

“Of course,” said Pogba when asked if France have the potential to be World Cup winners. “We have the players, we have everything. It’s not just the players, you need a team.

“We have a good team too, but we need to work still, by playing matches like that. Against strong teams we have very good results, but against the not so strong teams, it’s been a bit more difficult. We have to learn from games like that.

“At the World Cup, it’s going to be very, very difficult; everyone has to be ready for that. It’s not because we’re France that we’re going to win every game 5-0.”

Pogba has been one of the main targets for criticism from demanding local media and public. The Manchester United midfielder recently called on his compatriots to get behind the team, and he reiterated his call for unity and suggested French football journalists could also play a more positive role.

“In France, I think that people aren’t behind the team enough. We have a great generation that is coming, we have very good players, but that doesn’t mean we are certain to win,” explained Pogba, who scored a goal and provided an assist in last week’s 3-1 win over Russia.

Chelsea Youngster Holds Secret Talks With NFF, A young Chelsea player is said to have held ‘secret talks’ with the Nigerian Football Federation over the possibility of changing his national alliance.

All Nigeria Soccer claim that an unnamed British-born Chelsea player could feature for Nigeria in the near future.

The player was said to hold talks at the team’s hotel in London before Nigeria’s friendly with Serbia, which was held at Barnet’s Hive Stadium.

Nigeria tried to encourage Tammy Abraham but failed in their attempts, with the striker opting for England.

They have tried to sign up

players early in the past, before they make a senior debut for England, through their family backgrounds.

Ola Ain recently changed his national team alliance to Nigeria and has since made three senior appearances.

While the website does not name the individual, they list the following names as possible contenders; Tariq Uwakwe, Faustino Anjorin, Fikayo Tomori, Ike Ugbo, Tyreece Walters and Jordan Aina.

The unnamed player could potentially join the likes of Aina and fellow Chelsea defender Victor Moses, should he decide to play for Nigeria.

L-R: Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai; Chairman, Pinnacle Comunication Limited, Sir Lucky Babatunde Omoluwa and Captain Kaduna Golf club, Ibrahim Hassan Biu, during the closing ceremony of 1st Kadinvest PROAM Golf Tournament held in Kaduna on Sunday. PHOTOBY GBENGA FOLORUNSSHO ABIOLA.

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Tuesday A More Robust Approach To Column Boosting Nigeria’s Tax Revenue

T

Ade Adefeko

he Tax debate is a never-ending saga constantly subjected to emotional vituperation depending on which side of the divide one is.

This debate has most recently brought to the front burner contending issues with respect to the newly introduced Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) and the administration of Tax in Nigeria. Let me attempt an analysis of these issues.

No doubt, Nigeria is blessed with abundance of natural and human resources. Nigeria has a population of about 186 million people. Of this number, about 77 million were employed as at 2015 according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Furthermore, as released by the Joint Tax Board (JTB), only about 10 million people, out of this number, are registered for personal income tax across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). These numbers just do not add up.

How does one explain that 10 million people carry the tax burden that at least 77 million people are expected to share? This is 13 for the

adeadefeko@gmail.com | 08177420080(SMS only) cost of 100. Little wonder oil revenues still account for about 70 per cent of government income, a reality that leaves the economy very vulnerable to fluctuations in the oil market. We believe this context above lends credence to the need for a reassessment of the government’s current approach to improving the country’s tax base through the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS).

VAIDS was introduced in 2017 to increase Nigeria’s tax to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio from six per cent to 15 per cent by 2020, broaden the Federal and State tax brackets, curb noncompliance with existing tax laws and discourage use of tax havens and prevent illicit financial flows and tax evasion. The scheme, has been lauded by many as a possible tool of improving tax compliance and government revenue. For a country with a six per cent tax to GDP ratio, it is ordinarily expected that this scheme would be in place for more than 9 months in order to increase tax compliance.

VAIDS can be compared to the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Programme (OVDP), a similar

place huge tax burden on multinational enterprises and HNIs compared to other existing businesses in order to increase its tax revenue. The logic of the tax authority, which is perhaps understandable, is that given the limited human resources at their disposal and paucity of relevant data on other businesses, it is more efficient to concentrate on a few HNIs and multinational enterprises who are already in the tax net and who can bring in the expected results than focus Adeosun on other businesses without scheme in the United States of adequate financial information America (USA), which was or whose business addresses introduced in 2009 and would may not be known. If this end in September, 2018. The was the justification for the OVDP was designed to allow focus on the multinational taxpayers with unreported enterprises and HNIs, then offshore assets to voluntarily we advocate for at least a more resolve past tax and reporting balanced approach.

We see four possible non-compliance in exchange for amnesty on criminal groups within the Nigerian prosecution and penalties. tax bracket; enterprises Whilst our VAIDS which (multinational and domestic), ends on 31st March, 2018 HNIs, the formally employed would have only been in and the informally employed. operation for nine months; the We could collapse both the OVDP programme in the USA formally and informally (with higher tax to GDP ratio employed to have a more 3-pronged compared to Nigeria) was manageable designed to last for nine years! approach to achieving our What a contrast in a system tax objectives. A balanced with high level of tax evasion approach to improving the country’s fiscal position will and transparency issues.

In scoping the scheme, focus on all four, if we see the government has said it VAIDS beyond just a shortwill target all individuals term revenue mobilization resident in Nigeria as well scheme, but a long-term as companies operating in approach to structuring a Nigeria. The scheme also framework for effective tax has as its primary targets, collection. Note that our multinational enterprises and submission here is that none high net-worth individuals of these groups should carry (HNIs). We think this focus more tax burden that it ought might be the albatross of the to, a situation we think is scheme and the numbers can required to create an efficient and fair tax system. show this.

Multinationals and HNIs do The government had noted that the majority of those not need any special attention who pay personal income tax from the tax authority before in Nigeria are low income getting them to contribute their earners and salary earners quota to the country’s tax base. whose taxes are deducted Most multinationals and HNIs at source. Furthermore, already pay tax but it must be government at all levels stressed that some of them do not pay the correct amount of

taxes. This is because some of these multinationals and HNIs take advantage of the loopholes inherent in the tax laws and administration of taxes generally. Such loop holes should be blocked through legislative action.

More importantly, the government needs to take a long term view and find means to broaden the composition of each of the components that make up the tax bracket.

Broadening the tax base can be achieved through concerted effort by government at all levels to bring as many people as possible within the tax bracket. As a starting point, there is a need to focus on the informal sector of the economy. The IMF had in 2017, valued Nigeria’s informal enterprises at about 65 per cent of GDP. This means that the government cannot shy away from evolving a smart strategy to formalize a lot of these enterprises and bring them under the tax net. This is a pool of about $263billion of productivity. This is critical to achieving the tax to GDP objectives, which will see the government more than double taxes collected within the next two years, discounting the rate of GDP growth.

There is also a need to ensure that the personal income tax bracket is broadened. There are at least 67 million taxable income types in the formal sector for starters. At the current minimum wage of N18, 000 per month, which comes across as pessimistic, given the large number of incomes, we have an annual pool of about N14trillion in taxable income. Averaging personal income tax of 18 per cent, this adds about N2.5trillion to the current tax base, minimum.

In a bid to bring more people within the tax net, government across all levels should undertake

significant enlightenment and sensitization campaigns (radio jingles, talk shows, road walk etc.,) to provide information to the citizenry on the need to pay their tax.

A major constraint, however, is that all our tax laws are written in English Language, which many of the people in the informal sector do not understand. There is therefore the need to provide the laws to the people in their local languages through translation of the tax laws, particularly the Personal Income Tax Act. A cue can be taken from the Republic of South Africa, where some of the country’s tax laws have been translated to local languages to reach a larger percentage of the population.

In addition, government needs to embrace technology in the administration of taxes to achieve greater efficiency.

Although e-filing of taxes has been introduced, the system is plagued with a lot of hitches and in some instances, income tax filing is still done manually. To improve this process, tax authority can partner with the private sector and other technologically driven organizations to provide seamless and easy platforms for tax payers to be able to pay their taxes and file tax returns without stress.

GHANA MUST GO Mantu didn’t rig election for us

— PDP

He rigged it for your father?

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