Leadership epaper 19th april 2018

19.04.18

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

No. 3,045

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In Terrorist Style Assault, Senator Omo-Agege Uses Thugs To Seize Mace 5 EFCC Probes Kwankwaso, Wamakko Over Alleged N18bn Fraud

BY EJIKE EJIKE, Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has begun investigation into alleged theft of N18.08 billion of Sokoto and Kano states funds by former Governors Magatakarda Wamakko and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso respectively.

LEADERSHIP gathered that while Wamakko is being investigated for allegedly diverting N15 billion Sokoto State funds, Kwankwaso is under the anti-graft agency’s radar for alleged embezzlement of N3.08 billion belonging to the 44 council areas of ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Suspected thugs carting away the mace from the Senate chambers, yesterday.

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our stand

LEADERSHIP Thursday, April 19, 2018

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Electricity Companies And Their Fraudulent Methods

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Bill to criminalise estimated billing has passed a second reading in the House of Representatives.

This is a refreshing news given the impunity of the electricity companies in their dealings with consumers. In an earlier editorial with the above caption, we raised the issue of estimated billing and the pain it is inflicting on consumers. As we wait for the passage of this Bill into law, we re-flash that editorial to help the lawmakers in their deliberations The primary aim of unbundling the electric power behemoth that held the nation hostage and frustrated every move towards economic development was to ease the stranglehold so that Nigerian consumers can have a new lease of life. It did not matter what name they bore: Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN), National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) or Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), they had one thing in common, failure to meet national demands as far as electric power supply and distribution were concerned. Impact of that shortcoming resounded vigorously in a manner that affected the life of the country negatively. The situation became so bad that, with the success in the telecommunication sector, Nigerians were unanimous in their call for the privatisation of the sector.

It was argued and many believed that once the power sector was put in the hands of private operators who will then run it purely as business, the darkness as a result of inconsistent power supply will vanish. Before the unbundling, there were other efforts like the Independent Power Projects (IPPs) that got bogged down in a mesh of corruption where billions of dollars were pumped in and darkness was unleashed on the populace.

After that experiment, the actual unbundling that resulted in Generating Companies (Gencos) and Distribution Companies (Discos) has not brought about any meaningful change as Nigerians still groan under the inefficiency and incompetence that were the hallmark of the sector when it was in the hands of government agencies.

Worse than what was the case then,

today the companies behave as if they are a law unto themselves. They ride roughshod on the rights and privileges of the hapless consumers who have been induced into a state of despondency and utter helplessness because of the thinking that succour is not expected from anywhere.

Insufficient power supply is not the only complain as Nigerians have since become accustomed to the fluctuations in the distribution

chain. It was called load shedding.

The consumers have also resigned to fate as those in charge keep on alternating the system which they call power sharing.

The power sector since the privatisation exercised was concluded has disappointed every expectation of an improved power supply to the economy. It was thought that there will be an inflow of private capital. That has not happened as

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!

the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had had to package a bailout for them which did not bring about any remarkable improvement. The tariff structure has also been altered in favour of the companies.

Again, nothing positive came out of it to assuage the pains and inconveniences the consumers are exposed to.

The companies have refused to install metres in the consumers’ premises. They prefer to impose what they call estimated bills on the consumers with all the fraudulent manipulations that come with them. The experience of many a consumer is that these bills are delivered when it will be late to go and pay if they have the money.

Most would expect that they will be given at least 24 hours to sort things out, but no.

The officials will come when everyone is out to disconnect the power supply. The aim is not just to compel the consumer to go and pay but also because they want the extra two thousand naira that will be paid as reconnection fee.

The disturbing aspect of this scenario is that their marketing teams go about with thugs and street urchins hired to deal with any perceived recalcitrant consumer who will dare to resist their effort to generate revenue to meet already set target. It doesn’t matter that the area may have been in darkness for long. As it is estimated bill, it must come even when there is no power supply at all and the consumers are compelled to pay regardless of their misgivings.

These electricity power companies are shielded by law and nobody can do anything about them. Not even the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). This commission, under normal circumstances, should be operating on the side of the consumers to protect them from the excesses of the service providers and the investors bent on having generous returns on investment.

On the contrary, they carry on as if they are collaborators with the companies determined to champion the interest of the investors.

Not to be misunderstood, this newspaper has nothing against operators earning profit from an investment or collecting revenues due to them after adequate services that are commensurate with bills have been provided. We have every reason to worry when businesses make it a point to rip off consumers in a frenzied urge to meet projections even when it is obvious that they had failed in meeting their own part of the contract.

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Group News Editor: Ekele Peter Agbo 28 Shiite Members Arraigned In Court

BY OLAWUMI OSADAHUNSI AND ORJIME MOSES, Abuja

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari: Chairman CIMB Group Malaysia, Dato Seri Nazir; Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of De La Rue plc UK Mr. Martin Sutherland and Professor at Oxford University, Prof. Ngaire Woods, shortly after President Buhari delivered his keynote address at the Commonwealth Business Forum, at the Guild Hall London , 6yesterday. PHOTO BY STATE HOUSE

NASS Buries Election Sequence Saga

BY AHURAKA ISAH AND SOLOMON AYADO, Abuja

The National Assembly yesterday appeared to have buried the controversy surrounding the election sequence bill when both chambers backtracked on the issue to return to the status quo.

Senate’s attempt to represent the bill to reorder sequence of the 2019 general elections failed yesterday with the withdrawal of a new bill proposed to that effect.

The Senate as well as the House of Representatives had in their passage of the 2010 Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018 in February this year, proposed a new sequence of elections for 2019 by placing the National Assembly election first, followed by State Houses of Assembly/ Governorship elections and Presidential election last.

The House of Representatives has stepped down the bill on the Electoral Act amendment 2010, which seeks to change election se-

quence in the country.

The bill was purportedly ‎sponsored Hon Edward Pwajok and seven others members of the House.

However, Pwajok who was expected to re-introduce the bill announced that he wants to step it down, following due consultations with his colleagues.

Meanwhile, House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, whose name was listed among the sponsors of the bill, said he knew nothing about the bill and that he never consented to it.

“I want to put the records straight. I observed that my name is among the sponsors of this bill, but I want to say it here that I didn’t know anything about the bill,” he said.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari in his rejection said the inserted section in the Electoral Act violates the provisions of section 72 of the 1999 constitution which empowers the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , to fix dates of elections and see to its conduct in all ramifications.

FG Okays N33bn For Bida-Lapai-Lambata Road

BY JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH, Abuja

The federal government has approved N33 billion for the construction of the Bida-Lapai-Lambata road.

This was disclosed by the minister of state for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by vice president, Yemi Osinbajo at the Pres-

idential Villa.

He explained that the BidaLapai-Lambata road in Niger State is a very important road linking South West to the Northern part of the country.

He said, “The road is about 123.9 kilometers. It costs N33 billion.

It is the second road that connects South West to the North.”

He also disclosed that FEC ap-

proved N224 million for extension of consultancy service for 215 megawatts power plant in Kudendan in Kaduna State.

On his part, the minister of state for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, also disclosed that the FEC approved N6 billion for aviation equipment from two memos presented to the council.

He said that N2.588 billion was

approved for Aerotical Information System (AIS) that will give accurate information including weather information to pilots and aviators.

To provide Instrument Landing System (ILS) in the country against harsh weather conditions, he said that the council approved N1.188 billion to upgrade the airports in Lagos and Abuja to category three.

No fewer than 28 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, have been arraigned in Wuse Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja.

The IMN members were accused of conspiracy and public disturbances in the city of Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The police said they were arrested for conspiracy and inciting public disturbances in the city.

During yesterday’s sitting, the prosecuting counsel, Barrister A. O. Orum, informed the court that the accused persons committed the offence on Monday 16th of April, 2018.

Orum said all the defendants conspired and blocked roads in the area of Maitama.

“The accused persons unlawfully restrained the members of the public from having access to the road and their places of business.

A conduct that disturbed and caused breach of public peace”, Orum said.

The police said the accused persons offences are contrary to section 97,79,102,106,112,252,372 and 113 of Penal Code Law. The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the content of the First Information Report (FIR).

However, counsel to the accused persons, Adams Ishaq, made a bail application for the 28 defendants.

Ishaq assured the court that the accused persons would not interfere in the police investigation or jump bail.

After listening to counsel in the matter, Chief Magistrate Aliyu Yinusa Shafa, granted bail to the accused person in the sum of N200,000 and a surety who must be a civil servant from level 8 and above.

The chief magistrate also said that the accused persons and the sureties should deåßposit two recent passport photographs and also have their addresses verified by the police.

The matter was adjourned to May 31, 2018 for further hearing.

Military Warns Against Politicising Security Issues

BY JOY YESUFU, Abuja The military high command yesterday warned political leaders against playing politics with security issues, saying the Armed Forces is the strength of every nation, including Nigeria.

The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier General John Agim, gave the caution while addressing journalists on the activities of the Armed Forces in various internal security operations across the nation.

He said when political leaders talk down on the Nigerian Military, it will dampen their morale, embolden the enemy to cause more havoc, and

the consequences on the citizens will be dire.

The DDI also said section (s) 217 – 220 of the 1999 constitution places the responsibility of defending Nigeria from external aggression and maintaining its territorial integrity and security on the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

“It is no doubt that Nigerians have continued to testify that the military has carried out this responsibility gallantly with great sacrifices”, he said.

He maintained that troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Operations Awatse, Operation Delta Safe and Operation Safe Corridor, have continued to record successes

against Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) and all other forms of terrorism and criminalities, noting that the troops have continued to perform credibly well.

Agim said the military recruit is based on state quota, with people from all states of the country, adding that people are not selected from particular states when going for operations.

He debunked allegations that military collude with a particular section during operations, saying indigenes from the states where operations takes place most times are part of the unit that are sent for internal operations.

The DDI also said weapons are

recovered from both herdsmen and some militias since the law doesn’t permit any unauthorised person to carry arms.

He stated: “I am vey sure that when the military were operating in Taraba and Benue States they had indigenes who are operating with them in that place. It is not possible to have collusion with the military when they go to do their work.

“The military is overstretched, the military is not present everywhere. So you can’t ask where is the military; why did that incident happened there. Military barracks is not established everywhere.

“There are places that the military

is stationed. So, it is only based on intelligence and information that we deploy to certain places and also when there is a directive to deploy soldiers to a place.

“The presence of soldiers and other security agencies gives confidence to the villagers and Internally Displaced Persons affected by the herdsmen/ farmers clashes. Everything is being done for the place to return to normalcy, especially the troubled areas in both Benue and Taraba States.

“Defence Headquarters hereby appeal to our political leaders not to play politics with security issues and the Armed Forces of Nigeria”, he added.

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In Terrorist Style Assault, Senator Omo-Agege Uses Thugs To Seize Mace

BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS There was uproar in the National Assembly yesterday when armed thugs led by suspended Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta South) invaded the Senate chamber and forcefully carted away the mace in a manner akin to a terrorists operation.

Although the operation by the thugs numbering about five began at about 11:30am and lasted for just less than ten minutes, the commotion, which erupted in the National Assembly premises, continued till 12:10pm before normalcy was eventually restored in the place.

The Senate had on Thursday April 12, 2018 suspended Senator Omo-Agege for alleging that the reordering of election sequence by the National Assembly was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

Yesterday’s plenary session in the Senate was disrupted for about an hour, while lawmakers and staffers as well as visitors were seen scampering for safety.

The security agents who barricaded the entry and exit routes in search of the hoodlums further prevented human and vehicular movement, but the thugs were nowhere to be found.

There was heavy gridlock, as motorists were held up for a long time, leading to complete blockage of the road leading to the Federal Secretariat.

Official and commercial businesses within the premises of the National Assembly were halted, just as banks and telecommunication operational offices were shut down.

Also, security operatives were seen discussing in clusters, while others combed the entry and exit points of the White House where the Senate Chamber is situated.

The plenary presided over by Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu had commenced before the thugs stormed the Red Chamber.

Eyewitnesses said the stern looking thugs gained entrance to the premises of the National Assembly through the main gate, which is heavily secured by security operatives, including men of the Police and DSS. National Assembly workers told our correspondents that the assailants were accompanied to the chamber by suspended Senator Omo-Agege.

LEADERSHIP gathered that as the hoodlums grabbed the mace and were walking away militantly, the Sargent-at-Arms who struggled to retrieve it were obviously overpowered and pushed away.

The armed thugs who marched out of the Red Chamber with the mace quickly entered into awaiting tinted Toyota Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) that was parked at the entrance of the White House and speedily drove off through Villa gate.

The Senators had no choice than to resume plenary with a new mace barely an hour after the armed thugs stormed the National Assembly and carted away the mace.

The new mace was smaller in size and more coloured than that of the bigger one that was earlier moved. The plenary, which was disrupted at about 11:30am, resumed by 12:10pm.

On resumption of plenary yesterday, the Senate gave the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Kpotum-Idris and the Director General of the Directorate of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, 24 hours to produce the mace that was removed from the Red Chambers by suspected thugs.

Asking the IGP and the DG DSS to produce the mace within 24 hours, the lawmakers queried why such a criminal operation could be carried out in the National Assembly without security operatives averting it.

Consequently, the upper chamber asked the IGP and DSS not only to produce the mace that was moved within 24 hours but also to equally arrest and prosecute the thugs who stole the

Senator Omo-Agege Arrested Meanwhile, fierce looking security operatives yesterday arrested Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central) for allegedly leading thugs to invade National Assembly and carting away the mace.

He was arrested at the Senate Chamber lobby after plenary session, and was bundled into a waiting security Toyota Hilux van marked NPF 480 by a team of policemen led by a commissioner of Police, Sadiq Bello.

Omo-Agege

mace.

Giving the 24-hour ultimatum, deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary said, “This is an affront on the Senate, affront to the parliament and to our democracy but we are going to keep to the assignment our people gave us. We are going to get to the root of the matter.

“The Senate is saying that security agencies must recover our mace. So, we are giving the Inspector General of Police and Director General of DSS to recover our mace within 24 hours”.

Describing the incident as totally unacceptable and said it was not only an affront to the Senate but to democracy, Ekweremadu however assured that the National Assembly will deal wit the situation fully, warning the invaders to not take democracy for granted.

We Must Avoid Trade Wars, PMB Tells Commonwealth

BY JONATHAN NDA- ISAIAH, Abiuja To make business easier between commonwealth countries, President Muhammadu Buhari has advocated that they avoid trade wars and work collectively to preserve the global trading order.

Delivering his keynote address yesterday at the Commonwealth Business Forum at Guildhall, London, President Buhari identified factors that are capable of easing business relations among Commonwealth countries.

He listed them as trade and investment facilitation to generate resources for sustainable development; ease of doing business and regional integration that expands markets with safeguards against injurious trade practices from third parties and more inclusive growth with the empowerment of women and the youth.

In a statement by his special adviser on

media, Femi Adesina, the president said the provision of a platform for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), a radical expansion of human capital for the 21st Century, now known as “Knowledge Economy”, and provision of hard and software infrastructure for the 21st Century digital economy to boost e-commerce, increase efficiency, solve development problems and enhance cyber security are other factors necessary for an smoother business environment.

The Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF), with the subject “Making Business Easier between Commonwealth Countries,” is part of events at this year’s Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting (CHOGM-25).

President Buhari stated that Nigeria had already started championing this course with events such as the “High-Level Trade

and Investment Facilitation Forum for Development” convened by Nigeria in November 2017 in Abuja in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He said: “The Abuja statement from this Forum: ‘Deepening Africa’s Integration in the Global Economy through Trade and Investment Facilitation for Development,’ has become a global and multilateral reference point. We believe that the Commonwealth should lend its support to these types of activities as a sound model for making business easier amongst Commonwealth countries.

“To underscore Nigeria’s commitment to spreading prosperity throughout the Commonwealth, in the past six months, Nigeria co-chaired, with the United Kingdom, the “UK All-Parliamentary Group for Trade out ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

EFCC Closes In On Kwankwaso, Wamakko Over Alleged N18bn Fraud FROM COVER

Kano State.

The investigation of the duo that are both high-ranking members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and current senators, followed petitions separately forwarded to the commission.

Findings by LEADERSHIP revealed that the EFCC received petition from a group, Movement for the Liberation and Emancipation of Sokoto State, accusing Senator Wamakko of alleged theft and money laundering.

Surajo Saidu and Mudassir Umar Alhassan who are chairman and secretary respectively, of the group, signed the petition which was dated 10th August, 2015.

The group accused Senator Wamakko who served as governor of Sokoto State from 2007 to 2015 of allegedly converting some funds meant for the development of the state into personal

use.

An EFCC source told our correspondent that during investigation that the agency traced N1.5 billion cash deposit into Senator Wamakko’s account.

“The deposits were done by three individuals suspected to be officials of Sokoto State Government House who are yet to be traced by the Commission,” the source said.

Our source said the monies were deposited between 2012 and 2015 and noted that the commission would invite Senator Wamakko for questioning ‘any moment from now’.

The commission, it was further gathered, also received a petition from Barr Mustapha Danjuma on behalf of Abubakar Ali Maishani and Alhaji Najume Garba Kabo against Senator Kwankwaso for allegedly diverting funds belonging to the 44 local governments of Kano

State.

A competent EFCC source disclosed that during investigation, the commission discovered vouchers that indicated that each of the 44 local government areas contributed N70 million for Kwankwaso’s presidential aspiration.

Our source said investigation is ongoing to trace the account into which the funds were deposited.

He confirmed that very soon the commission would invite the former governors for questioning.

However, the spokesman of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren told our correspondent on phone that the two former governors are under investigation.

“I am aware that both Senators Wamakko and Kwankwaso are being investigated following petitions accusing them of financial sleaze.”

Presidency Condemns Act, Calls For Probe Meanwhile, the presidency yesterday condemned the invasion of the Senate Chamber by thugs suspected to be sponsored by Senator Omo-Agege agege, saying it will join forces with the Senate to probe the act.

Deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, who disclosed this after meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the presidential Villa, said he was in Aso Rock to brief the vice president on the fracas since the president was not in the country.

He noted that Osinbajo sympathized with him and promised to join forces with the Senate to get to the root of the matter to make sure it never happens again.

He said, “Well I am sure you are aware of the Senate invasion today and we have to come and brief the vice president because the president is not in town. So, it was appropriate for him to know what transpired because we run democracy, we are all in one government.

“It is the responsibility of the president or the vice president to ensure law and order in the country and once we have this kind of major development it is important that he is briefed at the earliest opportunity. So, Senate president is out of the country; it is therefore my responsibility to come over and brief the vice president.

“He has sympathized with us over what happened and he is going to join forces with us to ensure that we get to the root of the matter to make sure that this will not happen again. For us, it’s a threat to our democracy, the invasion of the parliament is not acceptable to any person, it is not acceptable to me, it is not acceptable to the VP, and it is not acceptable to my colleagues. I believe it is not also acceptable to the president. So, those who acted this script must be on their own.

“All we need to do as a country is to ensure that this is forestalled and I want to appeal to the media to help us discourage this kind of brigandage so that people have to behave in a very responsible manner. But let me assure you that we are on top of the situation; we did our sitting today and we are going to continue tomorrow”.

Asked if Omo-Agege has legal right to enter the Red Chamber since he was on suspension, he said, “It was a breach of the law for him to force himself into the chambers. As I said the Police are still investigating; we are going to find out the details of those who aided him to come in ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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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We Must Avoid Trade Wars, PMB Tells Commonwealth FROM PAGE 5

of Poverty” (APPG-TOP). The report of this Commonwealth Inquiry Report was launched on 3rd April, 2018.

“Nigeria affirms its commitment to the principal message from this Commonwealth Inquiry Group that Nigeria co-chaired with the UK. The surest, most sustainable way to lift millions of people out of poverty across the Commonwealth is through boosting trade and investment. We believe that, we, as leaders in the Commonwealth, should grasp the opportunity and agree a major new focus on trade and investment for inclusive development.”

The president also shared the experiences of Nigeria in ongoing deep and extensive ease of doing business reforms which are being staged under a 60-day National Action Plan.

According to him, “Stage 1 focuses on eight areas that make it easier to register businesses, obtain construction permits, get credit, pay taxes, have electricity, trade across borders, facilitate entry and exit of people and register property. These reforms were codified in an Executive Order.

Transparency and efficiency across government was mandated and made enforceable. These reforms have resulted in

improvements: reduction in cost and time and greater transparency particularly for micro, small and mediumsized enterprises.

“Stage 2 is focused on 11 areas improving on Stage 1.

This stage also covers new areas, including contract enforcement, simplifying the procurement process, and trading within Nigeria.

Action in this and subsequent stages will revolve, inter alia, around reputational issues.”

The president said these efforts had been acknowledged as evidenced in the World Bank’s ‘Doing Business’ Report published in November last year which moved Nigeria up 24 places and recognised the country

as one of the top 10 most improved economies in the world. He, however, admitted that more work needs to be done as the country enters the next stage.

“In developing countries, labour and industry are concerned about distortions in trade policies that result in subsidised products which have contributed to exports dumped in developing economies. These have had bad effects in the form of job losses.

“Growth is not yet inclusive and remains elusive. There are downside risks about disruptions to trade and investment. Global and regional markets have been considerably rattled by the

risks of trade wars. Concerns over climate change are unabated and are increasing.

There are tasks and duties on all sides,” he said.

Buhari further emphasised the need for a healthier business relationship among countries.

“But if we are to make business easier between our countries and going beyond the Commonwealth, we must avoid trade wars and work collectively to preserve the global trading order, support regional initiatives as well as support domestic structural reforms that focus on the priorities of individual countries,” he remarked, even as he reiterated his belief in wealth creation and

employment opportunities within the Commonwealth.

“If there is a collective Commonwealth commitment to the ease of doing business, we shall spur growth, multiply wealth and expand employment opportunities.

These objectives will be accelerated by trade and investment facilitation,” he noted.

President Buhari used the opportunity to call on the Commonwealth Business Forum and prospective investors in the Nigerian economy to participate in the 2018 UK/Nigeria Trade and Investment Forum at the London Stock Exchange.

mobilize their personnel to retrieve the mace and apprehend the mastermind and the perpetrators of this act.

“This action is also an affront on the legislature, and the Leadership of the House has come to express their support against this action”.

On his part, Senate President Bukola Saraki commended the leadership and all members of the Senate for standing up firmly in defence of democracy and the rule of law with their decision to defy those who machinated an attack on the Red Chamber of the National Assembly in which the mace was forcefully taken away.

Saraki who spoke from Washington where he is attending the Spring Meeting of the World Bank/ International Monetary Fund (IMF) also lauded the swift reaction by the leadership and members of the House of Representatives in demonstrating their solidarity with the Red Chamber.

This, he said, sends a strong signal that all parliamentarians will resist enemies of democracy and those who want to undermine the legislature.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on media and publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate president said, “I have just been informed that some hoodlums invaded the Senate chambers, forcefully taken away the mace and assaulted some of our Sergeant-at-arms on chamber duties. I am delighted that the Senate stood up to them by disregarding their unreasonable and shameful action and went on with the day’s proceedings as slated in the Order Paper.

“My commendation goes to my deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, other members of the leadership, my colleagues, the leadership

and members of the House of Representives for standing in defence of democracy, parliamentary sanctity and constitutionalism. With the way the Senate has defied those seeking to undermine it, we have sent out a strong signal that we are always ready to defend our constitutional mandate and nothing will deter us from this”.

“I associate myself with the comments of the Deputy Senate President that we are ready to get to the roots of this assault on democracy and ensure that those who are responsible, no matter how remote, will be brought to justice”, Saraki stated.

Also, the House of Representatives condemned the attack on the Senate chamber, saying it is an attack on Nigeria’s democracy.

Like the Senate, the House also directed the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to recover the Mace within twenty-hours.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance decrying the attack brought by House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila.

In his lead debate, Gbajabiamila who said that such attack on the Legislature was a threat to Nigeria’s democracy noted the need for Nigerians to ensure that the country’s democracy is preserved.

The House leader also bemoaned the near absence of security in the National Assembly Complex which he maintained is “too porous” as opposed to its counterpart the world over.

In adopting the motion, the House also ordered an investigation into the incident, even as it called for total overhaul of the security in the complex.

Earlier, Deputy Speaker Lasun Yussuff who presided over Wednesday’s plenary led

members of the House on a solidarity visit to the Senate.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) also condemned yesterday’s invasion of the Senate by suspected thugs, describing the incident as an “attack on our democracy” and a desecration of the hollowed chambers.

In its reaction signed by the national publicity secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the APC tasked the security agencies to recover the stolen mace and punish perpetrators and their sponsors.

On its part, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday condemned the invasion of the National Assembly, saying the seizure of the Senate mace as a direct assault on the legislature and bold attempt to truncate Nigeria’s democracy.

The leading opposition party said that the offensive has been emboldened by series of interferences and direct attacks by APC and the Buhari presidency on the institution of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate.

A statement by the national public secretary, Kola Olagbonidyan, noted: “The APC has foisted on our nation

an irredeemable autocracy, which has in three years of governance, gone beyond limits to force Nigerians to accept a government that has no respect for freedom and the ideals of democracy, particularly the constitutional separation of powers”.

Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday condemned the invasion of the Senate chamber by hoodlums and the carting away of the Mace.

Reacting to the incident in Abuja, Atiku described the attack as a dangerous precedent and an assault on Nigeria’s democracy by anti-democratic elements.

“I am utterly embarrassed, shocked and outraged by this ugly development because it is not only a threat to a major democratic institution, but also represents a grave danger to the survival of our democracy”, he said.

Also, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Ant-Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), said, “Nigerians would soon be fed-up with the Senate and its leadership.

The major populace may soon rise up against them because

of the way and manner they are running down the federal government and visiting hardship on Nigerians. They tend to carry on as if they are emperors running an empire.

They delay budget passage, refuse to confirm federal government appointments, give directives and attempt to take over the running of the executive functions. ‘’It is high time the tyranny is challenged and what happened today may just likely be a preamble if they don’t call themselves to order. As for Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, he can argue his matter in the court, leading the court to hold that the suspension is illegal’’.

On his part, Mr Emeka Ngige (SAN) said, ‘’What has happened today is an eye opener to the National Assembly that it requires to beef up its security.

For thugs to come into the place where ordinary person drops his phones to guarantee his or her entry gives so many foods for thought on how those thugs were able to gain entry into their precinct This calls for investigation and whoever is found wanting or found to have compromised the security setup of the National Assembly should be brought to book”.

In Terrorist Style Assault, Senator Omo-Agege Uses Thugs To Seize Mace FROM PAGE 5

and then some of them I believe have been arrested and we will get to the root of the matter.

In the same vein, the federal government has ordered security agencies in the country to immediately unravel the circumstances that led to the breach of security and invasion of the National Assembly by thugs.

A statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammedk, condemned and expressed shock over the invasion of the Red Chamber and the subsequent snatching of the Senate mace.

He however said the ‘’security agencies have been directed to immediately unravel the circumstances surrounding the breach of security that led to the invasion.’’

He assured that the security around the National Assembly complex would also be reinforced to prevent a reoccurrence.

Reactions Trail NASS Invasion Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday described the attack on the National Assembly and the carting away of the mace from the Red Chamber by thugs ash act of treason that cannot be tolerated.

Senate Spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, who stated this in a statement said, “Today, some hoodlums led by suspended Senator, Ovie OmoAgege, walked into the Senate plenary and seized the symbol of authority of the Upper Legislative Chamber, the mace.

“This action is an act of treason, as it is an attempt to overthrow a branch of the Federal Government of Nigeria by force, and it must be treated as such. All Security agencies must stand on the side of due process and immediately

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NEWS EXTRA 7 N22.8bn Fraud: Court Grants Ex-Air Force Chief, Others Access To Court’s Records

BY OLUGBENGA SOYELE, Lagos

L-R: Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during the Federal Executive Council meeting (FEC) at the Presidential Villa Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN

PMB Has Every Right To Seek Re-election, But - Usman

BY TARKAA DAVID, Abuja

Paradigm Movement has said President Muhammadu Buhari has every right to seek re-election.

The national coordinator Paradigm Movement, Idris Usman who stated this in an interview with LEADERSHIP said despite PMB’s re-election bid, Nigeria needs new ideas to leadership.

Usman said Nigerians have suffered untold hardship as a result of the economic policy summersaults by the current admin-

istration in the last three years, adding that the people are living in hunger and penury.

He further stated that the government has not done much to address insecurity as people are being killed by herdsmen on a daily basis more than it was a year ago.

Usman advocated for a paradigm shift in governance from old ideas to new ideas to leadership .

“We need a leader who will deliver good governance to all Nigerians, am not among people who will believe that the young people should come and

rule. Some of this young people are terrible as this set of leaders, for that am not thinking that the young people should, they must have a paradigm shift in leadership in the kind of leaders we produce, they must have a new idea,” he said “We need new idea, leadership that is accountable to the people, leadership that will explain itself to the people even after winning the election The coordinator noted that Nigeria at this point needs a leader who is dead to himself but alive to the needs of the citizens.

55 Politicians Stole N1.3trn In 7 Years

BY OLUGBENGA SOYELE, Lagos

A new report released on yesterday

by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), disclosed that “55 politicians, high-level public officials and leaders allegedly stole N1,354trn between 2006 and 2013 from Nigeria’s treasury.”

The report titled: “Letting the Big Fish Swim” also revealed that though anti-corruption agen-

cies in the country have secured more than 1500 non-high profile convictions between 2000-2017, they could only muster 10 high profile convictions between the same periods.

The 112 pages report launched in Lagos and presented to the media by a Senior Lecturer of Law, Litigation and Professional ethics at the Nigerian Law School, Abuja Campus, Dr. Esa Onoja stated that those accused of

high-level orruption are getting away with their crimes and profiting from Nigeria’s legacy of impunity.

According to the report, “The amount of money embezzled, misappropriated or stolen by public officials and leaders between 2013 and 2017 has galloped beyond the contemplation of average Nigerians. Evidence abound that judges, judicial officers, lawyers and military officers are participants in the frenzy

“The change we are talking about is a paradigm shift of ideas in the way the country will be ruled, we are talking about corruption .99% of the leaders we have in this country are all corrupt in one way or the other they are all corrupt. We need new thinking and a new direction.”

“Let’s change the idea of the leadership, let’s have a paradigm shift from where we are now to a new idea about accountability, about leaders that are selfless, leaders that are there to serve that is what Paradigm Movement is all about.

of despoliation of national wealth.”

The report further stated, “in the investigation, prosecution and trial of high profile corruption cases in Nigeria, justice is imprisoned by snares contrived by actors in the legal community in aid of looters.”

The report also listed “high profile cases of corruption prosecuted by anti-corruption agencies between 2000 and 2017 as numbering 177 out of which 167 are pending.

Assets Recovery: Why I Dragged Presidential Panel To Court -Mark

BY KUNLE OLASANMI, Abuja

The former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has explained why he dragged the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The federal government had accused Senator Mark of illegally acquiring his official residence during his tenure as the President of the Nigerian Senate as his private property.

The Senator is being accused of illegally acquiring the property with the approval of former President Goodluck Jonathan despite the fact that that such property was ex-

cluded from the monetisation policy of the federal government.

Consequently, late last year, the federal government, through the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, gave Mark a 21-day ultimatum to vacate the edifice.

In the notice to quit, endorsed

by Chief Okoi Obono Obla, Chairman of the Presidential panel, the former Senate President was directed to “show cause” why the federal government should not “enforce the recovery of the property for public good.

However, reacting through his media aide ,Paul Mumeh, the sena-

tor contended that the agents of the federal government unilaterally and without affording him any right to fair hearing at all, and without any order of any court, declared his acquisition of the said property illegal.

Mumeh recalled that “the property was duly offered for, and purchased like any other person would in line with the federal government’s Monetization Policy that was started during the time of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Mumeh insisted that Mark legally acquired his official residence as his private house having followed due process.

However, court processes of the

suit listed for mention before Justice Gabriel Kolawole yesterday, indicated that the Senator was occupying the said property in 2010 when the Federal Capital Territory Administration decided to construct new official residences for the leadership of the National Assembly, “citing security concerns”.

It was stated the FCTA had insisted that the reserve price of N673,200,000.00 reflected the open market value of the property.

Mark had averred that the valuers of the FCT that inspected and carried out a valuation of the property had put the “replacement cost” of the property at N492,700,000.

Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday adjourned the ongoing trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (rtd) and two others currently facing trial over alleged N22.8 billion to May 2 to allow them access to records of proceedings.

The two others officers are the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun and Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni.

Justice Idris granted the defence permission to the court’s records after a request by the defendants’ lawyers to that effect.

The defence counsel led by Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) had made the request to enable them prepare effectively for the cross-examination of an investigative officer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Tosin Owobo.

Amosu, was arraigned on June 29, 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside two senior serving Air Force officers, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun and Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni Olugbenga and seven companies before Justice Mohammed Idris.

Constitution Review:

Lagos Assembly Ignores NASS Bills

BY ADEBIYI ADEDAPO, Abuja

The Lagos state House of Assembly did not participate in the ongoing constitution amendment process, as the state legislature refused to vote on the 15 bills sent to state houses of assembly.

The House of Representatives yesterday adopted the returns of the State Houses of Assembly on the Constitution Alteration Bills, 2018.

The bills were adopted having met the requirements of the provisions of Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution and will be transmitted to the President for his assent.

T ‎ he Senate had on Monday adopted the same report.

The National Assembly had transmitted 15 out of the bills being considered in the ongoing constitution review to the state houses of assembly.

H ‎ owever, the House acknowledged that only thirty-five state Houses of Assembly considered the bills while the Lagos state House of Assembly did not vote on the constitution review bills.

House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila who attempted to question why Lagos state was not listed was interrupted by the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun, who presided over the plenary.

L ‎ asun noted that the conference of state houses of assembly, while presenting the report explained that Lagos state House of Assembly refused to participate in the exercise.

8 NEWS NORTH-EAST, NORTH-WEST Technology-Based Teaching: Kaduna To Recruit 13,665 Teachers

BY AZA MSUE, Kaduna

Kaduna State Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, Ja’afaru Sani, yesterday, said the state government is making effort to adopt technology-based teaching in its public/primary and secondary schools to enhance quality teaching and learning.

Sani, who gave the update on the recruitment of new teachers at a news conference in Kaduna,said the state will soon start the process of recruiting additional 13,665 qualified teachers for its primary schools.

The commissioner said,to achieve technology-based teaching, the state is distributing tablets computers to teachers and students, as well as installing smart boards in schools.

Sani noted that the state Universal Basic Edu-

cation Board (SUBEB) had already concluded the recruitment of 11,335 teachers out of the 25,000 vacancy it earlier advertised.

Recall that the 25,000 new teachers replaced the over 20,000 primary school teachers who allegedly failed the primary four competency test.

Sani,explained that about 40,000 applicants sat for the recruitment examination, out of which 27,639 were invited for oral interview.

He added that 15,897 of the applicants were successful but subjected to further screening to fish out those allegedly smuggled into the list.

Sani,however, said the applications for the recruitment of the remaining balance of 13,665 are already being received, adding that the process will commence once approval is granted by governor Nasir el-Rufai.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

My Suspension Illegal, Says Adamawa SDP Guber Aspirant

BY HUSSAINI HAMMANGABDO, Yola

A gubernatorial aspirant of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Emmanuel Bello, has described his recent purported suspension from the party as illegal.

Bello in a statement by the press secretary of his campaign organisation,

Mr Umar Mustafa, said the party’s leadership was acting a script from outside the party.

He said the party national headquarters had already appointed a convener for the state to harmonise the party, advising members to channel all consultations through the convener.

Bello said it was therefore illegal for the state party secretary to avoid the steering committee put in place by national leadership of the party to announce the suspension of any party member.

“No amount of blackmail by people receiving instruction from outside the party with the sole aim of

destabilising the party will deter us,” Bello said.

It would be recalled that the gubernatorial aspirants alongside 100,000 supporters defected to the party and was received by Chief Olu Falae the national chairman of the party.

Chief Bello added that his intention to salvage the state remains sacrosanct.

Disease Surveillance: WHO Donates 23 Motorcycles To Kaduna LGAs

BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna

The World Health Organisation (WHO), Kaduna state office has donated a motorcycle each to all the 23 local government councils in Kaduna State for disease surveillance activities as part of measures to prevent outbreaks.

The WHO State coordinator, Dr. Dauda Madubu, in Kaduna said that the motorcycles were distributed to help in times of controlling and maintaining the outbreak of diseases in the state.

He said that the motorcycles would also help in the investigation of any suspected disease outbreak and regular supervision of surveillance activities in rural areas.

He added that surveil-

lance requires prompt reporting from the community members, including religious leaders and traditional rulers.

“When there is any disease which is not reported early then it will become a big problem in the state,’’ he said.

The coordinator however advised the local councils to ensure proper maintenance of the motorcycles in order to have a speedy result.

Dr. Madubu also called on the state ministry of health to support the programme to help fight diseases.

Mallam Shehu Mohammed, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, who received the motorcycles on behalf of the commissioner, pledged to strengthen the disease surveillance.

Zaria Gets 2 Additional Divisional Police Stations

BY RAHILA ABDULLAHI, Kaduna

Mr Austin Iwar, the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State yesterday said the Inspector General of Police has approved the establishment of two new Divisional Police Stations in Zaria.

He made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris at his palace in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The commissioner said: “As part of efforts to bring communities closer to the police, the Inspector General of police has approved the establishment of two new police stations in your domain.

“We are here with the DPOs of the two divisional police

stations of Dakace and Saye, the police stations have officially opened.

“About 30 personnel had been initially posted to each of these police stations to man the areas and for effective policing of your domain,” he said.

He assured that the police was looking at the possibility of opening more police stations with the approval of the IG and with the commitment and support of the palace and community leaders.

The commissioner said with the two new police stations, Kaduna state now has 46 police stations and appealed for Emirate’s support and cooperation to the new police stations to enable them achieve the desired objectives.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State Ministry of Work Housing and Transport, Engr. Murtala Dabo; director, civil engineering, Engr Yohanna Waje and supervisor, ZL Global Allied, Engr. Mohammed Idris during the inspection tour of projects at Alkawa Road, in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO GBENGA FOLORUNSHO ABIOLA

2019: Coalition Of Civil Society Backs Buhari, el-Rufai

BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna

Coalition of Civil Society for Democracy and Good Governance has thrown their weight behind the continuity of President Muhammadu Buhari and Mallam Nasir elRufai as President and Kaduna State governor respectively.

The president of the Coalition, Alhaji Mohammed Kabir, who disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Kaduna yesterday , stressed that the president and governor el-Rufai have performed creditably well that they both deserve another

term to consolidate on their achievements.

According to the group who embarked on a solidarity rally for President Buhari and Governor el-Rufai, “Since the inception of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in this country, it has become evident and obvious that President Muhammadu Buhari has proven his competence and patriotic zeal worthy of emulation. “ In our humble estimation, His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the best, Nigeria is blessed with his coming on board”, Kabiru emphasized.While explaining

the reason for throwing thier support behind the President and Mallam el-Rufai, the president of the coalition said,” the issue of security cannot be over emphasised considering the decisive and tactical approach the federal government adopts in decimating the Boko Haram insurgents.

“The turning around of the economy, coupled with the systematic and successful diversification of the economy from oil dependence to an agro-growth economy”.

The group also lauded the efforts of the President and Mallam el-Rufai in the fight against corruption in their

respective capacities, saying that thier coalition is equipped with indelible facts which attested to the facts of both physical and human development going on in all phases of endeavour.

“These facts, endeavour us to arrive at the conclusion that Governor el-Rufai and President Buhari meets our criteria for endorsement for a second term in their capacities as President of federal republic of Nigeria and governor of Kaduna State”.

The group therefore called on the good people of Kaduna State to continue to support the President and Mallam elRufai beyond 2019.

IRI To Open Office In Yola Ahead Of 2019

BY HUSSAINI HAMMANGABDO,Yola

The International Republican Institute,IRI is to open state branch office in Yola, for the participation of marginalised groups in politics, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Mr Sentell Barns, country director, stated this at a workshop organised for virtually impaired people

and stakeholders in politics, yesterday.

He noted that the organisation believes in full participation of the groups in party politics,to breach the gap between men and their female counterparts in politics.

“IRI deemed it necessary to come to the local government because politics is at the grassroots.

“State has been chosen for the pilot program by

the institute for producing women of timber and caliber in from the NorthEast region.

The program supported by USAID intends to interface with religious, community and other leaders on the need to prevent sentiments in politics.

He urged political parties in the state to establish structure to enable them benefit from IRI’s

core mandate and mission.

Earlier, the commissioner for women affairs, Zubairu Tola, said the state would ensure greater participation of women in politics and governance.

He observed that government attaches importance to women in the state by according them various appointments in the present administration.

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Thursday, April 19, 2018

Beni Lar, Others Receive APC Decampees In Plateau

JOHESU Strike Paralyses Activities At FMC Keffi

BY SUNDAY ISUWA, Abuja

BY DANJUMA JOSEPH, Lafia

Rep Beni Lar and other prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday, received over 500 registered members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) into its fold.

The decampees are from Warok Ward in Langtang North Local Government Council of Plateau State.

It was gathered that the former APC members had trooped out as early as 8am before the arrival of the PDP LGAs leadership who received them into the party.

In attendance to welcome the decampees was the member representing Langtang North and Langtang South Federal Constituency, Rt Hon Beni Lar, the chairmanship candidate for the local government election, Ubandoma Joshua Laven, the party excos and senior stakeholders of the PDP in the local government.

Hon Beni Lar assured them of a more accommodating home that guarantees general involvement of all political activities and its dividend across levels.

She promised them of more impactful representation with total commitment to their socio-economic development.

Beni called on the youth not to indulge in activities that would have negative impact on their future but to be good ambassadors wherever they find themselves.

One of the decampees who spoke for others, Zingdap Miri, said: “We have been in the wilderness and like a sheep without a shepherd. But thank God we are now back to a place, that we are more secured and has a political direction.”

Pastors To Get Entrepreneurship Training

BY NKECHI ISAAC, Abuja

The Assemblies of God, Nigeria has said that plans to introduce entrepreneurial studies in the curriculum for the training of pastors in its 10 seminaries scattered across the country is underway.

This was disclosed by the newly appointed director of education in the church, Rev. Dr. Godswill Israel, during his first working visit to one of the church’s pastoral schools – the National Advanced School of Theology, Ewu (NAST).

The clergy said the introduction of the new programme was in keeping with modern trends in order to equip pastors not only with theological knowledge but also with practical knowledge for fitting in into the emerging knowledge economy.

Israel also disclosed that the church was in the process of harmonising the programmes of 10 theological schools within the church and to seek affiliation with universities across the country, even as he stated that he is a staunch advocate for the equipping of Nigerian university graduates with skills necessary in modern economies rather than graduate students from universities without skills to help them adapt outside the school environment.

Activities at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Keffi in Nasarawa State, have been grounded following nationwide strike embarked upon by the members of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), at the institution.

JOHESU branch chairman of FMC Keffi, Achimugu Isaiah, made this known yesterday while declaring the indefinite strike during the union’s meeting in Keffi.

Our correspondent gathered that all other health workers complied with

the strike directive except medical doctors, who are not members of JOHESU. Some of the demands of JOHESU includes upward review of salary scale, employment of additional health professionals, review of retirement age from 60 years to 65 years, implementation of court judgment among others.

The branch chairman said that they have decided to joine their colleagues in the nationwide indefinite strike following directive from the national body over failure of the federal government to meet

up with the demands of the union.

“The primary aim of every health worker is to see that the welfare of patients is improved but health workers have no option rather than to embark on the strike in order to improve on the health status of Nigerians.

“If we will recall, last year September, federal government and JOHESU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the assurance that they will within five weeks implement the demands of the union. But, this is six months and nothing has been done by the

federal government. We have been given the mandate by our national body to embark on a full strike”.

“It is on this note and based on the strength and power given to me by sister unions, I declare the indefinite strike as directed by our national body. No implementation, no coming back to work”, he said.

Reacting, Dr.Luka Samuel, the Acting Medical Director of the centre appealed to JOHESU members to have a rethink and return back to work in the interest of the poor masses who can’t afford private hospitals.

L-R: Minister of State for Solid Minerals, Abubakar Bawa Bwari; minister of State for Power, Works and Housing 2, Mr. Suleiman Hassan; minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Heineken Lakpobiri and minister of Niger Delta, Pastor Usani Usani Uguru, during the Federal Executive Council Meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN.

Kogi Assembly Calls For More Security Surveillance

BY SAM EGWU, Lokoja

Consequent upon frequent attacks in communities resulting in loss of lives and wanton destruction of property in Kogi State, the State House of Assembly has called on security agencies to step up more surveillance around the State.

The call becomes imperative when the member representing Bassa constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon Sunday Shigaba

presented a motion of urgent public importance at the plenary about the recent breakdown of law and order where five people were feared dead and over forty houses torched.

Over the weekend, some suspected hoodlums were said to have attacked the communities of Aloko and Okatewole in Bassa local government area of Kogi State and killed five persons and burnt houses over the ownership of a cashew farm.

Hon. Haruna Idoko Musa, a second time member of Kogi state house of assembly in seconding the motion urged the authority to take urgent and proactive action against the impending catastrophy that could envelop the communities in the state.

He noted that the youths have thrown caution to the winds making the situation in communities worrisome with the resultant effect now putting the State on serious criminal map and

urged the security agencies to be on red alert.

The Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mathew Kolawole while urging the traditional rulers of the communities to put proper vigilance in the areas with security operatives stressed that the communities which are directly under their purview should be properly guided to forestall further incursion and disturbances.

Finally, APC Releases Congresses, Convention

BY ANDREW ESSIEN, Abuja

After months of speculation and high-wired deliberations, the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) officially released the timetable for its congresses and national convention, yesterday.

The timetable as signed by the national organizing secretary, Osita Izunaso, shows that the

party scheduled Ward Congresses for Wednesday, May 2, 2018; Local Government Congresses, Saturday, May 5, 2018; State Congresses, Wednesday, May 9, 2018 and National Convention, Monday, May 14, 2018.

However the notice of the time table to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as signed by the party’s national

secretary, Mai Mala Buni had already been leaked in the social media of the proposed convention date.

In the correspondence with reference number “APC/NHDQ/ INEC/19/018/010” titled “Notice of Conduct of Congresses/National Convention”, it stated that “We write to advise that our party is scheduled to conduct Ward, Local Government, State Congresses and

National Convention to fill vacant offices arising from effusion of time or appointment into government offices, death and other reasons as stipulated in Article 17 of our Party’s Constitution.

“Please be informed that we also intend to conduct Special Local Government Congresses to elect delegates to our forthcoming National Convention.

Special Duties to the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

The chairman of Alanamu ward of the party, Alhaji AbdulRahman Jimoh and secretary, Mallam Abdulwasiu Kehinde, in a statement jointly issued and made available to newsmen in Ilorin, the state capital said Mustapha was suspended for disregarding the in-

vitations of the party on the allegations of anti party activities levelled against him.

The statement noted that Mustapha failed to honour all the invitations and refused to communicate with the party.

The motion for the suspension of Mustapha, it was learnt was moved by a former Majority Lead-

er in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Kayode Omotose and was seconded by AbdulWasiu Tetengi at an emergency meeting at IsaleAluko, Ilorin.

The meeting was attended by APC stakeholders, elders,youths,women leaders, senatorial chairmen, zonal chairmen and zonal women leaders.

Kwara APC Suspends Saraki’s Ex-aide, Mustapha

BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin

The All Progressives Congress(APC) in Kwara state yesterday suspended a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mashood Mustapha.

Mustapha was until recently the Special Adviser on Inter-Parliamentary Matters, Protocols and

Thursday, April 19, 2018

APC, Bayelsa Varsity Disagree Over Dickson’s Civil Service Reforms

BY OSA OKHOMINA, Yenagoa

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Governing Council and Management of the Niger Delta University (NDU) have disagreed over the ongoing reforms embarked upon by the Governor Seriake Dickson administration.

While the APC described the reform as “draconian” and “wicked” due to poor timing and loss of over 4,000 jobs, the governing council and management of the Niger Delta University (NDU) threw their weight behind the Bayelsa State government and described the reform as well intentioned for the good of the state.

The chairman of the council, Prof. Steve Azaiki, while speaking with newsmen shortly after a meeting between Governor Seriake Dickson and the Governing Boards of state-owned tertiary institutions in Government House, Yenagoa, expressed the NDU Governing Council’s readiness to implement government’s policy of sanitizing the public service. He noted that the practice where the university solely depend on the state government to fund its over bloated workforce was unsustainable.

He absolved Governor Dickson of any blames in the current shake-up in the university where about 1,700 workers have been earmarked for redeployment, retirement and outright disengagement.

According to him, it was the leadership of the university that listed the affected staff following the outcome of a discreet verification to ensure efficiency, better service delivery as well as create space for the employment of young qualified people particularly Bayelsans.

He said, “The amount of money that government has been giving to NDU is not sustainable.

Suppose oil price falls or there are issues of governance or politics. Anything can happen and then the university will collapse.

So we need to look inwards and see how we can come up with a sustainable figure.

“After all, some of them are

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Niger Delta Leaders Drag PMB To Court Over NDDC

BY OSA OKHOMINA, Yenagoa

Six leaders of the Niger Delta region have dragged President Muhammadu Buhari to court over the tenure of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) led by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba as chairman and Nsima Ekere as managing director/chief executive officer.

The leaders, Micah Akeems (Bayelsa); Ziprebo Emomotimi (Bayelsa); George Ufot Udoyara (Akwa Ibom); Elliot Tibakeni (Bayelsa); Unyeowaji Patterson Gabriel (Rivers); Patrick Stephen (Abia); and Alphonsus James (Bayelsa), in a suit numbered FHC/ABJ/C5/1245/2017 filed before the Federal High Court

sitting in Abuja, sought a clear interpretation of the NDDC Act as it relates to tenure and rotation.

In the suit, filed on December 15, 2017 and originating summons dated 16th of April, 2018, the plaintiffs sought the determination of “Whether the Niger Delta Development Commission Act, 2000 is binding on all the defendants? Whether the defendants can in line with the NDDC Act, 2000 appoint/reappoint the Managing Director (of the Commission) whose letter of appointment is only for a one year term which will terminate in December 2017 or elongate the tenure outside the provision of Section 3 of the NDDC Act, 2000.”

The plaintiffs specifically sought

the following reliefs among others from the court: “An order of court to halt any attempt to retain the managing director and other members of the commission; “An order of court compelling the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to appoint the Managing Director of the NDDC from Bayelsa State in accordance with Section 12 (1) of the NDDC Act, 2000, which supports the principle of rotation of key offices of the commission.”

The plaintiffs said, “It will be a mockery of the NDDC Act, 2000 to disregard the said Act and not to follow the rotational principle as envisaged and contemplated in the intent and spirit of the said Act.”

Why Edo ‘ll Not Handover Schools To Missions – Obaseki

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the state government will not hand over schools to missions or other stakeholders yet, because the state is still gathering data and studying the outcome of such experiment in the past.

Obaseki made the submission when he received the National Executive Council members of Annunciation Catholic College Irrua Old Boys Associa-

tion (ACCIOBA) led by the association’s national president, Dr. Frank Odafen, who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, in Benin City.

Governor Obaseki said, “The state will not relent in tackling challenges confronting the education sector. We have started implementing reforms to improve access to quality education at the basic level, because we believe education has always given the state a competitive advantage.”

He noted that more funds will be sourced to improve basic education, which is the foundation of a vibrant, knowledgedriven economy, adding “Part of the reforms to improve the sector is the reassigning of the Commissioner of Science and Technology, Hon. Emmanuel Agbale to oversee the Education Ministry four weeks ago. We have also appointed consultants to assist the state in sourcing resources to enable us address the challenges confronting the sector.”

Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state is working with the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) to build a new prison facility to enable the state command of NPS relocate its facility along Sapele Road area of Benin City.

The governor disclosed this when he received the new controller of Prisons, Edo State Command, on a courtesy visit to the

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

The governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, will launch the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo BEST) today, April 19, to kick-start the overhaul of the basic education sub-sector in the state.

Edo BEST entails the training of teachers on new teaching methods, which has been ongoing; deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools in teaching; harmonisation of teaching and learning outcomes across locations as well as the adoption of interactive classroom management model among others.

Special adviser to Edo State Governor on Basic Education and acting chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, who announced this, said Edo BEST will include governance and institutional development; teacher and curriculum development; community participation and partnership; and infrastructure and organisational development.

Enugu Women Drum Support For Ugwuanyi’s Reelection

BY NNAMDI MBAWIKE, Enugu

R-L: Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; National President, Annunciation Catholic College Irrua Old Boys Association (ACCIOBA), Dr. Frank Odafen; and other members of the association, during their courtesy visit to the governor, in Government House, Benin City, yesterday. PHOTO BY EDO STATE GOVT

Obaseki Partners NPS On Construction Of New Prison

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

Obaseki Launches Edo BEST Today

governor at the Government House in Benin City, the state capital.

Obaseki said the new prison facility will be sited outside the city centre, noting “The site for the facility has been acquired, the design for the building is ready, the state is comparing it with what was sent from the Headquarters of the Nigerian Prisons in Abuja before the project commences.”

He said the state would soon

constitute the Board for Prerogative of Mercy as part of plans to decongest the prison facility in the state.

Responding to the governor’s request for the command to produce personnel who recently manhandled a civilian in the state capital after an incident with one of its convoys, the controller, Mr Joseph Usendiah, expressed the agency’s regret over the actions of its personnel and how badly the incident was man-

aged.

Usendiah, who commended the governor for signing the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, said, “The step taken by the governor will assist effort in prison decongestion as there are 2,887 prison inmates of different categories in the state command.”

He assured the governor of the state command’s commitment to ensuring the sustenance of peace in the state.

Women in Enugu State under the aegis of United Enugu Women for Gburugburu, have organised “a solidarity march” in support of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s reelection in 2019.

The women said they are in support of Governor Ugwuanyi’s reelection because he has performed creditably in office and positively touched the lives of the people of the 17 local government areas in the state, despite the prevailing economic challenges in the country.

Addressing a mammoth crowd at the colourful event held at the popular Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, the organisation’s state coordinator, Mrs. Nnenna Josephine Nwokedike on behalf of the women, described the governor as “God-sent, a developer and a man of the people”, who honours God and respects mankind.

The women while endorsing Ugwuanyi for re-election declared that “there is no vacancy in Lion Building in 2019”, and promised to mobilize all eligible voters in the state to vote for the governor.

They highlighted their contributions towards the voters’ registration exercise, disclosing that they traversed all the local governments of the state to sensitize and mobilize the people, especially those residing in the rural areas to register with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and obtain their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

12 PHOTO NEWS

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Scenes from the senate when thugs invaded the Red Chambers, yesterday

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (middle) being taken away by the police in connection with snatching of mace at the National Assembly in Abuja, yesterday.

The thugs carting away the mace at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday.

Sergent at arms (l) struggling to retrieve the mace from the hoodlums who were allegedly sponsored by the suspended senator Omo-Agege.

Crowd at the National Assembly lobby shortly after the thugs snatched the mace.

PHOTOS BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

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15

newsLagos

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BRINGING THE SOUTH-WEST TO YOU

SMARTNEWS Expert Hails Senate Over Confirmation Of NDDC Nominees

BY DUSTAN AGHEDO , LAGOS

A communications expert, Mr. ThankGod Ntaku has commended the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the confirmation of the three nominees from Abia, Imo and Ondo states to represent their states on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Addressing journalists in Lagos yesterday, Mr. Ntaku, stated that the Senate demonstrated maturity by allowing the interest of the people to prevail over their position not to confirm nominations from the Presidency on the grounds that they were offended by remarks made by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to the effect that the Executive did not need the approval of the Senate for political appointments.

The President had, in March 2017, replaced the nominees for Abia, Imo and Ondo States for the NDDC board following the rejection by the Senate on the grounds that they were not indigenes of oil producing areas as stipulated by the Act establishing the Commission.

Ntaku, who hails from Ukwa West, the only oil producing local government area in Abia State said the Senate would have done a great disservice to the affected states if they had continued to delay the confirmation of the nominees.

According to him, those in government must realise that peace in the oil producing communities was very crucial for steady economic growth of the nation.

He lamented the fact that the three states have remained without a representative on the board of the NDDC for over the past 15 months thereby increasing the feelings of marginalisation of the people whose resources are being used to maintain the various governmental institutions including the national Assembly.

New Investor For 4th Mainland Bridge Emerges Soon – LASG

BY GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

Lagos State Government, yesterday, revealed that a new investor in the fourth Mainland Bridged which under the previous contract cancelled in May 2017, would have cost the investors about N844 billion will emerge by June this year.

The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr Adebowale Akinsanya, who disclosed this at a Ministerial press briefing of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure

to mark the third anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said the present administration completed 55 roads totally 129 kilometre and 48 building projects between May 2017 and April 2018.

He added that 25 roads and 17 building projects are at present ongoing across the various local governments in the state.

The Commissioner explained that the Public Works Corporation rehabilitated 31 roads aside carrying out palliative maintenance,

patching and sectional overlay on 115 roads.

He said, "We have continually worked to deliver projects that will directly impact on the lives of all Lagosians residents. This commitment to infrastructural renewal, expansion, upgrading and regeneration is borne out of the fact that an efficient and integrated transportation system can only be birthed through the provision of appropriate infrastructure."

Akinsanya pointed out that the

LASPOTECH Student's Union Uveiles Platform For Ambode's Re-election

BY HANNAH ONI, Lagos

The Student Union of Lagos State Polytechnic has unveiled a new platform known as Direct campaign and Enlightenment (DiCE) for the re-election of Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for second term.

Speaking at a press conference at the Laspotech SUG's office, the President of Student's Union, Adewale Jubril said the

Governor has proved beyond reasonable doubts, its concern for the sustenance of qualitative educational system in Lagos State Adewale emphasised the need to further endorse the governor, saying they want continuation of good works of the current administration.

He said, "We want to state categorically that, the students’ union is apolitical and would not give credence to mediocrity

or hypocrisy. Therefore, what we are doing today is not a bandwagon thing or hired idea. ‘’We are here today representing the 25,000 plus students of this great citadel of learning and excellence to say that, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the Governor of Lagos State should continue with his good works, consolidate in another four years and make education in Lagos State the hallmark of excellence in Nigeria."

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Works & Infrastructure, Engr. Olujimi Hotonu; Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, Engr. Adebowale Akinsanya; his counterpart for Information & Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan and General Manager, Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), Mrs. Olayemi Oni during the ministerial press briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Ikeja, yesterday. PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU

present government has matched its vision with action by embarking on projects that will improve overall accessibility by improving businesses' ability to provide goods and services and people's ability to access education, employment and services.

"The provision of physical and social infrastructure across the state which will crystallise into mega structures will interest of visitors and tourists coming to savour the beauty and grandeur of Lagos."

'Steady Involvement Of Youths In Electioneering Process Good For Nigeria'

BY SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos

Youth leader and Ogun state PDP House of Reps aspirant, Asiwaju Bolarinwa Oluwole, has urged Nigerian youths to be fully-involved in the coming 2019 general election, saying the move will help to transform the country.

The youth leader who is eyeing a seat in the lower legislative chamber of the National Assembly, charged the youth to be prepared to lead and be fully-involved in the forthcoming electioneering process, saying victory in an election doesn’t come on a platter of gold.

He stated this during his conferment as Asiwaju Odo of Makun Kingdom and his wife, Shakira Oluwole as Yeye Asiwaju Odo of Makun Kingdom, where he addressed numerous youths at the expansive palace of Oba Timothy Oyewole Akinsanya, Ewusi of Makun Kingdom, Ogun state.

According to him, greatness comes to only those who prepare for it, urging the youths not to fold their hands and expect governance to fall into their laps.

He said, “I am glad on this honour by Oba Timothy Akinsanya and the people of Makun Kingdom. This can only come at a time like this when our youths are in a dilemma of choices. Leadership is earned and so the youths of Nigeria should develop themselves and prepare for governance not just pointing accusing fingers to the leaders of today but getting involved in the election process as they learn and develop their leadership skills.

Group Challenges Death Penalty In Proposed Hate Speech Bill

BY CHIKA IZUORA, Lagos

As preparation for 2019 general elections gathers momentum, OneVOICE an advocacy group has rejected the raging debate on the Bill seeking death sentence for hate speech perpetrators.

The group rather called for selfregulatory systems geared towards sensitizing the media community and

civil society practitioners about ethical and moral standards to avoid high level of hate speeches and partisanship in the coverage of 2019 elections.

OneVOICE in press release to the media on the ongoing debate as to whether there should be a Hate Speech Law (carrying a maximum death sentence) observed that such law could be misused by politicians and political office holders in government

to hunt down opposition, and critical civil society’s non-state actors.

The statement also faulted the Hate Speech Bill, opining that it is difficult to determine what constitutes hate speech.

According to Pastor Adedeji Adeleye, spokesman of the group, "One definition of hate speech is that it is any speech that employs discriminatory epithets to insult and stigmatize others

on the bases of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or other forms of group membership. “ In other words, it could be a speech which attacks a person or group or ethnic people on the basis of race, religion, gender, or disability.

If it disparages, intimidates or incites violence against the above category of people, it is termed to be a hate speech.

16 NATIONAL NEWS Absence Of Judge Stalls Trial Of Former UNILAG Lecturer Accused Of Rape

BY OLUGBENGA SOYELE, Lagos

The ongoing trial of a former lecturer of the University Of Lagos (UNILAG) Dr Akin Baruwa, accused of raping an 18-year-old admission seeker (name withheld) in 2015 before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja was yesterday stalled due to absence of Justice Josephine Oyefeso.

Justice Oyefeso was said to be attending a conference in Abuja.

Baruwa, was scheduled to open his defence during the proceedings.

Following the development, the case has been adjourned till June 14 for Baruwa to open his defence.

The prosecution led by a state counsel, Mrs C.K Tunji-Carrena, had on January 23, 2018 closed its case against the former lecturer.

The prosecution had called four witnesses during the trial: the complainant, her father, a medical doctor and the investigating police officer (IPO).

Buhari Support Group Warns Against Unguarded Statements

Thursdy, April 19 2018

ECOWAS Conference Will Address Herders/ Farmers Clash – FG

BY JONATHAN NDA- ISAIAH, Abuja

The federal government has said the ECOWAS conference protocol on free movement of persons, goods and services holding this month in Abuja will address the incessant farmers and herdsmen clashes in the country.

This was disclosed by the minister of interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, yesterday.

He explained that the whole idea of the conference is to look at the issue of movement across borders.

He observed that the protocol provided that any of such movement, of trans-human should be received at the reception center by the host country.

Noting that the implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol will reduce the incessant farmers and herdsmen clashes, he said it will also reduce cattle rustling.

He explained “Of course, it bothers us. Particularly, us in the

ministry of interior since we have immigration under our supervision and we have the responsibility on border security even though we have other services like the Nigerian Customs. “ And this is why we initiated the conference that is to come up between 26th and 29th of this month under the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of persons, goods and services.

Zeroing particularly on the protocol of trans-humans which was signed in 1978 and we are yet to implement them. “

PMB’s Re-election: Why I Accepted Appointment – Keyamo

BY ANDREW ESSIEN, Abuja

Fiery human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo has revealed why he accepted the appointment to serve as the Director, Strategic Communications of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 Campaign Organisation.

The Senior Advocate, while giving reasons why he accepted to serve in President Buhari’s reelection committee, stated that he found an “approximation of the lofty values I cherish and have fought for all my life” in Buhari.

In a statement he signed, Keyamo added that he agreed to support the re-election bid because

the president has “clearly chosen this path in protecting the masses of our country”.

Keyamo said: “Let me put it on record that I was indeed consulted before the announcement. Upon the offer, I wholeheartedly and proudly accepted the challenge to do this for the good of my country and for posterity. For in President Buhari I have found an approximation of the lofty values I cherish and have fought for all my life.

“However, the ultimate aim of every struggle is not really to enthrone a perfect, flawless system.

Only the starry-eyed, younger ones think such is possible. That is Utopia. Rather, the ultimate aim of

the struggle is to enthrone a government (yes, even with the normal human flaws) that is focused, determined and fiercely opposed to the unscrupulous wheelerdealers in the society, committed to protecting the interests of the down-trodden, the weak and vulnerable.

“One of the obvious ways to do this is to ensure that what belongs to all is not cornered by a few; and if they do so, to ensure that they are made to account and brought to justice. I can boldly say that no Government in the history of Nigeria has recovered so much looted funds as that of President Muhammadu Buhari

Health workers in federal health institutions, yesterday, down tools in compliance with a directive by their umbrella union The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) to embark on indefinite strike embarked.

Our reporter who went round some hospitals in Abuja noticed that there was total compliance

The Russian Central Research Institute of Epidemiology has developed a new gene therapy medicine for people who have the HIV, head of the federal health and epidemic watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, Anna Popova, said yesterday.

“The Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Rospotrebnadzor created a fundamentally new drug for gene therapy, gene prophylactic treatment and molecular vaccination against HIV. “A highly active antiviral drug called Dinavir, which will soon be clinically tested, has been created,’’ Popova said on the sidelines of an international conference on HIV and AIDS in Moscow.

The official noted that Russia was facing a number of problems related to treatment of HIV and AIDS, including high prices for treatment and lack of proper medication.

Millions of people have been infected with it causes for the disease were discovered in early 1980s, prompting the development of medicine that would help tackle the deadly virus.

BY MICHAEL OCHE, Abuja

L-R: Former FCT minister, Dr. Aliyu Moddibo; president, Alumni Association of the National Institute, Mr. Khaleel Bolaji; and DCG, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, Mr. Ahmed Jega at the opening of the National Stakeholders Forum on the Eradication of Farmers-Herders Conflicts in Nigeria, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY AANI

Tertiary Health Workers Join JOHESU Strike

BY PATIENCE IVIE IHEJIRIKA, Abuja

BY OMONU NELSON with Agency Report

CSO Faults Senate’s Call For Sack of Service Chiefs

BY LISA KPANGHAN, Abuja

Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) has urged Nigerians to henceforth monitor the utterance of some senators as they are capable of truncating “our hand-earned democracy.

The BMSG gave this warning in a press statement in Abuja, yesterday by the coordinator Austin Braimoh and secretary Cassidy Madueke said the incendiary remarks by Senators Dino Melaye and Ben MurrayBruce during deliberations on killings in Nasarawa State was ‘’ most reprehensible’’.

“With this latest call for a military coup, coming barely few weeks after the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu made a similar call, we are forced to conclude that this is a script playing out and Nigerians are hereby urged to henceforth monitor the utterances of some PDP senators as they are capable of truncating our hard-earned democracy”.

Russian Institute Develops New HIV Medicine

by workers at the National Hospital.

JOHESU national media consultant, Mr Jack Lampang Junior, told LEADERSHIP that the strike does not apply to secondary health institutions in the meantime.

According to him, the consideration is for Nigerians who may be at the receiving end should the general hospitals

close down.

He, however, said that the union may have no choice than to involve the general hospitals, both states and local governments, should government fail to yield to their demands.

“The strike is not for everybody because we don’t want Nigerians to suffer. But if the government does not react as we wish, then we have no choice

than to allow the states and the local governments to join, because they have been so eager to join. We have told them to hold on because Nigerians will suffer. If you go to hospital, you will know the impact of strike. It is not easy; we feel their pain. It is not something we will allow, but we just pray that God will touch the authorities to make sure they do the needful,” he explained.

A coalition of 22 civil society groups under the umbrella of Good Governance and Change Initiative have faulted the call by the Nigerian Senate that service chiefs in the country should be sacked.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, convener of the coalition, Comrade Emmanuel Okpokwu Ogenyi, said rather than asking for a change in military leadership, the Senate should provide the necessary political support for addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

He challenged the Senate to instead deliver resolutions that will tackle foreign nations that are sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria stressing that the legislators have not shown appreciable zeal to rid the country of the insecurity.

Ogenyi alleged that the call for change of security chiefs is nothing but another political game for the 2019 General Elections.

He explained that “The military had concluded on decisively dealing with these security threats before the elections so that no one would use them as excuse to postpone or scuttle the polls as was the case in the past.”

Ogenyi said the Senators must also admit their failing for not contributing enough to the antiterror fight like the parliaments of other country.

He said some other elements

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AN APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE 11-year-old Jamila Needs N5m For Stem Cell Transplant

A

t the tender age of 11, pretty Jamila Umar Mohammed is battling with sickle cell anaemia and more than ever before needs the assistance of kind hearted members of the public.

Born with sickle cell anemia and her parents getting to know about it when she was about six months old, Jamila suffers severe body pains and organs disorder anytime the ailment begins.

This entails that she has to be admitted to the hospital a couple of times in a year to be treated for hand-foot syndrome occasioned by swollen hands and feet.

Miss Jamila who is currently undergoing treatment at Celltek Healtcare Limited in Benin City, needs N5 million as hospital bills for transplantation and one year drugs post transplantation.

According to her father, Umar Mohammed, while Jamila needs N10 million to be treated, he has been able to raise the sum of N5 million through the benevolence of some members of the public, with which she has successfully undergone stem cell transplant at Celltek Healtcare Limited in Benin City while the results are awaited from Basel University, technical partners to Celltek Healthcare.

“We are seeking the help of public spirited individuals to help us raise the balance of N5 million to cover for the cost of transplantation and one year drugs post transplantation”, Mohammed noted in a letter he sent to LEADERSHIP. He further noted that the family has expended all its funds; hence, the appeal to the public to further assist.

He said willing donors could support by contributing their widow’s mite.

Donations could be sent to the following bank account: Account name: Umar Mohammed.

Bank: Zenith Account number: 1003926359 For further enquiries, please contact Mohammed on: 08035888894

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18 EDUCATION NEWS

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Online Study Is The Game Changer Now – Apena Oluwafemi Apena is the country manager of University of Cyprus for Africa, UNICAF, and Educational Services in Nigeria. In this interview with ADENIYI ADUNOLA, he explains why Nigerians must embrace online study. Excerpts: We know UNICAF is partnering with other educational institutions.

How fruitful has the partnership been?

First and foremost, UNICAF started as University of Cyprus for Africa. It became an organisation on its own, apart from the university. We have UNICAF Educational Services, which is also registered here in Nigeria.

UNICAF is one of the scholarship programmes available today; it also operates the leading digital platform in Africa, providing access to international quality higher education, at a fraction of the cost. We partner with reputable universities in the United Kingdom and in Africa, to provide opportunities for affordable, internationally recognised degree programmes, offered online.

So far, how many students have benefited from your scholarship scheme?

UNICAF has offered over $70 million worth of scholarships so far, and over 12,000 students have benefited from our scholarship programme.The fund usually comes from our partners and also, we are being supported by investors from the UK and the United States of America, including CDC investment works and investment venture in Europe.

UNICAF is able to offer programmes at a very low price because of the special arrangements it has with its partner universities, such as the University of South Wales in the United Kingdom. As an example, the normal price of the USW MBA degree is £12,000, but UNICAF is able to offer the same degree to students in Nigeria for only £3,500! If you add the cost of travel and accommodation in the UK, the UNICAF offer is made even more attractive, because the USW programmes are offered online.

In general, students in Nigeria can apply for UNICAF scholarships covering up to 50 per cent of tuition fees of their degree pro-

gramme of choice.

Who are your partners and how do you work with them?

Presently we are in partnership with the University of South Wales in the UK, and with multi-campus Unicaf University, approved by and registered with various national education authorities in Africa. Currently, we are physical presence in nine Africa countries, and these include: Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Somalia Uganda, Kenya, Mauritius, Malawi and Zambia. There are plans to expand to several more African countries in the near future.

What are the advantages of studying online?

The advantages of online study are numerous. I will start with the opportunity it provides for working professionals to keep their job and salary throughout their studies. We give people the chance to study from the comfort of their homes and to continue to care for their families. It is so flexible that you can study over the weekend, or on weekdays, at the times that are convenient for you and at your own pace. For example, by studying online with the University of South Wales, our students have the option to fly to the UK to attend the University’s graduation ceremony, together with the other graduating on-campus students.

Also, if you enroll with UNICAF University for the BA in Business Administration programme, you can transfer, for your fourth and final year, to the BA (Honours) Business Studies (Top-up) degree programme of the University of South Wales, and graduate with a UK degree.

For which courses are UNICAF scholarships available?

The scholarships actually cover all the degree programmes of-

Apena

fered by our partner universities through UNICAF. It is difficult to list them all here.

We offer Bachelor, Master’s and Doctorate degrees, as well as Professional Development short courses. What I can do is to mention a few of the available degree programmes, like the MA in Education, the MSc in Managerial Psychology, the MSc in Web Design and Development, the MSc in Organisational Psychology, the LLM Laws, the Master’s degrees in Public Administration, Public Health, Information Systems, Information Technology, Health Management and many more. We also have a highly regarded Mas-

ter’s of Business Administration, or MBA, and a Master’s degree in Oil and Gas Management. Similarly, our Doctorate degree programmes, include the PhD in Marketing Management, PhD in Information Technology, PhD in Education, PhD in Business Administration, PhD in Accounting and Finance and many more.

Where do you want to see UNICAF in the next five years?

UNICAF is already the leading online platform in sub-Saharan Africa, with thousands of students taking advantage of

the UNICAF Scholarship Programme. Our aim is to extend this opportunity to hundreds of thousands of African students and to expand our blended learning offering to more than ten countries in Africa. In Nigeria, we are planning to offer the blended learning option as soon as possible, because we listen to the voice of the people of this country and we aim to offer them what they really want. We want to provide students in Nigeria with a wellequipped campus, where they can attend face-to-face classes and public lectures, and participate in social activities to enhance their online learning experience.

UBEC Urges Teachers To Improve Teaching Skills LASU To Begin Open, Distance Learning

BY HENRY TYOHEMBA, Abuja The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has challenged teachers in Osun State to utilize the opportunity provided by the federal and state government through the ongoing capacity building interventions and improve their teaching skills.

UBEC executive secretary, Dr Hamid Bobboyi made this assertion while monitoring the Strengthening Mathematics and Science (SMASE) project workshop, held at A. U. D Model Elementary school, Osogbo.

The workshop was to seek ways of improving teachers’ capacity in delivery of

mathematics and other science related subjects in the basic education sub sector.

As part of the initiatives to ensure effective basic education delivery, the UBEC boss further held discussions with the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy, Mrs Grace Laoye Tomori to strategise on steps to be taken in ensuring that the state fully utilises available resources in improving its UBE delivery services.

The meeting was on the need to improve collaborations between the state and UBEC in the development of education in the country, especially the basic education sub sector.

BY ADENIYI ADUNOLA, Lagos The Vice Chancellor (VC) of Lagos State University, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun has announced that all is set for the institution to take off its Open and Distance Learning (ODL).

The VC who disclosed this recently said ODL programme has been approved by National Universities Commission (NUC) adding that the school was planning to start off in a way that will be effective, with access given to as many people as possible.

“What we are doing presently is that we are running a pilot project in house which is trying to see the functionality of our system so that by the time we are going to roll-out,

possibly by September, there won’t be any hindrance.

The VC also also lauded the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for contributing to the growth of the institution through infrastructure development and capacity building of both academic and non-academic staff.

Fagbohun commended the Lagos state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, for all the changes he had made in the institution.

“The Lagos State government has also given a final approval for the construction of 6000 bed space model hostel. And we will also soon commence the construction of our private funded 2000 capacity Computer Based Test (CBT) Center,” he added.

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EDUCATION/NEWS 19

FG Vows To Save Nigerian Languages From Extinction The Federal Government has vowed to put necessary measures in place to save Nigerian languages from going into extinct.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu disclosed this during a workshop, tagged, “Enabling Writers: Bloom Software Train-

ing of Trainers” organised by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), supported by Global Book Alliance (GBA) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

He stated that the current administration is doing all it could

to restore, promote and sustain reading and writing culture in Nigeria and to also encourage the teaching of the languages in schools across the country.

Adamu called on Nigerian authors to write in local language so as to help provide more books and materials in Nigerian lan-

guages.

He expressed the commitment of the federation government to provide effective, efficient and quality teaching and learning in schools, adding that all these cannot be achieved without relevant and sufficient books and other instructional materials.

The Minister, who was represented by the Director, Educational Planning Research and Development, Dr Chioma Nwadei, said this would help reactivate the interest of the Nigerian youth in the ability to read and write in their local languages.

NNPC, Others Build Lab For School In Plateau

BY ACHOR ABIMAJE,JOS

Pupils writing the 2018 Common Entrance Examination into Federal Government Colleges, at the Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, over the weekend.

Nigeria Poised To Promoting Science,Tech Education – Adamu

BY CHIKA MEFOR The Federal Government said it would not waver in its commitment to promote science and technology education.

The minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu made the pledge during at the flag- off of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) and ICT Camp for Federal Unity Colleges students held at Federal Government College, Enugu recently.

Adamu stated that the signifi-

cant role of Science and technology couldn’t be overemphasised as it holds the key to good health, development of new industries, poverty alleviation and conservation of the environment.

He said STEM and ICT Camp targeting students in basic and secondary schools, is one of the strategies for promoting science and technology education in schools, noting that the project would promote independent learning among students.

Adamu charged the camping

students drawn from all Federal Unity Colleges in the South East to use the opportunity to prepare to face the challenges ahead, in a highly technological and competitive world.

Speaking further, the minister expressed optimism that the camp would also sustain the interest of students in understanding STEM subjects and increase enrollment.

Also speaking, the Raw Materials Development Council (RMRDC), Dr Zainab Hamanga and a Senior Lecturer from Tai

PLASU Matriculates 1500 Students ACHOR ABIMAJE,JOS Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos has matriculated 1500 newly admitted students for the 2017/2018 academic session.

Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the Institution, Prof Yohana Izam said it was both historical and significant to the university.

His words: “Matriculation Ceremonies such as the one we are witnessing today is meant to welcome into the fold of the university those of you who have been fortunate to make the list of 1500 admitted from over 6000 applicants who applied for admission into the university.

“Though the new academic environment that you found yourselves in presents you with

freedom, such freedom must not be abused or taken for granted as there are checks and balances, as provided for in the students’ handbook.

“I would also like to urge you to distance yourselves from joining any association whose motives are in conflict with accepted societal norms and values throughout the duration of your studies.

Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, Dr. Adefunke Ekire, delivered papers underscoring the imperative for STEM and ICT education for young people.

Meanwhile, the minister has assured the commitment of the ministry to intensify professional development of teachers in order to improve their capacity on curricula delivery, which in turn will boost students’ competencies and good performances in public examinations such as the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE).

This university frowns at and shall penalize any student who indulges in cult activities, exam malpractice or any form of antisocial or deviant behaviours.

Therefore, any reported and proven case or cases bordering on misconduct and indiscipline exhibited or demonstrated by any student will be met with appropriate sanctions and penalties”.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other oil companies in Plateau State have donated an ultra-modern science laboratory worth millions of naira to the Government Secondary School Shendam.

Star Deepwater Petroleum Limited, a Chevron Company and parties in the Agbami field – Famfa Oil Limited, Statoil Nigeria Limited, and Petroleo Brasileiro Nigeria Limited, jointly donated the lab.

The laboratory, which was equipped with state of the art equipment, was aimed at supporting government efforts in improving the quality of education in Nigeria.

Speaking at the Handover ceremony, manager Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron, Mr. Michael Kabi said the Agbami field has also assisted the government in raising needed manpower for the development of the country.

Kabi who represented the the director of the company, Richard Kennedy stated that the Agbami Medical and Engineering Professional Scholarship (AMEPS) is aimed at building the capacity of students in Medical and Engineering courses in all states of the federation as a strategy to feed into the national talent pool adding that from 2009, the Parties have invested over N8.4 billion in special scholarship programme.

He pointed out that since inception in 2009, over 16,000 students from all the states in Nigeria have benefited from the scholarship out of which 456 have graduated with first class degrees.

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labour matters

LG Autonomy: NULGE Gets Saraki’s Backing

BY MICHAEL OCHE, Abuja

The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has specifically commended the Kwara State House of Assembly and the other eight states that passed the bill on Local Government Autonomy, saying that their action would deepen democracy.

Saraki, who was speaking when he met with leadership of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), led by its National President, Comrade Ibrahim Khalil, said he was happy that Kwara State was among the nine states that had already approved and passed the bill into law.

Nine state of assemblies have already passed the bill into law, while

three states have rejected the bill out of the 36 states of the federation.

Other states, according to the NULGE president, are still working on the bill, assuring that the required numbers to finally get the bill passed into law would be met when the other remaining states complete work on it.

Addressing the NULGE leaders, Saraki said: “When you look at the last Constitution review exercise, unfortunately, I must say that we have a lot to do. I don’t think that we got up to nine states that were in support of local government autonomy.

“I will ensure that we do more to rectify this issue. I am proud to say that my home state, Kwara, was one of those 9 states that supported local government autonomy.

“It will happen. I assure you, it will happen. We are all in a hurry to see that it happens. The question though, is how soon? I always say that these kinds of things like the Constitutional amendment process, you cannot bully anybody. But you must ensure that there is cooperation and collaboration.”

He said the Senate and the National Assembly, appreciated the importance of governance at the local government level, adding that it was very important to strengthen local government administration.

He said: “Part of strengthening local government administration is ensuring that there is autonomy. I also believe that strengthening local government administration means

that we all do our best to increase the capacity at the local government.

“Sometimes, you find out that in developed countries, people who are competent, to contest at a level even as high as the Senate, would tell you that they don’t want to be at the Federal level like Abuja or Washington, they prefer to stay at the local level”.

The Senate President told the local government employees that it was also important to see that local governments are properly and independently funded, adding, “however, there must be a symbiotic relationship between the states and the local governments to ensure that the third tier of government is not placed at a disadvantage.”

L-R: Mrs. Olubunmi Odunjo, National President, National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) Lateef Oyelekan; Chairperson, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State Women Committee Princess Olubunmi Arowoduye-Abikoye and Mrs. Mmayen Usong of the Nigeria Postal Service, Lagos at the state celebration of the 2018 International Women’s Day last week.

Job Security Of Our Members, A Top Priority – NUPENG President Newly elected President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Prince Williams Apkoreha, has said that the issue of job security of the union members will be his top priority.

Though, Apkoreha said the challenges before his new executive are enormous, he promised to use all resources at his disposal to protect the job of his members.

For instance, he said that they would not allow the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, to impact negatively on the job security of their members.

Speaking with journalists, following his election, the NUPENG President said: “I am assuring you that we will use all resources at our disposal, both

human and materials to defend the job interest of all our members.

“We shall protect our collective interest with our collective resources in line with extant rules. Be assured of the fact also, that we shall show more commitment and seriousness in the vision of taking the union to next level by building on stability and unity of the union as well as ensuring a stable financial base through prudency, frugality, transparency and accountability.”

To achieve this, he said the union will henceforth vigorously embark on “tactful and strategic” unionization of workers in both the formal and informal sectors of the oil and gas industry.

The new approach to unionization, according to him, will include

careful and objective recruitment of Organizers, in-depth research work, creation and consistent maintenance of efficient and effective collaborative union-management relationship.

He pointed out that his new executive is coming in at a critical time when the industry is facing two critical challenges of changes and reforms.

“One of these challenges is the petroleum Industry Governance Bill that has just been harmonized and passed by the two national assemblies. There is no doubt the passage of the bill is long overdue but nevertheless, the implementation of this Act must not be allowed to impact negatively on job security of workers in the industry.” He said Identifying globalizatiion as

another serious challenge, he said, “globalization has created series of challenges to the global working class. The new dimension of these challenges is the replacement of Man at work with machine. The race between Man and Machine has left workers with the right side of the baton with redundancies being served on our plates every now and then.

Union membership has been seriously depleted due to impact of industry 4.0.”

It is within this context, that we commend President Mohammadu Buhari on his “Nigeria First Initiative “on job recruitment order. This we believe will go a long way in halting the expanding and increasing unemployment level of qualified youths in the country.”

LABOUR NEWS

Women Task Trade Union Movement To Rise Up To Challenges

BY OLAJIDE FABAMISE, Lagos

Women in the Organised L ‎ abour have tasked leadership of the movement to strengthen and reposition the movement for it to rise up to all labour oriented issues and challenges.

Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State Women Committee, Princess Olubunmi Arowoduye-Abikoye in her address at the state’s celebration of the 2018 International Women’s Day, listed various‎ challenges confronting the movement and women especially to cut across poor wages, discrimination, casualisation and others.

She lamented that the working class in a capitalist economy has been converted into a commodity that can be toiled with at the wimps and caprices of the employers of labour.

“With the growing poverty and dislocation in the economy, workers are forced to bear the brunt through loss of jobs, reduction of wage that is orchestrated through increased work hours without compensation, or increment of wages. While it is a fact that workers are oppressed and exploited in workplaces and society at large.”, she said.

Arowoduye-Abikoye stated that without the input and contribution of women workers or women in society, no society can develop, adding that women workers earn fewer wages than their men counterpart on the average, as well as denied Trade Union rights and forced to work long hours.

“It is true that you cannot liberate the women workers without liberating the men workers as well, but Trade Union and Leaders must pay special attention to issues that bothers on women”, she said.

The Lagos Women Committee Chairperson said Minimum Wage is another issue the labour movement must take seriously.

She said, “Even the poverty wage of N18,000 has not been fully implemented by government and many private companies alike. The labour movement should commence the struggle to increase the Minimum Wage to an acceptable living wage.

It is scandalous for political office holders‎ to earn millions of naira in allowances and salaries wile the creators of wealth earn a paltry N18,000.”

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politics today Thursday, April 19, 2018

REPORTS ANALYSES REVIEWS INTERVIEWS

GROUP POLITICS EDITOR: MUYIWA OYINLOLA 08054701492 (SMS ONLY )

Obiano And The Burden Of A Second Term Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State recorded an unprecedented victory during the November 18, 2017 Governorship election by beating the other 36 contestants with majority of the votes cast in each of the 21 local government areas of the state. OKECHUKWU OBETA, in this report examines the expectations of the people vis-a-vis the victory.

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Even Obiano himself is not unaware of the great expectations from his current administration from the people of the state

erhaps, nothing defines the task facing Governor Willie Maduabrochukwu Obiano of Anambra state current second administration better than the adage which states that “ to whom much is given, much is expected “.

At the election, Governor Obiano scored majority of the votes cast in each of the 21 local governments to emerge victorious over 36 others who wanted to unseat him from the Government House, Awka.

Notwithstanding whatever various factors political experts could allude to as why he earned such overwhelming victory, the primary reason, however, is that the majority of the people of the state were convinced that he has more capacity to deliver good governance to them than all others who contested with him.

Indeed, the people of the state have high expectations from the governor in his current second tenure. The Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, made this fact clear in his goodwill message to Obiano shortly after the latter was inaugurated for second term on March 17, 2018, at the popular Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, the state capital.

Addressing newsmen at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, Bishop Ezeokafor expressed satisfaction with the performance of the governor during his first tenure. The Catholic clergyman however stated that much is expected from the administration in the current second tenure. And for the administration to meet up the people’s expectations, he advised the governor to avoid flamboyancy and prune down the size of his political appointees so that he could save enough money to deliver the expected services for the masses.

Stating that Obiano had the best opportunity now to write his name in gold, Bishop Ezeokafor said “time had come for the governor to prove his critics wrong”.

A former Special Assistant to Governor Obiano on Media, Mr. Ifeanyi Afuba, stated that the areas the administration would write its name in gold at the end of this second tenure include the realization of the Umueri International Airport project; transformation of Awka into a modern state capital, and revolutionisation of the state’s agricultural sector among other social services.

He noted that the administration had already mapped out short and long term development plans that would enable the governor write his name in gold at the completion of his eight years in office, pointing out that he had laid solid foundation to make the state’s economy strong through the attraction of foreign investors into the state.

Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mr. James Eze stated that it was in realization of the enormity of challenges facing the administration to deliv-

Obiano

er by ensuring a corruption- free administration that forced the governor to invite the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, to lecture the new political appointees including the Secretary to the state government (SSG), Chief of Staff, Principal Secretary to the Governor, Commissioners, Special Advisers, etc, on the dangers that would befall anyone who indulges in corruption.

Not for the legal obstacles placed against the conduct of the local government council elections by some aggrieved stakeholders who took the State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) to court, the CPS stated that the administration would have put in motion necessarily procedure to democratize the local government administration in the state. He added that the governor would have announced an increased new minimum wage package for the state workers, if not that the federal government is being awaited to make a pronouncement on the issue.

Even Obiano himself is not unaware of the great expectations from his current administration from the people of the state.

He stated this much after his inauguration for a second term. He said, “I am fully aware of the weight of the history you placed on my shoulders with the landslide victory we recorded on November 18, 2017. I understand your hopes and expectations and I will never let you down.

“Our administration has established the basis for hope. We have announced a new season of excellence. We owe it to ourselves to be greater than those who came before us. Ndi Anambra together, we shall carve out a future that posterity will be proud of.”

Governor Obiano pledged that the state in the next four years will witness a bold effort to lend roots to the great progress his government has made in the past four years.

He said, “We shall tighten the screws on our security architecture to ensure that Anambra remains Nigeria’s safest state.

We shall install Ultramodern CCTV Cameras in strategic locations across the state to give us a new advantage in crime detection.

“We shall drive hard reforms in the education sector to retain our position at the top and make education accessible to everyone to ensure that no child is left behind in our dear state.

“We shall build a state-of-the-art teaching hospital in each of the three senatorial zones to deepen our reforms in the health sector and initiate a medical scheme for people above 75 years of age. Major roads in Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka shall be dualized to ease traffic congestion and boost the aesthetic appeal of our cities”, the governor stated further. In fact the governor tagged his second term as a period for “A Consolidation of Excellence”.

Even the political opponents of the governor during the governorship contest had made the task for Governor Obiano to deliver more challenging. Apparently not to allow the administration give any excuses that it could not perform because of distractions from opposition, especially those who ran with him in the election,virtually all the governor’s cocontestants in the election, in an unprecedented manner immediately after the contest conceded victory and refrained from challenging the outcome in the tribunal.

Governor Obiano even noted this gesture much during his inauguration.

He stated “I stand before you today as a product of love.Your Love. Your Love for Anambra State. Your Love for Good Governance!

“I am the proof that we have attained great political maturity in this state.

“I am the evidence that when the occasion demands, we can rise together as one and that when we stand together as one; we can bend the tide of destiny in our favour.

Ndi Anambra, this is the moment you have wished for, hoped for and prayed for.

And I am here to serve!

“Never before has our beloved state witnessed the electoral history that you created on November 18, 2017. And today, I stand on the crest of your love to declare A New Season of Excellence for our beloved Anambra State.

“Ndi Anambra, our dear state is on a journey of self-awakening and discovery. We are reaching for the stars with the moon beneath our feet. And I am most grateful to you for choosing me and Nkem Okeke ( deputy governor)to lead you on this journey.

Therefore, my gratitude goes to the Almighty God for saying ‘yes’ to my dream of a second term in office, and I must thank you for your prayers and your votes that made me your Governor”.

Besides expressing appreciation to the electorate, the leadership of his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA), church leaders, leaders of traders and town unions, farmers and other stakeholders for his victory at the polls, Governor Obiano particularly commended the rare quality of sportsmanship exhibited by his co- governorship contestants as he stated “Indeed, I must recognize all the candidates who ran against me in the last gubernatorial election for putting up a formidable fight. They fought like true sportsmen and women and accepted the decision of the people in good faith.

They did not waste time to congratulate me and applaud the verdict from the polls.

In doing so, they added a bright new chapter to our narrative of excellence in this great state”.

As a mark of his appreciation for the overwhelming support given him, Governor Obiano outlined various governance plans his administration would deliver in the next four years to change the state narratives for good. He stated “the next four years will witness a bold effort to lend roots to the great progress we have made in the past four years. We shall tighten the screws on our security architecture to ensure that Anambra remains Nigeria’s safest state.We shall install Ultramodern CCTV Cameras in strategic locations across the state to give us a new advantage in crime detection.

“We shall drive hard reforms in the education sector to retain our position at the top and make education accessible to eve➔ CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

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Ekiti Guber: My Reputation Is My Selling Point – Daramola Hon. Bimbo Daramola, a former member of House of Representatives, is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and governorship aspirant in the forthcoming election in Ekiti State. Daramola, in this interview with TUNDE OGUNTOLA speaks on how he intends to restore the lost identity of the state, if elected governor in July You were a member of House of Reps between 2011 and 2015. Why were you not re-elected?

We tried our best to go back but we were shocked that we lost that election. It was just because Governor Fayose had won and had defeated Fayemi. The most imperative thing is that once a governor is from another party most likely every other member, the National Assembly and all of that will follow that trend of thought. We did everything fair to win that election but the power of incumbency denied us that opportunity because if it’s performance both inside and outside the floor we did our best that would have been enough to earn us a second term.

How did you impact on your constituents during your brief stay in the House of Reps?

Modestly speaking, I lived my life as a parliamentarian. It’s just an extension of the fact that I had a bigger opportunity to do everything that I ordinarily have been doing before.

I am convinced that during my tenure in the House of Representatives I touched lives. I had medical outreaches where over 1,800 people were treated of various ailments. I built and equipped an American standard 32- bed hospital for the people. I tried to redeem people’s self esteem. I shipped about 60 cars from the US to give to people who cannot afford to buy a pair of shoes worth N25,000. I needed to prove a point that they deserve a better life.

These are people that ordinarily cannot afford to buy bicycles. As a member of House of Reps, I got jobs for 46 people and also gave out 200 JAMB forms free of charge with ICT training. I gave over 100 laptops to people and also over 100 Keke NAPEP to people. There is no town or constituent out of the 22 towns and villages that you won’t find my statement.

If you don’t find it in education by classrooms, you will find it in potable water supply or in telecommunications. There were some places where they couldn’t make calls that I ensured that I brought MTN and Etisalat to move their masts there. Today, I am humbled with the services we have provided to the people.

You are going into a very tough contest owing to the fact that you are from the opposition party in Ekiti and you have PDP presently ruling the state to contend with.

What is your selling point?

My selling point is my reputation. My campaign is riding on my reputation as a die hard party man. I was a the state collation agent of the party when it looked like we would never come out of the opposition. There was a time in this country that nobody thought we would be able to send the PDP packing. I was the state

Daramola

collation agent of a fiery election (the Ido-Osi) election between Kayode Fayemi and Segun Oni. I was the DG of the immediate past governor’s re-election campaign and in all of these things we have done I have related with Ekiti people beyond the confines of my two local governments. My unique selling point is that they believe me. If Bimbo says he is going to do something he will do it. I am a paid cheque not a cheque that is being promised. I believe that this election is going to be a referendum on the reputation of everybody who is going to run for the Ekiti governorship election.

What special plans do you have for Ekiti people if you win the governorship election?

The very first thing I am convinced that we need to do is to get the Ekiti people back to who they were. The past two to three years have sufficiently eroded the equity and identity of the Ekiti person. The Ekiti person’s name has totally been eroded. Nobody remembers that the first professor of mathematics in West Africa is from Ekiti; nobody remembers the fact that one of Nigeria’s best Neuro surgeons, Prof Osuntokun is from Ekiti state; nobody remembers the fact that Ekiti used to be called a state that breeds professors – one house, one professor. All those identities have been eroded and that is why the mantra of my campaign is to restore the lost identity of the Ekiti person and Ekiti state as a state of pride. The acronym of our campaign is: E.K.I.T.I- Empowerment for the total man, Knowledge driven economy, Infrastructural development, Tourism development and Industrialisation. Ekiti needs somebody who can connect our future with our past because there is a gulf between who

we are, our identity of the past and the vision of our fore fathers.

Immediate past governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is also the Minister of Mines and Steel whom you were his campaign DG,has indicated interest in the governorship race. What do you think of his decision?

I have known Dr Fayemi for about 40 years.

Ninety five percent of the people who know Dr. Fayemi and relate with him today cannot say they have a reputation situated in the context of 40 years. I was his political ally, associate and brother. When the whole thing started as to whether he would run or not, I didn’t believe it because I had met him four times over a period of 18 months and also his wife too, to ask him if he was running. People have also asked me if I would run for governor and I said for as long as Dr. Fayemi is interested I won’t run. Some assembly members numbering about eight led by the former speaker and acting governor, Rt.Hon Patrick Ajibolamu and five others also visited me in my office to state that we must not let the state go into ruins.They admonished me that I must not pull back from the race.

I served Dr. Fayemiwith every fibre of my being. I was almost shot in 2014 elections because I stood my ground that we must not be rigged out of the elections. I heard he is going to run and I welcome him into the race. I have gone too far now to think of pulling back for anybody. We are going to go all the way to the end and I dare say that in the rainbow of Dr. Fayemi I used to be one of his most brilliant colours. I was shocked about his decision to

run, especially against me who was his campaig person. A man who practically served him all his life. It is imperative to know however that we joined politics the same year, so he is not my benefactor and I believe he knows that. He ran for governor in 2007 while I ran for House of Reps. He didn’t lead me into politics and I didn’t meet him in the party.

The evolution of our party today has him and me and we were all in the boat at the same time. I had a relationship of a man who dutifully served his senior in Christ school. Forhim to say he wants to run I wish him well and we are going to go all the way to the elections. We are talking to Ekiti people and I tell you this election is not going to be about position but more of referendum of what you have done with the mandate of the people. He has been governor and minister and he is going to be assessed based on that, vis-a-viz Ekiti. I have been a member of House of Reps and the people will ask questions about how I have impacted people’s lives. The same goes for the deputy party Chairman, Segun Oni, who is also in the race. He joined the APC about three and a half years ago. I have been in the party for 15 years and I have never defected to any party.

I have been one of the pillars holding the party in Ekiti state.

Would you say the party (APC) has done enough in connecting with the people of Ekiti?

That is a question our leaders should be able to answer. The truth of the matter is the fact that we have aspirants up to about 35 also speaks a lot. Out of these aspirants, we have two former governors and we are facing Ayodele Fayose in another two months.

How many rallies have we had since we lost elections in 2014? None. We lost elections on June 21, 2014 and we have not had one stakeholders meeting and we have the deputy national chairman of the party in my state, a former governor who is a minister and all of that.

I think the effervescence you see in the party today the credit must go to everybody who has stepped into the fray to contest this election. Even at that, the energy level of the people is at its lowest ebb. A security service reported that the first meeting where 2,500 people gathered since we lost elections was when I gave out free JAMB forms. By the way, I have given out 2,050 JAMB forms to people who may never have been able to come close to a University in the past one year. How many of them have done it? Like I said, this election is going to be about what you have done in your personal and official capacities. We cannot look away from that. I challenge anybody to come and confront me about whether we have had any stakeholders meeting in the last three and a half years. That our party is at its lowest ebb today somebody must be responsible for that.

My unique selling point is that they believe me.

If Bimbo says he is going to do something, he will do it

Obiano And The Burden Of A Second Term ➔ FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE

ryone to ensure that no child is left behind in our dear state. We shall build a state-of-the-art teaching hospital in each of the three senatorial zones to deepen our reforms in the health sector and initiate a medical scheme for people above 75 years of age. Major roads in Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka shall be dualized to ease traffic congestion and boost the aesthetic appeal of our cities.

“To exploit the natural inclination of our people towards entrepreneurship, we shall introduce an Entrepreneurship Development Training for micro, small and medium scale entrepreneurs. This will ensure that we retain our competitive edge in areas where our talent has found the greatest expression while acquiring new skills that will help us fit into a fast

changing world.

“We shall devote a lot of time and attention to the construction and completion of the Anambra Airport City Project. This project carries the entire promise of the Fifth Pillar of our economic blueprint which is Logistics. Our dream of turning AnambraState into a logistics hub in the South East and South-South regions will come to reality once the Airport City Project becomes functional.

“Brothers and sisters, our dear state has always been in the commanding seat of Nigeria’s creative industry. Yes. This state has produced great writers, singers, poets, painters, actors and storytellers.

Among us are innovators, inventors and trailblazers.

Anambra is the birthplace of Nollywood which has become a multi-billion naira industry today. It is for this reason that I have decided to add another Ena-

bler to my Economic Blueprint which I have designated as The Creative Economy. This shall harness the creative impulses of our people in different forms and build a big industry out of them. Yes, we are ready to bring Nollywood back to its birthplace and offer a home to our people’s creative energy. So, if you are a creative person in Anambra State, wake up because your time has finally come!

“We have set our sights on turning the Awka Capital Territory into a 21st Century city that will reflect our collective personality as Ndi Anambra. It will be a city of dreams that will announce our ambition to the attentive world! It will take a lot of sacrifice and hard work but it can be done and it will be done!

“Ndi Anambra, as I gaze hard into the face of tomorrow, I see joy and laughter for my fellow citizens. But I also see challenges that we must over-

come to enjoy the liberties of true citizenship. I see the mountain of doubts created by electricity supply to the colourful dreams of our people. I see the horrifying threat posed by the menace of herdsmen to the happiness of our farmers. I see the lingering anxiety caused by the uncertainties in the nation’s economy. But these challenges are not stronger than our collective resolve to take back our happiness. I have no doubt that together we will rise against them and together we will put them behind us for good”, Governor Obiano stated further.

Indeed, not only a few observers agree that Good Obiano is passionate about his commitment to provide good governance, the fear, however is his ability to supervise his political appointees to key into his governance dreams and aspirations. He is essentially seen as a man with large heart.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

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w

capital

THE NATION’S

N E W S A R O U N D T H E C A P I TA L C I T Y

Aduda Tasks Minister To Replicate Korea School Project In Area Councils

Group Condemns Crackdown On Civil Society In Niger Republic

BY CECILIA OGEZI

BY DAVID ADUGE-ANI

Coalition of civil society organizations in Nigeria have condemned the detention and harassment of civil society activists in Niger Republic, who over the past three years, have come under siege from state actors in a crackdown that has led to a series of convictions, arrests and detentions affecting civil society leaders.

In a press statement signed by the conveners of the coalition, Jibrin Ibrahim of Centre for Democracy and Development and Auwal Musa Rafsanjani of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), and other stakeholders, the group expressed concern over the arrest of 23 civil society leaders on 25th of March 2018, following the rise of protests by civil society, seeking to protect the people and the increasingly authoritarian response of the state and its security agencies under President Mahamadou Issoufou.

The civil society leaders call for the immediate release of those unlawfully detained in prisons in Niger; while also demanding an end to the systematic harassment and serial arrest of civil society organisations and leaders in Niger.

The group also appealed for a review of the 2018 budget, which has significantly increased the austerity measures in Niger and increased the suffering and misery of the masses in the country, while drawing attention to the significant decline of democratic culture in Niger, due to the rise of authoritarianism and attack on the rule of law by the administration.

Senator, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the National Assembly, Phillip Tenimu Aduda, has called on the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, to replicate the Korea Model School project in other area councils of the territory.

Speaking during a tour of the school project, along with the FCT Minister, Aduda expressed delight at the project, noting that it would provide a platform for FCT residents and other Nigerians to get qualitative education.

The senator, who described the project as the way forward in the FCT, also lauded the minister, over his passion and energy to complete the school project, with counterpart funding from the Korean government.

According to him, “Hon. Minister, you have done very well. Education is the bedrock of any society and the best you can do is to provide a platform and foundation for people of the FCT and for Nigerians who reside here so that they can get qualitative and meaningful education.”

Responding, the FCT minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, praised the country director, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Mrs. Sook Hun Park, for her energy and commitments to the actualization of the project.

Bello also thanked the government and people of Korea for their contribution to human development in Nigeria, adding that the project is a mark of the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and Korea.

He continued: “Korea government decided to build the Korea Model School in Nigeria and chose Abuja as a pilot place for it. We hope that this is something that with time can be replicated all over the country.

That will be revolution that we are waiting for in education.”

Also speaking, the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Noh Kyu-duk said the school has set a standard for the education of Nigerian students as well as teachers.

Secretary, FCTA Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), Hon. Stanley Ifeanyichukwu Nzekwe administering a vaccine on a cow, during the 2018 Mass Vaccination and Treatment exercise for livestock, at FCT Veterinary Clinic, GwagwaladaAbuja, yesterday.

PHOTO BY DAVID ADUGE-ANI

FCTA Urges Residents To Vaccinate Livestock, Cattle

BY DAVID ADUGE-ANI

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has called on livestock owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to take advantage of the ongoing mass vaccination and treatment exercise, for livestock in FCT, and bring their cattle, goats and sheep for vaccination.

Speaking when he flagged off the 2018 FCT mass vaccination and treatment exercise in GwagwaladaAbuja yesterday, FCT minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, explained that the exercise would enable them

breed healthier livestock, that would produce more milk and healthier offspring.

Bello added that the exercise was part of the administration’s effort to ensure food safety and prevent the outbreak and spread of livestockborne diseases in the territory.

Represented by the secretary, FCTA Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), Hon Stanley Ifeanyichukwu Nzekwe, the minister reiterated the commitment of the administration towards ensuring that only healthy livestock, safe for consumption, are

available in FCT markets.

He commended the area councils for their support and assured that the administration was very passionate about the agricultural sector, hence the approval for all the necessary logistics for the success of the exercise, adding that no livestock should be left out in the exercise.

Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman of Gwagwalada area council, Alhaji Mustapha Adamu Danze, had assured that the council would mobilize its agricultural officers to ensure the success of the exercise.

… To Establish Centre For Infectious Disease

BY DAVID ADUGE-ANI

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has expressed the commitment of the administration to establish a centre for infectious diseases and a world-class rehabilitation centre for victims of drug abuse, in Abuja.

Speaking when he received, in his office, members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), for the forthcoming Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) annual general/

scientific conference, Bello lamented that the incidence of drug abuse has spilled beyond youths to adults, women and even mothers, whom he described as the bedrock of the homes.

He also disclosed that paucity of funds has affected the passion of the administration to meet up with its ambition for a significant leap in health care delivery in the territory.

The minister indicated that the administration would encourage private sector investments in the area by creating enabling environment and facilitating

ease of doing business.

He also allayed the concern of private medical practitioners over multiple taxations, adding that the FCT Internal Revenue Service would work for a friendlier tax regime for businesses that centres on critical areas of human services.

Earlier, the leader of the group and chairman, NMA, FCT chapter, Dr. Achonwa Chiedozie, had commended the administration for the increase in the number of FCT health institutions that have been accredited for residency trainings.

Chiedozie described it as an eloquent indication of significant improvement in the standards of the institutions in the life of the administration, just as he expressed satisfaction with the progress the administration has made in the health sector.

According to him, “The growth in the number of hospitals has significantly increased the number of bed-spaces and positively impacted on health care delivery in the FCT, and for which we want to commend your efforts, Honourable Minister Sir.”

Dikko Flags Off PW Neighbourhood Market Project

BY TARKAA DAVID Chairman of Bwari area council, Hon Musa Dikko has flagged off the construction of PW Neighborhood Market in Kubwa, with a promise to complete it in nine months time.

Performing the ground breaking ceremony

yesterday, Dikko explained that the proliferation of markets in the council is an attempt to expand the council’s internally generated revenue (IGR).

The chairman noted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was committed to service delivery, which he said could not be achieved

without revenue, hence the need to expand the revenue base of the council, rather than waiting for statutory allocation.

“Our target is to make sure that we bring about where we can generate revenue to be able to bring about meaningful development in our society.

We cannot do this without

money. We need resources to pay contractors in order to execute these projects,” he said.

Earlier, the contractor, handling the project, Chukwu Charles, had revealed that the 200 shops in the market were built under the public private partnership (PPP) initiative of the chairman.

law

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Head, Judiciary desk: Ahuraka Isah

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Cases Are Authorities For What They Decided

T

his is an appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division delivered on the 22 day of November 2013 setting aside the appellant’s conviction and sentence for murder contrary to Section 316(3) of the criminal Code Cap 1 laws of Lagos State 2003 and substituting in its place a conviction and sentence for manslaughter contrary to Section 317 of the same code.

Respondent’s case at the Lagos State High Court, hereinafter referred to as the trial court, is that the appellant, a policeman, on the 5th April 2009 shot and killed three yearold Kafusara Muritala. Along with four other police officers, the appellant was deployed to Obanle-Aro/Mr. Biggs axis of Ketu Alapere, in Lagos, to prevent criminal activities of hoodlums. The team mounted a check point at the black spot.

On the fateful day, PWl Muritala Saliu, his wife, the deceased and some other passengers were being conveyed by one Saheed in a Nissan Sunny Saloon car towards mile 12 from a naming ceremony in a friend’s house. At about twelve meters from the check point and soon after the sound of a gunshot, Kafusara’s mother on noticing the deceased had slumped raised alarm. PWl, the deceased’s father, the vehicle having stopped, carried the deceased back to the check point shouting profusely that the police had killed his daughter. Further to the complaint lodged on the incident and the investigation conducted thereon, the appellant, who had confessed shooting at the tyres of the vehicle in which the family of the deceased were being conveyed, was arraigned, convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of the deceased. Dissatisfied, the appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal Lagos Division which decision of 22nd November, 2013 allowed the appeal in part. Still aggrieved, the appellant has further appealed to this Court on a notice filed on l6th December, 2013 containing ten grounds.

At the hearing of the appeal counsel identified, adopted and relied on parties respective briefs of argument. At page 3 of the appellant’s brief of argument settled by Emmanuel Umoren Esq and deemed duly filed and served on 11th January, 2018 the six unnecessarily prolix issues distilled read: 1. Whether from the facts and circumstances of this case, the Court of Appeal was right to hold that the deceased died of

gunshot and the failure of the Respondent to tender the post mortem report was not fatal to its case. (Ground 2).

2. Whether from the facts and circumstances of this case, the Court of Appeal was right in law to convict the Appellant for the offence of manslaughter.

(Grounds 7 and 8) 3. Whether in a murder charge which attracts capital punishment, the Court of Appeal was right to ignore and or fail to consider the various defences open to the Appellant or raised by the Appellant. (Grounds 1 and 4).

4. Whether from the facts and circumstances of this case, the Court of Appeal denied the Appellant his constitutional right to fair hearing” (Grounds 3 and 5) 5. Whether the Court of Appeal was right when in sentencing the Appellant, it refused to Hon. Justice Musa Dattijo, JSC follow the binding decision of the Supreme Court in OMINI V. STATE (1999) 12 NWLR PART In The Supreme Court of Nigeria 630 PAGE 168. (Ground 9).

6. Whether from the facts and Holden at Abuja on Friday The 23rd Day Of March 2018 circumstances of this case, the Court of Appeal was right to Before Their Lordships sentence the Appellant to life imprisonment for the offence Olukayode Ariwoola of manslaughter. (Grounds 6 and 10).”

Musa Dattijo Muhdmmed For the purpose of the case at hand, it appears that in reKudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun solving appellant’s 2nd issue, his 5th and 6th issues it subChima Centus Nweze sumes will equally be resolved.

Though appellant’s 1st 2nd, 3rd Ejembi Eko and 4th issues are glaringly similar to respondent’s four issues, Justices, Supreme Court SC. 290/ 2014 the latter’s issues, being better couched, shall however inform Between the determination of the appeal.

On the 1St and 2nd issues, Ex Cpl Ikechukwu Nwabueze ………..Appellant learned appellant’s counsel submits that to secure convicAnd tion, the law places the burden of proving all the ingredients The People Of Lagos State ……………..Respondent of the offence, the appellant is charged with beyond reasonaJudgement Delivered By Hon. Justice Musa Dattijo ble doubt on the respondent. It Muhammad is not enough for the respondent to establish the fact of death of a human being. For the court to convict the appellant, it is sub- even where it supports the appellant’s case from the court, where it mitted, respondent must further does so, the prosecution is liable to loose-its case. Relying inter-alia link the death with the act of the on Section 135 of the Evidence Act 2011 Eziegbo v. ‘State (2012) appellant done with the inten- 16 NWLR (Pt 1326) 318, Ahmed v. State (2001) 18 NWLR (Pt tion or knowledge that death of 746) 622, Omini V. State (1999) 12 NWLR (Pt 630) 168, learned his victim was probable. The counsel submits that the decisions of the two courts on the guilt of report of the postmortem car- the appellant though concurrent, not having drawn from the eviried out by DW3, which the re- dence on record, is not sustainable.

Assuming without conceding that evidence abound in proof of spondent failed to tender, is necessarily required to establish the manslaughter against the appellant, it is further argued, the sentence cause of death. Furthermore, it imposed on the appellant by the lower court is excessive. The appelis argued, not only are there ma- lant, it is contended, had urged the lower court to comply with the terial contradictions in the ev- Supreme Court’s decision in 0mini V. State (1999) 12 NWLR‘(Pt idence of the prosecution wit- 630) 168 by reducing appellant’s sentence to ten years. Notwithnesses, the evidence of some standing the lower Court’s findings at pages 219 and 227 of the reof them which are in support of cord that the facts of the instant case are on all fours with those in the appellant’s case are with- 0mini V. The State (supra), the court, learned counsel contends, all held from the court. The law, it the same refused to reduce the sentence to ten years as was done is submitted, does not allow the in 0mini V. State (supra). Learned counsel submits that it is wrong respondent to conceal any fact of the lower court to have so refused. Relying on m Odulami V. Nigerian Navy (2013) 12 NWLR (Pt 1367) 20, he urges that this

Court invokes its powers to reduce the sentence in enforcing compliance with its decision by the lower court. Learned counsel prays that the two issues be resolved in appellants favour.

Firstly, cases are authorities for what they decided.

The doctrine of stare-decisis learned appellant’s counsel asserts the lower court has violated is about past decisions of courts binding them in subsequent occasions where the facts and legislations applicable to the settled facts are same or similar to, those the courts earlier pronounced upon. Our case law has remained consistent on this principle. It is therefore settled that a court lower in the judicial ladder is bound by its own or the ratio decidendi of a higher court in an earlier case, if the issues of fact and the legislation the court considers subsequently are same or similar. See Dr. Umar Ardo V. Admiral Murtala Nyako & ors.

(2014) LPELR-22878 (SC) and 0Nigeria Agip Oil Company Ltd V. Chief Gift Nkweke (2016) LPELR-25050 (SC). Where the lower court, as in the instant case, holds itself bound by the decision of this Court on same or similar facts, appellant’s grudge against the lower court’s decision cannot, therefore, be taken seriously. See Dalhatu V. Turaki (2003) 15 NWLR (Pt 843) 310 and Nobis-Elendu V. lNEC & ors (2015) LPELR-25127 (SC).

The appellant in the instant case, like the appellant in the Omini v. State case (supra) the lower court is alleged to have circumvented, was tried and convicted for the offence of murder. The decision of this Court the lower court lavishly reproduced in its judgment, see pages 223 224 of the record, inter-alia reads: “It seems to me that the trial Judge having found as a fact, which was accepted by the Court of Appeal, that the death of the deceased was as a result of the act of the Appellant, the shooting which resulted in the death of the deceased was as a result of the culpable disregard of his legal duty to take care, but without the necessary intent. The intention of Appellant was clearly to shoot at the vehicle. If as it appears from the evidence he failed to exercise sufficient care and consequently resulting in the death of the deceased, it seems to me that the action comes clearly within the purview of Section 317 of the Criminal Code. The Court below regrettably failed to direct its mind to this aspect of the law.

The trial Judge ignored this part of the evidence before him and

therefore came to the erroneous conclusion that the prosecution proved the offence of murder beyond reasonable doubt. The reason why the judgment of the trial judge should be set aside is that the prosecution having not proved that Appellant intended to cause the death of the deceased, the offence of manslaughter because in complete and culpable disregard of his legal duty to take care in the handling of his gun in the discharge of his lawful duty, his act resulted in the death of the deceased.

‘See Onah v. The State (1977) 7 SC 69.”

In submitting to the foregoing decision of this Court, the lower court at pages 224 225 of the record enthused thus: “I most respectfully borrow and rely in toto on the binding words of the Supreme Court in Omini v. State (supra) to allow the appeal by setting aside the verdict of murder entered against the appellant by the court below and quashing the sentence of death passed on the appellant by the court below for the murder of the deceased under Section 316(3) 0f the Criminal Code and substitute in its place a conviction of the appellant for the lesser offences of manslaughter as defined under Section 317 of the Criminal Code CapC.17 Laws of Lagos State, 2004, and punishable under Section 325 of the same Code read with section 19(3) of the Court of Appeal Act, 2003.

Considering the seriousness of the crime of manslaughter which by Section 325 of the Criminal Code states that ’any person who commits the offence of manslaughter is liable to imprisonment of life’, I hereby impose the sentence of imprisonment for life on the appellant for manslaughter accordingly.”

By correctly binding itself to the earlier decision of this Court on all fours with the matter it decided in the foregoing, appellant’s allegation of impertinence against the lower court is, clearly, unsustainable. Appellant’s grudge under the 2nd issue is thus baseless. The issue is resolved against him.

On the whole, I find no merit in the appeal and accordingly dismiss same. The concurrent judgments of the two courts below are hereby further affirmed.

Representations: Emmanuel Umoren Esq. for the Appellant.

R.A.O. Adegoke with Oluwaseye Afolabi, for the Respondent.

26 LAW & SOCIETY

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Laws For Suspension In Senate Conflicting With Constitution

O

BY AHURAKA YUSUF ISAH

n January 26 this year, President Muhammadu Buhari signed one of the monstrous bill into law.

The law now known as ‘’Legislative Houses (Power and Privileges), Act 2018’’, grants members of Legislative Houses in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly immunity from litigation for actions taken in plenary or committee proceedings of the House or committee.

The law which ceded some powers of Judiciary and the Executive functions for the Legislature authorizes the lawmakers to summon any person to appear before her, give evidence, including power of an officer of the legislative House to arrest any person who commits an offence against the Act. Legislative Houses (Power and Privileges) Act 2018, also known as ‘’An Act to declare and define certain powers, privileges and immunities of the Legislative Houses established under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and of the members of such Legislative Houses; to regulate the conduct of members and other persons connected with the proceedings thereof and for matters concerned therewith’’.

The two sections of Legislative Houses (Power and Privileges) Act, 2018 which now seemingly give credence to the gale of suspensions in the senate and House of Representatives are as follows Section 21 is titled ‘’Contempt of a Legislative House by members’’

Buhari

(1) Any member of a Legislative House who(a) being a member of a committee of the House, publishes to any person not being a member of such committee any evidence taken by the committee before it has been reported to the House; or (b) assaults or obstructs a member of the Legislative House within the Chamber or precincts of the House; or (c) assaults or obstructs any officer of the Legislative House while in the execution of his duty; or (d) is convicted of any offence under this Act, shall be guilty of contempt of the Legislative House.

(2) Where any member is guilty of contempt of a Legislative House, the House, may by resolution, reprimand such member or suspend him from the service of the House for such period as it may determine: Provided that such period shall not extend beyond the last day of the meeting next following that in which the resolution is passed, or of the session in which the resolution is passed, whichever shall first occur.

(3) No salary or allowance payable to a member of a Legislative House for his service as such shall be paid in respect of any period during which he is suspended from the service of the House under the provisions of this section.

(4) Nothing in this section contained shall be construed to preclude the bringing of proceedings, civil or criminal, against any member in respect of any act or thing done contrary to paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (1) of this section.

Section 22 further says that, ‘’Suspended member excluded from Chamber and precincts ‘’A member of a Legislative House who has been suspended from the service of that House shall not enter or remain within the Chamber or precincts of the House while such suspension remains in force, and, if any such member is found within the Chamber or precincts of the House in contravention of this section, he may be forcibly removed therefrom by any officer of the House and no proceedings shall lie in any court against such officer in respect of such removal’’.

Constitutional Provisions, Legislative Houses (Power And Privileges) Act 2018 In Conflict Section 6 vests judicial powers on the courts and Section 6 (6) (b) specifically states that the said judicial powers ‘’shall extend, to all matters between persons, or between government or authority and to any persons in Nigeria, and to all actions and proceedings relating thereto, for the determination of any question as to the civil rights and obligations of that person’’.

Yet, Section 21 (2) states that ‘’where any member is guilty of contempt of a Legislative House, the House, may by resolution, reprimand such member or suspend him from the service of the House for such period as it may determine’’.

38. (1) Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance 39. (1) Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference 40. Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests: The communities of the three foregoing provisions of the 1999 Constitution can no longer afford any senator the right to freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of belief, just as Senator was suspended for expressing legislative view contrary to collective resolve of the senate.

The pro-Buhari association in the senate was forcibly disbanded by senate resolution on April 12, 2018.The Legislative Houses (Power and Privileges) Act 2018 also make it contempt of a Legislative House by members to so exercise freedom of expression and association as such acts are punishable by suspension even for a session.

Section 48 of the 1999 Constitution states that ‘’the Senate shall consist of three Sena-

Saraki

tors from each State and one from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja And Section 60 of the Constitution says, ‘’Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Senate or the House of Representatives shall have power to regulate its own procedure, including the procedure for summoning and recess of the House And Section 69 of the Constitution says, ‘’A member of the Senate or of the House Representatives may be recalled as such a member if (a) there is presented to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission a petition in that behalf signed by more than one-half of the persons registered to vote in that member’s constituency alleging their loss of confidence in that member; and And that ‘’(b) the petition is thereafter, in a referendum conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission within ninety days of the date of receipt of the petition, approved by a simple majority of the votes of the persons registered to vote in that member’s constituency The senate however are at liberty to exercise the power of removal of a senator whether his or her constituents like it or not, for such a period as long as even a whole session of the senate.

HE 1999 Constitution proudly proclaims its supremacy in section 1(1), in the following words: “This Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Section 1(3) then goes on to state most unambiguously: “If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void” The Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld the supremacy of the Constitution in a plethora of cases, including: ABACHA VS FAWEHINMI (2000) 4 SC (PT. 11), PAGE 1. AG ABIA STATE VS AG FED. (2002) 6 NWLR (PT. 763) 204; AG ONDO VS AG FED. (2002) 1 NWLR (PT. 772) 222; BALONWU VS GOV. ANARMBRA STATE (2009) 18 NWLR (PT. 1172) 13.

The Bill for an Act to Amend the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act

was sponsored by a member representing Okpe,Sapele,Uvwie (Delta state) Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Evelyn Omavowan Oboro.

Evelyn is from the same senatorial district with Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the first casualty under the execution of this law in the senate. He was suspended on April 12, 2018 for 90 legislative days by the senate over unproven allegations against his colleagues that the new amendment to the Electoral Act regarding election sequence in the 2019 general elections was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

Evelyn is even aspiring to unseat Senator Omo-Agege as a senator representing Delta Central senatorial district in 2019 general elections.

President Buhari was particularly less circumspect by signing into law Sections 21 and 22 of the Consolidated Bill for an Act to Amend the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, Cap, Ll2 LFN, 2004 by extending Legislative Powers and Privileges to members of the Local Government Legislative Assemblies and for Other Related Matters (HB, 367). It is like giving daggers to some ‘’mad men’’ loosen onto crowded street of a city. The terror being unleashed in the Federal Legislative chambers can only be likened to the reign of terror in France in the 18th century. ‘’The Reign of Terror’’ in France at about 1793 led to the passing of a ‘’Law of Suspect’’ which was so loosely worded that even those only ‘’guilty’’ of a lack of enthusiasm for the Revolution could be brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal. In these months, many thousands were guillotined in Paris and the provinces. The Terror was even day after the other carried to the ruthless extreme, to the extent of attempts to destroy Christianity. New non-Christian calendar, which did away with saints’ days, Sundays and religious festivals of various kinds were introduced. On November 10, 1793, the Cathedral of Notre Dame became a Temple of Reason, and a special ceremony took place in which a dance from the Opera sat in the Cathedral as the Goddess of Reason in the place formerly occupied by the statute of the Virgin Mary. Many churches in France became at this time Temple of Reason.

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A Nation And The Dented Human Rights Record KUNLE OLASANMI, in this report looks at the level of Human Rights violation in the country and the negative effect it would have on the country’s Human Rights record “Every person shall be entitled to his personal liberty and no person shall be deprived of such liberty save in the following cases and in accordance with a procedure permitted by law‎. Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty‎”.

The above was quoted from section 35 (1) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution.

Unfortunately, those at the helms of affairs, especially security agencies have violated these laws over and over again with constant and illegal detention of accused persons.

In the last few years, no administration can be said not to have violated these laws but the present administration of President Mohammadu Buhari is worse of it.‎ A case in hand is that of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria‎, ibraheem El-zakyzaky and his wife who have been clamped into detention by this government for close to three years now without trial.

There have been series of protest in Abuja in the last few weeks.

Of their detention without trial, despite a court order which a‎ sked the federal government to release them unconditionally.

Many Nigerians, especially stakeholders are divided in the views about the detention of an accused person. Some believed anyone accused of wrongdoing should be treated with respect and dignity until the contrary is proved. They believed the government should not hide under the guise of anti-corruption fight, security challenge and perpetrate illegality by trampling on people’s rights. Other however, feel treating accused persons, especially the influential ones with respect is what led the country to where it is today. To them, it breeds more corrupt persons.

Under this administration, some suspects, especially in some of the high profile cases have been in custody for about a year now.

Even, when granted bail by a competent court, they were blatantly refused.

Some of those languishing in detention of security and anti-graft agencies across the country are the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, former federal capital territory minister, some leaders of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), El-zakyzaky and many others. Some of these people have been granted bail, but agents of government blatantly refused to let them go and enjoy their bails.

Some of these people are currently in court challenging what they describe as illegal detention.

A civil society organisation Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Transparency and Good Governance (CCSGTGG) described the continued detention of suspects who have been granted bail as vindictive.

The Secretary of the group, Comrade Muhammed Goni Alhassan, said while the group is in strong support of the current fight against corruption, it is in the overall interest of Nigerians and the nation that the fight against corruption is carried out with strict adherence to due process and rule of law.

“It is now speculated that the current anti-corruption searchlight on the judiciary is a cover to harass, intimidate, and prosecute all those who are seen to have, one way or another, aided the tribunal victory of most governors of the Peoples Democratic Party extraction.

“In as much as we support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption agenda and initiatives, we urge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to go about with worthy considerations in respect of rule of law and due process”.

A United States based legal practitioner and the Co-ordinator, Justice for Jos Project, Mr. Emmanuel Ogebe, on his part called on the federal government to immediately release the Shiite leader and h‎ is wife had been in detention for more than two years.

They’ve been in the custody of the Directorate of State Security (DSS).

Justice Gabriel K ‎ olawole, had over year ago ordered the release

Malami

of the Shiite leader and his wife and also ordered the government to pay them damages for infringing on their fundamental human rights.

Ogebe, the son‎ of a retired Supreme Court Justice, described the continuous detention of El-zakyzaky as a dent on the human rights record of the country.

He said, “This government has failed woefully in thhe area of human rights. The FG may be creating another Boko Haram unknowingly. The FG. Hhas a moral burden to r‎ elease the Shiite leader.

Their peaceful protest should not be taken for granted.

“It is not only the country’s economy that is being destroyed, the human rights record of thhis country is also being affected”.

He also accused the government of not doing enough to reescue the

remaing Chibok girls.

According to him, some of the Chibok girls that were taken to thhe United States by the government for studies have been abandoned.

He said he took ten out of the Chibok girls to the US and are currently doing well.

He said the FG claimed it has spent $1m on the girls with nothing to show for it.‎ Some lawyers who also reacted to the situation described it as an absurdity in a country that is governed by law. According to them, Nigeria should not descend into a jungle where anyone does whatever he likes.

A lawyer, Abidas Ogoomasidu, said what is happening in the country today is very surprising that under a civilian government, you will have someone thrown behind

bars for about a year without being tried, honestly, it is unfortunate.

“The most‎ annoying thing is that you will still see some lawyers defending these things. It is quite unfortunate to say the least. We can’t continue this way. A lot of Nigerians are aggrieved with what is going on in the country today”.

Another lawyer, who disagreed with the position of Ogoomasidu, Bimtafu Agusuda, said the country will change for the better, if the‎ present government is allowed to clean up the system that has been destroyed by past government. “Sometimes, for the sake of the country, some drastic measures needs to be taken to salvage the country from destruction. As far as I am concerned, some sections of the constitution need to be looked into because in the past, it has slowed us down”, he said.

Alleged Fraud: Court Orders Substituted Service On Uwajeh

BY KUNLE OLASANMI, Abuja

Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has granted a request seeking to serve criminal summons at the premises of the self acclaimed United Kingdom based private investigator, Chief Victor Uwajeh.

Uwajeh is expected to be arraigned after being served a fourcount charge bordering on forgery, impersonation fraud and illegally procuring forged documents.

Justice Tsoho granted the application after counsel to the Federal government, Abubakar Alilu, in-

formed the court that Uwajeh had severally evaded service as he did previously.

The FG had filed a four count charge bordering on forgery, impersonation and fraud against Uwajeh.

In the charge, FG alleged that Uwajeh tried to obtain money through fraudulent means from Senator Andy Uba who is representing Anambra South Senatorial District.

Uwajeh was said to have been indicted by an investigation of a crack team from the Nigerian Police Force conducted on a petition that was written to the Inspector Gener-

al of Police, IGP, Mr. Ibrahim Idris,

by Senator Uba. The lawmaker had in his petition, accused Uwajeh of attempting to use forged and illegally procured documents to extort money from him.

When the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday, Alilu informed the court that one of the court bailiff who went with the policeman at Uwajeh’s residents was almost shot by the policeman guiding his house.

“One of the bailiff went to the address of the defendant at No:9 Jesse Jackson street Asokoro and was almost shot by the policemen guard-

ing his house.

“The defendant is aware of this matter. His counsel had pleaded that he travelled to the United States and that once he return, he will appear in court.

“I know that it is not yet ripe to make an application for a bench warrant. However, I will apply section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act for leave of the court to paste a copy of the Criminal of the Criminal summon in a conspicuous part in the premises where he resides”, he said.

Justice Tsoho after listening to the submissions wondered why some-

one that the state wants to bring to justice will be protected by the same people looking for him, he wondered why the police will be protecting a fugitive from the law.

He urged the people going to effect the service at his residence to be careful and mindful of what had already played out.

He held that, “giving the circumstances, section 124 has become inevitable. Accordingly, the application is granted. Service should be effected on Uwajeh through substituted means”.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to May 21 for arraignment.

28 ISSUES

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Thursday, April 19, 2018

NNPC’s Burden: Oil Market And Appropriate Pricing Of Products

BY SONNY ATUMAH Alvin Toffler (1928 - 2016), the father of ‘Future Shock’ in discussing transformation wrote in The Adaptive Corporation that: Even the best strategies seldom take into account more than a few of the consequences that flow from them. In real life, the decisionmaker must continually adjust to those consequences, and, in doing so, deviate from the clear course lay out in advance.

This may happen as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC attempts transformation.

It was never envisaged but with a feeling of sadness and from the blues it came. A few weeks heralding 2018, the Nigerian fuel consumer struggled to get fuel for whatever usage most especially the transport vehicle. With epileptic power supply from the distribution companies the premium motor spirit, PMS which is an essential product at home, office and shop also was in short supply. Would it have been averted?

Perhaps it would have but possibly not.

It was initially difficult to ascertain who caused the untoward situation. Blames were freely traded when it came late November 2017. There was distrust with blames on political leadership and perhaps genuinely too as the situation had repeatedly presented itself in the past.

As a follower of events in the oil and gas industry it was commendable the strategies adopted in tackling the recent fuel scarcity in Nigeria. Of course there were the flush volumes that led to twice and sometimes thrice the monthly volumes between December and February. These events that were largely occasioned by sabotage came at a cost to the nation. Apart from the flush volumes that escalated supply, the use of other ports in Calabar, Port Harcourt and Warri assisted in bringing the situation under control. Collaboration with the governors assisted the regional distribution centres created to hold individual marketers responsible. The collaboration with security agencies as well as the logistic support in repairs of Mokwa-Jebba Road and the Ikot Ekpene-Calabar Road was wise for trucking of products.

All these were articulated and executed in the NNPC Fuel Supply War Room four months ago. The War Room had provided the corporation with a

platform for real-time monitoring, information sharing, process debottlenecking as well as accelerated decision-making by top management along the line constituted a new pool of experiences and lessons learnt, towards improving NNPC supply and distribution operation. The War Room lieutenants spent days and nights, sacrificed weekends and public holidays, arrived at impactful decisions and took far- reaching actions that turned around the situation from misery to victory.

We are happy we are out of this. The NNPC GMD Dr. Maikanti Baru just wound down the corporation’s War Room. Baru assured that NNPC has set in motion measures to sustain the prevailing stability in the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.

From his pronouncement we would have said never again should we be back to the days of endless queues in petrol stations! That appeared to be Baru`s assurance. We have sorted out the issue of our checkered past but have we decided that progress must be made? We are hopeful the renewed vigour of our petroleum resources managers would put us in good stead to join the league of petrol producing nations that manage their resources effectively and efficiently.

Repeatedly we would continue to remind and encourage them that we have comparative and competitive advantages in petroleum.

Having analysed gaps in the refining industry we are looking at the timelines that are becoming tighter to meet product demand. The GMD had revealed that efforts are ongoing to secure 3rd party financing to revamp the refineries. The NNPC final selection of financiers to secure funding to start the rehabilitation of the refineries towards 90 per cent capacity utilization per stream day before the end of 2019 is before NNPC’s board for approval.

That financiers are showing interest in our brown field refineries means that we are making some headway in long term corporate finance decisions to manage our assets and capital structure. It is the commencement of the process of transformation which means that we are heading towards real liberalisation of the industry.

Relevant legal and regulatory frameworks are needed that make it almost impossible for sleaze. The

Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, PIGB recently passed may clarify the rules, processes, and procedures that govern oil and gas in Nigeria. But we expect drafts of the Petroleum Industry Administration Bill, the Petroleum Host Community Fund Bill and the Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill, to be passed expeditiously by the National Assembly.

To crack crude oil, product prices have to be determined. Refinery margins (the difference between raw material costs and product revenues expressed on per barrel of crude basis) can vary depending on the refinery. The more complicated the refinery, the higher the operating costs, but the greater the ability to make higher-valued products like gasoline.

This is part of what influences the final investment decision, FID. Experts believe product prices are determined by a variety of factors such as the economy, weather and competition between retailers and from other fuels. Feedstock prices (crude oil) are influenced by the above demand factors, actions by OPEC and governmental regulations. These make the oil market volatile.

The volatile crude market and appropriate pricing of products would continue to be the issue. It has been a burden for the NNPC that has been abandoned to be the sole importer of PMS. At a landing cost (cost and freight, C+F) of US$540 or under per metric tonne, and at an exchange rate of N305 to a dollar, government price ceiling of N145 per litre was sustainable. But with the present C+F of US$693 per metric tonne, at the exchange rate of N305 to the dollar, NNPC managers may be magicians to be in business because it translates to over N184 per litre of PMS. The semantics of under recovery or subsidy by the NNPC is what we may live with for a while. Against the background that at the crude oil price of US$67– US$68 per barrel of crude (our escravos, Qua Iboe and Bonny light) and at an exchange rate of N305 to a dollar the price of crude per litre translates to N128.52-N130.44 respectively.

The problem is not what the present government could address now because it is more interested in Nigeria’s electoral rolls.

Sometimes refiners lament over low margins for refining crude into products as it happened recently in Europe. But as the prices of crude crashed in July 2014, integrated oil companies leveraged on

their downstream investments via refining to declare profits. Appropriate pricing is necessary for investors to be in business and for consumers to enjoy the benefits of a crude producing nation. This is where competition with the Dangote refinery is important, not to create a monopoly in products supply.

The core of petroleum usage is in refining which calls for changes in our modi operandi. Crucial decisions that bother on patriotism, transparency and accountability are needed to make progress. The Group Managing Director of the NNPC pledged commitment to provide utility services including power, processed steam, water and land, stressing that the corporation has agreed in broad terms on areas of collaboration to fast track the development. As we refine we should address the issue of product quality and environmental performance. Refineries around the world are upgrading to meet product specifications.

Dr. Maikanti Baru’s pledge is to focus on the rehabilitation of the refineries to ensure a restoration to nameplate capacities by 2019 when the country is expected to end the importation of petroleum products. The privileged NNPC officials in the eight committees constituted on rehabilitation including workstations for rehabilitation, stakeholder management, financing, legal, procurement, pipeline, crude oil supply and security, and staffing and succession planning should not be amorphous otherwise they would be confined in perpetuity to the history of failed generation.

Rehabilitating the refineries would mean capacity building which is also a major problem to solve in NNPC. Doing so means value additions for energy, technology and skills. Our refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna are waiting for genuine and selfless decision to rehabilitate them for crude processing.

One’s thought is that of a nation without lamentation; that does not import petroleum products excepting during emergency. Refineries are required for strategic reasons including economic, political and security. Refineries are strategic for energy, technology, employment, improved skills acquisition, increased GDP, and increased fiscal revenue and therefore a reduced national destabilisation tensions.

Refineries are national assets

that should be guarded jealously for the diversification of our economy for sustainable development. With potentials for up to 6000 investment opportunities when we refine a barrel of crude, our economy for now should not abandon oil and gas because the commodity could be used to jumpstart as well as diversify the economy using vertical linkages. With the orchestrated threats of the First World abandoning fossil fuels we must take our destiny into our own hands. Nigeria must face the realities of change from fossil fuels to alternative energy. What we should not gloss over is the synergy between upstream and downstream in respect with corporation’s strategy in the area of access to resources.

It fascinates one that Baru in facing this obvious and daunting challenge as happened in the recent fuel crisis exuded optimism. It is gratifying that some progressive minded persons are still in the NNPC system. Perhaps there is hope for the nation that with self-examination coupled with the utilitarian principle apparently lacking in some privileged Nigerians in authority we are getting there. It is possible we have started to entrench efficiency, hard work, improve productivity by attempting to uproot or reduce the monstrous corrupt system.

Baru and other person of that ilk may not have the tendency to be corrupt but if it is based on their strength of character alone, we miss the point. A workable system and structure is what is needed to checkmate feeble minded persons from tampering with the peoples till. One is tempted to believe that Baru is changing the narrative if he does not derail. Someone who was on that saddle took notice of the problems bedeviling the sector but found it extremely difficult to take action due to pecuniary barrel of crude gains.

The lesson is that as we prepare to transform our petroleum industry, it was time we took nothing and nobody for granted. One is requesting for a system that seeks ways to explore new business opportunities and encourages the creation of joint ventures along the entire value chain to increase investment and efficiency as well as eliminating losses in the national refining system. Baru and the present NNPC management should make history which beckons on them.

–Atumah wrote in from Abuja

Maihaja, Pontius Pilate, NEMA And The Truth

BY PHILIP AGBESE

One reality Nigeria is facing in contemporary time is the blurring of the lines in the nation’s quest to tame corruption, the one evil that has been proven to be at the root of every other one of our problems as a nation. It gets bad to a point where the accuser easily becomes the accused and, in a nation where the collective memory barely transcends a four-day cycle, the table can turn on someone intent on doing good to an extent that their public scouring and crucifixion is a given.

The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Maihaja, is a man that can relate with this culture of demonizing the upright. He must be forgiven for his naivety in thinking that good intentions and a patriotic zeal would make it easy for him to present NEMA as an organization that keyed into President Muhammadu Buhari’s

anti-corruption war. His idea is to make a quick win by promptly rooting out those that were sucking the agency dry and by extension making life unbearable for the block that NEMA is meant to cater to – victims of emergency.

The zeal that propels Maihaja is best understood against the backdrop of a country where crises and emergency management have been converted into ATMs by the unscrupulous. These are people without qualms about stealing from the displaced, bereaved, the dead and the dying – including their own parents. It is a cabal that brooks no nonsense from any obstacles to an open season on the nation’s treasury. It does not matter the agency involved, the modus operandi is to crush anyone and anything that that threatens the bank credit alerts from beeping endlessly.

These are the people Maihaja patriotically took on in the belief that he was doing the best in the interest of Nigeria. That belief is not misplaced.

But this will be to the extent that those who own the anti-corruption war, the Presidency, do not throw him under the bus. If other lone anti-corruption gladiators have been fed to the beasts in the arena previously, the DG NEMA’s own would be one too many and could sound the death knell for the one thing that Nigerians continue to wish would be the milestone of the current government.

The interests Maihaja waged his anticorruption war against are certainly larger than he envisaged – it is a network that has now proven that it has the legislative clout, which is an additional incentive to abandon the DG given the possibility of his agency becoming the next executive-legislature tiff. One expects that the Presidency, executive arm, would not give Maihaja the Pontius Pilate treatment when in reality he ran the office to align with the template of the present government. That was what earned him enemies that are at

his jugular today.

The enemies are many, tenacious and connected to the point of being filial. Maihaja’s detractors are powerful enough to have been able to sway the House of Representatives to their sides. If the past is anything to go by, we all know what it takes for a party to a matter to draft the House into the fray.

This speaks volume to the whereabouts of the public funds involved in the fraud.

This is especially so when the House of Representatives is openly secondguessing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the agency that logically have the jurisdiction to investigate, arrest and prosecute persons indicted for the sleaze at NEMA. If the House is allowed to continue usurping the roles of the EFCC, the end point would naturally be that the matter would be swept under the carpet as have been the case in the past. Maihaja’s current travail and persecution would have then been in vain. The people he

exposed would carry on with business as usual while victims of emergencies languish.

Whatever the truth is, it must not be allowed to become the casualty in this matter. As opposed to threading the worn path of trial by media, the House of Representatives should back down and allow the EFCC thoroughly investigate the matter since it is the guaranteed way of getting to the truth of the matter.

Running a parallel investigation would not only constitute distraction but would also in a way amount to strongarming and threatening key witnesses as well contaminating evidences.

Nigerians want the truth and they are patient enough for the legitimate processes to run their courses. Those rushing to crucify or exonerate Maihaja must therefore exercise patience. There is no room for jungle justice here.

–Agbese wrote in from the United Kingdom

business

Thursday, April 19, 2018

NEWS

MONEY

CAPITAL MARKET

INSURANCE

INFLATION RATE (%) 2016

OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

18.3 18.48 18.55

BY BUKOLA IDOWU, Washington DC, USA And KEHINDE SALLAH, Lagos

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that rising debts in emerging countries could pose risks to financial stability in the medium term as the increasing debt servicing risks could see investors shying away.

Last year, Nigeria had spent $464.05 million and N1.47 trillion servicing external and domestic debts respectively.

Nigeria’s debt portfolio has been on the rise in recent times and the federal government has increased its external debt as part of measures to cut back high cost of servicing its domestic debt. It has raised $5.5 billion dollars from the Eurobond market in the space of six months and another $300 million from a diaspora bond.

Addressing a press conference on Global Financial Stability during the World Bank/ IMF meetings holding in Washington DC, yesterday, the financial counselor and director for the Monetary and Capital Markets Department, IMF, Tobias Adrian noted that negative growth is being expected in some regions despite the positive global outlook on the rising debt levels.

According to him, countries that are building up debts, have weak fiscal buffers, liquidity and wide foreign exchange margins are more exposed to the risk of negative growth in the years to come. Noting that three vulnerabilities make the road ahead bumpy for countries, Adrian said emerging markets and low income countries could face a sudden tightening in global financial conditions.

“Such an event could lead to a reduction in capital flows. Debt sustainability in low income countries has deteriorated and more complex creditor composition pose challenges for any future debt restructurings.

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 APRIL 16) RATE CHANGE (%)

O/N 1M 3M 6M

3.0000 13.4297 14.1665 15.3549

-1.94 -1.00 -1.11 -1.63

Debt Servicing Risks Could Scare Away Investors – IMF …As World Bank debuts inaugural $1.5bn IDA bond

Head, Card Business, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Folasade Femi-Lawal, (middle) receiving the Best Retail Bank in Nigeria Award, flanked by chairman, The Asian Banker, Emmanuel Daniel (left) and chief executive officer, Banking Reports, David Gyori (right) at the Future of Finance, West Africa Conference 2018 where the Bank was presented with the Best Retail Bank in Nigeria Award by The Asian Banker for the seventh consecutive time in Lagos, yesterday.

“We have seen a rebound in bond issuance by low income countries at frontier markets last year and even this year despite the global market vulnerabilities, the issuance has been strong from these countries.

The IMF is trying to provide technical assistance to these countries on sound debt management as well as on how to make sure they can keep track of all the borrowings and leave as few as possible data gaps,” said Adrian.

On her own part, IMF Assistant director Fiscal Affairs Department, Catherine Pattilo, noted that the rising risk of unsustainable debt servicing of most countries in Sub-Saharan economies could see investors shy away from the bond offerings of these countries in the future.

Noting that two-third of countries in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) are at high risk of paying back or servicing their debts, she called on countries in the region to look inwards in raising the much needed fund for growth by expanding their tax base.

IMF director, Fiscal Affairs, Vitor Gaspar, likewise emphasised on the huge levels of debts globally saying, public debt is currently are historic highs in advanced and emerging economies. “In emerging market economies, debt at almost 50 per cent for GDP on average, is at levels

that in the past have been associated with fiscal crisis.

“It is imperative that low income developing countries strengthen their tax capacity. This will allow then to meet their debt service obligations.

It will also allow them to finance spending priorities such as health, education and public infrastructure to attain the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.”

Meanwhile, the International Development Association (IDA), an arm of the World Bank has launched its first bond in its nearly 60-year history, as investors around the globe seized the opportunity to invest in a triple A-rated asset and support lifechanging investments in the world’s poorest countries.

The bond, which marks the launch of IDA’s borrowing programme in the global capital markets, raised $1.5 billion to address some of the most pressing development issues.

IDA provides technical expertise and low-cost financing for projects and programs that boost economic growth and reduce poverty in the world’s poorest countries— from tackling conflict, fragility and violence; forced displacement; climate change; and gender inequality to promoting governance, institution building, creating jobs and supporting a strong private sector for

economic transformation.

Until now, IDA has been virtually unleveraged, building up an unparalleled equity base of $158 billion. In 2016, IDA shareholders agreed to transform IDA’s financing model, leveraging its strong capital base to pioneer a new model for development finance that combines donor funding with funding raised in the capital markets. IDA’s borrowing program will enable IDA to significantly scale up its support toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, while offering investors an efficient way to contribute to global development.

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said “Today’s bond issue will allow IDA to tap into the power of capital markets to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges and help millions lift themselves out of poverty. While it is a new bond issuer, IDA is an established institution, with an almost 60-year track record as the leading source of development finance and expertise for some of the fastest growing economies in the world. As a borrower, it leverages its unrivaled capital position – the largest equity of any multilateral development bank – and decades of strong donor support, a solid track record of repayments, and prudent financial management.”

@leadershipNGA

Business 101 with MBAKAAN KWEN

How To Generate Revenue For Small Businesses Most people know they shouldn’t attempt to take on a mortgage without having some way to pay for it. Yet small business owners do something quite similar every day. Some small business owners focus on running the business before focusing on generating the leads that fund the business. Sure, every business needs money to stay open, but without building a strategy to funnel the revenue into the business, the foundation is shaky at best.

Below, Melinda Emarson outlines some useful ideas on how to generate revenue thus; •CREATE A LIST: Encourage people to opt in to your newsletter/ free report or to a webinar/telesemiar.

Developing a list of people who have opted in to your communications is quite possibly one of the best lead generation tactics you can implement.

No, you shouldn’t buy lists or dump your contacts into your email newsletter program. People need to sign up by themselves.

•DEVOTE A SET AMOUNT OF TIME EACH WEEK TO LEAD GENERATION: Customer needs change. Industries change. Consumer expectations change. Client budgets for your products and services may dwindle. So you need an ongoing plan for lead generation. Set aside time each week purely for lead generation activities. This could be list building activities social media marketing, warm calling, in-person networking, and many other activities.

QUOTE OF THE DAY The federal government is conscious of the anxiety of the Ogoni people over the perceived delay in the cleanup of their communities.’’

President Muhammadu Buhari

Buhari

30 NEWS/BUSINESS www.leadership.ng

Leadership Newspapers

STOCK INDEX (AS AT APRIL 4) Gainers

Symbols Jaizbank Oando Skyebank Sterlnbank Fidson

CP 0.88 9.05 1.01 1.70 5.77

% change 10.00 9.70 5.21 4.94 4.72

Losers

Symbols CP % change UBN 6.00 -4.76 Sovrenins 0.22 -4.35 HMarkins 0.27 -3.57 AGLevent 0.57 -3.39 Seplat 702.00 -3.29

STOCK INDEX (AS AT APRIL 4) ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE CAP

(Points) (Numbers) (Numbers million) (Nbillion) (Ntrn)

40,772.26 4,090 230.17 4.32 N14.728

Stocks Market Falls By 0.04% On High Cap Stocks

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

The Nigerian stocks market fell marginally by 0.04 per cent on renewed profit taking especially on heavyweight stocks.

In summary, the All Share Index (ASI) shed 16.42 absolute points, representing a dip of 0.04 per cent to close at 40,772.26 points. Similarly, the market capitalisation shed N6 billion at N14.738 trillion.

The downturn was impacted by losses recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Seplat, International Breweries, Wapco, Nigerian Breweries and Union Bank.

Analysts at Afrinvest Limited said, “in line with our projection, we expect market performance

to remain buoyed by increased bargain hunting as investors take advantage of attractive entry prices in the market.”

Despite the decline, market breadth closed positive with 24 gainers against 18 losers. Jaiz Bank recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent, to close at 88 kobo per share. Oando followed with a gain of 9.70 per cent to close at N9.05, while Skye Bank followed with a gain of 5.21 per cent to close at N1.01 per share.

Sterling Bank appreciated by 4.94 per cent to close at N1.70, while Fidson Healthcare went up by 4.72 per cent to close at N5.77 per share.

On the other hand, Union Bank led the losers’ chart by 4.76 per cent, to close at N6.00 per share. Sovereign Trust

Insurance followed with a decline 4.35 per cent to close at 22 kobo, while Consolidated Hallmark Insurance depreciated by 3.57 per cent to close at 27 kobo per share.

AG Leventis declined by 3.39 per cent to close at 57 kobo, while Seplat down by 3.29 per cent to close at N702 per share.

Investors traded a total share volume of 230.17 million valued at N4.32 billion in 4,090 deals. The shares of Guaranty Trust Bank accounted for 69 per cent of the value traded with 67.37 million shares valued at N2.99 billion. Fidelity Bank followed with 14.94 million shares worth N38.41 million, while FBN Holdings traded 14.68 million shares valued at N182.7 million.

Oando Shares Appreciate By 51% In 5 Trading Days

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Oando Plc has recorded a growth of 51.09 per cent on its share price on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in five trading days.

According to Reuters, Oando rose to almost a oneyear high, yesterday, a week after regulators lifted a trading suspension on its share.

Oando share price rose by 51.09 per cent from N5.99 on April 11 to close at N9.05 per share on April 18, 2018, making five straight trading days of gain. It will be recalled that the 176 days

technical suspension was hitherto lifted on the morning of April 11, 2018 following an April 9, 2018 directive by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), however, three hours into trading, the NSE reinstated the technical suspension but finally removed on April 12, 2018.

According to the chief compliance officer and company secretary of Oando, Ms. Ayotola Jagun, on its first full day of trading, Oando’s shares were already highly sought after. “On day one, 178 million Oando shares were on bid with only 5.5

million available for sale. The Company’s share price hit the NSE daily price ceiling of 10 per cent, further evidence that there is a lot of interest in Oando shares and that the general mood around the market and our shares is positive.”

The company said it started 2018 on a positive note, by reaching an amicable agreement with Alhaji Dahiru Mangal after adequately addressing the concerns he raised in his petition to the SEC, this was shortly after the price of Brent Crude hit $71, its highest since December 2014.

@leadershipNGA

Strengthen Tax, IMF Tells Nigeria …As 6 sub Saharan Africa countries face debt distress

BY BUKOLAIDOWU, Washington DC

The International Monetary Fund has called on governments particularly in Sub Saharan Africa that have raised funds from the international debt market to ensure the funds are used for investments with high returns as it reveals that six countries in the region are in debt distress.

The IMF also reiterated its call on the Nigerian government to broaden the tax base by removing exemptions, to rationalize tax incentives in particular to strengthen tax compliance and our recommendation to raise the VAT rate.

IMF assistant director, Fiscal Affairs Department, Catherine Pattilo, speaking during a press conference in Washington DC yesterday said a broader tax coverage would provide the government with the much

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR, Lagos

After about 10 years, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) yesterday released six final accident and serious incident reports that occurred in the Nigeria aviation industry between 2009 and 2014. Among the six reports released on Wednesday were two accidents and four serious incidents.

One of the accidents was the one that involved Associated Aircraft crash of October 3, 2013 with the registration number, 5N-BJY. Another accident report released was that of Westlink Airlines Limited Piper Aztec 23-250 aircraft with the registration number 5N-BGZ, which occurred at Matseri Village,Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State on August 11, 2014.

The serious incidents were Aero Contractors DHC-8400 aircraft incident with registration 5N-BPT, with the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) baggage loader on April 29, 2014 and another incident involving two Bristow Helicopters aircraft, Bell 412 helicopters with Registration numbers 5N-BGS, and 5N-BDD, at the Addax Base Helipad, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria on 12th November, 2009.

Also covered were the serious incidents involving two aircraft belonging to Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT). They were the Tampico Club TB9 with the registration number 5N-CBE, which serious incident occurred at Zaria Aerodrome, Kaduna State on October 4, 2012 and another

serious incident involving Tampico TB9 Aircraft with registration number 5N-CBI that occurred at the same Zaria Aerodrome on May 23, 2012.

Engr. Akin Olateru in his speech to journalists at the Air Safety House headquarters of AIB at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos said that the bureau was committed to releasing accident reports promptly to realise the purpose of accident investigation.

The report on the Associated Airline crash cited as its causal factor the decision of the crew to continue the take-off despite the abnormal number 2 Propeller indication warning and the low altitude stall as a result of low thrust at start of roll for take-off from number 2 engine caused by an undetermined malfunction of the propeller control unit.

Wema Bank To Commence 2nd Tranche Of N50bn Debt Programme In May

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Wema Bank said it planned to start issuing the second tranche of a Tier II capital increase in May 2018, a part of its N50 billion ($159 million) programme.

According to Reuters, the bank deputy chief executive, Ademola Adebise yesterday said the mid-tier lender hoped to boost its capital ratio, which is at 14.3 percent, higher than the regulatory minimum of 10 percent.

“Wema expects 10 percent loan growth in 2018 targeting small firms, compared with a 4.92 percent drop in loan volume last year. The bank had aimed to grow loans by 1.5

United Capital Plc has declared a profit before tax of N1.49 billion in its unaudited first quarter financial result for the period ended March 31, 2018.

The company’s result which was released yesterday on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), showed profit before tax grew by seven percent from N1.39 billion in first quarter, 2017 to N1.49 billion in first quarter, 2018. Profit after tax rose to N1.25 billion from N1.17 billion, resulting to earnings per share of 21 kobo from 20 kobo in first quarter, 2017.

create the vulnerabilities.

“There will be interest rate risks, market risks and large interest burdens that will squeeze out spending priorities. With high debt, countries need to deliver on their fiscal plans for adjustments and use borrowed funds for high return investments.

“Our projections show that if countries fully implement their fiscal consolidation plans, debt levels will stabilize and remain sustainable. There is variation so the projections show that two third, of countries in the interim, debt will be going down and another third not. The forecast are predicated on strong fiscal adjustments and acceleration on growth. There is no room for complacency also in the case of countries in SSA, they have to deliver on their planned adjustments. To do this in the most growth friendly way, they have to strengthen their tax capacity.”

... Berates regulatory oversight, flight crew, others

BY KEHINDE SALLAH with agency report

at December 31, 2017, while shareholders’ funds declined to N15.8 billion from N16.8 billion as at full year, 2017.

United Capital said the Group’s sustained growth in revenue and profitability is in correlation with the firm’s strategic and efficient management of investment activities across all businesses, better pricing of earning assets, gains from its equity portfolio as well as effective cost management.

Speaking on the results, the Group CEO of United Capital, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni said, “As a company, we understand the importance of starting a new year on a positive note.”

needed fund to finance its infrastructure projects and service its huge debts.

Pattilo who stressed the need for governments to cut back on borrowing in the face of impending defaults, said there is a need to build revenue so that you have more space to spend for infrastructure, social safety nets.

She noted that debt vulnerabilities have risen in some countries within the Sub Saharan African region, adding that six countries in the region are in debt distress. “Most of the countries are in fragile situations or they are facing adjustment to the price of their major export commodity.”

The IMF assistant director however noted that in spite of the rising debt risks, borrowing by countries can create benefits if used for investments of high returns. Our evidence suggests that is not the case in some countries so rising debt then

AIB Releases 6 Final Accidents, Serious Incidents Reports

United Capital Declares N1.5bn Profit Before Tax In Q1 Also, United Capital generated gross earnings of N2.2 billion, an increase of four per cent from N2.1 per cent in the corresponding period of 2017, despite the uncertain macro-economic environment and lower interest rates of treasury assets. Investment income remain unchanged at N1.058 billion, while operating expenses declined from N718 million in 2017 to N700 million in 2018 Total assets stood at N140.4 billion as against N136.6 billion as at December 2017, funds under management went up to N74 billion compared to N70 billion as

Thursday, April 19, 2018

percent in 2017,” Reuters said.

In 2017, Wema Bank said it is considering to shift its plan to raise additional debt capital to further give the lender necessary leverage to drive growth till first quarter of 2018.

The chief finance and strategy officer of Wema Bank Plc, Mr. Tunde Mabawonku, said the bond issue was part of the banks existing 7-year strategic programme.

The bank in 2016 raised N6.25 billion following an approval the lender obtained from shareholders at the last year annual general meeting (AGM) to issue bonds or preference shares in the first tranche of a N50 billion programme Mabawonku said “we have a N50 billion bond programme

approved by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in 2016, we raised N6.25 billion so we still have availability for about N43 billion to raise in the market.”

Meanwhile in 2017, the FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange approved the registration and listing of Wema Bank’s N50 billion Commercial Paper (CP) programme on its platform.

The CP Programme registration, according to the Exchange, strategically positions Wema Bank Plc to easily and quickly raise shortterm finance from the debt market at a time in the future it determines suitable, through CP issues, within the CP programme limit.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

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NEWS/BUSINESS 31 CBN Pumps $210m Into Forex Market

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BY BUKOLA IDOWU

L-R: Public relations manager, 9mobile Oyetola Oduyemi; Manager, Data Services Marketing, 9mobile, Godswill Nnaji; Chief Marketing Officer, Tecno Global, Philex Meng, and Co-Marketing Partner Manager, Google, Rosemary Momonyi-Opiyo, at the launch of Tecno F2 and other devices by Tecno Nigeria in partnership with 9mobile in Lagos. PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU

Reps Uphold Suspension Of Embattled SEC DG, Gwarzo . . . Set to probe Oando ADEBIYI ADEDAPO, Abuja

The House Representatives yesterday upheld suspension of erstwhile director - general of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Marnir Gwarzo.

The House while considering the report of its committee on Capital Market and Institutions on the conflict between the minister of finance and the suspended DG, approved the committee’s recommendations.

The House also recommended that based on the petitions by various stakeholders of Oando, the committee would conduct investigation of

Oando Plc. Trusted Shareholders’ Association (TSA) of Oando had alleged that the management exposed to both local and foreign loans worth about N779 billion on which an interest of N15 billion was paid, and therefore demanded a forensic audit of Oando by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Gwarzo however alleged that Adeosun persuaded him to jettison the forensic audit of Oando Plc, and that the minister decided to suspend him from office because he refused to discontinue the probe.

Chairman of the committee, Tajudeen

Yusuf, had laid the report before the plenary on Thursday March 23.

While speaking to on report before it was considered, Yusuf said the committee’s investigation established that Gwarzo lied about his status in two privately- owned firms -Medusa and Outband based on findings from Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Consequently, the House resolved that based on the constitutional provisions and other extant laws, as well as relevant provisions of the Public Service Rules cited and referred to, the suspension of Gwarzo by the minister of finance should stand.

Oil Prices Surge As Brent Crude Gains

BY CHIKA IZUORA, Lagos

Oil prices edged up yesterday lifted by a reported fall in U.S. crude inventories and by the ongoing risk of supply disruptions. Brent crude oil futures were at $71.90 per barrel up 32 cents, or 0.5 per cent, from their last close, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 33 cents, or 0.5 per cent, at $66.85 a barrel.

In the United States, crude inventories fell by 1 million barrels last week, to 428 million barrels, according to a weekly report by the American Petroleum Institute (API) on Tuesday.

Outside the United States, oil

markets have been receiving general support due to a sense that there were high risks of supply disruptions, including a potentially spreading conflict in the Middle East, renewed U.S. sanctions against Iran and falling output as a result of political and economic crisis in Venezuela.

“Oil prices are holding near threeyear highs (reached earlier in April) for the time being, and with inventories back in line with normal levels, the supply glut of the last few years appears to be over,” said William O’Loughlin, investment analyst at Australia’s Rivkin Securities.

Beyond voluntary supply restriction

aimed at propping up prices led by the producer cartel of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) since 2017, O’Loughlin said falling output in Venezuela due to its political and economic turmoil was supporting prices.

“OPEC production is currently lower than expected as a result of large declines in Venezuelan output caused by a deterioration in the economic situation there,” he said. Dutch bank ING said in a note to clients that Brent had risen back above $70 per barrel in April due to geopolitical risks along with some fundamentally bullish developments in the market.

Unpaid Taxes: FIRS Seals 19 Companies

BY CHIMA AKWAJA, Lagos

The Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS) has sealed 19 companies over their failure to fulfil their tax obligations.

In Lagos, the FIRS enforcement team, on Wednesday, sealed the premises of Seabulk Offshore Operations Nigeria Limited at 11A, Grace Anjos Drive in Lekki over a tax debt of N34.546million.

It also sealed De Rembrandt Hotel (formerly Renaissance Hotel), Ikeja, which owes N30.60 million.

The tax agency’s team, led by Bukar Umar, on Tuesday, sealed the premises of Associated Port and Marine Development Company at 7B, Oranyan Street, Apapa, over N12.5 million

unpaid tax.

Also sealed were Kunoch Limited in Ikoyi, which has a tax debt of N34.3 million; Jinhua Group Limited in Ibeju Lekki, which owes tax liabilities of N3.1billion.

The team equally sealed Anisha Enterprises in Apapa, which owes N24 million; and Citeco Global in Ikeja, which owes N99 million.

In Port Harcourt, the tax agency, on Monday, shut the offices of Benek Engineering Company Limited at Rumuodara over unremitted Value Added Tax of N137,961,981.53 dating back to 2014. It also sealed Arena Event Centre, which owes N25,063,999.10.

The team in Port Harcourt, led by Mrs.

Anita Erinne, equally sealed the offices of DSV Pipetronix LTD at Rumuibekwe Housing Estate.

The company is indebted to the tune of N99,814,873.00. Another affected firm is Red Transport and Logistics.

The company, which operates from Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout failed to remit Value Added Tax totaling N1,918,764,246.00. It equally shut Otopus Clan Nigeria Limited over a debt of N198,775,513.55.

In Warri, Delta State, the FIRS team sealed Golden Tulip Hotel, Ashinmo Resources, Hotel De Great, West African Pumping Services Limited, Sam- Pira International Limited and Bridge View Hotel, among others.

With a slight weakening of the value of the naira against the United States dollar at both the parallel and the Investors’ and Exporters’ window, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday pumped $210 million into the foreign exchange market to boost liquidity.

The naira yesterday sold at N362 at the parallel market and weakened slightly to N360.16 to the dollar at the I&E window, while it sold at N305.60 to the dollar at the CBN window.

The CBN said the intervention in the inter-bank foreign exchange market was to meet the requests of customers.

A breakdown of the figures obtained from the aex bank indicates that the CBN offered the sum of $100million to authorised dealers in the wholesale segment of the market, just as it allocated the sum of $55 million each to the Small and

Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment and the invisibles segment to meet needs tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others.

Confirming the releases, the CBN acting director in charge of the corporate communications department (CCD), Isaac Okorafor, said the the continued intervention by the bank was in line with the governor’s commitment to ensure liquidity in the market as well as reduce pressure on the naira.

Okorafor said that the CBN was pleased with the current market situation brought about by policies it had put in place to check forex speculators, round trippers and rentseekers. According to him, these policies had helped to stabilise the exchange rate in addition to the establishment of the InvestorsExporters window, which had increased forex supply with over $20 billion inflow since its inception.

GTBank Posts Net Profit Of N45bn In Q1

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc yesterday posted profit- after- tax of N44.670 billion for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018.

LEADERSHIP reports that this is according to the bank’s first quarter result released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The report showed that the profit represented a growth of 7.7 per cent as against N41.477 billion achieved in the corresponding period of 2017.

Its profit- before- tax rose to N52.62 billion from N50.39 billion recorded in the preceding period of 2017.

GTBank’s net interest income declined from N66.129 billion to N59.689 billion, while net interest income after impairment charges reduced from N62.72 billion to N58.05 billion in 2018.

A further analysis of the results showed that the bank’s loan book dipped by 6.62 per cent from N1.354

trillion to N1.45 trillion, while customer deposits increased by 7.37 per cent to N1.354 trillion from N1.45 trillion in March, 2017.

The bank’s balance sheet recorded a total assets of N3.51 trillion. In terms of assets quality, non-performing loan (NPL) ratio decreased to 6.15 per cent compared to 7.66 per cent in 2017.

Addressing shareholders, recently, chairman of GTBank, Mrs. Osaretin Demuren,said that given the gains recorded in 2017, and continuing improvements in key macroeconomic indicators, it was widely expected that the monetary and fiscal authorities would consolidate on the 2017 gains in 2018.

She stated that “on our part, we are optimistic about the future and will continue to position ourselves to take advantage of the immense opportunities in the market in which we operate in order to grow our earnings, improve profitability and deliver returns to the shareholders.”

First Bank MD To Speak At LSE Africa Summit of Nigeria Limited, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, would be leading the First Bank of Nigeria Limited is panel discussion on “Enrolment partnering with The London School to Employment: Learning in of Economics (LSE) to present the Context”. Other deliberations in fifth LSE Annual Africa Summit the conference would include: with the theme: ‘Africa at Work: Bridging the Skills, Education and Educated. Employed. Empowered.’ Training Gaps; Entrepreneurship The summit presents the as an Engine for Job Creation opportunity to discuss the spate and Inclusive Growth; Laws, of social, economic and security Regulations and Policies; The challenges in Africa with the intent Impact of Technology and to influence policies that will Digitalisation on Jobs and create a rebirth, an inclusive and Economic Growth and The Role of sustainable growth in the continent. The Booming Creative Industries The event is scheduled for April in Socio-Economic Development.

20 and 21, 2018 at the London Speakers at the event include School of Economics London, Dara Tresder, CMO of General United Kingdom.

Electric Business Innovations; The summit would convene Mosun Belo-Olusoga, chairman at several high level speakers to Access Bank Plc; David Steinacker deliberate on topical issues , senior managing partner at affecting the African continent Google; Lance Mambondiani, CEO and the MD/CEO, First Bank of Steward Bank, amongst others.

BY BUKOLA IDOWU

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Thursday, April 19, 2018

Rising Economic Activities Jerk Up Air Passenger Traffic, Hotel Subscription In Edo

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

L-R: Keynote speakers, chairman and technical lead, Nigeria Energy Forum, Dr. Oluwole Adeuyi; national chairman, Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NIEEE), Engr Funso Adebayo; chief executive officer, Lumos Nigeria, Mr. Houssam Azem; executive director, Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Sanusi Ohiare and senior advisor, Strategic Planning & Economic Services Department, OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), Dr. Fuad Siala during the 2018 Nigeria Energy Forum held at Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU.

Court Stops Planned Sale Of 9Mobile

BY KUNLE OLASANMI, Abuja

Justice Binta Murtala Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the planned sale of 9Mobile.

The court stopped the sale of the firm following opposition by some aggrieved shareholders.

The shareholders, Afdin Ventures Limited and Dirbia Nigeria Limited , who claimed to be major investors, complained of being left out in the firm’s decision making and have demanded for a refund of their invested funds estimated at $43,330,950.

The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CR/288/2018 has Karlington Telecommunications Ltd, Premium Telecommunications Holdings NV, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Central Bank of Nigeria, Etisalat International Nigeria Ltd and Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) as defendants.

On Tuesday, Justice Nyako, after hearing plaintiffs’ lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN) moved an ex-parte motion, ruled that “an order is made for the maintenance of status quo as at today.”

Justice Nyako, who said “the defendants ought to be heard,’’ also

ordered the service of processes on them (the defendants), including the 3rd and 5th (First Bank and Etisalat), whose addresses are outside jurisdiction.

The case has been adjourned to May 14 for mention.

In the suit, the plaintiffs said, in a statement of claim that they bought shares in Etisalat from the 1st and 2nd defendants (Karlington Ltd and Premium Holdings) through “a private placement memorandum in which the 3rd defendant (First Bank) served as a custodian of the plaintiffs’ share certificate.”

They said while the 1st plaintiff (Afdin Ventures) “bought 1,300,391 Class A Shares at $13,003,910,” which it paid for on August 14, 2009, the 2nd plaintiff (Dirbia Ltd) acquired 3,300,004 Class A shares at $30,030,040, for which it made payment on September 3, 2009.

The plaintiffs said they paid for the shares through the 1st and 2nd defendants’ First Bank accounts.

In a supporting affidavit, Sani Ibrahim, the general manager of the 1st plaintiff and a director in the 2nd plaintiff, stated that problem with Etisalat resulted from the mismanagement of its funds.

He said the plaintiffs’ grouse arose from not only the firm’s mismanagement, it includes its inability to declare dividends from 2009 till date and the move by the defendants to conduct a clandestine sale of the company at the detriment of the plaintiffs.

Ibrahim stated that “in 2015, the 1st, 2nd and 5th defendants took several loans from 13 Nigerian banks with a view to expanding and boosting their telecommunication business, but that the money was not properly utilised, leading to heavy indebtedness on the 1st, 2nd and 5th defendants.”

He added that, owing to the resultant heavy indebtedness, the 1st and 2nd defendants “rebranded the 5th defendant (Etisalat) and changed its name to 9Mobile with a view to selling it off and obtaining money to pay its numerous debts.

“The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th defendants have failed to declare dividends on the shares of the plaintiffs since 2009 till date.

“The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th defendants have completed arrangement to sell the rebranded 9Mobile to Smile.Com and Glo Network without the knowledge of the plaintiffs, who are its major investors.

Nigeria’s Economy Bleeding From FG’s Auto Policy, Operator Laments

BY YUSUF BABALOLA

Ports and Terminal Multi Services Limited, PTML, a vehicle terminal operator in Nigeria, has disclosed that the nation’s economy is bleeding from the implementation of the federal government automotive policy.

The assessment is coming four years after the introduction of the policy by the federal government and one year into the land border ban on importation of vehicles through the borders by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Speaking during a visit by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Hassan Bello to the company’s office in Lagos, the managing director of PTML, Ascanio Russo said that the auto policy has not added any value to the Nigerian economy but rather fueling daily revenue loss to the government.

Russo who alleged that 50 per cent of vehicles destined for Nigeria are first shipped to Cotonou port from where they are smuggled into Nigeria explained that Nigeria is losing huge amount of revenue to the policy.

He said: “Unfortunately, after the auto policy was introduced in 2014, this is four years down the line; I am yet to see thousands of cars assembled in Nigeria. The bottom line is not even the availability of the vehicles, it is the price, who can afford a madein-Nigeria vehicle when it costs N10million, and this is the reality.

“If you look around the port, what we are seeing now is large areas because of the recession, the level of import has gone down, five years ago, we see decent cars being imported here, seven years old cars, five years old cars, they are in good condition, now what you see is accidented cars, so most people now

are buying accidented cars that have been ravaged by flood in the US. “All the rubbish is coming through Nigeria while all the good vehicles which should pay much more duties are going through Cotonou and they are not paying anything”, he lamented.

“So the Federal Government loses, Customs lose, we lose, NPA loses, NIMASA loses, Shippers’ Council loses, the whole country lose. Mostly it is the Nigerian people because these vehicles would be very expensive.

This is an example of why there is a high level of non-compliance and cargoes are diverted to other ports”, he stressed.

Russo also disclosed further that Nigerians can no longer afford to buy new vehicles because of the 35 per cent duty and 35 per cent levy slammed on vehicle imports, courtesy of the auto policy.

The booming economic activities in Edo State coupled with growing investor confidence have pushed up air passenger traffic to the state while owners of major hotels in Benin City are reporting oversubscription for their accommodation facilities.

Hotel owners, tour operators and other practitioners in the tourism and hospitality industry said the positive trend is attributable to the wide range of economic activities such as the development of Benin Industrial Park, the Gelegele Seaport project, the 450 Edo-Azura Independent Power Project and the various road construction work across the state.

Chairman, Golden Tulip Essential Hotel, Benin City, Mr. Edobor Ozakpolor, said “the current frenzy in the sector can be traced to the emerging socio-economic

opportunities being created by the governor of the state.

“Hotel accommodation before now was driven by seasonal activities like cultural and political events. But what we have now is a surge and it started since the governor’s inauguration. We thought activities would nose-dive after the inauguration but the tempo has been sustained by visitors and contractors who are seeking jobs and businesses.

“In air travels, bookings have increased to 99 per cent as all the airlines that operate the LagosBenin route come into Benin City fully booked. This was not the trend before this administration.

“We have moved from weekend to daily business. When we ask some of our guests what they are doing in the state, they always tell us that they are here to see the state governor.

Argentina Woos Wine Importers, Dealers In Nigeria

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR, Lagos

South American country, Argentina on Tuesday celebrated the Malbec World Day in Lagos, showcasing to Nigerian importers and dealers, a wide range of fine and sophisticated Argentine wines.

The colorful event which took place at the RSVP Restaurant in Victoria Island, Lagos attracted wine importers dealers, journalists and other wines lovers across the country.

Speaking at the event, Minister Plenipotentiary, Charge d’ Affaires, Embassy of Argentina, Elena Leticia Mikusinski said that Argentina celebrates the Malbec World Day every 17th of April every year.

Mikusinski said the celebration which is a global event has become necessary because Argentina is the largest producer and exporter of Malbec wines in the world.

Noting that the ceremony coincided

with the 55 anniversary of opening Argentina Embassy in Nigeria, the Minister said “we used to do it in Abuja. But we decided to bring importers, distributors to the event in Lagos. These are the people we feel would appreciate like appropriate the celebration.”

Speaking shortly after the Malbec World Day, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Steve Ayorinde said that the Embassy of Argentina choice of bringing the event in Lagos is a right step in the right direction since half of those who consume wine, champagne, beer and spirits are actually in Lagos.

Confirming that the market is there for the Argentines, Ayorinde said “Lagos is the ideal place where you find a celebration like this because majority of the importers of the wine are based in Lagos. Most of the wine connoisseurs are based in Lagos.

African Alliance Battles Negative Reserves, Regulatory Fines

BY ZAKA KHALIQ, Lagos

African Alliance Insurance Plc is currently battling negative reserves to the tune of -N21.05 billion even as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) had earlier fined the insurance firm N46.

1 million monetary fines for breaking its rule on account submission.

Aside this, it also spent a huge N1.49 billion on management expenses in its 2016 financial year, plunging the company into further financial mess. With the negative reserves, the company may not be able to meet most of its responsibilities, especially, prompt claims payment.

In a data sourced from X-Compliance Report of the NSE last updated April 12, 2018, the N46.1 million monetary fine was for late submission of its 2015 and 2016

audited accounts.

According to the Exchange, the company filed its audited and interim financial statements after the regulatory due date, stating that the Exchange applied sanctions in accordance with the Rules for Filing of Accounts and Treatment of Default Filing under the Rulebook of The Exchange.

In addition, the Exchange described the company as a delinquent filer of audited accounts as it fell short of the minimum listing standards in terms of timely disclosure of its audited annual financial performance and has Missed Regulatory Fillings (MRF) or Awaiting Regulatory Approval (AWR) of their primary regulators which is the National Insurance Commission(NAICOM).

Aside this, it has equally been fined

by NAICOM for similar offense.

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NEWS/BUSINESS 33

Skye Bank Makes Significant Price Movement In Q1

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

L-R: Secretary-general, China Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria (CCCN), Cui Guangzhen; secretary, CGGC Nigeria Ltd., Li Baisheng; managing director, Powerchina International Group, Rao Jianjiang; president, CCCN, Ye Shuijin; chief trade negotiator/direcot-general, Nigeria Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN), Chiedu Osakwe; managing director/chief executive officer, China Harbour Nigeria Ltd., Zhang Wenfeng; senior public relations manager, Huawei Technologies Nigeria Ltd, Liu Bin, and deputy general manager, CCECC Nigeria Ltd., Pu Linghui, during the presentation of office equipment by the CCCN to NOTN in Abuja, recently.

PenCom Charges MDAs On Provision Of Workers’ Nominal Roll STORIES BY ZAKA KHALIQ, Lagos

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has charged Pension Desk Officers (PDOs) in the federal government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the country to always provide correct nominal rolls of federal workers to it so that pension remittance of these employees can be done on time.

The officials of the commission who made the plea at a quarterly pension desk officers’ workshop organised by PenCom for the treasury funded MDAs in Lagos, last week, said most of the delays in pension remittances of federal

workers was due to non-provision of correct nominal roll of some workers by their pension desk officers, noting that, until this is done, it would be difficult to remit pension contributions of the concerned workers.

Head, corporate communications department, Mr. Peter Aghahowa, PenCom, while speaking on the delays in pension payment and non-remittance of monthly contributions, agreed that though there are challenges, there has been a tremendous progress from what it used to be to what it is now.

Government remittances, he said, are mostly done by PenCom while pension contributions are deducted

from the source as these monies are sent to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“But the way it works for us to effectively remit the contributions is that we must get the workers nominal roll. We have monies in our accounts that belong to individuals. We want to know who has the contributions and so if we don’t get the nominal rolls, we are not able to remit the contributions to the individuals they belong to,” he stressed.

To this end, he called for a very good synergy among the agencies that work with the contributors, which includes; PenCom itself, the different agencies and the CBN where the monies are kept.

Skye Bank Plc has recorded a significant price movement in the first quarter of 2018 even as it defies stocks market analysts by beating unimaginable expectation of market players.

According to a document obtained by LEADERSHIP, since the beginning of the year 2018, the price of Skye Bank stock on the floor of the Nigerian stock Exchange (NSE) has sprung up surprises.

“In January 2018 Skye Bank traded as high as N1.55 per share thus recording a growth of 210 per cent when compared with the year’s opening price of 50 kobo.

“As usual, bargain hunters crept in and pushed down the price to close for the month at N1.47.

Despite that, the monthly increase of about 194 percent then was the best percentage price recorded by any stock on the floor of the NSE for the month of January 2018,’’ the report read in part.

The report also stated that in response to profit taking in the Nigerian equities market between February and April 2018, a situation which has seen many stocks give up the entire growth so far made in 2018, the stock price of Skye Bank though showed some levels

of resilience declined to close at 62 kobo as at the April 11, 2018.

It explained that in a dramatic move, the stock staged a comeback to gain about 42 per cent price reversal to 88 kobo on April 16, 2018. Within this period, the stock price also remained one of the best in the market.

“The fresh rally which began on April 11, 2018 with a price growth of 29.4 per cent, had closed at 68 kobo from the previous close of 88 kobo on April 16, 2018,’’the report further stated.

On the factors behind the rallies, market analysts expressed positive opinions and confidence in the abilities of the bank’s current management led by Tokunbo Abiru.

According to them, their decisions to invest in the bank’s stock stemmed from the belief that the Tokunbo Abiru-led management is already turning things around in the bank.

Skye Bank is one of Nigeria’s leading retail bank with over 360 branches and cash centers across Nigeria, offering banking and associated financial advisory services. The lender parades robust and best in class financial technology platforms and wideranging electronic solutions promoting consumer lifestyle and e-commerce experience for its customers.

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The Challenge Before December Deadline For Lagos-Ibadan Rail Project As the contractor, CCECC race to beat the December 2018 deadline set by the minister of transportation for the completion of Lagos-Ibadan rail projects, MARK ITSIBOR takes a look at the matters arising from the compressed delivery period.

T

he construction work on the 156.65km LagosIbadan standard gauge rail project located in the western part of Nigeria has reached advanced stage. Pillared in Lagos, the largest coastal city in Nigeria, the rail line goes through Abeokuta, Ogun State, ending on the Ibadan axis of Oyo state.

The project, was originally billed to be completed in May, 2020. The project lifetime was however reversed by the Minster of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi to December 2018 - half the originally agreed time. To achieve that before the 2019 election year, the minister ordered the contractor, CCECC to deliver without fail. The firm has been stretched to almost braking point as it races against time and handover the project to the federal government within this year.

Already, the progress of excavation around the rail track path and subgrade fill/ cutting is currently over 70 per cent completed. Also the culverts and bridges being done have reached significant levels as the contractor, CCECC now works day and night to meet the new deadline of December 2018 set by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. Our correspondent gathered that over 120km right of way have been established along the corridor and compensations paid out to locals for farm lands, properties and economic trees already. Some officials of the company say tools have been deployed to also start laying the tracks by this month, to comply with the minister’s directive.

Challenges for the compressed project duration.

Observers say the reduction by half, from May 2020 to December 2018 throws up additional challenges as the construction now needs to deploy twice the amount of human and material resources to meet the deadline and if quality will not be compromised.

Recent visit to the site showed that CCECC has engaged more workforce who now work round the clock on the project.

Additional implements including excavators, skidsteer loaders, backhoe loaders, bulldozers, dump trucks, cranes, drilling rigs among others have also been

procured and deployed to the site as part of efforts to meet the deadline.

That should naturally cost them more and impact there profit margin at the end of their contract. But it is not very clear if the contract cost will be reviewed upward since the competition date has changed so the company can recoup its loses. But sources within the transportation ministry did say they may eventually happen.

Another issue some industry watchers are saying is that the deployment of additional construction equipment will have a negative impact on CCECC if at the end of the contract time, they don’t have a new project to deploy the new equipment they have bought to complete the Laos-Ibadan rail line contract. They wonder what will become of the additional specialized equipment the CCECC has deployed to do the job in other not to compromise quality.

However, a top ministry of transportation official who spoke to our correspondent on the matter under condition of anonymity said “whilst there is no talk on the contract review for now, it may eventually crop up because that is best practice except the contractor wants to let go.”

He explained that typically, “If gave you a contract to do and you said you will complete the job in 6 months at N1 million.

We agreed. You went to work and only for me to return to say I want the job in three months. There is no doubt you must certainly charge me additional money for an express job as you would have to deploy more hands and more equipment to complete the job to specification.” Even your local tailors will charge additional fee for an express job he said adding that this may also apply to the LagosIbadan rail project.

“Again, after CCECC has deployed so much equipment, resources and staff to the Lagos-Ibadan project and deliver on schedule, what happens to the equipment and other resources after the project,?

If there are no more projects to deploy the equipment on, what do they do with the huge equipment? Take them back to China and at whose cost?” he asked.

He also noted that the contractor may just “want

to have a good working relationship with the government for the future but the government if they don’t press for reviews.”

The contractor has declined comments over the additional costs issues and has declined comment on the subject matter.

Beyond the two bridges that will be demolished and rebuilt on the Lagos axis, several kilometers of gas, water pipes and telecoms cables, and an army barracks will have to be relocated among other issues. Also huge right of way would have been established in Abeokuta, according to contractor, it costs some billions of Naira to compensation those that will be affected by the construction. While it is still possible to pull the bulldozers and speed against time, the site managers say it requires speedy quick release of more funds to meet the exigency of time.

The Minister, in February during a recent inspection, announced new measures to tackle the issues to enable the contractor have a better experience. Amaechi told the contractor to avoid the 1,400 structures marked for demolition in Abeokuta.

“What we have suggested is that they should review the location of the train station in Abeokuta to avoid an area where we have too many buildings. If you observe, when we visited the area where we have so many buildings on the proposed station site of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project in Abeokuta, towards the left of that area is a huge expanse of land that has fewer or no structures on it.

We have told the contractor to look at the possible option of going towards the left, instead of going through the MKO Abiola Complex (in Abeokuta) and running through buildings behind it. It doesn’t involve any new engineering structure.

All they need do is move towards the left of the MKO Abiola Complex so that the path of the standard gauge project will avoid an area where we have too many houses,” he had suggested.

There is a caveat on that.

Mr. Amaechi said if the federal government agrees to go towards the left of the MKO Abiola Complex, “then we won’t be paying N2.8bn as compensation to property owners.”

On the Lagos axis Mr. Amaechi said a committee

Amaechi

to be chaired by the Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, with (representatives of) the CCECC, the Nigerian Army and the Lagos State Government as members has been set up. “This is because the Lagos State challenges are huge,” he acknowledged, adding that “We have oil pipelines and water pipelines, some belonging to the NNPC, some belonging to private investors and some belonging to the Lagos State Government. The committee members are to look at possible solutions to the problems, having at the back of their minds the deadline target of December 2018.”

But one thing is certain, as a result of the revised completion date of the project, the contractor has incurred additional costs, and this will impact its bottom line negatively. Will they be raising an invoice for a contract review?

Only time shall tell. The contractor had last year said it is focused on delivering the project by December 2018 as a mark of support to the federal government to enable it fulfill its promise to Nigerians. No doubt, the rail project, when functional will catalyze economic growth and social good in the country.

With the possible commencement of the laying of tracks by this April, the minister expects that the project will be delivered in December 2018 as planned.

The minister said the speed of the project by the CCECC had greatly increased compared to last year when he gave the revised completion date. “I am very impressed, the speed has increased. The doubt I had before whether we could achieve this project by the end of the year appears to be clearing,” Mr. Amaechi said.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

World Bank: Economic Growth In Africa To Hit 3.1% In 2018

BY ABAH ADAH, Abuja

Sub-Saharan Africa’s growth has been projected to reach 3.1 percent in 2018, and to average 3.6 percent in 2019– 20, Africa’s Pulse, a bi-annual analysis of the state of African economies conducted by the World Bank released yesterday has revealed.

According to the report, the growth forecasts are premised on expectations that oil and metals prices will remain stable, and that governments in the region will implement reforms to address macroeconomic imbalances and boost investment.

“Growth has rebounded in Sub-Saharan Africa, but not fast enough. We are still far from pre-crisis growth levels,” said Albert G. Zeufack, World Bank Chief Economist for the Africa Region. “African Governments must speed up and deepen macroeconomic and structural reforms to achieve high and sustained levels of growth.”

The report stated that the moderate pace of economic expansion reflects the gradual pick-up in growth in the region’s three largest economies, Nigeria, Angola and South Africa. Elsewhere, economic activity will pick

up in some metals exporters, as mining production and investment rise.

The projection says that among non-resource intensive countries, solid growth, supported by infrastructure investment, will continue in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), led by Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, even as growth prospects are said to have strengthened in most of East Africa, owing to improving agriculture sector growth following droughts and a rebound in private sector credit growth, adding that in Ethiopia, growth will remain high, as governmentled infrastructure investment continues.

“For many African countries, the economic recovery is vulnerable to fluctuations in commodity prices and production,” said Punam Chuhan-Pole, World Bank Lead Economist and the author of the report. “This underscores the need for countries to build resilience by pushing diversification strategies to the top of the policy agenda.”

Public debt relative to GDP is rising in the region, and the composition of debt has changed, as countries

SIFAX Group Wins Warri Port Concessioning For 25 Years

BY YUSUF BABALOLA, Lagos

The SIFAX Group-led consortium, Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited, has been declared the preferred bidder of Terminal B, Warri Old Port.

SIFAX Group beat other bidders to emerge the preferred bidder of the port at a meeting held at the Conference Room of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Abuja, yesterday.

The event had in attendance the representatives of the National Council for Privatisation (NCP), the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Infrastructural Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), among others.

The Expression of Interest for the port was advertised in 2014. At the deadline of the submission, of the EOIs, 13 applications were received.

Out of the 13 applications, seven were pre-qualified.

Out of these pre-qualified bidders, five were able to submit their technical and financial proposals on 31st January 2017, the deadline for submission of the proposals.

These five companies are Marine Infrastructure Consortium, Bright Ocean Integrated Services Limited, Ecomarine Consortium, Ocean and Cargo Terminal

Services Limited and Neon Warri Ports Consortium. At the end of the evaluation of the technical proposal, Ecomarine Consortium and Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited’s financial bids were qualified for the financial bid opening stage.

After the open transparent competitive bid process which is in line with international best practices, Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited was declared the concessionaire of Terminal B, Old Warrri Port.

The concession is for a period of 25 years.

Speaking immediately after the announcement, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, expressed his appreciation to both the BPE and NCP for the transparent exercise, adding that the concession will enjoy the same Midas touch that has now become the hallmark of SIFAX Group’s businesses.

He said: “This is a great news for us as a company to have led this consortium to win this very competitive bid.

While we are glad that we have emerged the preferred bidder, we are not unaware of the enormous responsibility this victory has conferred on us. However, it is a familiar territory for us having operated the Terminal C at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos successfully in the last 12 years.

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38 NATIONAL NEWS

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Lawal Joins Ekiti Guber Race

BY ALO ABIOLA, Ado Ekiti

L-R: Minister of State works and Housing, Hon. Mustapha Babasheluri; director Lands and Housing development Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Rev. Olurotimi Onabanjo; deputy director of the ministry, Great Edereka Angela (Mrs) and director planning research and GIS, Otunba Lukan at the 25th conference of directors of land in the federal and State ministries, department and agencies in Abuja, yesterday.

NOSDRA Act Has Loopholes – DG

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Har-

court

Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Sir Peter Irabor, has said that the Act establishing the agency has a lot of loopholes and needs to be amended.

Irabor, who made the call yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, while announcing the activation of the

National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP) for 2018 in the country, said the agency faces a lot of challenges in its operations as a result of the nonamendment of the Act. He said, “The Act establishing NOSDRA is one of the challenges facing us in the agency. We need to be like similar agencies in other countries like Norway and others. We want the Act to be reviewed. The NOSDRA Act as it is now has a lot of loopholes.

“We believe that the amendment of the Act will help to increase funding for the agency. We need new equipment; we need good office accommodation. We need helicopters to enable us fly to difficult terrains in the Niger Delta region. We need to be like similar agencies in other countries.”

The NOSDRA boss stated that the NOSCP is aimed at testing the effectiveness of the

Oshiomhole Can Redeem APC – Group

BY TUNDE OGUNTOLA, Abuja

The National Harvest-Time Coalition (NHTC) has endorsed the former governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the national chairmanship position of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the forthcoming national congress of the party.

The national coordinator

of NHTC, Ayanfe Somoye who endorsed him in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, said the former governor, stands-out morally and intellectually in terms of personal human capacity.

Somoye also encouraged all APC stakeholders to patriotically move beyond their internal sub-partisan interests and support Oshiomhole to make him the next national

chairman of the party.

He called on all APC youth and women stakeholders to take-up the urgent patriotic national duty of enthroning Comrade Adams Oshiomole as the next national chairman of the APC, saying that Oshiomole is APC’s best chance for redemption.

He noted that out of those who are being rumoured or mentioned as

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised the Engr Adebayo Dayo led executive as the legitimate Ogun State leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Before now, INEC and the national leadership of the PDP recognised Hon Sikirulai Ogundele as the

state chairman of the party.

The tussle over the leadership of the state party had led to several litigations, which culminated in a recent judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

However, in its letter dated 12th April, 2018 and entitled “Re: Gross Violation and Disrespect to Subsisting and Valid Judgment of Court by

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) With Respect to Recognition of Ogun State Executive Committee of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)” and addressed to the law firm of Ricky Tarfa (SAN), INEC said, “The Commission in compliance with the Judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1556/2017 delivered on 9th February,

2018 has notified the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party of its compliance with the said judgment.”

The commission in a separate letter with the same date but addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP, gave explanations for its decision to recognise the Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun executive of the party.

Group Faults Inclusion Of Ex-Customs Boss, Dikko On Looters List

BY KUNLE OLASANMI,

Abuja

The Committee of Concerned Customs Officers (CCCO) has faulted the inclusion of the former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Inde Dikko, on the list of alleged looters released by the federal government.

The group in a statement signed by Assistant Comptroller (AC) Jonah Amache exonerated Dikko from any involvement

in the looting of N40billion as claimed in the second list of alleged looters recently released by minister of Information, Lai Mohammed.

It claimed that Dikko served and retired voluntarily in 2015 without blemish and argued that, with the automation of the revenue collection process of the NCS, it was impossible for anyone to divert the services’ revenue under any guise.

Ekiti Guber: How SDP Will Dislodge PDP, APC – Aspirant

agency’s incident management structure (IMS) and assessing the emergency preparedness of all major stakeholders in oil spill containment and management. BY CHIBUZO UKAIBE, Abuja He said the plan is also aimed at ensuring effectiveness Ahead of the Ekiti State governorship in interagency collaboration election, the first aspirant under as a necessary ingredient the platform of Social Democratic in responding to oil spill Party (SDP) Oladele Aiyegbusi, has incidents, as well as assuring declared that the party has amassed clarity and understanding of the political grit to defeat the two roles and responsibilities of all major parties in the state namely, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and stakeholders.

All Progressives Congress (APC).

Aiyegbusi, a former banker, while speaking with newsmen after he secured his nomination form at the party’s secretariat, said SDP is possible contestants for APC national poised to reap from the crisis rocking chairmanship position none can be the PDP and APC in the state. compared to him.

He added that defectors from He said that APC’s 2015 “Change” both parties are already heading to slogan massively attracted Nigerians the SDP. to President Muhammadu Buhari He said, “The contest in 2018 is and the party, in the belief that between SDP and others. APC and it implies the urgent curbing of PDP will fight themselves to finish. corruption in Nigeria as the template Already, yesterday 79 PDP members for running a healthy, viable and defected to SDP. modern national economy.

PDP: INEC Recognises Adebayo Dayo-led Exco In Ogun

BY CHIBUZO UKAIBE, Abuja

Former Ekiti State deputy governor, Dr Sikiru Lawal, has indicated interest to vie for the July 14 governorship election in the state on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).

Lawal, who is a former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the number two citizen of the state during Engr Segun Oni’s administration, said his ambition doesn’t represent Muslim agenda in the state but for the generality of the people.

Lawal who had last week resigned his membership of the PDP, premised the action on alleged efforts by Governor Ayodele Fayose to impose his deputy, Prof Kolapo Olusola on the party.

It attributed his travails to some interest groups who are bent on maligning his good name having tried unsuccessfully to drag him into partisan politics.

Part of the statement reads: “With the reforms Dikko introduced, the process of revenue collection is now water-tight and absolutely shielded from manipulation and unauthorised access by anybody, no matter how highly placed.

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ISSUES 45

Why The New Excise Duty On Tobacco Should Stay

BY AYODELE RICHARD OJO Last month’s call by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) that the federal government halt the proposed hike in the excise duty on tobacco products starting from June 4, 2018 is not all together unanticipated.

But the fact that it is the umbrella body of manufacturers that spoke on behalf of the tobacco entities is what makes the call suspect.

The suspicion arises from the fact that tobacco transnationals like the British America Tobacco Nigeria (BATN), Philip Morris Nigeria International Limited and other tobacco entities with limitless financial muscle are members of the body and have all it takes to call the shots in MAN. The alarm about likely job losses (surprisingly computed quickly and put at 20,000 workers) and possible shut down of the tobacco entities operating in Nigeria, hold no logic when viewed in the light of contemporary examples of

countries that have hiked tobacco excise duty to safeguard the lives of their citizens.

Within our own Africa, countries like Algeria, South Africa and Gambia have in place 38.14 per cent, 36.52 per cent and 30 per cent excise duty respectively on tobacco products compared with Nigeria’s just-announced cumulative specific excise duty rate for tobacco which is calculated at 23.2 per cent of the price of the most sold brands.

Finance Minister, Dr. Kemi Adeosun had announced last month that the new policy would be spread over a threeyear period from 2018 to 2020 to moderate the impact on the prices of the products. Ironically, the new rates fall far short of the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Article 6 of its Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) that countries implement 70% excise on tobacco products.

According to the WHO, policies to control tobacco use, including tobacco

tax and price increases, can generate significant government revenues for health and development work as well as protect people’s health from leading causes of death such as cancers and heart disease.

With a recent report by the Africa Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA) showing that Nigeria is among ten key African nations particularly targeted by the tobacco industry for marketing of cigarettes in single sticks it can be said that the federal government’s policy to hike excise duty on tobacco at this time is indeed timely.

A previous survey carried out by the Environmental Rights Action and the Ibadanbased Nigeria Tobacco Control Research Group (NTCRG) also showed deliberate targeting of kids by the tobacco industry through marketing of cigarettes in sticks near schools. This practice was and is still prevalent in five states – Lagos, Oyo, Enugu, Kaduna and Nassarawa.

The job loss myth that

the MAN is championing has been debunked time and again. Tobacco control does not harm economies. The number of jobs dependent on tobacco has been falling in most countries, largely due to technological innovations and privatization of once stateowned manufacturing.

In Nigeria for instance, the job loss argument cannot hold water since BATN– the biggest tobacco manufacturing company in Nigeria has an automated plant manufacturing billions of sticks of cigarettes in Ibadan. The factory is supposedly world class and requires little human effort aside starting the machines. Activists have time and again said the company employs less than a thousand Nigerians and demanded that the company make public the number of its employees to justify its constant alarm about job losses whenever tobacco control policies are in the horizon.

Whichever way, it cannot be argued that with the aggressive marketing of tobacco by

tobacco entities, if Nigeria does not take very drastic steps an epidemic will follow. The response of the federal government to MAN should be to totally discountenance its call.

It is unacceptable for the body to cry wolf on the new policy even when the decision to adopt it was taken after an allinclusive meeting between the Tariff Technical Committee of the Federal Ministry of Finance and key industry stakeholders.

Looking beyond the issue at stake, what Nigerians want the government to do is for it to ensure full implementation of the policy and commencement of enforcement of the nine key provisions of the National Tobacco Control (NTC) Act announced by the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole on May 31, 2017. The Act prohibits smoking in public places and bans sale of cigarettes in single sticks and to persons below 18 years of age, among others.

–Ojo wrote in from Ilorin.

Kazaure: Charting A New Course For NYSC

BY STELLAMARIES AMUWA

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme was established in 1973 during the Gen. Yakubu Gowon administration to among others, forge national unity and inculcate the spirit of nationalism among the Nigerian youths.

So far, the scheme has done its best towards achieving these noble dream, but there is yet another goal to be achieved, which is, the creation of job through its Community Development Service (CDS) by engaging outstanding corps members into various federal government agencies through their CDS groups.

The 17th DirectorGeneral of the Scheme, Brigadier General Sulaiman Zakari Kazaure, has achieved a milestone in the history of the NYSC since his assumption of office. The appointment of a personality who is not only qualified, but has the right attitude, experience and pedigree to pilot the affairs of the Scheme is imperative.

Kazaure, who recently completed two years in office, came to the job with an impressive profile – a doctorate degree in Chemistry

and accomplishments in various positions in the military establishment.

Since assumption of office two years ago, Gen Kazaure has been gradually turning around the fortunes of the 44 years old Scheme. On assumption, he evaluated the challenges of his office occasioned by the need to upgrade camp facilities in NYSC orientation camps nationwide.

Kazaure has also succeeded in charting a new course towards rediscovering the optimism of the founding fathers of the NYSC which is to build a united, strong, prosperous and self reliant nation.

And this has attracted deserved recognition and awards for him, including the Fellowship of Chemical Society of Nigeria and Outstanding Northern Nigeria Alumnus award from the LEADERSHIP Newspapers.

As a good manager of human resources, Kazaure believes that motivation of staff is the surest way to get the best out of them. This informed his unwavering commitment to evolving confidence in building measures aimed at engendering industrial harmony. It is on record that on assumption of duty he immediately cleared

the backlog of unpaid staff entitlements and restored other statutory staff allowances. In addition, a greater percentage of staff of the scheme that sat for promotion exam in the past two years were promoted.

He upgraded the NYSC staff clinic with the procurement of state of the art facilities. These measures have raised the morale of the staff to new heights.

Cognisance of the fact that it is the statutory responsibility of state governments to build and maintain orientation camps, Kazaure embarked on advocacy visits to state governors to appeal to them to renovate and upgrade their orientation camps. Dividends of these visits are already reflecting in the increased provision and expansion of facilities in NYSC orientation camps by a good number of state governments as enshrined in the NYSC Act. He launched an intervention programme which saw many camps like Zamfara and Enugu bedeviled by perennial water scarcity getting boreholes while Kano, Kwara, Bayelsa and Benue states got power generators. Many camps have equally benefitted

from the provision of water tankers, double bunk beds, mattresses, renovation of accommodation facilities and other projects aimed at upgrading facilities to make the camps more conducive for corps members and camp officials during orientation exercises.

In addition, ambulances, Hilux vans and 166 motor bikes have been procured and distributed to state secretariats of NYSC to aid effective supervision and monitoring of corps members.

Another monumental achievement recorded under Kazaure’s administration, include the resuscitation and revitalisation of vital but moribund projects and programmes of the NYSC. In line with the federal government agenda to diversify the economy through harnessing the country’s potentials in the non oil sector, the scheme under Kazaure’s leadership has begun resuscitating its moribund agricultural projects through the establishment of integrated farm settlements in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country. Four of them located in the FCT, Bauchi, Kebbi and Oyo states are already operational and equipped with modern farm

implements, In order to increase the visibility of the scheme, the NYSC D-G has invigorated the existing programmes and collaborations of the scheme with many government and non governmental organisations and brought on board new ones including the partnership with the European Union and the Pan African Institute for Global Affairs and Strategy (PAIGAS) – all aimed at checking and ensuring proper enlightenment.

Similarly, the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers programme of the NYSC has been intensified by General Kazaure. The progamme takes free healthcare delivery on monthly and quarterly basis to rural dwellers that have little or no access to health facilities through the corps’ health personnel in all the NYSC formations. The Kazaureled administration has, through this project, distributed 150 wheel chairs to physically challenged persons across the country. This has further enhanced the impact and visibility of the scheme nationwide.

–Stellamaries is an editorial staff of LEADERSHIP Newspaper

Kazaure has succeeded in charting a course towards rediscovering the optimism of the founding fathers of the NYSC which is to build a united, strong, prosperous and self reliant nation

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JDSC Boss Advocates Grassroots Football Dev

BY WALE AYENI, ABUJA The chief organiser of Jeun Garden Super Cup, Ada Mark has reiterated the need for Nigeria to focus more on grassroots football development to foster the national peace and unity among the citizens.

He made the call at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Jeun Garden Super Cup competition held at Jeun Madaki playing pitch in Masaka, Nasarawa State, yesterday.

“We will continue to lend our unflinching support towards youth development in a competition like this, while we expect the young players to be diligent in their studies.

“We expect the players to display high level of discipline, fair play and always abide by the rule. We would support their endeavours to foster peace and unity among the youths in the country, ’’she said.

In the same vein, the project manager of the competition, Rose Ataguba, said the tournament will achieve its objectives of developing youths at the grassroots.

“The aim and objective of the competition is to give equal opportunities to all our young ones, motivate them so that they can represent our nation tomorrow and bring the desired change in youth development.

“We also want them to continue with their education which is the key to any achievement in life.

I am a product of developmental programme like this, and I urge them to remain focused, be humble and put God first in whatever they are going into. ’’ In the opening match of the tournament, defending champions Sajaf Yerima FC loss 1-0 to Jeun United.

Abara, Obi Win LBA Award

Niger Tornadoes head coach Hamza Abara and Abia Warriors striker Samson Obi have been named the Manager and Player for March in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) respectively by the League Bloggers Awards (LBA).

LBA announced the winners on Wednesday from a shortlist of eight nominees earlier in the week.

Abara has been particularly impressive in his interim role as head coach at Tornadoes since he took charge from Erasmus Onuh who was relieved of his managerial duties in February.

In March, Abara led Niger Tornadoes to an unbeaten streak in their four outings including draws at Kano Pillars and Niger Tornadoes. Abara also guided Tornadoes to wins at home over champions Plateau United (1-0) and Sunshine Stars (1-0) to cap a fine performance in the month under review.

Akwa United’s Abdu Maikaba, Solomon Ogbeide of Lobi Stars and Emmanuel Deutsch of Abia Warriors were the other nominees for the manager’s award in March.

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WORLD CUP

No Cause For Alarm, Eagles Will Be Fully Prepared – Pinnick …Says $2.8m for players’ bonus ready …To attach trainers to goalkeepers

BY SALIFU USMAN, ABUJA President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has played down allusions that the federation may be facing challenges preparing the Super Eagles for the summer FIFA World Cup in Russia, saying everything is in order and there is no cause for alarm.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, the CAF Executive Committee member, said he is fully in charge of Super Eagles’ World Cup preparation and he will leave no stone unturned to ensure that Nigeria had a successful campaign at the Mundial.

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government for create enabling environment and stability in football for NFF to thrive.

“We are not facing any challenge, and I would like to thank the government of Nigeria for creating an enabling environment for us thrive. The government has given us all the support and more importantly created that stability we always sought for in football.

The government has really done well by giving us financial support to reach our goal. I thank the Minister, who has been a major supporter of our programme.

“Talking about the World Cup, I don’t think we have any issue because I speak to the technical officials, especially the coaches every day, and I am also in touch with the technical committee.

“I am totally in charge of the World Cup and I don’t delegate functions that are crucial because the desire of every Nigerian is for Super Eagles to do well at the World Cup. “So, I don’t think there is any challenge. We had a meeting with the team in November and we signed agreement with them that 30 percent of the FIFA money which is $2.8billion will be pay to them. I am a very transparent person and every detail on bonus for each match and up to the final as well as share of income from FIFA money was agreed on.

“I am not one of the presidents of the federation that don’t talk about money and you find every detail of it. The $2.8m we agreed with the players is almost 100 percent already for them to collect whenever they come. We met couple of State governments and even made presentation to FIFA in raising the money and I can assure that the money is 100% certain for them to collect, “he stated.

He also revealed that the NFF will

shoulder the responsibility of flying the Congolese national team to/fro Nigeria for the next month friendly match against Eagles in Uyo. “We are making an arrangement to fly in the Congolese national team because that is our responsibility. We are not going to give them any money. We would bring them here, stay for two days and take them back to their country after the match. They are like 10 steps ahead of us in FIFA Ranking and we just want to humble them here and before going to England. The tickets for Nigeria/England match is almost sold out and it will a good game.

The match would play at the Wembly June 2, and from then we would go to play Czech Republic in Austria on June 6, before moving to Russia for World Cup. As is it, I think everything is going on smoothly and I would thank Nigerians, especially the media for their support.”

When asked about the goalkeeping

crisis facing the team, he said plans are underway to dispatch goalkeeper trainers to all the national team keepers including Dele Alampasul, Ezenwa, Akpeyi and the Spain based goalkeeper, Francis Uzohu for one on one training ahead of the World Cup.

CAF Declares Samson Siasia Stadium Unfit For Int’l Matches

BY OSA OKHOMINA, YENAGOA The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yesterday written off the Bayelsa State owned Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, declaring it unfit for international football matches.

CAF medical committee member, Dr Peter Singabele said the continental body came to the decision after the stadium failed rain flood control test, on Tuesday.

Speaking during the Restoration Cup Draws and Kits Presentation Ceremony in Yenagoa, Singabele said if nothing is done fast, the situation may affect the chances of the state owned teams from us-

ing the newly renovated stadium.

Reacting to the decision of CAF, the governor of the State, Hon. Seriake Dickson, said last year the state government made full payment for the construction of a standard drainage system at the stadium to Monimichele Construction Company.

According to him, the government also paid upfront for the refurbishment of the

turf at the stadium but wondered why the stadium cannot be put to use for international football matches.

“Bayelsans are my witnesses. I have no hand in the delay of the construction of the Stadium; rather it is the contractor that is indebted to Bayelsa state. I hereby call on the contractor to complete the project with immediate effect.”

Kaduna Golf Club Captain, Biu Clocks 63

Siasia

The Captain of the Kaduna Golf Club, Colonel Ibrahim Biu, clocked 63 years of age last week, at the same period, the wife, Mariam, eased out perfectly from the Civil Service at the age of 60 years, what a sweet coincidence.

To celebrate, husband and wife headed for the Kaduna Golf Club to stage a huge kitty that accommodated some 150 golfers from mainly the northern region. The success of the tourney said much of how highly the Bius were regarded.

When it was all over with a sumptuous dinner and a dance party, Col. Biu would not dwell on his rich Military ca-

reer that revolved around past Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida.

He dwelled on his times with golf that is clocking about same years as his age.

For instance, he was the competition secretary of the revered Kaduna Golf Club as far back as two decades ago.

“All my life I have known what service to the people is all about,” Biu said. “Whatever I do, I apply myself 100 percent. That is me. When I came in as Captain of the Club, I told myself I would turn this great club around. From nowhere the club just died and I told myself I would make it great again. I could be very lucky. I mean a member

of the Board of Trustees of the Club and Chairman of the Pinnacle Communications, Sir Lucky Omoluwa just provided us with funds and we turned around things. The same Pinnacle gave us our first Pro-Am tourney after 20 years.

“Sponsoring a tourney to mark my birthday and wife’s great service to the Civil Service is to make a clarion call to all members of this Club that we must celebrate our birthdays with Kitties. This is the only way the Club can grow from might to might. Let me tell you, a club that doesn’t play tourneys regularly is not functional. We in Kaduna will not be classed as that.”

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SPORTS 47

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CAF CONFEDERATION CUP Enyimba Advance To Group Stages, Akwa United Out Contrasting fortunes for Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs in the CAF Confederation Cup as Akwa United crashed out of the competition on the away goals rule defeated to Al Hilal of Sudan, while Enyimba advanced to the group stages after played out a 0-0 draw against visting Bidvest Wits in Calabar, yesterday.

Enyimba clinched the tie on the away goals rule, having held Wits to a 1-1 stalemate about two weeks ago in Johannesburg. It’s the third successive year that the Clever Boys fail to make it into the group stages of a continental tournament.

Akwa United crashed out of the competition on the away goals rule despite defeating Al Hilal of Sudan 3-1 in the second leg of their play-off tie at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, yesterday.

The Promise Keepers lost out 3-3 on the away goals rule after the first leg

CEO Kaduna Electric Bags SWAN Award Of Excellence BY ISAIAH KADUNA

ended 2-0 in Sudan.

AI-Hilal skipper Basheer stunned hosts Akwa United in the 28th minute, tapping in a rebound after goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke had spilled a fierce shot.

Michael Ibe restored parity for the Promise Keepers in the final minute of the first half.

Four minutes into the second half, Ibe finished off Haggai Katoh’s delightful pass to make it 2-1 for Akwa United.

Home Eagles forward Gabriel Okechukwu came close in making it 3-1 for Akwa United but his free-kick was tipped away the Al Hilal goalkeeper.

Ibe completed his hat-trick in the 69th minute from the spot after Aniekeme was fouled in the box by an Al Hilal player.

Akwa United join Plateau United who also failed to advance to the group stage of the competition, while Enyimba FC of Aba qualified for the group stages on away goals

The managing director and chief executive officer of the Kaduna Electric, Engr. Garba Haruna has bagged the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Kaduna State chapter’s award of excellence.

The award ceremony which took place at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium also featured a friendly match between SWAN team and Kaduna Electric FC as part of the activities for the award.

The keenly competitive match saw the Kaduna Electric team outplayed the members of the pen profession to the admiration of the dignitaries and spectators, who cheered both teams.

Although the first half of the match was goalless, the Kaduna Electric returned stronger and won 2-1.

On the essence of the award, Kaduna State SWAN Chairman, Isaiah Benjamin said the award was in recognition of the MD/ CEOs contributions to sports, particularly among the workforce.

He however emphasized that, “SWAN award is not for sale but place in Mexi- only awarded to those who merited it and have demonstrated their co in August this commitment towards sports devel-

Osinbajo Lauds Team Nigeria For Robotics Olympics Performance

BY CHIMA AKWAJA, LAGOS

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has praised the effort of Team Nigeria to the First Global Robotic Olympics in Washington DC, U.S. for their outstanding performance at the challenge.

He made the commendation while receiving the six-member team, their project director, mentor and sponsors to last event.

According to Osinbajo, Nigeria has so many young talents who could do the nation proud in any international competition.

“We very strongly believe that this country

has the talent and these young people demonstrated it eloquently. They have the talent and the creativity and all that it takes to make the kind of difference that could be done in technology,” he said. He said that he was glad that they youth were working in teams which was the best way to go adding that it was an indication that personalized achievement was no longer viable.

He said that having seen a team of dedicated young people the government would have to support and encourage them. Osinba-

4th Seed Garaganga Crashes Out Of Tombim Open

Zimbabwean fourth seed, Takanyi Garaganga was the major casualty of the second round at the Tombim Open in Abuja, yesterday following a 6-3, 6-4 defeat by Stephan Gerritsen of the Netherlands.

Garaganga has been one of the frequent participants at the ITF pro circuit tournaments in the Nigerian capital and have strong support from the locals but there was not much he could do to stop his European opponent, who came into the main draw from the qualifying rounds.

There was no such problem for top

seed, Markus Eriksson of Sweden as he scaled the hurdle of Alexis Klogou of Benin although he had to dig deep to bag a 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 win in a match that lasted 2hours 45 minutes.

Austrian second seed, Maximiliano Neuchrist also joined the quarterfinal train with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 win over Dalwinder Singh of India same for Tuki Jacob, a Namibian wild card beneficiary, who secured a 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Frenchman Remi Boutillier.

Danylo Kalenichenko of Ukraine also advanced by beating Dalwinder Singh of India 6-4, 6-3 while Jelle Sels, the fifth seed from the Netherlands, also progressed with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Indian Karunuday Singh. Another Indian was at the receiving end of a defeat as Aryan Goveas bowed to Brazilian seventh seed, Joao Menezes 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

jo said he looked forward to a better outing of

Team Nigeria in the next Olympic challenge taking

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Re:APC And The Guest Columnist Dearth Of Leadership PETER OCHE

Y

our piece in this column of March 22, 2018 was a saviour. Let me start by congratulating the teeming APC supporters nationwide for the decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) held on March 27, to return the party to its lawful duty of conducting congresses against the tyranny sponsored by some elements within the party.

To go for congresses is not only the most popular decision to allow the members to exercise their franchise, but also to adhere to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act and the APC Constitution.

I also congratulate Mr. President for coming out to lead that decision on that fateful day. The proponents of the no-elections/congresses are well known to all of us within the APC. Those are the proponents of the tenure elongation who unfortunately

are not yet done with the matter; they have gone further to come up with various theories against the populist view of submitting to the will of the electorate.

There is no gainsaying the fact that those proponents of tenure elongation/ and doctrine of the no-election/ congresses belong within.

The following state governors are in the forefront of that category: Kaduna State Governor, Kogi State Governor, Kano State Governor and Bauchi State Governor, with the national chairman as the largest beneficiary.

Having fought and won the battle of tenure elongation against those proponents, they have come up with another back window, back stabbing tactics and antics against the APC and its supporters.

They have come up with the Doctrine of Affirmation.

Ordinarily the term affirmation looks very harmless, but the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the APC Constitution are

Oyegun

intended to protect the rights of common party faithful. It is intended to satisfy the rights of the card carrying members to vote, and for their vote to count. It is intended to provide for internal democracy and protect same by allowing all the card carrying followers to exercise their franchise in choosing their leaders at various party congresses.

The provision was not intended to protect the selfish needs of a few individuals as exemplified by the Governors and few other elements who want to castigate the essence of democracy.

Our position is clear.

For the weakest part of the membership to be protected their leaders both party/ Legislative, and executive must be responsible, act responsibly and be seen to be so.

The different amendments proposed in the Electoral Act 2010 by the National Assembly recently are

intended to dilute the idea of super delegates, and also make it possible for people in positions of authority like, the governors, to be tamed and neutralised.

The APC Leadership which Muhammadu Buhari is undoubtedly in control of must rise to the challenge to insist that in those states where conflict has clearly arisen, the APC does the needful; that is, that justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done.

In doing this, the process of appointment of the state congress committee of these four states – Bauchi, Kogi, Kaduna and Kano – must be completely transparent.

The president must keep under his hat that leaving such process to go through the ordinary traditional route will produce screwed result which will not augur well for the party, and the millions of supporters of APC from those key APC states.

When the party faithful, the talakawas in those states, see that Mr. President stands to ensure that justice is done, they will be assured of the legacy of fair play and justice which they identify with Buhari-Sai Maigaskiya.

The national chairman had before now taken sides with the four states already mentioned. The National chairman cannot do justice in those four states in constituting the state congress committees. There is more than ample reliable reasons to expect a skewed process from those four states as far as the national chairman is concerned.

It is the expectation of APC supporters in the states that it will take only the intervention of God and Mr. President for the followership to receive a fair deal.

This decision of carrying out congresses all over the country is the best decision that has ever happened to the APC since its birth and inception in 2014.

The decision for the congresses to hold accordingly is the best yet.

While the PDP is jostling to scoop the remnants of followers arising from the perceived injustice expected after the tenure elongation scheme which failed woefully, the next stage to safeguard the party is to conduct transparent congresses.

If the APC wishes to succeed as a young four year old party against its older siblings, it must implement the decision to allow due process in the conduct of the congresses.

The point must be made clear that President Muhammadu Buhari abhors injustice, particularly

when it is meted out on the talakawas, especially from people who pose as influential or important, who jostle and plan the greatest crime against the people – the crime of stealing their votes.

If publishing lists of people who have stolen public funds is a virtue, then allowing high profile influential people to steal votes is a worse crime.

It is robbery against innocent masses. It gives fake mandate to influential people against their people. It is raping the virginity of our democracy.

History, as you usually say, is on the side of the oppressed.

For INEC, this is the single most important democratic event yet to be determined – that is, the over 300,000 different party positions for the ruling party to be contested for.

If democracy is what the constitution prescribes, if democracy is what the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, has prescribed, if democracy is what the APC has prescribed, then INEC must allow transparent congresses as the only bitter pill to swallow.

GHANA MUST GO Senator Omo-Agege leads thugs to seize senate mace

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