Leadership epaper 6th april 2018

06.04.18

No. 256

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

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N250

NIGERIA'S FIRST FRIDAY NEWSPAPER

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UNDER-RECOVERY ON PETROL HITS N1.4TRN – KACHIKWU ➔ PAGE 21

OPEC DAILY CRUDE OIL PRICE

NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES (AS AT APRIL 5) DOLLAR

POUNDS

INTERBANK – BLACK MARKET

INTERBANK – BLACK MARKET INTERBANK – BLACK MARKET

ABUJA

305.6

360

429.12

495 375.46

430

LAGOS

305.6

362

429.12

505 375.46

443

KANO

305.6

362

429.12

505 375.46

443

P/HARCOURT

305.6

361

429.12

494 375.46

430

STATES

EURO

“Our two organizations have become increasingly complementary to each other. More importantly, the ‘boundaries’ and divergences of opinion that existed between our organizations have faded” Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, OPEC Secretary General, during the visit of the IEA Delegation to the OPEC Secretariat, 4 April 2018, Vienna, Austria 04/04/2018 US$64.48

03/04/2018

US$64.98

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MELAYE ASKS SUPREME COURT ➔ PAGE 14 TO DECLARE RECALL PROCESS ILLEGAL

Forex: BDCs Urge CBN To Harmonise Rate To Save Jobs 23

My Appointments Are Based On Merit – PMB Explains reluctance to sign economic partnership agreement 6

FG Turns To Lottery Proceeds As Oil Revenue Declines Set to review National Lottery Act 2005

BY BODE GBADEBO, Abuja

Against the backdrop of the current instability in the nation’s oil revenue, the federal government has said that it will do everything humanly possible to revitalise the lottery industry given the R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari, national chairman, Arewa Pastors Non-Denominational Initiative for Peace, Bishop John Richard; Archbishop Musa Usman Katsina; Bishop Adamu Danja, during their visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN

Senate Asks FG To Blacklist Banks Over Forex Abuses

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➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Pregnant Women Protest 44 High Medical Bills In Ondo

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Welcome! PIGB, But…

he passage into law of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) by the National Assembly is, according to industry watchers, a milestone in the efforts of the government to reform the oil and gas sector to enable it meet the nation’s aspirations in terms of availing Nigerians, the benefits accruable from the resource. The Legislative arm of government, on its part, sees it as a vindication of the strategy it adopted to unbundle the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which was perceived to be unwieldy and broke it into manageable units.

Other units expected to complement PIGB are the Petroleum Industry Administration Bill, the Petroleum Host Community Fund Bill and the Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill.

These are likely to generate robust discussions that will guide the lawmakers in the process of putting in place, a sustainable legal framework for the oil industry as a whole.

We recall that the plan to put in place the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) commenced during the Obasanjo administration with the formation of the Oil and Gas Implementation Committee (OGIC) headed by a former Petroleum Minister, the late Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman. The objectives of the bill when it was introduced were specific and had to do with the following: increase petroleum exploration and production, boost domestic gas supply, establish a viable national oil company, create an efficient regulatory entity, and enhance transparency and accountability in the industry, among others. The bill generated an unwholesome controversy that delayed its passage and which in turn caused the country a humongous loss in investment put at well over N3 trillion annually. The realisation of this unacceptable development propelled the Buhari administration into action, on assumption of office, and resulted in the split of PIB into four named above.

The PIGB is aimed at establishing the Nigerian Petroleum Regulatory Commission as a one-stop regulator that will be responsible for licensing, monitoring, supervising petroleum operations, as well as enforcing industry laws, regulations and standards. With this, it is to be

understood that the president will no longer have the executive powers to allocate oil blocks among other hitherto exclusive functions. The commission is vested with the power to make regulations, similar to the powers of the minister of petroleum resources under the Petroleum Act, but the PIGB enables the minister to retain certain powers of discretion to “do all such other things as are

incidental and necessary” for the performance of his ministerial functions.

It is expected that apart from job creation and improved domestic gas supplies for power generation, the PIGB requires government to privatise up to 40 per cent of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC’s) shareholding within 10 years of the commission’s

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Dele Fanimo

POLITICAL DIRECTOR/ STATE HOUSE Jonathan Nda-Isaiah EDITOR Winifred Ogbebo

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Christian Ochiama

DEPUTY EDITOR Bode Gbadebo ASSOCIATE EDITOR Michael Oche GENERAL EDITOR Silas Ezeugwu

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

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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!

incorporation. The government, by the provisions of the bill, must give up at least 10 per cent of its shares within the first five years and an additional 30 per cent over a period of another five years.

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru, in expressing his support for the governance spectrum of PIGB, however, challenged the National Assembly to take a comprehensive look at the issues in the oil and gas sector and make bold legislations that could engender enduring reforms.

He averred that an extensive consultation was not only required but was also necessary when the other segments such as fiscal terms and host communities are to be considered. We share his opinion that taking that needed step will aggregate views and opinions of industry stakeholders and coalesce same into a balance that will attract the much needed investments while ensuring a decent government-take in terms of oil and gas revenue.

Baru said that the major complaint by operators in the industry was that of multiple taxation which include statutory contributions to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as well as sundry expenses on security.

The NNPC boss insisted that the industry required a system that works and suggested that if the 3 per cent, 13 per cent or any other statutory allocation for development was not working, then other measures that could work to replace the present system where operators pay multiple taxes and yet have to pay much more extra to secure their investments ought to be designed and put in place.

In our view, the PIGB is a welcome development in the nation’s oil and gas sector of the economy. We also share the concerns of NNPC especially with regard to its interest in the segment of the PIB relating to the fiscal terms and urge all involved in the reform process to do the needful so as to ensure that the aims and objectives of the bill yield optimum beneficial returns for all stakeholders.

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Group News Editor: Ekele Peter Agbo

NEMA Board Suspends 6 Top Directors

BY EJIKE EJIKE, Abuja

The Board of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has suspended six directors of the agency indefinitely.

A statement by the head Media and Public Relations, Sani Datti, said the suspension of the affected officials by the newly-inaugurated board was

in connection with the ongoing probe of the finances of NEMA by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The financial years being reviewed by the anti-graft agency are from 2011 to 2015.

Those placed on suspension are the Director of Finance and Accounts, Akinbola Hakeem Gbolahan; Ag. Director, Special Duties, Mr. Umesi Emeni-

ke; Director, Risk Reduction, Mallam Alhassan Nuhu; Pilot in-charge Air Ambulance and Aviation Unit, Mr. Mamman Ali Ibrahim; the Chief Maintenance Officer, Mr. Ganiyu Yunusa Deji; and the Director of Welfare, Mr. Kanar Mohammed.

The EFCC had in a report to the Presidency recommended the disciplinary measure in

order to enable it to conduct unhindered investigation and have access to vital records.

Based on the EFCC’s recommendation, the Board of NEMA approved the suspension and directed the management to give effect to its decision.

The Board also mandated the management of NEMA to cooperate fully with the EFCC in the ongoing probe.

Mbu Scores PMB High On Security, Anti-corruption War

BY TUNDE OGUNTOLA, Abuja

Senator Mathew Mbu Jr has scored President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government high on security and anti-corruption war.

Speaking at the pre-book launch news conference of the book, “Dignity in Service’’ written in honour of the Late Amb. Mathew Tawo Mbu, in Abuja, yesterday, Senator Mbu noted that the current administration has toed the path of a secure and corruption-free Nigeria.

He said, “My father, in his autobiography, he advised the President of Nigeria to properly articulate its agenda and reduce the

bogus listed items to three: free and fair election, security, reduce the quantum of corruption that is visible within the corridors of power, if these are achieved Nigerians in their ingenuity will fashioned out the rest in no time. ‘’MT Mbu proposed this to former President Goodluck Jonathan but today, President Buhari is exceptionally doing well in the three listed items proposed by my father.”

He also called for the promotion of things that bind the nation together such as strong institutions and constant cooperation. ‘’Now is the time to build new bridges across the country. Now is the time to join together through

constant cooperation, strong institutions, shared sacrifice and a commitment to progress to meet up the challenges of the 21st century,’’ he said.

On Bakassi, Sen Mbu said former President Olusegun Obasanjo went to court with nothing. ‘’He went without even asking for plebiscite. He went and came back empty handed, he handed over the Bakassi without making any serious effort. It is never done,’’ he said.

He also decried that Obasanjo did not make any legislative consultation during the process. ‘’Where did Obasanjo get the two-third to give away part of Nigeria? The federal government

with Obasanjo as president acted in breach of the Nigerian constitution. ‘’The National Assembly could have declined the implementation of the Green Tree Agreement under section 12 of the constitution thereby depriving it of any force of law domestically. Was the National Assembly properly informed?’’ he asked.

He said that is why MT Mbu was inclined to say that Obasanjo was hoping to impress the international community and be hailed for avoiding war.

He added that ‘’Obasanjo was gunning for Nobel Peace Prize, to be in the same column as As Gore and Nelson Mandela.’’

L-R: Minister of state for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu; minister of Agricultural and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; minister of Industry,Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah; Vice President, Prof.Yemi Osinbajo; minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi, and minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen Udoma Udo Udoma, at the meeting of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), Focus Mid-Lab Syndication, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN

Osun 2018: Omisore Dumps PDP

BY JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo

Former deputy governor and gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 gubernatorial election in Osun State, Senator Christopher Iyiola Omisore has dumped the party.

The decision was made known to newsmen yesterday by Dr. Bayo Faforiji, a factional leader of the party at the end of a meeting held in Osogbo.

Faforiji said his faction cannot be guaranteed level playing ground at the forthcoming primary of the party.

He however declined to mention the party the faction will be joining, adding that the party will be made known at the end of the month.

Omisore, who is the former chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, is currently nursing the ambition to become the governor of Osun State. He has taken steps at various times to achieve his ambition.

Meanwhile, the Osun State chairman of the PDP, Hon Soji Adagunodo has described as “hasty, needless and unfortunate” the decision of Omisore to dump the party at this time.

He expressed surprise at the conduct of the party members who allegedly burnt PDP flag yesterday in spite of several efforts being made by leaders of the party at the national and state levels to reconcile them with the mainstream of the party.

Adagunodo reminded Otunba Omisore of the fact that it was the PDP that God used to save him from political annihilation in the Alliance for Democracy and subsequently made him a ranking senator who rose to become the chairman of the Appropriation Committee of the Senate.

Benue Reps Decry Withdrawal Of Troops, Reject Self Defence

BY ADEBIYI ADEDAPO, Abuja

The Benue State caucus in the House of Representatives has decried withdrawal of military troops of Operation Cat Race from the state, in the face of herdsmen’s attacks.

This is just as the lawmakers confirmed that over 15 people lost their lives to herdsmen attacks as recently as the Easter period.

The caucus, however, rejected suggestions by the former minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), that Nigerians should defend themselves against attacks.

While describing the withdrawal

of troops as suspicious, condemnable and ill-advised, the lawmakers said they would not encourage the people of Benue to embark on selfhelp capable of leading to a state of anarchy.

Members of the caucus during a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, protested the withdrawal of Operation Cat Race without consultation with the people of the state while a similar military exercise in Taraba State was extended by two months.

According to the statement jointly signed by John Dyegh, Dickson Tarkhighin, Emmanuel Udende and Mark Gbilah, the lawmakers won-

dered if preferential treatment was given to Taraba State by the federal government based on Gen Danjuma (rtd) factor while Benue was ignored because there was no such voice to present their situation.

“As it was with the New Year attacks, the herdsmen have been on rampage in several communities in Guma, Gwer-west and Logo local government areas (LGAs) since the day after Easter killing and maiming women and children and destroying homes and farmland without any intervention by security operatives even though the federal government’s exercise Cat Race or

“Ayem A Kpatema” is supposed to be in place.”

The lawmakers expressed concernover the withdrawal of personnel of exercise Cat Race from Benue when the herdsmen menace has not been curbed.

“We view this decision as very suspicious, condemnable and ill-advised and leaves one to wonder about the military’s strategy or lack of it in the fight against the killer herdsmen,” the lawmakers added.

The caucus expressed concern that the intervention of the federal government has not yielded the expected result. It claimed that even in the

presence of the troops the law on anti-open grazing was brazenly violated, while killings have continued unabated.

“We are worried that there is still no evidence of the disarming of these killer herdsmen by the military, police or any other security agency and the apparent refusal by the police to enforce the Open Grazing Prohibition Law constitutionally enacted by the Benue State House of Assembly which has emboldened the flagrant disregard of the law by the herdsmen who continue to openly graze cattle in several communities of the state with impunity.

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My Appointments Are Based On Merit – PMB JONATHAN NDA - ISAIAH, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday rejected the accusations of bias against his administration, saying all the appointments he has made as president are based on merit and not religion or tribe.

President Buhari made this clarification when a delegation of the Arewa Pastors NonDenominational Initiative for Peace in Nigeria, led by Bishop John Abu Richard, visited him at the presidential villa in Abuja, yesterday.

In a statement by his special adviser on media, Femi Adesina, the president told the clergymen that religious leaders had the responsibility of creating an enabling environment for peace and development to thrive.

He called on religious leaders to work towards the broader goal of building a strong and unified nation and avoid insinuations that could divide the populace, especially along religious lines.

LEADERSHIP Friday reports that accusations of ethnic and religious bias have trailed this administration since it released its first key appointments in 2015, and subsequent appointments have attracted the same criticisms.

Critics have continued to point at the top hierarchy of the security architecture as one area the president appointed mostly people from the Muslim far north as an example.

But President Buhari has always denied such allegations.

He said: “Some voices, for political or ethnic reasons, are making unguarded statements accusing the government, and myself in particular, of religious bias[1] .

“Let me assure you, honourable clergymen, that this is far from the truth. In my career as a soldier, administrator, and politician, I have never veered from my oath of office.

“When I had the honour to lead a military government, there were more Christians than Muslims in the Federal Executive Council and the Supreme Military Council.

“This was not by design but I appointed people on their merit without the slightest bias.

Buhari

The present Federal Executive Council is also evenly balanced; again not by design but by respecting and rewarding individual qualities.’’

Buhari expressed delight at the proposition to hold a one-day prayer and fasting meeting for the nation on April 26, 2018, and gave the assurance that he would direct the Inspector General of Police to provide adequate security for the gathering.

In his remarks, the leader of the delegation said more than 45,000 pastors in the Northern part of Nigeria had registered with the group and that they would use their pulpits for the propagation of the gospel of peace, and shun political distractions.

Bishop Richard further urged other pastors to support the administration as it works towards ending the violence in various parts of the country and to avoid politically sensitive

sermons. . . . Explains reluctance to sign economic partnership agreement Meanwhile, the president has disclosed that Nigeria was reluctant to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) among ECOWAS countries because of the need to protect the economy, especially the industries and small businesses that currently provide jobs for many Nigerians.

Buhari gave this explanation when he received a Letter of Credence from the head of delegation of the European Union to Nigeria, His Excellency, Ketil Iversen Karlsen, at the State House, Abuja.

The president, in a statement by his special adviser on media, Femi Adesina, noted that the signing of the agreement would expose

the industries and small businesses to external pressures and competitions, which could lead to their closure and job losses.

“We are not enthusiastic about signing the EPA because of our largely youthful population.

We are still struggling to provide jobs for them, and we want our youths to be kept busy.

“Presently, our industries cannot compete with the more efficient and highly technologically driven industries in Europe. We have to protect our industries and our youths,’’ he said.

The president noted that his administration’s insistence on probity, transparency and accountability in the public and private sectors was to secure the future of the country for all Nigerians, especially the youths.

He asserted that his administration would continually promote the culture of honesty and integrity in service, which will guarantee a better future for the youth.

“Our insistence on probity is to encourage people to be accountable, and accept honesty as a lifestyle so as to secure the future of our youths,’’ he said.

The president remarked that more than 60 per cent of Nigerians fall into the youth category and deserve to inherit a stable and prosperous country that they can be proud of, adding that the government will work assiduously to prevent waste and the depletion of resources by corrupt Nigerians.

President Buhari, who commended the EU for its support for the rehabilitation of the North East, noted that the Nigerian economy was already being repositioned to attract more investments that would create jobs.

In his remarks, Karlsen said the EU would continue to support President Buhari’s administration in its stated priorities - security, economy and the fight against corruption.

He, however, averred that the EPA was designed to accommodate and protect some economies that would find it difficult to compete.

“We are hopeful that there will be a signature on the agreement,’’ he added.

FG Turns To Lottery Proceeds As Oil Revenue Declines ➔ FROM COVER

enormous revenue potentialities it holds for the country.

This was disclosed by the permanent secretary in charge of Special Duties in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Chief Williams Alo, at the official launch and donation of Medical First Aid Kits to public secondary schools in Nigeria by the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) in Abuja, yesterday.

Alo, who was the special guest of honour at the event, noted that from the earliest times in human civilisation, wealth generated from lottery had been used to transform societies through the provision of infrastructure and other socio-economic services.

“Given its stability, reliability and predictability as a source of revenue, one can easily appreciate the enormous promise that lottery holds for a country like Nigeria, with a population of over 170 million people and the largest economy in

Africa. Accordingly, government will do everything humanly possible to revitalise this industry that holds great promise for Nigeria in raising enormous revenues.

“By today’s commissioning ceremony, the National Lottery Trust Fund has proved to Nigerians that lottery is working and it is now ready to rise up to its statutory mandate, and consequently, Nigerians should get ready for a new dimension of the federal government’s Change Agenda.

“With the current instability in our oil revenue due to several factors, including global conflicts, world economic downturn, and the discovery of oil in erstwhile oil-importing countries, the need to grow other non-oil sources of revenue cannot be overemphasised. Lottery is one of such alternative revenue sources that this government has identified, hence will make it more productive and sustainable,” Alo said.

He added that as the sector becomes firmly established, it is expected that lottery revenue would be included in the

strategic plan of the nation.

The permanent secretary also revealed that the federal government is currently in the process of reviewing the provisions of the National Lottery Act 2005 in order to remove its “inefficiencies” and at the same time strengthen the capacities of both the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and NLTF, which were created by the existing law, to perform their functions effectively.

Alo called on the lottery operators to be alive to their responsibilities or risk having their licences withdrawn.

“Government is interested in maximising the returns obtainable from lottery for good causes, and consequently enjoins all players and stakeholders to support it in bringing the needed benefits for the Nigerian people.

“Accordingly, persons and organisations licensed to engage in national lottery business must therefore sit up and be seen to perform or have their licences revoked,” he warned.

Believe not all that you see nor half what you hear.

― Egyptian Proverb

On his part, the acting executive secretary/CEO of the fund, Bello Maigari, said the NLTF would maintain its focus and vision as a catalyst for social transformation.

MAGNESIUM, ‘NATURE’S TRANQUILISER’ Magnesium is an essential nutrient which helps the body function well, particularly when it comes to sleep. A lack of this mineral has been linked to early waking. Magnesium helps you to relax, calming the mind and the body, and can alleviate night cramps.

Recommended daily intakes of magnesium are 270g for men and 300g for women, all of which you can get from a balanced diet.

Magnesium-rich foods include dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach or broccoli, nuts, beans, herbs and oats. Eat plenty and reap the benefits.

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Senate Condemns Implementation Of N1.5trn Social Investment Programme

BY AHURAKA ISAH AND SOLOMON AYADO, Abuja

The Senate, yesterday, criticised the implementation of the N1.5triilion National Social Investment programme, describing it as shoddy.

The senators insisted that the clear indication of such low performance is that Nigerians do not feel the impact of the programme.

They lamented that the programme was gradually going the way of the disbanded Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, and threatened to drastically reduce the yearly allocation of N500 billion to the programme if its performance failed to improve.

Funds for the National Social Investment Programme are provided under the Service Wide Vote under the Presidency.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje, made the threat when the special adviser to the president on Social Investment, Mrs Maryam Uwais, appeared before the committee to provide clarification on proposed budget implementation.

The presidential aide, however, informed the Senate committee that the National Social Investment Office (NSIO) received N175 billion in 2016 and 2017 fiscal year, not N500 billion.

Mrs Uwais said: “You may kindly recall that the sum of N500 billion was appropriated for the NSIO budget in 2017, out of which N100 billion was allocated for the Social Housing Scheme under the Federal Ministry of Finance.

“Furthermore, out of the balance of N400 billion, only N90 billion was released to the NSIO for the year 2017,” adding that the agency received N85 billion in 2016 Goje stressed the importance of the

Saraki

programme, noting that by the end of three years, the NSIO would have handled an unprecedented sum of N1.5 trillion.

He said, “Many people are complaining that they have not seen the impact of the programme considering the magnitude of the fund involved.

“I am from Gombe State, I represent Gombe Central; I am yet to see one single boy who came to tell me that he has benefited from your N500 billion.

“Many other Nigerians are saying the same thing. N500 billion for 36 states is about N13 billion. If you spend N13 billion in one year in Gombe State, there is no way I would not have known, other people will also know.

“If you spend N500 billion in one year in Nigeria, Nigerians will know. Not a single All Progressives Congress (APC) person (member) in Gombe State has benefitted from your School Feeding programme.

Not a single person from Gombe State has benefitted from your N-Power. We don’t know about your N-Power. As far as many of us are concerned, we are completely dissatisfied with what you are doing.”

Goje also said that there was no indication to show that N100 billion was deducted from source for Social Housing Scheme by the Ministry of Finance.

“Senate does not know about N100 billion going for Housing Scheme. The money is given to you for social investment,” he said.

But Uwais insisted that N100 billion was deducted at source for Housing Scheme by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The budget defence almost degenerated into a shouting match between the committee members and Uwais.

A member of the committee, Senator Tayo Alasuadura noted that they foresaw the problem at the beginning of the programme.

Alasuadura said, “Those of us who approved the budget, we don’t know what is happening. We should know what is happening in our constituencies.

“You have spent N85 billion this year.

You spent N90 billion in the first year, 2016, making it N175 billion. A programme that has been on for two years, and I don’t know what is happening. It is terrible.

“The governors you say are also complaining did not allocate money for this programme. We did.”

Alasuadura called for the programme to be scrapped if its implementation would continue to be a source of worry.

Goje intervened and insisted that his interest was for the programme to succeed “because I am also APC.” “We called you because you are handling big money. N500 billion is half a trillion.

The National Assembly has been approving N500 billion, unfortunately most Nigerians do not know what you are doing. Your publicity is zero. Most importantly, the

people who are approving the money do not also know what you are doing.

“We have asked you to give us a detailed report of all you are doing. If we get the report, we will know whether to give you N500 billion.

“In 2017 fiscal year, we appropriated N500 billion. In 2018 we will appropriate according to performance. We are going out of our way to make this programme to succeed. We are not against the programme, we want it to succeed, Senator Goje explained.

Another senator who spoke on the matter, Francis Alimekhena, expressed concern that the programme would fail like SURE-P, and cautioned the NSIO not to use the World Bank’s template in the country as it would not work.

On his part, Senator Sunny Ogbuoji expressed doubt over whether the agency had the capacity to utilise N500 billion judiciously.

In her response, Mrs Uwais said that the NSIO had the capacity, especially as it also works in conjunction with some ministries.

On the proposed N150 billion recurrent and N350 capital expenditure, the senators wondered why a ministry with permanent secretary and directors would receive only N3billion to N5billion recurrent expenditure, while NSIO without permanent secretary and directors would receive a whopping N150 billion recurrent expenditure.

Consequently, the committee asked Mrs Uwais to submit the names of beneficiaries of its programme today for verification to ensure that the money was not going into the wrong hands.

Army Promotes 3,729 Operation Lafiya Dole Troops

BY FRANCIS OKOYE, Maiduguri

The Nigerian Army yesterday said that it has approved the promotion of 3,729 troops of Operation Lafiya Dole who participated in Operation Deep Punch ll in Sambisa Forest.

This was contained in a statement issued in Maiduguri by the director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Texas Chukwu.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), LtGen Tukur Yusufu Buratai, has approved the release of special promotion for 3,729 troops of Operation Lafiya Dole who participated in Operation DEEP PUNCH II in Sambisa Forest.

“This is in recognition of their valour and uncommon commitment to duty during the operation. A breakdown of the beneficiaries include 223 Staff Sergeants promoted to the rank of Warrant Officers, 511 Sergeants promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeants while 994 Corporals were promoted to the rank of Sergeants.

“Others are 1064 Lance Corporals promoted to the rank of Corporals while 932 Private soldiers were appointed Lance Corporals,” Brig Gen Chukwu added.

Between two stools one goes (falls) to the ground.

― Egyptian Proverb

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Audit Report Declares Osun Govt Accountable, Transparent

BY JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo

Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola’s administration has been declared accountable, transparent and open, particularly in the management of the public treasury.

This was contained in the 2015 and 2016 fiscal year Audited Accounts report presented to the public by the office of the Auditor-General in the state in collaboration with State and Local Governance Reform (SLOGOR) Project held at, Osogbo, Osun State.

Presenting the Audited Accounts the State Auditor-General, Mr Folorunso Adesina, put the total Revenue for 2015 at N85.9 billion, while the total Recurrent Expenditure was N66.9 and total Capital Expenditure was put at N17.9.‎ He added that the total Revenue for 2016 was N91.5 while the total Recurrent Expenditure for the same year was N61.1 and total Capital Expenditure was N28.3 respectively.

Adesina said the audit was conducted in accordance with international standards on auditing as applicable to the public sector and the provisions of section 125(5) of the same constitution.

According to him, in compliance with the provisions of section 125(2)‎ of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, “I have examined the accounts and the financial statements of the state government of Osun for the year ending 31st December, 2015.

“In my opinion, projects and programmes executed were satisfactory in consideration of fund employed, financial statements and related schedules gave a true and fair view of the state government of Osun as at 31st December, 2015 and 31st December, 2016 respectively”.‎ In his goodwill message, the coordinator of State and Local Governance Project (SLOGOR), Mr Yemi Ijidele commended Governor Aregbesola’s administration for its accountability, prudent management of resources and for following financial best practices.

Again, Herdsmen Kill 5 In Taraba

BY ANDREW OJIH, Jalingo

Barely 24 hours after armed herdsmen attacked Gen TY Danjuma’s home town in Takum and wiped out a family of four, armed herdsmen in the early hours of yesterday killed five persons in the neighbouring Donga local government area of the state.

An eyewitness, Mr Henry Ianna, told our correspondent by phone that the attackers numbering over 30 invaded Utile community along Donga-Isha road, killing five persons.

“The attackers came in the early hours of today (yesterday) when people were still asleep and started shooting.

“The attacks have now spread to Shaakaa village and so far, five corpses have been recovered and the attacks are still ongoing as we speak.

“The casualty figure may rise as shootings are still going on. The areas under attack are still volatile so we could not go into other places for fear of being attacked and you know the attacks began in the night when people were still asleep, so, there is tendency that more bodies would be recovered,” he said.

L-R: Oyo State deputy governor, Chief Moses Adeyemo; governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; his wife, Florence; rector, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Prof Olatunde Fawole; and commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, during the inauguration of the ICT building donated by the governor’s wife to her Alma Mata, as part of activities marking her 59th birthday, in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO BY GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

We Are Faithful To Our Electoral Promises – Lai Mohammed

BY TUNDE OGUNTOLA, Abuja

The minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration is true and faithful to the electoral promises made to Nigerians.

The minister said this when the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita led a team of Permanent Secretaries on a courtesy visit to him.

Mohammed said the administration had delivered on its three planks electoral promises of reviving the economy, fighting corruption and tackling insurgency.

He said it was unfortunate that those championing criticism of the government were the

elite whose sources to easy money had been blocked by the anti- corruption policies and programmes of the government.

The minister noted that the beneficiaries of the various social investment programmes of the government were conscious of and attesting to how the administration was touching lives.

“In less than three years, we are proud of our records. It does not matter what the naysayers are saying.

“One thing they have not been able to do is to challenge the figures that we put forward on the successes we have recorded,’’ he said.

The minister noted that Buhari’s administration was “God sent’’ because of the level the previous administration mismanaged the economy.

He said there would not have been a better time for the administration to take power considering the security situation, decay in infrastructure and level of unemployment.

The minister said that the government had been working to pull back the country from the brink.

Specifically, the minister said that despite the occasional cowardly suicide attacks by the Boko Haram, the government had done a lot to reverse the trend as it met it.

Specifically, he said unlike before, no part of the country was under the occupation of the insurgents and there were no attacks in major cities like Abuja.

The minister said that the herder/farmer clashes in the country were neither ethnic, tribal nor religious but as a result of climate

el-Rufai Denies Attacking Bill Gates

BY AZA MSUE, Kaduna

Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir, elRufai, yesterday, said he did not attacked founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates over his statement on Nigeria’s economic recovery and growth plan.

The governor said the recent newspapers reports were not accurate as his state benefited immensely from the Bill Gates and Melinda Foundation. el-Rufai who spoke during one of the plenary sessions at the closing of the Kaduna Investment and Economic Summit (KADINVEST 3.0), called on more for-

eign and local investors to take over the abundance investment opportunities in the state.

The governor added that those who already invested like Olam among other investors are smiling and enjoying their investments as thousands of unemployed youths are been employed.

According to el-Rufai, “Coming to the economic recovery growth plan, we were all involved in it as state governments and we all keyed into it. The whole idea is that, we internalise the plan and support the macro plan. That is what we are doing in Kaduna.. We have our own development

plan which aligns with the federal government economic recovery growth plan” A few weeks ago, when Microsoft founder, Bill Gates came to Nigeria and appealed to Nigerian government to invest more in education, I made a comment that was reported widely as attacking Bill Gates. It was not an attack on Bill Gates, it was merely putting things in contest” Bill Gates is a big partner, He has invested $1.6billion in Nigeria. And a large percentage of that money was invested in Kaduna State. I will not disclose how much, because other states will be envious,” elRufai said.

Wike Knocks FG Over Looters’ List

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, PORT Harcourt

Rivers State overnor, Nyesom Wike has declared that Nigerians are experiencing the height of irresponsibility in governance with the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government refusal to obey the rule of law.

This is as he declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as presently constituted is setting the stage for the rigging of the 2019 general election, noting that Rivers people have the capacity to resist INEC and APC rigging machine in Rivers State.

Wike, who spoke yesterday at Government

House, Port Harcourt, during a courtesy call on him by civil society organisations, said publishing the list of persons standing trial in courts and calling them looters is an unfortunate act of irresponsibility by the federal government.

The governor stated that the act of irresponsibility was worsened by the fact that APC leaders standing trial were excluded by the federal government.

He said, “This is an irresponsible federal government that has no respect for the rule of law. They have become the judge, the prosecutor in cases before courts. All they

Opportunity makes the thief

want to do is tie the hands of judges to ensure all those standing trial are convicted at all costs.”

Wike stated that the irresponsible list of looters excluded the name of the immediate past Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who was indicted by the court-approved Judicial Commission of Inquiry for embezzling over N90 billion state funds.

On the plot by INEC, federal government and security agencies to rig elections in Rivers State, the governor said available credible intelligence indicates that strategies have been mapped out by these illegal agents.

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10 NATIONAL NEWS UNIUYO’s Medical Doctors Tasked On Professionalism

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Director of Industrial Development, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Adewale Bakare; Director-General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Mr Joseph Ari; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Edet Akpan and Director, Civil Service Inspectorate, Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Ajagbe Salami, presenting the report on Skill Gap Assessment in Six Priority Sectors of the Nigerian Economy by ITF in Abuja yesterday, PHOTO BY NAN.

BY BERNARD TOLANI , Uyo

Medical doctors have been urged to be dedicated to the code of conduct of their profession in order to deliver quality service to their patients.

The Vice Chancellor of University of Uyo (UNIUYO) Professor Enefiok Essien who gave the charge yesterday in his address on the occasion of the 12th Oath taking ceremony ‘Sponsio Academica of the college of health sciences held at the centre for entrepreneurial studies annex campus of the University in Uyo, said that when medical doctors are not complying with the ethical standard, the profession and public would suffer from such inaction.

He explained that the ethics of any profession is the soul of the profession and their best can only be expected to be the best in doing the right thing.

He added that the prevalence of social media which has become a major challenge to many ethical ideals in medicine should be avoided.

Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof Godfrey Udo the vice chancellor urged them to exhibit the highest level of personal discipline and dignified comportment all the time, adding that they must do everything humanly possible to place the wellbeing of their patients above all other things.

“You will do well therefore by adhering strictly with the code of professional ethics and avoid those pitfalls that can bring you and the profession into disrepute.

NGO Set To Stage Multicultural Food Show

BY JULIANA AGBO, Abuja

A non-profit international educational organisation, Toastmasters International has revealed its plans to feed families in Abuja at a multicultural food fair scheduled for April 8, 2018 as part of its plans to celebrate Nigerian cuisine.

A press statement issued yesterday by its Division E director, Mrs Sonye Allanah, said celebration of the planned multicultural food show is part of the organisation’s activities to mark her 2nd annual conference tagged: ‘Leadership in Motion; Walking the Talk.’

According to her, the organisation which exists in 141 countries of the world with over 350,000 members with its core objectives to empower individuals to become more effective leaders, public speakers and communicators will celebrate cuisines from different cultures in Nigeria.

“The fair is expected to feature a lot of activities for both adults and children that will create avenue to network and exchange ideas with leaders in various fields of industry,” she added.

April 6, 2018

$1bn Saga: PDP Urges NASS To Commence Action Against Buhari

BY CHIBUZO UKAIBE, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the National Assembly to commence appropriate constitutional legislative actions against President Muhammadu Buhari for gross misconduct in unilaterally approving the release of $1billion without allowing for the application of legislative instrument.

The opposition party also called on Nigerians to reject and resist the renewed attempt by the Presidency to take the money from the national coffer, alleging that it would be used to fi-

nance Buhari’s interests in the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s national convention and 2019 campaign.

PDP further demanded an independent investigation into the processes of release and utilisation of all special funds for war against insurgency in the last three years.

A statement by PDP’s national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said its investigation revealed that the Presidency willfully sidestepped the National Assembly so as to avoid legislative scrutiny and accountability and pave way for

the diverting of the fund for selfish partisan purposes.

The party also claimed that it is a notorious fact that the Presidency and the APC have been plotting to loot this $I billion from the nation’s heavily depleted Excess Crude Account (ECA) since last year, using the guise of fight against insurgency.

“This is the same Buhari administration that has been boasting of having technically defeated the insurgents.

This is also an administration that is not known to have exhausted subsist-

ing budgetary allocations for defence.

“Nigerians are thoroughly disappointed that President Buhari; the same African Union (AU) anti-corruption champion, who swore to be above board and to protect the constitution and our laws, will allow himself to fall for the temptation of resorting to ways and means which are totally at variance with the laws and all democratic tenets.

“Democracy thrives on constitutional processes of separation of powers, due diligence and transparency and not on totalitarian tendencies.

PDP’s Apology Is Deceitful, Half-hearted, Misplaced - MURIC

BY ADEBAYO WAHEED, Ibadan

The Central Think-Tank (CTT) of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has rejected the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) apology, describing it as half-hearted, deceitful and misplaced.

The director of MURIC, Prof Ishaq Akintola in a statement issued yesterday, said the CTT at its

monthly meeting critically X-rayed the apology and unanimously rejected the idea of apology.

According to MURIC, it is half-hearted because it is not comprehensive.

It would be recalled that Secondus apologised to Nigerians for “impunity, the imposition of candidates and other mistakes made in the past.

“Just like that? Nothing was mentioned about the humongous amounts of money stolen by the PDP and whether or not the stolen funds will be returned.

“Nothing was said about widespread corruption during PDP’s reign. There was no mention of infrastructural negligence.

Does Secondus expect Nigerians to swallow that dry apology hook,

line and sinker? No, the tides have turned. Nigerians are now wiser.

“Who is the PDP trying to deceive? For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerians did not sack PDP because its governors could not agree among themselves. Nigerians sent PDP packing because of its kleptomania and its flair for sharing money meant for building roads, electricity, education, etc, among its leaders.

Glo-sponsored CNN African Voices Pushes Artistic Boundaries

BY ERNEST NZOR, Abuja

The exemplary performances of two artists and one photographer who typify the current push by Africans who are taking their passions to new levels and creating sundry vibrant portfolios across several media is the thematic concern of this week’s edition of CNN African Voices sponsored by the grandmasters of data, Globacom.

The guests on the programme include; Jo’burger, Tumelo Mosaka and Khatoum, Sudan -based Gala Yousif, who will be joined by Mauritius iconic photographer, Paul Choy.

The curtain raiser will be Paul Choy, who will afford viewers the opportunity of seeing the island of Mauritius through a photographer’s eyes as he captures the daily life of residents. “I never planned on becoming a photographer. It hap-

pened completely by accident. Ever since I was a small child, I always wanted to be an explorer, enjoying nothing better than just discovering something new. But what use is knowledge unless it is shared?” Paul queries.

The artist, photographer and writer well known for his annotated pictures with pithy titles explained that he started carrying cameras everywhere in order to capture the stories and immortal-

ize images of people and places visited.

World renowned curator, Tumelo Mosaka who exhibits around the world, is the second guest on the programme and he would deploy his skills to highlight contemporary African art. The South African is famous for exploring global and transnational artistic productions especially from Africa, the Caribbeans and North America using themes such as racial injustice, migration and identity.

NPS Seeks Pro Bono Legal Representation For Inmates To Decongest Prisons

BY NKECHI ISAAC, Abuja

The Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) has called on well-meaning Nigerians to help the service decongest prison yards across the country by assisting indigent inmates awaiting trial, who can’t afford legal representation in the court, with pro bono legal representation.

This call was made by the spokesman of NPS, Francis Enobore, at a seminar on training and retraining of paralegal officers as well as provision of Pro Bono services for easy access to legal representation for indigent persons organised in collaboration with the Prisoners Rehabilitation and Wel-

fare Action (PRAWA), and the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, (LACON) with support from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the British Government in Abuja.

Enobore revealed that over 80 per cent of awaiting trial prison inmates across the country languish in prison custody across the country because they can’t afford legal representation in the court, noting that out of the total prison population of about 73, 000, findings revealed that 48, 798 are inmates, adding that 70, 123 are male while 1, 399 are female.

“Convicted male inmates number stands at 22, 388 while the number of convicted female inmates is 336 bringing the total of

convicted inmates to 22, 724,” he added.

Enobore, who was represented by Samaila Bulus of the service public relations unit, said: “However, it is important that we put fellow Nigerians behind these fingers in order to appreciate the pains and mental torture they pass through daily. While it is beyond the scope of this discussion to Xray the reason for this unfortunate development, it suffices to mention that quite a number of persons languish in prison custody as Awaiting Trial detainees because they can’t afford legal representation. It therefore behoves on us as a people to assist these indigent citizens with pro bono legal representation in order to salvage their

unfortunate situation.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to drive the course of prison decongestion through the National Stakeholders Committee on prison Reform and decongestion under the able leadership of his lordship, the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Chief Judge Hon. Justice Ishaq Bello.

“As the committee visits prisons, several prisoners are being released while cutting down the bureaucracies impeding quick justice dispensation. Significantly, this singular approach also helps to reduce tension in the yard as inmates now have a sense of belonging that they have not been totally abandoned by the government.”

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Suspects Re-arrest: IGP Reinstates Kogi CP, Janga

BY EJIKE EJIKE, Abuja

The Nigeria Police Force has reinstated Kogi State Police Commissioner, Ali Janga, who was removed after six suspects escaped from police custody in his state.

Confirming the news to journalists, the spokesperson of the Kogi state police command, William Aya, said CP Janga returned to office on Tuesday, April 3 on the order of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

He also confirmed that the 13 policemen that were on duty on the day of the incident had gone to the police headquarters for interrogation as directed by the IGP, saying that they had started returning to their duty posts.

According to him, the CP was reinstated after meeting the one-week ultimatum given to him by the Inspector -General of Police to rearrest the suspects who escaped from police custody.

He further stated that

all the six suspects that escaped from police custody on March 28 had been rearrested, while 13 persons that aided the escape of the suspects had been arrested in Lokoja.

According to him, those arrested are commercial tricycles operators that ferried the suspects to safety after their escape and the owners of the houses where they slept after their escape from custody. He said all the suspects would be charged to court after conclusion of investigation.

Recall that Janga had on March 28 announced that six suspects, including Kabiru Seidu a.k.a Osama and Nuhu Salisu, who had named Sen. Dino Melaye as their gun supplier escaped from police custody in Lokoja, which led to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, removing him as the state Commissioner of Police and named Sunday Ogbu as his replacement.

May & Baker Rebounds With N371m Net Profit

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos May and Baker Nigeria Plc has recorded significant growths in sales and profitability in 2017 as the healthcare company continued implementations of its medium-term strategic plan aimed at enhancing shareholders’ value.

Audited report and accounts of May and Baker Nigeria for the year ended December 31, 2017 released at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed impressive improvements in the underlying fundamentals of the company as well as the actual earnings figures.

The board of directors of the company has recommended distribution of N196 million as cash dividend for the 2017 business year, representing a dividend per share of 20 kobo.

Highlights of the report showed that turnover rose by 10.39 per cent from N8.47 billion in 2016 to N9.35 billion in 2017.

Gross profit grew by 29.13 per cent to N3.28 billion in 2017 as against N2.54 billion in 2016. Operating profit jumped by 51.04 per cent from N820.87 million N1.24 billion in 2017. Profit before tax leapt by 75.07 per cent from N345.94 million in 2016 to N605.62 million in 2017, while profit after tax stood at N370.87 million in 2017 compared with net loss after tax of

N41.09 million recorded in 2016. Shareholders’ funds also rose by 10.3 per cent from N3.01 billion in 2016 toN3.32 billion in 2017.

The management of the company attributed the performance of the company in 2017 the success of management’s efforts to harness the potential of recent investments and reduce related costs.

According to the company, despite the macroeconomic challenges, the company’s sales growth has continued to improve considerably above industry average, showing continuing efforts to retain and grow market share.

He noted that the improvement in margin validated management’s tight cost control measures and continuing efforts to harness synergies within the group to reduce costs and improve shareholders’ value.

The managing director and chief executive officer of May and Baker, Mr. Nnamdi said, “Our results show our main focus of satisfying our customer and enhancing our shareholders’ value. Our steady implementation of many growth initiatives are paying off as can be seen in the latest results. We are also happy that the investing public is taking note of these improvements with the performance of our stock as one of the best-performing stocks at the market.”

L-R: Member, House of Representatives, Hon James Faleke, and Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Mr Simon Achuba at the 8th day Fidau prayers for the late deputy leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Buba Umar Jubril in Lokoja, yesterday.

WAANSA Nominates PMB As Hopeful Chairman

BY TUNDE OGUNTOLA, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari was yesterday nominated as a member and hopeful chairman of West African Network on Small Arms (WAANSA).

A statement signed by the national coordinator of WAANSA, Asimole Jephthah, and made available to LEADERSHI Friday, said President Buhari was nominated for his positive contribution and efforts in degrading the activities of Boko Haram in-

surgent group, reduction of kidnapping, armed robbery and checkmating the influx of illegal arms in the country.

WAANSA Nigeria is a sub-regional nongovernmental organisation charged with the responsibility of fighting against small arms and light weapons violence in the sub-region.

“As hopeful chairman of the Advisory Board of WAANSA West Africa we are optimistic that such regional position will motivate you into doing more for the

country, West African sub-region and put Nigeria in a special position in global map especially in the area of combating illegal the movement of fire arms,” the statement added.

Jephthah further said inadequate police personnel is one of the major challenges in tackling insecurity in the country.

He noted there were many unemployed youths in the country that could be recruited to address the manpower challenge of the police.

Embrace Demand-driven Research, Ajimobi Charges Tertiary Institutions

BY ADEBAYO WAHEED, Abuja

Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, yesterday charged tertiary institutions in Nigeria to embrace demand-driven research and courses capable of solving the country’s peculiar challenges.

He also urged them to pay closer attention to technical courses and ICT that would make their certificates globally competitive.

The governor gave the charge while inaugurating an Information Technology building donated by his wife, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi to her alma mater, The Polytechnic Ibadan,

as part of activities marking her 59th birthday.

Ajimobi, who described technology as the bedrock of development, said without deliberate focus on technical education, Nigeria would continue to produce graduates who would not be able to contribute effectively to the country’s socio-economic development.

He also emphasised the importance of ICT, saying that most of the successful entrepreneurs in the world made their fortunes through information and communication technology.

The governor said the state had taken the

lead in tackling this problem by establishing the first technical university in Nigeria which he said was equipped to impart `practical and practicable’ skills in its students.

He urged the students to take the adHe pointed out that these youths who are supposed to be engine room for economic development have turned to be first hand agents in any place they find themselves. He appealed to the NUC chairman to as matter of urgency constitute a high power committee that would visit all the states of the federation to ensure their reinstatement into their institutions.

Ugwuanyi Empowers 750 SDGs Trainees With Seed Capital

BY NNAMDI MBAWIKE, Enugu

There was wild jubilation in Enugu yesterday as 536 trainees of the second batch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Skill Acquisition Programme of the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration instantly received alert of N100,000 seed capital each from the state government to assist them

start off their various businesses after attending a oneyear free vocational training.

The 536 trainees were among the 750 participants chosen from the 17 Local Government Areas of the state and enrolled by the state government under its SDGs programme as an empowerment intervention scheme designed to alleviate the suffering of the people of the

state through learning of a vocation that would enable each of them develop a career in life.

The first batch of 214 trainees, who had graduated after undergoing training in focal areas such as Tailoring, Hairdressing, Haircut and Aluminum works apprenticeship, were settled in September 2017, accordingly.

Speaking during the grad-

uation ceremony in Enugu, which was attended by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who was represented by her sector director, Pharm Yahaya Hamza, the federal government commended Governor Ugwuanyi “for being SDGs friendly and creating enabling environment for achieving the SDGs goals”.

UNESCO Calls For Gender Equality In Education

BY STELLAMARIES AMUWA, Abuja

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has emphasised the need for government to provide universal quality education to all irrespective of gender even as it noted that accountability was indispensable in achieving the goal.

The Regional Director of UNESCO Abuja regional office, Ydo

Yao, made the call yesterday in Abuja at the Nigeria launch of the 2017/8 Global Education Monitoring Report (GEMR) themed: ‘Accountability in Education: Meeting our commitments’.

Yao stressed the importance of education for all irrespective of gender status, noting that everyone has a role to play in improving education in the country.

“I would like to underscore

a key feature of the report, which warns that disproportionate blame on any one actor for systemic educational problems can have serious negative side effects, widening inequality and damaging learning.

“All of us - from governments to teachers, communities and families - have a role to play in pushing for change when discrimination in education arises said UNESCO Director General,” he said.

He therefore called on government to ensure that the right to education is enforceable through public awareness of the right to education, legal support from civil societies and the rights protection for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

According to him, the GEMR is the mechanism for monitoring and reporting on the proposed Sustainable Development Goals 4 (SDG4).

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Ogun Govt Allays Residents’ Fears Over Flooding

L-R: Chairman, Technical Sub-Committee on 2018 Lagos State Security Summit, Mr. Yomi Zamba; chairman, Organising Committee for the Summit, Mr Opeyemi Agbaje; executive secretary, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr Abdurrazaq Balogun; Special Adviser to the Governor on Lagos Global, Prof. Ademola Abass; Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan and Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), ACP Olatunji Disu during a Press Conference on the 2018 Lagos State Security Summit, in Lagos, yesterday, PHOTO BY

BY ZAKA KHALIQ, Lagos

The Ogun State government said the state may not experience severe flooding this year as revealed in the 2018 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

Speaking on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Bolaji Oyeleye, said though most areas in the state may not witness serious flooding as NiMet had forecasted a normal rainfall season for the state, however flash floods could occur in flood-prone communities.

Oyeleye recalled that irrespective of Nimet’s prediction of severe flooding, the state was generally flood-free all through the rainy season last year, saying, this was as a result of the standard drainages that accompanied the road infrastructures constructed by the Senator Ibikunle Amosun –led administration.

He said the Flood and Erosion Control Department of his Ministry, had, at the beginning of this year, embarked on the dredging of river/stream courses, as well as desilting of drainages in major towns, in preparation for the rainy season, to prevent flood disasters.

“The river and stream courses that have been dredged in the State capital so far include; Sokori stream course from Isale-Igbein to Ijeja, the drainage path of swampy areas within Lafenwa Market, Akingbade stream in Obantoko and Fatola estate steam course at Camp.

PDP Is Weaker Than APC Ahead Of Bayelsa Governorship Poll”–APC

BY OSA OKHOMINA, Yenagoa

The state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Deacon Joseph Fafi, has declared that the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state is more weaker than the opposition party ahead of the governorship election in the state.

Fafi, who made the revelation yesterday at the APC secretariat in Yenagoa during a stakeholders meeting of elders of the party, said the weakness of the PDP will be the APC’s strength during the forthcoming governorship poll.

According to Fafi, anybody who think the PDP will produce the governor of the state in 2020 is a joker even as the APC members should be ready to work in unity to take over the Creek Haven seat of government in 2020.

The meeting of the APC stakeholders, which was attended by the party’s governorship aspirant during the last election, Elder Wilberforce Igiri, the former acting governor and Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon. Binabo, former Senator Clever Ikisikpo, former Federal House of Representatives members, Madison Latino and Hon. Walker Okoroba.

April 6, 2018

KOLAWOLE ALIU.

Kogi Recall: Melaye Asks S’Court To Declare Exercise Illegal

BY KUNLE OLASANMI, Abuja

The Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has asked the Supreme Court to declare as illegal, the recall process initiated against him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In the appeal against the Appeal Court judgement which okayed the continuation of the recall exercise, the Senator asked the apex court to declare the purported petition on which the recall is based as illegal, unlawful, wrongful,

unconstitutional, null and void.

Senator Melaye in a notice of appeal dated April 3, 2018 further asked the Supreme Court to equally set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on March 16, 2018, which dismissed his appeal against the recall for lacking in merit.

The notice of appeal which is filed by his team of lawyers headed by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), with Nkem Okoro, is preficated on seven grounds.

He also told the court to declare

that the statutory 90-day period as provided for in section 69(b) of the 1999 constitution, having elapsed by effluxion of time on September 23, 2017, the Independent National Electoral Commission can no longer validly proceed on the basis of the purported petition for his recall, presented on June 23, 2017.

He further prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from commencing or further continuing with the process of acting on the purported petition presented

to it by his purported ‎constituents.

Some of the grounds upon which the appeal is anchored challenged the entire decision of the Court of Appeal.

According to him, in ground one of the appeal, he said the Court of Appeal erred in law when it held that ‘an unchallenged finding of fact stands’, the basis of which the court held that it lacked the jurisdiction to entertain his appeal, for the alleged failure to appeal against a specific finding of fact at the trial court.

Bayelsa Assembly Passes N318bn 2018 Appropriation Bill

BY OSA OKHOMINA, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has passed the 2018 Appropriation Bill into law.

The N318bn estimate passed by the State Assembly is an increase from the N295 billion presented by the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson on the December 22, 2017. The Bill is with a differential

of N21.78billion.

The Speaker of the Bayelsa Assembly, Hon. Kombowei Benson, while speaking on what transpired at the Committee of Supply stage where the final consideration was made, assured that when signed into law, the executive arm will ensure proper implementation.

Hon. Benson commended members of the House of Assembly

for the roles they played by attending to over 20 MDAs during budget defence.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State deputy governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), has declared that those involved in the prompt payment of taxes have the constitutional right to hold government accountable on spending and development plans.

According to the deputy governor, though the present administration of Governor Dickson strongly believes in accountability and ood governance, those involved in the public assessment of the activities of government should endeavour to pay their taxes as at when due and only then can they hold government accountable.

Senate Queries NIWA’s Annual N800m Security Vote Request

BY AHURAKA ISAH AND SOLOMON AYADO, Abuja

The Senate yesterday asked questions on the proprietary or otherwise of the sum of N800 million requested for purchase of security equipment by the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

The lawmakers’ questions were directed to NIWA Acting Managing Director, Danladi Ibrahim to answer, when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport to defend the Authori-

ty’s 2018 budget.

The committee was alerted when it found that the same N800m the Authority requested for in the 2018 budget for purchase of security equipment, is the same amount it received in 2017 budget for the same purpose.

It said that out of the N800 million, the Authority spent N790 million in 2017 which is over 90 per cent of the appropriated fund.

Chairman of the committee, Senator

Ahmed Sani Yerima observed that the Authority failed to provide details and specifications of how it planned to spend the money for which it requested for approval.

Yerima said: “You said you want to do something; the same amount last year, the same amount this year. There are no details, no explanations, no form of specification whatsoever. This is unacceptable.”

A member of the committee, Senator Mohammed Hassan, said that Ibrahim and his team should be asked to go back and do

the right thing.

“You are doing construction, the locations are not known. You have a project of N1.2billion which you requested for in 2017, you have received over 90 per cent, you requested for the same amount in 2018. The right thing should have been for you to request for the remaining balance,” he said.

Another member of the committee, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, frowned at the poor preparation of the budget document.

Amnesty Boss Sets Up C’ttee To Review Contract Awarded Since 2015

BY MICHAEL OCHE, Abuja

The new Coordinator and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Amnesty programme, Professor Charlse Quakers Dokubo, yesterday in Abuja inaugurated a four-man committee to review the amnesty programe to meet with current realities in the region.

Prof Dokubo said the mandate of the committee includes to reposition the Amnesty Office and make it more robust by focusing on the critical aspect of the reintegration phase of the programme to the next level.

According to him, one of the terms of

reference of the committee is to review all contracts awarded by the amnesty office since 2015 with a view to determine the level of work done, monies paid, beneficiaries and extent of work done so far and thereby recommend a payment schedule for only those qualified to be paid.

He said: “Following my appointment and assumption of office here, I received the hand-over note of my predecessor and written briefs of departmental heads.

I have of course taken my time to carefully go through the handover note and departmental briefs that I received. The documents contain a maze of words and figures. I dare say, however, that these documents left lots of questions unanswered.”

He added that the committee has two weeks to complete it assignment, stressing that the report of the committee will give a policy direction to his tenure as the amnesty office coordinator.

He explained further that the committee terms of reference include the determination of the financial assets and liabilities of the amnesty office, undertake a thorough personnel audit with a view to ascertain the number of persons currently working in the amnesty office and the suitability of all officials for the offices they currently occupy.

He said further, “determine the current status of all the reintegration centers built or are still under construction across the

states in the Niger Delta. Determine the current status of all on-going vocational, educational and post-training empowerment programmes of the office within the country and offshore.”

He said one of his main focus is to ensure that those who have been trained under the programme have to get jobs, saying they don’t have to depend on stipends Members of the committee include professor Ayibaemi Spiff, Chief Otonye Amachree, Mr Unyime Isong Eyo and Azizat Mohammed.

He said he was ready to work with other intellectuals from the region and other parts of the country to meet the new realities of the programme.

April 6, 2018

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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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Armed Robbers Attack Banks In Offa, Kill 6 Policemen, Others

BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN,ILORIN

A gang of armed robbers yesterday invaded commercial banks in Offa, Kwara State, killing some people, including policemen, complainants, bank customers and market people.

The men of the underworld also reportedly carted away unspecified amount of money in different currencies.

It was learnt that the bandits, who operated for about an hour, entered the town around 4:45pm and operated till about 5:40pm as they first reportedly blocked roads from both Ilorin and Osogbo ends.

They were said to have escaped through Igosun, a neighbouring community with their loot .

It was also gathered that the armed bandits first approached the Offa divisional police station on entering the ancient town, killing policemen on duty among other people at the station, before raiding the commercial banks and killing people by shooting them on the head.

Among the policemen killed by the armed robbers that reportedly operated in commando style, was a man identified as Pelemo, who was expected to retire in few months and a pregnant police woman.

An eyewitness said that corpses of six policemen were taken away in his pres-

ence, while efforts were being made to bring out others inside the police station.

It was also gathered that the bandits, who numbered about 15, came in different vehicles as they stationed themselves at strategic areas of the town, as it was reported that they also snatched commercial motorcycles to operate and escape.

The spokesman of the state police command, Ajayi Okasanmi, who confirmed the bank raid, said that victims included policemen and other individuals.

He said that details of the bank robbery would be made after a full investigation on the incident.

Meanwhile, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in a Facebook post last night said he was very saddened by the tragic events at Offa yesterday. ”Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who died in the armed robbery attack in the town today.

“I am in constant touch with the security agencies in the state and have urged them to do all within their power to secure Offa and environs and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“I have also directed the health services to rapidly deploy emergency services to treat those injured in the attack. My heartfelt condolences to the people of Offa and the families of victims of today’s attack,” he said.

Visionscape Yields Lagos Waste Collection To PSPs

BY GEORGE OKOJIE, LAGOS

Visionscape Sanitation Solution and private sector participant (PSP) operators, now referred to as Waste Collection Operators (WCO), have resolved to work together to tackle problem of waste management rocking the state.

It was learnt that after months of negotiations, offers and counter offers, both parties have agreed terms of operations that brings the WCOs back into the system as residential waste collectors while Visionscape deepens its waste infrastructure contract.

It was further gathered that the resolution was also motivated by the recent fire outbreak at the Olusosun dumpsite, which emphasized the need for engineered landfills and standard waste infrastructure to avoid more environmental catastrophes.Speaking on the new

direction, the CEO of Visionscape Sanitation Solutions, Mr. John Irvine noted that it was a welcome development as the new terms give the environmental utility company the opportunity to focus on, and construct, infrastructure that is vital to the success of any waste management reform.

He pointed out that Visionscape was already in control of three transfer loading stations and three vehicle maintenance depots, in addition to the ongoing construction of the first engineered landfill in West Africa in Epe, Lagos State.

According to him, the new arrangement will facilitate the accelerated development of more transfer loading stations, a biomass plant, recycling facility, waste to energy plants, landfill and dumpsite remediation and wastewater treatment infrastructure.

Gunmen Kill Village Head, 5 Others In Kaduna Community A Kaduna community, Sarari was yesterday attacked by bandits, leaving the village head and five others dead.

Sarari village is near Kuriga town in Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna State The incident which happened around 2pm left about eight people injured.

One of the injured victims, who identified him-

self as Henry and was shot on the leg, confirmed the death of the village head.

He said the bandits stormed the village and went from house to house shooting people.

“I don’t know where they came from; we were just sitting when we heared gun shots from all directions.

“They came on motorcycles in large number. They go house to house shoot-

ing people. Our village head and five other people were killed. I was shot on the leg while trying to escape,” he said Henry gave the names of the dead as Sule Sarari, the 60 years old village head, ‘Lado, Yunusa, Jonah, Tela and one other person.’

The victims were rushed to a primary health centre in Oduwa town, few kilometres from where the incident occurred.

A wager is a fool’s argument.

― Egyptian Proverb

April 6, 2018

business

Friday, April 06, 2018

NEWS

MONEY

CAPITAL MARKET

INSURANCE

INFLATION RATE (%) 2016

OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

18.3 18.48 18.55

INTERVIEW

2017

15.91 15.9 15.37

Senate Wants FG To Blacklist Banks Over Forex Abuses

ANALYSIS

Leadership Newspapers

INTER BANK LENDING RATE (AS AT APRIL 4) RATE CHANGE (%)

O/N 1M 3M 6M

4.2083 14.1074 14.4875 16.3525

-1.04 -0.44 -0.97 -0.88

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

Business 101 with MBAKAAN KWEN

Tips For Managing Your Team Effectively

BY SOLOMON AYADO And AHURAKA ISAH, Abuja

The Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs yesterday urged the federal government to blacklist companies and banks that were found culpable of engaging in foreign exchange abuses.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Hope Uzodinma made this known while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja. He said that as part of the committee’s preliminary investigation, it found out that most of the companies were found to have abused federal government’s fiscal policies. “The federal government will not only blacklist these companies but will also ensure that expatriates behind these companies are deported back to their various countries,” he said.

He decried that these fraudulent actions were some of the reasons why there was leakage in government’s revenue. “Some of these foreign companies are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with the status of Nigerian companies and nothing remitted to the federal government; this is why there is scarcity of foreign exchange,” Uzodinma said.

He further explained that the essence of the fiscal policies was to subsidise production activities in Nigeria to encourage local manufacturing of products. “Suddenly, people are taking advantage of that good intention of government and have abused the policies,” he said.

He decried that most automobile companies were bringing in goods as either Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) or Completely-Knocked Down (CKD).

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L-R: Facebook’s SMB sales manager, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Abi Williams; Public Policy Programme manager, Facebook, EMEA, Sherry Dzinoreva, and co-founder, She Leads Africa, Afua Osei, at the first Sub-Saharan African launch of #SheMeansBusiness in Nigeria in Lagos. PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU.

Under-recovery On Petrol Rises To N1.4trn – Kachikwu

BY FESTUS OKOROMADU, Abuja

The minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday disclosed that the country is currently recording an underrecovery of N1.4 trillion per annum on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol.

Speaking at a workshop on harmonisation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, regulatory requirements, Kachikwu said the unnecessary cost incurred from petrol consumption, especially as majority of the commodity is imported. “We need to move away completely from the utilisation of only PMS in the transport sector. It is creating a lot of under recovery — over N1.4 trillion per annum to the Federal government.

We need to begin to look into other components of cleaner fuels and rely less on PMS. It would be better for the country. It would eliminate fuel among others.”

The minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun recently explained that under recovery is a situation whereby the NNPC is incurring the cost of the differential between the official pump price of premium motor spirit, also known as petrol, and the actual cost of the commodity, since the official price of PMS is lower than the actual market price.

Also, Kachikwu stated that the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, produce s a lot of gas, noting, however, that the major problem is that of evacuation. “It is a shame that at this stage in our national life, we are still talking about uses and challenges of the LPG. However, I think government is focused in all the areas.

“We are hoping to launch an infrastructure rebirth map for the oil sector over the next two months, and I hope his Excellency, the President will launch that.

“The effect is that it will be to open up tariff and create policy positions that will enable people to actually go in and invest in critical infrastructure that is needed. This is because anywhere you go, whether it is distribution of petroleum products massively through trucks, rather than through pipelines, whether it has been able to take crude into refineries or distribute gas throughout the country, infrastructure is so key.

“There are lots of stranded gas and power everywhere. Distribution is key, infrastructure is key. We need to find a way of finding enough incentives to enable the private sector go in very bullishly and put the money where it is supposed to be,’’ Kachikwu explained.

The minister said the issue of

under-recovery was being addressed at a “very high level’’.

“Clean energy is very essential and we need to move away from complete utilisation in our transport sector of only petrol, which is creating a lot of under-recovery of N1.4 trillion per annum of exposure to the government. At the end of the day, we begin to go into other components of cleaner fuels and rely less on PMS that is gotten from out of the country,’’ he said.

He said resolutions from the meeting would include recommendations for the Department of Petroleum Resources on licensing and enforcement.

“Over and above just going after individuals who have done it wrongly, what are the incentives, schemes and structures we need to put in place?

Where are the official distribution and sales centres? If we deepen the regulation, deepen the licensing and enforcement, we should be able to get there. Like you know, we already have a gas policy, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and all of this is in there.

“What this group is going to do is to take a piece of that as it concerns LPG and say how we can take that policy document and expand and activate the whole LPG,’’ Kachikwu said.

The role of a manager isn’t always smooth sailing. Whereas at the beginning of your career it’s likely that you were purely responsible for your work alone, it’s is now your duty to inspire, lead and motivate your team to accomplish a set of goals for the organization. Sophie Deering outlined some tips that can assist employers and managers in effective management.

•MAINTAIN GOOD COMMUNICATION: Employees want to be kept in the loop about ongoing projects, goals and deadlines, so it’s essential that you communicate well with them and inform them about what’s going on within the organisation. It’s also important that you encourage feedback and that your staff feels they can approach you about any questions or issues they want to address.

•BUILD POSITIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: It’s important to get to know members of your team individually, not only on a professional level, but on a more personal level too. When you put the effort in to get to know a bit more about how your colleagues are doing and what they are interest in, it will build a much better rapport among the team.

•ACKNOWLEDGE GOOD WORK: Don’t be one of these bosses who only provides feedback when you’ve got something to criticize.

QUOTE OF THE DAY We are hoping to launch an infrastructure rebirth map for the oil sector over the next two months.’’

The minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu said.

Kachikwu

22 BUSINESS/NEWS

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STOCK INDEX (AS AT APRIL 5) Gainers

Symbols Prestige Lasaco Transcorp Maybaker Eterna

CP 0.47 0.38 1.73 2.92 6.29

% change 9.30 5.56 4.85 4.66 4.66

Losers

Symbols CP Glaxosmith 31.50 Jaizbank 0.68 Japauloil 0.49 Intbrew 51.70 NPFMCRFBK 2.02

% change -9.61 -8.11 -7.55 -4.96 -4.72

STOCK INDEX (AS AT MARCH 29) ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE CAP

(Points) (Numbers) (Numbers million) (Nbillion) (Ntrn)

40,875.69 4,614 495.64 7.68 N14.766

Stocks Market Rebounds As Investors Gain N46bn

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

The Nigerian stocks market yesterday, rebounded with a gain of N46 billion on renewed bargain hunting. In summary, the All Share Index (ASI) gained 125.83 absolute points, representing a growth of 0.31 per cent to close at 40,875.69 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the market capitalization gained N45 billion to close at N14.766 trillion. The bullish performance is attributed to gains in Dangote Cement, Eterna, ETI, Nascon and Allied Industries and Zenith Bank.

Analysts at Afrinvest Limited said “following the rebound in yesterday’s session, we expect bargain hunting to continue to drive positive market

performance in the near term.”

However, market breadth closed negative, recording 21 gainers against 22 losers.

Prestige Assurance recorded the highest price gain of 9.30 per cent, to close at 47 kobo per share, while Lasaco Assurance followed with a gain of 5.56 per cent to close at 38 kobo per share.

Transcorp appreciated by 4.85 per cent to close at N1.73, while May and Baker and Eterna went up by 4.66 per cent each to close at N2.92 and N6.29 per share, respectively.

On the other hand, Glaxosmith led the losers’ chart by 9.61 per cent, to close at N31.50 per share. Jaiz Bank shed 8.11 per cent to close at 68 kobo, while Japaul Oil and Maritime

Services depreciated by 7.55 per cent to close at 49 per share.

International Breweries declined by 4.96 per cent to close at N51.70, while NPF Microfinance Bank recorded a downward trend by 4.72 per cent to close at N2.02 per share.

In line with improved market performance, activity level improved as volume and value traded increased by 23.5 per cent and 13.3 per cent respectively to 495.6 million units and N7.7 billion. Transactions in the shares of UBA topped the activity chart with 103.5 million shares valued at N1.23 billion. Fidelity Bank followed with 90.24 million shares worth N241.04 million, while Guaranty Trust Bank traded 62.99 million shares valued at N2.78 billion.

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SGF Decries Low Trade Volume Between Nigeria, Ukraine

BY JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH

Secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha has called for increased trade volume between Nigeria and Ukraine .

He made the call yesterday during the Nigeria - Ukraine Trade and Investment round table meeting in Abuja .

According to him, the trade volume between Nigeria and Ukraine was $93.3 million as at November 2017 which he observed was a 4 per cent decrease in the 2016 figures.

He expressed hope that with the visit of the Ukrainaian delegation, the trade volume between the two countries will increase.

“The visit came at a time Nigeria is pursuing economic growth that will aid its vision of being among top 20 economies in the world. “ As at November last year, trade volume between Nigeria and Ukraine was 93.3million which is a decrease by 4

percent in 2016. With your visit we hope the volume of trade would increase in 2018,” he said .

Mustapha is also seeking partnership with Ukraine on how to develop Nigeria’s water ways.

He said for the country’s economy to grow, Nigeria must develop its inland water ways to reduce traffic on the roads.

He added “Nigeria has 10,000 kilometers waters ways and 4,000 are navigable and I believe if fully developed, can take away pressure from our roads, bulk of our cargo can go on our water ways.

On her part, the Trade Representative of Ukraine, Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, Natalia Mykolska said Nigeria is a long standing friend of Ukraine noting that Nigerian students in Ukraine are the best ambassadors for both countries.

According to her “Nigeria is

a strategic partner, we believe trade is not a one way street, we need to think of import, export and joint cooperation.

“More than 10 Ukraine companies that represent different sectors of the economy are on this delegation.’’

Nigeria office of trade negotiations, chief trade negotiator director general, Ambassador Chinedu Osakwe said the global financial crisis of 2008 affected Nigeria and in 2014, the oil price crisis affected Nigeria also.

He also alluded to the fact that Nigeria and Ukraine have huge trade imbalances.

He said import from Ukraine to Nigeria is N91bn while export from Nigeria is N90m.

“The priority areas maritime services - the development of our water ways. It is an area that we will need to identify to work together. Agriculture, robotics, genetics, energy, mining and manufacturing.

NSE Delists African Paints, Afrik Pharmaceuticals

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has delisted African Paints Plc and Afrik Pharmaceuticals’ shares from its daily official list. The reason is that the affected firms failed to comply with the corporate governance rules of the NSE. The NSE made this known in a notification to the general public, particularly shareholders of companies and investors in the Nigerian capital market, yesterday.

The report said the National

Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange by virtue of the power conferred on it by Rule 13.25(b) and clause 15 of the General Undertaking, Appendix III of the Rule Book of the NSE 2015, by Part II, Issuers’ Rules has approved that steps should be taken pursuant to the process for delisting issuers.

The two companies were delisted from the daily official list of the Exchange, effective April 5, 2018.

NSE said it had engaged the two companies with a view of returning them to compliance

level, saying “when these efforts did not yield results, the NSE sent out a delisting notice on the October 13, 2016.

However, these entities did not appropriate steps to regularise their listing status.”

“Further to the delisting process, the NSE notified these entities of its intention to delist them from the daily official list due to their non-compliance with provisions of the post listing rules of the NSE on the April 11, 2017 and via two newspaper publications on the April 20, 2017.

Eterna Profits Hit N2bn In 2017 . . . Offers 40kobo per share dividend

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Eterna Plc has reported a profit after tax of N2.002 billion for the audited full year ended - December 31, 2017. According to the data released by the company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the 2017 record is an improvement of 35.49 per cent over N1.48 billion reported in the corresponding period of 2016.

Meanwhile, management of the company has proposed a dividend payout of 40 kobo per share higher than the 30 kobo dividend paid the previous year. Total revenue for the period rose by 61.88

per cent to N173.03 billion compared N106.89 billion disclosed last year. Cost of sales went up by 69.54 per cent to N166.69 billion from N98.32 billion in the corresponding period, while earnings per share went up to N1.54 from N1.13.

Total assets went up by 51.61 to N48.05 billion from N31.69 billion in 2016, while total liabilities stood at N35.63 billion as against N20.86 billion in 2016. The company recently unveiled expansion plans in the nation’s lubricant market, which will enhance its bottom line for improved shareholder value.

Its chairman, Mr Lamis

Dikko said all is set for the company to deliver improved result for its shareholder. According to him, the recently executed an expanded manufacturing and distribution agreement with Castrol for the automotive and industrial sectors.

“This means an enhanced portfolio of Castrol lubricants will now be blended locally, therefore substantially reducing our imports of finished products. This is not only good for the company, but also great for the Nigerian economy in line with the federal government’s renewed drive to expand the manufacturing sector.”

L-R: Senior manager, High Value Segment, MTN, lead actor, Idowu Adesokan (Fela); Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s lifetime manager, Patrick Diabuah; Rikki Stein, and producer, Fela and the Kalakuta Queens, Bolanle Austen Peters, at the MTN Foundation sponsored Musical titled: Fela and the Kalakuta Queens held at Terra Kulture Arena, Victoria Island, Lagos. PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU.

FCMB, Etihad Airways Sign Partnership Deal

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR, Lagos

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Etihad Airways have launched a partnership that offers discounted travel packages, including flight tickets to existing and potential customers who fly on Etihad Airlines to any part of the world.

Through this deal, Customers of FCMB who desire to travel abroad for personal or business purpose at a very affordable fare now have an opportunity to do so.

Speaking on the partnership, the executive director, Retail Banking of FCMB, Mr. Olu Akanmu, said it is a valueadded offering designed to deliver high quality of service and satisfaction for customers.

According to him, ‘‘What FCMB has done with Etihad Airways gives advantage to our existing customers and prospects who may wish to open account with FCMB. We recognize

several business travels our customers do. A good number of them may be preparing for summer holidays. Some of our customers will also want to fulfil their pilgrimage obligations in the coming weeks. ‘‘Those traveling for medicals and even for academic purpose or seminars abroad can benefit. FCMB is partnering with Etihad to offer convenient and discounted travel fares to customers. This is one of the many reasons to open account with FCMB.’’ On its part, general manager, West and North Africa of Etihad Airways, Mr. George Mawadri said ‘‘it is a privilege to partner FCMB and we are indeed happy. Etihad is a young airline, though we have grown within the short period of time. We fly directly to 110 destinations and do other 140 destinations in our partnerships with other airlines. We have acquired 60 new airplanesAirbus and Boeing 777.

“We pride ourselves as a 5-star airline and our customers can attest to our world-class facility and services. The good thing about our partnership with the Bank is that we have similar premium services with FCMB. I really appreciate the relationship and look forward to a long term benefit for the two parties.”

The discounted fare comes with various benefits in the Bank’s financial products and services to enhance the travel experience of customers.

These include Personal Travel Allowance (PTA) and Business Travel Allowance (BTA) services, complimentary platinum cards and priority pass, complimentary lounge access at departure in Lagos, among other benefits. There is also the USA Immigrations clearance at Abu Dhabi for travelers going to the United States and a dedicated service for customers who intend to travel to the Holy land in Mecca for Hajji and Umrah.

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UBA Shows Resilience In A Recovering Economy BUKOLA IDOWU writes that in the face of several challenges in the Nigerian economy, United Bank for Africa Plc performed well in the 2017 financial year.

L-R: Director-general, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Muda Yusuf; vice president, Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sergii Svystil; president, LCCI, Mr Babatunde Paul Ruwase, FCA; deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, Nataliia Mykolska and Ambassador of Ukraine to Nigeria, Valeriy Aleksandeuk during the Ukrainian Chamber delegation to LCCI, recently.

FOREX: BDCs Urge CBN To Harmonise Rate To Save Jobs The Association of Bureaux Des Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to harmonise the rate at which it sells FOREX to commercial banks and its members.

President, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, Gwadabe, who disclosed this yesterday in Lagos, said the disparity between the rates had forced about 50 per cent of its members to boycott the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) window.

According to him, the CBN sells FOREX to banks at N357 per dollar, while banks are expected to sell at N360, on the other hand BDCs buy at N360 from the CBN

and are expected to sell at N362.

The financial expert noted that its members incurred losses the moment they access the CBN window, which had forced many of them out of market.

“The direct implication of this will be the loss of about 20,000 jobs nationwide as the tactical edging of BDCs out of the market will result in the sacking of its workers across the nation,’’ Gwadabe said.

The ABCON chief appealed to the CBN to make BDCs direct agents of International Money Transfer Service Operators (IMTSO) since they were fully automated, and transparency had

remained their watchword.

Gwadabe explained that the rate disparity in accessing the CBN window had elevated parallel market operators to the delight of the enemies of the Naira.

He said that the edging of BDCs out of the market would inhibit financial inclusion as BDCs make N30 billion weekly turnover which translates to commission for the commercial banks.

Gwadabe said that BDCs remain the potent agent for transparency and price stability in the market as exemplified during the peak of the recession when exchange rate volatility was blown out of proportion.

GTB To Grow Loan Book By 10% In 2018

BY BUKOLA IDOWU, Lagos

The managing director, Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje has said the financial powerhouse will grow its loan book by 10 per cent this year up from the nine per cent reduction recorded by the bank in 2017.

Speaking at a parley with media executives yesterday, Agbaje said the bank hopes to improve its loan to deposit and borrowings from 58.9 per cent recorded in 2017 to 70 per cent by the end of 2018 as it looks forward to a 12 per cent growth in deposits.

He said the bank looks forward to posting a growth in its profit before tax from N200 billion it

made in 2017 to N205 billion. He however, said 2018 will be more challenging for banks as yields on treasury bills drop. Banks have staked more on treasury bills in recent times as analysts say close to 30 percent of banks profit cone from trading in government securities Treasury Bill yields which opened last year at around 18 per cent had risen to 23 per cent during the year before, closing at 18.50 per cent. Agbaje noted that the drop in TBill yields will challenge banks to focus more on their traditional roles of intermediation as more funds will go to lending rather than trading government securities.

“The banks will work harder this

year as Treasury Bills yields drop.

It will be a bit challenging but will not necessarily lead to a drop in profit,” he explained. He also said bank will be cautious of growing its loan book in 2018 stating that Nigeria needs more than a one per cent growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for it to fully come out of recession.

Agbaje noted that a one per cent growth for a country that was doing up to six per cent prior to the recession is still a slow recovery.

According to him, the growth witnessed so far is yet to reflect in the lives and spendings of its citizens, a situation which he said would tell if the country is fully out of recession.

FCMB Group Posts N170bn Gross Revenue

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

FCMB Group Plc has recorded gross revenue of N169.9 billion for the year ended - December 31, 2017.

Specifically, the bank’s audited results for the full year on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that the Group recorded a profit before tax of N11.5 billion, while profit after tax was N9.4billion.

The Group’s capital adequacy ratio also improved to 16.9 per cent from 16.7 per cent, just as asset base increased to N1.19 trillion, compared to N1.17 trillion at the end of 2016. Non-interest

income as at the end of 2017 was N32 billion, while loans and advances stood at N649.8 billion.

In a statement, the Group said “in spite of the reduction in the headline numbers, the Group’s performance for the year 2017 witnessed an improvement in core operating performance over the previous year after adjusting for the significant foreign exchange revaluation income enjoyed in 2016.”

It also added that “in line with the repositioning strategy of the Group for better performance, the key drivers of the performance include increase in income from our non-banking activities, lower

impairment charges from the Bank and its subsidiaries, and improved operating efficiencies through more pervasive use of technology.”

“In November 2017, FCMB completed the acquisition of an additional 60 per cent stake in Legacy Pension Managers Limited, which increased FCMB’s stake from 28.2 per cent to 88.2 per cent, thereby making Legacy a subsidiary of FCMB. The acquisition helps achieve further diversification of service offerings and, consequently, earnings within the FCMB Group, which will be felt from the 2018 financial year.

U

nited Bank for Africa (UBA), which released its 2017 financial result last week showed its resilience in the face of challenges.

Despite the conservative approach of banks to lending last year, UBA in 2017 increased credit to its customers. Loans and advances to customers had grown by 9.6 per cent from N1.505 trillion in 2016 to N1.65 trillion as at the end of the 2017 financial year.

This gave a boost to asset base of the bank that rose from N3.504 trillion to N4.069 trillion. Its deposit base which was N2.485 trillion in 2016 had grown by 9.97 per cent in 2017 to N2.733 trillion as its liabilities grew by 15.8 per cent UBA’s profit and loss account showed positive trends in the performance amd growth in the contribution and market share from its pan-African subsidiaries was significant.

The pan-African financial institution which has roots in 19 African countries and three global financial centres outside the continent pulled a gross earnings of N462 billion, indicating a growth of 20 per cent compared with N314 billion recorded in 2016.

Its interest income rose from 23.3 per cent to N325.66 billion at the end of the 2017 financial year, up from N263.97 billion recorded in 2016, while net interest income improved by 25.6 per cent to N207.63 billion from N165.2 billion in 2016.

Loan impairment charges also rose by 18.8 per cent from N27.6 billion to N32.9 billion, bringing the net interest after impairment charges to N174.74 billion, from N137.5 billion in 2016. Net operating income increased by 20.8 per cent from N257.2 billion to N310.84 billion.

UBA ended the year with profit before tax (PBT) of N105.26 billion, indicating a growth of 16.1 per cent, while profit after tax (PAT) stood at N78.59 billion, showing an increase of 8.7 per cent from N72.26 billion in 2016.

Based on this, the Board of UBA Plc proposed a final dividend of 65 kobo per every share of 50 kobo each. This final dividend proposal is in addition to the 20 kobo per share interim dividend paid after the audit of the 2017 half year financial statements, thus putting the total dividend for 2017 financial year at 85 kobo per share.

According to the bank, the inspiring result was driven by the strong performance of its recurring core revenue lines, thus reflecting the increasing success of the its enhanced customer engagement.

UBA’s subsidiaries outside Nigeria had contributed a third of the Group’s top-line and 45 per cent of the profit for the year, a remarkable improvement from 31 per cent contribution made by the exNigeria offices in 2016. This, market analysts said is the success of the bank’s expansion strategy, with target of 50

Uzoka

percent contributions by 2020.

Commenting on the financials, the group managing director and chief executive of UBA Plc, Kennedy Uzoka, noted that the results, underlines the success of the bank’s strategy of expanding across Africa, diversifying revenues and capturing the broader business opportunities inherent in Africa’s growth.

“The results reinforce the sustainability of our business model and the capacity to deliver superior long-term return to shareholders, as the economic and business environment improve.”

“In 2017, we made strong progress in our strategic initiative of dominating transaction banking across all our countries of operation, gaining market share in all lines of our business. Even as the non-oil sectors of our largest country of operation, Nigeria, remained relatively weak, we still grew earnings by 20 per cent to N462 billion, a third of which is attributable to non-funded income,” he noted.

The group chief finance officer, Ugo Nwaghodoh explained that “in a period of high interest rates, we achieved a relatively low 3.7 per cent cost of funds.

This operational efficiency reflects the benefit of our rich pool of stable savings and current account deposits. The net interest margin stabilised at seven per cent, even as yields on treasury assets dropped in the last quarter of 2017. Our core transaction banking offerings gained strong momentum, with income from these business lines growing by double digits.”

He said the bank remain committed to its responsible approach to balance sheet management, with focus on growing risk asset and broader balance sheet in a profitable and prudent manner.

“Amidst a subdued Nigerian credit market, we grew our loan portfolio by 10 per cent, leveraging our robust liquidity and capitalisation to support good businesses through this challenging economic cycle. We closed the year with a Basel II capital adequacy ratio of 19 per cent and a liquidity ratio of 50 per cent, well ahead of 15 per cent and 30 per cent regulatory requirement respectively.

Our disciplined approach to lending and broader risk management continues to uphold our asset quality.”

24

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April 6, 2018

defence focus WITH JOY YESUFU

08092588622 (SMS ONLY)

NAF 2018 Inter Command Sports Competition Kicks Off In Uyo The third edition of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Inter-Command Combat Sports Competition, has kicked-off earlier this week at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The event tagged, “Uyo 2018”, featured over 600 participants drawn from the Headquarters, NAF (HQ NAF) Abuja and its six Commands located in different parts of Nigeria. The participants will be competing in various sporting events including combat boxing, combat swimming, combat relay race, shooting exercise, obstacle crossing, taekwondo, judo as well as tug of war.

The competition, which is an annual regimental sporting event, is part of efforts aimed at continually promoting combat fitness and esprit-de-corps among personnel.

It is also aimed at enhancing effective service delivery, which can only be achieved when personnel are physically and mentally fit.

While declaring the competition open, the Executive Governor of Cross Rivers State and the Special Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony, Professor Benedict Ayade, who was represented by the Deputy Governor of the State, Professor Ivara Esu, lauded the NAF and its leadership for making the physical fitness of its personnel a priority.

He added that it is indeed a smart move as it is virtually impossible to separate efficient service delivery from a sound mind in a sound body as he also assured the NAF of the continuous support of the Government and people of Cross River State in ensuring that the force continues its bid to make the country safe for all.

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, earlier in his remarks, reiterated the importance of physical fitness to a fighting force. He noted that physical fitness remains the cornerstone of military combat readiness and hence, the NAF leadership’s decision to sustain the annual

Cross section of the NAF contingent during the march past.

10 km walk/jog competition, quarterly route march exercise and the combat sports competition.

Air Marshal Abubakar explained further that the willingness of the Service to continue to enforce physical fitness among NAF personnel could be predicated on one of the key drivers of his administration, which focuses on comradeship and regimentation.

The CAS then took the opportunity to encourage all Nigerians to be law abiding, as the NAF, while working with other security agencies, would be decisive in dealing with any group that attempts to subvert the Constitution of Nigeria.

The Chief of Administration at Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Yahaya, who welcomed dignitaries and participants to the event on behalf of the CAS, explained that the competition would afford the NAF as well as the people of Akwa Ibom, the opportunity to interact and sustain the good relationship that has existed between them over the years.

He assured all, of the integrity of the competition, as it would be officiated by a combination of military and civilian officials from the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Youths and Sports Development.

Shortly after the march past by the various

CAS Celebrates Easter With Frontline Troops In North East Frontline personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) currently serving in the Northeast and visiting members of their families, have been treated to a special lunch by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on April 1, 2018, in celebration of the Easter festivities.

The CAS, who was represented at the occasion by the Commander, Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Idi Lubo, commended the contributions of personnel towards prosecuting the fight against insurgency in the country and urged them not to rest on their oars.

A statement signed by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, said the CAS sated that although a lot of success

had been recorded in the fight against Boko Haram Terrorists, the personnel need to put in more effort towards completely eradicating the menace. Adesanya said the CAS later had lunch with the other NAF frontline personnel serving in Yola.

The statement said at Yola, AVM Lubo thanked Air Marshal Abubakar for the kind gesture of facilitating the lunch, and commended the troops for their relentless efforts and sacrifices, which had greatly degraded the capability of the insurgents.

He tasked the troops to redouble their efforts to ensure that the entire country, and the Northeast Region in particular, becomes a safer place for Nigerians.

Lubo later presented the award of the Best Officer of the Quarter to Group Captain

Samuel Eyoma, who is the Head of the Data Collection and Analysis Team in the Tactical Operation Centre.

“He then encouraged the Senior Officer to remain focused and diligent in the discharge of his duties. Likewise, he charged other personnel to emulate those qualities that got Group Captain Eyoma the award.

“CAS also seized the opportunity to commission some projects at 103 Strike Group, aimed at enhancing the protection of NAF critical assets in NAF Base Yola.

“The idea behind the special lunch with NAF frontline personnel, which has become a tradition since Air Marshal Abubakar became the CAS, is to sustain their morale towards enhancing operational effectiveness,” the statement added.

Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. — English proverb

NAF Contingents, which attracted a rousing round of applause from the crowd, the Combat Sports Flag was hoisted while an oath was administered on participants and officiating officials towards ensuing fair play and justice.

It would be recalled that HQ NAF emerged tops at the 2017 Edition of the Competition and would be hoping to hold onto the title. The Combat Sports Competition is scheduled to end today, Friday 6 April, 2018, as the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Udom Emmanuel, is expected to declare it closed in a colourful closing ceremony.

Troops Intercept Armed Herdsmen In Benue

Troops deployed in Exercise Ayem Akpatuma, on April 3rd 2018, intercepted large number of armed herdsmen in Asom village, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State following a tip off.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Texas Chukwu.

Chukwu said the bandits, on sighting the troops at Ukaa and Babban Ruwa area, opened fire on them, adding that one herdsman was killed during the encounter. The statement also said troops on patrol on April 3rd 2018, rescued two persons shot by suspected herdsmen along Gbajimba -Kaseyo road.

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April 6, 2018

Bernard Okhakume MC & A Weekly Digest market consumer advertising

D 08053040003

mcaandadigestweekly@gmail.com

iscursion on financial inclusion and digitalisation of financial services has been on, with interesting participation of experts who have taken their time to try and carry Nigerians along with them in their path of expertise. It is particularly interesting because, as I see it, though the efforts come across as proactive and a lead-on into the future, over 95 per cent of Nigerians across socio-economic divides or classification, are left out in the process. Some tech watchers say the outcome is due to low literacy rate among us, while some others think it is the lack of depth and appreciation of the Nigerian psyche among the proponents. The argument continues as we read.

Suffice to say, therefore, the education and enlightenment designed to help launch us into digital ecosystem, is not delivering on the critical good as may be anticipated.

One hopes this will change overtime.

On the flip side, the core primary target of this new wave, the banks and other financial institutions, telecom service providers, payment platform owners/operators, are on the one hand faster in playing the catchup on the new technology, albeit too slow to fully appropriate the full benefits of adequate knowledge and orientation, and on the other, intimidating lesser mortals who themselves have caged into a need-set that defines their innovative market, with their ‘expertise.’The common denominator for this class of participants is Quick Financial Gains. They replicate the dangers of the banking wiz-kids in the 1980s/90s; a culture of predatory capitalisation based on ignorance. Rather than apply themselves to the good in the system and mitigate the implication attendant upon the inherent negatives, they do otherwise, completely.

My observation concerning intellectual resource acquisition among Nigerians is that we are basically lazy at it. Rather than bother ourselves with the troubles, we seek shortcuts to enable us go past the ‘low ceiling’, anyhow. That explains the poor rating of our academic system and infrastructure in global rating. Curricula are designed for just certification and let-my-people-go. It is same with capacity building for business engagement. We would rather that the system is running at its barest than break ceilin through innovation and functional creativity.

The commercial banks in Nigeria make me laugh all the more. They are so lazy; they disgrace themselves on all fronts, regardless.

I carefully read the interview Marcel Mbamalu (News Editor, The Guardian, had with Dr Olayinka David-West on digital financing and its contribution to increasing productivity (published in The Guardian of Wednesday January 3, 2018), as though I was studying a thesis. My interest was the framework of the digital technology as a new learning. To me, it is very important because it is the new direction for the totality of business as it is. My take from that interview is that digital financing and financial inclusion (the critical issues raised there) exist in the context of technological innovativeness, Nigerians would have to bring themselves up-to-speed to identify

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25

Digital Financial Services And Consumers’ Dilemma + AIRTEL’s N10

with. Presently, less than 15 per cent of our population (I won’t refer to them as infinitesimal because they are presently holding on to a lethal weapon too dangerous to be in the care of a few, for its potency) are presently atop with its system and operation.

They are also aware that the ecosystem is illequipped (digital economy infrastructure) well enough for them to play god over the rest of us.

So, the small clique hurry up with profitability, system abuse, cost minimisation and profit optimisation at the expense of the rest of us ignoramus. So, as I have always said, the commercial banks pass the entire cost of their operations to the customers in form of commission and other charges for using the limited digital platforms forced on them for those services the banks should ordinarily provide at no extra cost.

AIRTEL’S Additional N10 The telecommunications platform has become the backbone of all bank transactions, whether money transfer, withdrawal, payment and purchases.

Therefore, the banks have built their operations on them, and redesigned their customer service system and orientation to compel customer dependence.

I have always talked about the cost implication of this so-called digital banking service orientation on consumers, as it lays on them, the entire burden in terms of cost. Add to that, the banking system and businesses have stylishly absolved themselves of their responsibilities to their customers. The entire system now runs on hidden charges and cost components that put the customer at colossal loss.

Guaranty Trust Bank came up with the easy self-service platform called *737#, frontally positioned as a stress-free customer self-service initiative, to enable them carry out any type of transaction at the comfort of place and time. The convenience is cool;

the sophistication is interesting and egotapping. So, we all embraced it.

The way it works is that the customer dials the service code from the mobile phone number registered against his/her account with the bank, for access to the account. Thereon, transaction of interests can be done. For every transaction, the bank charges certain percentage as commission, which is shared between the bank and the particular mobile service provider for the registered telephone number that is operated. It can only be imagined the size of revenue this platform alone attracts for the bank, taking into account the population that engages it.

Accessing this bank service code is supposedly Free, as promoted.

For some time, it operated free of cost to customers, meaning that the only deductions applicable is the service charge or commission on transaction, for using the code or platform. But systematically, AIRTEL sneaked and added cost of N10 into the total cost outlay for the customer, without the user’s knowledge, information or notice (as has been observed by an AIRTEL subscriber). Because the ‘additional’ cost is just N10, perhaps AIRTEL thought nobody would notice. Sadly, somebody did and he is now telling his story everywhere he goes.

Interestingly, he took his time to conclude on his findings, painstakingly repeating the ‘purchase’ time and again, to be sure.

According to him, each time a GTB customer attempts to log into *737# platform on the AIRTEL platform, the service provider deducts N10 from his account. Now, it so happens that access is denied most of the time, and so for every attempt, AIRTEL takes N10 from his account. If this is true, can you imagine how many N10s go into AIRTEL’s account aside its earning from the transaction from providing the communication platform? The issues include also, pre-information; why did the network not communicate this to its

Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. — English proverb

subscribers prior?

It may interest GTBank to know that it is losing market share to other banks for this reason. Also, AIRTEL is losing subscribers to competition (as at now though, our finding is that another service telecom provider is also suspected in this direction (we are still yet to confirm).

To note, the National Communication Commission forbids any form of hidden charges by the TELCOs. Our position is that digitalising the financial system requires deeper appreciation and engagement to be safe and all-inclusive. Until we can muster the courage to invest in adequately building the necessary infrastructure, the relevant authorities should protect the public from system abuse that will expose Consumers to huge losses. We intend to engage AIRTEL for this finding if they will talk to us, but this customer’s experience is only an indication of possible conflict of interests within the digital finance space.

Whereas we are not conclusive on what the issue is with AIRTEL deductions as narrated above, we think something is likely to have gone wrong, and stakeholders, especially regulatory authorities need to get to work.

As Consumer Rights Advocate, We Invite The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) To A Discussion On This Topical Issue.

To note, the National Communication Commission forbids any form of hidden charges by the TELCOs.

26

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Breakthrough with

T

Prof M.K Othman (PhD) mkothman@gmail.com

he republic of Sudan or North Sudan, is a country located in Northern Africa.

A large country surrounded by seven other countries.

It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west and Libya to the northwest. It is the third largest country in Africa with geographical area of 1,886,068 square kilometres. The White Nile flows through the country, emptying into Lake Nubia in the north, the largest manmade lake in the world.

The River Nile divides the country into eastern and western halves. South Sudan was part of Sudan until 2011 when they formally separated as two individual independent nations.

Sudan has many similarities with Nigeria, especially the northern part of Nigeria. Largest river in the World, River Nile crisscrossed the country, which housed the confluence of White and Blue Niles at Khartoum, the Capital city of Sudan. Thus, the Blue and White Nile rivers meet in Khartoum to form the River Nile that flows northwards through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. The Blue Nile’s course through Sudan is nearly 800 km long and is joined by the Dinder and Rahad Rivers between Sennar and Khartoum.

The White Nile within Sudan has no significant tributaries. Similar to Nigeria, River Niger and Benue meet in Lokoja, a state capital of Kogi State, one of the 36 states in Nigeria. Arabic and English are the official languages in Sudan but the population of Kanuri, Hausa and Fulani constitute a significant percentage of the Sudan Population.

The population of these three tribes makes about 10 million people out of the 39 million Sudan populations. They are found in the country’s civil service, armed forces, business, and politics and provide the bulk of foods in Sudan, as they constitute the majority of Sudan farming sector. Nigeria is believed to be the origin of these tribes; Kanuri, Hausa and Fulani. The dry regions of Sudan are plagued by sandstorms, which sometimes can completely block out the sun. In the northern and western semi-desert areas, people rely on the scant rainfall for basic agriculture and many are nomadic, travelling with their herds of sheep and camels. Nearer the River Nile, there are well-irrigated farms growing cash crops. The sunshine duration is very high all over the country but especially in deserts where it could soar to over 4,000 h per year.

Like Nigeria, period of rainy season in Sudan increases towards the south from the north. The central and the northern parts have extremely dry desert areas such as the Nubian Desert to the

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April 6, 2018

Agricultural Innovations: Sudanese National Agricultural Summit And Lessons For Nigeria

northeast and the Bayuda Desert to the east; in the south, there are swamps and rainforests. Sudan’s rainy season lasts for about three months (July to September) in the north, and up to six months (June to November) in the south.

Similarly, Sudan and Nigeria are both former British colonies, while Sudan has the largest geographical area in Africa; Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. In terms of ethnic diversity, Nigeria has more than 500 different ethnic groups; Sudan is the second on the heterogeneity chart with about 400 ethno linguistic groups. Above all, in no two countries do the three political matrices of region, religion and ethnicity so totally underpin national politics like Nigeria and Sudan.

Similarities aside, Sudan has undergone more turbulent political and socio-economic antecedents as a nation compared to Nigeria. From independence to date, there were civil wars, United Nation economic sanction and final disintegration or separation with South Sudan in 2011. The South Sudan acquired about 80 per cent of the Sudan Petroleum oil, which severely affects the economic development of Sudan. In the years before South Sudan’s separation, there was rising oil revenue, the Sudanese economy was booming, with a growth rate of about nine per cent in 2007 (Wikipedia).

However, the separation of oil-rich South Sudan placed most major oilfields out of the Sudanese government’s direct control and oil production in Sudan fell from around 450,000 barrels per day to under 60,000 barrels per day.

However, oil production was raised to around 250,000 barrels per day between 2014 and 2015 but with low price. In the face of oil low price at the International market and massive reduction of the oil quantity, Sudan had no option but to turn to agriculture for survival and economic development.

Today, agriculture is the mainstay of Sudan economy, employing 80 per cent of the workforce and contributing 39 per cent of its GDP, despite adverse weather and other challenges associated with agriculture in developing countries.

With the lifted economic sanction and Sudan’s enthusiasm to develop agriculture, the Sudan government organised a week National Agricultural Summit from 23rd to 29th March, 2018. Nigeria was ably represented by a delegation led by the Honorable M T Monguno, chairman, House Committee on Agriculture. The delegation comprised members of the private sector, chief executives of National Research Institutes (Crops, Livestock and Extension) and members of House Committee on Agriculture. The Sudan agricultural realities and potentials were

obtrusively displayed to the admiration of the participants of the Agricultural week.

The realities include the prominent roles of private sector in support and facilitation of agricultural development through mechanisation and extension advisory services. In this regard, CTC group and Zedna International are on the lead. CTC Group is a leading multi-faceted conglomerate operating in Sudan across eight different sectors.

CTC group, driven by ambitious entrepreneurial spirit domesticated some of the agricultural machineries produced by renowned manufacturers such as John Deere, Case Tractors, Suzuki, Tata, Syngenta and others.

The machineries are being supplied to farmers with intensive capacity building for operation and maintenance. CTC is the leading agricultural inputs provider in Sudan as well as partakes in the production for technology demonstration and capacity building. They produce high quality fresh produce and crops for the local and export markets. CTC synchronises with five-year government plan to transform Sudan traditional and labour-intensive agriculture to modern and mechanised agriculture with multiple outputs. It provides solutions to the Sudan diverse agriculture. The results were significantly encouraging.

Evidence-based yield increase of various commodities between traditional methods of production and CTC promoted/improved methods were shown. There were yield increases for Sorghum by five folds, sesame, sunflower and cotton by four folds each.

Mutwakil Haroun, a smallholder farmer, won a national prize for a zenith target of obtaining 10-fold yield increase for sorghum using CTC technology. This translates to about yield of five tons per hectare against less than yield of one ton per hectare using traditional method. CTC has established a number of technology transfer centres in the major agricultural areas and production sites to facilitate the transfer of best practices to the farming communities of Sudan. The major motivation for CTC is the government’s patronage and their millions of clients (farmers).

While farmers gain high profit margin through adoption of new technologies, government gains through increase of agricultural productivity for the nation and the CTC gains high profit margin and national influence. This is a case of “win-win situation”.

Zadna International Investment Co. Ltd is another private sector, which plays a significant role in promotion and facilitation of horticultural crops in Sudan. It has a multi-million US Dollar tissue-culture laboratory for the massive production of exotic, disease and virus – free seedlings for various horticultural

Temper is so good a thing that we should never lose it.

Hon. M. T. Monguno crops. Zadna has the capacity to produce 4 million seedlings per year, which is much more than the national demands of seedling per period. To encourage farmers go into horticultural production, government provides a subsidy of 60 per cent of the cost of each seedling purchased by farmers from Zadna.

Attested by Dr Badreldin Elshiek Mohamed of Zadna, “We receive much government support for agricultural and horticultural projects in Sudan. This allows us to invest in the cultivation and quality of our techniques. One hundred million US Dollars has been budgeted (by government) for the next five years.” (http://zadna-int. com/2017/08/22/sudan-governmentinvests-100-million-dollar-in-freshproduce-cultivation/). The strategy of Sudan Government to provide subsidy to the inputs supplier as in the case of Zadna, is producing the desired results. This is because the seedlings’ production has tremendously increased over the years. CTC and Zadna are examples of government support to private sector for the development of Agriculture in Sudan. How are public owned research Institutes performing?

What are the lessons to Nigeria from the Sudan National Agricultural Summit?

➔ TO BE CONTINUED

While farmers gain high profit margin through adoption of new technologies, government gains through increase of agricultural productivity for the nation and the CTC gains high profit margin and national influence.

April 6, 2018

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ERGP: FG On Course To Meet $25bn Investment Target – Udoma

The federal government said its target of attracting private investment worth 25 billiondollars through its Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) ‘Focused Laboratories’ was still on course.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udo Udoma said this on Thursday in Abuja, at the progress meeting of the ERGP Focused Labs with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

He said the meeting was to review what the participants of the Focused Labs had done in the past three weeks and what was expected of them until the programme ends on April 26.

“The ERGP Focused Labs was set up to identify and unlock investments from the

private sector by resolving complex inter-agency problems that act as a barrier to private sector investment.

“Through the Focused Labs, we brought together investors, heads of agencies of government into a single environment.

“From what we have seen so far, and the data available from the three labs, we are clearly on course to meeting our target of 25 billion dollars investment commitment.

“We are on course but more work needs to be done. A number of problems have been identified. We have to spend the next two weeks tackling each of the problems one by one,” Udoma said.

The minister explained that through the Focused Labs, 59 projects in the ERGP, with maximum economic viability had been selected to be priotised.

“These are projects that are near ready but require just a little push to get them onboard.

I am pleased to note that in the Power and Gas plan, progress has been made with regards to issues of issuance of licences, payments, customs and excise papers, funding potential partnerships and other issues.

“In the Manufacturing and Processing plan, two projects have already been able to procure letters from the ministries concerned to move ahead with the projects.

$6trn Exchanges Hands Across Bitcoin Network

BY KEHINDE SALLAH, Lagos with agency report

Despite some negative trends noticed by experts, Bitcoin has continued to gain a momentum with over $6 trillion transferring hands already across its network.

Bitcoin is attracting more and more people and all of them will name very different reasons if asked why this cryptocurrency is interesting for them. Of course, for many of them Bitcoin is an investment tool, but at the same time we should say that today the cryptocurrency can offer you much more other opportunities.

According to latest investigations, more than $6 trillion has been transferred across the Bitcoin network over the past several years. And it is quite an impressive amount

taking into consideration the specificity of this sphere. These numbers show that Bitcoin is rather actively used nowadays.

However, we should understand that this amount also includes rewards for miners and funds transferred to exchanges.

Nevertheless, the daily transaction volume is also growing. Today it is around $10 billion. And this amount is clearly above all the expectations that Bitcoin enthusiasts had nine years ago. The number of Bitcoin users is increasing. The last year was a period of enormous growth of global attention to the cryptocurrency market.

But when new people come to explore Bitcoin, some time is needed to see the value transferred over this network growing.

What is also important to be mentioned is that Bitcoin represents itself the only one world’s cross-border currency.

Neither trade agreements nor inter-fiat exchange rates impose any limitations or restrictions for it. Moreover, it is the only currency that is not regulated by governments right now despite some their trials.

Nevertheless, there is still a lot to do to make it a global currency.

Thanks to technical developments, Bitcoin is said to continue its way to success.

In spite of the fact that the first quarter of the year was the worst period for Bitcoin ever, Brian Kelly believes that according to the traditional seasonal cycle, the second quarter will be good for this cryptocurrency.

Pirate Attacks To Spark Fresh War Surcharge In Nigeria

BY YUSUF BABALOLA, Lagos

Unabated pirate attacks on Nigeria-bound vessels has underscore continued maritime security failings in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), LEADERSHIP has learnt.

The attacks continued unabated despite several initiatives by the Nigerian Navy to tackle piracy in recent years.

Recently, the region has seen a significant uptick in attacks in recent weeks, with vessels being attacked further west of Nigeria, indicative of the dynamic nature of piracy in the region. For instance, on 22nd of March, an unspecified number of pirates on a speedboat hijacked two fishing vessels 23 nm south of Lagos Port.

The pirates boarded the vessels and sailed to Benin waters, before returning the vessels while abducting two crew members. On the same day, another merchant vessel reported that it came under attack from two speedboats 53 nm southwest of Bonny at 2348 hours local time.

However, shipping expert, Dr Kofi Mbia has stated that the surge in pirate activities could have a wrong impact on commercial trading in the shipping industry as it would affect the climate of confidence in trade and influence the rise in insurance premiums.

Mbia, a former chief executive officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) warned of high insurance premiums over high pirate

attacks. “When your coast is infested with pirates then there is the tendency for insurance premiums to go up for vessels that are calling at your port because of the threat to the vessels and at the same time it affects the climate of confidence in trade.

“Vessels must be able to move freely and navigate to and out of the port but whenever there are increase pirate attacks, there is the tendency for some vessels not to call on some particular ports because of fear of attack so indeed it affects commercial trading,” he said.

But, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), predicted cooperation amongst various government agencies as key to achieving maximum maritime security enforcement.

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BUSINESS/NEWS / 27

28 NEWS NATIONAL First Batch Of Bama IDPs Return Home

BY FRANCIS OKOYE, Maiduguri

Borno State government has successfully returned the first batch of Bama internally displaced persons ( IDPs) who are living in camps.

This was after an official flag off of their return by Governor Kashim Shettima at Dalori IDPs camp; the first IDPs camp to witness the return of the people back to their communities.

The IDPs were conveyed to their place of origin after documentation by the committee set up by the Borno State government on returning and resettlement of Bama displaced persons.

The commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement ( RRR ) , Prof Babagana Umara Zulum had while addressing newsmen over the resettlement, said adequate arrangements were made by Borno State government for the returnees.

Prof Zulum said government provided several infrastructures for the returnee IDPs including 11,630 private homes in addition to public structures and other basic amenities.

He said that each returnee were given food and non food materials by Governor Kashim Shettima in order to commence a new life in earnest, adding that the items donated include one bag of 50kg rice and maize grits each, 30 litres of cooking oil, plastic mats, mattresses and N10,000 cash to each returnee.

“Also ready for the returning IDPs are eight primary schools rehabilitated by Victims Support Fund in collaboration with the Ministry for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation And Resettlement, maternity centre, 1800 shops in addition to market stalls. 150 mosques and ongoing rehabilitation of 15 boreholes among others. “ Almost all the physical structures were renovated and solely funded by the state government including logistics, labour and materials worth billions of naira while other supporting development partners made a few contributions in terms of livelihood support for the returning IDPs as well as building materials and some equipment ,” Prof Zulum said.

Lawyer Urges FG To Empower Benue IDPs

BY HEMBADOON ORSAR, Makurdi

A US based international human rights lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe has called on the federal government to empower internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benue State with the necessary industrial skills farming.

Ogebe who made his feelings known during his visit to the Agatu and Abagena camps, in Makurdi urged government to create economic development zones that will harness the human potentials that are in the camps as it was done in the North East where IDPs are mobilized farming.

Barr Ogebe while appealing to the government to rehabilitate the IDPs and allow them to return to their homes especially now that the rains are at the corner, to enable them commenced farming activities, urged Nigerians to stop playing with its own food security.

He said, “Nigerians are playing with its food security and survival. I have seen transformation in the North East even the North East Development Commission has been created for them, but the farmers that feed this nation have not been rehabilitated, how can they even create food security council without the input of Benue? If anything like that should be created, its headquarters has to be located in Benue, this, I can say is an act of atrocity.

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Edo, NIS Partner To Curb Human Trafficking

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has strengthened ties with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), reiterating the state government’s commitment to curbing the menace of human trafficking and illegal migration.

The governor disclosed this when he received the new Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Edo State Command, Mr. Kayode Eniolohunda and other senior officials of the service, at the Government House, Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Obaseki noted that his administration is determined to curb human trafficking and illegal migration and will be counting on the sup-

port of the service, particularly in the areas of investigation and prosecution. He said, “With the feelers we have received so far, we are confident that human trafficking will be reduced by at least 50 per cent before the end of this year.

“We are encouraged by the support received from the European Union and have agreed to have a conference in the state before June this year, where we will reveal all the steps taken to deal with human trafficking and illegal migration.”

He said he has directed the local governments to secure office spaces for officers of the service to enable them integrate properly into the state’s security architecture.

The governor added that he would contin-

ue to work with the Service to secure Visas and other necessary documents for foreign investors coming into the state for business.

Earlier, Edo State Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration, Mr Kayode Eniolohunda expressed the command’s support for the governor’s policies and far-reaching reforms as well as the fight against illegal migration.

He said the service has also picked Edo State as a pilot city to launch its enlightenment handbook called “Passport to Safe Migration.”

“We hope to launch this programme in collaboration with other stakeholders, particularly the Edo State Taskforce on Human Trafficking, which has done wonderfully well within the short period of its establishment.”

L-R: Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Prof. Annie Coombes of the University of London; Prof Nicholas Thomas of Cambridge University; and the Enogie of Evbuobanosa, His Royal Highness, Prof Gregory Iduorobo Akenzua, during a dinner at the Government House, Benin City, Edo State. PHOTO BY EDO GOVT

2019: Taraba ALGON Endorses Ishaku For Second Term

BY ANDREW OJIH, Jalingo

As the 2019 general elections draw near, the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) Taraba State chapter has thrown its weight behind the second term bid of the state governor, Darius Ishaku.

Briefing newsmen yesterday in Jalingo, the state ALGON chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Stephen Agya said Governor Ishaku need a second term in order to complete the good work he has started in Taraba State.

“We in ALGON and indeed given reports received from all the local government areas in the state, the grassroots support base of

Governor Ishaku is awesome and as the closest elected representatives of the masses, it is only proper that we reecho this stand of the people believing in the truism that ‘the voice of the people is the voice of God’.

We are all very much aware, this mandate was freely and democratically given to him overwhelmingly by Tarabans in 2015,” he said.

He added that the giant stride of Governor Ishaku resonates with the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

“As it is expressed in development parlance, Ishaku has demonstrated that he can be trusted having been tried and not found wanting in every aspect of governance,” he added.

According him, Ishaku as an astute technocrat, development expert and crisis manager par excellence has successfully handled issues of development by executing people oriented projects that have direct impact on the people of the state.

“We are all living witnesses to the physical transformation in the state especially, several road networks in Jalingo that have eased movement of people, goods and services. You may wish to note that simultaneously, other road projects like the Wukari to Tsokundi and Mararraba Pantisawa are also ongoing in local government areas through the prudent management of scarce resources,” he explained.

Gov Ishaku Condemns Herdsmen’s Killing Of Family Of 4

BY ANDREW OJIH, Jalingo

Taraba State governor, Mr Darius Ishaku has condemned herdsmen’s attack on Mbiya village in Takum local government area of Taraba State in which a family of four was wiped out.

Ishaku who stated this yesterday in Jalingo through his senior special assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Bala Dan Abu said the attack was the latest in the wave of herdsmen’s killings

of innocent people that have claimed many lives in the state.

He explained the deceased were asleep at the time the attackers arrived in their numbers with guns and cutlasses.

“Sources told us that they were more than 20, all of them armed with guns and cutlasses. The herders later headed for Bassa village and set the community ablaze,” he added.

He lamented that Taraba State is

among the states covered by Operation Ayem Akpatuma which is aimed at disarming people in order to secure lives and properties.

He noted that since the attack on innocent people by alleged Fulani herdsmen started, over 100,000 settlements in Gassol, Bali, Ibi, Donga and Gashaka local government areas of the state have been displaced and turned to internally displaced persons (IDPs).

tive collaborations between the authority and governments is important towards achieving the buy in of the communities.

He explained that with the new reformative spirit prevailing in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources under the leadership of the minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu and the permanent secretary, Dr Musa Ibrahim, a new way of doing things which will help the River Basin Development Authorities succeed has been initiated.

“What I can tell you is that in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources where the River Basin Development Authorities are all domiciled, it is no longer business as usual and largely the Act establishing the River Basin Development Authorities is now being empowered under the strategic and innovative leadership of the Honorable Minister of Water Resources, Hon Engr Suleiman Adamu and he has a bonding with a reform minded permanent secretary, Dr Musa Ibrahim,” he said.

River Basin Authorities Reposition For Effective Service Delivery

BY HENRY TYOHEMBA, Abuja

The Committee of chairmen of River Basins Development Authorities in Nigeria has constituted a committee to reposition the authorities for effective service delivery.

The dean of the committee, who is also chairman of the Governing Board of Cross River Basin Development Authority, Hon Eseme Eyiboh, said that a functional community partnership and construc-

A good deed is never lost.

ISLAM COLUMN / 29

April 6, 2018

Ustaz Abubakr Siddeeq Muhammad Focus On Faith 08076760011 (sms only) www.abubakrsiddeeq.com, email: deedat@gmail.com

Nigeria’s Travel Agencies: How Genuine? How Committed?(2) The kind of transportation used by Hajj tour operators is distinct from the one that caters for state pilgrims. Hajj tour operators will pay for the regular type of buses under the Saudi niqaabah (transport) syndicate, just to satisfy the condition of the Saudi Hajj Ministry. In addition to that payment, tour operators also pay for VIP buses, according to the standard of their packages, to cater for the transport needs of their pilgrims. These buses are of newer models than the ones under the niqaabah system. My company, for example, will use the latest model of buses in a particular year. Meaning, in Hajj 2016 for example, we used either 2016 model, or even, 2017 as it is possible to get future versions of some vehicles six months before the end of the year. We, in essence, do not accept any standard below the latest model of buses in our Hajj operations!

Is this to display luxury and class, as some have wrongly concluded? No! The reason for using only the newest buses is simple.

The private tour operator is sought only by those who want something beyond the barest minimum, which the State Pilgrims Boards provide. There are very good reasons for that barest minimum but that is not the issue at hand presently. The buses under the niqaabah arrangement are notorious for breaking down at crucial moments.

They also do not wait for pilgrims; they discharge their passengers at each stage in the Hajj rites and go. They only return to pick the passengers when the time is due and in such cases, the traffic situation often means trekking to your next destination would be a better idea. With VIP buses, you hardly encounter that kind of problem. The VIP buses remain with the pilgrims at each stage of the Hajj rites and they are equipped with onboard television, Wi-Fi, mini-fridge and toilet. They are fully air-conditioned and the engines run as long as pilgrims are within the buses, keeping the pilgrims in relative comfort. The spacing in the buses ensures adequate leg space which is crucial when you have to remain in traffic for hours at a stretch.

Private Hajj companies are not out to compete with the State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and agencies in any way. We are to provide services above what obtains under the state arrangement. Any tour operator who measures the services of his company with that of the States has brought ridicule into this industry. Private Hajj operations are different from those of state pilgrims.

The fares are not the same, thus, both the clientele and standard of service differ.

Those who derailed during Hajj 2017 by giving a rate that was lower than what the states charged, failed lamentably as some

Sheikh Bala Lau

of them ended up accommodating pilgrims in secondary schools in Makkah, or keeping them in houses that even the states are forbidden from using.

Hajj tour operators are committed to assisting the pilgrims in performing a Mabrur (acceptable) Hajj, thus, they organise Hajj induction course for their pilgrims, days to the departure.

The focus of the seasoned private Hajj operator is to remove the burden of logistics from the mind of the pilgrim thereby enhancing his ability to perform his Hajj without let or hindrance.

From a smoother and quicker airlift arrangement, using scheduled flights and not chartered flight arrangements, to hotels closer to the haram, which ensure that the pilgrim has no excuse to miss the huge reward of salat in the Haram mosque to the quality of food, accommodation and tents, there is a distinction between the two.

The two questions raised by the topic: How genuine? How committed show the mindset of the average Nigerian Muslim about what we do. At the risk of sounding immodest, the answer to those two questions is, “very much so!”.

We have our fair share of bad eggs. They are few and we know them. We have an association called the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON). These bad eggs are usually not one of us or they register with the

Association for the mere formality of it; never attending meetings and never contributing a dime to the Association.

They cut corners and think the business is nothing more than a quick way to make money. The fear of Allah is the last thing on their mind when they are serving their clients.

The genuine private Hajj operator is different. The committed Hajj operator ensures both value for money on the one hand and profitability on the other hand.

Some of us lose untold sums of money each year to make up for the lapses in the services we procure on behalf of our clients; paying more than the pilgrim paid to make sure the pilgrim does not imagine that he has been cheated out of his money. The commitment to excellence is carried to a near extreme in the case of some of us. We do not think of the cost, for example, when the airline cannot confirm our return dates to Nigeria and our pilgrims have to spend an extra night or two in Saudia. We move the pilgrims to Jeddah after their checkout date in Makkah, lodge them into five-star hotels (we had the choice of lower class accommodation) and feed them from our purse. For companies like mine, that cost comes to millions of naira. Often times, the hotel bills are only settled months after return to Nigeria, as the company’s bank accounts are showing the same colour as blood.

We have been known to upgrade

A heavy purse makes a light heart.

― Egyptian Proverb

pilgrims from one five-star hotel, for which they originally paid, to a better five-star hotel on the mere hint that the original hotel of choice would not satisfy the high standards to which we adhere. We go as far as approaching the hotel chefs to allow us to cook Nigerian dishes in the hotel’s kitchen; something that is difficult to achieve in Saudia. My company, for example, pioneered bringing Zam Zam to Nigeria for the pilgrims to ease the burden of carrying the heavy containers of divine liquid. All the pilgrims have to do is to present their identity cards upon return and collect one container of Zam Zam. We also return the excess money paid by pilgrims to us when we find the airline charged less than the pilgrim deposited.

Please do not think that by all I have mentioned, it a perfect arrangement with private Hajj operators. It is not. We have our challenges and we have those who resort to sharp practices. NAHCON has become very adept at fishing out these and sanctioning them appropriately. The picture I have tried to paint for those who see us from afar and who see us as opportunistic and capitalistic is that we are as committed as anyone can be to the success of Hajj operations in Nigeria at the lowest rates possible under the circumstances. What do we gain from exorbitant rates which mean fewer people patronise us? Nothing! We remember this business is an act of worship for which we will be rewarded when done sincerely and honestly and it is this fact that drives many of us to excellence. As for the few who are not so genuine or committed, we ask Allah to guide them.

In conclusion, I would like to appeal to the public to desist from sharing information on Haj and its cost, the source of which is not ascertained. I have come across such posts apportioning quite impossible figures to the various Hajj components like airfare, tickets and accommodation, asking why the cost of Hajj is so high despite their contrived figures and urging everyone to share these false figures with the hope of creating doubts and ill feelings in the minds of the people.

The contents of the sixth verse in Suratul Hujuraat (Q49:6) will help us in this regard.

The genuine commitment of the private Hajj operator is not in doubt and the few who are not doing the right thing should not be the yardstick for measuring the rest of us. We also need the help of the public and we urge you to raise an alarm, talk to our Association leaders or approach the National Hajj Commission directly to lodge a formal complaint if any private tour operator has given you less than you paid for. It is your right and you should exercise it.

Thank you.

30 FRIDAY DISCOURSE

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BY MALAM YUSUF ABDULLAH

B

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efore I continue with the selected doctrines in the book; Our Belief by his holiness, Ayatollah Uzma, Makarem Shirazi, I wish to emphasise need for untiring effort for Allah’s pleasure through prayers, Qur’anic recitation and charity among others. We are still in the sacred month of Rajab in which Imam Ali (AS), the greatest of all companions was born in the holy Kaaba.

50. The Shiites Imams Are Appointed

By The Prophet Himself We believe that the prophet of Islam appointed all the 12 Imams as his successors, one after the other. In Sahih Muslim (a famous Sunni reference book), we read; in a place between Mecca and Medina, which is named Ghadeer Khum, the prophet made a speech for thousands of Muslims, through which he said; I am near to leave you for good. I am leaving two heavy things among you after me; Qur’an is the first one in which you may find light and guidance; and my nearest kins are the second. I advice you all not to forget God in relation to my kins.

The same tradition is also written in Sahih Tirmizi, (another famous Sunni’s reference book). The prophet added then; if you grasp the two heavy things that I leave among you; you will never go astray.”

The above mentioned incident is brought and found in so many famous Islamic books such as; Sahih Muslim, Volume 3, page 1873; Sahih Tirmizi, volume 5, page 662, Sunaan Daarimi volume 2, page 432; Khasaes Nesaie page 20; Musnad Ahmad volume 5, page 182. Therefore, no Muslim can deny this tradition which is related by successive witnesses and important writers. We rely on another famous tradition which is narrated in the Sahih Muslim and Sahih Tirmizi, Sahih Abu Dawood and other famous books that our prophet has said; “Islam will stand up to the resurrection day and until 12 Imams, all of whom are from Quraish, rule over you as my successors”. We believe that there is no acceptable commentary for such traditions as mentioned above except that belief which is found among our sect; the Shiite.

51. We believe that the prophet, in several occasions, has introduced and designated Imam Ali as his successor by the decree of God, an instance of which was in the Ghadeer Khum, somewhere near Johfeh. When the prophet was returning from his last pilgrimage (HAJJ), he made a speech for a great gathering of his companions and followers, saying; “Do I not have priority over your souls? Yes, of course” They all answered. Then all of you know that’ continued the prophet, the master of whoever I am, Ali shall be his master”. Here we do not intend to go deep through reasoning to prove our ideas, we also do not intend to insist upon our assertion. We may only add here that such an important tradition is not something

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Shiism At A Glance (9)

to be ignored easily, or changing what it means, as by taking the Master; Mowler to mean a friend particularly when we see that the prophet has put so much stress and emphasis upon the word, so as to make it known to all. Is this not the same case that, Ibn Athir has brought in his important history book saying; “At the beginning of his prophetic mission, the prophet was ordered by God: (Qur’an 26:214) to admonish his nearest kindred. He invited some 40 men of them to a dinner, and by a miracle, he fed all of them from a single portion of food! He then made a speech and finally said to them; which of you is willing to give me a truthful hand in this divine mission of mine, and become my brother and successor among all? No one answered him there, except Imam Ali, who said; I will be your companion and minister; and the prophet pointed at Imam Ali and said; He is my brother and my successor among you. Thus, we see the prophet designated his vicegerent and Imam, from the beginning of his mission.

The same case also happened at the end of his mission when the prophet was at his death bed. He asked those who were round him to get him a pen and paper to write an order which would prevent them from going astray. One of them rejected and refused to provide pen and paper and even accused the prophet of uttering delirious speech! To repeat again, we hereby only declare our belief in brief and a little reasoning.

53. None Of The Prophet’s Companions Could Excel Imam Ali We believe that none of the prophet’s companions did, or could excel Imam Ali in any respect; and that Imam was at the highest religious position other than that of the prophets. Of course we know, it is unlawful to misrepresent the Imam by overstating him and by exaggerations.

Those who prove for him the position of deity or something like that, are all heretics in our sight, as are those who undervalue him, and we are absolutely disgusted with their belief, although they might call themselves the Shiites of Imam Ali and mingle their names with ours. The leading Shiites and the orthodox have always rejected the two groups who overvalue or undervalue the Imam, and have called them and taken them as heretics.

54. The Prophet’s Companions At The Court Of Wisdom And History We believe that there were many great men of devotion and chastity among the companions of the prophet; but all of them were not so, because the holy Qur’an declares many among them as being hypocrites. There were also men who broke their allegiance with the vicegerent of God, after the prophet, and made wars and shed the blood of thousands of Muslims upon the soil. Muslims, just because they have been with the prophet or they carry the title of companion for themselves? In other words, how can we

judge that both of the two parties, who made the battles of Seffain and Jamal were rightful and on the righteous path?

How could both of the two groups of the combatants be honest and truthful? Some bring forth the foot of religious researches and self exegesis on the ground by saying that; surely one of the two parties was wrong and oppressive, but as they were taking their decisions by their exegesis, both parties were on righteousness in the sight of God. This, we cannot accept easily. How could one with his own exegesis and self comprehensions break his allegiance and loyalty to the vicegerent of God, who is entitled to obedience, and create such fearful wars between Muslims, grouping them and shedding streams of their blood.

With the justification that his exegesis and self researches have decreed him to do so? What else then cannot be justified by such personal comprehensions and self commentaries? Let us be more frank, that every one, even the nearest companions of the prophet, are held in pledge of their deeds and are responsible for what they have done and have to answer for it: “the most honoured of you in Allah’s sight, is he who is the most virtuous (chaste) of you” Q49:13 The above holy verse is true for all, even for the nearest companions of the prophet. We therefore have to judge them by their deeds, and we should have a reasonable definition for them all. Those who were truthful at the presence of the apostle, at his absence too, did their best to guard the religion and to observe his commandments. They remained faithful to their covenant and respected their promises. On the other hand, those among his companions who were hypocrites and vexed him, did the same after him.

Whatever they did, was against Islam and Muslims, “you shall find no believer in Allah and the last judgment to love those who oppose Allah and His apostle, even though they be their fathers, their sons,

A penny soul never came to two pence. — English Proverb

their brothers, or their nearest kindred.

Allah has inscribed the faith in their hearts and had strengthened them with a spirit of His, God will admit them to the gardens of bliss, beneath which streams flow, wherein they shall live forever. They are the party of Allah, and Allah’s party shall achieve felicity” Q58:22 We believe that those who harmed the prophet in his presence or absence do not worth admiration. Of course, we must not forget that some of the companions of the prophet showed the utmost truthfulness and sincerity with the greatest self sacrifices, and have been admired by God Himself and so were a group who followed them later: “The vanguard of Islam; the first of those who forsook their homes, and of those who gave them aid; and also those who followed them in good deeds; Well pleased is Allah with them and they with Allah. For them is prepared gardens of bliss, under which streams flow. They dwell there forever. That is the Supreme felicity” Q59:100. This was our belief in brief about the companions of our prophet. ➔ TO BE CONTINUED

We believe that none of the prophet’s companions did, or could excel Imam Ali in any respect; and that Imam was at the highest religious position other than that of the prophets.

LEADERSHIP FRIDAY

April 06, 2018

Buhari

Oyegun

Tenure Extension: Of Technical C’ttee And A Foreclosed Conclusion The impasse created by the tenure extension hitherto granted by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) had necessitated the convention of a technical committee to advise the party on the appropriateness or otherwise of the extension. ANDREW ESSIEN writes that the committee’s work may have been done before it started.

It is an understatement to say that the recent weeks have been rather intense for the ruling party occasioned largely by the endorsement of the NEC for the National Working Committee (NWC) to stay on for a period not more than 12 months effective from when the tenure is expected to end in June.

This has boomeranged into a serious process of questioning the legality or otherwise of the process which, in no small measure, exposed the fault lines that are increasingly being widened along interest lines so much so that analysts are questioning the preparedness of the party to face more challenges as it moves towards 2019.

However, in the continued search for a lasting solution occasioned by the quagmires the extension generated, the party inaugurated the much expected technical committee to make recommendations to

the National Executive Committee (NEC) on issues arising from the one year tenure of extension which was given to the party’s leadership at the national and state levels.

The committee immediately began making efforts to convince the populace that the extension which was agreed upon at the February 27 NEC was not to elongate the NWC and state chairmen’s tenure but merely an adoption of a motion to allow the party leadership to work on an acting capacity for 12 months.

As innocent as their move was, political onlookers were already of the opinion that the committee was just a “make-up”, as the future of the current leadership of the party had already been sealed after President Muhammadu Buhari’s remarks at the last NEC meeting of March 27, exactly a month after the extension was agreed upon at a

similar NEC. At another level, despite the fact that state governors elected under the party’s platform met behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday, maintaining sealed lips on the outcome of the meeting, it was also gathered that the governors are divided over the issue of tenure extension for the APC national executives and could not reach a consensus over the issue and had to adjourn so as to get a unified front.

After intense negotiations and meetings, the leadership eventually ‘agreed’ to conduct its National Convention as the tenure of the National Working Committee NWC of the party draws to an end which will be agreed to at the upcoming NEC. This has also generated its own issues as more information have emerged that some governors are behind the move to bring the NEC together within a period that is not agreed to by the constitution. This is presenting a whole new and different argument on the convocation of the NEC. Within all these, the party has scheduled another meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) to “discuss” the report of its 10-man technical committee set up in

A good thing is all the sweeter when won with pain.

the wake of the crisis generated by its earlier decision recommending that members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party be allowed to continue to act in acting capacity for one year when their current four year tenure lapses in June.

The governors of Zamfara, Abdulazeez Yari;Plateau, Simon Lalong; Imo, Rochas Okorocha; Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje and Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun also met with the president on Wednesday morning.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting with the president, Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, said all the governors have decided to throw their weight behind the president’s stance that the tenure elongation of Oyegun was illegal.

He said contrary to reports, the meeting with the president was not deadlocked, adding that the governors collectively agreed to have congresses at all levels – local, state and national.

He said “Gentlemen of the press, you know yesterday we left you in the dark after the meeting and today, we have seen so many captions that there is disagreement among the governors over the issue of party chairman or ➔ CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

32 FRIDAY POLITICS

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Tenure Extension: Of Technical C’ttee And A Foreclosed Conclusion

Okorochas ➔ CONTINUED FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE

about the party leadership.

“No. We had a meeting with Mr. President yesterday (Tuesday), and we extended the meeting to tonight and we followed up with the consultations with the President now.

“We consulted and all the 24 governors of the APC are in the same page with Mr. President that we are going to respect our party constitution, we are going to respect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So therefore, we collectively agreed that we will have congresses at all levels; local, state and national.

And the committee set up by the National Secretariat of our party headed by governor of Plateau State, is presenting its report later today. The governors are also meeting with the working committee today so that we come up with convention committee names as well as timetable of the election.

“So, there is no deadlock in our meeting, we have progressed and very soon, you will have the names of the convention committee members as well as the timetable.”

Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Okorocha dismissed insinuations that there is crisis in the party, advising the media to stop spreading rumours of crisis in the party.

He also hinted that some members of the Oyegun- led National Working Committee can still seek for elections as they have not done badly in their first term.

He explained , “I just want to let you know that there is no crisis in the APC at all. And we want to use this opportunity to advise the media operatives to stop spreading rumors of crisis in APC. There is no single crisis in APC. “The issue was one of people who believe that we did not have enough time to organise a party congress and run election.

Yari

Some people felt that it was a good idea but the most important thing is that, if we do that, we will be contravening both our party constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That is the major issue that we have that they call crisis. We do not have virus.

“This morning, we met with Mr. President to fine-tune issues, one regarding the congress and we have resolved that the congresses at all levels and the chairman of the elongation committee, is also finetuning the arrangement in the same line. To this effect, the convention committee will be set out, it will be announced.

“But let me correct one impression, the issue of congress and convention does not mean that the previous people who have served the party have done badly.

And it does not mean that they cannot come back or that they cannot re-contest, that is not it. We are simply saying that their tenure has ended and those who wish to re-contest can re-contest and can be elected into our party structure. So we are all one as family and we are set to go for 2019 elections in victory,” he stated.

What has further been canvassed is that the APC governors after meeting with Chief Odigie-Oyegun, asked him to align with President Muhammadu Buhari on the issue of tenure elongation with both parties agreeing in principle to a convention subject to ratification of NEC and adoption of the report of its 10member technical committee which we learned has recommended congresses and convention.

Information that seeped out of the meeting, said the national chairman accepted the stance of the governors even as he, however, gave a caveat that the NWC be allowed a free hand to set up structures to conduct the national convention and congresses.

It was also gathered that one of the participants at the meeting had reportedly

tipped the Jigawa State governor, Abubakar Badaru to chair the convention committee while an NWC member had reportedly urged the governors to correct the impression that the tenure elongation issue was the idea of the NWC. Interestingly, hours after their second meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, governors of the party had made straight for the national secretariat where they held a closed door meeting with the Chief John OdigieOyegun led National Working Committee NWC of the party.

At the meeting, the NWC had submitted a proposed budget of about N1.5 billion for the national convention and the process leading to it.

At the end of the Wednesday meeting, Chief Odigie-Oyegun said all issues have now been resolved.

“Today, the governors and the National Working Committee of the party decided to sit and look at the issues that are seemingly dividing us. I want to say to you with absolute satisfaction and pride that all the issues you have been commenting about in the last two days have been completely and totally resolved. We are back in business as one united and happy family.

“I want to say also that yesterday, we set up a technical committee as ordered by NEC. From the very first minute that we called them to section, they have worked nonstop because I emphasised when I was inaugurating them that their report was time sensitive. “ It is sensitive because we have already sent out notices for the meeting of NEC which will hold on Monday. I am glad to say that the chairman of the technical committee has reported that his report will be ready this evening or tomorrow morning. This report will be placed before NEC on Monday, April 9 and appropriate decision will be taken. Thereafter, we will

A handsome shoe often pinches the foot.

announce to you the further steps that we are going to take resulting from NEC consideration on the recommendations when we receive them.

“The bottom line is that the APC leadership is back as one happy, united and focused party. Strongly behind our president and strongly behind our governors in all the states”, he said.

His position was also corroborated by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi. “ It is left for the NEC to decide and if the committee recommends that the position of NEC should be maintained then there would be no need for an elective convention and then the president and those who are concerned that the decision we have taken is correct or not, will have more confidence in the position of the party.

“But if the committee recommends that congresses should be held then NEC will consider the report and at the same time, decide whether to reverse itself. However, as I speak with you, there is evidence whether the committee will recommend this way or the other way”.

Many are of the opinion that the move is to placate certain interests within the party as it moves to quell the various crisis that has plagued and dogged it since the present government came on board.

There are also serious concerns that the governors, being very divided among themselves, will constitute a new layer of issues that the party and, indeed, a post Oyegun-era will present and this is another potential but serious issue that will have to be dealt with judging from their influence.

Whatever the Monday NEC meeting will present, will have a long lasting effect on the APC even as it holds various congresses and ultimately, the convention as it moves to strategically position itself ahead of the all-important 2019 general elections.

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FEATURE 33

As Taraba Maintains Stance On Killings

In recent times, Taraba State has witnessed several degrees of security challenges ranging from clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers to the terrorists attacks particularly in southern and central parts of the state where people get attacked and properties destroyed by unknown gunmen. VICTOR OKEKE in this report examines the alleged complicity of the security personnel to this problem.

We got to a point that we started thinking that there was some kind of conspiracy from the military to sabotage the peace efforts in Taraba State because the governor did everything to make sure that the military enjoy their job and to do a good job. Yet they didn’t

Since the end of the Nigerian civil war, the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast and killings by the Fulani herdsmen perhaps, compete in rank as the gravest security threat and challenge to Nigeria.

The Boko Haram insurgency and the herdsmen attacks have attracted the substantial deployment of the nation’s defence and intelligence establishments, as the Joint Task Force (JTF), which is comprised of the police and army, has been deployed in several affected states.

However, the main dilemma of the defence and intelligence establishments in responding effectively to the security challenge posed by the Fulani herdsmen is the absence of mutual confidence amongst them and loss of public trust.

For example, the Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, has on occasions accused the federal government and the Military of allowing his state to be immersed in security challenges by refusing to act when reports of security threats were brought to them.

According to the state government, the military were aware of the security threats as well as soldiers’ misconduct in the state,

but chose to toe the path of denial and connivance.

“We got to a point that we started thinking that there was some kind of conspiracy from the military to sabotage the peace efforts in Taraba State because the governor did everything to make sure that the military enjoy their job and to do a good job. Yet they didn’t.” ”We were very disappointed even when the President ordered that there should be operation Ayem Akpatuma. The military came and instead of disarming the herdsmen who were armed, they decided to invade the bedrooms of law abiding citizens of the state and were collecting their machetes and kitchen knives from them, instead of collecting AK47 riffles.

They were just humiliating and embarrassing people.”

Taraba State’s position is similar to what the Emir of Anka in Zamfara, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad, echoed recently when he said that he had lost confidence in the security personnel to protect his people, thus seeking the assistance of the United Nations and the African Union.

He said this last week when

the Zamfara State governor, Abdulazeez Yari paid him a condolence visit over the recent killings in the area. He expressed shock that in less than a week after President Muhammadu Buhari visited the state and charged security agents to brace up and end all forms of insecurity, insurgents still carried out mass killings.

He said he had lost confidence in the ability and commitment of the security personnel because they had failed in the discharge of their obligations to provide security to the lives and property of the law abiding residents in his domain on different occasions.

He alleged that corruption among the security agencies was the factor fuelling the security problems in the state.

Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Taraba State governor, Mr Bala Dan Abu who spoke with LEADERSHIP Friday recently recalled that there was a time when the alarm was raised about a chopper carrying arms which landed somewhere at Jibo in the state. He said alarm was on the social media; the government investigated and found it to be true but what they got from

After us the deluge.

— Australian Proverb

the police and army were denials and statements which rubbished that alarm that was raised.

“We issued a press statement and we called the attention of the federal government to it.

The police in the state said they visited the place and saw no trace of such arms landing. That again was what they were told from Abuja to say. That is why we are saying we have lost confidence in the security apparatus under the control of the federal government.

When you give them information, they will turn around and deny any knowledge of it,” he said.

He narrated that a few days later, the government discovered that the arms that came into the state were being used to kill the people.

“One of them who had about ten (10) of those guns was arrested by the police and he confessed that actually an airplane brought guns into the state and they had been distributed and very soon that they were going to be using them. Then, the killings started again around that axis where the plane landed.”

“The same police that said they didn’t see anything arrested these people and never did anything,” ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

34 FEATURE

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Torched building at Ihite community during the recent clash between police and Umunze and Ihite communities in Orumbasouth local government area of Anambra State

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DPO, Umunze police station ‘s car destroyed by irate Umunze and Ihite people during their clash with the police in their area

Tension Mounts In Anambra Communities

Following the killing of a policeman by youths of their communities, the people of Umunze and Ihite in Orumba-south local government area of Anambra State now live in fear of endless police invasion, one of which have claimed a life already and destruction of properties in the communities.

OKECHUKWU OBETA writes.

More than 46 persons, including, youths and the elderly were said to have been arrested by the police in the area during the crisis

The Umunze and Ihite people in Orumba- South local government area of Anambra State now live in fear of continuous police invasion and reprisal attacks after one of such invasions and attacks claimed the life of a woman and saw to a wanton destruction of properties in both communities.

Hell was let loose in the two neighbouring towns few weeks ago after one of the policemen who invaded the area from Zone 9, Umuahia, to carry out an investigation was allegedly killed by some people who were protesting intimidation and extortion of money from their people by policemen.

In protest against the death of the police officer, a team of heavily armed policemen from the Anambra State Police Command was deployed to the area. The deployed policemen on arrival were said to have descended on the people, beating them up, arresting any male person on sight and putting them in their waiting Hilux van after which they were whisked away and detained at the state headquarters of the Federal Art-Robbery Squad ( FARS), Awkuzu.

The enraged policemen were said to have also embarked on massive destruction of properties, including residential buildings, shops,

and vehicles in the area and setting them ablaze. A woman aged about 30 was said to have slumped and died while scampering to safety during the mayhem. A middle aged man, Mr. Ikechukwu Nwankwo from Awa community in neighbouring Orumba-North local government fell victim of the police indiscriminate arrest in the area. He is a commercial photographer. And he had gone to Umunze to give coverage to a wedding ceremony when he was arrested along with some other guests at the event and detained at the FARS station.

He was later released three days after, his Nikkon 510 camera which the police officer who drove them in a Toyota Hilux van to the FARS station seized from him was not returned to him, he stated.

In retaliation, the people of the area invaded the Umunze police station and destroyed parts of the police station and many vehicles parked there including the Divisional Police Officer’s personal car.

Properties destroyed in the two communities and the police station were said to be worth millions of naira.

More than 46 persons, including, youths and the elderly were said to have been arrested by the police in the area during the crisis and detained at

the Federal Art-Robbery Squad ( FARS) state headquarters, Awkuzu. The president-general of Umunze town Union, Mr. John Akanyionu, however, told LEADERSHIP Friday last week that about 38 of those arrested have been released. He stated that those still being held in detention were eight persons.

Hon. Nwankwo stated that he had been in touch with virtually all the stakeholders in the matter, including the traditional ruler, Igwe Promise Eze, some other opinion leaders in the affected communities and had made contacts with some top government officials in the state and the police high command concerning the sad event.

He said that he was satisfied that his intervention helped in quelling the skirmishes.

He, however, said that he decided to visit home to enable him conduct on the spot investigation on what happened.

The traditional ruler of Umunze, Igwe Promise Eze was full of praises to Hon. Ben Nwankwo, who represents the areas in the House of Reprsentatives for his efforts in ensuring that the crisis was brought under control. The monarch was of the opinion that the people of his domain could only be blamed over the incident to the extent

After us the deluge.

— Australian Proverb

that “they over-reacted by attacking policemen who are on uniform”.

The traditional ruler said that his findings showed that the affected policemen were actually deployed from Zone 9, Umuahia to carry out investigations in far away Akpu community, but, only decided to come to his domain because they got “tip off” that there is a hotel here where some people smoke Indian hemp.

He stated that the policemen who were only three in number on arrival arrested some people, mostly youths and whisked them away to Ajali police station in neighbouring Orumba-North local government and detained them there, instead of detaining them at Umunze police station which is in charge of their area.

He stated that over ten people were arrested by the policemen and detained at Ajali police station. He stated that the police officers later released the ten persons after extorting between N5, 000 and N10,000 from each of them as “money for bail”.

The traditional ruler stated that it was the huge sums of money extorted from those detained earlier at Ajali that infuriated the people and they decided to resist any further ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

April 06, 2018

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FEATURE 35

As Taraba Maintains Stance On Killings ➔ FROM PAGE 33

he said.

According to the governor’s spokesman, “All of these things create the impression that there is conspiracy from the top to kill the people and that is why some people have been raising the alarm and I’m sure that was part of what led to what the elder statesman, T.Y Danjuma said recently during the convocation ceremony of the Taraba State University.”

Last week, former defence minister and revered elder statesman, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, charged Nigerians to rise and defend themselves against attacks by marauding herdsmen in some parts of the country, or continue to suffer casualties.

“You must rise to protect yourselves from these people; if you depend on the armed forces to protect you, you will all die. I ask all of you to be on the alert and defend your country, defend your state,” he said.

Some classified letters obtained

by LEADERSHIP Friday in the course of its investigation show that the state government had on several occasions, communicated to the federal government and security agencies about the poor security architecture of the state with little or no responses.

For instance, the Taraba State governor had on 14th February 2017 written to the Inspector General of Police, requesting the deployment of a mobile police squadron to Takum local government area. He said in the letter that most of the criminal elements operating within the southern part of the state are arrested within the axis of the police squad in Takum.

Surprisingly, there is a military battalion in Takum. Early this year,

the member representing Takum I constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hosea Ibi, who was abducted by unknown gunmen was later found brutally murdered and thrown into a roadside water drainage.

And to the dismay of everyone, the house from which he was abducted was just opposite the military barracks in Takum.

Again, the governor of Taraba State in a letter dated 18th May 2017 to the Chief of Army Staff alerted the army on the need to flush out criminal elements operating in some forest areas in the state.

At this time, Taraba had become the area where some of the Boko Haram members leaving Sambisa Forest would run into. The letter specifically mentioned these forest locations including those in Donga and Bali local government areas.

Worthy of note in the letter is the governor’s displeasure over some settlements in the famous Gashaka Gumti National Park which is the biggest forest in West Africa. The forest which has witnessed several years of federal government’s neglect under whose management the park is, is now gradually becoming the entry point for Sambisa returnees.

This too suffered the fate of many other distress calls sent to the security agencies as it was neither responded to nor acted upon.

On August 11, 2017, the governor also in a letter written to the National Security Adviser complained against the commanding officer in charge of the 83 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Adabra in Taraba State, LT. Col. Ibrahim Gambari and requested that he should be transferred out of the battalion since they have since lost confidence in the ability of the army under his

Ishaku

command to secure the state.

This battle for peace in Taraba has been on for a very long time. It started with the problem of grazing leading to the destruction of farm lands and crops. Taraba people are mainly farmers with a significant minority of Fulani people who tend to cattle.

Abu said to address this new challenge, the government in Taraba enacted the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, saying, “The emphasis of the law is to ensure that herdsmen don’t wander around anymore.

“The concept of ranching is not even strange especially in the Mambilla area of Taraba where ranching has been in practice for many years even though the ranches are not the modern styles seen in Europe. But the new government proposal will see the building of modern ranches fitted with facilities like water, grass, veterinary clinics and even schools for their children.”

According to the Special Assistant to the governor, “the idea is that if they stay in one place, the cattle will grow better and fatter and produce more milk. There is a plan establish a dairy factory that will use milk derived from those cows.

“Unfortunately and to the surprise of everybody, a few people are saying that they don’t want it.

It is not even the herdsmen that we know that are saying no, but the elite Fulani people most of whom are outside the state. They are the ones providing the arms and ammunitions with which to fight and kill people to show their rejection of the law,” Bala Abu said.

“But there are some Fulani people who are highly placed who understand this project and have called the governor personally to support it but they are afraid to openly come out to say they like it because of the politicization of the idea. The government does not intend to back out; the law is in

force and is going to be implanted.”

He, however, explained that the governor has said the law would be implanted gradually so that people do not suffer unnecessarily, so as not to give those opposed to it a room to say that the government is unmindful.

“Already, plans are on the way to establish three pilot ranches in the state. The people who are opposed to this are not the herdsmen that we know because the herdsmen have lived with the farmers for so many years and their relationship has been mutually beneficial. The farmers need the cattle to stay on their farm and fertilize their crops while the herders want their cattle to eat from the left over of the crops.”

“The herders that now attack the farmers are not the Fulani people that the farmers have lived with for many years. They are Fulani militia men who are armed by money-men outside the state and who has an agenda that is beyond what the herdsmen actually need to ply their trade,” he said.

He added that the motive of militia group is that of territorial expansion. They want to acquire people’s land and make them their own. In some places where they have killed people, they come to the place and takeover the territory of the ‘conquered’.

“The soldiers have not been able to secure the place and that is our reasons against them. Each time the herdsmen come attacking, the soldiers look the other way and don’t protect the victims. Thus, people are scared and would rather prefer to stay in IDP camps than return to the place and be killed,” Abu said.

Indeed, it is the view of experts that security is key to any meaningful development the world over.

Tension Mounts In Anambra Communities ➔ FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

arrest of anybody when the policemen came back that second time.

He stated that when the three policemen came back the second time, the people of his area had started nursing the suspicion that the policemen might after all, be fake policemen. So, when the president-general of the town was contacted, he then contacted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Umunze police station to confirm if he was aware of the operations of the affected policemen.

He, however, stated that the DPO said no.

Continuing, the monarch stated, “Even though I blame those who attacked the

policemen, because I know that it is wrong to attack any policeman who is on uniform, I will say that it was the conduct of the policemen that provoked the people to attack them.”

He said that the policemen had shot sporadically at his people when they resisted their arrest, and, that about three persons sustained bullet wounds. He stated that it was when their bullets suddenly got expended that the three policemen became helpless and attempted to run away before the locals confronted them. A reprisal attack from the police followed on Friday, March 2, when a team of policemen from the state police command invaded Umunze and the neighbouring Ihite town, shooting sporadically, arresting and hounding any person on

sight into their waiting patrol vans. The angry police officials who were avenging the killing of one of their own, destroyed buildings, set vehicles ablaze, and, at the end, whisked about 46 persons away.

Though Hon. Ben Nwankwo believed that the skirmishes would not have occurred if not for the professional misconduct of the affected policemen, he, however, condemned the conduct of those who attacked the policemen.

“It is an indefensible conduct for anybody to attack a security man on uniform,” he said.

He commended the traditional ruler, Igwe Promise Eze, and the Transition Committee Chairman, Barr Raymond Onyegu, for their timely intervention which prevented the situation from escalating

After us the deluge.

and also commiserated with the families of the policeman and the woman who lost their lives in the incident.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP Friday, the state commissioner of police, Mr Garba Umar described the allegation by the local government chairman that the police was planning another reprisal attack on the people of the area as an undignifying statement against police from a political office holder.

“Are police hoodlums, how can you say that police is planning a reprisal attack? This is an incident that happened about four weeks ago,” the state police boss stated in a telephone interview with LEADERSHIP. Meanwhile, efforts made to get the reaction of the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, Nkiru

— Australian Proverb

Obiano

Nwode on the alleged plot by the police to launch another reprisal attack on the people failed. She only made a promise to call back but never did.

36 FEATURE

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Ensuring Compliance With Road Use Standards In Nigeria At a one-day public enlightenment event on developments in the road sector held in Abuja, recently, stakeholders were urged to adopt a change of attitude to use of roads and comply with road use regulations and signs. ABAH ADAH reports.

The need to step up action at ensuring that road use regulations and signs are strictly adhered to, especially by heavy vehicle operators to enable roads live out their expected time

Over the years, Nigeria has had no good record in terms of good motorable road network, so much so that the experience of road travellers around the country has always been nightmarish.

The roads, to say the least, are very bad. Realising that the deplorable condition of the roads was a collective function of abuse and lack of maintenance, a 15-member Federal Roads Committee on Road Surveillance and Action Against Road Abuse was inaugurated in 2013 under the supervision of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) whose terms of reference include, monitoring of roads failure, induced congestion and road abuse, ensuring the reinstatement and replacement of damaged carriage ways and road furniture, among others.

Yet, the move seemed to have done little, if nothing.

From the South to the North, cases of damaged portion of roads, over loaded and extra heavy vehicles plying the roads, indiscriminate parking of heavy vehicles, especially trucks and tankers along the roads and in some cases, on the pavement, as well as disregard for road signage abound in the country.

The Apapa Road in Lagos where the stationed trucks and tankers have resulted in gridlock and sometimes, accidents; the helpless situation at Tafa along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway where tankers are parked at both sides of the road for years now, among others, could be cited as examples of road abuse.

In the last quarter of 2017, the minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, while admitting that some of the roads are bad but not all, said abuse and lack of maintenance of the roads amidst neglect by successive governments over time were responsible for some of the bad roads while others are in such dilapidated state because they had outlived their design life.

He noted that the President Buhari-led government was committed to massive reconstruction, rehabilitation and maintenance of roads, and has since swung into action.

The need to step up action at ensuring that road use regulations and signs are strictly adhered to, especially by heavy vehicle operators to enable roads live out their expected time dominated talks at the one-day enlightenment session held for stakeholders

at the instance of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in Abuja.

Addressing the gathering, the minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola presented an already gazetted regulation that will guide against overload and reckless disregard for road furniture on federal highways tagged, “Federal Highways (Control of Dimensions, Weights and Axle Load of Heavy Duty Goods Transport Vehicles) Regulation, 2018.”

Fashola, who applauded the complementary efforts of some state governments on road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance, said while the government is rapidly and aggressively addressing the issue of road infrastructure, the public ought to reciprocate the goodwill by ensuring the protection of the roads through compliance with both international local regulations on the use of the facility which, according to him, is key to prosperity of nations.

“For those of you who might not know, there are now existing treaty obligations within the West African Sub-region that regulates the amount of load any goods vehicle can put on a road pavement within the sub

After us the deluge.

— Australian Proverb

region. And I thank President Buhari for finally signing the Instrument of Ratification on this as soon as it was brought to his attention.

“Our compliance with these regulations will open a massive door of opportunities and prosperity of cross border trade for Nigerians who are engaged in road transportation businesses.

“Our ministry is convinced that voluntary compliance by stakeholders will take us further and nearer to the prosperity that we all long for,” the minister said, adding that the process of enforcing the unveiled regulations will soon commence.

In his keynote speech, the Special Guest of the day, President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustafa, urged the stakeholders to play their own role in ensuring that the roads being constructed and rehabilitated by his administration across the country are not abuse to enable them serve the period of time they are meant to serve. ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

April 06, 2018

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OPINION 37

Poisoning In The UK: What Lies Behind The Lies?

A man and a young woman were sprawling about on a bench in one of the parks of Salisbury, Southwestern England.

Everything seemed fine about this picture, but both of them, Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were at that very moment unconscious after being exposed to a devastating nerve agent.

The emergency team arrives, miraculously having the exact right antidote with them.

How come they know what the chemical agent is without running even the basic tests? In no time, British Prime Minister, Theresa May starts shaking her fist at the Parliament claiming Russia is “highly likely” behind the attack. Just a “highly likely” and a few comic-book style PowerPoint slides, this is the whole batch of evidence London could present. It might be credible in May’s fevered imagination, but not for those having common sense.

Convicting a petty pickpocket takes months, but just hours to find Russia guilty of using a nerve agent. Quite enough for the Brits to get to the second part of its hypocritical pre-designed plan.

Flashback to history. In 2003,

former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair was swearing to God that Iraq was stuffed with weapons of mass destruction. It all was proved bluff, but Blair’s actor skills were on par with what May is showing today. The truth was revealed and Blair had nothing more to offer than a clumsy “sorry.” A nice deal for the Brits with hundreds of thousands of innocent people killed, tormented to death in British state-sponsored torture facilities, millions turned into refugees with no hope for tomorrow, a country burned to ashes in exchange for a sorry.

London is used to living like there is no tomorrow, and if tomorrow comes exposing the lies, well, there’s at most a sorry at hand.

Then followed destruction of Libya, dirty games with ISIS in Syria, supported coup in Kiev, just to mention a few.

And how about London blaming Russia for alleged meddling in elections, including the Brexit referendum? Just like now, no evidence, just empty accusations.

Meanwhile, British company Cambridge Analytical had a good deal of a role in manipulating

votes in numerous countries.

Nigeria also found a target on its back. It fits perfectly into London’s aggressive strategy with so-called independent but state-controlled British mass media happily tuning in to the propaganda hysteria.

No one has so far seen even a shred of evidence of Russia’s alleged involvement, which is unsurprising since there was not a single motive for Moscow to even think of such a hideous crime. Why would the Kremlin go for it just shortly before the presidential elections and hosting the FIFA World Cup? Skripal did his time in prison for espionage, was then pardoned and exchanged, becoming obviously of no interest for Moscow anymore, but “highly likely” of interest for the UK. After all, London has a long record of interference in domestic affairs of sovereign states, undermining governments, sponsoring assassinations, carrying out clandestine operations globally.

Ask any former British colony, and you’ll surely hear London is ready to go too far to achieve its goals.

The Skripal incident left

everyone shell-shocked. The cynicism of the perpetrators made all of us wonder whether there is still a place where you can feel secure and a government you can trust. Moscow calls for a fair investigation. Cooperation between Russia and the UK might play a significant role in establishing security regionally and globally, we could work together. It is foolish for London to pursue momentary political whims instead.

Moscow is fully intended to get to the bottom of the Skripal case and insists on involving the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) into the investigation. When faced with questions, London just spits out a new round of groundless accusations. It’s mind-boggling how UK’s Porton Down military labs could not trace the origin of the nerve agent, but the politicians had already had all the answers ready. UK authorities may shrivel like slugs in salt all they want, but Moscow is determined to dot the i’s and cross the t’s here.

– Poliakov, Press Attaché, Embassy of Russia

UK authorities may shrivel like slugs in salt all they want, but Moscow is determined to dot the i’s and cross the t’s here

Ensuring Compliance With Road Use Standards In Nigeria ➔ FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

The unions also asked government to give a fiveyear moratorium to enable owners of such vehicles to recoup their investment before the final phase out

Stakeholders represented at the meeting by their heads included the various associations in the road sector as well as agencies such as the road safety corps, among others. All pledged to support the government in its effort to turn around the sector, while commending the federal government’s effort at constructing and rehabilitating roads across the country.

The stakeholders, who included the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association, among other road users, noted that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, through the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, has done well to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the nation’s road sector.

In his goodwill message, President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najimdeem

Yasin, who congratulated the minister for his efforts in executing the 2017 budget, noted that “since the beginning of this democratic dispensation, the road sector in the country never had it as good as is being currently experienced despite the shortfall in the nation’s revenue generation.”

The NURTW boss, however, pointed out that as the efforts of the government towards improving the roads were being applauded, it was also necessary to direct its attention to a lot more of the roads that still needed urgent attention.

He urged the minister to put in place, a mechanism to institutionalise the culture of construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of federal roads as well as putting necessary instruments that would guide against the abuse of the roads by the road users.

The union leader urged that weighbridges, transit parks and other road furniture be provided to ensure safer use of roads, adding that as a transport workers’ union occupying the leadership of the International Transport Federation (ITF)

and the Global Vice President, the leadership of the union had taken the sensitisation and training of its members very seriously as it could not afford to operate short of international standards.

On that same note, the President of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Kassim Bataiya, who was last week elected president of the African Road Transport Union in Marrakech, Morocco, represented by the executive secretary of the union, Mr. Aloga I. Okpobo, commended the minister for his efforts towards availing Nigerians of motorable roads, recalled that the unions had recommended to the minister that those constructing such trucks above 60,000 litres in the country be warned to desist forthwith.

He added that the unions also asked government to give a five- year moratorium to enable owners of such vehicles to recoup their investment before the final phase out.

Other recommendations, he said, included banning of the use of steel trucks which are

After us the deluge.

— Australian Proverb

to be replaced with aluminum trucks, adding that the issue of axle load, rehabilitation and expansion of roads would “go a long way in bringing relief to Nigerian roads”.

He, on behalf of the group, expressed total support of the association for the government in its quest to improve road networks in the country.

Presenting the keynote address, President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustafa, urged stakeholders to do their own bit by operating on the roads being constructed and rehabilitated in line with the rules and regulations for the roads to live out their expected lifespan.

Others who presented goodwill speech included the minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, the national chairman of the Petroleum Tankers Drivers Association, Mr. Salimon Akanni Oladiti, the president, Road Employers Association of Nigeria, Chief Musa Osawre, represented by Comrade Henry Ejioffor.

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Transforming Lives Through Healing Power Of Art

It is Hard To Collaborate With Someone Who Doesn’t Know my Thought – Brymo Olawale ‘Brymo’ Ashimi is one of the best vocalists in the music business scene. His attitude towards the job has made him a delight among his peers. Brymo, who just dropped his sixth studio album, did not feature any artiste which led to speculations and conjectures by fans and music pundits.

In a recent interview with BBC Yoruba, he explains why he decided to go solo in his latest album.

Revealing some facts about his choice of collaboration, the ‘Entropy’ singer said Bukola ‘Asa’ Elemide, a France-based Nigerian singer, is the only artiste he can collaborate with.

Speaking in the Yoruba language, he said: “I have spoken to Asa’s handlers. What remains is to set it up.

“She is the one person who I can collaborate with. What she talks about — love, social issues, everyday issues — are things that matter to me.

“I had important things to talk about. It is

BY STELLAMARIES AMUWA, Abuja

hard to bring someone who doesn’t know my thought process to collaborate on such a song.

“Many of my colleagues collaborate because of positioning. There is so much politics involved in collaboration so I chose to sing alone. I have collaborated in the past but I was not satisfied with the outcome.”

Brymo said most artistes collaborate not because of music but rather, for the sake of

advancement.

He also noted that most veteran indigenous musicians often “sing alone”. “If you look at it well, many people like KSA, KWAM 1, Ayinde Barrister and other indigenous musicians hardly collaborate,” he said.

“Abroad too, people like Adele, Coldplay and Bruno Mars record albums alone.” The singer reacted to the criticisms that trailed his semi-nude appearance in the video for

Ailing Prince Philip, 96, Is Being Admitted To The Hospital Prince Philip has been admitted to the hospital for hip surgery, Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday.

“His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London this afternoon, for planned surgery on his hip which will take place tomorrow,” the

statement says.

On Sunday, the Duke missed Easter services alongside Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle. And yesterday, he was not able to attend the traditional Maundy service, which was also held at St George’s Chapel — the wedding venue for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19.

Playback Nigeria is set to add more value to the growth of Nigeria’s theatre festival as the Children’s theatre festival, 2018 kicks off in Abuja.

The children’s theatre festival is expected to offer a platform for in and out of school children to express themselves through different art modes such as theatre, drama, music, dance and spoken words.

The chief executive officer, Oluwadamilola Apotieri-Abdulai stated that, the festival will provide an opportunity for the children to explore their concerns as young children through art.

“This event is also an advocacy platform for the recognition and appreciation of the talent that lies within young people. The main form will therefore be theatre which helps build children’s creativity and develop skills apart from being a form of education”.

According to Oluwadamilola, a series of pre-festival workshops on theatre making and stagecraft for teachers and performers, will be organised. She added that the pre-festival workshops will focus on artistically equipping teachers and children of participating schools with basic theatre making and stagecraft skills and dramain-education techniques.

Meanwhile, the festival is proposed to incorporate 20 individual child performers and 20 participating schools, making a total of 40 performances.

Apotieri-Abdulai

Better be envied than pitied.

— English Proverb

April 6, 2018

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FRIDAY FLAVOUR 39

My Dad Was Worried About My Musical Career – Fatima Anyekema

In Nigeria’s classical music domain, Fatima Uriame Anyekema is regarded as one of the leading contralto voices in high demand. From following her mother to choir practices to becoming an MTNF-MUSON scholarship beneficiary which was the beginning of her getting a formal education in music in 2007, Fatima has performed celebrated operas and oratories like Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Mass in B minor and Christmas Oratorio to name a few. In this interview with SAMUEL ABULUDE, the young lady talks about growing up and love for music as well as the rare opportunity of studying a Masters in Sacred Music at the Ivy-League University of Notre Dame, US. How do you find love for music?

My journey into music began when I started going to the choir with my late mum, Catherine as a child. I usually attended practices with her at the St Monica’s Choir back in Benin, Edo State. Interestingly, about four of my siblings were also in the choir at that time but then out of all of us, I was the only one who chose to do music professionally. If you look at some other families like the Sowandes’ and so on, you will see that some of them played the piano, some, other instruments and they studied music unlike ours. We were just choristers singing in the choir. At some point in my life, I decided to take the decision to study music.

How many are you in the family?

There are seven of us in the family, six girls and one boy.

Tell us about growing up in Benin?

Benin was just a transition point for me and large chunks of my life had been like that. My dad is a retired police man, so his job was the main reason for our movement. I was born in Jos, Plateau State. From there we moved to Benin, Edo State where I spent a part of my childhood. I attended Eweka primary school in Benin City. At some point, my dad was forcefully retired and having to raise seven children, and to ease the pressure on him I had to go stay with my uncle. That’s how I found my way to Delta State where I continued my secondary school education spending about six years. I attended Ishagu College, Ogwashiuku between 1992 and 1997. From there, I proceeded to Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo where I studied Accounting for about four years, no thanks to the many strike actions and other issues in school. After graduation, I moved down to Lagos, where I officially found my love for music, at least the academic part of it so to speak.

went with music in secondary school. When I returned from Delta State to Edo State, I went back to singing with the choir and I learnt responsorial psalms. As a catholic, we had to sing responsorial psalms and people always commented favourably.

When I moved to Ondo State, singing for me stopped again and I didn’t join the school choir, I just faced my studies squarely. But I still knew I had it in me even though I didn’t do anything about it. Eventually, I moved to Lagos in 2004 for my Industrial Training and I needed something exciting and different. Then during my job search, I found out about MUSON and it ignited my passion and interest. In fact, I never looked back and did not even go back to complete my HND. Aside singing, do you play any music instrument?

I play the piano, I teach the piano too although I am not quite proficient.

During the Diploma course at MUSON, I took grade 2 piano lessons and all the vocal major students were made to take piano course. When I went back to Unilag to study for my BA in Music, I had to improve on it but now I teach piano to

beginners. I did other minor musical instruments like violin, basic level clarinet but I ran away from them but the piano came in handy.

As an MTNF scholar, what was that experience for you like?

The sponsorship support covered my tuition, buying music books and pocket allowance. I was grateful for these things because they really came in handy and made sure that I didn’t suffer.

Also, the opportunities that the MTN Foundation provided for me were huge because we had the chance to perform on stages and platforms that would never have been available if I didn’t have a scholarship.

MTN Foundation has been at the centre of all things good in driving the renaissance in Nigeria’s art and music space. Every year, we have valentine concerts and recitals that provide exposure to burgeoning talents and make them shine.

I remain forever grateful for the association with the brand.

How did you come about your recent scholarship for Master of Sacred Music

When did you realise your love for singing?

I cannot really remember what my singing life was before age seven but from there on, I remember going to church society meetings with my mum and she made me and my friends to start leading songs during their events. From that point on, around 1988 to 1989, I discovered that I could sing and I kept singing in church mostly. That period for me was very interesting because everywhere singing was taking place, I was part of it. At some point, I became a choir mistress at that very young age and had to teach songs to my peer. I had a mentor then who took interest in my voice, he would teach me songs to go ahead and teach the choir. As little as I was, I was able to conduct and teach the choir new songs. That period was very eventful and interesting. When I got into secondary school, I didn’t sing at all for some strange reasons. I didn’t join the choir but then I was a member of the scripture union, so when we went to other secondary schools in Asaba or Ibuzor, I would sing with my school scripture union group. It was the farthest I

Program in vocal performance at the University of Notre Dame?

First of all, Notre Dame came with a lot of exciting packages. Up until now, I cannot boldly say I can pay my way through a University in the US or UK or anywhere in the world for that matter. One of my priests who had studied abroad told me that there is a school in America that is tuition free and that they study Sacred Music but then it is a Catholic school. I said what do I want to do with sacred music, I am not planning to become a reverend sister or a religious personage. He then convinced me that they had masters in different areas but I didn’t want to have anything to do with sacred music so I totally forgot about it. Things however took a different turn by the time I was graduating from the University of Lagos. Interestingly, my research work was focused on studying the music of the church in Nigeria. By the time, I finished, the priest asked me what my plans was and I said nothing yet and he asked if I had tried the school he told me about? I was still not sure if I wanted to do it but along the line, I got an email. It was a strange happening because over the years, I have applied for some competitions abroad and sometimes, they keep sending emails as updates. I got an email from one of those organisations, which I applied for the competition advertising Notre Dame University, the same school the priest told me about and I wondered why I was being followed about. By the time I read through their propositions, I realised that asides the scholarship, they had a lot to offer in terms of the faculty, staff, sourced materials, master classes. I am so grateful that the foundation provided by the MTNF scholarship has propelled me towards this new adventure and I am excited at what the future holds.

Do you have any expectations?

I hope that I will subsequently apply for a PhD after the program. That will be like the ultimate goal.

What is your favourite genre of music?

Like I told you earlier, growing up, I didn’t know I was a classical singer. My dad was a collector, he collected different kinds of music, reggae, soul, fuji etc. The only thing I didn’t come across in his collection was jazz but he collected so much music that anytime I go back home, it hits me that this must be where I was influenced. As a child, I spent a lot of time listening to music and sometimes I go back and look through his collections. So, I won’t say I have a favourite but because I sing classical music, I may want to say it is my best but I enjoy all kinds of music. None stands out.

What has been the most embarrassing moment for you ever?

It was in 2010. I was beginning to come out in the real world of classical singing. My boyfriend at that time was invited for one of my concerts and I didn’t know he would come.

But he came to surprise me. I usually have my contact lenses on when I am performing on stage so I don’t get to see faces. But it so happened that at the performance, I had my medicated contact lenses on and as soon as I set my eyes on him, I became flustered and was uncomfortable and I was missing my line. Ever since then, I stopped wearing my contact lenses whenever I want to perform, I’d rather not see anyone until I am done so even if I am messing up, I will handle it on my own and handle it well.

How do you make money from music?

This is a question that people are always concerned about. My dad also had this challenge. When he knew that I was into music full time, he was really worried and asked how I was coping and so on until in 2013 when I invited him to watch my performance, that was when he gave his full blessings. There are a lot of things that you can do with music. You can teach, perform, attend workshops; you can write music and so on. A lot can be done with music. The moment I am teaching or performing or training, I get fulfillment.

A soft answer turns away wrath.

— English Proverb

b oks&arts NEWS REVIEWS HISTORY

April 6, 2018

by Chinelo Chikelu

Edutainment Vega Y Carpio’s Politically Relevant Play, Fuentovejuna, Activities To Shows Women Can Catalyse Societal Revolution Indulge In This Week

A Theatric Production On Domestic Violence, Case File No 5 Whether you are a theatregoer or not, Case File No 5, is a must see for every family as a matter of prevention of domestic violence that could lead to tragic end.

This soft adaption of Susan Glaspell’s Trifles, features the investigation into the death of man suspected to have been murdered by his wife.

As the investigation unfolds, with the victim and the killer in absentia, clues begin to surface placing doubt that rather than manslaughter, the crime might have been premeditated, and as the play unravels, so do the characters from the victim’s superficially happy couple, to her revolutionised mindset of the female characters and the suspect’s acquaintances.

Throw in the greedy desires by relatives and neighbours to acquire the deceased’s properties at any means necessary.

2018 Abuja Literary Festival The first of its kind in the city, the literary festival kicked-off from April 4 to end tomorrow April 7, 2018 at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre.

According to the festival’s initiator, poet and on-air-personality, Buchi Onyegbule, he is devoted to fostering “an inclusive creative industry which creates better synergies amongst different forms of arts, from poetry to music, books to plays and movies with themes based on relatable events.”

Themed ‘Nigeria to the World’, the four days festival, according to organisers, will celebrate all that is Nigeria via the exploration of how Nigerian literature portrays the Nigerian narrative.

Further details for participation can be found online.

When Spanish playwright, poet and novelist, Felix Lope de Vega y Carpio, penned the play Fuentovejuna, he had no idea that the drama, based on true life political unrest in the little town of same title would be relevant in today’s world, more so, his portrayal of women’s role in the revolutionising of a society.

In our society where women have been reduced to political praise-singers, and the very few in authoritative positions, facing unusual adversity, even stripped of their powers,

Fuentovejuna highlights the importance of women’s inclusion and participation for social and political change.

Directed by Seyi Lovingkindness Babalola, the play captures significant moments where the women, more than the men of the little village, ruled by the despot and sexually depraved Commander Fernando Gomez, spoke out against their tyrannical leader while the men sought to make the best out of the oppressive environment. Characters like

A scene from Vega y Corpia’s Fuentovejuna, Commander Fernando Gomez played by Emmanuel Inyang, crashed Laurentia and Frondosos wedding reception and arrests the new groom while carting away the bride to his palace.

Writers, Publishers Obligated To Submit Copies Of Publications Home Or Abroad To National Library Chief Librarian of the National Library of Nigeria, Prof Lenrie Aina, confirmed that writers and publishers are legally obliged to submit three copies of their publications, whether published home or abroad, to the library as part of memories of the nation.

Failure to submit this legal obligation after one year of publication, Prof Aina said, attracts a fine of N100, and N50, 000 initial fees once it is taken to the court.

“The legal deposit law is so clear. There are two categories of obligations, the first, states that all books published in Nigeria, the publishers must deposit three copies to the library; second category of books are those published by Nigerians anywhere in the world.

And finally, any books written on or about Nigeria, be it an Indian who writes on the subject of Democracy in Asia and Africa, and then features an Asian country plus Nigeria, they must deposit copies of the book to the library.

However, Aina says the library, in its recently concluded sensitisation process, preferred to educate publishing stakeholders on the importance of submitting copies of their work to the apex library in making up the nation’s memories and for posterity’s sake.

He also listed part of the benefits of meeting the legal obligation, which include the publications’ notation in the apex library’s bibliography, a book holding lists of works and author’s details written about Nigeria, and

distributed to all apex libraries across the globe and within the country annually. The library, he said, further patronises authors whose works it deems worthwhile and relevant literature to the country.

However, these benefits may not be the best persuasive methods as writers and publishers are gaining more readership and sales from book clubs, book readings and book festival appearances than they would get from the few patronisers of public libraries.

One move that may work though, is the submission of books to the library for posterity’s sake. “Them submitting the three copies, assures their posterity because many years from today, when people cannot find their books because they are out of print, they will find it in the library. It also serves for when publishers or authors sell out all their printed copies and have none left for themselves, they can always find it in the library as long as they have deposited them.

This is how it’s done the world over,” pressed Aina.

On how it can keep track of books on Nigeria and by Nigeria published abroad to ensure they are deposited in the library, he says it has been a challenge, “Particularly, when we are not able to get all those being published within the country. But, the goal is that when we are done consolidating in Nigeria, then we focus on those published abroad,” he concluded.

At the ends of the earth.— English Proverb

Laurentia, Pascuala and the pants-wearing Mengo, challenge the idea of love, and fendoff stoutly the amorous attentions of the Commander.

While the men didn’t take action under the corrupt regime, it took the rousing speech of Laurentia, shaming her father, uncle and the men folk of Fuentovejuna, to take action in the manner of a jungle justice to overthrow their despotic ruler. Laurentia, an outspoken young maiden, engaged to Frondoso, who had saved her from rape at the hand of the Commander, is set to marry her newfound love. But their wedding reception was interrupted by the Commander, who arrested Frondoso with an immediate verdict of death by hanging, carrying off the bride to his palace. Viewed sometime later, her hair wild, still dressed in her now red-stained wedding gown, and wide, stormy eyes flashing in anger against her male relatives and village folks, she cursed the men and women for turning a blind-eye as their women are subjected to indignity, shaming them to action. She also roused the womenfolk to defend their honour and in one of the symbolic moments of the play, the women turned kitchen cooking wares into weapons of death.

Dressed in black wielding sticks and clubs, ladles, spoons, frying pans and brooms, the audience is once again privy to the production’s climax, one created by the director Babalola, added to the play. In Babalola’s additive – As the entire village crowded on the screaming commander and his loyal officer, hands draw wide a white sheet as more hands grab back behind the sheet, the screaming Commander and his officer, the audience hear strangling scream punctuated by deafening blows overshadowed by the peoples’ revolutionary chants. Blood spurts all over the white sheet. Silence ensues. The stage is cleared and nothing but streaks of red stain on the forestage floor. This moment, significant for sparing the audience the gory details, yet magnifying its impact, put to the audience more clearly than anything, the gravity of the incident.

In setting the mood of the play, Babalola stuck to the olden-English language, with a few ayes, ye’s and thous’ mixed with enunciated 20th century English. A tweak in contemporary wears, achieves the era’s costumery, enabling the audience to visualise folks of a little village with low means suffering the rule of a tyrannical leader. There was little spectacle in the costumery, setting or props, rather, the director focused on the use of costumes, themes of despotism, revolution, murder and dialogue to sustain the audience’s interest in the unfolding story.

Generally, the stage could have been redesigned to keep away the monotonous stage backdrop which featured in number of the plays at the Jos Theatre Festival, the make-up seems non-existent, and further actor, Emmanuel Ekpe Inyang’s dialogue can be better modulated to fit rhythm of the play and flow of other performers. But Babalola’s symbolic additional scene, the production’s highlight of those significant moments for women, and actress Emily Joke Bello’s portrayal of the spirited and independent Laurentia, outweighed the tepid scenes and dialogues on the ideal of love which passed over the audience’s hair.

April 6, 2018

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BOOKS&ARTS 41

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The Power Of The Mundane: Umar Portrays Potential Strength, Sustainable Art Practice

Exhibiting at the small white showroom of the IICD, the dominantly impressionistic paintings and sweepy line drawings of Yusuf Olayinka Umar, line up wall-to-wall, the four corners of the white showroom.

Typical of the impressionistic subjects, the exhibition explores the everyday people, and the bright, yet muted colours, reminiscent of yesteryears, herald his alma-mater, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Arts School.

But beyond the content, Umar displays eye-catching styles, his leaf print style, and pasted-leaves on canvas, styles that allow him achieve diverse textural effects in his art pieces and coincidentally is quite cost-effective, a sustainable means of art production.

With The Roots, Umar explores the mundane activities of the ordinary people, whom he describes as neither of the government or the elite class of the society but those taken for granted, whose daily activities directly or indirectly affect any society. They are like the “roots of a vascular plant beneath the earth’s surface, responsible for the provision of nutrients and water for other parts of the plant such as the stem, leaves and equally the fruits,” says Umar. And so, in paintings as Pensive Mood, The Quest (a Scavenger), Fair Bargain, Expectation and Imitation Game, the artist strives to attach accompanying moods to the everyday activities of a young hawker, a waste scavenger, a female farmer evaluating her food wares, and the innocence of two young boys ensconced in their expectations and living itself.

Amidst the ordinary people, we see the majestically clothed Dogari and other chiefly figures garbed in wealthy robes, all part of his Durbar series. To Umar, they are part of the ordinary people who, on the specific occasion, the Durbar festival, take time off their daily lifestyle to celebrate and return to their grinding, normal existence.

While celebrating the “dignity in labour” of the ordinary people is necessary and charming, the exhibition feels overcrammed with images that rather than fit into a larger frame of things, are distracted from the theme. One struggles to place works like SelfAnalysis, Sound From The Past in the exhibition’s theme. There is the feeling that at some point, a repertoire of the artist’s pieces was thrown in to gain them spotlight.

Yet, worthy of note is the artist’s painting styles, that hold future potential. He paints in two techniques, Leaf imprints as seen in works like Pensive Mood, Young Shepherd, Fair Bargain and others, and, substitutes brush strokes for pasted leaves on canvas carefully dabbed with hues of red, blue and brown to create articulate intensive and storytelling portraits.

In his leaf imprint style, there are no real backgrounds. Subjects are projected at the foreground supported by a floral (feather-light leaves) background which doesn’t distract attention from the image; whites and darker hues on the skins of the subjects are used to achieve value, shadow and lighting, and in the portraits like Interwoven I and II, Solace, and Hawan Dokin, they create additional texture and the impression of folding, while thin lines of red and blue etch in the gained years of the subjects. And in Congregation II, of enamel on canvas, it establishes the feel of running fingers over a field of sun and red coloured flowers.

Using mixed media of burnt brown leaves pasted on canvas, then dabbed in specific spots to yield introspective portraits, Umar has hit upon something, a means to achieve

a more sensory texture to his works. With the former, the impression of raised surface, rendered in pastel but instead is quite visual oil painting; while the latter gives off the impression of smooth flatter surface as of imprints, but the burnt coloured dry leaves are physically pasted on the canvases. The beauty of latter technique comes through in Self Analysis, where the deceptive simplicity of the patchy pieces of burnt brown leaves, coalesce like a jigsaw to reveal a child’s features. The patches of leaves represent the aspects of the child make-up, who he is, yet the gaps in the feature indicate there is more growing to do, an incomplete, metamorphosing individual.

Umar began exploring both styles in 2010

and 2013, beginning with the leaf imprints during his final year in Zaria School of Art, and ‘pasted leaf on canvas’, some three years after, approximately eight and five years ago.

Coincidentally, the latter style proved a useful method of sustainable art practice if not an environmental approach to art. Although, inspired by his supervising lecturer and early pioneers of arts in Zaria Schools of Arts, Professor Jerry Buhari, Umar, rather than address the subject of environmental degradation as his teacher, preferred to “use materials from his natural environment to tell about the people around him,” drawing inspiration from another local fabric-andfigurine artist, Shonibare, his style of giving

audience a glimpse of the role of his natural tools of his environment in his work.

It is quite self-learning that the artist has placed priority to judging art community’s response to his styles over sales, and he is determined to base his next step on that.

He can refine content/narrative of his work, in order to gain a stronger voice than what is heard in The Roots; then perfect his styles particularly, to a distinct such that when deconstructed and viewed from afar, won’t resemble the swirly brush strokes of contemporary Nigerian artist, Sor Sen’s Abstract Impressionistic art.

pasted-leave-on-canvas style of Yusuf Olayinka Umar as seen in the painting, Self Portrait

Umar’s painting Imitation Games enbeds his leaf imprint technique which he has beenmastering for the past eight years.

After us the deluge. — Australian Proverb

Umar’s painting Congregation II, in his imprint technique.

42 TOURISM NEWS

April 6, 2018

Promote Nigerian Culture, Tourism Through Social Media - Prof Evwierhoma

BY STELLAMARIES AMUWA, Abuja

President Sirisena

Advice For Tourists Travelling To Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency following a dramatic increase in violence against Muslims in Kandy, a town popular with tourists.

The Foreign Office has said that while there will be an increased military presence on the streets, it is necessary to avoid travelling to the area.

President Maithripala Sirisena said the declaration would “empower” the country’s armed forces and police to respond to clashes.

The state of emergency will be in place for an initial 10 days, a government spokesman said.

Following an emergency cabinet meeting, it was decided that special measures would be enforced “to prevent the spread of communal riots”.

While the specific details of the state of emergency remain unclear, government spokesman, Dayasiri Jayasekara hinted that it could include a temporary crackdown on the use of social media.

Intercontinental Economy Fares Rise Intercontinental economy airfares will rise one per cent globally in 2018, according to BCD Travel’s midyear update to its 2018 Industry Forecast. BCD originally predicted no change but has adjusted its 2018 rate-growth forecast because of stronger global air travel demand and rising oil prices. Heavier demand also led to upward revisions for intercontinental economy airfare forecasts for the regions at right.

Regional economy fares will increase by one per cent globally, as originally expected. However, there were some changes by region, listed below.

Business class fares, both intercontinental and regional, will rise one per cent in 2018, according to BCD, which changed its Asia intercontinental business class airfare forecast from static to a one per cent increase and its Europe intercontinental business class airfare forecast from a two per cent rise to a smaller one per cent increase. Of note among regional business class airfares, BCD’s growth forecast for Latin America adjusted upward from a one per cent drop to zero change.

Hotel rates will grow between two to four per cent globally, as originally expected.

Prof Mabel Evwierhoma of the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Abuja, has advised Nigerians to use the social media to promote culture and tourism potentials in the country.

She explained that Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms can spread information fast and urged Nigerians to use them to promote the rich cultural heritage and tourist sites of Nigeria.

She said: “Instead of posting fake news and worthless materials, take photograph at tourist sites and during cultural festivals and post it on social media.

“Also, our fashion styles, hairdo and cuisines could be posted on social media for the world to see; such will contribute to attracting tourists and stimulate their desires to make similar hairdo and eat our food.

“Let us not waste time on social media doing what will not benefit our crafts, culture and tourism; it is a veritable platform to show the world our rich cultural heritage,’’ she advised.

Evwierhoma noted that Nigeria is multiethnic, inter-ethnic and multicultural, yet it had not exploited its cultural diversity to great economic and political gain.

She emphasised that it was crucial for Nigerians in all sphere of operations to value their culture.

“Moreover, the moment a community disengages itself from the positive and community strengthening factor embedded in its culture, it ceases to enjoy the benefits of cultural strength.”

She explained that any community that prides itself in borrowing of cultural ways

of life, no matter how small, may soon experience cultural extinction.

“It is necessary to be abreast of our cultural resources across the country. One way of making this information to be of public interest and appreciation is to make cultural display compulsory especially in schools.

“The Ministry of Education needs to collaborate with the Ministry of

Information and Culture to actualise the synergies between them.

“Every school should have cultural administration who should engage in advocacy for the worth of positive aspects of our life to be enshrined in our young ones.

“The nub of cultural reorientation cannot be over highlighted as far as the use of media strategies are concerned.”

Evwierhoma

Shere Hill: A Tourist Site To Behold For those looking for a natural place to explore and unwind with friends and family, Shere hill is a tourist site to behold. With a curved altitude of limited extent rising above the surrounding land with local relief of less than 300m, it is one of Plateau’s highest peaks and most rugged, and offers unrivalled opportunities to the mountain climbers and lovers of adventure.

It portrays a range of undulating hills and rock formations on the Jos Plateau situated about 10 kilometres to the East of Jos metropolis, the capital of Plateau State in the middle belt region of Nigeria.

The Shere Hills have many high peaks, with the highest peak reaching a height of about 1,829 metres or 6,001 feet above sea level, the Shere Hills are the highest point of the Jos Plateau and they form the third highest point in Nigeria after Chappal Waddi on the Mambilla Plateau averaging about 2,419 metres or 7,936 feet above sea level and Mount Dimlang (Vogel peak) on the Shebshi Mountains reaching a height of about

2,042 metres or 6,699 feet above sea level.

Plateau state, which derives its name from Jos Plateau, is located more or less at the centre of the country. The state known as Nigeria’s tourist haven is said to be a miniature Nigeria primarily because nearly all the ethnic groups of the country reside there. There are more than 30 ethnic groups in Plateau state. The people are hospitable and accommodating and have similar cultural and traditional ways of life.

Agriculture products are available in large scale and these include potatoes, groundnut, vegetables of varied sorts, fruits and yam. Natural resources such as cassiterite, barytes, clay, kaolin columbite, tin, gemstone, galena quartz and feldspar. The Jos Plateau abounds in natural scenic vistas. The State (Plateau)is a land of beautiful sceneries, rich in cultural, historical heritage and excellent weather conditions.

Plateau State is celebrated as “The Home of Peace and Tourism”, an image that has been fractured in recent years

A soft answer turns away wrath.

— English Proverb

by Muslim-Christian clashes in the state. Plateau State gets its name from the Jos Plateau. It has a population of around 3.5 million people.

Situated in the tropical zone, a higher altitude means that Plateau State has a near temperate climate with an average temperature of between 18 and 22°C. Harmattan winds cause the coldest weather between December and February. The warmest temperatures usually occur in the dry season months of March and April. The mean annual rainfall varies from 131.75 cm (52 in) in the southern part to 146 cm (57 in) on the Plateau. The highest rainfall is recorded during the wet season months of July and August. The average lower temperatures Plateau State has led to a reduced incidence of some tropical diseases such as malaria. The Jos Plateau, makes it the source of many rivers in northern Nigeria including the Kaduna, Gongola, Hadejia and Yobe rivers. So what are you doing this weekend? Take a trip to Plateau State and experience the best of nature.

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OPINION 43

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FMBN: Marching Towards Affordable Housing Through Collaboration And Accountability

U

BY ISAAC OLU

nder the watch of its new managing director, Arc Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) is on a steady match towards bridging the huge housing deficit in the country.

The World Bank estimated that Nigeria has a housing deficit of about 17 million units.

But at a time optimism is in short supply in virtually all sectors, the FMBN is giving contributors to the National Housing Fund reasons for hope.

The new management is pulling off some remarkable feat particularly with its promotion of the following innovative reforms: Business Process Automation: The FMBN has embraced technologies aimed at achieving end-to-end business process automation within the institution.

Its adoption of core banking application, wide area networking and mobile and internet solutions, will allow the Bank to seamlessly link with primary mortgage banks and interface with customers.

Corporate Governance Framework: The Bank has engaged the Centre for Corporate Governance, which is affiliated to the Institute of Directors (IoD) to

carry out Corporate Governance Audit and develop a Corporate Governance Framework and Governance structure in line with international best practices.

Enterprise Risk Management Framework: The FMBN is presently implementing an Enterprise Risk Management Framework project undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Limited and which is due for completion by Q2 2018.

Improvement In Loan Portfolio Performance: The institution has embarked on aggressive loan recovery that has, in turn, improved its loan portfolio performance.

By engaging debt collectors and working with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and PMBs, the Bank is automating loan repayment debits from customers’ bank accounts, which will reduce the rate of loan defaults.

Advocacy For Legal/Regulatory Framework Reviews*: As part of its on-going reforms, the bank has worked with government and private institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) and the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) on advocacy with State Governments to enact mortgage friendly (foreclosure) laws and improve land registry practices.

The Rendition Of Outstanding

Financial Statements: To ensure accountability and regulatory compliance in FMBN, the new executive management team of the Bank has taken crucial steps to ensure the rendering of all outstanding financial statements by end of 2018.

The new management of the FMBN has continued to ensure transparency in the NHF with SMS and email alerts now being introduced.

Mr Dangiwa, in a newspaper interview, said: “Our vision is to reposition the bank as a foremost apex mortgage bank in the country and provide affordable housing financing for contributors to be achieved through improved and transparent operations. All of these are achievable with the cooperation and collaboration of stakeholders.

This is our primary aim and focus”.

NHF Refund: Documents obtained from the FMBN show that between April 2017 and January 2018, the new Executive Management Team of the Bank has refunded N5, 568, 252, 279.88 to 38, 255 contributors of the National Housing Scheme. This indicates a 31.4 per cent increase in NHF refunds from a cumulative repayment of N17, 734, 599, 814.76 to a total of 190, 943 contributors since inception of the window in 2015.

Also, the usually long period

taken to process NHF Refunds has been shortened by the FMBN new management.

NHF Mortgage Loans (NHFL): Figures obtained from the FMBN show that the Bank has equally disbursed N7.97 billion as NHF mortgage loans to 1, 019 beneficiaries between April 2017 and January 2018.

FMBN Home Renovation Loan: Disbursements totalling N5.06 billion were made as home renovation loan to a total of 6, 718 beneficiaries under the aforesaid period.

Our source further gathered that the FMBN, as of January 2018, has cleared backlogs of outstanding accounts up to 2014. The audited accounts are said to be pending approval of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing. The 2015 audit exercise has equally been concluded and FMBN is awaiting the draft copy. The 2016 and 2017 outstanding accounts will be concluded before the end of 2018.

The FMBN, incorporated as the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria in 1956, is the sole government institution saddled with the task of providing mortgage finance to Nigerians through the National Housing Fund (NHF).

Previously known as the Nigerian Building Society, the FMBN

is tasked with the provision of long-term facilities to mortgage institutions, mobilisation of both domestic and offshore funds into the housing sector, collection and administration of the National Housing Fund in the country in accordance with the provisions of the NHF Act. The FMBN has carefully designed the NHF to mobilise funds to provide the citizens with affordable residential houses through accredited Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) at six per cent which is the lowest rate in the country.

Tasks Ahead Of The FMBN Even though the FMBN has faced a couple of operational challenges over the years, the institution has continued to ensure increased accountability in the management of the National Housing Fund. The FMBN has taken thoughtful steps to re-integrate defaulting states like Niger, Bauchi, Kebbi, Lagos, Kano, Ondo, Edo and Oyo into the NHF scheme in order to improve its performance indices.

“We are currently reaching out to these states to see if we can bring them back on board to the NHF scheme…Mostly, we always tell them the advantages of joining the scheme because of the numerous products they can access and enjoy.

– Olu wrote in from Abuja

MOTORING

Volvo XC60 Named World Car Of The Year 2018

BY ANTHONY AWUNOR, Lagos

Ahead of its arrival in the African market from mid-2018, the new Volvo XC60 midsize SUV has been named World Car of the Year 2018 at the New York Auto Show.

The XC60 also scooped the prestigious North American Utility of the Year Award earlier this year, while the XC40 small SUV

was named European Car of the Year at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month. The World Car of the Year win is the first in this competition for Volvo Cars, the premium car maker.

Commenting on the award, President and CEO of Volvo Cars, Håkan Samuelsson said, “I am pleased to see our company’s product investments paying off. We are up against some tough competition, but this award for

Volvo XC60

the XC60 shows that Volvo has the right combination of design, connectivity and safety that appeals to customers across the world.”

In the new XC60, Euro NCAP’s best overall performer in 2017, Volvo’s City Safety Autonomous Emergency Braking system has been enhanced with steering support for when automatic braking alone may not help avoid a potential collision. In addition, Oncoming Lane Mitigation with Steer Assist (which helps mitigate head-on collisions) and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Steer Assist functionality, has been added to reduce the risk of lane-changing collisions.

According to the manufacturer, XC60 is available with a range of diesel and petrol engines as well as Volvo Cars’ award-winning T8 Twin Engine petrol plug-in hybrid at the top of the powertrain range.

These two accolades come hot on the heels of Samuelsson’s World Car Person of the Year recognition, awarded by the same panel of international media in Geneva earlier this month.

Toyota Showcases Interior Of All-New Auris

Leading global auto maker, Toyota has recently released the first pictures of its surprisingly daring new Auris hatchback.

Now it has been revealed for the second time, albeit in US-spec and badged as a Corolla hatchback, which the Auris has essentially always been in any case.

Notwithstanding that there could be a few minor spec differences between this and the European Auris, the US reveal still gives us our first look at the cabin of the new hatch.

Unsurprisingly the new dashboard bears a strong resemblance to that in the CH-R crossover that this new Auris shares its TNGA ‘global’ platform with. The

US-spec Corolla hatch comes standard with an Entune 20cm touchscreen infotainment system with Wi-Fi, Amazon Alexa integration and App Suite Connect.

However, the new Auris is 40mm longer than before, with all of that extra length going into the wheelbase to procure more legroom, but it also aims for a sportier stance with a 30mm increase in width and a 25mm reduction in height.

Initially the Auris will only be available in South Africa with Toyota’s 1.2-litre turbopetrol engine, but a hybrid or two could follow at a later stage.

Auto Brokerage Service Provider Launches Vehicle Acquisition Options Import Your Car Nigeria (IYCN), an internationally licensed car broker has launched new and reliable auto acquisition options in Lagos recently.

According to the service provider the move was designed to offer all car dealers

and customers a transparent option that enable them to get the best deal on all vehicles of their choice.

Import Your Car Nigeria is an automobile brokerage company that provides the platform for clients to Source their choice cars, from

searching for the lots, the bidding or buying process, shipment to Lagos and local custom clearing.

Licensed both by the government and major auto auction companies in the United States and Canada, Import Your Car Nigeria offers

professional advice and act as your one point contact locally in Nigeria.

Speaking at the media launch in Lagos recently, general manager, Sales & Operation, Import Your Car Nigeria, Mrs. Ada Atoba, said the primary aim of the

After us the deluge.

— Australian Proverb

company is to enable more Nigerians own the car of their choice based on their budgets.

“Our drive is based on the need to create alternatives that are reliable, affordable and assuring to auto buyers.

So, our main drive is service especially with the constant

increase in the cost of acquiring decent automobile vis-a-vis the purchasing power of Nigerians”, she said.

“We see our relationship with our clients more as partnership as against just business relationship.

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April 6, 2018

Vigilantes Arrest Physically Challenged Man For Allegedly Defiling 4 Minors

BY YAHYA SARKI, Birni Kebbi

The Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) at the Badariya area of Birini-Kebbi metropolis in Kebbi State, has arrested a 30- year-old physically challenged man who specialises in raping teenage girls.

The Chairman of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Alhaji Lawal Augie, told journalist in Birnin Kebbi, yesterday that the man was apprehended by the residents of the area while having canal knowledge of the four underaged girls.

He stated that, “on the night of Wednesday, we got a distressed call from the district head of Badariya area, that a physically challenged person, by name Abdul- Azeez Jega, was caught having canal knowledge of the four underaged girls who are hawkers, while hawking in the area.

“We sent our men immediately to the area and the man was handed over to us for interrogation and we immediately transferred his matter to the state Hisbah committee for necessary action, because it has to do with violation of our culture.”

He said.

He said further that the man was reported to have been chased away from Jega Local Government Area for similar behaviour consequent upon which he relocated here in Birnin-Kebbi and now he is arrested for doing same thing again.

Confirming the allegation when confronted, one of the victims (name withheld), who is a 13year old, said the suspect started raping her in 2017.

“My first contact with him was in 2017, while I was hawking locally baked cake in Badariya area close to his house. As soon as he heard my voice, he called me to come enquiring what I was selling, when I came, he held my and I just felt dizzy and slumped; he picked me up to his bedroom where he raped me.” she confessed.

I Realise N45, 000 Monthly, Says Local Nail Cutter

BY NAN

A 19-year-old man, Mr Ibrahim Kabiru, says he realises an average of N1, 500 daily, amounting to N45,000 monthly, from cutting and cleaning nails.

Kabiru, who operates in Benin, yesterday said that the job was helping him to meet his needs.

The nail cutter said that he relocated from Sokoto State to Benin to start the job.

He said that though it was not easy for him to move around the city looking for customers, he was satisfied that he was not idle.

Kabiru said he was into maize farming but had no money to invest in it.

He said that he charged N100 for both pedicure and manicure and N50 for either of them.

According to him, starting nail cutting requires only about N1, 000 to buy a pair of small scissors, nail cutter, foam, water and detergent.

When asked if he would love to go back to farming if supported, Kabiru said he would.

He said that one would need money to succeed in farming.

He said he was not educated and could only farm apart from nail cutting.

Young teenagers hawking smoked fish to help their parents during the school holiday in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU.

Women Protest Outrageous Medical Bills In Ondo

BY TOPE FAYEHUN, Akure

No fewer than 200 pregnant women, yesterday, blocked the main entrance of the Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Akure, in protest of increase in the cost of maternity services at government owned hospital.

The pregnant women, who prevented patients, workers and people from entering the hospital, vowed to resist the over 300 per cent in the increase of the cost of services in the hospital.

The protesters, who also hindered vehicular movement at the ever busy hospital road for more than two hours, with their protruding stomachs, sat at the entrance of the hospital, chanting anti - government songs.

While calling for reverse of the bills, the expectant mothers explained that they usually pay N1, 000 as registration for antenatal while delivery was free.

They noted that the bill has been increased to N4, 000, while they have to pay N500 for every antenatal appointment and N25, 000 for normal delivery.

A pregnant woman, who was about to deliver, was seen at the antenatal unit of the hospital where there was no doctor to attend to her, while some people were seen praying for her before she delivered a baby girl.

Speaking with our correspondent during the protest, a pregnant woman, Mrs Sharon Arise, said the new increased fees were being collected from them by the hospital’s officials on the order of the state government.

Mrs Sharon noted that the services were free before the advent of this present administration in the state.

She said the cost of antenatal services were increased last December while other fees were introduced after the Easter break.

According to her, most of the pregnant women in the state have resorted to traditional midwives and private hospitals because of the outrageous bill and fee.

She said, “This morning when we got to the hospital, we were asked to pay N500 each before they could attend to us and initially, when

we registered, it was with N2,500 which is to cover the whole antenatal period.

“But now, they asked us to pay every time we need to see the doctor and that we should prepare N25, 000 ahead of our delivery and those who registered today had to pay N4, 000 as against N1, 000 which we used to pay before for antenatal.

“We made a formal complaint at the office of the CMD, he failed to attend to us or address us and we decided to protest against the obnoxious policies of the hospital board and the state government.

“We were asked to be paying N500 per consultancy session but we suddenly discovered that we are to pay N25, 000 for delivery. They collected N4, 000 for registration, with no drugs for us. “ Addressing the protesters, the chief medical director of the General Hospital, Dr Moses Adewole, who denied the development, said there was no increase in the cost of delivery of the pregnant women in the hospital.

Cultists Sack Police Station In Rivers

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, PORT HARCOURT

Gunmen suspected to be members of a cult group on Wednesday night, attacked a Police Station, injuring two policemen at Ubeta Community in Ahoada-West local government area of Rivers State.

Ubeta is the headquarters of Ubie Clan and plays host to facilities belonging to the Nigeria

Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG), Total Exploration and Production Limited (TEPNG) and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) LEADERSHIP Friday gathered that the hoodlums, inflicted several machete cuts on the two policemen, who were on night duty, before escaping with their rifles.

A source in the community, who pleaded for anonymity for the

safety of his life, said the gunmen operated unchallenged as they took on the police team unawares, causing severe damage, before escaping towards the communities bordering Igbuduya Clan, also in Ahoada-West local government area of the state.

The attack on Ubeta Police Station came barely two weeks after hoodlums attacked the Community

Secondary School at Okogbe where they abducted three female students and gang-raped them.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP Friday, an indigene of Ubeta Community, Mr Nna Frank-Jack, described the development as very sad which may lead to another mass exodus of residents over fear of a repeat of the painful ordeals they experienced in 2016 in the hands of hoodlums.

Communication, Dr Muhideen Akorede.

Responding to the incident, which he described as unfortunate, Governor Ahmed sympathised with the victims of the rainstorm, and said government has commenced disaster assessment and evaluation of the damage done to determine the extent of assistance required.

According to the statement, the assessment was done by the Office of Emergency Management and Relief Services, in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, led by its secretary, Mrs Adaran Motunrayo.

Ahmed also called on residents to refrain from indiscriminate dumping of refuse and erection of structures on waterways, which he noted is

capable of causing natural disasters, especially flooding.

Places visited by the Emergency Office officials are; Unity, Taiwo Isale, Taiwo Oke, Oko- Erin, Sultan Road, Stadium Road. Others are Adeta area, Agbo Oba, Mubo Street, Harmony Estate, Sango, River Basin and Fate area.

Rainstorm: Gov Ahmed Pledges Assistance To Victims

BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin

The Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has assured residents of Ilorin, the state capital affected by Tuesday’s heavy rainstorm, of government’s assistance.

The governor gave this assurance in a statement by his senior special assistant on Media and

A fox is not taken twice in the same snare. – English proverb

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NEWS EXTRA 45

Edo Rep Lawmaker Trains 230 Constituents On Skills

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

A federal lawmaker, Mr Johnson Oghuma, yesterday stated that 230 members of his constituency, have been trained by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and other private organisations on various skills.

Oghuma, who represents Etsako Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, disclosed this in a chat with newsmen on Wednesday in Benin.

He said aside his sponsorship of the training programme; he would also equip the trainees with various empowerment items of their trade after the training.

He said his decision to embark on the project was to bequeath a lasting dividend of democracy to members of his constituency.

According to him, “I reasoned that teaching my people how to fish would be more beneficial than giving them the fish. They are the reason for my being where I am and as such, their interest and well-being are of great concern to me.

“I am not just stopping with this figure, more people will be trained on various skills in the next phase that is to come soon. Apart from the training they have been made to undergo, I have set aside fund to procure materials needed for them to start working with.”

Oghuma further said that as part of his desire to make members of his constituency enjoy the dividends of democracy, he has influenced some vital projects to the constituency.

“The projects range from water project, construction of classroom blocks and electricity projects in various communities of the federal constituency.

All this I have done in less than a year in office as member of the Green Chamber,” he said.

It would be recalled that Oghuma was elected a member of the House in 2017, following the election of the former member, Mr Philip Shaibu, as deputy governor of Edo in 2016.

Police Arrest 3 Over Drug Adulteration, Counterfeit Dollars In Sokoto

BY NAN

The Police in Sokoto State, have arrested two suspects who specialised in adulterating drugs and one other in possession of counterfeit dollars.

The Spokesperson of the Police Command in the State, ASP Cordelia Nwewe, told Journalists in Sokoto yesterday, that the suspects were arrested on April 3 by a team of policemen on patrol at Kara area of Sokoto.

Nwewe said that one of the suspects, Oliver Ugwu, was found in possession of 25 bottles of adulterated drugs such as Maysedyl with Cordeine and Panpiden.

According to her, Ugwu was selling a bottle of the drugs for N800 to youths, who are his

regular customers.

She also said that the team also arrested one Zayyanu Aliyu of Unguwan Rogo area of the city found in possession of 109 bottles of Maysedyl.

She said Aliyu was also in possession of 26 empty bottles of Maysedyl with Codeine, two bottles of mixed liquid content and the sum of N190, 000.

The police spokesperson said the command had also arrested one Yahaya Isah, a national of Niger republic, found in possession of American Dollars suspected to be counterfeit.

Nwewe said the suspect was found in possession of suspected fake American dollar notes.

Woman Seeks Dissolution Of 10-year-old Marriage Over Childlessness, Lack Of Love

By NAN A 45-year-old woman, Yemisi Elumelu, has approached an Orile Agege Customary Court, Lagos State, seeking dissolution of her 10-yearold marriage over childlessness and lack of love.

The petitioner, Mrs Yemisi Elumelu, a company secretary, told the court that marrying Kenneth Emumelu, 45, was the worst thing that ever happened to her.

“I lived with him without knowing anything about him.

“I left his house in July 2015, because he asked me to leave, and to be sincere, the peace I `lost’ while with him was restored,’’ she told the court.

She described her husband as a man that likes to keep to himself, “he did not share anything with me apart from sleeping together once in a while.

“Whenever, he was at home, he was always in his room, and I was in my room, no talking, no playing, “she said.

Mrs Elumelu also said that the marriage did not produce any child and that “no point wasting my time with him anymore.

“It was a big relief for me when he asked me to leave, I needed to be happy and now, I am happy.

“I want the marriage dissolved so that I can be free to remarry,” she said.

The respondent, Kenneth Elumelu, did not oppose the dissolution of the marriage.

Elumelu admitted asking her to leave, but that it was as a result of anger.

“It was an argument that ensued between us about money and out of anger, I said she should leave.

“I tried as much as I could to bring her back, but she refused and it is now going to three years since she left, I am not ready again for her.

“Please, go ahead with the dissolution,’’ he pleaded with the court.

The court’s president, Mr P A Williams, adjourned the matter until April 24 for judgment..

L-R: Author, Gender and Development Specialist, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Political Advisor, European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Jacob.SILEN; Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki; Hon. Ngunan Addingi, Member, Benue State House of Assembly; DirectorGlobal Programmes, International IDEA, Ms. Keboitse Machangana; Press Officer, European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Modestus Chukwulaka, in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Kaduna State commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Dr Manzo Daniel, moderator, Kadinvest, Mr. Adewale Ajadi, the state governor, Malam Nasiru el-rufai, and President, Falke Industry Limited, Alhaji. Samaila Maigoro, at the closing ceremony of Kadinvest, in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO GBENGA FOLOUNSHO ABIOLA

L-R: Commandant, Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, Major Gen Adeoye Oyebade and Controller General of Federal Fire Service, Engr. Garba Joseph Anebi, and others during the signing of the MOU between the NDA and the National Fire Academy in Kaduna, yesterday.

L-R: Chairman, Correspondent Chapel, Alhaji Abdullahi Tukur listening to North East zonal head of operations of EFCC, Mr Johnson Babalola, during his visit to the chapel in Gombe, yesterday.

To eat one’s heart out. – English proverb

The officials d the National Kaduna and

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NDDC To Partner Ritman Varsity On Youth Development

L-R: Member, Centre for Democracy and Development, Prof Jibrin Ibrahim; Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Ibrahim Musa; former INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega; and Senior Working Group Chairman NYSC, Mrs. Fatima Abubakar, at the Civil Society Stakeholders’ Consultative Meeting on Arresting the Drift Towards Chaos in Nigeria held in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, port harcourt

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has assured officials of Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, of partnership on youth development.

NDDC managing director, Mr. Nsima Ekere, gave the assurance when the founder of the university, Senator Ibok Essien and the vice chancellor, Professor Celestine Ntuen paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.

Ekere noted that the vision of the university, with respect to developing the capacity of students to be self-starters, tallied with that of the NDDC, stating that it was important that young people were given quality education that would prepare them to be self-employed.

He said, “We must be concerned about the quality of education that we are giving to our youths in the Niger Delta. This is a region that is beset with a lot of difficulties and challenges. Youth restiveness is very common in the region and unemployment has reached alarming proportions.”

The NDDC boss stated that the youth development centre was the kind of contribution that would teach the young ones how to be entrepreneurs and employers of labour, saying, “It keys into the vision of the current board and management of the NDDC.” Ekere said that experience had shown that there was need to develop a special kind of programme that would lead to sustainable livelihood for the youths.

He said, “We had trained 23,000 people over the years and they were given starter packs.

NIS Warns Foreigners Against Voting In Nasarawa’s LG Elections

BY DANJUMA JOSEPH, Lafia

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nasarawa State Command, has warned foreigners living in the state not to come out to vote in the forthcoming local government and general elections.

Comptroller of Immigration Service, Nasarawa State Command, Mr Aliyu Malik, gave the warning in an interview with newsmen in Lafia, yesterday. According to the commandant, the warning became imperative due to the forthcoming local government elections in the state and bearing in mind the current security challenges in parts of the state.

He said that it has become necessary for NIS to synergize with other security agencies in setting up a watertight security network for the prevention of crime, violence and electoral malpractices.

“The synergy will not just be for the prevention of crime, violence and electoral malpractices but most importantly preventing foreigners that have fraudulently obtained our voters card from participating in the forthcoming polls in the state,” he said.

Malik said foreigners yet to be granted citizenship have no right to vote and any of them with a permanent voter’s card (PVC) should willingly submit it to the Divisional Immigration Officer (DIO), in any of the local governments to avoid arrest and prosecution.

He explained that officers of the command have been deployed to all local government areas and development areas in the state to ensure that foreigners don’t vote in any election held in the state and those caught in the act would be made to face the law.

April 6, 2018

Stolen Artefacts: Oba Of Benin, Obaseki To Build World-Class Museum

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government is working with the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, to build a world-class Royal Museum, to hold stolen artifacts being recovered by the Benin Kingdom.

Obaseki disclosed this when he hosted Prof. Nicholas Thomas of Cambridge University and Prof. Annie Coombes of the University of London, both experts in Benin History, to a dinner, at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State.

The governor said the state government plans to work with the monarch to build the

museum in the Oba’s Palace in Benin City, and counter the arguments of art collectors, who are still in possession of stolen artifacts from the Benin Kingdom and have maintained that the safety of the artifacts is not guaranteed if they are returned to the ancient Kingdom.

According to Obaseki, “The decision to establish a world-class museum at the Oba’s Palace, one of the safest places in the world, will encourage curators across Europe and in other parts of the world, to be confident and support the advocacy for the safe return of stolen artifacts of Benin Kingdom.”

He expressed appreciation to Prof. Nicholas Thomas and Prof. Annie Coombes, for

their advocacy for the safe return of artifacts of the Benin Kingdom looted during the 1897 invasion.

He said, “We hope your experience in Benin City will encourage you to sustain the advocacy for the return of our stolen artifacts. When the artifacts are returned, they will assist generations yet unborn to understand who they are, as a people and how they have dominated this environment in the past.”

In his remarks, Prof. Nicholas Thomas, said his experience in Benin City was exciting as the visit gave him the opportunity to see first-hand, the place where the historic stolen artifacts are fashioned in Igun Street.

from less than 30 per cent at the start of the project, to more than 90 per cent in 2016.

Also, the percentage of pregnant women who received two of the four World Health Organisation (WHO) required malaria preventive treatment doses with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) increased from 29 per cent in 2013 to 52 per cent in 2016.

Meanwhile, the Malaria Prevention in Mobil Producing Nigeria Supplier Communities (MAPS-C) project ran from 2011 through 2017 and was focused on four local government areas in Akwa Ibom and Rivers states (Eket, Ibeno, Bonny and Ogu/Bolo) reaching over 90,000 people.

Beneficiaries included children under five and pregnant women in households within these communities.

In a press statement made available to

LEADERSHIP Friday, Africare’s president, Robert Mallet, while extending gratitude to ExxonMobil for supporting the project, said, “We are encouraged by the results of our multipronged approach and the support of our partners on the ground. We feel confident that our work to increase community knowledge, improve practices of health care workers, and improve malaria treatment and care, will have a lasting impact on the goal to eliminate malaria.”

He said Africare’s multi-pronged approach comprised four elements amongst which are, assess and build upon existing interventions to determine the effectiveness of previous malaria control efforts against the current project, and learn and share best practices.

In his remarks, the president, Exxon-

Africare Records Improvements In Malaria Prevention Project

BY PATIENCE IHEJIRIKA, Abuja

A nongovernmental organisation (NGO) committed to helping Africans build a sustainable, healthy and productive communities, Africare, has recorded high improvements in the results of a six-year malaria prevention programme (MAP) in Nigeria that was implemented with the support of ExxonMobil.

Among the top-line results of the evaluation of the project, showed that the percentage of under-five children who received malaria treatment of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) increased from 21 per cent at the start of the project in 2011 to 74 per cent in 2016.

The percentage of persons with suspected malaria that were tested increased

Edo Mulls Forestry Commission

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has revealed plans to develop a policy document on forestry and set up a Forestry Commission, as part of ongoing reforms to boost economic growth through agriculture.

Obaseki disclosed this when he inaugurated a 16-man Advisory Committee on Forestry at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State capital.

According to him, “In my inaugural ad-

dress in November 2016, I promised to focus on agriculture to drive socio-economic transformation, as agriculture remains strategic in attaining economic development. This committee will help drive one of the cardinal programmes we have outlined for the agricultural sector.”

He said, “The Advisory Committee will assist the state government draft a policy document on forestry; advice the government on issues on forestry it plans to put in place, and structure for the forestry commission. This

would aid the state government develop effective framework in managing its forestry assets in line with international best practices, as its relate to forest reservation, preservation, conservation and regeneration.”

Obaseki noted that the state government intends to unveil a policy document on forestry at an international conference to be held in Accra, Ghana, in May 2018, where the state government will showcase how it intends to work with international partners in managing its forest assets.

APC Chieftain, Others Pour Encomium On Ugwuanyi

BY NNAMDI MBAWIKE, Enugu

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Oji River local government area of Enugu State, Chief Gbazueagu Nweke Gbazueagu, and other stakeholders in the council area, have poured encomium on Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his uncommon leadership qualities anchored on vision,

humility, good governance and respect for everyone irrespective of political leanings.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony of Nkwo Inyi-Akpugoeze road in Oji River L.G.A, which was among the N1.170 billion road projects recently awarded by the Enugu State government, Senator Hyde Onuaguluchi while expressing delight over the commencement of work on the “abandoned”

A good deed is never lost.

road, described Gov. Ugwuanyi as an “epitome of humility” and “God’s gift” to the people of the state.

The former senator added that Governor Ugwuanyi has “brought peace to this state” and “humility to government”, stressing that the last time he experienced such quality of humility was when another Nsukka man, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo was governor of the state.

Friday, April 6, 2018

NACA Raises The Alarm Over HIV/AIDS Among Youths

BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has raised the alarm over what it described as high level of HIV/AIDS prevalence among the Nigerian youths.

The agency’s Head, Public Relations and Protocol, Mrs. Toyin Aderibigbe, said this during advocacy visits to some media organisations in Ilorin, Kwara State yesterday adding that the disease had been spreading mostly in rural communities of Nigeria.

Mrs Aderibigbe , who lamented porous nature of most of the nation’s borders, said that increasing number of people living in rural boundary areas get infected through contact with HIV positive people.

She said that people in the rural areas needed help to reduce the spread among

them, adding that the people lacked knowledge and proper awareness on the disease, particularly the institutions to get help from, unlike city dwellers.

She decried lack of interest among people in listening to HIV/AIDS messages, saying that decrease in awareness creation had caused increase in the spread, just as she identified radio communication as most effective means of disseminating messages on HIV/AIDS to people in the grassroots.

Mrs. Aderibigbe, who said that control and spread of HIV/AIDS among patients were now better managed, added that transmission from infected mother to child or partners was no longer predisposed when such patients take their free drugs regularly.

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NATIONAL NEWS 47

Wike, Ganduje, Bagudu, Buratai, Others For Civil Society Awards

BY ERNEST NZOR, Abuja

The Nigerian Civil Society Coalition(NCSC) is set to honour governors Nyesom Wike(Rivers), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai for their excellent performances in the public service.

Other Nigerians slated to be honoured at the event slated for April 4, 2018, include Mrs C.T. Uba (Director

ICT, NYSC), Alhaji Umar Ibrahim (MD, NDIC) and Uche Ogar ( CEO, Masters Energy).

The Nigerian Civil Society Coalition which unveiled the nominees after its Annual General Meeting which held in Abuja, said it noted with satisfaction the exemplary conduct and unprecedented manner in which the awardees have conducted themselves in public service as well as the various impacts they have made in their offices.

The group lauded the various efforts

of the governors, describing them as heroic as their governance style has turned their respective states to model states just as recent statistics released showed how they have genuinely impacted on their states’ infrastructure.

“The Nigerian Civil Society Coalition (NCSC) resolved to honour these compatriots who have distinguished themselves in their areas of endeavour. They have demonstrated strong sense of uprightness and tact to their responsibility,” the civil society group stated.

Tourism Practitioners Partner NTDC, NBS, Others To Boost Sector

BY STELLAMARIES AMUWA, Abuja

The Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) has said that plans are in top gear to partner with Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and others to boost the sector.

National president, FTAN, Rabo Saleh, revealed this to journalists during a media parley yesterday in Abuja. He expressed hope that with his recent appointment as member of the board of NTDC, there will be positive and effective collaborations to move tourism forward. He added that a vibrant tourism sector should not only be about building skyscrapers in the cities, noting that the rural areas needed to be developed to explore other tourist sites.

“It is a good step, because the government cannot run the tourism sector alone; there is the absolute need for the private sector to be carried along.

We are going to do everything possible to ensure that tourism is given priority.

“We have lots of tourism sites in the Federal Capital Territory and other parts of the country and there is need to open them up by providing good infrastructure and facilities for convenience, to make them habitable.

“Consequently, it will also benefit the local people through the provision of employment for members of the communities who are keys in ensuring the smooth operations of tourist sites because tourists are only interested in traditional setting in rural areas not sky scrapers and modern structures,” he added.

2019: South East Plans Mass Defection To APC

BY MICHAEL OCHE, Abuja

There are strong indications that the political class in the South East geo-political zone of the country has perfected plans to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2019 general elections.

According to Chief Kenneth Eke this was the major outcome of a meeting of political leaders from the zone which held in Enugu recently to chart a way forward for the Igbos to be part of the central government.

According to Eke, the Igbo political leaders of thought are concerned that the region is losing out in the national equation because of playing politics of opposition and exclusion; and have resolved that in 2019, the zone must align with the central government to become relevant in the scheme of things.

“The Igbo political leader-

ship has weighed the options of being in opposition and aligning with the central government and has come to the conclusion that it is better to be with the centre and has accordingly, resolved to ask politicians from the zone to join the APC. They said that their South West counterparts, because of playing politics of inclusion and aligning with the central government are carried along in the scheme of things in the country and the Igbos can no longer afford to lose out or remain in opposition”, he said.

As the plan for the defection of the zone to the APC thickens, it was learnt over the weekend that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the major opposition party in the country, has become jittery and is reaching out to some of its political leaders in the zone to appeal to them to halt the planned defection.

L-R Deputy Director, Planning, Ministry of Agriculture, Lbrahim Tanimu. minister of state for Agriculture, Sen Heineken Lokpobiri and director, Agric Business, Abdulahi Azeez during their workshop in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY THEOPHILOUS

West Africa’s Electoral Bodies Meet In Abuja

BY SUNDAY ISUWA, Abuja

Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) from member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the South African Development Com-

munity (SADC) are to meet in Abuja A statement issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chief press secretary, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi said the West African electoral body members will converge on Abuja, the

Saudi Military, NOA Advocate Alternative Narrative On Terrorism

BY NZOR ERNEST, Abuja

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has advocated for an alternative narrative to counter the spread of hate and violence which the sponsors of terrorism around the world preach as religious ideologies.

The director general of the agency, Dr Garba Abari made this call when a delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (MCTC) led by Brigadier-General Abdullah Al-Fehaid visited the NOA headquarters in Abuja.

The four-man military delegation is in Nigeria to meet with relevant agencies to discuss specific collaboration opportunities across areas of interest in counter terrorism in Nigeria.

Dr. Abari said, “The two major sects in Islam namely Sunnis and Derik need to work together on a scholarly response to the Boko Haram ideology relying mainly on the Quran and the Hadith.” According to him, the agency has a robust network of platforms to spread the new narrative across the country in a bid to achieve peace and development in Nigeria.

The director general who identified extremism to be of two types said the planned narrative will be very successful in dealing with religious extremism while criminal elements can be dealt with in accordance with the law of the land. He called on the stakeholders espe-

cially those in countries where religious extremism is undermining peace and progress to work together to fight and counter the blight of terrorism around the world.

Explaining the work of the agency in the fight against terrorism, Dr Abari said it has been engaging with Islamic Clerics (Ulamas), Christian church leaders, traditional rulers, opinion leaders, schools, civil society organisations and security agencies on intelligence gathering and peace building processes to develop alternative orientation that will curb the spread of radical ideology.

In his remarks, the team leader of the Saudi delegation, Brigadier Al Fehaid agreed with the NOA DG saying the team was in the country to strategise and unite with members of the coalition countries and complement the efforts made by these countries to eradicate violent and radical ideologies.

Al-Fehaid said, “2018 work plan is to leverage and enhance coalition engagement and communication, seek impactful initiative and strengthen institutional capacity among member countries.”

He added that terrorism coalition which Nigeria is a member is also in partnership with non-members countries particularly, the United Kingdom, France and United States for information gathering, finance restriction and review of media narrative on counter terrorism.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT), between 9th and 11th April, for an international conference with the theme: “Opportunities and Challenges in the Use of Technology in Election: Lessons from West and Southern Africa.”

He said participants would deliberate on several issues associated with the choice and deployment of ICT in elections, with a view to deepening collaboration among EMBs and strengthening the credibility of electoral processes in the ECOWAS and SADC regions.

“The conference, the first of its kind to be held in Nigeria, is being organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), in collaboration with the Electoral Commissions Forum of the SADC and with technical support from the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES). The conference is funded by the European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) project, managed

by ECES. “Chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of Kenya, Mr. Wafula Chebukati will deliver the conference’s only keynote address on ‘Electoral Trust and Integrity: Is Technology an Enabler or a Barrier?’ at the opening session, while seven other sessions and separate group discussions, spread evenly across the entire duration of the meeting would follow,” the statement said.

It was gathered that senior election technology experts from various international organisations are also attending, bringing the participation of EMBs to 35 countries and roughly 100 participants.

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Agbaji Chinedu Business 1:0:1 Agrobusiness with Agbaji Chinedu 08035004617

Watermelon is a reddish, succulent, most popular, readily available and affordable fruit in Nigeria. It is a natural source of very powerful antioxidants provided by nature. It is a good source of the antioxidant, vitamins C and A to protect us from diseases. It reduces the risk of dehydration.

It’s a plant that can grow anywhere in Nigeria, and the demand for it is growing by day as a result of its benefits.

Research showed that watermelon cuts the risk of sun related skin damage by 40 per cent. That’s because watermelon is nature’s richest source of lycopene, an antioxidant that scavenges the UVinduced free radicals that cause sunburn and wrinkling. Lycopene may also help reduce the risks of cancer and other diseases. It can help to improve sleep.

Eating a few slices of this fruit after dinner, can extend the deep stages of sleep by 27 per cent. Watermelon can boost energy. This is because watermelon contains vitamin B6, which the body uses to synthesise feel good dopamine.

Watermelon can help in the faster

Agbaji@yahoo.com

healing of wound and other skin problems. The fruit is packed with the amino acid, citrulline, which the body converts to arginine.

Planting Season Watermelon is best planted at the outset of the rainy season or when the season is almost done. This will allow for low relative humidity, a condition essential for normal growth of the crop in southern Nigeria. In the northern part, early season planting is in May and late season planting is July. But with functional irrigation in the north, it could be planted round the year, accounting for why it is usually brought from the north.

Land Preparation Watermelon can be planted on flat land or on ridges/plant beds depending on the nature of the soil. According the plant physiologist, if the water table level is high (in the core rainy season), seed beds or ridges are essential. It requires loamy soil or silt loam soil and it also performs

Lectures With

Ustaz Nazeef Ahmad 08034855100

Honesty & Trustworthiness The prophet, peace be upon him, was nicknamed the trustworthy by his enemies.

He was well-known for his honesty. The pagans of Mecca, who were openly hostile towards him, would leave their valuables with him as back then, there were no banks and coperatives.

Another example of his honesty is demonstrated in the Truce of Hudaibiyah.

Terms of the treaty were that any man who left the Prophet would not be returned to him, but any man who left Mecca would be returned to them. A man named Abu Jandal managed to escape from the pagans of Mecca and joined the Prophet. The pagans asked Prophet Muhammad to honour his pledge and return the man. The Messenger of Allah said: “O Abu Jandal! Be patient and ask Allah to grant you patience. Allah will surely help you and those who are persecuted and make it easy for you. We have signed an agreement with them, and we certainly do not betray or act treacherously.”bukhariy His Forbearance Anas reported, “while I was walking with the Messenger of Allah while he was wearing a Yemeni cloak with a collar with rough edges, a Bedouin grabbed him strongly. I looked at

the side of his neck and saw that the edge of the cloak left a mark on his neck. The Bedouin said, ‘O Muhammad! Give me (some) of the wealth of Allah that you have.’ The Messenger of Allah turned to the Bedouin, smiled and ordered that he be given (some money).

This was a man who was more honoured than the kings and rulers of today, he had the authority to do whatever he likes.

Another example of his patience is the story of the Jewish Rabbi, Zaid bin Sa’nah.

Zaid had given something as a loan to the Messenger of Allah. He himself said, “Two or three days prior to the return of the debt, the Messenger of Allah was attending the funeral of a man from the Ansar. Abu Bakr and Umar, Uthman and some other companions were with the Prophet. After he prayed the funeral prayer, he sat down close to a wall, and I came towards him, grabbed him by the edges of his cloak, and looked at him in a harsh way, and said: ‘O Muhammad!

Will you not pay me back my loan? I have not known the family of Abdul Muttalib to delay in repaying debts!’

I looked at Umar ibn Al-Khattab - his eyes swelled with anger! He looked at me and said: ‘O Enemy of Allah, do you behave towards him in this manner?! By the One who sent him with the truth, had it not been for the fear of

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April 06, 2018

Make Millions Farming Water Melon Anywhere In Nigeria well on heavy soil if it is well drained. It does not tolerate water logging and so, if planted on heavy soil, ridging will be helpful to improve drainage. On loamy soil, it is usually planted on the flat land.

Harvest One way to determine when watermelon is ripe is to watch the tendril closest to the melon stem. A tendril is a modified leaf or stem in the shape of slender, spiral coil. When it turns brown and dries up, the melon is ripe.

The trouble with this method is that with some watermelon varieties, the tendril dries and drops off more than a week before the melon is fully ripe. The surest sign of ripeness in most watermelon varieties is the colour of the bottom spot where the melon sits on the ground. As the watermelon matures, the spot turns from almost white to a rich yellow. Also, all watermelons lose the powdery or slick appearance on the top and take on a dull look when fully ripe.

Financing You can start off a watermelon agribusiness with very little capital – N100,000 and above, depending on the scale, no huge capital or expertise to start; especially if one is not using mechanised and chemical methods throughout the entire farming season.

The Return on Investment {ROI} is huge and can make anyone generate wealth. It takes very short time for the production cycle to be complete, just within 70 – 90 days, which is to say you will farm two to three times a year in an area with irrigation or good water supply.

Farming Items Land, hand tractors, water sprinkler, chemicals, water melon seeds, fertilizers/ manure The Market The major market for water melon is open market in any area you are because the demand for it is high and water melon Juice Company.

Muhammad: The Perfect Solution (2) not entering Paradise, I would have beheaded you with my sword!’ The Prophet looked at Umar in a calm and peaceful manner, and he said: ‘O Umar, you should have given us sincere counseling, rather than to do what you did! O Umar, go and repay him his loan, and give him extra because you scared him!’”

Zaid said: “Umar went with me, and repaid me the debt, and gave me over it twenty sa’a of dates. I asked him: ‘What is this?’ He said: ‘The Messenger of Allah ordered me to give it, because I frightened you.’” Zaid then asked Umar: “O Umar, do you know who I am?”

Umar said: “No, I don’t - who are you?” Zaid said: “I am Zaid ibn Sa’nah.” Umar inquired: “The Rabbi?” Zaid answered: “Yes, the Rabbi.” Umar then asked him: “What made you say what you said to the Prophet and do what you did to him?” Zaid answered: “O Umar, I have seen all the signs of prophethood in the face of the Messenger of Allah except two – (the first) his patience and perseverance precede his anger and the second, the harsher you are towards him, the kinder and more patient he becomes, and I am now satisfied. O Umar, I hold you as a witness that I testify and I am satisfied that there is no true God worthy of being worshipped except Allah alone, and my religion is Islam and Muhammad is my Prophet. I also hold you as a witness that half

After us the deluge.

— Australian Proverb

of my wealth - and I am among the wealthiest people in Madina - I give for the sake of Allah to the Muslims.” Umar said: “You will not be able to distribute your wealth to all the Muslims, so say, ‘I will distribute it to some of the followers of Muhammad.’” Both Zaid and Umar returned to the Messenger of Allah.

Zaid said to him: “I bear witness that there is no true deity worthy of being worshipped except Allah alone, and that Muhammad is the slave of Allah and His Messenger.” He believed in him, and witnessed many battles and then died in the Battle of Tabuk while he was encountering the enemy - may Allah have mercy on Zaid.

The greatest example of his forebearing and forgiveness is apparent when he pardoned the people of Mecca after the conquest of the city. When the people of makkah from whom he received all sorts of inhuman torture, brutality, prosecution, intimidation, mockery etc with his companions, and had driven them out of the city of Mecca, gathered around him, he said: “What do you think I will do to you?”

They answered: “You will only do something favourable; you are a kind and generous brother, and a kind and generous nephew!”

The Prophet said: “Go - you are free to do as you wish.” Allahu akbar

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April 6, 2018

The STANDPOINT

With

Igboeli Arinze arinze.igboeli@gmail.com, 09096635077 Also, the traditional ruler of Igu, Hakimi Solomon Igu, described the milling plant as a dream come true for the women and the town. He expressed profuse gratitude to NAS and the Thai Embassy for such a gesture, noting that in due time, the proceeds from the milling plant would be channeled by the women towards assisting themselves on their farms to grow better and bountiful crops.

But this feat only tells half of the story as Mr. Kola Oseh explained that the project was a product of painstaking work with the women for a number of months. This includes the partnership with the Catholic Church in Igu via Reverend Father Duniya, a priest who has been in Igu for more than three years, who provided context for the initial demographic analysis for Igu. The priest who has a soft spot for community development was immediately excited about the idea and the possibilities for these women.

The team also confronted challenges such as the problem of language as the women only spoke Gbagyi; lack of organisational structure and, essentials for capacity building which were all required at this stage.

The National Association of Seadogs

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Banning Cultism, Piracy And Governor Udom’s Wrong Foot (III)

rose up to the challenge using the Sufficiency Model and Participatory Development approach. Mr. Nnamdi Okose, the Royal Thai Embassy expert on Sufficiency Economy noted that using the Sufficiency Economy and Participatory Development approach was not entirely alien to Africa. Local knowledge within parts of Africa effusively promote values such as moderation, reasonableness and self reliance. These values put together alongside any economic venture can help a people come out of poverty.

Moving on, the team asked the women to identify with an activity that would add immense value to their lives and that of the community. At that meeting, the women unanimously agreed to the idea that they needed a grain milling plant which they said would add immense value to their grain produce as well as serve the 22 villages around them.

This helped build their capacity as the team explained to the women the building process. A milling plant needed a house and machines. But to start building, they needed a land, water, stones, labour and land. These were the things which could be found around their environment.

Sufficiency economy was about being self-

sufficient and being self-sufficient starts with the recognition of the resources around you.

With the donation of a piece of land from the Catholic Church through the St. Mulumba Catholic Church Igu, the women immediately commenced work on their milling site while the Abuja Chapter of National Association of Seadogs had tried to get grants for this project but when it was not forthcoming, they looked inwards and raised the funds for the construction of the mill. That wasn’t all, as professionals from the association also helped the women on the design of the site and its construction.

Wyego Manayi: A local revolution Wyego Manayi in Gbagyi , the dialect of the Igu people means Good Machine.

The word which adorns the entrance to the milling plant was chosen by the women of Igu who described the milling plant as the beginning of good things in their lives. The machines and the milling plant themselves are not just machines but a pointer to the very fact that our development lies in our own hands and the power to fulfill and make our dreams come true.

There are many other ways to help your child develop the skill of grit. These include: 1. Allowing Your Child To Make Mistakes, And Teaching Him To Accept Them.

It’s tempting to cushion our children from failure, but doing so only prevents them from learning valuable coping skills.

Instead of preventing your child from failing, teach him how to handle failure appropriately. Teach him that: • There’s no failure- only feedback. Teach him that failure is only an opportunity to go back to the drawing board and devise new and better strategies. “What went wrong this time?

How can we prevent that from happening next time?”

• As much as you have your children share their successes, have them share their failures or mistakes. Failures and mistakes mean children are trying or doing something challenging. This is where learning and growth stems from.

Lead by example by sharing some of those moments you had, either at a younger age, in your adult life and day-day interactions.

• There’s something to take away from Kelly Holmes, author of Happy You, Happy Family: When her child gets a spelling word wrong as they practice, Holmes gives her a high five and says, “High five, you’re learning!” Think about this. What do you think it will do to the child’s attitude as regards learning and handling his mistake? Compare this to our default pattern of ridicule, intimidation, shout down and other coercive and demotivating approaches.

2. Help Your Child Set Goals.

PARENTING With SURUURAH OGUNFEMI +234 8032012783

49

suruurah@guidedbeginnings.com, suruurah@yahoo.com

Be A Gritty Parent (II) Work with your child to set at least one long-term goal, and then help him stick with it. It could be taking his grade from a C to an A, learn to repair a mobile phone, speak a foreign language, memorise some portion of the Holy Book… the list is as endless as your child’s creativity. Here are some goal-setting strategies you can use with your child: • Let your child choose the goal, so it’s something that is meaningful to him.

• Chunk down the goal. This means breaking the big goal down into incremental steps that will make it more achievable. For instance, dedicate 30 minutes consistently every day to move closer to the goal.

• Discuss potential obstacles, and make an action plan for how your child will handle these obstacles if they occur. For example, a family event that makes the

set 30 mins daunting. How about moving it to an earlier part of the day, adding 10 extra minutes for next consecutive three days? Etc. • Write it all down. A goal is different from wishful thinking. The simple act of writing it down makes all the difference and research has shown that you’re 42 per cent more likely to achieve your goals if you just put them in writing.

3.

Teach Your Child To Solve Problems.

When your child does struggle with problems or setbacks, brainstorm ways to solve the problem. You can offer suggestions like, “What if you stayed after school to get some extra help from your teacher?” or, “What if you started your homework a little earlier?” But it’s important to let your child contribute

Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. — English proverb

Lessons Learned WyegoManayi is not just about inspiring people in the villagers and rural areas such as Igu to dream, it is a revolution waiting to happen. More than 70 per cent of Nigerians live in rural areas and in poverty.

But the above is not intended to be simplistic. Agencies hoping to help communities out of poverty must be willing to listen. They must also be willing to let the communities take the lead on the project for it is actually their destiny.

It is the hope of the National Association of Seadogs that the government adopts this model for participatory development as well as utilising the local knowledge of the people in its poverty alleviation and rural development programmes.

I have taken this time and space to help many see that the devil isn’t in the National Association of Seadogs, neither are his agents. The issue of cultism and its vices though real cannot be associated with an organisation that has more interest in the well-being of others than itself; that has repeatedly lent its voice to matters affecting the poor as well as the weak.

ideas too. This shows your child that problems are solvable, and it gives him a sense of power and control in the face of challenges.

4. Praise Effort, Not Ability.

It’s important to teach your child to have a growth mindset. This can be achieved by praising effort instead of ability.

When you praise effort, your child learns that he can achieve anything through hard work and practice. When you praise ability, your child receives the message that traits like intelligence are “fixed.” If he encounters a setback, he’ll feel that he’s reached the limit of his ability and is more likely to give up instead of exerting increased effort.

5. Nurture Your Child’s Passions.

Passion is a major component of grit, so help your child find and pursue his passions. Be supportive: You may want your child to be a star academician, only to find that his true passion is cooking or fashion. If that’s the case, be accepting and encouraging. This will nurture both your child’s grit and his self-esteem.

6. Be A Family That Embraces Challenges.

Heard about the Hard Thing Rule? This rule specifies that each member of the family must do one “hard thing.” It must be something that requires practice, and that allows for feedback and opportunities to get better. Family members must “try again and again” and continue improving.

By using any or all of these strategies including the one discussed last week, you’ll help your child develop the powerful tool of grit! So, what are you waiting for?

Get set…Go!

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WOMAN Loose

ON THE

with HAUWA BOOTH

Email: diaryofastupidwoman@gmail.com, Website: www.diaryofastupidwoman.com, 08055241197

Happy Easter Ads Just Got Creative The mind is a powerful thing; very imaginative and expressive. I have found it interesting that corporate organisations take time out to felicitate with its customers, kinda like ‘this is us acknowledging how rich you’ve made us” This Easter was no different but this year, it seemed the banks gave their ad executives marching orders to pull at our heart strings- well, at least, mine was pulled and I ranked them.

At number 3, there’s a tie. The first ad was simple, straight to the heart of the message; the tomb is empty. I particularly

loved Fidelity’s because they related the ad to the meaning of their name...powerful connection.

At number 2 is the ad that used imagery to capture the essence of the message; flatlined (died) on Friday and heart beat on Sunday.

In the first place was this ad. Absolutely stunning in conveying what Easter is all about using a bank instrument.

This ad by Glo didn’t make the list but it is so in tune with the IT adage using our modern hieroglyphics.

(text only)

Drug Use On The Rise A friend sent me a clip of a young secondary school girl who had overdosed on Tramadol and had fallen outside her school and her nervous system had been affected. It was reporting on the rise of a drug problem in Gabon. The clip was shocking; seeing young people altering their lives forever despite most likely hearing other sad stories.

I was prescribed Tramadol after a surgery to help minimize the pain, I have never forgotten the effect and I will never take it again no matter the pain; the doctors will have to find an alternative. It was a horrible experience. So, I am baffled as to the brand of Tramadol these kids are taking that is even leading to abuse!

The rise of kids abusing drugs is further saddening with females being more in number. Drug abuse will open a floodgate of so many other vices; stealing, sex for drugs, violence and what have you. Just ten years ago, the only rehab centre we knew was in Kaduna This conversation needs to be more out there.

Physical warning signs of drug abuse or addiction • Bloodshot eyes, pupils larger or smaller than usual • Changes in appetite or sleep patterns • Sudden weight loss or weight gain • Deterioration of physical appearance, personal grooming habits • Unusual smells on breath, body, or clothing • Tremors, slurred speech, or impaired coordination Behavioural warning signs of drug abuse or addiction • Drop in attendance and performance at work or school • Unexplained financial problems; borrowing or stealing • Engaging in secretive or suspicious behaviors • Sudden change in friends, favorite

hangouts, and hobbies • Frequently getting into trouble (fights, accidents, illegal activities) Psychological warning signs of drug abuse or addiction • Unexplained change in personality or attitude • Sudden mood swings, irritability, or angry outbursts • Periods of unusual hyperactivity, agitation, or giddiness • Lack of motivation; appears lethargic or “spaced out” • Appears fearful, anxious, or paranoid Warning signs of commonly abused drugs Marijuana: Glassy, red eyes; loud talking, inappropriate laughter followed by sleepiness; loss of interest, motivation; weight gain or loss.

Stimulants (including amphetamines, cocaine, crystal meth): Dilated pupils; hyperactivity; euphoria; irritability; anxiety; excessive talking followed by depression or excessive sleeping at odd times; may go long periods of time without eating or sleeping; weight loss; dry mouth and nose.

Inhalants (glues, aerosols, vapors): Watery eyes; impaired vision, memory and thought; secretions from the nose or rashes around the nose and mouth; headaches and nausea; appearance of intoxication; drowsiness; poor muscle control; changes in appetite; anxiety; irritability; lots of cans/aerosols in the trash.

Hallucinogens (LSD, PCP): Dilated pupils; bizarre and irrational behavior including paranoia, aggression, hallucinations; mood swings; detachment from people; absorption with self or other objects, slurred speech; confusion.

Heroin: Contracted pupils; no response of pupils to light; needle marks; sleeping at unusual times; sweating; vomiting; coughing, sniffling; twitching; loss of appetite.

One Week, One General What a last two weeks it has been for PMB. Last week, we had one of his Ogas stir the hornest’s nest now another Oga who had worked to see PMB emerge as president, has said his piece..again; first by a letter and now at a public function. The Presidency has been kept busy defending itself. While there’s a split in opinions of whether or not Obasanjo has the moral right to give any form of advice, he still has the ‘currency’. After all, who will An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

be discussing me if I had said anything?

There is a new crop of influencers coming up but it will take time for their voices to be one of those that will catch the attention of the powers that be. However, this should not stop the general citizenry for using their voices in unison. Once again, the question will be, will our collective ‘currency’ be enough for us to be heard?

For now, we will learn to take the message without the messenger

April 6, 2018

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FEATURE 51

Empowering Youths With Hands-on Skills A silent technological and innovative revolution is quietly going on in Ogun State today. This path-charting development, which has the potential of repositioning the economy of the State as a pacesetter in the country, is coming courtesy of a partnership between Foreign Trade And Investments Services Africa (FTAISA), an international consulting group, and Ogun State Government under the watch of Governor Ibikunle Amosun. HENRY TYOHEMBA writes.

T

he initiative, which is known as Ogun StateFTAISA City & Guilds TECHBAC Skills and Entrepreneurship Development Program, is designed to equip the youths in Ogun State with useful technological and entrepreneurship skills with a view to ultimately make them employers of labour and wealth creators.

Under this arrangement, foremost training institutions in Germany and other parts of Europe and the world acclaimed City and Guilds of London, are working in close collaboration with FTAISA to empower the youths of Ogun State with practical skills which would help to take them off the streets and make them drivers of economic growth in the State.

The Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, is certainly a man with his eyes on the future who sees in the FTAISA program as a life-giving opportunity to prepare his people for leadership roles in various facets of the nation`s economy in the coming years. This is why he quickly grabbed the opportunity when it came his way to partner with FTAISA and their European collaborators to empower

the youths of Ogun State with creative and innovative skills that would help to bring good values to the State.

Data coming out of the country point to a growing deficiency in vocational and entrepreneurship skills; to the extent that the nation now relies on artisans from neighboring countries like Togo, Benin Republic and Ghana to fill the gaps. But through the FTAISA Skills Acquisition Program, Ogun State and indeed Nigeria, have the opportunity to strengthen their workforce and in turn, the economy. Stakeholders are of the view that if Ogun State Government can sustain this program, it would see a noticeable return on its investment.

The good news is that outstanding trainees in the on-going FTAISA Skills Development program would have the opportunity to serve as expatriate workers in different parts of Europe and other parts of the developed world where their services are highly needed. In a globalised economy, the ability and capacity to compete depends on building a skilled, competent and confident workforce. According to the Project Coordinator of FTAISA in Nigeria, Dr Cliff Ogbede, the intention of his organisation is to continue to work

with Ogun State Government and other governments and agencies around the globe to drive employment by helping people develop the skills they need to progress into a job, on the job, and onto the next job.

He further reiterated that the ongoing program in Ogun State would enable outstanding trainees undergo further skills internship training in their partner institutions abroad.

He noted that FTAISA has received several requests from some European Union Companies seeking to hire successful trainees from the Ogun program. The FTAISA initiative in Ogun State is a complete program of study which offers technical knowledge alongside practical skills and work attributes that employers feel are missing among new labour recruits.

The FTAISA program in Ogun State covers a variety of fields including Automotive Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Refrigeration/Airconditioning, Plumbing, Building Services, Land and Animal Husbandry, Hospitality/Tourism and Catering, Beauty and Health Care, and Digital Technology/ICT. The trainees, who are about 1500 in number, are drawn from the three senatorial zones of the State, covering

Abeokuta, Ijebu Ode and Yewa land.

This was after a selection process that was preceded by a very competitive examination which was carried out in several centres across the State on the 20th of January, 2018.

The FTAISA has rolled out a lot of incentives to encourage the trainees and ensure that they do not suffer any distraction. Such incentives include free enrolment process, free feeding at the training centres, medical insurance, free uniforms and workshop materials and free examination enrolment and evaluation. These measures have guaranteed maximum attendance and participation by the trainees.

The flag-off ceremony, which featured all the successful candidates, was done by Governor Amosun in Abeokuta on 22nd of January, 2018 with the German Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr Bernhardt Schlagheck, as the Special Guest of Honour. The Governor takes pride in the program which is one of its kind in this clime. He promised to give total support to the initiative which he believed would give the economy of the State a very strong boost.

The presence of the German Ambassador further demonstrated the importance which the European

partners attached to the program.

In his speech on the occasion, he commended the Ogun State Government for embracing the initiative and pledged the support of the German Government to ensure the success of the exercise. Following the pledge of the Ambassador, the German International Corporation (GIZ), is supporting the program to ensure full compliance with German skills Development model.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun deserves all the accolades for recognising that the future belongs to those who possess skills and are ready to deploy their creative energies to serve the cause of mankind.

The future does not lie in the possession of theoretical certificates that do not bear any relevance to the needs of the society. Those governors elsewhere in the Federation, who give out wheel barrows and tricycles as their youth empowerment programs should go to Ogun State for tutorials on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development.

The FTAISA-Ogun State Skills and Entrepreneurship Development Program, is a very innovative model in skills acquisition and job creation, which must be embraced by other states in the country.

OPINION

2019: Governor Bagudu In A Race Of His Own Making

BY HUSSAINI MUHAMMED

Today, without mincing words, Kebbi is traversing the face of history, creating a template of wealth creation and leaving a legacy that posterity will smile on kindly and be proud of in every epoch. In fact, prior to the emergence of Governor Bagudu in the keenly contested gubernatorial election of 2015, Kebbi State was at the very bottom of progress with every parameter for measuring development not favouring it even for a bit. The people; the greatest asset of Kebbi State were lost in the wilderness of poverty, lack of opportunities, education, security and even faith.

In his determination of salvaging the people of his state and ramping up his wit and stealth, Governor Atiku Bagudu banished the ghost of the choking debt and poverty holding Kebbi to ransom and set to work. A man of vision they say can see through the cover of darkness, such was the vision of Governor Bagudu when he quickly embraced the federal government’s self sufficiency in rice production initiative; kickstarting a revolution that has today become the darling of president Muhammadu Buhari’s stewardship of Nigeria. Needless

to say, the partnership entered into with Lagos State and other critical stakeholders has been responsible for the continuous crash of the prices of rice in Nigeria as we race towards 2019.

But, because it is the law that elections must be held periodically, I am sure not just the people of Kebbi but Nigerians would have preferred that the state be respectfully left under the capable hands of the man who is poised to end hunger in every Nigerian home but alas, to the polls we must go so, as we approach 2019, I have taken it upon myself to tell Nigerians that the unequalled performances of our amiable governor of Kebbi in all critical sectors of governance is almost a guarantee that they will continue to enjoy more rice as the people have been motivated and positioned to do more.

Let’s take education for instance.

And before Governor Bagudu came to power, schools in the state were in a total state of neglect, decaying infrastructure, lack of teachers and the absence of learning materials signposted every public school in Kebbi. And due his passion and commitment for that sector, the first state-wide tour that the governor undertook was to access the level of

rot in the educational sector. After the tour, an emotional Governor Bagudu declared that it is almost criminal what the children of the masses are made to go through in their quest for knowledge. He registered his commitment to revamp the sector in the shortest possible time. Today, even self-appointed critics of his administration agree that Governor Bagudu has done exceptionally well in the area of education.

From a total infrastructural remodelling, to the establishment of more schools to cater for the increasing number of students; to the clearance of the backlog of huge sums owed WAEC that made the body to withhold the result of students of the state thereby preventing them from furthering their education; to the prompt payment of the sums needed to offset the cost of WAEC for students of the state in the last three years or so of his administration and the continuous school fees support and bursary to students of Kebbi state origin studying in tertiary institutions all over Nigeria, Gov. Bagudu is leaving a mark that has never been witnessed in education.

No wonder then, that all the youth and student bodies in the state are singing his praises and why not? The

After us the deluge.

governor is investing in their future and that of the state and is working assiduously to bequeath to them a state they all can be proud of so, there is nothing to do than to support him.

More so, another area that has witnessed a tremendous boost since Governor Bagudu took over is security. Kebbi before now was always in the news owing to incessant clashes between farmers and herders thus creating an atmosphere of fear that kept farmers away from their farms. This contributed in no small measure to heightening the hunger and poverty that kept Kebbians on their knees. There is no need saying that investors avoided Kebbi state like a plaque as a result of the insecurity phenomenon. However, a combination of strategy and improved funding from the government of Governor Bagudu has since positioned Kebbi state as one of the safest place to do business in Nigeria. This can be seen in the number of investors now lining up to join the many that have already established their thriving businesses in Kebbi state. Aside the IGR that these investors are accruing to the state, direct jobs have been added and many Kebbians are beneficiaries with testimonies.

Indeed, the right-thinking people of Kebbi are speaking ahead of the

— Australian Proverb

polls that INEC, the umpire will soon declare open thus kickstarting friendly political hostilities in the next couple of months. They are talking about the man who has brought so much to their doorsteps in so short a period of time; they are aware of the hawks circling to truncate their steady progress under the leadership of Governor Bagudu and are poised to resist all entreaties to that effect.

At this juncture, I believe only Governor Bagudu can lose the 2019 election by himself because his people; the many youth whom he has given hope by offsetting their school fees; the farm owners who have been provided with the necessary cover to keep faith with their ancestral occupation and the many children whose education has been revamped etc. will still say no to the old order that the almighty has rescued them from. Never again will the people of Kebbi who have been exposed to true leadership by their hardworking governor settle for anything less.

The governor’s return to government house in 2019 has been paved by his stellar performances and only sworn enemies of the state will say otherwise.

– Muhammed wrote in from Argungu

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flashpoint

On FG’s Looters’ List And Counter List Last week, Nigerians were treated to another round of comic relief by the two leading political parties in Nigeria.

Two weeks ago, within a space of five days, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, accused the PDP- led government of withdrawing N150 billion in cash two weeks to the 2015 election. In a false sense of bravado, the PDP challenged Osinbajo to name the looters instead of brandishing figures. The federal government granted PDP’s wish and they started crying foul.

Saying the PDP never looted our treasury is like saying there are virgins in the maternity ward.

Some have accused the APC of playing politics. But of course, it’s all politics.We play politics with everything in Nigeria.

Even at moments of national grief when we should unite as a nation and put politics aside, politicians still try to score cheap political points.

The opposition party has also released their own counter list in their own version of the comedy.

At the same time, I also believe the list is not yet complete. I expect to see the name of a certain person who helped rig the election in Ekiti and has now defected to the APC. The APC should stop being safe haven for looters and election riggers.

I also blame President Muhammadu Buhari for all this. If the president had capitalised on the euphoria of his coming in and the judiciary had treated some of this corruption cases with dispatch, some of them would be in Kuje or Kirikiri by now. But they have noticed that the anti-graft war has lost steam and some of the alleged looters have now become emboldened and are even threatening to go to court. Even if no court has

Mohammed

pronounced them guilty, Nigerians have declared them guilty of perculating our common patrimony.

Even the former minister of Petroleum, Deizani Allison - Madueke, would be regretting for fleeing the country. I remember last year, she was begging to come back to Nigeria because she knows our judicial system. The way things are going, nobody will go to prison for looting our treasury.

We know how slow our Judicial process is and how compromised some of our lawyers and judges are. I must also commend the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoggen on his effort in trying

April 06, 2018

with Jonathan Nda-Isaiah jonesdryx@yahoo.com 08054518774 (SMS only)

Where Is Opposition In The Senate?

The opposition, PDP in the Senate, is supposed to be questioning all government policies, bills and actions.

I remember when the APC was formed in 2013, debates in the red chamber became very interesting. Then the APC had very sound and articulate lawmakers like Senators Olubunmi Adetumbi, Ahmed Lawan, Kabiru Marafa, Shola Adeyeye, Babafemi Ojudu, Omoworare Babajide who were giving the PDP- led Senate a run for their money. It was an interesting period in the Senate.

Incidentally in the 8th Senate, the three outspoken Senators who usually criticise government action and policies are APC Senators - Shehu Sani, Dino Melaye and Isah Misau. You would be forgiven to think sometimes that they are PDP Senators.

PDP Senators, led by Emmanuel Akpabio, Enyinaya Abaribe, Phillip Aduda and James Manager, are obviously sleeping on the job. But do you blame them, when you have APC Senators doing to rid the judiciary of bad eggs. their job for them, all they need to do is Back to our list, the federal government just watch and enjoy the show. should also beam the searchlight on the civil service. Most of the corruption in Nigeria happen in the civil service.

Apart from the armsgate, we should also take a look at the NNPC, NPA, FIRS and Customs. The government should not concentrate on arms’ money and opposition politicians alone.

Also, all those involved in the Malabu, Halliburton scam should be brought to book, no matter how highly placed they are. No matter what happens, the anti-graft corruption war must go on, even if some call it selective or skewed, we must start Akpabio

Why Is Mantu Not In Police Custody?

Mantu

Senate’s former deputy president, Ibrahim Mantu, last week, confessed to being a serial election rigger.

His words: “Yes, yes, I did. But I am now confessing the truth. What do I mean? I didn’t have to go and change election but you provide money. You give money to INEC boys to help; that is, they see any chance, they should try and favour you. You provide money for the security. All our elections in the past, I’ve been in the game for about 20 years.

“And I tell you, each time, it is not necessarily when I am contesting an election but when my party sponsors a candidate, I would like that candidate to win the election.

What we used to do before is that, we make provision for INEC, we make provision for security, we make provision for even agents of other parties so that they would not raise any objection to what we are able to get. Whether I rig myself or not, but when I provide those

resources to the officials, I am rigging election.

“I believe so because if people are born again like me and refuse to do it. We the players, unless we give before somebody will take. Don’t give so you will not get a taker,” he said.

Senator Mantu told us what we already now but what I find strange is that he is still walking about, a free man. A man just confessed to a crime on television and our security agencies are more interested in harassing journalists and collecting Roja on the streets than doing their jobs.

Hope Mantu is not planning to defect to APC so as to escape prosecution? If that happens, then we need to have a funeral service for the anti- corruption war.

The PDP has come out to deny Mantu.

According to them, “The PDP has never directed or had any pact with him to rig election on its behalf. Never!

All things come to those that wait.

The last time I checked, we don’t have independent candidates in Nigeria. Mantu rigged on behalf of his party, the PDP and he was also an arrow head of the third term agenda of Saint Olusegun Obasanjo.

We also know all elections held in Nigeria since independence, had been rigged and the worst of the bunch was the 2007 elections that even the major beneficiary of the election, the late Umaru Yar’adua confessed that the election was marred with widespread malpractices.

The card reader in the 2015 elections was a game changer. Although the election was not perfect as there are no perfect elections anywhere in the world, the card reader minimised rigging to an extent.

By now, Mantu should be in custody, giving us more names of people who assisted him in rigging the election and on the botched third term agenda.

April 06, 2018

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Tony’s Court egbulefutony@gmail.com | 08033250560

N

wankwo Kanu has declared to run for presidency in the 2019 general election. Probably because he was a footballer, he chose an unlikely medium-Goal.com, a football magazine to announce his entry. At 41, Kanu is not too young to run. Even without the “Not too young to run bill,” 41 inures him against the extant provision of Sections 131 (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which puts the minimum age requirement for a president at 40, of which the “Not too young to run bill,” seeks to lower to 30.

I am a football fan and clearly not that of politics. May be I would have been both if the Nigerian players in the latter have not made it filthy, mucky and cut-throat. To spell it out clearly, the Nigerian political field is treacherous, bloody and satanic. It is a place where dog eats dog. It does not attract me.

My interest in Kanu’s declaration and in the main, the politics he wants to charge into, is its resonance with the new and strident calls for a generational shift in the recruitment process of Nigerian political office holders, beginning with the upcoming election.

It has been a clamour from a vast spectrum of ordinary Nigerians but got amplified in the nation’s consciousness by Olusegun Obasanjo The politics of Electoral Act amendment is getting hotter and more interesting.

I must acknowledge and appreciate the work of Dr Ali Ahmad, Speaker of Kwara State’s House of Assembly on this subject matter.

It would have been a little more difficult for me to offer my perspective, due to inadequate knowledge of legal practice. But Dr Ahmad’s submission titled; “Court of Law or Court of Bills: When Courts are Without Standing,” assisted in no small measure.

Having interfaced with the erudite scholar and law teacher some years ago, then as chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, I can attest to his sound knowledge of the law and high level of diplomacy.

Undoubtedly, Ahmad ranks among the list of eminent Nigerians qualified to offer an informed perspective on this issue, having served in the three arms of government at different times.

He is an astute academic, holds PhD in law and rose to become Associate Professor and Dean of a Law Faculty. He was Attorney-General and commissioner for Justice, he was in the House of Representatives where he chaired the committee on Judiciary, and is now the Speaker of Kwara State’s House of Assembly.

Ahmad presumably practised in jurisdiction familiar with the presidential system, as he was called to the New York Bar in school, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and his Doctor of Juridicial Science (SJD) at the George Washington University Law School, Washington DC. This puts him on high pedestal to discuss the concept of Separation of Powers and the limit of the Judiciary under the presidential system of

and Ibrahim Babangida, both of whom are octogenarians and ruled the country for a cumulative of 19 years, and not forgetting Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, former president, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and co-founder, National Intervention Movement (NIM. Obasanjo made this call once last year and so far this year, has made it twice. The first was in his well-publicised January 23 letter to President Muhammadu Buhari and the second was on Monday, this week, when he received leaders of a political tendency of young Nigerians, the New Nigeria Group, led by Moses Siloko Siasia.

At the occasion, he urged youths in the country to rise to the challenge of bringing about the much-needed new generation of leaders if the country must progress on the path of socioeconomic and political development. The old generation of political leaders, whom he sees as power addicts, he said, can only be dislodged from the nation’s power grid by a resolution of the younger generation to grab leadership opportunities by the scruff of the neck.

Speaking to the same group this week, Babangida decried the fact that the old generation of politicians has just refused to let go of power or yield ground to young players with fresh ideas and zeal to steer the ship of the nation. As Babangida puts it, “History has shown that a nation’s development fulcrum progresses better

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2019: Another Look At Youths And Gerontocrats in the hands of younger generation, who is more adventurous and full of fresh ideas. “Some of us assumed leadership at a very young age. The older generation must give way for the new one.

We have become analogue but this is a digital age; so the young people should be supported to use their digital knowledge to move the country forward.”

In a letter to Obasanjo last July titled: “Nigeria Needs a Generational Shift in Political Leadership,” Agbakoba solicited Obasanjo’s support in galvanising the political elite towards producing young leaders such as Macron in France and Trudeau in Canada. “I am concerned about the quality of leadership in Nigeria; corruption is endemic; poverty is high, life expectancy is low. Nigeria ranks poorly on all international human development indicators.

Chinua Achebe, in his book, ‘The Trouble with Nigeria,’ pointed out that the situation is directly linked to failure of leadership,” Agbakoba said.

He believes that Nigeria is held back by the senility that has set in the extant leadership class. He recalled that Obasanjo and General Yakubu Gowon and some others, now of the old generation, got involved in the running of the affairs of the country at a young age.

My worries with this call, out-weigh the sympathy I have for it. Much as gerontocracy is not my idea of the path to governance in the 21st Century, I have a king-size misgiving about the preparedness of Nigerian youths for governance.

I state without apologies, that I am yet to chance upon that Nigerian youth who has weaned himself, either through education or association of the primitive mentalities that have ensured that the old brigade kept us where we are. Who

Election Sequence And Clamour For Separation Of Powers government.

According to him, both in the United Kingdom where we cut our democratic tooth, and in United States of America where we copy the presidential system of democratic governance, no court has ever issued an injunction against the parliament for concluding a legislative process.

While his submission can hardly be faulted on legal grounds, I am surprised that the politician refused to acknowledge the place of political scheming in his article.

When the National Assembly transmits a bill to the President for assent, the legislative process is completed and the bill is at the mercy of executive powers, or overriding veto of the National Assembly.

More so, the President raised a legal argument and its validity can only be determined by the judiciary.

While I agree that the court cannot base its judgement on a bill, or amendment to an Act

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which is yet to become a law. It would not have been premature to have approached the court for proper interpretation and the court would act according to its discretion.

Although, I do not, with my own understanding of the constitution, believe that ongoing amendment to the Electoral Act, as regards sequence of elections, contradicts the constitutionally guaranteed discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise, undertake and supervise elections as provided in Section 15(A) of the third statue to the Constitution.

Irrespective of my conviction, I choose to view the issue from the opposite. If there were valid legal issues to raise, a political party preparing to participate in the election would be correct to approach the court for clarification. And the court, in its wisdom, may decide to halt the process so as to avoid legal fireworks ahead of the forthcoming general election.

Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. — English proverb

is that Nigerian youth that cares less about first being a good Yorubaman, or Igboman, or HausaFulaniman or northerner, etc, before being a good Nigerian? How many of our youths, even among the educated, understand and apply the fact that religion is a personal relationship with God and gets guided accordingly in his dealings with those who worship in a different manner with him or her?

If there are altruistic Nigerian youths who are not driven by the intention of making a killing or to “hammer,” in government, I dare say they are a negligible minority. If the present day Nigerian youth population has not been found of nobler character than the old brigade, especially in terms of embracement of the factors of ethnicity, religion and corruption with which the old analogue class has held the country and the people down, why then should I make a case for their takeover of political leadership of our country? Would it not be replacing six with half dozen?

This is my hang up with both the “Not too young to run bill,” and the thinking that youths would be the ninth wonder of the world in government. It is equally on this ground that found Obasanjo’s July 28, 2017 reply to Agbakoba’s letter, frank and edifying. By way of comparison between the old brigade where he belongs and the youths of today, he said, “Some of us made great efforts with determination, commitment, broad national outlook, integrity and uncommon zeal to shoulder the responsibilities thrust on them.

“The point to ponder is how have the successor generations positioned themselves to lead? I look back at some members of the younger generation and I am miffed at the missed opportunities.

When the court granted an interim injunction to halt the recall process of Senator Dino Melaye, many felt the judge had compromised but the embattled Senator hailed the ruling. When the same court, ordered that the Independent National Electoral Commission, “shall proceed with the signature verification exercise,” the story became different.

The court is not and should not act as anyone’s instrument, not the president or anyone, no matter how powerful or influential. Therefore, if the intention of the amendment to the Electoral Act is indeed genuine, there won’t be a need for a fire brigade approach.

I am very certain that not even the Supreme Court will stop the constitutional process of overriding the President’s veto, once the requirement is met. The delay is political and of course very familiar.

I also feel the National Assembly has played into the hands of the Judiciary by selectively obeying court orders.

Dr Ahmad’s predecessor, Hon Razak Atunwa, recently displayed an order by Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court, which held that the House of Representatives could not continue with an investigative hearing on the Law School hijab controversy with Miss Firdaus.

In this case, the National Assembly honoured the court order and suspended the investigation.

But on several other matters, including suspension of ‘erring’ lawmakers, the National Assembly blatantly refused to obey court orders. This double standard isn’t right for our democracy, it’s capable of setting wrong precedence!

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NEWS

Zuma Set To Appear In Court Over Corruption Charges

South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma, 75, will appear at the Durban High Court today to face more than a dozen corruption charges that date back to a fraught $2.5bn arms deal in the mid 1990s.

At least 2,000 supporters of the former president are also expected to turn up to the proceedings and protest against the charges levelled at him.

Those defending Zuma argue that the courts are compromised and biased against him.

Zuma faces 16 charges of corruption, racketeering and fraud, including taking bribes from a French arms manufacturer in a set of accusations that have long dogged his political career.

The French manufacturer will also be charged with corruption.

Company representatives are expected to appear in court alongside Zuma.

He lied to workers. He pretended to care about the working class. Zuma and the ANC will go down in history as having sold out the working class Zuma’s expected court appearance has been welcomed by South African civil society and trade unions, including the powerful National Union of Metal Workers (NUMSA).

Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, acting spokesperson for NUMSA, told Al Jazeera that Zuma’s court appearance “was well overdue”.

“As Numsa, we welcome the fact that he will be in court. We called for corruption charges to be ventilated in court a long time ago. So we look forward,” Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said.

FG demands justice for Nigerian killed in London The Federal Government has demanded justice from the UK Government on the killing of a Nigerian, Mr Abraham Badru, by a gunman in London.

Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, made the demand in a statement by her Media aide, Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Dabiri-Erewa was quoted as making the call in a letter written to the British High Commissioner in Nigeria.

“I wish to sadly bring to your attention, the killing of a 26-year old Nigerian, Mr Abraham Badru, by a gunman on Ferncliff Road, Hackney, London, at about 11 p.m. on March 25.

“The deceased, a son of a current member of the House of Representatives (Lagos Island Constituency 1), Mr Dolapo Badru, has worked as a football coach at

the University of Gloucestershire, UK. “The deceased was also recently honoured with bravery award by the police after saving a sexattack victim and assisted in the convictions of the attackers.

According to her, it is pertinent to inform you that Badru’s death is a great loss to his family and he was the only child of his mother.

“His death has left his parents and other members of his family in deep shock, grief and agony.

“He was a successful and lawabiding person in the United Kingdom and also the Sports Development Officer for six months in the city of Bristol.

“In view of the foregoing, we appeal to the British Government to conduct thorough investigation into the gruesome killing of this young Nigerian and bring the perpetrator to justice accordingly,’’ Dabiri-Erewa stated.

Trump Orders US National Guard To Mexico Border

US President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum to deploy the National Guard to the USMexico border, citing a “drastic surge of illegal activity”.

Trump signed the proclamation on Wednesday, citing “illegal drugs, dangerous gang activity, and extensive illegal immigrations” as threats to the US. In addition to the duration, it is also still unclear when and where the troops will be deployed and the costs associated with it.

The move comes a day after the US president said he would rely on the military to guard the border “until we have a wall and proper security”.

In recent days, Trump has

published a series of tweets criticising Mexico for its immigration policies and calling on the Congress to pass strict immigration laws, as well as fund his border wall.

Last year, illegal border crossing arrests were at their lowest level since 1971.

The National Guard was sent to the US-Mexico border under the administrations of President George W. Bush and Barack Obama as well.

Between July 2010 and September 2011, 1,200 troops were deployed to the southwest border to support border patrol.

President Bush stationed 6,000 National Guard troops in California, Arizona, New Mexico

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April 6, 2018

Maada Bio Sworn-In As Sierra Leone’s President Sierra Leone’s newly elected leader, Julius Maada Bio, was sworn-in as president, late on Wednesday, just hours after the elections commission announced his victory in a tight run-off poll.

Maada Bio, the opposition candidate and former military junta leader, succeeded Ernest Bai Koroma who had been in office since September 2007.

According to the 1991 constitution of the country, immediately after the National Electoral Commission (NEC) announces the winner of the election, the president-elect should take the oath of office.

Maada Bio now faces the difficult task of rebuilding the impoverished West African nation’s economy that was dragged down by the world’s deadliest Ebola epidemic and a global slump in commodity prices.

Representing the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Maada Bio won 51.81 percent of votes cast in the March 31 poll, according to results announced by the National Electoral Commission (NEC), on Wednesday.

He defeated former foreign affairs minister and ruling All People’s Congress (APC) candidate Samura Kamara, who had held a slight lead based on partial results earlier in the day but in the end

by the diamond trade and notorious garnered 48.19 percent.

Dressed in traditional white robes, for its drug-addled child soldiers Maada Bio was sworn in just before and punitive amputations.

SLPP supporters packed into the midnight at a hotel in the capital Freetown, raising in the air the NEC headquarters on Wednesday, Bible upon which he swore the oath and following the announcement of of office to the cheers of supporters. the election results party officials “This is the dawn of a new era. urged the Maada Bio’s backers to The people of this great nation have remain calm.

“Celebrate responsibly. Do not voted to take a new direction,” he said in a speech following the short disturb your neighbour. Victory ceremony in which he made an for all men, not victory for some.

Everyone in, no one out,” the appeal for national unity.

“We have only one country, Sierra party’s campaign manager Ali Kabba said.

Leone, and we are all one people.”

Maada Bio, who briefly ruled Sierra Leone as head of a military junta in 1996, replaces outgoing President Ernest Bai Koroma, who could not seek re-election due to term limits.

The largely peaceful election process has come as a relief for the country of 7 million people, who in the 1990s endured a brutal civil war fuelled Maada taking oath of office

Vietnam Jails Prominent Human Rights Lawyer, 5 Other Activists

Vietnamese human rights lawyer and activist Nguyen Van Dai was jailed for 15 years on Thursday, his wife said, along with five other activists who were given prison terms of 7-12 years.

Dai, 48, was charged in a Hanoi court with activities “aimed at overthrowing the people’s administration” at a tightly-guarded trial in the communist country.

“Im very disappointed with the trial and strongly protest it,” Dai’s wife Vu Minh Khanh said. “He is innocent and he pleaded innocent at the trial. He will continue to fight and will appeal the verdict”.

Despite sweeping reforms to its economy and showing openness to social change, Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party retains tight media censorship and has zero tolerance for criticism.

U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink said last month that an intensifying crackdown on activists in Vietnam was “deeply troubling”.

Commenting on the trial, foreign ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang told reporters on Thursday that Vietnam’s efforts to promote human rights was “widely recognized” by the international community.

“In Vietnam there is no such thing as a ‘prisoner of conscience’, and there’s no such thing as people being arrested for ‘freely expressing opinion’,” Hang said.

In March 2013, Dai and others formed

the “Brotherhood for Democracy” which conducted anti-government activities to “build multi-party democracy” in Vietnam, according to a copy of the official indictment against Dai seen by Reuters.

UN Quietly Steps Up Inspection Of Aid Ships To Yemen The United Nations is beefing up its inspections of ships bringing humanitarian aid to Yemen to ensure that no military items are being smuggled and to speed delivery of desperatelyneeded relief supplies, U.N. and Saudi officials say.

The move comes as the armed Houthi movement controlling much of northern Yemen steps up attacks on the kingdom, hitting a Saudi oil tanker on Tuesday.

A Saudi-led coalition said overnight that Riyadh’s air defence had intercepted a missile which Houthis said was aimed at storage tanks belonging to Saudi Aramco oil company.

Saudi Arabia accuses arch-rival Iran of supplying missiles to the

Houthis, who have taken over the Yemeni capital Sanaa and other parts of the country. Tehran and the Houthis deny the allegation.

Under an arms embargo imposed by the U.N. Security Council, monitors from the U.N. Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM) are based in ports in Djibouti, Dubai, Jeddah and Salalah to observe screening of cargo destined for Yemen.

“We met with the UNVIM director and his team in Riyadh and we agreed on improved and enhanced capability,” Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed S. Al-Jabir told reporters in Geneva on Wednesday.

Facebook Data Leak Scandal Widens, Hits 87 million Facebook Inc said on Wednesday that the personal information of up to 87 million users may have been improperly shared with political consultancy Cambridge Analytica.

This number is up from a previous news media estimate of more than

50 million.

Most of the 87 million people whose data was shared with Cambridge Analytica, were in the United States, Facebook Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer wrote in a blog post.

Cambridge Analytica worked on U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign.

Facebook said it was taking steps to restrict the personal data available to third-party app developers.

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Liverpool Boss Anxious Over Salah Injury Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has assured Jurgen Klopp that he’s “all fine, all good” after picking up an injury during the Champions League clash with Manchester City, yet the manager admits he is concerned over the fitness of his leading scorer.

Salah limped off seven minutes after the interval at Anfield on Wednesday, after the Egyptian had scored the opening goal in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Pep Guardiola’s side in the first leg of the quarterfinal.

Klopp confirmed the 25-yearold, who has scored 38 goals for Liverpool in all competitions this season, will be assessed in the coming days ahead of their Premier League clash against local rivals Everton at Goodison Park.

“About Mo, I don’t know in the moment,” Klopp told reporters.

“He came to the sideline and said he feels sometimes, something.

That was enough for me to not even ask the doctor how he was, so we immediately took him off the pitch.

“After the game I asked him and he said, ‘I will be good, it will be fine’. But now we have to wait for the real diagnosis, not Mo’s self-diagnosis.”

Liverpool will defend their three-goal advantage against City in the return leg at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

SHAKY

Start For Team Nigeria At Gold Coast Games

BY SALIFU USMAN, ABUJA Nigerian athletes have begun their campaign in various sporting events at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia with Team Nigeria’s Monica Uweh finished in the fifth position with a total lift of 154kg in the 48kg weight category.

Uweh snatched 66kg at the second attempt and failed at 67kg. For the Clean and Jerk, she posted 90kg. India’s Chanu Mirabai won the event with a total lift of 196kg – a new Commonwealth Games record. She undertook six lifts from which she created six Commonwealth Games records.

In the men’s 62kg event, 18-year-old Favour Agboro also finished in the fifth position with a total lift of 268kg. He snatched 112kg and in the Clean and Jerk, lifted 156kg. Malaysia’s Muhamad Bidin won the gold with a total lift of 288kg.

Nigeria’s Adeola Soyoye also crashed out of the Gold Coast Games, after losing to Thadius Katua of Papua New Guinea in the men’s boxing event, yesterday.

Fighting in the round of 32 in the men’s lightweight category (60kg), Soyoye lost on points with the final decision of 3-1 going to Katua.

Katua dominated round one 10-9, 10-9, 10-9, 10-9, 10-9. Soyoye took round two with a score

card of 9-10, 9-10, 10-9, 8-10 and 9-10. And in the third and final round, Katua edged it 9-10, 10-9, 109, 10-9 and 10-9.

However, Team Nigeria’s table tennis team gave Nigerians a bit relief as they qualified for the second round in the men’s team event with a 3-0 rout of Belize. Olajide Omotayo, and Bode Abiodun won their singles matches against Belize opponents respectively while the pair of Azzez Jamiu and Omotayo combined for a victory in the men doubles.

Omotayo beat Rohit Pagarani 11-4, 11-2, 11-2; Abiodun beat Devesh Hukmani 11-5, 11-3, 11-2; and the pair of Jamiu and Omotayo wrapped up the 3-0 win by beating Terry Su and Hukmani 11-6, 114, 11-5.

Friendly: Falcons Primed For Good Outing Against France Nigeria’s senior women national team, Super Falcons, have settled down in the city Le Mans, west of France after arriving on Wednesday evening and look set for today’s friendly encounter with their French counterparts .

The game will be an interesting cracker, with Nigeria a mix of veterans and

upcoming stars, while France, who finished in fourth place at the FIFA World Cup finals in Germany seven years ago, also boast a number of new prospects.

Nigeria’s Falcons have won eight of the 10 editions of the Women Africa Cup of Nations staged to date, and have represented Africa at all editions of the FIFA

CBN Juniors Semis Promises Interesting Match-ups The CBN Junior Tennis Championship taking place at the National Stadium, Surulere, has reached the business with very promising semifinal matches lined up in four age groups.

The tournament which had a record entry of 215 players has, according to the International Tennis Academy (ITA) - organisers of the championship, thrown up a lot of new talent especially in the 10 to 14 age bracket.

“The level of skill these boys are displaying is really surprising and most of these very promising players are coming from all over the place in addition to traditional tennis cities.” Mr Godwin Kien-

ka director of the ITA said.

In the Boys 14, Daniel Adeleye from Ekiti beat Jimoh Taofik from Ibadan 9-1 to set up a semifinal tie against Joshua Maxwell from Port Harcourt who eliminated Sunday Ameh from Lagos 9-6. The other semifinal will feature Michael Akinmusere of Ibadan and Friday Victor of Port Harcourt.

Four of the most promising juniors in the girls’ 14 event made it to the semifinals.

Oiza Yakubu the No.1 seed beat Favour Ijaola from Abeokuta 9-1 while Mary Udofa from Kogi also defeated Blessing Otu from Lagos 9-1. Sere-

na Teluwo who moved up from the girls 12 beat Esther Marshall and would meet Chidinma Ezeh from Anambra in the second semifinals.

One of the most exciting quarterfinal matches came in the boys 12 where Ganiyu Mubarak played well beyond his years to beat Arwal Garba from Kano 9-2. Musa Usman made up for his team mate’s loss by beating Atanda Quyom from Lagos.

In the girls’ 16s semifinal, Omolade Aderemi from Ondo will take on Kasara Adegboyega of Ibadan in one semifinal while Toyin Asogba from Lagos will meet Favour Moses from Kaduna in the second semifinals.

Women’s World Cup since the first competition was held in China 27 years ago.

While Skipper Rita Chikwelu, Josephine Chukwunonye, Faith Ikidi, Ugo Njoku, Osinachi Ohale, Ngozi Okobi, Francis Ordega and Desire Oparanozie have been everywhere and seen it all, goalkeepers Onyinyechukwu Okeke and Chiamaka Nnadozie, as well as Glory Ogbonna and Anam Imo are starry –

eyed and looking to notch senior caps.

The match comes just days after the Super Eagles concluded the first phase of their 2018 FIFA World Cup actual build – up with useful encounters against Poland in Wroclaw and Serbia in London, and the U20 boys concluded a two –match tour of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Kick -off time at the Stade MMArena on Friday is 9pm.

AMUSEMENT PARK

WHEN YOU SEE A MARRIED COUPLE COMING DOWN THE STREET, THE ONE WHO IS TWO OR THREE STEPS AHEAD IS THE ONE THAT’S MAD. — Helen Rowland

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NIGERIA'S FIRST FRIDAY NEWSPAPER

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AZU ISHIEKWENE

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has no one but itself to blame for the back-and-forth with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the “lists of looters” it released last week.

After the bazaar of the Jonathan era, that there’s any argument at all about who was named or omitted in the lists of who-stole-what, is a sign of how badly President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has performed; it’s sign of deep, selfinflicted injury. And to imagine that the government of Buhari had to release the list drip-drip at gunpoint!

In July last year, Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari, ruled, in a suit by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), that Buhari’s government should tell Nigerians the circumstances under which looted funds had been recovered since it assumed office, from whom, and exactly how much had been recovered.

Nothing happened.

On another occasion, a court had also ruled that the

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government should publish the list of treasury looters since 1999 and disclose to the public, the amounts recovered.

If the government had immediately complied with the rulings of the court or agreed to the common sense advice to publish periodic records of the status of the account and the account names, it won’t be fighting back at a time of low public confidence. But it simply ignored advice and decided to hug the list on the excuse that full disclosure was not in the public interest.

Not a few suspected that public interest could also have meant the interest of members of the ruling party who might have been implicated by full disclosure – the PDP wolves in APC clothing.

Months after, Buhari’s government continued to sit on the court rulings, using what was left to wrap its numerous excuses for sleepwalking. After much pressure, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said Buhari had directed all relevant agencies to compile the names of suspected looters and to enforce the judgment of the courts.

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To Kill 29 Birds With 2 Stones

Buhari

As day was turning into night and still nothing was happening, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the government was delaying because it didn’t want to jeopardise recoveries by publishing the names. That was the government’s way of ignoring the orders of the court by hiding in plain sight.

Many months later and after the recent repeated accusations

by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that Jonathan shelled out N100 billion and $295 million from the treasury days before the 2015 election, the government came under fresh pressure to show proof.

For nearly two weeks now, the country has been riveted on claims and counter-claims of looters’ lists, the first two containing 29 names released by force by the government, followed by a response from the opposition that it said was aimed at unveiling the corrupt sacred cows in Buhari’s government.

How a government, whose single greatest promise was to fight corruption has been enmeshed in a fruitless argument over whether or not it is more corrupt than its predecessor, is one of the most embarrassing legacies of the Buhari administration.

Jonathan’s government did not claim, or even pretend, that it was

SPACE FOR SALE

fighting corruption. The former president was clear that there was a difference between stealing and corruption and that sticker was conspicuously displayed at the executive floors of the NNPC Towers, Abuja, where the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, shared the PIN numbers of the country’s treasury with members of the ruling party.

Those who couldn’t get oil blocks or sweetheart swap deals, helped themselves by plugging into the country’s oil pipelines and diverting thousands of barrels of crude oil, estimated by The Financial Times at the time to be worth $1 billion monthly.

Yet, if in spite of the horrific corruption of that era, Transparency International is saying that perception of corruption has barely changed three years after Buhari took office, then the government needs to do more than wave a half-done looters’ list in self-defence.

In 2015, Buhari said he had ordered “a complete audit” of NNPC among other revenue generating agencies, “for better service delivery to the nation.”

Except if rodents have eaten the audit report, I’m not aware that the words have left the page since the President made them three years ago.

If anything, the NNPC, under

Buhari has not only become more opaque, claiming immunity from the FOI law. It is under executive instruction to retain an unknown and unknowable percentage of its revenue in an account known only to a few, including the Chief of Staff.

That is not fighting corruption; and even a list twice as long as Lai’s Roll Call does not justify running the NNPC in a manner less transparent than it was run under Jonathan. And yet the names of those doing the damage will never appear on any long or short list – at least not under Buhari.

Why has it taken Buhari’s government forever to publish a list of 29 alleged looters, a number of whom the government has reportedly made recoveries from but none of whom has, so far, been convicted?

The government may argue that it has put its best foot forward but has been sabotaged almost at every stage by the judiciary and suspects fighting back with their dirty money. That may be true; but a few of the deep, potentially fatal injuries have been selfinflicted.

Where the Ministry of Justice under Abubakar Malami has not bungled a number of cases outright, the Minister has been locked in a needless turf war with the EFCC, leaving suspects to exploit the loopholes and sometimes putting prosecutors and even the government’s own external counsel in difficult positions.

It’s also a sad commentary on the APC government’s promise to the fight corruption that over two years after the Acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, was called to the job he still does not have a letter of appointment. He is, in fact, despised and often double-crossed by influential persons in government who have their own personal agenda.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related

How a government, whose single greatest promise was to fight corruption has been enmeshed in a fruitless argument over whether or not it is more corrupt than its predecessor, is one of the most embarrassing legacies of the Buhari administration Offences Commission (ICPC) has not fared any better. Even though one of Nigeria’s best and brightest, Bolaji Owasanoye, has been appointed to retool the agency, he is unable to assume office – eight months after his appointment – because the Senate, where the ruling party has a majority, has refused to confirm his appointment.

If after nearly three years of fighting corruption, all that Buhari has to show for it are two provisional scrap lists of corrupt suspects – all from one side of the aisle – his government has to take a long, hard look at the mirror, and reality.

GHANA MUST GO There is no plastic fish in Nigeria — NAFDAC

Haba, even plastic toy fish?

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