Wednesday 30th March 2016

Kachikwu Apologises, Assures Nigerians Fuel Shortages to Ease off Next Week Says he won’t resign

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday apologised to Nigerians for his comment on

the nationwide fuel shortages, adding that enough measures had been put in place to end them by next week.

Specifically, he said even though a two-week target had

assurance before the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) in the National Assembly, also tendered an unreserved apology to Nigerians over the comment he made last

been set to end the scarcity of fuel, he was working assiduously to ensure that between April 5th and 7th, the lingering queues would have largely disappeared.

Kachikwu who gave the

week stating that “he was not a magician”. He explained that he erroneously made the statement because he was not a politician.

He also apologised to any personality who felt offended by

the comment, saying he made the statement in jest while speaking with journalists.

“I do apologise for the comment Continued on page 6

Rivers Rerun: PDP Wins One State Assembly, Three House Seats as INEC Releases Fresh Results... Page 9 Wednesday 30 March, 2016 Vol 21. No 7643. Price: N150

www.thisdaylive.com TR

TODAY'S WEATHER

ABUJA 16°C-33°C

MAIDUGURI 15°C-35°C

UT H

& RE A S O

ENUGU 22°C-34°C

N

LAGOS 23C-31°C

KANO 11°C-33°C

PORT HARCOURT 20°C-30°C

Non-transmission of Budget Details to Buhari Delays Review and Assent US to press Nigeria on exchange rate flexibility Tobi Soniyi in Abuja and Zacheaus Somorin with agency report Fresh facts have emerged as to why President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to sign the 2016 budget into law even though highlights of the Appropriation Bill have been transmitted to his office by the National Assembly.

A source at the presidency, who confirmed to THISDAY that the

president had indeed received the budget, said however that Buhari could not assent to it because what was sent to him contained only the highlights and not the full budget.

The source, who said he was not authorised to speak on the matter, noted that even though the president was very anxious to sign it into law, he could not do so because the highlights do not contain the amendments made

to the budget by the lawmakers.

THISDAY had exclusively reported on Monday that the president was awaiting the submission of the budget by the legislature, following which the document would be sent to all the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government for review to ascertain any significant amendments carried out by the legislature.

The objective of the review is to

verify if any of the amendments by the legislature are inconsistent with the spending plan of the executive, thus rendering it unimplementable.

Throwing more light on the issue yesterday, the presidency source said: “As a result, the president has been handicapped in signing the bill because he does not know what is contained in the details and what adjustments the National Assembly must have

made to the proposal sent to them.

“Although he is anxious to sign the document so that it’s implementation can start immediately, he is afraid he may later discover, when the details are sent, that what is contained therein is not implementable.

“He wishes the National Assembly could send in the details speedily so that it could be considered for assent.”

Another source, who said he

monitored the way the National Assembly had handled the budget, disclosed that either the National Assembly did not complete work on the budget or the lawmakers were playing politics with the document which affects the economy of both the country and its citizens.

“The National Assembly may just have passed the bill to pass Continued on page 6

Military Captures Boko Haram’s Spiritual Home, Alargano Abducted army colonel found dead Senator Iroegbu in Abuba and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri After a ten-day siege on Alargano forest, troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces on Monday successfully captured what has long been considered the spiritual headquarters of Boko Haram in the Northeast.

Addressing a press conference in Maiduguri, Borno State yesterday, the head of the counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor said the troops offensive

to capture Alargano since March 18 was successfully concluded on Monday.

He said the offensive commenced on March 18 at about 0900 hour with troops of the 3 and 7 Divisions, assisted by air bombardment by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

Irabor, however, revealed that the advance was halted several times due to planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along the routes leading to Alargano, adding that during the operation troops Continued on page 6

Ekiti Govt Cries out over Police Invasion of State to Arrest 11 Lawmakers, Others… Page 9

L-R: National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bola Tinubu; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; and President Muhammadu Buhari, when the president was received by Tinubu for the 8th Bola Tinubu Colloquium to mark his 64th birthday, in Abuja… yesterday godwin omoigui

2

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30 2016 T H I S D AY

INTRODUCING

Simple Banking

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016

3

4

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016

5

6

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016 • T H I S D AY

PAGE SIX

Human Rights Watch Slams FG over Silence on 300 Abducted Damasak Children Zacheaus Somorin

Global watchdog, Human Rights Watch, has slammed the federal government over its unacceptable silence on the abduction of 300 children from Damasak, Borno State.

In a press statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, the organisation urged the government to “take urgent steps to secure the release of about 400 women and children, including at least 300 elementary school students, abducted by Boko Haram from the town of Damasak in Borno State a year ago”.

“Damasak is the largest documented school abduction by Boko Haram militants. Yet, it has drawn far less public attention than the group’s widely condemned abduction of 276 schoolgirls from a government secondary school in Chibok in April 2014. While 57 of those girls managed to escape,

219 remain captive almost two years later,” the statement added.

The group said that the children have been missing for a year, and yet there has been no word from the Nigerian government, according to Mausi Segun, a researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“The authorities need to wake up and find out where the Damasak children and other captives are and take urgent steps to free them,” he added.

On November 24, 2014, Boko Haram attacked Damasak, a trading town about 200 kilometers northwest of Maiduguri, near the border with Niger, blocking all four roads leading into the town and trapping residents and traders.

The insurgents quickly occupied Zanna Mobarti Primary School, shutting the gates and locking more than 300 students, ages 7 to 17, inside, according to a teacher at the school and other witnesses that Human Rights

Watch interviewed.

The Boko Haram militants then used the school as a military base, bringing scores of other women and children abducted across the town there as captives.

In February 2016, a woman who was at home in Damasak that morning told Human Rights Watch what happened: “It was early morning when I heard gunshots and chaos. My husband had already left home for the market so I grabbed my two children, a boy aged four and a girl aged two, and ran.

“But we ran into Boko Haram and they detained us in the middle of the town. They brought more and more women and children to where we were kept. Then they took all of us to Zanna Mobarti Primary School…I have not seen my children since then.”

The men who were captured

by Boko Haram were kept at different locations, including an

the river said: “Those that were able to swim escaped and those that couldn’t held on to the grass, and they were shot.”

The group accused the Nigerian soldiers of turning back a number of those who tried to flee to Maiduguri and other locations, pointing out that the soldiers apparently were suspicious that Boko Haram insurgents might be hidden among those fleeing.

A farmer who attempted to reach Maiduguri in a vehicle said soldiers at a military checkpoint forced him and others back: “The soldiers turned people back to Damasak. They would not allow you to leave and if you tried, (the soldiers) would smash your car and burst your tires. So you had to look for another way out around the town or (try to cross) the river, if you could swim. It was terrible.”

Between March 13 and 15, 2015, soldiers from neighbouring Chad and Niger advanced on Damasak

as part of a cross-border military operation against the insurgents.

As the troops approached, Boko Haram members fled from Damasak, taking with them the 300 children and an estimated 100 more women and children they had been holding captive there.

Six witnesses, now in Maiduguri and whose children or other relatives were among those abducted, told Human Rights Watch that none had been returned.

Some parents have received information from Nigerian refugees in Chad that their children were seen with Boko Haram in Mari and Dogon Chikum, near the Nigerian border with Chad, though Human Rights Watch could not independently confirm this information.

“There is no one you can go and cry to since the military has not gone to attack those places,” said one man who had lost relatives.

to what the value of the naira is to the dollar,” she added.

She spoke before talks in Washington to be launched

by Secretary of State John Kerry and which will focus on Nigeria’s economy, security and development.

Buhari is slated to depart for Washington D.C. today for the fourth Nuclear Security Summit.

He will be expected to hold bilateral talks with U.S. officials on the sidelines of the summit.

Nigeria faces its worst economic crisis in decades as the falling price of oil has slashed revenues, prompting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to peg the currency and introduce curbs to protect foreign exchange reserves, which

have fallen to an 11-year low.

Some members of central bank Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) have said the naira should be devalued.

Thomas-Greenfield said the parallel currency market in Nigeria was “alive and well”, warning that a rigid exchange rate, capital controls and import bans could undermine Buhari’s efforts to expand economic growth and fight corruption. Buhari has rejected the idea of devaluing the naira.

“Capital controls that limit access to foreign exchange rewards insiders and undermines the stated goals of Nigeria to increase domestic production because, both Nigerian and expat investors alike,

tell us many businesses are unable to obtain the capital to purchase badly needed intermediate goods,” she said.

The naira trades some 40 per cent below the official rate on the black market versus the dollar. The central bank last year pegged the exchange rate to curb speculative demand for the dollar and conserve foreign exchange reserves after it restricted access to hard currency for imports of certain items, frustrating businesses.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on Nigeria to lift the curbs and let the naira reflect market forces more closely, as the restrictions have significantly affected the private sector.

the ongoing war on terror.

He said the military remained steadfast in ending the war on a successful note and the recent video of Shekau stating that he had surrendered would not stop the military from stepping on the throttle to see the war through.

But at the military celebrated the capture of Alargano forest, the Nigerian Army announced that Colonel Samaila Inusa who was kidnapped on Saturday night

was found dead at about 6 pm yesterday.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman who confirmed this in a statement, said preliminary investigations revealed that it was most likely the senior officer was killed on same day he was kidnapped by his assailants.

“This is because the body was found already decomposing around Ajyaita village, off the eastern bypass Kaduna in Kaduna State,”

Usman said.

He said arrangements were made to move the body to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.

He also promised that his murderers will be fished out to face the full wrath of the law.

“We wish to state in unmistakable terms that whoever was behind his abduction and murder would be fished out to face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

estimated 80 men in the house of the district head, a witness said.

In the days and weeks following the attack, some of the men were forced to dispose of bodies left on the streets and in the market area.

Scores of bodies were dumped into a nearby river and makeshift graves, among other locations.

A witness forced to participate in the operation said he saw hundreds of bodies.

One teacher who had escaped from the primary school but was recaptured soon after told Human Rights Watch, “I was held captive by (Boko Haram) for at least six days… Corpses were on the street. They forced us to carry (the corpses) and go and dispose of them in the river and there is nothing one could do about it.”

The insurgents shot several people who tried to escape by jumping into the river. One man who escaped by swimming across

NON-TRANSMISSION OF BUDGET DETAILS TO BUHARI DELAYS REVIEW AND ASSENT the buck to the executive and escape the wrath of the public which was gradually suspecting it of sabotage.

“As it is, the Budget Office cannot also work on the budget for implementation because it is the details and not the highlights that they convert into implementable templates for the respective MDAs,” the second source said.

THISDAY also learnt that ministers are also eager that the budget be signed into law so they can start implementing their programmes, but have agreed with the president that the budget can only be signed into law when the details have been transmitted to the president.

They are particularly worried

that the year is gradually advancing and the provision of the law in respect to spending from the previous year’s budget is not helping matters because of the low capital provision in 2015 budget.

The presidency was of the view that because of the low provision made last year for capital expenditure, spending 50 per cent of that provision in the first half of this year would have no meaningful impact on infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, the United States said yesterday that it would press Nigeria in talks this week to adopt a more flexible foreign exchange rate to boost growth and investments in Africa’s largest

economy.

According to Reuters, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told an audience at the U.S. Institute of Peace that Nigeria should ensure that the value of the naira currency versus the U.S. dollar was “more realistic”.

“While most people complain about the possibility of there being a devaluation, people are already operating on a devalued currency, and the only people who are not, are people who are doing it officially,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

“Our recommendation is, and we will have discussions about it... that they should look at the exchange rate and try to make the exchange rate more realistic

MILITARY CAPTURES BOKO HARAM’S SPIRITUAL HOME, ALARGANO had to clear Yajiwa, Joba, Mosa, Ariwuzumari, Missene Sansan and Kagalmari villages, all on the fringes of the forest.

He said: “Our gallant troops finally entered Alagarno on March 28, 2016, during which several Boko Haram terrorists were killed along the route.

“This operation demystified the Boko Haram terrorists’ spiritual power base in Alagarno.

“Throughout the operation, the

NAF monitored the operation, consistently resupplied the advancing troops and assisted in evacuating soldiers who were wounded in action.”

Irabor, while claiming that the military recorded tremendous successes against the insurgents, further disclosed that in the last one month, Nigerian troops also captured Kumshe. He said this was achieved in conjunction with Camerounian forces.

He said during the operation, 24 armed insurgents were killed.

The weapons recovered from them included one truck mounted with an anti-aircraft gun, two AK47 rifles as well as 60 mm mortars.

He said the capture of Kala-Balge on March 23 by troops of the 22 Brigade in conjunction with the Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) battalion and Army Headquarters Strike Group (AHQ SG), was another major advancement in

KACHIKWU APOLOGISES, ASSURES NIGERIANS FUEL SHORTAGES TO EASE OFF NEXT WEEK that I made jocularly with my friends in the press about not being a magician and it offended Nigerians; it was not meant to be, it was a side jocular issue.

“I did go on to explain what needed to be done. I did not know that it would create the kind of hyperbole that it did.

“Let me first admit that I am not a typically experienced politician, I am a technocrat. I come to work and some of the phraseologies that I may use, while being acceptable in the arena in which I play obviously will not be acceptable in the public political arena.

“So if anybody’s sensibilities were offended by those jokes, I totally apologise,” Kachikwu said.

He blamed the current scarcity on the non-availability of foreign exchange by oil marketers to

sustain the importation of petrol, a situation he said now placed the entire business of fuel importation on the shoulders of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

He also said that whilst the current government inherited a subsidy bill of N600 billion, about N500 billion had been paid while the balance had been brought forward in the 2016 budget.

According to him, the government had saved N1 trillion since January 2016 because it has not paid subsidy on petrol, adding that the issue of pipeline vandalism had further complicated the problem.

However, he said for the first time, the NNPC had recovered the Escravos pipeline to the Warri refinery, a development he said would aid the movement of crude

oil to the refineries.

He added that most of the 18 depots operated by NNPC are not in use, pointing out that moving fuel from Lagos to different parts of the country takes about a week and only compounds the free and quick distribution of fuel.

According to him, the inability of independent marketers to access forex had overstretched NNPC, explaining further that poor infrastructure also aggravates the situation.

Kachikwu added that in instances where 3,000 trucks are moved across the country to distribute fuel in this advanced age was not civilised.

The minister who further said that NNPC was losing an average of N40 billion a month before the advent of this government, but losses had been reduced to

N3 billion a month.

He also said NNPC had a debt profile of N3 trillion, of which National Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) owed N1 trillion.

He further disclosed that a major factor responsible for the scarcity was the continuous diversion of products by marketers from the petrol stations where they are destined to be delivered.

He blamed the incidence of fuel diversion on the nonavailability of a tracking system to monitor the movement of every truck from the depots to their final destinations, adding that through vigilant surveillance, the number of litres of petrol said to be consumed everyday had been brought down to 45 million litres from 55 million litres.

Disclosing that fuel supply between oil marketers and NNPC should be in the ratio 60:40, Kachikwu added that his leadership was working hard to provide a strategic reserve of 2,000,000 tonnes of petrol with the intention of finally putting paid to periodic fuel scarcity.

The minister also stated that the latest arrangement between NNPC and marketers would be in the ratio of 47:53.

He said in due course, 150 per cent of national consumption would be deposited into storage tanks, adding that meaningful solutions would be secured when refineries are working at optimal capacity.

He said the search for the full operation of the refineries had Continued on page 8

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN DSR 0.28 5.98 PZ 1.11 23.90 UBA 0.18 3.96 TOTAL 6.49 146.50 ETERNA 0.08 1.84 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN NGC 0.45 4.22 DIAMONDBANK 0.12 1.18 SKYEBANK 0.07 0.92 ASHAKACEM 1.20 22.80 CCNN 0.43 8.17 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦680.00 Volume: 282.7 million shares Value: N1.338 billion Deals: 3,225 As at yesterday 29/03/16 See details on Page 46

% 4.9 4.8 4.7 4.6 4.5 % 9.6 9.2 7.0 5.0 4.9

7

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016

RC 103022

8

T H S D AY • WEDNESDAY MARCH 30 2016

Three killed, Several Injured in Agip Pipeline Explosion Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa A pipeline explosion which took place in Olugboboro, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has left three persons dead and many others injured.

The three persons, who died immediately at the scene of a huge fire outbreak, were reportedly working for an oil service firm which was fixing a damaged pipeline operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

However, THISDAY gathered that basic safety measures might not have been observed during the operation, which involved clamping of the leaking crude oil pipeline.

The incident involving mainly welders happened barely nine months after a similar incident led to the roasting of 14 persons, following a blast at Agip’s oil field in Tebidaba-Clough creek line, Azuzuama, also in Southern Ijaw.

Baye sa Governor Ser ake D ckson A he me regu a ory o fic a s o he Baye sa M n s ry o Env ronmen Na ona O Sp De ec on and Response Agency NOSDRA and a 12 member ma n enance crew were among he v c ms n he a es nc den wo o he deceased

persons were sa d o have ha ed rom Brass Loca Governmen Area o he s a e wh e he h rd was he on y ch d o h s paren s When con ac ed he Po ce Pub c Re a ons O ficer n he s a e Mr As n m Bu swa sa d he was no ab e o ge he de a s o he nc den bu NOSDRA confirmed o newsmen ha here had been an exp os on a he scene as he we ders ba ed o fix a rup ured channe The D rec or Genera NOSDRA Dr Pe er dabor sa d an emp oyee o he agency escaped dea h by a wh sker us a er no c ng ha sa e y s andards had been comprom sed “ rece ved a repor o he nc den rom our s a n he Yenagoa o fice and uck y one o our o ficers on he eam surv ved “Because o he sa e y cond ons o he p ace a er nspec on my o ficer e he p ace and he was no a ec ed am go ng o repor he ma er o fic a y o he M n s er o Env ronmen oday ” he sa d

Apple to Tighten iPhone Security after FBI Breach

STARTERS

Two-Minute Briefing NEWS Ekiti Govt Cries out over Police Invasion of State to Arrest 11 Lawmakers, Others Armed policemen from Abuja have invaded Ekiti State to begin indiscriminate arrest of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders, top government officials and 11 members of the state House of Assembly for alleged stockpiling of arms during the June 21, 2014 governorship election. Page 9

WEDNESDAY

• T H I S D AY

Email davidso

Olakiitan Victor

in Ado Ekiti

Democratic Party top governmen (PDP) leaders, governors hip election. members of t officials and 11 The policemen the state House Assembly for of one Mohamm were led by alleged stockpiling ed Abubakar of arms during Chief Superinten ,a the June 21, dent

Armed policemen from Abuja have invaded Ekiti State to begin indiscriminate arrest of Peoples

indiscriminate begin last nightarrest was to policemen arrivedand that the

News Editor

n.iriekpen@thi

9

Davidson Iriekpe

sdaylive.com,

0811181308

n

1

arrest is owing to T. K. O. Aluko

2014 (CSP) malicious outburst of Police the “And fron the state capital Ado Ekiti, those listed that arresting why is the police not Rivers Rerun for with Mr. Investigation Force Criminal T.K.O. : PDP Department (CID), arms during arrest stockpiled Awe whothe APC Chairman, Jide Aluko the governorsh All Progressi and the state election Assembly,Three Wins One State Abuja. ip murder is wanted for alleged conducted in ves Congress and TKO Aluko, The Special (APC) Chairman Ekiti, close House Seats who was declared , Jide Awe. to two years ago.

Public CommuniAssistant on wanted by the “We INEC Releas as “This plot is in court for perjury, New Media, Lere cations and arrival are aware of the es Fresh Result the APC’s plot furtherance of security and instead providing made this known Olayinka, who Abuja of policemen from cover for s the governme to destabilise to Ekiti State “We therefore them? issued last night, in a statement the intention nt of Ekiti State with APC adds one wish to alert said the new Nigerians on of arresting just because of Governor plot was an more state assemb this new plot 11 members Fayose’s hard aftermath of and state that Ekiti of the House seat failure the ly

Ernest Chinwo in Port Hacourt Anabraba of the Congress (APC) All Progressives won the The Independ ent National Toru State ConstituenAkuku Electoral Commissi cy on (INEC) while Hon. Tonye Alalibo 2, has announced the PDP was of more results disqualified the rerun elections in the commissio by in Rivers n.

State.

In Port Harcourt In a statement 2 State Constituency, Hon. Adoki the state Residentreleased by Tonye Smart of the Electoral Commission PDP was (REC), Aniedi returned as winner.

Okoiwak, A statement signed yesterday, commission the said the

by Aniedi Hon. investigatincommission was still Kenneth Chikeresaid g elections in Degema Democratic Partyof the Peoples State Constituen (PDP) won cy while some in the Port Harcourt Federal state, federal and Constituency senatorial constituenc Blessing Nsiegbe 1 while Hon. because ies were inconclusive of violence. also of the PDP won in Port With the results Harcourt Federal of the rerun Constituency elections so 2. far released Hon. Kingsley INEC, the by PDP also won Chinda of the total of PDP has now won a nine in Obio/Akp Federal Constituen or seats, while state constituency the APC has For the state cy. two.

For the election, Hon. constituencies election, federal constituency Benibo Fredrick the PDP has now won four seats.

stance on of the Departmen Assembly, two people will resist of President any attempt t of State per PDP Services (DSS) to use the police local governme leaders Buhari’s APCMuhammadu to harass plot of coercingto achieve the some nt and policies. governm ent innocent citizens other top officials the House of the state. of Assembly members the governmen of “The question t.

“Democratically, Governor Ayodele to impeach is, what “Ridiculously, we are entitled to our the offence was the arms they claimed The governme Fayose. views were stockpiled used nt said the for which the policemen for? Was anyone issue in Nigeria and on any are to embark on this we won’t succumb indiscriminate killed or attacked during election? the harassmento intimidation and t from any agency of the federal government.”

Buhari Leave s for US, to Push for Nigeria’s Right to Nuclear Energ y

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja economic developm President At a meeting ent.

Buhari will Muhammadu him with in leave Abuja Washington for month, Abuja earlier this DC President Barack today to join Director- Buhari told the about 60 other Obama and InternatioGeneral of the world leaders nal Atomic Energy Former NigerianVice-Presid and heads Agency, ent and Founder of displacedpersons of organisations international that the Mr. Yukiya Amano, insurgencyinthe (IDP)campinYola,Adamawa American University of Nigeria at the fourth federal governme Nuclear Security State,duringthe (AUN),Yola, Alhaji NortheastbyAUN… would welcome nt FEEDandREAD Atiku Abubakar, Monday Summit which will open communityprogramme greater serving food to children tomorrow. support from the agency forchildrenofIDPs at an internally A statement Nigeria’s aspiration for affectedbytheBoko issued in Abuja by the Special to begin Haram Adviser to the generation of electricity GodwinOmoigui the President with nuclear energy.

Publicity, Mr. on Media and While Femi in Washington Adesina, said Buhari for the DC at plenary would speak Summit, Nuclear Security sessions of An estimated the president summit which the his delegation 10,000 local and hunters is dedicated military authoritie which includes from the North-eas to reinforcin Governor g Mohammed region gathered recently t us join the fight s to allow fight for everyone, commitment international Abubaka against Adamawa State in irrespective proliferation to the non- Governorr of Bauchi State, for their annual Haram at the Sambisa Boko of gender. at the time. oath-takin forest,” of he told Premium nuclear Ahmed g festival, Abdulfat weapons.

“This is a clarion “We are ready of Kwara State, ah Salala in the local known as news portal. Times an online all call. We to pursue Adesina must make Minister of the sacrifices,” she terrorists because we know the The hunters, parlance.

Foreign Affairs, Tola said said. would tell said Buhari Mr. Geoffrey dressed in terrain the the their very hunters the warfare attires, well,” needed the summit Onyeama; the that while Babangida Muhamm with their government Mai-Durma said he added.

Dane guns Nigeria would National Security assist them with to Sarkin ad, the should the military continue to Gida, who represente (NSA), Maj.-Gen Adviser shoulders dangling over their align them transportation ammunition, the , vowed to . Babagana commitment, sustain that Monguno d members with paramount and logistics. rid the society of criminals of the world ruler (rtd) and He said the powers must Director-G the government Adamawa, Muhamm of group, popularly vigilante They appealed . could adu the Civilian known as right of other respect the Nuclear eneral of Nigeria’s to the hunters also enlist young Mustapha, in the Regulatory Agency, government to JTF, for effective festival, result. said there the peaceful countries to Prof their members make use of to join who were willing was need government energy for use of nuclear Dim, Lawrence Anikwe for the army, police, in the fight “We will overrun against to engage will also development the purposes.

Sambisa hold social terrorism and other other security agencies. and services of the bilateral meetings hunters and in partnership with members vices.

“We remain The president with of the civilian other participat one big family other vigilantes in The leader devoid of religious the fight would ing heads against social reaffirm Nigeria’s of the the opportun JTF if given or tribal vices. stance that government and high-ranki of in the state Muhammhunters sentiments, ity,” he said. international Hunters in that is United ng who claimed The ad Tola, can efforts see over 10,000why you on January Borno State had GovernmAdamawa State greater security to ensure officials.States Government the hunters had from 3 called on so far played had Taraba, Gombe, hunters military to the Novembe ent materials shouldof nuclear significant in President allow Bauchi, the r Buhari will in the fight against roles Borno, Yoba and a balance betweenmaintain depart war against them join that it was 2014 announced Boko Haram officially enlisting nuclear Abuja Washington DC for Haram, said hunters Boko States converge Adamawa insurgent non-proliferation s in the dreaded the services of d for were familiar with next Sunday. and the indisputa obligations the terrain epoch-making event,” this Sambisa Forest. and vigilantes, local hunters THISDAY Deputy in dreaded Tola ble right of said. forests, like Nigeria and “We are appealing Editor, Sambisa JTF, to liberate called Civilian Nation’s Capital, the other countries Female hunters communities forest. to the captured Tobi Soniyi military authoritie to harness nuclear energy will be at the summit “We are ready

by Boko Haram also s to participated and technolog in the Salala us join the fight against allow insurgents. y for socio- Washington DC to cover in the terrorists becauseto pursue festival.

Boko Haram at the proceedings. we know the the terrain Shortly afterward Sambisa forest,” The leader very well.

Mai-Gana s, the local hunters Mai-Durm “We are appealing hunters, Aisha of the female Borno were Emir of the a, the to have recapture reported Bakari Gombi, to the said hunters, and securing the d Maiha society was a made the appeal in Maidugur Mubi Local Government while addressin i Areas, killing g journalist at least 75 Boko s Haram militants in the process.

EDITORIAL Access To sheikh el-ZAkZAk

Early last week, there was a mild drama at the resumed sitting of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up to probe the clash between the Islamic Move- ment in Nigeria (IMN), also known as the Shiite sect, and the Nigerian Army last year in Zaria, Kaduna State. Page 15

KEEPING HOPE ALIVE

10,000 Hun ters Converge on North-ea Confront Boko st, Want to Haram in Sam bisa

ED TOR AL

O

E

D

I

POLITICS A Governor’s Nightmare

16

MIDWEEKPOL ITICS A Governor’s Nightmare T H I S D AY

• WEDNESDAY,

MARCH 30,

2016 Group Politic s Editor Olawa le Olaleye Email wale.o laleye@thisda ylive.com 0811675981 9 SMS ONLY

With the dwindling monthly allocation accruing to the states from the federation account, declaring that Nigeria’s federating units are struggling to meet their obligations to the citizenry of their various states, would be stating the obvious. Page 16

FEATURES The Crippled Cobbler

MARCH 30, 2016

NEWS

Ekiti Govt Cr ies of State to Ar out over Police Invasio n rest 11 Lawm akers, Others

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriak state, no thank e s to the econo Dickson is having a hard time my. Emmanue l Addeh write meeting his obligations to the people of s

W

ith the dwindling monthly allocation accruing to the states from the federation account, declaring that Nigeria’s federating meet their obligation units are struggling to s to the citizenry various states, Many of the would be stating the of their obvious. state who took over governors, especially rosy and the the saddle when things those, were relatively high,international price of oil was are in shock with which given the their have plummete monthly financial speed accruals d.

In fact, it is Lagos State, widely believed that aside not survive many states in Nigeria from in allocation a long-drawn steady would s and derivation decline enjoyed by funds, solely states in the from a height Niger Delta. revenues to of over N18 billion in Falling monthly a ‘paltry’ N2.9 a wage bill billion and of about N4 month, the billion to pay with Bayelsa State every red, thus giving coffers are sleepless nights. Governor Seriake in the Dickson Ironically, the oil-rich state maintained had consistent a fourth position ly states with in the the highest earnings, only list of behind Akwa-Ibo But the financial m, Rivers, and Deltacoming States. situation of to have been the state is further compound said state has just ed because the governorship come out of a keenly contested that money election in which many played a major agree most elections in Nigeria. role, just like in More so, promises were made last campaign and the political during the have to be fulfilled, vows would given how which would much the clock 20 in sincerely yearns October this state Indeed, Dickson,for genuine developmyear, ent. who has just for a second been returned term as governor recently expressed of the state, declining revenues deep concern over the accruing to had vowed the state to curb current take far-reaching measuresand leakages. to Interestingly, the state’s economy relatively buoyant was still when the complaining between Augustgovernor started last year about and Septembe the declining economic r of the state. fortunes N5.2billion Then, the state had received for Septembe N6.2 billion in August of r 2015 as against many uncomple the same year.

With ted projects state, which still littering prides itself lands’, a lot as the ‘glory the more of all pressure mounted on is likely to the current fulfil its pre-electio administration be n vows in the to of weeks. next couple The governor sify the state’s has also promised to international economy due to the diverfalling to the path oil price and return of the state and politicallyglory. But beyond the rhetoric say, is a deeper induced statements, pundits state from the need to genuinely rescue jaws of under-dev the create jobs elopment and for the teeming of the state.

The governor youth population in his recent has public pronouncsaid that much “Faced with ements. the wisdom the reality of dwindling in revenue, economic baseour strategy of diversifyin g our on agricultur beyond oil and gas to focus more than e and tourism is now ever before. justified and put to use our fish We shall complete farms, cassava processing plants, and other agricultura starch tives as well to create jobsas hotels and tourism l initiafacilities for our teeming complement youths and revenue from governor recently oil sources,” the He also explainedvowed. that the establishm the Izon-Ibe Microfinance ent of in all the local Bank with presence government would compleme areas nt his entreprene of the state urship drive

the

governorship viewed with election in the state have some suspicion been that the measure . There was particular are fears at weeding out those workers ly targeted support him who reduce the during the election and did not N4 by firing them.billion monthly wage thereby burden While constituti ng the five-man to investigat some career e the level of involvem panel public civil politics, the servants in ent of partisan governor said the civil service he was “saving of the state by politician from destructio s.” n Speaking through the Secretary to Government, the Dickson noted Chief Serena Dokubo-SState that it had of the governme come to the piff, were involved nt that such public notice servants last Decembe in partisan politics governorship r, 2015 and the Januaryin the as coordinat poll, “where they were 2016 ors of political used agents at various parties and party levels.”

According to aware of plans him, the state governme use some publicby a particular political nt was during election servants as witnesses party to to testify petition tribunal, “The action adding that, of such public whom were card-carrying servants, most of political parties, members of various was a clear of the extant contravention 030422 (a-d) Public Service Rules, PSR No. of The governme the 2008 edition.” nt, he said, provisions would invoke in 030401 and the Public Service Rules, the 030402 and PSR any public deal servant indicted decisively with A THISDA by the panel.

FEATURES

The C pp ed Cobb e

Rufus Oladapo was not born a cripple. Born and raised in Ogbomosho, he was a normal kid until tragedy struck one fateful night, at a time he was in primary three. Page 20 R

BUSINESS Shareholders of Five Banks to Share

T H I S D AY

N149bn in Dividends Shareholders of five banks will receive a sum of N149 billion in dividends for the 2015 financial despite the poor state of capital market in 2015.The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index...

Page 23

CITYSTRINGS Water Shoots through the Roof App e nc sa d yes erday ha wou d ncrease secur y on s Phones o ow ng he breach by he Federa Bureau o nves ga on FB a er numerous weeks o back and or h engagemen s A cour order by FB had n a y compe ed App e o crea e a backdoor or access ng he fi es on he phone o Syed R zwan Farook he San Bernard no shoo er who k ed 14 peop e n he US n December 2015 App e re used o “obey” he cour order say ng wou d crea e a dangerous precedence and breach many Phones across he g obe n a s a emen by E een Decker he op edera prosecu or n Ca orn a he M n s ry

o us ce sa d nves ga ors had rece ved he he p o “a h rd par y” n un ock ng he soph s ca ed phone “ rema ns a pr or y or he governmen o ensure ha aw en orcemen can ob a n cruc a d g a n orma on o pro ec na ona secur y and pub c sa e y e her w h coopera on rom re evan par es or hrough he cour sys em when coopera on a s ” he s a emen read The us ce Depar men sa d had “now success u y accessed he da a s ored on Farook s Phone and here ore no onger requ red he ass s ance rom App e “Accord ng y he governmen hereby reques s ha he order compe ng App e nc o ass s agen s n search da ed February

16 2016 be vaca ed ” sa d On he o her hand App e sa d he FB shou d no have made he demand n he firs p ace “From he beg nn ng we ob ec ed o he FB s demand ha App e bu d a backdoor n o he Phone because we be eved was wrong and wou d se a dangerous preceden “As a resu o he governmen s d sm ssa ne her o hese occurred Th s case shou d never have been brough ” App e sa d wou d “con nue o ncrease he secur y o our produc s as he hrea s and a acks on our da a become more requen and more soph s ca ed” App e s sa d o have pa en ed one o he bes secur y sys ems n he wor d

KACHIKWU APOLOGISES ASSURES NIGERIANS FUEL SHORTAGES TO EASE OFF NEXT WEEK ed o severa adver semen s or nd v dua s and pr va e sec or firms o ake over he opera ons o he refiner es and consequen y expand he r capac y Fur hermore Kach kwu sa d he was work ng on a p an o make Chevron ake over he Warr refinery and ano her p an or She o ake over he Kaduna refinery He aga n apo og sed o N ger ans or he d ficu es hey have been go ng hrough as a resu o he shor ages exp a n ng ha was no he n en on o NNPC o so e y ake over he mpor a on o pe ro bu was

orced on by emerg ng deve opmen s However he sa d NNPC was curren y work ng on an arrangemen ha wou d a d he ava ab y o orex or marke ers o mpor ue He amen ed ha N ger a was one o he very ew coun r es where c zens choose o w u y des roy p pe nes mean o serve hem a deve opmen ha had made d ficu or NNPC o prov de ue or he c zenry Kach kwu a so used he p a orm o e hose who had ca ed or h s res gna on o per sh he hough because he has a ob o do

Po n ed y re err ng o c v soc e y groups wh ch had s ar ed ca ng or h s res gna on he sa d “A hose p ann ng o come o Abu a or a pro es shou d save he r ue am no go ng o res gn have a o o work o do ” Accord ng o he m n s er he d d no accep o be M n s er o Pe ro eum n order o crea e scarc y He a so prom sed o embrace he adv ce g ven by he Sena e comm ee o emp oy he serv ces o he c v de ence corps o accompany pe ro ankers o n ended pe ro s a ons n order o s em he d vers on o produc s

30 MARCH

2016

R A T E S

OVERDRAFT PRIME NORMAL LENDING

LOAN PRIME LOAN

17.9773% 20.3040%

A S 18.0478% 20.7143%

ORLD

A T

M A R C H

DEPOSIT/LENDIN G SAVINGS ACCOUNT STRICT CALL 7 DAYS

2.3119% 2.8642% 3.2102%

60 DAYS 90 DAYS 180 DAYS

23 Group Busines s Email: chika.am Editor ChikaAmanze-Nw achuku anzenwachukwu @thisdaylive.com 08033294157

2 5 ,

6.4400% 7.2438% 7.2417%

2 0 1 6

EXCHANGE RATE N155.70 US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes

Customers

OUR SCORECAR D

L-R: Ag. Managing Director/Chief Mazi Sam Ohuabunw Executive Officer, a; and Chairman, Dr. Ambrosie Neimeth, International Pharmaceu Orjiako, during ticals Plc, the company’s Annual GeneralDr. Ebere Igboko Ekpunobi; Director, Meeting in Lagos...rec ently YOMI AKINYELE

Shareholder s of Five Ban ks to Share Dividends N149bn in

Goddy Egene

CAPITA L

The rating of Commend Sterling Sterling Bank the world, number Plc as one of Bank

by Lafferty Group, three in Africa and the the top 100 banks in commendation an international rating Best Bank in Nigeria Agency has attracted a recognitio from customers of the Bank n of growth of the excellent service delivery who described it as Nigerian economy. and support The rating is for the based such as strategy, on key quantitative culture, customer and qualitative criteria financial performan care, brand ce. promise and A cross section would further of the bank’s customers become a majorreinforce their confidencenoted that the rating in the Bank as player globally oriented products it has in terms of provision of customer that the activities and quality service delivery. of the bank in environment the education, They also noted sectors influenced sports, agriculture A customer who is a major player the high rating of the bank. , spoke on the basis of anonymity in the automobile industry among the top but global financial noted that the rating of did not come the bank institutions and to the best in Nigeria has brought many as a surprise based to owned by their bear on the sustainable on the value the bank growth of businesse customers. s

Winners Emerge

The Deputy Controller in Skye Reward Scheme General Service, Mr. Malgwi Henry (DCG) of the Nigeria Immigratio millionaires Yasika, was n that one Millionaire’ rewardemerged from the recent the of the lucky ‘Reach for Skye scheme OF Skye Yasika, who maintains an account withBank Plc held in Sokoto. in Minna, Niger the of N1 million State, joined two others Ebitu Ukiwe Branch in addition to who other customers won the star prize and N100,000 respectively. who won N250,000 At the North-wes total of N5 milliont’s regional draw which took loyal customers was won by customers place in Sokoto, a as the bank rewards Speaking about across the nation. suspicious whenhis win, the Immigration DCG said he was the news was excited afterwards initially first broken to , noting that his life. the money has him but became greatly changed “It has greatly changed my money,” a statement life because N1 million is from the bank not small adding that Skye quoted scheme for its Bank runs a genuine and him to have said, customers transparent reward

Shareholders MARKE T is N1.80 per will receive of five banks year. a sum of N149 followed with share. GTBank “It is billion in dividends N52 billion Although five or encouraginheartwarming and banks have N1.77 per share. UBA financial despite for the 2015 sent g to note that profit warning Plc is of giving some of capital marketthe poor state market, the banks are to the kobo out N21.7 billion or making profit other 60 in 2015. The per Nigerian Stock have announcefive banks that Access share. Shareholders of and rewarding sharehold Bank Plc with dividends. d their results ers All-Share Index, Exchange (NSE) have recommended We all see the a total dividend are to receive rising the aggregate which measures valued dividends cost of of N16 billion performance at N149 billion or 55 kobo nesses in the running busithe stock market per of for country. Besides, declined by shareholders. The banks their Sterling Bank Plc share, while the challengin over 17 per is giving out Zenith are: g environm cent has made many ent to the economic in 2015 due United Bank Plc, GTBank Plc, N2.6 billion.

Firms Focuses Bank for Africa Speaking on headwinds. to suffer losses companies Given the challenging on Custom Plc, Ac- a the dividends cess Bank Plc DHL Express’ and thereby sharehold , and operating focus on customer er Satisfaction exposing Sterling Bank environment er and member the banks to Plc. The awards won and higher in the 10th Annual service pays off: Total risks. Despite environment, stiff regulatory growth five banks recorded of Independent Sharehold Customer Service these challenges, of 22 Stevie Awards ers Associatio in profit, hence that investors it was expected recommen across Sub for Sales and n of Nigeria- banks that are able As consumers the (ISAN), dation of dividends and businesses Saharan Africa their operations to manage Mr. Moses sector of the in the banking for shareholde light of slowed Igbrude are urged to , record profit market may said the banks economic growth, and declare tighten their earn much not Plc recommen rs. Zenith Bank needed is set to become dividends should belts in for 2015 financial customer ded the highest commended considerin to be be commend dividend of N56.5 local businesses an increasingly importantservice experience ed. , and one of the billion, which challenging environm g the believe the banks I therefore differentiator decisions regarding ent in main for which they should be operated. which supplier factors that will influence services from. to purchase Continued products and This is according on page 24 to the Vice DHL Express President of Customer Services Sub-Saharan said research Africa (SSA), for had for better customershown consumers are Fatima Sullivan, who willing to spend service and with believe provide more those companies Eromosele Abiodun “In an environmenexcellent customer service. that they t where alternative is rapidly becoming 36 s are rife, customer The decision experience business’ success. one of the most important of system liquidity, ECONO MY Policy Committeethe Monetary While price will elements of attract foreign mind of the consumer, inflows and a always (MPC) of the Central Bank invariably support in MPR translates first class customer this becomes less be important in the of Nigeria (CBN) as stable energy the slide in to a rise in nominal MPC to tighten prices. service to support so if a business offers the value of It The is savings for this reason that the rate interest policy portrays monetary by a Committee decided nation’s currency. to 3.6 per DHL invested the product or service.” centric culture, majority to cent from “In our view, so heavily conflicting WEDNES signals as to reverse its in a customerthe outcome 3.3 per cent. This, “The customer Sullivan said.

DAY, MARCH the true direc- accommodative of the MPC tion of monetary 30, 2016 • monetary has the follow- remains unattracti however, it is improveme needs to be the key focus T H I S D AY ing impacts policy in the stance and commence in all nts in delivery current inflation ve given Nigerian economy. on the another tightening of A good customer times or query activities, whether Analysts monetary policy economy. First, Nigerian per cent which rate of 11.4 resolution processes. service departmen at Eczellon Acting between the we expect Capital Limited in the country. implies real an increase t should Features way observed that money market returns of 7.8 per the Committe Specifically, rates company’s bottomcustomers are managed understand Editor the link cent on : Charles Ajunw on e increased and handled, Savings account. decision could the MPC’s benchmar line.”

Email charle its squeeze the back of the and the Finally, the k rate from a only s.ajunw in banking the perceived further worsen cent 11.0 per a@thisdaylive system likelysuccour the economy to is certainty in economic un- Cash 12.0 per cent and hiked liquidity. This should translate to witness in .com the country.

Reserve Ratio to a higher the short term would cost of funds (CRR) for The MPC banks to be stability in financial institutions concluded for value the second meeting its 20.0 per 22.5 per cent from further pressure and could the of the naira especially at cent. last week against for the year parallel market net interest However, margin. as the reduced backdrop in naira Increased of recent domestic the their liquidity comment post cost of Savings economic MPC meet- implies a possible rise fund cushion demandwould likely developments in the cost of credit for the dol– rising infla- ing, analysts at veritableserve as a tion and slowing Eczellon in the economy lar,” they said.

Capital Limited, economic for capitalinstrument They growth - and noted that for borrowers. This does particularly not decision added that the external eco- the decision of the committee nomic headwind to finance mobilisation augur hen the fall to was hinged the in naira s such Industrial sectorwell for CRR would hike MPR and on the ushered tepid global ate need to: investmentaggreg increase go a long way of the to growth as as combat rising ininflationa in theNigerian prices of economy require well pressures moderate goods and services, economic growth d for ry already liquidity in , reduce the leastin recession.which is economy in expected banking to also be affected anticipation the “Also, of the was sachet water. This a 100 basis point hike MD/CEO, Fidelity because it was is a common Continued article, as Bank, Nnamdi Okonkw on page 24 it was beforeregarded as cheap and affordable now

‘Monetary Policy Tigh tening Cou Nigeria’s Econ ld Worsen omic Uncertai nty’

CITYSTRING S

When the fall in naira ushered in increase in the prices of goods and services, the least expected to also be affected was sachet water.This is because it was regarded as a common article, as it was before now very cheap and affordable to both the poor and the rich in the country. Page 36

Water Shoo ts through the Roof

Peter Uzo recent spikeho who visited dealers in the price water pack of the prodof uct has affec aged in sachets in Lago ted their sales s, reports that the

W

o

very to both the rich in the poor and the country.

As found has generatedby THISDAY, the rise in its price a lot of tension – both the among the retailers and users in many parts the of the country.final consumers, At the moment, while the retailers of the drop in complain complain of patronage, buyers on They have inability to afford the their own unavoidably new price. the unwholes taken solace in ome water “When my from wells. drinking suppliers pure water came to as the price has they used to, they supply me told me that increased N100, out of annoyanc from N60 per bag to with their water”, e I asked said Mrs. Pauline them to go provision and “I thought theysachet water seller at Adeyemi, a Igando,Lag wanted to os.

I went out later in the cheat me. It was when what they day that I said.” confirmed Adeyemi who said that them and started selling she later bought from noted that people stopped one sachet for N10 the increment buying it and started . “I later bought it at because of A typical that selling N10 sachet water buying. When each, but they amount production factory stopped was because I asked them why, they said it will use it to cheat of the increment she no longer others here have .”She added in Nigeria. that said been asking them why unlike before sells up to three bags dollar has the increase, We that she was in a day six bags in they What concerns gone up, naira has selling as much one day. gone down. pure as or the Found loading rise of dollar,”water with the fall of bags of sachet naira fridge even Ikem asked.

But to some water inside when other a trying moment not sure of sales.

It is actually business so those whosellers, sachet water for her business for is a produce it the training as she relies on the challenges as their contempor face the the fine location of her children. of business. aries in other same According Even Igando, Lagos, of her business, lines a garage at product have moral to them, producers of no longer as her sales justification the the price. “Are makes a difference have for increasing they has cut down also dipped. According not not facing the same thing in Nigeria? Are they ly, she used to have, on the number of supply she here are facing”, asked other manufactu avoid waste due to the high price, rers who sells sachet Mr. Chibuzo as well. and to Ahamba, “Tell President “They should water and drinks at Egbeda. not be Mrs. Titi Ogunbisi,Buhari that we are dying”, knows that almost blamed because everybody who sells Igando Motor everything now has sachet I cannot sell Park, told THISDAY water at should added money, so pure in this country not water producers again. Pure because people are .”See now, in businessbe seen as being too not buying water is costly greedy. They’re to “I used to other things gain and not to lose. now. as others They buy before; they fill this shop with pure water own financial responsibi buy. They have water and used to supply me lities. So I think their I 250 bags of right for increasing they’re have people would sell it within their own too have to one week. add our own product, and we me, and theythat normally come I added to gain as Ahamba. to buy will go and well”, it N70 for resell. I was from “The only one buying thing is that one bag and bag, and I would our sale has sell dropped Explaining then N5 for one sachet.” N100 for further, Ogunbisi she said. that the price said that, of the item now only buys has gone high, just 50 bags she per bag and and N10 per sachet. would sell N150 problem. How “To sell my children”, can I manage to feed now is a and train “Pure water asked Mrs Ogunbisi. who hawks is costly now”, said Abiola to buy five sachet water at Iyanu-Iba Idowu, bags for N350 .”I used one sachet and sold at and N20 for it’s N500 for three sachets, N10 for five bags, so but now for N20. Now, I can’t A woman selling it’s N10 each”, sell three again added that sachet water Idowu said. his daily sale He to the rise has reduced and many in price. owing people are Idowu is before. I think not patronisin they have g us like depend on among the less-privil water from the sachet water eged who the water wellsgone back to drinking daily sustenancsachet water business became common he further in their compound “I used to for e. Now that added. and affordable received its buy s”, from the businesstheir Another sachet . time to time like five bags of pure has where then own hit of the economic water consumer, for my family’s water Oyeniyi, told it used lies trouble, Some of the their hope? sachet water THISDAY that the Mrs. Helen N300 to be five bags for N350 use. That time sachet water but when it producers or sometime to see why of bags, increased to sellers price because said that they had to s the I stopped buying N500 for the increase the increased like price of the article seem not the product the chemical they use five anymore, because should be others. They is the raw materials argue that the increase imported, so it is also to produce drinking I’m not a big man”, he I can’t afford it none in dollar. They needed for said. ”Now affected by water from of is imported. not made we’re its the well in said the We have here the chief rawAccording to them, production And that the in Nigeria, that it chemical is this pure been used to drinkingmy compound. water material for is imported. increase in it even before water became an import the product that is like other dollar has commodit it’s not going a common things.” is not affected it y, neither used to package thing, so A man who is the boil it or not”,to do us anything; it.”I don’t increasing wants to remain whether we know why nylon who used the But how far he added. they’re to anonymou water seller. price”, said Simon 42 Ikem, can the s, the like for his family’sbuy some bags of “Every little a carry them, fate of this family use told THISDAYsachet water opportunity sachet stopped and as equally THISDAY due people showed that, ’s findings now draw to the increase. He saidthat he has for many these wells water have been it even without from the well and his family covered decades. Most of them dug to prevent boiling. According they drink were used to possible entranceare not well objects, germs to him, drinking water of creeping into them. from the well they where they The environm WEDNESDAY are located, before thus ent MARCH are rarely constitutin 30, 2016 • T kept neat, g health hazards H I S D AY to the users.

INTERNATIONAL Trump’s Campaign Manager, Lewandowski, Charged with Battery DonaldTrump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was arrested and charged with battery in Florida yesterday, the latest chapter in a raucousWhite House race marked by threats, insults and physical confrontations. Page 42

SPORTS AFCON 2017: It’s All over for Eagles

• WEDNESDAY,

BUSINESSW

It is actua lly moment for a trying relies on the her as she for the traini business ng of her children. Even the fine locati on of her business, a garage at Igando, no longer Lagos, makes a difference as her sales has also dropp ed

INTERNATIONA

Trump’s Cam L Lewandowskpaign Manager, i, Charged wi th Battery email:foreign

desk@thisda

ylive.com

Donald Trump’s campaign senator manager, Corey from Texas, and Lewandow was arrested Ohio and charged ski, Governor John Kasich Kasich’s senior with and in battery in Florida in polls adviser, John dowski the latest chapter yesterday, to the the number of delegates Weaver, said on Twitter nominatin that “Look after he was charged. “campaigns reflect in a raucous White House at tapes Lewandow the despite a concertedg convention, of the candidate andcharacter Trump said on- nothing there!” with simple ski was charged effort by the threats, insultsrace marked by Republican in prison or Twitter, calling if this Lewandow battery, a fine confrontations. and physical him out establishment to stop person was on our campaign ski “a very decent der Florida law as defined unA court date was of $1,000. he would have of fear intentionally touching Police in Jupiter, set for been fired long man.” Trump spokeswo party to defeathe will lead the ago.” man against or striking a person 4, according to the police May Katrina Pierson in November Florida, charged Lewandow report.

Cruz Trump defended that Lewandow told CNN offense, their will. For a first Jupiter police said Lewandow ski, 42, ment picked up an endorse-. with intentionall turned Lewan- “absolutel it is a ski ski would on Tuesday y grabbing and bruising the from the first degree,misdemeanor in he was himself in to police, and y” stay on the arm of Michelle consin Governor Scott Wisissued a notice which carries job. maximum Fields, then a Walker requiring sentence of one a him to appear reporter for the ahead of the state’s primary in court and conservative news year then week. Walker, next released. outlet who Breitbart, of when she tried the presidentia dropped out l race last year, at a campaign to question Trump said he event backed Cruz because “Mr. Lewandow on March 8. was a principled he ski is constitutional absolutely innocent of this charge,” conservative.

Trump’s campaign “To me, I’m said in a all in,” Walker statement. “He will enter a said in a radio interview plea of not guilty and looks WTMJ radio in Milwaukee on forward to his , adding he is completely day in court. He in an was not endorsing Cruz attempt to stop confident that will be exonerated he “I just fundamen Trump. tally believe Police released .” if you look at the facts, if you incident showing a video of the look at alongside Trump Fields walking Cruz is the numbers, that Ted in the best position question him. and trying to far to both by win the nomination is seen grabbingLewandowski of the Republican her arm and pulling her backward. then go on and Party and to Previous Clinton defeat Hillary videos of the incident obscured by people had been Walker in the fall this year,” said, At the time, in the crowd. Democrat referring to the ic front-runn called Fields Lewandowski er.

Walker “delusional” said he never and other more joins a number of mainstream Campaign ralliestouched her. licans who have backedRepubfor Trump, the billionaire Cruz as the best who leads the businessman who has alternative to Trump, the Republicanrace to become delegate racked up a strong lead candidate but alienated the Nov. 8 presidentia in many have been marked l election, harsh party leaders with his views on by rowdiness and occasional Muslims and immigration, Bernie women.

Sanders and protesters andclashes between Cruz told actor Danny supporters or DeVito gesture security personnel. campaigning reporters while during a rally in Wisconsin His pugnacious at Affton High that the School in St. which includes campaign style, “abusive”charges reflected the Louis, Missouri… recently directed at rivalspersonal insults campaign.culture of the Trump and scathing “When you criticism of protesters, have a campaign that is built criticized for encouraginghas been personal insults, attacks on physical now altercations at and An EgyptAir physical violence, his plane flying from The real estate rallies. that has no place remaining rivals mogul leads has no in our campaign, it exandria to Cairo was hijacked Al- that it be delivered to his Cypriot place in our democracy, forced to land and ex-wife.

Ted Cruz, a U.S. “The explosives Cruz said. ” The passengersin Cyprus yesterday. Larnaca,After the aircraft landed on

DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN

Suspect Arr este EgyptAir Hija d, Passengers Freed in ck

him were at examined.

Egyptian state They weren’t explosives, the suspect waswere freed while everyone negotiations began and television showed but mobile phone on board was arrested. a middle-age freed The passengers covers.” d man on a and crew were three passengers and four except Prime Minister Sherif Egyptian wearing plane unharmed. Eighty-one glasses crew, Egypt’s Ismail said white belt with and displaying a people, Sherif Civil Aviation Minister the hijacker would be questioned including 21 bulging foreigners and Fethy said. to ascertain his crew, were on 15 motives.“At some and protruding wires. pockets Soon afterwards, The Syrian army’s moments he board the Airbus Television channels Cypriot 320, Egypt’s Civil asked to meet its strong supportsuccesses and with Aviation Ministry sion footage showed several televi- a representative “We did said in a statement. of the European video footage of the showed people leaving the plane will help acceleratefrom Russia tion before not change our posihijacker, identified as via the stairs and Union and at other points Conflicting theories Russia’s support a political Seif Eldin Mustafa, another he asked settlement to to go to another after it,” or about the emerged cockpit man climbing out of the airport but there 59, being searched by the was nothing motives of the war, President country’s civil the talks he added. Progress at window and security men at a metal hijacker, an Egyptian. specific,” has been slow, The hijacker then running off. said, as the two Bashar al-Assad governmen A senior Cypriot with the Egypt’s Civil Aviationhe said. al-Arab airport detector at Borg surrendered official allies t and maintained said he authorities. to said the its opponents Ministry Interior in Alexandria. an offensive against pilot, Omar and the incidentseemed unstable Ioannis Cypriot Foreign Minister Ministry officials Islamic State deeply divided over any political militants.

Kasoulides said had told authorities al-Gammal, was expelled did not appear said he transition, particularly related to terrorism. the hijacker that he was from law school whether Assad was speaking Assad must The Cypriot had threatened to blow himself threatened by a passenger and had a long state leave broadcaster up in and criminal record, an power. terview with who including demanded claimed to said he had U.N. Russia’s RIA indemanded the robberies. be refuelled and that the aircraft belt and be wearing an explosive news says envoy Staffan de Mistura agency published release head to Istanbul. forced him to Fethy, the Egyptian he wants the prisoners in Egypt. of women divert the authorities “It looks like negotiations days after Syrianyesterday, two to address minister, plane to Larnaca.

In the midst governmen the “mother suspected the said demands wouldhe realized his forces, with Reached by telephone, of the of all witnesses suicide belt intensive Russiant issues”, political transition said he threw hijack, allowing the last not be met, told Reuters Gammal the was not genuine but treated air support, drove Syria. But in on the a letter Britons, two hostages, incident that apron at from the desert Islamic State the Syrianbefore the talks started, seemed “abnormal”the hijacker the safety as serious to ensure airport, written Cyprus’s Larnaca also triedto flee the aircraft. He city of Palmyra. government said of all . Sounding in Arabic, and That military issue of the “We cannot say those on board. asked He was to leave, running out. exhausted, he said he had this was a terrorist opened up advance, which red line. the presidency was a been act... obliged to treat arrested,”said much of Syria’s he Kasoulides. the eastern desert ous security threat. man as a seri- Fethy was not a professional,” After told reporters Photographs on the Islamic Statestretching to Sunday, seizing Palmyra on after the incident.

Russian and of Deir al-Zor strongholds jets targeted Syrian on Tuesday Raqqa, came province and town of the after of indirect talks two weeks (40 miles)Sukhna, about 60 km northeast, at the United Nations in Geneva. retreating Islamic where many The Obama administra State fighters Assad told tion ordered RIA that the had sought refuge, the Syrian governmen Syrian military, the families of U.S. personnel also had been Observatory for Human Rights told to t delegaleave Izmir and diplomatic and tion “displayed The departures monitoring group Mugla provinces. other government personnel do not The decision said. the talks with flexibility” at State was authorized a decision to permanentindicate traveling to southeaster to leave parts of southern “in order not the opposition and itsmedia said the army n Turkey.

Turkey yes- by U.S. Defense Secretary U.S. families’ presence ly end It also warned to miss a single terday, militia at military of “increased chance” for settlement. facilities in captured territoryallies also against warning U.S. citizens Ash Carter, a statement southern Turkey, threats from terrorist from the statement European Command “Russia’s travel to the region military support, around mounting throughout Turkey.” groups said. said. The the support al-Qaryatain, about 100 km “We concerns over amid provided by The U.S. miles) southwest (60 security. tive understand this is disrup- State Department said U.S. moves come a day Syria’s friends The U.S. military’s of Palmyra, later and including the military achievemen after had ordered European we to our military families, Command said the departure it of State John Kerry Secretary farmland to the but ts of the and must Syrian army south a mountain the departure it had ordered ensure keep them safe and family members of governmenof Washington with Turkish met in area to the to the speedingall this will lead west. workers at the the combat effectivenes of families of Foreign “The personnel stationed U.S. Consulate t Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu of our forces settlement, and up of political encircled,” town is almost in discuss in Adana, to support s Adana, and that families to including Incirlik not vice versa,” the of U.S. efforts bilateral issues, including he said. air base, which strong ally Turkey in the our government workers director Rami Observatory’s is used to defeat Islamic fight and Mugla against terrorism,” Abdulrahm in said. an against heavily in the fight State provinces wereIzmir militants in Syria and M. Breedlove, General Philip asked Islamic State also ish President Iraq. Turkto leave. militants. commander It said families Tayyip Erdogan of of U.S. military the U.S. European Command The State was said in the statement. , a statementDepartment issued this due to visit Washingto n week citizens more cautioning U.S. Security to attend a Nuclear broadly against Summit with other 54 world leaders.

Military Gains Syrian Political Will Speed up Deal, Says Assad

Families of US Personn Parts of Turk el Ordered ey to Leave

Nigeria’s hope of qualifying for the 2017 WEDNESDAY Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted SPORTS

by Gabon ended yesterday evening AFCON 2017: It’s All over for Eagl es after the Super Eagles lost 1-0 to Egypt at the Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria. This crash marks Nigeria’s back-to- back absence from the continent’s football showpiece after similarly failing to qualify for the 2015 edition.

S’Africa Misse s Gabon 201 7 Train Page 54 T H I S D AY

•WEDNESDAY

MARCH 30,

2016

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ik hazuagbe@th isdaylive.com

Duro Ikhazua gbe bottom of the log on Nigeria’s hope single point. a Egypt created for the 2017 of qualifying two early The openings of Nations Africa Cup have East Africans still narrowly – Hegazy headed a left foot from inside a faint to be hosted the Salah box. past the

by Gabon ended was not close upstagin g the chance of goal after five Nigeria Skipper Abdallah Pharaohs if make contact. to held by evening after yesterday they succeed minutes Said the goalkeep and almost the Super then deliveredAlIn the seventh Eagles lost immedia er.

Odion Ighalo Egypt and in defeating skipper 1-0 to Egypt minute, a Umar Aminu Nigeria. had a half Al-Said fired tely low cross from the Borg El-Arab at with in the the dashed into chance when he controlled Stadium gotYouthful Radwan Sobhi 29th minute, left the Egyptian in Alexand the winning ria. goal area, the ball inside but but his goal for This the Pharaoh shot was firmly but he shot widethe box, crash s in the 66th marks minute in the Nigeria’s 15th minute. back absence back-to- loose when he toed a ball during from the continen t’s a goal mouth melee. football was The kick showpie ce deflecte after failing to qualifysimilarly the reach d beyond for the Akpeyi of Daniel 2015 edition. by defende Stephen Keshi failed r to qualify Shehu Abdulla hi.

Nigeria to Before trophy Eagles defend the John Mikelthat goal, the Obi led team Africa 2013. won at South had put who steppedSamson Siasia in the up a decent fight the mess left in to clean ending first 45 minutes , Sunday Oliseh, behind by barren the half on a note. also failed when it mattered After most break, the return from against the Egyptian s.

Eagles appeare Eagles’ last lost and d game at home to Tanzania reenact thecould not is now fighting mere formality with Egypt spirit witness ed in comfortably the first half. in seat of Group the driver’s confiden They lost the G on seven ce points. Nigeria them dictate that made has a the tempo miserable two points from of the game for a better the draw against part of the Tanzania first stanza, and Egypt in Kaduna last though they never Friday. Tanzania really threaten ed is at the Ahmed goalkeep er Shennaw i.

HOW THEY STAND Group A

Team

P

Liberia Tunisia Togo Djibouti

Group C

Team

W D 3 0 2 1 2 1 0 0

4 4 4 4

Group B

Team P Congo DR 4 C’African Rep. 4 Angola Madagascar 4 4 P

L

GF

1 1 1 4

W D

3

2 2 2 16

GF

Pts

6 7 2 -15

9 7 7 0

GA GD

Pts

1

6

1

4

5

2

6

9

-1

7

2 2

W D

GA GD

8 9 4 1

L

0

2 1 1 1 0 2

L

5 3

4 5

1 -2

4 2

Egypt’s Captain

Abdallah Said

(centre) in aerial

battle for ball

possession with Eagles

defenders... yesterday

A goalless draw between South Africa in Gabon all and but come to Durban yesterdayCameroun in end. an goals in saw Bafana head to head Bafana’s hopes with the Vincent There is a very of reaching the small chance Indomitable Lions.

Aboubakar fired 2017 Africa Nations that Bafana What a free kick Bafana could Cup finals still dice to about a final roll of the and way over the crossbar qualify, but reach Gabon it a few minutes by ending Team order and you is a very tall as the RESULTS later the FC Porto best placed runner could see by P W D star glanced disappointment the L GF GA up header Egypt 1-0 Nigeria B’Faso on the players’ across all groups? You just wide of Itumelenga GD Pts faces that this 4 would be clutching 2 1 Sudan 1-1 Ivory is 1 at straws here Khune’s upright.

3 Uganda end for Shakes pretty much the because Coast 1 2 Hlanti had 4 7 there are Angola 0-2 Congo 2 1 Botswana another crack wanting to reachMashaba’s team four 1 DR 3 4 second-placed already at goal, which 1 2 0 the finals next Comoros 2 S’Africa 0-0 Cameroun 2 year.

7 flew over the teams 3 with seven 4 4 1 0 -1 points or more bar and soon after he 3 6 Gambia 0-0 Group E 2 If the South Africans at this stage 5 Mauritania -3 of the campaign. the keeper to make forced 3 (who have 3 points) win Liberia 5-0 Djibouti another So how did Team good their last two games save from a South Africa (against Gambia P set piece.

W D struggle Uganda 0-0 Midfielder Hlompho L GF GA B’Faso G’Bissau they will still and Mauritania) Camerounto beat a depleted saw GD Pts Namibia 1-3 need 4 his long range Kekana in Durban?

2 1 Congo Burundi draw with CamerounMauritania to 1 attempt 4 Bafand 4 narrowly miss 4 1 3 Togo 0-0 Tunisia Zambia Bafana went 0 0 7 to beat the Indomitabland Gambia early 7 4 5 1 3 on when debutantclose it became clear the target as Kenya 2 e Lions for Ethiopia 3-3 0 6 any chance of 4 that Bafana 4 left were not Algeria back Sifiso 3 0 1 1 going 3 6 going to Group F 2 Niger 1-2 Senegal If that happens, to Gabon. free kick Hlanti’s curling 5 -3 Aboubakar then find a goal.

1 Bafana would was tipped be tied on Malawi 1-2 Guinea came close over when the bar.

Team nine points he chested P with delivered Soon after, Hlanti Cameroun at W D the run, turned the ball on L the top of the a deep cross GF GA GD Morocco table and will go Group I and volleyed to at goal 4 Pts through on away Thulani Hlatshway 4 0 but could not 0 o at the 7 Cape Verde find the far post but 0 Team 7 his header went target. Then Mandla 4 12 2 0 Libya P Masango directly into W D 2 flashed his 9 4 L GF GA the 5 1 0 Sao Tome Gabon 4 bounced over ground and goal before volley wide of 3 6 GD Pts 6 4 4 5 1 0 2 1 the bar, with 1 substitute 3 1 Group G slight touch 3 6 Ivory Coast 15 -12 33 2 from the keepera Nxumalo almost stole Prince 4 7 a winner 1 3 taking it out Sierra Leone 4 on debut in 0 Team for 2 a 4 the corner.

1 final minute.

1 1 Sudan 1 P Just before 2 6 W D 2 4 the half hour But his shot at goal from 3 L 1 1 GF GA GD -1 Egypt mark, Cameroun 2 4 close range was blocked Group J 2 6 3 Pts -4 2 1 Nigeria skipper by brilliantly 4 0 the 5 3 Cameroun 1 0 Tanzania Team 2 4 defence.

Group L 1 7 1 2 P 2 0 1 W D -1 1 2 L GF GA Group H 0 Algeria 3 Team -3 GD Pts 1 4 3 1 P Ethiopia W 0 D Team 17 5 4 L GF GA 1 2 Seychelles Zimbabwe 12 P 1 10 GD Pts W D 7 4 4 12 -5 L 1 1 2 2 Lesotho Guinea GF GA GD Ghana 2 0 5 4 8 4 4 7 4 3 Pts 1 0 1 2 Swaziland -3 3 1 5 3 1 4 8 Group K 0 4 4 4 11 2 8 4 Rwanda 1 2 Malawi -4 0 9 1 3 5 4 10 5 4 2 0 8 Mauritius 0 2 -3 Team 2 2 5 Group M 6 4 2 2 0 6 Mozambique 4 P 4 -2 W D 2 6 2 3 4 L GF GA 12 -9 0 1 Senegal Team 3 6 GD 1 4 P Mali

Benin S’Sudan E’Guinea

Group D

4

4 4 4

3 1 2 2 1 0 0 1

GF

GA GD

0

5

0 3 3

1

8 3 1

4

4 8 4

4 -5 -3

Pts

10

8 3 1

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016 • T H I S D AY

9

NEWS

News Editor Davidson Iriekpen Email davidson.iriekpen@thisdaylive.com, 08111813081

Ekiti Govt Cries out over Police Invasion of State to Arrest 11 Lawmakers, Others

Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti Armed policemen from Abuja have invaded Ekiti State to begin indiscriminate arrest of Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) leaders, top government officials and 11 members of the state House of Assembly for alleged stockpiling of arms during the June 21, 2014

Rivers Rerun: PDP Wins One State Assembly,Three House Seats as INEC Releases Fresh Results APC adds one more state assembly seat Ernest Chinwo in Port Hacourt The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced more results in the rerun elections in Rivers State.

In a statement released by the state Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Aniedi Okoiwak, yesterday, the commission said Hon. Kenneth Chikere of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in the Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 1 while Hon. Blessing Nsiegbe also of the PDP won in Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2.

Hon. Kingsley Chinda of the PDP also won in Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency.

For the state constituencies election, Hon. Benibo Fredrick

Anabraba of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the Akuku Toru State Constituency 2, while Hon. Tonye Alalibo of the PDP was disqualified by the commission.

In Port Harcourt 2 State Constituency, Hon. Adoki Tonye Smart of the PDP was returned as winner.

A statement signed by Aniedi said the commission was still investigating elections in Degema State Constituency while some state, federal and senatorial constituencies were inconclusive because of violence.

With the results of the rerun elections so far released by INEC, the PDP has now won a total of nine state constituency seats, while the APC has two.

For the federal constituency election, the PDP has now won four seats.

governorship election.

The policemen were led by one Mohammed Abubakar, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) fron the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Abuja.

The Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, who made this known in a statement issued last night, said the new plot was an aftermath of the failure of the Department of State Services (DSS) to achieve the plot of coercing the House of Assembly members to impeach Governor Ayodele Fayose.

The government said the

indiscriminate arrest was to begin last night and that the policemen arrived Ado Ekiti, the state capital with Mr. T.K.O. Aluko and the state All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Jide Awe. “We are aware of the arrival of policemen from Abuja to Ekiti State with the intention of arresting 11 members of the House of Assembly, two PDP leaders per local government and some other top officials of the government.

“Ridiculously, the offence for which the policemen are to embark on this indiscriminate

arrest is owing to T. K. O. Aluko malicious outburst that those listed for arrest stockpiled arms during the governorship election conducted in Ekiti, close to two years ago.

“This plot is in furtherance of the APC’s plot to destabilise the government of Ekiti State just because of Governor Fayose’s hard stance on President Muhammadu Buhari’s APC government policies.

“The question is, what was the arms they claimed were stockpiled used for? Was anyone killed or attacked during the election?

“And why is the police not arresting the APC Chairman, Jide Awe who is wanted for alleged murder and TKO Aluko, who was declared wanted by the court for perjury, and instead providing security cover for them?

“We therefore wish to alert Nigerians on this new plot and state that Ekiti people will resist any attempt to use the police to harass innocent citizens of the state.

“Democratically, we are entitled to our views on any issue in Nigeria and we won’t succumb to intimidation and harassment from any agency of the federal government.”

Buhari Leaves for US, to Push for

Nigeria’s Right to Nuclear Energy Tobi Soniyi in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja for Washington DC today to join President Barack Obama and about 60 other world leaders and heads of international organisations at the fourth Nuclear Security Summit which will open tomorrow.

A statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari would speak at plenary sessions of the summit which is dedicated to reinforcing international commitment to the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.

Adesina said Buhari would tell the summit that while Nigeria would continue to sustain that commitment, world powers must respect the right of other countries to the peaceful use of nuclear energy for development purposes.

The president would reaffirm Nigeria’s stance that international efforts to ensure greater security of nuclear materials should maintain a balance between nuclear non-proliferation obligations and the indisputable right of Nigeria and other countries to harness nuclear energy and technology for socio-

economic development.

At a meeting with him in Abuja earlier this month, Buhari told the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr. Yukiya Amano, that the federal government would welcome greater support from the agency for Nigeria’s aspiration to begin the generation of electricity with nuclear energy.

While in Washington DC for the Nuclear Security Summit, the president and his delegation which includes Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) and the Director-General of Nigeria’s Nuclear Regulatory Agency, Prof Lawrence Anikwe Dim, will also hold bilateral meetings with other participating heads of government and high-ranking United States Government officials.

President Buhari will depart Washington DC for Abuja next Sunday.

THISDAY Deputy Editor, Nation’s Capital, Tobi Soniyi will be at the summit in Washington DC to cover the proceedings.

KEEPING HOPE ALIVE

Former NigerianVice-President and Founder of American University of Nigeria (AUN),Yola, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, serving food to children at an internally displacedpersons(IDP)campinYola,AdamawaState,duringtheFEEDandREADcommunityprogrammeforchildrenofIDPsaffectedbytheBokoHaram insurgencyintheNortheastbyAUN…Monday GodwinOmoigui

10,000 Hunters Converge on North-east, Want to Confront Boko Haram in Sambisa An estimated 10,000 local hunters from the North-east region gathered recently in Adamawa State for their annual oath-taking festival, known as Salala in the local parlance.

The hunters, dressed in their warfare attires, with their Dane guns dangling over their shoulders, vowed to rid the society of criminals.

They appealed to the government to make use of their members in the fight against terrorism and other social vices.

The leader of the hunters in the state Muhammad Tola, who claimed the hunters had so far played significant roles in the fight against Boko Haram, said hunters were familiar with the terrain in dreaded forests, like the Sambisa forest.

“We are ready to pursue the terrorists because we know the terrain very well.

“We are appealing to the

military authorities to allow us join the fight against Boko Haram at the Sambisa forest,” he told Premium Times an online news portal.

Tola said the hunters needed the government to assist them with ammunition, transportation and logistics.

He said the government could also enlist young hunters who were willing to join the army, police, and other security agencies.

“We remain one big family devoid of religious or tribal sentiments, that is why you can see over 10,000 hunters from Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, Borno, Yoba and Adamawa States converged for this epoch-making event,” Tola said.

Female hunters also participated in the Salala festival.

The leader of the female hunters, Aisha Bakari Gombi, said securing the society was a

fight for everyone, irrespective of gender.

“This is a clarion call. We all must make sacrifices,” she said.

Babangida Muhammad, the Sarkin Gida, who represented the paramount ruler of Adamawa, Muhammadu Mustapha, in the festival, said there was need for government to engage the services of the hunters and other vigilantes in the fight against social vices.

Hunters in Borno State had on January 3 called on the military to allow them join the war against Boko Haram insurgents in the dreaded Sambisa Forest.

“We are appealing to the military authorities to allow us join the fight against Boko Haram at the Sambisa forest,” Mai-Gana Mai-Durma, the Borno Emir of the hunters, made the appeal in Maiduguri while addressing journalists

at the time.

“We are ready to pursue the terrorists because we know the terrain very well,” he added.

Mai-Durma said the military should align them with members of the vigilante group, popularly known as the Civilian JTF, for effective result.

“We will overrun Sambisa in partnership with members of the civilian JTF if given the opportunity,” he said.

The Adamawa State Government had in November 2014 announced that it was officially enlisting the services of local hunters and vigilantes, called Civilian JTF, to liberate communities captured by Boko Haram insurgents.

Shortly afterwards, the local hunters were reported to have recaptured Maiha and Mubi Local Government Areas, killing at least 75 Boko Haram militants in the process.

10

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Tinubu: Nigeria Must Get Economy Right Let’s embrace backward integration, says Ambode Buhari says better days ahead for Nigerians

Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Tobi Soniyi, Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Adedapo Adebiyi in Abuja The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has hailed the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for championing a redirection in the affairs of the country.

Tinubu who spoke yesterday at the eighth colloquium to mark his 64th birthday declared opened by Buhari in Abuja, said Nigeria had no other option than to redirect her priorities and get the economy right.

“We must take the hard decision now. I salute the president, the vice-president and the entire cabinet, that Nigeria is being redirected, there is no other option for us, but to revalidate our faith in our country, and take the hard decision now. Our renaissance must come within. We have the might; we have the capacity; we have the intellect and we have the ability,” he said.

Tinubu accused that former ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of being deceptive in its presentation of facts on the state of economy.

“It could not have been a better subject at this time that we have economic downturn in this country. To take this topic, we have had series of discussions, series of promises before Nigerians in the last 50 years and particularly in the last 15 years.

“I remember the article I wrote after the launching of the book, ‘Financialism,’ Fetching the Water from a Dry Well, it was about this commodity exchange. The deceptive government of that time announced it immediately that same week that commodity exchange has been established.

It took an Ethiopian to discover their lies. But thank God we are taking it more seriously, our future is being redirected.

“I appreciate the governors of the APC, ‘The Cure,’ for your efforts in redirecting our economy and bringing life back to Nigeria which is most

critical and more important to me, and it is another birthday present to say we are going to feed ourselves. It is a good commitment and this nation will not go hungry.

“There could not have been a better topic than this when we are experiencing economic downturn in the country, to take to agriculture as a substitute.

“This has set us on critical path to our salvation and recovery. I want to thank him most sincerely for finding time to preside over a birthday that would have been ordinary. Just a year ago when the parties were merged and formed into APC, the only birthday wish I requested and prayed for was that we will achieve victory in that poll and that wish was granted and I want to thank all Nigerians for that.

Conspicuously absent at the colloquium which had almost all the big wigs in the APC were the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

One of the media aides to Saraki who tried to make excuses for his boss, said the senate president was out of the country.

However, the colloquium attracted top APC leaders, governors, traditional rulers and other government officials.

Speaking with journalists at the event, the Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode, said the present state of the economy requires a lot of innovation in the direction of backward integration to promote the country’s areas of comparative advantage.

“We have to be fair and truthful to ourselves, we have to reintegrate backwards and get the economy back.

“We should not start lamenting that the economy is going bad, that the dollar is getting high, the real solution lies in our hands, and the platform for it lies in agriculture, that is the message that was being sent here.

Buhari Advises South Sudan to Avoid Nigeria’s Mistake by Not Depending on Oil Tobi Soniyi in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has advised the South Sudanese government to invest more in agriculture and not to depend solely on oil revenues to grow the nation’s economy.

A statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari gave the advice while receiving the outgoing South Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Makuet Riak, at the State House in Abuja.

Buhari said South Sudan could avoid the mistake made by Nigeria in her over-reliance on oil revenue.

The president told the outgoing envoy that Nigeria’s economy, which had been heavily dependent on oil over the years, had been adversely affected by the drop in

global oil prices.

“Investing in sustainable agriculture is one of the best ways to provide jobs for the people and keep the nation productive.

“Food security is important to any country and that is what we are trying to achieve here, years after we `threw away’ agriculture for oil,’’ the president said.

Buhari also praised the ‘excellent’ relations between Nigeria and South Sudan, and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening existing bilateral ties.

In his remarks, Ambassador Riak described his four-year duty tour as his country’s first ambassador to Nigeria as very fruitful.

He said South Sudan was blessed with fertile land and would welcome more investments from Nigerian companies.

“You know of recent we did sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kebbi State Government, it is just a pointer to tell you the direction in which this APC-led government of Buhari is going,” Ambode Stated.

Commenting on the collaborative arrangement between Lagos and Kebbi States governments, the governor said there was need to build synergies among the states to harness the great potentials that would lift the economy.

“We will bring our comparative advantages to the table and move the economy forward. There is the need to bring up such ideas so as to move the country’s economy forward, that is all we have said here,” he said.

Also speaking at the colloquium, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Onguwusi, urged Nigerian leaders to partonise made-in-Nigeria goods so as to encourage small scale production and grow the economy.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has said his government is taking appropriate steps to cushion the effects of the current harsh economy in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said his government is taking appropriate steps to cushion the effects of the current harsh economy in the country.

The president also promised that there were better days ahead.

Eulogising Tinubu, Buhari said the former governor of Lagos State had shown commitment and zeal to Nigeria’s growth.

He stated that the government would continue to invest in human capital development.

“There are very few patriots alive today that can match the commitment, zealous, creativity that Tinubu has demonstrated in his contribution to national growth. In the coming months, Nigerians will see much more actions. Government will continue to invest substantially

in human capital development and this is just the beginning.

“We are going to hold ourselves accountable. We will measure results. There will always be some skepticism, some have even become disorientated and impatient enough to think that barriers are insurmountable. Anyone who claims great change is impossible can only look as an ordinary success,” he said.

Apparently gauging the enormity of work to be done to better the lots of Nigerians, Buhari urged all hands to be on deck.

“We can achieve more with partnership that link up and scale up our respective efforts. I am declaring that we need a new approach that challenges more states and local governments, more organisations, companies and non-governmental organisations and individuals, some of the younger people who are here to step up and play a role because government cannot and should

not do it alone. All hands should be on deck,” he said.

The president, who commended the organisers of the colloquium for the choice of the theme of the event on agriculture, stated that the intention of the government was to create enabling environment that would bring viability on the economic potentials of the private sector.

The president said: “We intend to organise an efficient market infrastructure that will make agriculture viable for investors.

We are providing an enabling environment so as to ensure certainty and predictability for the private sector.

“We intend to also ensure that the market is fair and worth to transform small holder farmers from beggars to businessmen.

Furthermore, we are going to keep focusing on improved nutrition for children. We know the effects of hunger and poor nutrition can last a life time.

Children are thrown out of school to earn a living.”

WE ARE WORKING TO EASE FUEL SCARCITY

L-R: COO, Ventures, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Victor Adeniran; Minister of State Petroleum/Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu; and COO, Downstream, Henry Ikem-Obih, when the minister and his team appeared before the Senate Committee on Petroleum to explain the lingering fuel scarcity in the country in Abuja...yesterday Julius Atoi

IPOB Issues 72-hour Ultimatum over Detained Farmers Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia As anger rages over the detention of 76 people from Ugwuneshi in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State for defending their property and women against the Fulani herdsmen, the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) yesterday issued a 72-hour ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and free the detainees.

The pro-Biafra group also demanded the immediate release of two women allegedly abducted by the herdsmen who have not been accounted for since they disappeared on their way to their farms.

The ultimatum was contained in a statement issued by the spokespersons of IPOB, Emma Nmezu, and Dr Clifford Iroanya, saying it was high time President Buhari intervened on the marauding

herdsmen.

“Accordingly, the IPOB is hereby giving President Buhari 72 hours beginning from 6p.m, on March 29, 2016, to release the 76 youths of Ugwuneshi community, Awgu, together with the two women earlier abducted by the Fulani fighters,” IPOB said, adding: “The Fulani flags flying over our ancestral land must also be removed within the same period.”

It warned that failure to heed its call would result to pushing it to bare its fangs and “the world will witness the first true feel of the anger of IPOB world wide.”

Recalling the events that led to the community crisis, IPOB said: “The raw show of power and bravado by Fulani herdsmen at Umuneshi, Awgu community of Enugu State just cannot be accepted by any civilized society.

“First, the ever recalcitrant

Fulani marauders abducted two women on their way to the farm.

All entreaties to release the two women fell on deaf ears. The youths of the community mobilised to free their women, but the Fulani warriors informed their kinsmen at the military bases in the neigbouring Abia State.

“The soldiers stormed the community, beat up and arrested all 76 youths, bundled them to zone 9, ordered them charged and remanded in prison without allowing them to make statements.

As at today, the 76 youths remain locked up, the two women remain missing as Fulani supremacy reigns supreme,” IPOB lamented.

The pro-Biafra group said no matter who is giving the herdsmen the courage and tacit support to act with impunity, they must stopped now, adding that: “The brutal show of power and arrogant display of

‘we own Nigeria’ demonstrated by the Fulani is not only nauseating but despicable.

“When you add this to the brazen arrogance of display of Fulani republic flags in Ohafia, Abia State, and the provocative flying of Fulani flags in Agatu Benue State, Eket in Akwa Ibom, and many other places, the IPOB is convinced that the battle of total annihilation has been brought to our door steps by the avowed enemies of peace.”

To drive home its determination and readiness to confront the menace of the herdsmen, IPOB stated that it was not going to engage in making appeals as matters have already gotten out of hand.

“The era of consistently begging a mindless but determined enemy has suddenly come to an end. It is fire for fire. It is our generational duty to defend our honour as a people or be damned forever,” it said.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016 • T H I S D AY

11

NEWS

Benue Clashes: Cattle Breeders, Farmers Agree to End Hostilities Tobi Soniyi in Abuja At last, the prolonged violent crises between cattle breeders and farmers in Agatu land, Benue State, which have claimed several lives and property, may have been laid to rest.

This is because the warring

parties have agreed to sheath their swords and embrace peace at a town hall meeting held in Abuja to find a lasting solution to the crisis.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the leadership of the cattle breeders and prominent Agatu farmers

Nigerian Military Repels Boko Haram Ambush, Kills Five Terrorists in Borno Recovers 1,304 livestock, arrests 15 suspected cattle rustlers Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The troops of 155 Task Force Battalion of 29 Task Force Brigade have cleared Boko Haram terrorists ambush at Bolungu village in Borno State.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said the “troops killed all the three attackers, recovered one Fabrique Nationale rifle with registration number UE16A86257 and 1G3 rifle with registration number 10f995 and 19 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition.

Similarly, Usman said some soldiers of the unit stationed in Mayanti encountered two fleeing Boko Haram terrorists from the villages that was cleared lastMonday.

He confirmed that one was killed while trying to shoot the troops and the second suspect was apprehended.

Usman said the arrested suspected terrorists had been making very useful statements.

He added that the troops also recovered five bicycles, bags of grains and other items.

In a related development, Usman said the same unit yesterday cleared more Boko Haram terrorists enclaves and hideouts, Gare village around Sambisa forest.

He noted that the troops during the operation, killed another terrorist who attacked a soldier with cutlass and arrested four other suspected Boko Haram terrorist group members.

“The troops also rescued 36 persons, comprising two men, nine women and 26 children and recovered two mobile telephone,” he stated.

Also, troops of 1st Division of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with other security agencies within the last one week have recorded tremendous success in the fight against cattle rustling, banditry and criminality particularly in the North-west region under the auspices of Operation Sharan Daji.

To this end, the military has recovered 1,304 livestock and arrested 15 suspected cattle rustlers in different parts of the region.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, who confirmed the report in a statement yesterday, said in Kaduna State, the Division’s Internal Security Force (DISFORCE) recovered 108 livestock and killed one armed robber and recovered one AK-47 rifle and 30 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition.

Usman disclosed that in Zamfara State, which is 1st Brigade’s area of operation, the troops recovered 419 livestock, arrested another bandit and recovered a locally made pistol from him.

“In Kano and Katsina States, 3rd Brigade was also able to recover 677 livestock, destroyed 10 cattle rustlers and bandits camps and recovered four locally-made pistols and seven Dane guns.

“The troops also killed four cattle rustlers and arrested 14 other suspects,” he stated.

The army spokesman noted that the ongoing operations are aimed at completely eradicating the menace of cattle rustling, banditry and other criminalities in the North-west region of the country.

Obasanjo in Kano, Calls for Markets Regulation in Nigeria Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday called for the regulation of markets across the country and the provision of the required fire fighting equipment.

Obasanjo said in Kano that the regulation would help in averting future occurrence of fire disaster, specifically Sabon Gari market, where almost the entire market was ravaged by fire.

The former president said the huge lost of property in Sabon Gari market was replaceable as

Nigerians defied the culture of insuring their wealth and property.

The former president also seized the opportunity to condole with Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje over the death of his mother.

In his remarks, the governor said the market management would be proactive henceforth in averting fire disasters.

Ganduje also commended Obasanjo’s efforts to keep the nation as one and his fatherly role and mentorship to all citizens.

resolved on the immediate cessation of hostilities between the Idoma in Agatu and the Fulani nomadic community carrying out grazing activities in the area.

At a joint world press conference by the two parties, the national leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) was directed to order its Benue and Nasarawa States chapters to immediately order all Fulani herdsmen carrying out grazing activities in Agatu to immediately withdraw and move to Nasarawa State while dialogue towards the peaceful resolution of the conflict is ongoing.

Agatu youths, the communiqué read at the conference further stated, should desist from patrolling the river banks until when better understanding is achieved between the two parties.

The communiqué also urged the federal government to set up a high powered committee that will include the leadership of the

Idoma Initiative and MACBAN to comprehensively look into the immediate and remote causes of the crisis with the view of finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

The suggested committee should also be mandated to ascertain the level of destruction of lives and property on both sides with a view to giving adequate compensation.

“The federal government should draw up a roadmap to commence the immediate reconstruction, rehabilitation and re-integration of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Agatu back to their various communities.

“A peace football match should be organised between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and a joint team comprising the Idomas and the Fulanis. The football match should be played at the National Stadium, Abuja and be organised in conjunction with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The match should be aimed at raising awareness

of the peaceful resolution of the conflict and to raise funds towards the reconstruction of the properties destroyed in the crisis.

“All future conflicts arising between the Idoma people of Agatu and Fulani herdsmen should be addressed through dialogue rather than violent means as was the recent case.

“We condemn in its totality the proliferation of firearms especially among the warring parties and pledge to collaborate with the federal government and the two state governments of Benue and Nasarawa to encourage the laying down of arms by both parties and to also appeal to the government to consider granting amnesty to those who accept to lay down their arms and embrace lasting peace.

“The federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, is urged to address the issue of grazing reserve and mapping out of the

primary, secondary and tertiary cattle routes in Nigeria in order to put an end to the problem of perennial clashes between local farmers and Fulani herdsmen.

The Ministry of Agriculture is urged to propose a bill to resolve the above issue while the National Assembly is urged to consider and pass such bill into law expeditiously.

“We urge the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, to immediately visit Agatu with his cabinet members for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and ensure that rapid development of the crisis areas is commenced. We believe when this is done, it will go a long way in pacifying the victims of the crisis,’’ the communiqué said.

The communiqué was signed

by Mr. Paul Edeh, the Convener of Idoma Initiative; Alhaji Muhammadu Kiruwa, the National President of MACBAN and Baba Othman Ngelzarma, the National Secretary, MACBAN.

YOU ARE DOING WELL

R-L: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio; and Senator Enyinaya Abaribe during a solidarity visit by the Senate PDP Caucus to the governor at the Government House, Port Harcourt...yesterday

Lagos at 50: Coalition Defends Ambode’s Appointment of Soyinka Gboyega Akinsanmi

A group of Lagos indigenes under the aegis of Coalition of Ibile Professionals yesterday faulted the position of Eko Foundation that indigenes of the state were marginalised in the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

It also defended the governor over the choice of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, who was appointed the Co-Chairman of the Lagos at 50 Celebration Committee alongside Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi.

The coalition faulted the positions of Eko Foundation in a statement its General Secretary, Alhaji Wasiu Hassan, noting that members of Eko Foundation “are seeking cheap publicity.”

The Eko Foundation had

rejected Soyinka’s appointment, lamenting that Lagos indigenes had been marginalised in their own land and that residents from other states of the federation “are taking the appointment meant for us.”

The president of the foundation, Prof. Oluwole Smith said successive governments in the state had retained the penchant of marginalizing those he described true indigenes for the past 18 years.

But in a statement yesterday, the coalition’s general secretary, Hasan, faulted the claims of the foundation, noting that Lagos State “is made up of five divisions namely Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe. All the divisions are relevant for the progress of the state.”

He therefore faulted a position

that indigenes “have been marginalised just because some members of Eko Foundation, who are exclusively from the Lagos Island have lost out in the search for appointment.”

Hasan said the Lagos Island had enjoyed the seat of power in Lagos in the last eight years, noting that the Coalition of Ibile Professionals “will resist any campaign of calumny against Ambode who has been successfully balancing the state affairs and appointments to the excitement of all divisions of the state.”

Hassan noted that members of Coalition of Ibile Professionals “shall not fold their arms and allow the so-called indigenes with foreign names to usurp stable and peaceful co-existence

in the state.

“How else can one describe the President of Eko Foundation, Prof. Oluwole Smith, who failed to qualify on the short list for Lagos State University (LASU) Vice Chancellorship in the last selection process? Neither Mrs. Teju Philips nor Mr. Lawal Pedro can claim to be more saintly than the Pope.

“We should be grateful for having Chief Gbadamosi and Prof. Soyinka appointed by the governor who has recognised their qualities to add glamour and depth to the plan to mark the 50th anniversary of Lagos.

“Eko Foundation should purge itself of its bias. It should purge itself of sentiments if they expect to be taken seriously.

Enough is enough,” the general secretary explained.

12

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Wike: INEC’s Failure to Release Rerun Results Breeding Suspicion, Conflict

Says Amaechi creating problems for Buhari Amaechi blasts gov over comment on monorail

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt and Chinedu Eze in Lagos Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release outstanding results of the March 19 rerun elections in the state was breeding unnecessary suspicion and conflict.

This came as the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Felix Obuah, described those calling for a declaration of state of emergency in state as “mischievous idlers” Wike spoke yesterday when he received the Ogbakor Ikwerre, United States and Canada Branch at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

The governor said the continued delay in the release of the results of constituencies where elections was concluded breeds unnecessary suspicion and conflict.

He said what transpired on March 19 was the will of the people of the state to resist any form of rigging and manipulation of the electoral process.

He said: “We believe that INEC should no longer delay the release of the results. The more they delay, the more there is suspicion and the tendency for crisis.”

On the issue of security, the governor reiterated that the reports of events in the state were misleading.

He said across the country, all states have security challenges, pointing out that the case of Rivers State was being manipulated by political groups for the pursuit of ungodly goals.

“All the multinationals are working peacefully in the state.

All the Indigenous companies are also around contributing their quota to the state,” he said.

On projects execution, the governor assured the delegation that his administration would execute projects that would enhance the living standard of the people.

He added that the projects relevant to the well-being of the people which were started by the previous administration would be completed.

Earlier, President of Ogbakor

Ikwerre, United States and Canada, Dr. Fortune Woluwo, congratulated the governor on his victory at the polls and at the Supreme Court.

Woluwo called on INEC to release outstanding results of the rerun legislative elections.

He said it was sad that the commission was yet to release the results 10 days after the completion of the exercise.

Also speaking while receiving the Senate Caucus of the PDP who paid him a solidarity visit in Port Harcourt, Wike expressed concern that the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, was creating problems for President Muhammadu Buhari by his activities during the rerun elections in the state.

He said the former governor lost his local government area and federal constituency, hence his desperation to influence the release of the results.

He said: “Any person who loves Mr. President won’t be causing unnecessary crisis for him.

We have problem in the Northeast, problem in the South-east, so there is no need for another problem in the South-south.

“It is good that the elections were held so that Nigerians will know the truth about the polity. If elections are held 20 times, PDP will win.”

Wike insisted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot win any election in the state, alleging Amaechi was merely sponsoring violence to remain relevant politically.

The governor decried the role played by soldiers during the rerun elections.

He said the military were directly involved in the elections at polling units and at the collation centres in direct violation of the Electoral Act. He expressed regret at the killing of a corps member, Samuel Okonta, during the rerun elections, but stressed that investigation into the type of bullet that killed him must be made public. He confirmed that the state government would immortalise the late corps member.

Earlier, the Senate Minority Leader and Leader of Senate PDP Caucus, Senator Godswill

ICAO President to Meet Buhari on OfficialVisit to Nigeria Chinedu Eze The President of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council, Dr. Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, has arrived in Nigeria for an official visit to the country.

According the Nigerian civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), during this visit, the ICAO President, who is a Nigerian, would hold a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

Among other programmes lined up for him are scheduled meeting with stakeholders in the aviation industry.

“The ICAO President, prior to his election on November 18, 2013, served for eight years as the ICAO Council’s Nigerian Representative.

He was the pioneer Director of Air Transport Regulation (DATR) at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) from 2000 to 2004,” NCAA spokesman, Sam Adurogboye, said.

Aliu succeeded Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez of Mexico, and under his administration, ICAO has established five comprehensive strategic objectives.

These include Safety, Air Navigation Capacity and Efficiency, Security and Facilitation, Economic Development of Air Transport and Environment Protection.

NCAA said ICAO has 191 member countries, and the current ICAO council’s Nigerian representative, Mr. Martins Nwafor, arrived in Nigeria earlier ahead of the president’s state visit.

Akpabio, said the victory recorded by the PDP in Rivers State was: “A clear case of justice being done

by God.” He insisted that INEC must release the collated results of the March 19 rerun elections.

While describing Rivers State as peaceful, Akpabio regretted the sponsored propaganda by the opposition to destroy the image of the state.

He said there was no other political party in the state outside the PDP. He called for tolerance in the political space to allow for the sustenance of the state’s multiparty democracy.

Highpoint of the visit was the donation of N1million by the PDP Senate caucus to the family of the late Samuel Okonta through Wike.

Akpabio prayed that Okonta’s death would be the last during

elections.

He also commiserated with the government and people of the state over the death of PDP members during the rerun elections.

Meanwhile, the state PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah, has said all those calling for the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State are mischievous idlers who have been disengaged from the looting of the state resources by Governor Nyesom Wike’s ‘New Rivers Vision.’

Obuah said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt: “Having seen it is no longer business as usual, the only option left for them (the opposition) is to foment trouble in and around the state to discredit the incumbent administration for frustrating them from further looting of state resources.

He said he was reacting

to what he described as “the lamentation of criminals and looters of the State resources who have lost out in the new dispensation in Rivers State.”

He accused the APC of being responsible for calls for a state of emergency in the state.

According to him, “This (calls for state of emergency) is the real motive of the APC for causing crises in parts of the state and having failed in this criminal bid, have resorted to raising aimless and hopeless alarm over nonexistent incidences of violence except the ones instigated by them to justify their mischievous call.”

Describing the move by the APC as a lost battle, the state PDP chairman said the state was generally peaceful and that the economy was impressively picking up as a result of the focused leadership of the Wike administration.

“We are therefore appealing to all Rivers people, Nigerians as a whole as well as the international community to continue to discountenance both the APC and whatever they stand for, having brought shame and untold hardship on the people. The state government is people-oriented and will continue to ensure there is utmost peace in and across the state to bring about meaningful development to the people.

The call for a state of emergency is therefore unnecessary and can only make sense in the minds of anarchists like the APC and its members,” Obuah insisted.

However, Amaechi has criticised Wike for his comment on the monorail project in Port Harcourt which was started by during his tenure as governor but wasn’t completed before he left office.

Cont’d on pg 48

ROYAL VISIT

Ooni of lfe, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, flanked by the Chairman of Skye Bank, Mr. Tunde Ayeni (right); and his wife, Biola, during a visit of the Ooni to the Ayenis in Lagos....recently

Military, MDAs Owe Discos N58bn Chineme Okafor in Abuja The 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) in the country, yesterday disclosed that the debts owed them by the federal and states ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as well as the various military formations across the country had now risen to N58 billion.

Also indebted to the Discos for electricity supplied to them are some of the 774 local government area secretariats as well as the police and paramilitary barracks in the country.

The Discos, however, explained that the overall debt owed them as at the end of 2015 could rise above the current N58 billion when some of them, Ibadan, Abuja and Enugu Discos, submit their updated debt figures.

They spoke through their umbrella advocacy gourp Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), in Abuja, stating that the huge debts of the MDAs, military and local government areas were affecting their operations.

ANED’s Executive Director for Research and Advocacy, Sunday Odutan, who briefed journalists on the operational status of the 11 Discos, disclosed that the Nigerian army was leading in the list of debtors to the Discos with over N15.1 billion outstanding as at the end of 2015.

Oduntan explained that when an update of the debts would be done, it could rise to over N60 billion, noting that some of the debts were as far back as 2013.

He gave a breakdown of the debts owed by the army to some of Discos to include Kaduna Disco -N6.6 billion; Benin Disco - N2.3 billion; Eko Disco -N1.8 billion and Ikeja Disco - N1.6 billion.

Others are Jos Disco which is owed a debt of N2 billion by the army; Port Harcourt Disco which the army also owes N1.3 billion; Yola Disco has N435 million to claim from the army for power supplied to its formations under its network while Kano Disco is owed N301 million by the army.

Odutan said of all the debts

owed the Discos, that of the military remains quite a task for the Discos to reclaim because of what he described as the oppressive attitudes of the military to staff of the Discos.

He said in this regard, the army from the 351 Artillery Brigade in Abeokuta, Ogun State, had recently beaten a Disco staff for a scheduled power outage even when the barracks which had electricity meters installed within it had refused to pay for electricity consumed by its occupant since 2013.

According to him, the Discos association has written to the Ministry of Defence to complain about the attitude of the military to the Discos as well as make demands for the outstanding debts to be paid.

“The practice of the Nigerian military beating up our distribution staff is totally unacceptable and it has to stop. We are calling on the president who himself is a retired general and was a top military officer to please call his boys to

order.

“More than any debtors, the military owes us, especially the army,” said Oduntan.

He added that: “This has to do with the recent acts of the Nigerian military in the Artillery Brigade in Ogun State. On March 6, 2016, at about 10:56a.m., one Major Musa led other soldiers from the Alamala Barracks in Abeokuta to a substation and beat up, Mr. Salau, the man on duty.

“They said they had no power and so went to the injection substation and commanded the man on duty to turn on their power even though there was load shedding and this was in utter disregard of safety practices and that they had enjoyed their own share of eight hours power supply.

“Without allowing the officer to make the safety calls, they forced him to switch it on and beat him up. There are implications from that, if there were repair works going on within their zone, it means all the people working there would have died of electrocution.

13

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016

e. o. realtors co. real estate and development consultants

Our Managing Partner,

Mr Eddie Onwu MNIM

is

0

Today 30th March, 2016 Sir, as you turn 50 today, may the Almighty God whom you serve continue to sustain, strengthen and protect you.

We wish you many more years of sound health and a

Happy birthday Sir, From All of us at e.o. realtors co.

www.eorealtors.com

14

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016

COMMENT

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

DEFEAT OF OLUJIMI’S ABORTION BILL (2) Sonnie Ekwowusi argues the bill is not in the interest of the public

A

people without identity are a people without existence.

In America and many parts of Europe marriage is now defined as a union between a man and a man, (homosexuality), and between a woman and a woman (lesbianism) or marriage between a man and animal (bestiality). Is that what we want to import into Nigeria?

The woman economic liberation which Senator Olujimi tries to promote in her bill, according to the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, is an issue within the legislative competence of different states. That is why most of the laws that govern family relations today in Nigeria are legislations enacted in the different states. Why? Because of the multicultural nature of Nigerian society. For example the system of inheritance in most Igbo societies is the controversial patrilineal system or the Oli-ekpe. In the South-west, it is the Ori-ojori or Idi-Igi. In some Nigerian cultures, we find some practices which tend to suggest that women discriminate against men. The different cultures in Nigeria have their own native marriage laws, infant law, etc. For example in Northern Nigeria, there is the Native Authority/Declaration of Biu Native Marriage Law and Custom. Most states in Nigeria are beginning to enact their own criminal codes dealing with their peculiar women rights issues. Because Senator Olujimi’s bill is foreign, it fails to recognise the different cultural varieties and differences affecting women rights in different parts of Nigeria. You may quarrel with the inheritance laws in different Nigerian cultures.

You may criticise the marriage laws and the bad treatment meted out to Nigerian widows. But the solution does not lie in importing abrasive foreign lifestyle and imposing them on Nigerians as Senator Olujimi is trying to do. Nigeria should be allowed to develop with her cultural and environmental identity. In fact, the consensus reached at the various United Nations conferences is that the law passed in every developing country including Nigeria must reflect the diverse social, economic and environmental conditions of that country, with full respect for their religious, cultural backgrounds and philosophical convictions.

With the greatest respect, Olujimi’s bill has no respect for the religious and philosophical convictions of the Nigerian people. Clearly sections 3(b) (c), 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24 should be expunged from the bill. Section 7 promotes gay practices and gay marriage is in violation of the Same-Sex (Marriage) Prohibition Act 2014. Sections 12 (c) and 17 (e) seek to legalise abortion in Nigeria contrary to the religious, cultural and philosophical convictions of the Nigerian people. Before I am misunderstood, I subscribe to the economic and political empowerment of the Nigerian women. But I do not see the rationale in promoting gay rights in a bill purportedly meant to empower Nigerian women.

Similarly, I fail to understand how abortion can promote equality between men and women. Abortion is the murder of a defenceless child in the womb punishable without exceptions under the Nigerian law.

I wonder why some lawmakers are so obsessed with legalisation of abortion in Nigeria. You will recall that in 2006 Senator Daisy Ehanire-

I SUBSCRIBE TO THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT OF NIGERIAN WOMEN. BUT I DO NOT SEE THE RATIONALE IN PROMOTING GAY RIGHTS IN A BILL PURPORTEDLY MEANT TO EMPOWER NIGERIAN WOMEN

Danjuma (Edo-South) sponsored an abortion bill at the Senate under the euphemism: National Institute of Reproductive Health Bill. At first, Senator Danjuma denied that her bill was an abortion bill because the word “abortion” was never specifically mentioned anywhere in her bill.

But despite this argument, her bill was defeated in the Senate.

Why do sponsors of abortion bills in Nigeria hide under euphemisms and dodgy languages? Because the word “abortion” is repugnant in Nigerian socio-cultural and religious setting, the sponsors of abortion bills use dodgy words to avoid incurring the wrath of the Nigerian people. For example, the Imo State Law of Nigeria Violence against person (Prohibition) Law No 12 2012 (aka Owelle Rochas abortion law) was passed under the guise of a law prohibiting all forms of violence including physical, physiological, domestic violence and harmful traditional practices and discrimination against the women of Imo State.

At first, the citizens of Imo State mistook the law for a good law. But when subsequently it dawned on them that it was an abortion law, they wasted no time in staging a powerful protestation culminating in the repeal of the law. On March 17, 2005 when Senator Chris Ngige was the Governor of Anambra State and Professor Brian Adinma the Commissioner for Health, abortion was legalised in Anambra State under the deceptive euphemistic phrase: “Women’s Reproductive Right” Law. At that time, the innocent people of Anambra State did not know what transpired. Happily today they have woken up to that reality.

They wonder why a state like Anambra that has produced prominent citizens such as Cardinal Francis Arinze should legalise abortion that even permits married women to have their babies aborted throughout the nine months of pregnancy with or without the consent of their husbands all in the name of gender equality and women liberation.

Now Senator (Mrs) Biodun Olujimi has sponsored a bill in the Senate euphemistically called the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill. Prima facie and judging from its title, the bill appears harmless and laudable.

But, as I have earlier stated, the bill is the most harmful one anybody can sponsor in the Senate. Clearly, the foreign sponsors of the bill have introduced words and phrases to deceive Nigerian lawmakers and conceal their real intentions.

For example, section 7 of the bill requires that the social and cultural pattern of conduct of men and women in Nigeria should be modified to avoid “gender stereotyping”. This section 7 clearly seeks to legalise gay practices and gay marriage in Nigeria contrary to the Same Sex (Marriage) Prohibition Act 2014. “Gender stereotyping” connotes gay rights. That is why many United Nations member states kick against the phrase because they know that it has to do with legalisation of gay practices and gay marriage. Let me repeat what I have earlier stated in this piece: I advise women (including some men) clamouring for “gender equality” in Nigeria and using the words “gender” and “equality” anyhow to sit down and deeply reflect on the real meanings ascribed to those words.

RESOLVING THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN KOGI

W

The political situation in Kogi State could snowball into anarchy if not nipped in the bud, writes Femi Olugbemi

ith the persistent overcast on our lives in Kogi State, occasioned by the political debacle foisted on us in the aftermath of the November 21, 2015 governorship election , it has become imperative for me to write you this open letter to bring to your attention the absurdities that have become a disturbing feature of the politics in our state.I am constrained to use this medium to ask which offence we have committed in Kogi State to deserve the present situation whereby our state has been turned into a laboratory for bizarre political experiments that have aggravated the sordid situation of our people; we have indeed gained notoriety for negatives in the politics of this country. It is as if Kogi State has become a state operating under different standards under INEC, judiciary, APC and wait for it-the Presidency.

We are struck by the incongruity of the president’s indifference to the worrisome political situation in our state and our people are beginning to query the disturbing silence. It is disheartening that the regression of the party leadership into the politics of seclusion and marginalisation which is a manifestation of intrigues and corrupt power play have complicated a process that, ordinarily ought to be smooth. From the time the hard won victory of the Audu/Faleke ticket was mischievously declared inconclusive and the unjust and compromised decision of the party thereafter, our state has been mired in an avoidable crisis. The party leadership demonstrated an amusing and amazing inability to manage success with its ill-conceived decision to submit the name of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as substitute for late Prince Abubakar Audu despite the fact that he never participated in any of the activities that ensured the victory in the first instance; a classical example of rewarding rather than reprimanding disloyalty.

Mr President, the absurdities playing out in

our dear state started when INEC declared the November 21, 2015 governorship election inconclusive despite the fact that the APC governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu and his deputy, Hon. James Faleke had secured the highest number of votes and also one-third of two-thirds of the votes cast in all the local governnments in fulfilment of section 179 of the Nigerian constitution.

Sadly, Prince Audu died same day the election was declared inconclusive, and other absurdities started playing out. The issue of who was to replace Audu as the party’s candidate in the ill-advised supplementary election ordered by INEC became so shamelessly handled by the leadership of the party. Instead of asking the deputy governorship candidate of the party, Hon. Faleke to step up as the governorship candidate of the party, the runner up in the party’s primary election, Yahaya Bello was thrown up to the utter indignation of party faithfuls in the state even when there are no provisions for runners-up in primaries. Primaries are meant to produce only a candidate. And even when there was ample opportunity for the leadership of the party to manage the furore generated by the ill-advised decision to bring Bello, the stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja turned out to be a mere display of unabashed arrogance by no less a person than the National Chairman of the party, Chief Odigie- Oyegun who insisted that the party’s decision was final.

Mr President sir, the recent Bayelsa governorship election was to fully expose the crass hypocrisy behind the declaration by INEC that the Kogi election was inconclusive because the same INEC which sensationally claimed it declared Kogi election inconclusive because the number of cancelled votes were more than the lead commanded by the APC went ahead to declare Bayelsa election conclusive in favour of PDP even though the number of cancelled votes were also in excess of the lead commanded

by PDP!

Mr President, these are some of the absurdities APC faithful have had to put up with in Kogi.

The action and lack of same of the national leadership of the party resulted in another abnormality that had the candidates we voted for getting disqualified from the National Assembly election re-run polls in Kogi East and Kogi Central Senatorial districts respectively. This has further exacerbated our fears that there must have been more to all these than we are made to know because INEC was very much aware that primaries were held yet it played dumb to the court rulings barring our candidates who are still smarting from the sudden death of the leader of the party in the State, Audu. The judiciary was no less culpable because for any court of law to give such rulings just after losing our leader, losing our hard- earned victory in the governorship election to Bello, losing sympathy with the party and losing support of the presidency gives the impression that we are in a different planet. More curious about the whole scenario is the aloofness of the party leadership leading to the the abandonment of candidates to their fate. Party faithfuls were shocked that the party kept mute even when the Appeal Court ruling did not outrightly ban our candidates from recontesting.It was a matter of interpretation which a serious party leadership should have taken up. Instead, the candidates were left in the lurch, with no single support, moral or financial from the party; instead it was the other way round as the candidates were the ones providing moral and financial support to the party themselves. While I acknowledge that these decisions emanated from the courts, the lackadaisical reaction of the party leadership was worrying. The apathy shown by the electorate in the rerun poll was indicated in the low turn-out that marred the polls. Even when the PDP candidate was the only candidate in the contest, it was still declared inconclusive because of the unprecedented low turnout, among other reasons.

The outcome of the election has revealed that the

support base of the party which we laboured to build has been eroded greatly which forebears a bleak future for the party if the impunity and illegality that have pervaded the party and the state were not urgently addressed. Our party stalwarts are asking angrily what we have done to deserve this very unfair treatment from institutions that are meant to protect us and our rights.

It baffles a great number of party stalwarts that the party leadership has not deemed it fit to convene a stakeholders meeting on the debacle in our state to feel the pulse of members on the political crisis, an indication of the unpreparedness and unwillingness of the party to embark on any soul searching exercise. The current imbroglio in Kogi State House of Assembly occasioned by the futile attempt to use five members to effect change in the leadership in the Assembly of 25 members is another sad episode of impunity and lawlessness at its zenith.

The prevailing political situation in our state has the tendency to snowball into anarchy if not nipped in the bud. The volatile security situation in our state cannot be allowed to deteriorate further as governance is now virtually stagnated and there is a bleak prospect for development except the needful is done to restore our state to the path of sanity. We are disturbed because we understand that what is at stake for us as a people is beyond the inordinate ambition of any individual or group of persons. The desire to be free from poverty, misery and agony that we were compelled to endure for more than 12 years of corrupt and clueless governance informed our decision to join the change train which has become a painful and agonising experience for us.

It is pertinent to give this overview of the aberrations that have been our lot so that Your Excellency will appreciate our plight and realise the impropriety of a mawkish disposition to our situation in Kogi State.

Olugbemi wrote from Lokoja

15

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016

EDITORIAL ACCESS TO SHEIKH EL-ZAKZAKY All parties in the conflict should be given fair hearing

E

arly last week, there was a mild drama at the resumed sitting of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up to probe the clash between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as the Shiite sect, and the Nigerian Army last year in Zaria, Kaduna State. Members of the Islamic Movement insisted they would not submit any memorandum to the commission unless the Department of State Security (DSS) granted them access to their detained leader, Shiekh El-Zakzaky, who has been held incommunicado since December last year. This was against the backdrop that the legal counsel to the group had repeatedly complained of how several efforts by him and others to meet with El-Zakzaky were frustrated by the DSS on the grounds of national security.

There is merit in the argument of the Shiites.

In January, the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai announced the composition of the commission of inquiry into the incident which claimed no fewer than 100 lives, according to most accounts. While the FOR FAIRNESS AND commission, made EQUITY, MEMBERS OF up of respectable THE GROUP AND THEIR people in the society, LAWYERS SHOULD BE has started work, ALLOWED TO CONSULT there has been a WITH THEIR LEADER heated argument BEFORE PRESENTING over the successful THEIR POSITION TO THE completion of its PANEL assignment in the absence of the central figure in the crisis. ElZakzaky remains in the protective custody of DSS without the benefit of interaction with some of his followers who are being invited to give testimony.

National security, which the DSS gave as its reason for not allowing members of the group have access to El-Zakzaky, is a weak excuse for denying the Shiite leader his fundamental rights to fair treatment. That excuse becomes even more unten-

Letters to the Editor

I

able in the light of a haunting photograph recently published in an online media outlet indicating that the Shiite cleric was not in the best of health.

D T H I S DAY

EDITOR IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU DEPUTY EDITOR BOlAJI ADEBIYI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOlA BEllO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOlAfE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OlUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOlA BEllO, KAYODE KOMOlAfE, ISRAEl IWEGBU, EMMANUEl EfENI, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OlUfEMI ABOROWA DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, fIDElIS ElEMA, MBAYIlAN ANDOAKA, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HENRY NWACHOKOR, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOlA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI GENERAL MANAGER PATRICK EIMIUHI GROUP HEAD fEMI TOlUfASHE ART DIRECTOR OCHI OGBUAKU II DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO

espite the scrawny excuse the DSS recently gave, we share the misgivings of the Shiites. Moreover, given the international interest in the matter, we do not believe that the Nigerian authorities have handled the issue very well. For fairness and equity, members of the group and their lawyers should be allowed to consult with their leader before presenting their position to the panel. After all, the mission of the panel is to find a lasting solution to the recurring clashes between the members of the sect and the larger society. We think El-Zakzaky has a key role to play in this regard.

The deep suspicion of the Shiites that the government (both in Kaduna and at the federal level) would not allow for a transparent investigation of the tragedy should be proved wrong. While many fine points of the bloody incident are still vague, it is necessary that all sides, especially the government and the DSS, refrain from actions that can only compound the situation. Already, there is huge apprehension that given the pronouncements of key actors in government, including President Muhammadu Buhari, the panel would not be fair to the Shiite members. Such apprehension must be quickly allayed.

To ensure justice, all parties to the conflict must be given fair hearing, without any threat of coercion and intimidation. At the end of the day, anyone or group found liable for the violence must be brought to justice. But that cannot be done in an atmosphere where one party already feels it has been found guilty even before the commencement of the investigation. We believe that the demand of the Shiites that they be allowed to see their leader, wherever he is, is not unreasonable in the circumstance.

TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (9501000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

ASIWAJU: THE CHANGE AGENT AT 64

n writing this piece, I tried to search online the character of the people you can genuinely call the change agents and ways of the change or what makes them what they are. I found out that a change agent has a clear vision, he is patient and yet persistent, he asks tough questions, he is knowledgeable and leads by example and he maintains strong relationships built on trust. My findings say a change agent lives in future, not the present. Regardless of what is going on today, a change agent has a vision of what could or should be done and uses that as the governing sense of action. To a large extent, change agents are dissatisfied with what they see around them, in favour of a much better vision of the future. Without drive, change agents can lose their way.

A change agent is fuelled by passion and inspires passion in others. Change is hard work. It takes a lot of energy. A change agent has a strong ability to self-motivate. There will be many days when every one around does not understand and will not offer props. The change agents need to find it within themselves to get up everyday and come to work and risk being misunderstood and misappreciated, knowing that the real validation may be far in the future and may be claimed by someone else.

A change agent must understand people. At the end of the day change is all about people. If you change everything but the people, I doubt you will be effective as a change agent. A change agent has the ability to continue striving toward high and challenging objectives regardless of the circumstances.

He has the ability to convince and persuade others about the vision. He can touch minds and hearts and influence without authority. What about the ability to connect the dots? Can you

determine what really matters and put together a vision that makes sense, one that others can follow? Can you keep your feet on the ground and see possibilities at same time?

Now enter Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is one of the greatest change agents in Nigeria today, the builder and the motivator of men. To document Asiwaju Tinubu’s exploits as change agent since the 90s will take more than a 3000-page book on a conservative estimate. His deep involvement in the struggle for the de-annulment of June 12, 1993 Presidential election won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola earned him a place of honor as a hero of democracy in my book, “Heroes of Democracy”, published in 1999. In 1999 Asiwaju Tinubu became the Executive Governor of Lagos State and in eight years this avatar, this game changer, and great scholar in the finest tradition laid a solid foundation that has led Lagos to become the fastest growing city in Africa whose economy is bigger than those of Cameroun, Ghana, Cote d’ Voire, Senegal, etc. When this icon set up a 40-man committee in 1999 to fashion out a template for Lagos State development, many did not know what was on his mind but today we know better, as Lagos has become a huge melting point in the face of Nigerian dwindling opportunities.

In 2003, only one state, Lagos, was left for the progressives in Nigeria after the PDP finished its boisterous rigging in that year’s election. But with dint of hard work and power constructive engagement, Asiwaju led his large army of bridge builders to move from AD to AC, AC to ACN and ACN to APC. Today APC is in control of the federal government and 22 states of Nigeria. Time and space will not permit me to dig into the

preparations, the all nights of engagements, building extensive networks, making tremendous sacrifices, giving up positions, setting aside political differences, building alliances, committing both human and material resources, setting aside primordial sentiments and ethnic preoccupation that led to the uprooting of the octopus and behemoth called PDP. Asiwaju Tinubu’s infinite capacity to lift great number of men and women across this country irrespective of tribe or tongue has made this man a giant in Nigeria. He sacrificed his personal comfort, family comfort and the comfort of his extended family members by throwing his gates open to all and sundry, the rich and the poor at any given time without discrimination.

Asiwaju’s impeccable character to forgive his adversaries and political enemies has put him thousands of miles ahead of his rivals. If anybody had told me that Asiwaju will find a place in his heart to forgive some newspaper houses, AIT and others who preached hate (if you have an idea of what they did) in the course of 2015 elections I would not have believed it. Only Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu can show this kind of magnanimity and forgiveness. A friend, Mr. Sadiq a chieftain of APC Lagos told me that this is the reason why he will live long.

Asiwaju tried in 2011 with other like minds to build an alliance to dislodge PDP but it suffered a great set back. PDP survived. In 2014 the bubble burst for PDP. How the Jagaban of Borgu managed to deploy his deep connection and extensive huge network to work with like minds across Nigeria to form APC will remain a case study for political science departments in Nigeria.

Joe Igbokwe, Lagos.

16

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Group Politics Editor Olawale Olaleye Email wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com 08116759819 SMS ONLY

THE NEWSMAKER

A Governor’s Nightmare Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson is having a hard time meeting his obligations to the people of the state, no thanks to the economy. Emmanuel Addeh writes

W

ith the dwindling monthly allocation accruing to the states from the federation account, declaring that Nigeria’s federating units are struggling to meet their obligations to the citizenry of their various states, would be stating the obvious.

Many of the state governors, especially those, who took over the saddle when things were rosy and the international price of oil was relatively high, are in shock given the speed with which their monthly financial accruals have plummeted.

In fact, it is widely believed that aside from Lagos State, many states in Nigeria would not survive a long-drawn steady decline in allocations and derivation funds, solely enjoyed by states in the Niger Delta. Falling from a height of over N18 billion in monthly revenues to a ‘paltry’ N2.9 billion and with a wage bill of about N4 billion to pay every month, the Bayelsa State coffers are in the red, thus giving Governor Seriake Dickson sleepless nights.

Ironically, the oil-rich state had consistently maintained a fourth position in the list of states with the highest earnings, only coming behind Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, and Delta States.

But the financial situation of the state is said to have been further compounded because the state has just come out of a keenly contested governorship election in which many agree that money played a major role, just like in most elections in Nigeria.

More so, promises were made during the last campaign and the political vows would have to be fulfilled, given how much the state which would clock 20 in October this year, sincerely yearns for genuine development.

Indeed, Dickson, who has just been returned for a second term as governor of the state, recently expressed deep concern over the declining revenues accruing to the state and had vowed to take far-reaching measures to curb current leakages.

Interestingly, the state’s economy was still relatively buoyant when the governor started complaining between August and September last year about the declining economic fortunes of the state. Then, the state had received N5.2billion for September 2015 as against N6.2 billion in August of the same year. With many uncompleted projects still littering the state, which prides itself as the ‘glory of all lands’, a lot more pressure is likely to be mounted on the current administration to fulfil its pre-election vows in the next couple of weeks.

The governor has also promised to diversify the state’s economy due to the falling international oil price and return the state to the path of glory. But beyond the rhetoric and politically induced statements, pundits say, is a deeper need to genuinely rescue the state from the jaws of under-development and create jobs for the teeming youth population of the state. The governor has said that much in his recent public pronouncements.

“Faced with the reality of dwindling revenue, the wisdom in our strategy of diversifying our economic base beyond oil and gas to focus on agriculture and tourism is now justified more than ever before. We shall complete and put to use our fish farms, cassava starch processing plants, and other agricultural initiatives as well as hotels and tourism facilities to create jobs for our teeming youths and complement revenue from oil sources,” the governor recently vowed.

He also explained that the establishment of the Izon-Ibe Microfinance Bank with presence in all the local government areas of the state would complement his entrepreneurship drive

Dickson...the difference between then and now

by promoting access to credit for small and medium scale businesses.

Also, as part of his vows for the next four years, the governor promised expanding the on-going rural electrification schemes and building on “our massive investment in power to drive industrialisation.”

Despite the waning resources accruing to the state, Dickson promised to commence the building of the industrial park and pay priority attention to massive housing development projects. Not surprisingly, however, Dickson’s headache is how to get the money to implement these lofty pledges in a state which unarguably ranks among the least industrialised in the country.

While residents of the state await the vaunted cost-cutting measures, some decisions taken by the governor lately, especially the one where he vowed to probe civil servants, who were seemingly partisan in the last

Beyond the rhetoric and politically induced statements, pundits say, is a deeper need to genuinely rescue the state from the jaws of underdevelopment and create jobs for the teeming youth population of the state.

The governor has said that much in his recent public pronouncements

governorship election in the state have been viewed with some suspicion. There are fears that the measure was particularly targeted at weeding out those workers who did not support him during the election and thereby reduce the N4 billion monthly wage burden by firing them.

While constituting the five-man panel to investigate the level of involvement of some career public civil servants in partisan politics, the governor said he was “saving the civil service of the state from destruction by politicians.”

Speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff, Dickson noted that it had come to the notice of the government that such public servants were involved in partisan politics in the last December, 2015 and the January 2016 governorship poll, “where they were used as coordinators of political parties and party agents at various levels.”

According to him, the state government was aware of plans by a particular political party to use some public servants as witnesses to testify during election petition tribunal, adding that, “The action of such public servants, most of whom were card-carrying members of various political parties, was a clear contravention of the extant Public Service Rules, PSR No. 030422 (a-d) of the 2008 edition.”

The government, he said, would invoke the provisions in the Public Service Rules, PSR 030401 and 030402 and deal decisively with any public servant indicted by the panel.

A THISDAY check reveals that section four, specifically (g)of the provision deals with issues of ‘serious misconduct’ and lists ‘ Engaging in partisan political activities’ as one of them and ‘divided loyalty’ as another.

The punishment could range from suspension to outright dismissal.

The panel which has yet to submit its report has been empowered to investigate workers in all tiers of the public service, including those in the educational institutions and the unified local government service.

Not done with his cost-cutting measures, some of which are already causing apprehen-

sions in the camps of those affected, Dickson has further said his next move to sanitise the system is to make sure every worker is authenticated through their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) in order to weed out ghost workers.

While admitting that salaries had not been paid for three months due to the lean purse of the state, the governor noted that henceforth salaries would only be paid to workers who have completed the process of verification. He warned alleged perpetrators of payroll fraud and other sharp practices to stop forthwith or face the full weight of the law.

However, the governor urged genuine workers not to entertain any fear of sack, noting that the technology and method being used in the on-going exercise would further reduce the wage bill of the state “from its current N4 billion to a more realistic figure.

“Those people in the civil service, who are used to adding names on the payroll at the LG level, teaching service, parastatals and in the main civil service must stop because there is simply no money to service their criminality and greed. They have done it for all these years and now, we are saying enough is enough.

“We want a situation where after this verification process, the genuine civil servants will all be paid even if it is N2 billion that we get in a month. I really feel bad that for about three months now, workers have not been paid. But we are making efforts to get the funds to pay them at the end of this month by the grace of God. Those of them that have done their verification and produced their BVNs will have their salaries,” he assured.

But many are waiting to see if the new measures can be sustained or indeed if any savings arising from the new procedures being put in place would make any significant difference in the lives of the people.

Not many residents of the state would care how he does it, but what they may be yearning for is a gradual, measured and measurable fulfilment of the pre-election promises, if not all, then the most realistic ones, against the backdrop of the state’s dwindling resources.

17

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016

ONTHEWATCH

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Masari...living the APC dream

Badaru...inculcating a new political culture

Katsina, Jigawa in Races to One Party States Either by default or conscious machination, Katsina and Jigawa States are fast racing towards a one-party state system, writes Ibrahim Shuaibu

O

ne of the key elements of democracy is the liberal atmosphere it engenders for a multi-party system anchored on diverse ideological underpinning. The idea of having a single political party calling the shots without yielding space to other parties even if for the role of opposition is not allowed because more often than not, such an environment breeds dictatorship by paving the way for one party to have an absolute control of the levers of power and leadership.

Nigeria as a promising political edifice is presently waxing on the fringe of a presidential system of government, where many political parties are allowed to spring up in order to keep a constant tab on the political landscape.

Until last year’s general election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was seen as a formidable wielder of influence and seen to have had an overwhelming dominance over the affairs of the nation, thus prompting the weaker parties to fret that the nation might be heading towards a one party system.

But the outcome of last year’s general election, which produced the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the new ruling political party in the country given the stunning manner it upstaged the PDP with majority states has reopened the fear for a one party system.

Already, what appears like a one party system is brewing in in states like Katsina and Jigawa, where the APC is undoubtedly having a considerably huge influence on the state.

Looking at the unfolding scenario in Katsina State, for example, close observers are at an ample liberty to conclude that the state is currently reeling under the whims of one-party hegemony, considering the massive influx of top notch politicians from the opposition PDP to the APC-led government in the state.

In Jigawa also, thousands supporters and loyalists of PDP led ex-Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido recently joined the change train

of the APC. The former PDP bigwigs crossing over to APC includes former acting governor and SSG, Lawan Abdu Babura, who served Lamido as SSG; Alhaji Bashir Adamu, former Chairman House Committee on Defence, six former commissioners, seven special advisers and assistants and 16 local government chairmen

Political analysts however hold the view that a oneparty system which the country might be heading towards will not augur well for a budding democracy like Nigeria’s and could bolster the tendency for dictatorship. Besides, Nigeria’s multi-ethnic character is never in support of such a political disposition, hence the Katsina and Jigawa scenarios have begun to raise concerns amongst the political elite in the states

and two sole administrators plus 190 councillors, who served under Lamido’s government for eight years.

Commenting over his purported defection, Adamu, a former ranking member of the House of Representatives, said their decision to leave the party for the APC can be linked to his political moves of a chicken coming home to roost, being a former member of one of the legacy parties that formed the APC. In the case of Katsina, the APC also maintains such a mesmerizing control as a result of the massive movement of influential figures in the opposition PDP into the APC, knowing that their fingers were no longer on the political till as it was in the past.

Being the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, members of the PDP believe that with their own person in charge of the affairs of the country, leaving PDP for APC was expedient to complement the policies of the APC government in the state.

A chieftain of the APC, Adamu Musa Batsari told THISDAY that “APC is everywhere in Katsina. People were ashamed to be identified with PDP because no single person or group of people that is happy with the party in the state especially if the many initiatives of Governor Aminu Bello Masari were considered side-by-side with the development of the state.”

According to him, those who benefited from the former administration of PDP in Katsina had since left the state for either Abuja or abroad as they were frustrated during the last elections because no single post was given to their party by the electorate.

He disclosed that all responsible people in the state, who are into politics had resolved to defect to the APC and ensure it’s the only party on the ground as “opposition with their structures had since surrendered to our fold”.

For the first time in over 16 years, the PDP in Katsina is facing its biggest threat, the APC. A political analyst in the state, Bashir Mohammed, to that effect said “These are not the best of times for the Peoples Democratic

Party in Katsina State, to put it mildly as the gale of defections from the party and the profile of defectors have left doubt in the minds of its supporters as well as a huge vacuum in the party, which had ruled the state for 16 years.

Investigation revealed that this development transcends an internal crisis, as it appears to have caused supporters of PDP to start seeking alternative options.

The party’s crisis actually commenced shortly after the governorship and state assembly elections last year, where all the party chieftains left the state and their supporters without consultation on the way out after they lost the elections.

But a member of the PDP in Katsina, Abdullahi Mai Suga Bagarawa said, “We are not scared of our members who defected to the APC because even those in the party are suffering from maladministration of the APC governors.”

Continuing, Bagarawa said “APC members are crying of serious hardship occasioned by their leaders. I wonder why they hide under this economic issue and allow Nigerians to suffer. Our hope is for people to understand that PDP is the only party that has peopleoriented program.”

Another PDP chieftain in Jigawa State, Alhaji Adamu Karkarna said the party would soon bounce back to correct all the misdeeds of the APC government, pointing out that “Nigerians are still in love with PDP because of the democratic foundation it brought in to the country”.

Political analysts however hold the view that a one-party system which the country might be heading towards will not augur well for a budding democracy like Nigeria’s and could bolster the tendency for dictatorship.

Besides, Nigeria’s multi-ethnic character is never in support of such a political disposition, hence the Katsina and Jigawa scenarios have begun to raise concerns amongst the political elite in the states.

18

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016

EVENTS&REPORTS

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Arase and the Echoes of a Visit

Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase was recently on a working visit to Ebonyi State and the message of his visit has continued to resonate, writes Benjamin Nworie

T

uesday, March 22, was a remarkable day in the life of men and officers of the Ebonyi state Police command and also another history-making day for the command. Remarkable in the sense that the visit afforded professional tutelage to all the Police Officers on how best to be effective and efficient in keeping fate with their primary responsibility.

It was a day the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase visited Ebonyi on a one-day working visit. Arase’s visit was said to be the second visit of a police IG since the creation of the Command in 1996.

Ebonyi was the 33rd state that Arase had visited since he assumed office about eleven months ago. The essence of the visit was not far-fetched. It was to connect with the people and Police Officers physically; identify with their challenges; and appreciate them for all they have been doing in the country. With his visit, hopefully, the people of Ebonyi stand tall to benefit and take its quota in police recruitments.

It was a visit that the police officers and indeed, Ebonyi people would want to be a routine exercise. The Police IG’s benevolence and generosity tested positive. Many police officers were promoted on the spot, while some were handed cash gift and others, scholarship.

For instance, the Command’s chaplain, ASP Victor Enukaora got cash assistance from the IGP to relocate to a hotel for his honeymoon with his newly wedded wife, pending the completion of the ongoing renovation of the quarters.

ASP Enukaora had complained to the IGP that he wedded newly and because of the delay in the renovation works at the quarters, rain destroyed most of his properties and caused great discomfort to him and his wife.

Piqued by the sorry sight their situation presented, Arase immediately parted with cash gift in the region of one hundred thousand naira for the Chaplain to relocate to a hotel for their honeymoon, pending the completion of the renovation exercise.

Apart from robbing minds together with the rank and file of the Police in the state, the psychological import of the visit cannot be overemphasized either. First, it afforded the IGP to see firsthand, the gallant officers of the command who have been up and doing to ensure relative peace in the state.

Arase’s reception was indeed colourful and a show of hospitality by the government and people of the state and the leadership of the Command.

As earlier as 8 a.m on that day, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Peace Ibekwe Abdallah had already done the needful to ensure that the IGP was given a befitting reception and hospitality in the state. At the gate of the Command headquarters, a conspicuous banner of the IGP was hung, as common tradition demands, to herald the visit.

Security was not also jettisoned as men of the police did not leave anything by chance to ensure a hitch-free visit. They also ensured that there was no traffic logjam at the popular route of commuters and other commercial operators.

The CP and her team had as earlier as anyone could imagine secured the state capital, Abakaliki. And after supervising the guard of honour, the neatness of the command proceeded to Dr. Akanu Ibiam International airport in Enugu to receive the august visitor.

On arrival, the IGP was first received by a “flower boy”, Master Destiny Aligwekwe, at about 11:30 before inspecting the guard of honour led by Azubuike Aloh.

As the IGP was saluting and supervising the guard of honour, the principal officers of the command had already lined up to welcome him to the command headquarters, while most of the policemen abandoned their duty post to catch a glimpse of their overall boss with paparazzi struggling to get shots of him.

Arase inspecting a guard of honour

Full of excitement and enthusiasm, Arase asserted that his tenure is devoted to ensuring the enhancement of the welfare of policemen in the country. As a proof of his resolve, Arase on the spot promoted eleven officers for their outstanding performances during the visit.

Ten of the beneficiaries were the centery men that mounted guard during the IGP visit while another Police Corporal was promoted and decorated immediately by the IGP for presenting a proposal for Police Data collation in the country.

Part of the reasons for promoting the corporal, according to Arase, was because of his “communication skills”. The police boss, who reiterated his commitment on Police welfare, noted that about 40,000 policemen nationwide have been promoted since he assumed office, thereby charging them to respect the fundamental rights of Nigerians.

“You are unappreciated. You are seriously maligned. But all the same, you still remained relevant when it comes to internal security management,” Arase said.

Ebonyi was the 33rd state that Arase had visited since he assumed office about eleven months ago.

The essence of the visit was not far-fetched. It was to connect with the people and Police Officers physically; identify with their challenges; and appreciate them for all they have been doing in the country. With his visit, hopefully, the people of Ebonyi stand tall to benefit and take its quota in police recruitments

Arase commended Abdallah for her dexterity in the discharge of her duties, saying, “When I was AIG Intelligence and I was looking for someone, who will come and drive my intelligence policing, the Commissioner of Police was the first choice for Ebonyi State. I want to thank you for providing leadership.

Let me thank you for leading the dream. Let me thank you for making sure that all the doubting Thomases have now agreed that in every woman like you, there is always that potential.

“The Fundamental human rights of Nigerians are very paramount. You must be able to respect the rights of Nigerians. Your CP has mentioned that we have made Intelligence Policing as the driving force of our operational strategies. When you say intelligence-led policing, what are the ingredients that make Intelligence-led policing?

“Before you make up your mind that you want to commence an investigation, you must make sure that the investigation you want to carry out is strictly censored criminal matter.

If it’s not a criminal matter, it’s a civil matter or commercial matter. You must be able to distinguish the three categories of offences.

When it’s civil or commercial matter, I would expect as good officers to adopt alternative peaceful conflict resolution in dealing with the issue.

“When you do that, two things happen: you are able to bring the two parties together, both the plaintiff and the defender, or whoever they are. You bring two of them on a round table and try to settle the matter amicably.

When you do that, you are now a friend to both the plaintiff and the defender.

“And as police officers, it is necessary to make friends while on the job. An average policeman has extensive powers. Don’t put people in custody unless you are sure that an offence has been committed and the less you keep them in custody, the better for you,” the Police IG said.

Interestingly, Arase also offered automatic scholarship to a son of a late Police Officer, a JSS three student identified as Master Oluwasesan Abiodun, up to the university level for composing and reciting a poem, on the gallant efforts of the police titled, “The Nigeria Police”.

Arase noted that with about 3800 policemen in the command, and considering the land mass population, it was not possible to be physically present everywhere in the state, thereby stressing the need for periodical town hall meetings with stakeholders to acquaint them with the activities in the state command.

“I am a strong and passionate police officer when it comes to community partnership in internal security management, and that I have pursued fervently since I became the Inspector-General of Police. For that reason, I always say you cannot police the community unless you are able to connect to the socio-cultural environment with which you are policing”.

In her address, Abdallah noted that the downward trend in crime in the state can be attributed to policing strategies employed by the command, which extended beyond traditional reactive models of responding to distress calls to intensive crime prevention activities.

She also expressed confidence that stronger relationship established between the state Police Command and other security agencies as well as stakeholders has contributed immensely to the success recorded in all frontiers of crime fighting.

She however lamented that the strength of officers in the above cadres of rank is a serious constraint to the command with about 3,815 police officers providing security for close to 3 million people The CP also emphasised the urgent need to stop orgies of killings and wanton destruction of property following the conflict between the Ndiagu/Amagu Ikwo in the state and the Adadama people of Cross River State on the other hand and the Ngbo people of Ohaukwu LGA of Ebonyi State versus the Agila people of Benue State.

The need for adequate security within the boundary disputes and the waterways were part of major thematic issues raised by stakeholders and traditional rulers during their meeting with the IGP at the Police Mess.

With the renewal of hostilities at the two disputed areas which have claimed several lives and wanton destruction of properties, the people noted that there is urgent need to step up surveillance in the affected areas.

The people also requested for more slots during police recruitment as it was glaring that the state has always been marginalised during such exercise, but the Police IG noted with dismay that for the past six years, no recruitment has been made, hence most of the commands in the country have no junior police personnel.

On his part, however, Governor David Umahi of the state, who was represented by his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, when Arase paid a courtesy call on the governor, stressed the need for police posts within the boundary areas under dispute.

19

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Danladi Umar Must Do the Right Thing Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Dalandi Umar, must do what is right and just in the case involving the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki because posterity beckons, Mohammed Abdulrazaq posits

O

n December 10, 1948, in the aftermath of the World War II, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It contained this pivotal recital: “It is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law.” It went further to assert that a quality judiciary must uphold the rule of law.

Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights expressed the same principle thus: “Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.” In this wise, the rule of law ensures that courts have the power to determine authoritatively the lawfulness or not of all legislative and executive conduct by the application of the written law and legal principle.

It is a known fact that the Judiciary is there to ensure that the innocent is not unjustly punished in view of his political leaning either by the opposition or within his political party. Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has made it clear that his present case before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) is not about “corruption” but “political persecution” for emerging Senate President against the calculation of some powerful forces within his own party, the APC. There is a precedent to this. When in 2011, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) considered former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu a threat, they railroaded him to appear before the CCT for alleged breaches in his asset declaration forms while he was governor, without complying with mandatory procedures for such arraignment.

Nigerians read between the lines and cried foul. The CCT did not shirk its responsibility in ensuring that Justice was done. It promptly dismissed the charges against Tinubu. Similarly, Saraki though a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said he is being persecuted at the CCT based on the opinion of some influential party members that he emerged Senate President against their wish. Come to think of it, Saraki became Senate President on June 9, 2015. In September of the same year, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) suddenly woke up from its slumber to discover that there were breaches in the Asset Declaration forms he filled in 2003, when he first became the governor of Kwara State.

Moreover, the CCB sidestepped a germane Section of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, which provides that when such infractions, irregularities or breaches are observed in the assets declared by a public official, such an official or ex-official should first be informed of such anomalies by the CCB and be allowed to admit or deny the irregularities. It added that if the subject admits the discrepancies in writing, “there shall be no recourse to the CCT.” But in this case, as had been made clear by the lead defence counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi SAN, Saraki was never given the opportunity to admit or deny the alleged discrepancies in his asset declaration forms for which he is now being tried for at the CCT. He was not even made to write a statement on the issue.

This is even more worrisome in view of the fact that Tinubu had been arraigned in a similar fashion for alleged breach of the CCB/CCT Act and the same chairman of the CCT, Justice Danlandi Umar declined jurisdiction to try him based on the fact that the “condition precedent” for arraigning a

Umar...living for posterity?

suspect before the tribunal was not met by the CCB. This is why many Nigerians believe that Saraki has no case to answer in the present circumstances and that it will be in the overall interest of justice and enrichment of our democracy for the tribunal to strike out the case against him based on the yet unchallenged precedent it set in the Tinubu case.

For the avoidance of doubt, Section 3(d) of the CCB/CCT Act unambiguously provides that the Bureau shall: “Receive complaints about non-compliance with or breach of this Act and where the Bureau considers it necessary to do so, refer such complaints to the Code of Conduct Tribunal established

by Section 20 of this Act in accordance with the provisions of Sections 20 to 25 of this Act: PROVIDED THAT WHERE THE PERSON CONCERNED MAKES A WRITTEN ADMISSION OF SUCH BREACH OR NON-COMPLIANCE, NO REFERENCE TO THE TRIBUNAL SHALL BE NECESSARY” (emphasis mine).

It therefore follows that having quashed the case against Tinubu on this very premise in 2011, to rule otherwise in the Saraki case will be highly suspicious and obviously portrays the judiciary as having abandoned its fundamental role as an arbiter by conniving with politicians to nail a perceived ‘errant’ member, albeit through political persecution.

If this were the case, Justice to the accused, the prosecution and the society on whose behalf the prosecutor works cannot be said to have been truly done.

Saraki has repeatedly said he is being persecuted by elements within the ruling APC for contesting and winning the post of the Senate President against the express wish and interest of an ingrained cabal within the party. What is more? I believe that it is no coincidence that Mr. Danlandi Umar, who presided over and dismissed the charges against Tinubu is the same Chairman presiding over the Saraki case today. Therefore, the overwhelming expectation of Nigerians is that he should follow the precedent he set in the Tinubu case by declining jurisdiction to try Saraki (the tribunal has however assumed jurisdiction).

Nigerians hope that Umar would find the courage to follow his conscience and good reason in this case. For the avoidance of doubt, Justice Umar had ruled in the case between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu

with Charge No. CCT/ABJ/1/11 on 30th of November, 2011 that “On Section 3(d), I feel compelled by the argument of the learned SAN for the accused. It is a condition precedent for referring a charge to this Tribunal that the Accused ought to have been invited to either deny or admit the allegations against him.

“This is missing in this case as the Complainant has no such evidence of a prior invitation. It would be proper for me at this stage to simply decline further exercise of jurisdiction having held that the condition precedent to the instituting of charges against the Accused has not been complied with. I hereby resolve this issue in favour of the Accused...” This is the right thing and proper thing Nigerians expect Justice Umar to do despite the bandwagon of the howling mob, who will rather have the CCT reverse itself by assuming jurisdiction to try Saraki.

Why should Justice Umar do the right thing in the Saraki case? He should do the right thing by striking out the case against Saraki because it is the same type of charge, same judge, same Tribunal, same CCB/ CCT Act and same Constitution and same shirking of the condition precedent that has occurred. This is the plank upon which Saraki’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN premised his plea before the Tribunal last Friday.

Added to this is a common saying in law that it is far better for 1000 criminals to be set at liberty than for one innocent person to be wrongly convicted. The tribunal cannot afford to set a bad precedent by overruling itself. The Tribunal must also discountenance the comments of the prosecution in this case that it decided the Tinubu case in error in 2011. If the prosecution knew this, why has it not appealed the ruling since over five years ago? The position of the prosecution is not only meant to set up the Honourable Members of the CCT, but to put a question mark on their past decisions in the CCT. The CCT should not also be carried away by the apparent orchestrated hypes and media trial out there shouting “crucify him, crucify him”. Though an important organ of any democratic society, the press ought to allow the wheel of Justice to grind unencumbered. It must not constitute itself into a prosecutor and judge in a case instituted before any court in the land. To apparently blackmail the CCT in perverting justice at this time would not only jeopardize the inalienable rights of the defendant, but

a gross usurpation of the powers of the judiciary to determine issues brought before them impartially and independently.

Furthermore, the press should not lend its powerful platform to be used by powerful members of the society to pervert justice by resorting to subtle blackmail of the judiciary to err in law. It must be noted that without the constant vigilance of the judiciary, our democracy, rule of law and human liberty will be greatly imperiled. Freedom of speech is good but it must not be misused to dictate a particular course of action for the judiciary as some section of the press now seeks to do in the Saraki case.

If the abuse of privilege and responsibility by the media continues, then it can be said that the media have annexed the liberty and independence of the judiciary to impartially dispense justice in any litigated matter.

Such is what we have witnessed in the past few months, where a section of the media will go as far as impugning the integrity of justices, defence and persecution teams to prepare ground for selfish judicial outcome which is to gain through the court what they could not gain in the political arena.

Any attempt to arrest the freedom of the CCT to give unbiased judgment based on the preponderance of evidence, the written law and in the true exercise of their wellconsidered opinion must be resisted by the CCT in this case.

Be that as it may, the CCT will gain great wisdom to sail through this stormy weather if it avails itself of the counsel of Mordecai to Esther when he admonished in Esther 4:14 that: “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, [then] shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for [such] a time as this?”

According to Lord Denning: “The qualities of a good judge include patience, wisdom, courage, firmness, alertness, incorruptibility and the gifts of sympathy and insight.

In a democracy, a judge is accorded great respect by the state as well as its citizens.

He is not only permitted to assert his freedom and impartiality butalso expected to use all his forensic skill to protect the rights of the individual against arbitrariness.”

It is clear that despite the convoluted atmosphere surrounding Saraki’s arraignment before the CCT, the Senate President is not asking for clemency or judicial pardon.

He is asking that his case be struck out based on the impropriety of the charges and the dangerous precedent that would be set should the verdict be otherwise.

And that, for me, means that Justice should not only be done but must be seen to have been done irrespective of the personality involved. My submission to the CCT is that it remains true embodiment of Justice by ensuring that an innocent man is not unjustly punished based on political sentiments of a few powerful forces that orchestrated a well-oiled campaign of calumny against Saraki. Their campaign of calumny has unfairly resulted in a presumption of guilt even before the merits of the case is laid bare in court.

Don’t get me wrong. Nobody can dictate to the tribunal as to how it must cast its net.

Nobody is asking the tribunal to do anything extraordinary. But Nigerians are waiting to see whether in the instant case, the Tribunal will choose to go by the opinion of the vocal minority and political correctness or will serve as a bulwark against powerful forces attempting to trample on the rights of a free citizen of this country.

-Abdulrazaq, a public affairs analyst wrote from Anyigba, Kogi State

20

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016 • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

Acting Features Editor Charles Ajunwa Email charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

The Crippled Cobbler How did Rufus Oladapo, once a crippled beggar, change his narrative to one of a thriving entrepreneur? Solomon Elusoji tells his story

Oladapo working at his shop

R

ufus Oladapo was not born a cripple. Born and raised in Ogbomosho, he was a normal kid until tragedy struck one fateful night, at a time he was in primary three. From sleep, he had screamed and suddenly realised he could not move his legs anymore. Frantically, he was rushed to the hospital. But they would never be able to restore what he had lost.

“My parents took me from one hospital to the other,” Oladapo says, “but all was to no avail.” We are seated in his small shop along Isaac John Street, Ikeja, where he now makes and mends shoes. And he is delicately balanced on a bench, wearing a pleasant expression.

After realising that his parents had spent virtually all they had in trying to find a cure to his predicament, Rufus, in 1992, at the age of 21, decided to take himself off their necks. “I told them to let me go,” he remembers, “they had spent all they had, and there was no need for staying back.”

So, in 1992, Oladapo left Ogbomosho for Lagos. At first, he stayed with a friend at Iyana-Ipaja, who he helped to sell pure-water.

But after realising that the business would not help him to stand on his own, he took up begging as a profession. But, inside of him, he wanted to do something else.

“There was no support from anyone,” he says. “I actually wanted to learn a trade, but how was I going to survive while learning? How was I going to eat and pay for shelter? I had nobody to help with all these things.” So, begging was a last resort.

Gradually, as the years went by, he decided

he was financially secure enough to stop begging. So, he started to learn shoemaking at Ojuelegba. Every day, after doing his

Gradually, as the years went by, he decided he was financially secure enough to stop begging. So, he started to learn shoemaking at Ojuelegba. Every day, after doing his round of begging around the Ikeja axis, he would set off for Ojuelegba to attend his shoemaking lessons. It took him six years for him to become a professional who could stand on his own

round of begging around the Ikeja axis, he would set off for Ojuelegba to attend his shoemaking lessons. It took him six years for him to become a professional who could stand on his own.

Fortunately for him, after he had secured his ‘freedom’ from his shoemaking apprentice, a Good Samaritan, who used to see him begging around the Ikeja GRA axis, decided to give a him a little space where he could start plying his cobbler services. It was an unroofed, bare, tiny space that he had to put up a temporary tent to use. But, as he acquired more customers and made little gains, the tent has now been transformed into a shop made with concrete and wood.

This, no doubt, is a huge step up for the one-time beggar, who could hardly stop smiling, while he was being interviewed for this story.

Oladapo’s story is amazing for so many reasons. In a country where the unemployment rate is more than seven per cent, begging has become the avenue through which many physically challenged and even able-bodied individuals make a living. In fact, in an over-populated city like Lagos, it has become a culture. They seem to be everywhere – in bus-parks, on pedestrian bridges, inside commercial buses.

A lot of people have blamed the failure of government to provide ample economic opportunities as a reason for this phenomenon. A Lagos-based lawyer Barr. Malachy Ugwumadu, recently told THISDAY that while begging is not an acceptable practice in this part of the world, many people have taken to it due to the desperate desire to survive the country’s inclement economic situation.

According to him, “Government is expected to provide the enabling environment for the success of individual pursuits. But in the absence of that, lot of persons will resort to begging in a capitalist society like ours.

“However, begging is not a healthy practice because it dehumanises the integrity of an individual. Also, there is no amount of money that an individual makes from begging that would be sufficient enough for survival on a permanent basis. It can only last for a short time. Therefore, it is never a practice that should be accepted in any reasonable society. Government needs to be sensitive to the people’s needs, through proper policies implementation and social welfare programmes.”

Likewise, a Senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology, University of Lagos, Dr. Franca Attoh, has said that it is time for the government to do something about this growing menace.

“It is sad that government has not done enough to tackle the issue of begging, and it does not augur well for the society because there is a social contract which exists between the state and society and the state is expected to fulfill the needs of the society,” she says.

“Government should involve these beggars in vocational jobs and skills acquisition programmes in order to make them selfemployed and financially independent, thereby give them opportunity to contribute to societal growth.”

But it is inspiring that Oladapo didn’t wait for the government to change his story. Despite having a passable excuse for begging – being crippled – Oladapo fought against all odds to steer his life

21

• T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016

FEATURES

Oladapo at work

away from the ignominy of looking up to other persons for his daily bread.

“To overcome begging is not an easy thing,” he says. “Today, I thank God. There is nothing you do in this life that is by your own power. As I have decided not to be begging anymore, it is not by my power, but by God’s power. I might decide that I want to work, but if God does not approve of it, I can’t succeed. But I thank God that he has made me succeed from the work.

“Today, I can feed myself. No more begging. I stopped begging immediately I started doing work for people. If I do the work, I will take it to the bank, to all those small companies. There was no family who supported me till today. It was all God. My parents are old. It was because of my condition that made them bankrupt. So why would I be disturbing them again?”

Oladapo also tells us that there is nothing romantic about begging. For him, it’s the

But it is inspiring that Oladapo didn’t wait for the government to change his story.

Despite having a passable excuse for begging – being crippled – Oladapo fought against all odds to steer his life away from the ignominy of looking up to other persons for daily bread

Oladapo inside his shop

worst way of earning a living.

“If things were easy for me or my parents had money, for me to beg is a big shame,” he tells us. “It will spoil your name and make people misbehave towards you. Then I used to cry and talk to God to help me.

The people that used to insult me when I was begging now see me working. And that makes me happier.”

Perhaps more remarkably, Oladapo's shoemaking skills are otherworldly, judging from the comments passed on by one of his customers, Mr. Francis Osara, who

Some of Oladapo's finished works on display

accepted to be interviewed for this story.

“I recently discovered that I didn’t have black shoes and I wanted to buy new ones,” Mr. Francis says. “But as I was clearing the house, I saw so many black shoes, about five or six of them, and the leather was still good, although the soles were bad. I just remembered that I used to see him doing shoes, while driving along this road.

“When I approached him I was even expecting him to charge me so much, but he gave me a decent price. And the shoes were ready on the day he promised me.

He is very well organised. Apart from that, they were well prepared.”

People like Oladapo should be celebrated, for having the willpower and courage to carve out a life for themselves, for not waiting to be helped by the randomness of fate, for doggedly continuing on one path until success comes. Today, he doesn’t have billions, but he is a happy man, quietly conducting his business, putting smiles on the faces of his clients, and providing for his own food and personal upkeep. What more could he have asked for?

22

IMAGES

Governor of Ekiti State; Ayo Fayose (left) and MD/CEO; First City Monument Bank; Ladi Balogun during a visit to the governor by the management of FCMB in Ado...recently

L-R; Representative of Victim Support Fund (VSF), Elder Sunday Obe; Wife of Edo State Governor,. Mrs. Clara Adams Oshiohmole; Special Adviser to Governor on Special Duties, Hajia Maimuna Momodu and Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Aanena Jemitola,during the donation of educational materials to the IDP camp children by the Victim Support Fund Team in Benin, Edo State... recently

Members of Apostolic Faith Church Choir and Orchestra during the 2016 Easter Concert in Lagos...recently

L-R: Winners, Senior category, Rotary Annual Interschool Debate Competition, Akinfaderin Yewande and Uwoziya David of Ikotun Senior High School; President, Rotary Club of Ikoyi, Deaconess Oluremi Akinterinwa; Winners, Junior category, Akinbolusere Ayomide with Nwokeocha Chioma of Idimu Junior High School and President, Rotary Club of Igando, Otunba Adebayo Akin-Omotuyi during the final contest and presentation of awards organized by both clubs in Lagos...recently

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016

Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R; Service Manager, PAN Nigeria, Mr Subash Sehgal; Service Network Manager, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr Chidera Ejiofor and Technical Head, M-Store, Mr Gagandeep Lakhanpal, at the launch of the Samsung service centre, Opebi, Lagos... recently.

L-R: The Chairman, Parish Laity Council, Mr. Victor Eze; the President Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), Mrs. Felicia Okoli; Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Dr. Alfred Martins; and the Parish Priest, St. Stephens Catholic Church, Onike during the bishop’s visit to inaugurate the parish grotto built by the CWO in Lagos… recently

Holiday makers travelling back to base after the Easter celebration at the Railway Terminal, Lagos...recently

A beneficiary of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Women Economic Empowerment Programme for Widows, Madam Deborah Kolawole(3rd left) with some female staff of the bank during the donation of cash and items to her as part of the bank’s activities to mark the International Women’s Day Celebration in Lagos..recently.

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, 30 MARCH 2016

23

BUSINESSWORLD OVERDRAFT PRIME NORMAL LENDING

R A T E S 17.9773% 20.3040%

LOAN PRIME LOAN

A S 18.0478% 20.7143%

A T

Group Business Editor ChikaAmanze-Nwachuku Email: chika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com 08033294157

M A R C H

DEPOSIT/LENDING SAVINGS ACCOUNT STRICT CALL 7 DAYS

2.3119% 2.8642% 3.2102%

2 5 ,

60 DAYS 90 DAYS 180 DAYS

6.4400% 7.2438% 7.2417%

2 0 1 6

EXCHANGE RATE N155.70 US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Customers Commend Sterling Bank

The rating of Sterling Bank Plc as one of the top 100 banks in the world, number three in Africa and the Best Bank in Nigeria

by Lafferty Group, an international rating Agency has attracted commendation from customers of the Bank who described it as a recognition of excellent service delivery and support for the growth of the Nigerian economy.

The rating is based on key quantitative and qualitative criteria such as strategy, culture, customer care, brand promise and financial performance.

A cross section of the bank’s customers noted that the rating would further reinforce their confidence in the Bank as it has become a major player globally in terms of provision of customer oriented products and quality service delivery. They also noted that the activities of the bank in the education, sports, agriculture, environment sectors influenced the high rating of the bank.

A customer who is a major player in the automobile industry but spoke on the basis of anonymity noted that the rating of the bank among the top global financial institutions and the best in Nigeria did not come to many as a surprise based on the value the bank has brought to bear on the sustainable growth of businesses owned by their customers.

Winners Emerge in Skye Reward Scheme

OUR SCORECARD

L-R: Ag. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Neimeth, International Pharmaceuticals Plc, Dr. Ebere Igboko Ekpunobi; Director, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa; and Chairman, Dr. Ambrosie Orjiako, during the company’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos...recently YOMI AKINYELE

Shareholders of Five Banks to Share N149bn in Dividends Goddy Egene Shareholders of five banks will receive a sum of N149 billion in dividends for the 2015 financial despite the poor state of capital market in 2015. The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index, which measures the aggregate performance of the stock market declined by over 17 per cent in 2015 due to the economic headwinds.

Given the challenging operating environment and stiff regulatory environment, it was expected that investors in the banking sector of the market may not earn much for 2015 financial

CAPITAL MARKET year.

Although five banks have sent profit warning to the market, other five banks that have announced their results have recommended dividends valued at N149 billion for their shareholders. The banks are: Zenith Bank Plc, GTBank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Access Bank Plc and Sterling Bank Plc. The five banks recorded growth in profit, hence the recommendation of dividends for shareholders. Zenith Bank Plc recommended the highest dividend of N56.5 billion, which

is N1.80 per share. GTBank followed with N52 billion or N1.77 per share. UBA Plc is giving out N21.7 billion or 60 kobo per share. Shareholders of Access Bank Plc are to receive a total dividend of N16 billion or 55 kobo per share, while Sterling Bank Plc is giving out N2.6 billion.

Speaking on the dividends, a shareholder and member of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr. Moses Igbrude said the banks needed to be commended considering the challenging environment in which they operated.

“It is heartwarming and encouraging to note that some of the banks are making profit and rewarding shareholders with dividends. We all see the rising cost of running businesses in the country. Besides, the challenging environment has made many companies to suffer losses and thereby exposing the banks to higher risks. Despite these challenges, banks that are able to manage their operations, record profit and declare dividends should be commended. I therefore believe the banks should be Continued on page 24

‘Monetary Policy Tightening Could Worsen Nigeria’s Economic Uncertainty’ Eromosele Abiodun The decision of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) MPC to tighten monetary policy portrays conflicting signals as to the true direction of monetary policy in the Nigerian economy. Analysts at Eczellon Capital Limited observed that the MPC’s decision could further worsen the perceived economic uncertainty in the country.

The MPC concluded its second meeting for the year last week against the backdrop of recent domestic economic developments – rising inflation and slowing economic growth - and external economic headwinds such as tepid global growth as well

ECONOMY as stable energy prices.

The Committee decided by a majority to reverse its accommodative monetary stance and commence another tightening of monetary policy in the country. Specifically, the Committee increased its benchmark rate from 11.0 per cent to 12.0 per cent and hiked Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) for banks to 22.5 per cent from 20.0 per cent.

However, in the their comment post MPC meeting, analysts at Eczellon Capital Limited, noted that the decision of the committee was hinged on the need to: combat rising inflationary pressures, reduce banking

system liquidity, attract foreign inflows and invariably support the slide in the value of the nation’s currency.

“In our view, the outcome of the MPC has the following impacts on the Nigerian economy. First, we expect an increase money market rates on the back of the squeeze in banking system liquidity. This should translate to a higher cost of funds for financial institutions and could further pressure net interest margin. Increased cost of fund implies a possible rise in the cost of credit in the economy for borrowers. This does not particularly augur well for the Industrial sector of the Nigerian economy which is already in recession.

“Also, a 100 basis point hike

in MPR translates to a rise in nominal savings interest rate to 3.6 per cent from 3.3 per cent. This, however, remains unattractive given current inflation rate of 11.4 per cent which implies real returns of 7.8 per cent on Savings account. Finally, the only succour the economy is likely to witness in the short term would be stability in the value of the naira especially at the parallel market as reduced naira liquidity would likely cushion demand for the dollar,” they said.

They added that the decision to hike MPR and CRR would go a long way to moderate liquidity in the economy in anticipation of the Continued on page 24

The Deputy Controller General (DCG) of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr. Malgwi Henry Yasika, was one the of the lucky millionaires that emerged from the recent ‘Reach for Skye Millionaire’ reward scheme OF Skye Bank Plc held in Sokoto.

Yasika, who maintains an account with the Ebitu Ukiwe Branch in Minna, Niger State, joined two others who won the star prize of N1 million in addition to other customers who won N250,000 and N100,000 respectively.

At the North-west’s regional draw which took place in Sokoto, a total of N5 million was won by customers as the bank rewards loyal customers across the nation.

Speaking about his win, the Immigration DCG said he was initially suspicious when the news was first broken to him but became excited afterwards, noting that the money has greatly changed his life.

“It has greatly changed my life because N1 million is not small money,” a statement from the bank quoted him to have said, adding that Skye Bank runs a genuine and transparent reward scheme for its customers

Firms Focuses on Customer Satisfaction

DHL Express’ focus on customer service pays off: Total of 22 awards won in the 10th Annual Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service across Sub Saharan Africa As consumers and businesses are urged to tighten their belts in light of slowed economic growth, customer service experience is set to become an increasingly important differentiator for local businesses, and one of the main factors that will influence decisions regarding which supplier to purchase products and services from.

This is according to the Vice President of Customer Services for DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Fatima Sullivan, who said research had shown consumers are willing to spend more for better customer service and with those companies that they believe provide excellent customer service.

“In an environment where alternatives are rife, customer experience is rapidly becoming one of the most important elements of a business’ success. While price will always be important in the mind of the consumer, this becomes less so if a business offers first class customer service to support the product or service.”

It is for this reason that DHL invested so heavily in a customercentric culture, Sullivan said.

“The customer needs to be the key focus in all activities, whether it is improvements in delivery times or query resolution processes.

A good customer service department should understand the link between the way customers are managed and handled, and the company’s bottom line.”

Savings serve as a veritable instrument for capital mobilisation to finance aggregate investment required for economic growth MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo

24

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, 30 MARCH 2016

BUSINESSWORLD SHAREHOLDERS OF FIVE BANKS TO SHARE N149BN IN DIVIDENDS hailed,” he said.

Igbrude added that the dividends are good for investors because it would enhance their liquidity position after payment. Among the five banks that have announced their results, Access Bank Plc recorded the highest profit growth.

The bank grew its profit after tax by 53 per cent from N43.1 billion in 2014 to N65.9 billion. UBA followed with a growth of 25, rising N47.9 billion to N59.65 billion.

Commenting on the results, Group Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe said: “Guided by a robust risk management framework, our diversified business model yielded positive results as we grew the business cautiously and recorded sound prudential ratios.” Similarly, speaking on the performance, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UBA, Mr. Phillips Oduoza said:”Our 2015 profit is a new high, reflecting the hard work and discipline of our Board, Management and Staff in creating value for all stakeholders.”

‘MONETARY POLICY TIGHTENING COULD WORSEN NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY’ spending stimulus from the federal government which is expected to commence next week, other things being equal.

“We, however, doubt that the move by the MPC would attract foreign inflows or stem inflationary pressures. As for the latter, the key driver for the sharp rise in prices was structural bottlenecks in the economy; while uncertainty around the value of the naira is the primary reason for the current shortage of foreign inflows into the country.

Thus, until a proper guidance is provided on the nation’s FX policy guidelines, we expect investors to continue their “wait and look” stance on the Nigerian economy,” they said.

Group Business Editor

Chika Amanze-Nwachuku Maritime Editor

John Iwori

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Crusoe Osagie

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Linda Eroke (Labour) Eromosele Abiodun (Cap Mkt) Ejiofor Alike (Energy) James Emejo (Nation’s Capital) Obinna Chima (Money Mkt) Reporters

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (AgricBusiness)

NEWS

Survey Highlights Positive Outlook for E-Commerce in Nigeria Obinna Chima A recent poll by NOIPolls has revealed a relatively high level of awareness on e-commerce in Nigeria.

According to the report, about five in 10 Nigerians (53 per cent) showed awareness of online shopping, and of this proportion, 25 per cent further indicated that they shop online or know someone who does.

These findings suggested that while online shopping only started gaining popularity in Nigeria in recent years due to the springing up of indigenous online shopping sites, its awareness and usage has been relatively encouraging.

This arguably could be linked to the rising usage of the internet by Nigerians, further buttressed by the social media survey conducted by NOIPolls last month, which revealed that 63 per cent of Nigerians are on one form of social media platform or the other, accessing the internet mostly through their mobile phones and other internet enabled devices.

More findings from the poll revealed Jumia as the top online shopping platform in Nigeria in terms of popularity (68 per cent) and usage (58 per cent). Jumia was closely followed by ‘Konga’ with 59 per cent popularity and 30 per cent usage. Other sites with considerable popularity according to the poll included ‘OLX’ (18 percent) and ‘Kaymu’ (7 percent) amongst other online retail shopping platforms.

“It is important to note that the indigenous online shopping sites such as Jumia, Konga etc. which have sprung up in the last few years seemed to have gained more popularity and usage than foreign online

shopping sites such as Amazon, Aliexpress, etc.

“This may be likely due to factors such as proximity, currency of dealing, delivery time and terms of payment of the both categories of sites in view. For instance while the indigenous sites offer services like payment on delivery (heightening the assurance of customers), foreign sites do not offer this service as payments need to be made before delivery.

“In addition, Nigerians consider ‘convenience’ (46 percent) ‘quality’ (16 percent), ‘variety of products’ (10 per cent) ‘delivery time’ (6 per cent) as the most important factors that influence their decision to shop online,” the report added.

An assessment of the online shopping experiences of respondents revealed that most Nigerians (61 percent) who shop online are satisfied with their online retail shop-

ping experience, although a considerable proportion of respondents in this category responded negatively.

“This is no surprise given the fact that the satisfaction level of consumers is bound to differ due to the several online shopping platforms available in the country and the varying expectations of individual consumers from these platforms.

“Finally, while poll results revealed positive figures in

terms of awareness, usage and satisfaction rating of online shopping platforms in Nigeria, online retailers must constantly work to improve service areas such as delivery time, delivery charges, as well as their privacy policy so as to assure customers of the security and confidentiality of their personal data, hence encouraging more customers to shop online thus enhancing growth in the e-commerce industry,” it added.

COURTESY VISIT

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Kayode Komolafe; Head of Marketing Communication, Oando Marketing Plc, Mr. Seum Adeosun and Marketing Communication officer, Oando Marketing Plc, Mrs. Sumbo Olajubu, during the visit of Oando Marketing team to THISDAY Corporate Head Office, Apapa, Lagos...recently MUBO PETERS

FG Advised on How to Finance the 2016 NAICOM Identifies Benefits of RBS Budget Eromosele Abiodun The Chief Executive Officer of Anabel Group, Mr. Nicholas Okoye has proposed four major sources through which the federal government can source international capital to finance the deficit in the recently approved N6.06 trillion 2016 budget.

Speaking on the implementation of the 2016 budget in an exclusive chat with THISDSAY, Okoye explained that the federal government could source fund internationally through debt market, stock market, private equities and global venture capital.

He noted that some banks in Nigeria had successfully raised funds by floating international bonds, hence, the federal government could deploy the platform to mobilise funds to address budget deficit.

Okoye appealed to the government to accord priority to youth employment as part of the strategy to boost economic activities in Nigeria.

Okoye is renowned for youth empowerment advocated strategic approach towards

exposure of the Nigerian youths to entrepreneurship training in order to address the problem of youth unemployment.

He explained that Anabel Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers in order to assist the institute mobilise youths to enroll for Diploma in Securities and Investment .

He described the MoU as a great initiative by the CIS to develop a financial inclusion master plan for the young Nigerians. He explained that the initiative, which is consistent with Anabel’s Empower Nigeria Initiative, aims at overall development of manpower for the Nigeria’s economy and creating jobs for thousands of young people.

According to him, many of the qualified youths will be supported by Anabel Group’s Empower Nigeria to set up their own financial planning houses in communities across Nigeria.

Okoye noted that the programme would provide the foot soldiers needed for the Nation’s financial inclu-

sion strategy which is being promoted by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

He expressed delight that this private sector led initiative, which is ultimately designed not just to create new jobs but also to support the mobilisation of savings all over Nigeria, would not only have a multiplier effect on the overall development of Nigeria’s financial markets, but will equally provide a positive boost to the growth of our national economy in the medium and long term.

The beneficiaries would be exposed to fundamental knowledge of a wide spectrum of financial products in the securities market, pension, insurance, oil and gas.

The Anabel Leadership Academy promotes its Empower Nigeria Initiative as a strategic solution designed to create over one million new jobs in the next three to five years through entrepreneurship development and the empowerment of micro, small and medium scale businesses.

Ebere Nwoji The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has identified the benefits in the Risk Based Supervision (RBS) model of regulation which it wants to fully implement in Nigerian Insurance Industry next month.

The commission at a media retreat organised at Abeokuta, Ogun state, where it educated members of the press on the new supervisory model said the model has the benefit of allowing for systematic assessment of insurers ‘ risks using a formalised framework at regular intervals.

The commission also said the model allows for identification of insurers’ strengths and weaknesses and areas within insurers where difficulties or challenges exist.

NAICOM ‘s Director of inspectorate Barineka Thompson speaking on benefits of the new supervisory model also said it encourages a strong risk management functions in insurers and promotes the cost effective use of regulatory resources as well as allows for

continuous monitoring, early warning indicators, prompt intervention and timely action.

He also highlighted some of the objectives of the model saying it uses supervision system that accords with international best practices as well as a risk focused supervision to strengthen the risk management system of insurers .

Thompson also said the model is used to carry out preventive control.

According to him, RBS promotes appropriate regulatory action in line with the risk profile of an insurer and focuses supervision resources more effectively and efficiently.

He further said it is a more flexible regulation based on principles rather than the rules.

He gave an insight into how the model will be conducted in Nigeria, saying industry supervisors would perform RBS by looking at all the material risks that are faced by an insurer and how it controls those risks .

He said supervisors would conduct assessment if all material risks and how insurers would control the risks.

25

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, 30 MARCH 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

EQUITIES WATCH

Lafarge Africa Falls Short of Expectations Having recorded a decline of 20 per cent in profit after tax in 2015, Lafarge Africa hopes that 2016 will be a better year given the strategies already in place, writes Goddy Egene The financial results of companies for the year ended December 2015 being released confirmed the challenging environment in which they operated during the year under review. While some announced improved performance, some recorded decline in their bottom-lines. Some ended the year with losses, while others have sent profit warnings that investors should expect weaker performance for 2015 financial year.

Lafarge Africa Plc, which is a subsidiary of LafargeHolcim, the world’s largest building materials company, falls into the category of those that recorded a decline in their operations for 2015. The company recorded a decline of 20 per cent profit after tax (PAT) due to the one-off restructuring costs and the unrealised exchange impact on the foreign currency borrowings from the parent group. However, the company is rewarding shareholders with a cash dividend of 300 kobo per share and a bonus of one new share for every 10 shares already held.

2015 Full Year Performance The audited results of Lafarge Africa showed that it posted a revenue of N267.2 billion in 2015, up marginally by 2.5 per cent from N260.8 billion in 2014.Gross profit stood at N82.5 billion compared with N83 billion in 2014. Operating expenses grew by 20.5 per cent from N30.6 billion to N36.9 billion, while net financial cost rose by 13 per cent from N7.9 billion to N9.0 billion. Profit before tax fell by 27 per cent from N40.4 billion to N29.3 billion, while profit after tax declined by 20.2 per cent to N27 billion, from N33.8 billion in 2014.

According to the company, South West operations grew by eight per cent behind a number of initiatives such as the Key Distribution Scheme, a strong route to market and solid capacity utilisation. ReadyMix Nigeria continued its strong growth with a 29 per cent increase over prior year. South African revenues grew by seven per cent in the last quarter. Lafarge Africa explained that Ashaka operations are normalised, following the security challenges in the region which affected demand for cement in the North.

“Management remains very optimistic about the long term outlook for Ashaka, which is foreseen to return to strong growth in 2016.

Plant operations were mostly stable with gas utilisation in the 90s in South West and Mfamosing operations. The South African cement operations returned to growth in Q4 with production up by 28 per cent versus last year, following the kiln overhauls in Q1 2015.

“Group after tax profit declined by 20 per cent versus last year, when taking into account the one-off restructuring costs and the unrealised exchange impact on the Mfamosing operations foreign currency borrowings from the parent group, LafargeHolcim, the world’s largest building materials company.

The one-off impact of the adjustment to the naira value of the foreign currency borrowing, due to the deterioration in the naira exchange rate, is to a large extent an accounting exercise as Lafarge Africa PLC is not foreseen to repay the shareholder loans in the foreseeable future, which makes up the majority of the foreign currency borrowing. Excluding these one-off/ none operational impacts, profit improved by six per cent versus last year behind the strong underlying fundamentals of Lafarge Africa Plc’s operations. Cash flow from operations was robust at N57.9 billion,” the company said.

Commenting on the results, the Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Peter Hoddinott said: “Our company continues to deliver good performance with significant upsides to come as new cement and power generation capacities come on stream and synergy benefits from the merger in Nigeria flow through. Our business integration process has been successful and as a company we are optimistic to deliver improving performances in 2016 and beyond, improving value to our shareholders.”

High optimism According to the company, the overall Nigerian cement market is foreseen to grow robustly in 2016 behind a strong Individual Home

Building Segment.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has also shown strong indications to support Infrastructure growth in the coming year. Lafarge Africa will be able to leverage its unique footprint in 2016 with Ashaka returning to growth, ReadyMix securing high volume contracts to support its eight existing, and new plants to be commissioned as well as the new 2.5 million tons cement line due to be commissioned in Mfamosing in half year of 2016,” it said.

Lafarge Africa added that the South African market will remain challenging, it would will leverage the 2015 investments within the cement operations with a revamped sales team and route to market.

“In aggregates, the company will continue to benefit from its strong network delivering results with two new quarries, being opened in the Gauteng market and Ready-Mix growth.

Overall, new strategies in penetrating retail, new geographies and the technical segment are expected to allow Lafarge Africa volumes to grow above a flat market in all three product lines. The Lafarge Africa group will continue to seek innovative ways of improving product offerings in the Nigerian cement, concrete and aggregate market in 2016,” it said.

Analysts’ Comments Analysts at Afrinvest West Africa said the positive performance in turnover of the group in 2015 was largely supported by 3.3 per cent growth in consolidated Nigerian operations which offset

a 2.0 per cent contraction in South Africa sales.

The South African market has continued to experience volume and price pressures in a declining economic and industry growth environment and stiffer competition brought about by new entrant (Sephaku Cement - majority owned by Dangote Cement) and importations.

“On the contrary, Nigerian operation was resilient due to strong prices of products in H1 of 2015, ramp-up of capacity utilisation in South West operation near optimal level (to 86.4 per cent in FY:2015 from 80.9 per cent in 2014).

Ashaka sales was down 17.7 per cent impacted by production disruption in H1:2015; while United Cement sales declined 1.2 per cent on what management attributed to volume shut-in in Q4:2015 due to flooding. In summary, the three cement operations in Nigeria (Ashaka, UNICEM and South West) saw a combined 0.8 per cent increase in capacity utilization to 80.1 per cent while Ready Mix Concrete (RMC)sales volume was up 26.4 per cent,” the analysts said.

Weakened Operating Margins Looking at the operating margins of the company, the analysts said margins were materially weaker in 2015 despite the consolidation of UNICEM which bolstered reported Group earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA).

“This was mainly due to: 100 basis points (bps) increase in cost of sales ratio as we observed 4.6 per cent jump in variable cost (mainly fuel) as well as one-off – N1.0 billion

LAFARGE AFRICA FULL YEAR FINANCIAL SUMMARY

300

DEC, 2015 N267.2bn DEC, 2014 N260.8bn

250 200 150 100 50 45

DEC, 2014 N40.4bn

DEC, 2015 N36.9bn

40

DEC, 2014 N30.6bn

35 30

DEC, 2015 N29.3bn

DEC, 2015 N27bn

DEC, 2014 N33.8bn

25 20 15

DEC, 2015 N9.0bn DEC, 2014 N7.9bn

10 05

REVENUE

OPERATING EXPENSES

NET FINANCE COST

PROFIT BEFORE TAX

PROFIT AFTER TAX

for Kiln repair in South Africa and N2.5 billion Ashaka security impact; 281.5 per cent increase in expenses related to Lafarge Africa integration and restructuring cost of merging Lafarge Africa with Holcim; 271.7 per cent increase in advertising expenses to N1.0 billion as competition in the two key markets has led to responses to improve branding,” they said.

Higher Leverage Impacted Net Margin Afrinvest noted that the consolidation of UNICEM while boosting Group EBITDA, has raised its leverage position with mounting interest expense.

“Also, 46 per cent of total loans are denominated in United State dollars, adding to the pressure on bottom-line from exchange losses arising from exchange rate volatility. Net finance cost rose 13.8 per cent to N9.0 billion and N7.3 billion was recorded in losses on assets. A combination of these factors led to a 2.9 per cent decline in net margin to 10.1 per cent despite an 11.0 per cent contraction in effective tax rate,” they said.

Future Outlook According to the analysts, they expect another flattish year in South Africa as macro headwinds persist while projecting cement sales volume across the three operational structures in Nigeria to grow 6.2 per cent in 2016. They noted that the RMC segment should also gain traction to be driven by the government’s CAPEX (30.0 per cent allocation in 2016 Budget) which is anticipated to offset decline in households and consumer spending growth.

“We expect as additional 3.0 million metric tonnes(mmt) per annum capacity (2.5mmt from UNICEM and 0.5Mmt/a from Ashaka) coming on stream by half year of 2016. Yet, the upside from forecasted volumes growth will be limited as we expect the full impact of price actions in Nigeria to weigh on sales figures in FY:2016, hence we project turnover to trim 0.6 per cent to N265.6bn.

However, with consolidation phase now over, we expect some level of operational synergies with the strategic acquisitions in Nigeria to lower operating costs profile while restructuring charges and one-offs that pressured margins in 2015 would also be eliminated. Thus, we have raised our FY 2016 EBITDA estimate to N66.3 billion (from N48.8 billion) broadly due to the aforementioned factors and consolidation impact of UNICEM not incorporated in previous forecast.

We also revised FY 2016 our PAT forecast to N32.1 billion (previous forecast - N31.0 billion).

In the medium term, we expect investments in power projects to support EBITDA margin expansion,” Afrinvest said.

26

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, 30 MARCH 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Making Agriculture Nigeria’s Goldmine With its status as the largest employer of labour in the country and its huge potential to become an alternative foreign exchange earner, Eromosele Abiodun posits that now is the time to take a serious look at the agriculture sector

NIGERIA HAS SPENT N218.7BN ON IMPORTATION OF PALM OIL IN THE LAST 2 YEARS

IMPORTS VEGETABLES FROM COUNTRIES LIKE ISRAEL, POLAND AND SAUDI ARABIA

NIGERIA SPENDS $125.38BN ON FISH IMPORTATION ANNUALLY

WHEAT

NIGERIA SPENDS $11BN ANNUALLY ON FOOD IMPORTS

$1BN SPENT ON IMPORTATION OF TOMATO PASTE

OVER N660 N660BN WAS SPENT TO IMPORT 1.2 MILLION METRIC TONS(MT) OF FROZEN CHICKEN

LAGOS STATE CONSUMES N135BN WORTH OF RICE AND 2.19MN HERDS OF CATTLE RICE

Renowned physicist and Nobel Laureate, Albert Einstein once said: “In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity.” A careful consideration of Nigeria’s current economic meltdown reveals the truth behind this aphorism and why serious attention must be paid towards diversifying the economy. In recent times, the country’s foreign exchange reserves have dropped below $30 billion as at January, 2016 and the currency has continued to lose value as the gulf between the parallel market and official rates the naira to the dollar widens further.

Crude oil accounts for over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, 35 per cent of gross domestic products (GDP), 75 per cent of government revenue.

However, with the fall in oil prices, and with no commensurate cut in production, Nigeria now finds itself in an economic bind.

The current state of agriculture in Nigeria is only a shadow of what it used to be but it can be said that there are encouraging signs of improvement. It is common knowledge that about 80 per cent of Nigerian land is arable and has produced major crops, including beans, sesame, cashew nuts, cassava, cocoa beans, groundnuts, kolanut, maize (corn), melon, rice, millet, palm kernels, palm oil, plantains and rubber, among others. For many decades, the sector has been under-funded and not received the attention it deserves.

As such, small holder farming forms a large percentage of the sector within Nigeria. Poor farming methodologies, lack of access to finance, post-harvest losses due to lack of storage facilities, unreliable power supply,

NO MORE THAN $1.8BN IS SPENT ON WHEAT IMPORTATION ANNUALLY

NIGERIA SPENT $2.1BN ON RICE IMPORTATION IN 3 YEARS

poor transport infrastructure and unattractiveness of farming in terms of returns for many

The introduction of Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) brought about reforms in the input delivery or Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme, agricultural financing, value chain development, including the Staple Crop Processing Zones, and farm mechanization have yielded an abundant harvest for farmers and great gains for the country

young people are some of the reasons why agriculture has remained on the back burner of our national life.

Nigeria has huge agricultural potential.

With over 84 million hectares of arable land, of which only 40 per cent is cultivated; a population of 167 million people, making her Africa’s largest market; 230 billion cubic meters of water; and abundant and reliable rainfall in over two thirds of its territory, the country has some of the richest natural resources for agricultural production in the world. Not surprisingly, Nigeria used to be a major player in the global agricultural market in the past, as the world’s largest producer of groundnuts and palm oil in the 1960s, and the second largest exporter of cocoa.

The country was also self-sufficient in food production before the emergence of oil in the 1960s.

In the past four years, Nigeria’s agriculture sector has undergone major reforms and transformation. The introduction of Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) brought about reforms in the input delivery or Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme, agricultural financing, value chain development, including the Staple Crop Processing Zones, and farm mechanization have yielded an abundant harvest for farmers and great gains for the country. Between 2011 and 2014, national food production grew by 21million metric tonnes and led to a sharp reduction in food imports. Nigeria’s food import bill fell from an all-time high of N3.19 trillion in 2011 to N635 billion in 2013; a 403 per cent reduction. Direct farm jobs rose by

3.56million in the period 2012 to 2014 due to ATA interventions. Agriculture has become an exciting sector in Nigeria.

Contribution to GDP Agriculture is made up of four sub-activities, namely: Crop Production, Livestock, Forestry and Fishing. In nominal terms, the sector grew by 9.50 per cent year-on-year. This was higher than growth rates recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2014 and the third quarter of 2015 by 3.22 per cent points and 0.16 per cent points respectively.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), growth in the sector was driven by output in Crop Production accounting for 87.01 per cent of overall growth of the sector.

The NBS in its Q4 2015 national GDP report said agriculture contributed 22.56 per cent to nominal GDP during the quarter. This, it stated, was marginally higher than shares recorded in the corresponding period of 2014 yet lower than the third quarter of 2015 by 0.49 per cent points and 1.95 per cent points respectively.

“Real agricultural GDP growth in the Fourth Quarter of 2015 stood at 3.48 per cent (year-on-year), a decrease of 0.17 per cent points from the corresponding period of 2014.

Growth in the Fourth Quarter was 0.02 per cent points higher from the Third Quarter of 2015. While positive, growth in agricultural output has been relatively lower compared to the corresponding period of 2014 as a result of lower crop output which in turn was as Continued on page 27

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, 30 MARCH 2016

27

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS MAKING AGRICULTURE NIGERIA’S GOLDMINE

a result of security challenges during the quarter. The contribution of Agriculture to overall GDP in real terms was 24.18 per cent in the Fourth Quarter of 2015, marginally higher from its share in the corresponding quarter of 2014, and lower from the Third Quarter of this year by 2.61 per cent points,” the NBS said.

Overtaking Oil, Manufacturing Sectors Analysis of the performance of the three sectors in the fourth quarter of 2015 showed that the agricultural sector is doing well.

There are 13 activities in the Manufacturing sector; Oil Refining; Cement; Food, Beverages and Tobacco; Textile, Apparel, and Footwear; Wood and Wood products; Pulp Paper and Paper products; Chemical and Pharmaceutical products; Non-metallic Products, Plastic and Rubber products; Electrical and Electronic, Basic Metal and Iron and Steel; Motor Vehicles and Assembly; and Other Manufacturing.

Nominal GDP growth of manufacturing in the Fourth Quarter of 2015 according to the NBS, was recorded at 6.93 per cent (year-onyear), 12.19 per cent points lower than the 19.12 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2014 partly as a result of higher operating costs.

“Growth was 2.13 per cent points higher than the Third Quarter 2015 recorded at 4.80 per cent. On a Quarter-on-Quarter basis, the sector grew by 0.33 per cent. Contribution of Manufacturing to Nominal GDP was 9.09 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2015, lower than the 9.11 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2014, and 9.67 per cent in the third quarter of 2015 “In the fourth quarter of 2015, real GDP growth of the manufacturing sector slowed by 13.09 per cent points to 0.38 per cent (year-on-year) from 13.47 per cent growth recorded in fourth Quarter of 2014. Growth was however 2.13 per cent points higher than rates recorded in the Third Quarter of 2015. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the sector slowed on the margin by 0.03 per cent, with oil refining and motor vehicle and assembly weighing on the sector manufacturing, “the NBS said.

It added: “During the period under review, Oil production stood at 2.16million barrels per day (mbpd) 0.3 per cent lower from production in Q3 of 2015. Oil production was also lower relative to the corresponding quarter in 2014 by 1.0 per cent when output was recorded at 2.19mbpd. As a result, real growth of the oil sector slowed by 8.28 per cent (year-on-year) in Q4 of 2015.

“This represents a decline relative to growth recorded in Q4 of 2014 recorded at 1.18 per cent. Growth also declined by 9.33 per cent points relative to growth in Q3 of 2015. Quarter-on-Quarter, growth also slowed by 19.10 per cent. As a share of the economy, the Oil sector contributed 8.06 per cent of total real GDP, down from figures recorded in the corresponding period of 2014 and in Q3 of 2015 by 0.91 per cent points and 2.21 per cent points respectively.”

However, with its status as the largest employer of labour in the country, its huge potential to become a major foreign exchange earner and help boost the nation’s revenue base, now is the time for everyone, government, citizens and corporates to take a serious look at the sector, even as the nation moves away from over dependence on oil.

Corporate Bodies to the Rescue However, it is heartwarming to see that corporate bodies such as the Dangote Group, Guinness Nigeria Plc, British American Tobacco Foundation, have picked up the gauntlet in the drive to give agriculture the oxygen it needs to thrive. During the company’s preannual general meeting briefing in Lagos, Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Peter Ndegwa, had said that the company has a target of sourcing over 80 per cent of its raw materials locally in the coming years.

He said that this was a fundamental part of the company’s social and economic contribution to the Nigerian market and this commitment is reflected not only at local but also at regional level as the Diageo Group has a target to reach the 80 per cent mark on Local Raw Materials (LRM) for Africa by 2018.

Ndegwa noted further that the multiplier

effect of this strategic move of the company on society and the economy will far outweigh the challenges that may be initially faced.

Apart from driving down costs for the manufacturers and ease the pressure on the nation’s dwindling foreign reserves, local raw materials sourcing will also play an important role in creating employment opportunities, boost income levels and empower farmers along the agriculture value chain as well as small and medium enterprises who serve as suppliers to big businesses thereby resulting in such benefits as application of modern technologies, improved quality control, higher output, product marketing and self-sufficiency.

Interestingly, Diageo’s brands have always been closely connected with agriculture. In the 1800s, Arthur Guinness, the son of the brewery’s founder, served in the Farming Society of Ireland. Currently, maize and sorghum constitute 80 per cent of the Guinness Nigeria’s agricultural raw material input.

Therefore, building strategic partnerships with banks, agricultural NGOs, donor agencies and research organisations and leveraging these partnerships to mitigate some of the challenges that currently affect the sorghum value chain will take the industry to the next level.

Sourcing Raw Materials Locally Guinness Nigeria, which has been in the brewing business in Nigeria since 1950, was the first major brewing company in Nigeria to begin sourcing its raw materials locally. In 1984, the brewery acquired a 3000 hectares farm in Mokwa, Niger State for the production of maize. Between 1995 and 1998, the company had established an out grower scheme primarily for the promotion of ICSV 400, a particular sorghum variety among farmers in Nigeria.

The variety made it cheaper to process sorghum for malting than other varieties.

By 1997, the company started a contract grower scheme with farmers in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Taraba States. The objective of the company’s contract growers’ scheme was to create awareness about the improved variety and consequently get a large group of farmers to adopt and grow the crop. With this rich pedigree of engagement in agriculture, it therefore does not come as a surprise that the company has made a strategic commitment to continually increase the quota for its locally sourced raw materials.

Job creation and economic empowerment, Ndegwa acknowledged, remain major challenges in Nigeria, but the local content initiative will substantially address these challenges by targeting the poorest areas and channeling investments into job-creating segments in the agriculture value chain.

Similar initiatives by other private sector entities will decidedly trigger a huge impetus

Apart from driving down costs for the manufacturers and ease the pressure on the nation’s dwindling foreign reserves, local raw materials sourcing will also play an important role in creating employment opportunities, boost income levels and empower farmers along the agriculture value chain

2.35 2.30

Oil Production (MBPD) 29.9 2.26

2.24

2.25 2.20

2.21 2.19

2.16

2.15

2.18

2.17 2.16

2.12

2.11

2.10

2.05

2.05 2.00 1.95 1.90

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

2013

Q3

Q4

Q1

2014

Q2

Q3

Q4

2015

towards diversifying Nigeria’s economy and

Agricultiure Year on Year real growth

% 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

2013

Q3

2014

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

2015 Source: NBS

reclaiming its primacy as a leading agricultural economy. The Lagos state government recognises this fact.

Lagos, Kebbi States Initiative Recently, the state governor, Akinwumi Ambode announced the plan to work with Kebbi state to provide food for Lagosians, stressing that the future of Lagos State was partly tied to deliberate resolution on food security He stated this during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Lagos and Kebbi State on the development of Commodity Value Chains.

He said food production and self-sufficiency required its immediate attention at policy and strategic levels to sustain the state, adding that Lagos State is the largest consumer of food commodities in Nigeria by virtue of its population.

“We have the market, with the required purchasing power also. Lagos State has an estimated consumption of over 798,000 metric tons of milled rice per year which is equivalent to 15.96 million of 50kg bags, with a value of N135 billion per annum.

“We have the economic prowess to produce rice locally. The era of imported rice is gone.

The reality is for all of us to embrace the consumption of local foodstuff and commodities. In addition to rice, Lagos is currently consuming 6,000 herds of cattle daily which may increase to 8,000 in the next five years,” he said. According to Ambode, the bulk of the vegetables produced in the country end up in the Lagos markets as the state is one of the largest producers of poultry and thus had a large demand for maize for livestock feed production.

He said: “The state also houses most of the industrial users of wheat and sorghum; mostly flour mills, bakeries, breweries and food manufacturers. Kebbi State, on the other hand, is blessed with a vast arable land suitable

for the cultivation of rice, wheat, groundnut, maize, sorghum and sugar cane.

“It is an agrarian State with over 1.2 million hectares of arable land characterised by very large floodplains, lowland swamps and gentle slopes. In the 2014/2015 wet season, over 600,000 hectares of land was deployed for rice cultivation in the three senatorial areas of the state.

“The numerous thousands of our market women and men can become key employers of labour as distributors of ‘Ibile Rice’. We can also brand and package rice in the names of our distributors and market women. As a state, we shall adopt our local rice as a state dish in all ramifications.”

He explained that the special purpose vehicle will allow the entrance of private sector investors and other states in expanding the rice mill at Imota, Ikorodu and other locations.

We have already designated the 100 hectare land at Imota as the Agric Park in the State.

Other locations in and outside the State will be vigorously activated to fulfill our mission in record time,” he stated.

Speaking, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State said that the two states had a long history of trade partnership and were just making it stronger with the MOU, adding that the partnership would provide 60 to 70 per cent of the country’s rice need.

He said his state had four emirates, including Gwandu, Argungu, Yauri and Zuru Districts in some particular goods and that they would all contribute to the commodity value chain.

“We believe in the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari to transform Nigeria from dependency on oil. We believe that the two states can significantly contribute to and improve food sufficiency and food security for our country. We believe that our states can benefit from this cooperation and we can jointly add value by creating employment,” he said.

28

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, 30 MARCH 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

INSURANCE

NAICOM Staff Protests: A Call for Introspection The peace that has characterised the operations of the National Insurance Commission for many years has in recent times been threatened by workers protests. Ebere Nwoji examines the various issues raised by the workers Series of petitions to the federal government by existing and disengaged employees of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), on issues of corruption and lack of transparency in the conduct of the affairs of the commission, now calls for serious self re- examination by the management of the commission.

Indeed, the allegations, raised in the petitions, if they are things to go by, raised the question on the place of Corporate Governance Code, which the commission has vowed to implement among insurance industry operators next month in its own administrative set up.

Employees of the Commission, penultimate Monday, took to yhe streets in protest against what they tagged ‘excesses of the executive management.

The aggrieved employees asked President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the situation, failure of which would make them remain on the street for a whole week in form of strike action.

Indeed, their action in this regard, paralysed activities at the commission for three days until an agreement was said to have been signed between the commission and the aggrieved workers.

Some of their allegations against the commission included: Corruption and lack of capacity building for staff, mismanagement of funds by the executive management,lack of due process in staff recruitment, bribing of politicians with N 9 million by the executive management, spending of $70,000 on medical fitness by the Deputy Commissioner (Finance and Admin), George Onakhena, his continued service in the commission without evidence of renewal of his appointment by the president after the expiration of his tenure in 2015, nepotism, favouritism as well as the commission’s non-adherence to government’s circulars and financial regulations among others.

The aggrieved workers also disclosed that on the issue of non-adherence to government circulars and financial regulations, the commission, had consistently been violating government circulars such as the eight year tenure for directors and permanent secretaries and regulations on authorisations and payments arguing that government’s clear objective on eight years tenure for directors and permanent secretaries is to give room for effective succession plan and create continuous vacancies within the system but which the commission has refused to obey.

Their protest, is coming on the heels of a lengthy petition written by the 68 ex-staff of the commission, who were alleged to have been illegally disengagement from the commission during the Fola Daniel’s tenure as the Commissioner for insurance in 2008.

The disengaged staff, (three of who are now dead) in the lengthy petition faulted the commission for the action, arguing that basing their ‘disengagement’ on restructuring does not appear to have a good support because the federal government- induced restructuring exercise ended in 2006.

They had rgued that NAICOM, in the purported restructuring exercise, engaged the service of a consultant H. Pierson where as section 8.2 of the Generic Guidelines for the Reform of Parastatals issued by the Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR) in March, 2006 provided that “In order to ensure prudence and value for money, the engagement of consultant(s) requires the approval of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

They quoted the guideline as saying that any organisation needing to engage consultant(s) for a technical study or other exercise relating to restructuring and organisational improvement,should first submit a written justification for it through its supervising ministry to the BPSR. Based on this, the disengaged employees argued that NAICOM’s engagement of H. Pierson as a consultant to carry out the exercise did not go through the BPSR and did not pass

through the Steering Committee on Reforms.

The disengaged staff further argued that NAICOM has a coded Condition of Service which provides for disciplinary measures against any staff that flouts the rules of employment.

According to them, the operative word in their termination letter was ‘disengagement’ which according to them is not a known terminology in the severance of a contract of employment in NAICOM’s condition of service and even the Public Service Rules. They argued that the words used in the public service, and found in NAICOM’s Condition of Service for disciplinary cases that may lead to severance of employment are: Termination of Appointment as found in 4.8.1 of NAICOM’s Condition of Service (NCoS), dismissal: mentioned in section 4.8.2 of the commission’s condition of service, retirement: mentioned in section 4.8.4 of the same document.

They argued that NAICOM’s management did not mention any of the disengaged’ staff as having committed any of the aforementioned offences.

They also said at their point of dismissal, neither pension nor gratuity was paid, adding that their ‘disengagement’ reads :“In accordance with the Pension Reform Act, 2004, your pension and gratuity will be paid through your chosen Pension Fund Administrator (PFA).”

According to them, the only payments that were made were: three months salary in lieu of notice, service benefits, outstanding leave, vacation allowance and repatriation allowance.

They further said in the petition, that following their petitions to relevant quarters, the Federal Ministry of Labour intervened and wanted their jobs restored.

According to them, the labour ministry called a meeting between the aggrieved staff and the Commissioner for Insurance for the final decision on their recall but that the commissioner worked against their presence but at the end of the meeting, an MoU was signed by the ‘participants’ without their contribution.

Part of the MoU said that management of NAICOM should endeavour to effect payment of Pension and Gratuity to the ‘disengaged’ staff within one month and the affected staff given opportunity to compete with other ap-

plicants during future recruitment exercise by the commission.

The disengaged staff questioned how the commission which disengaged them and referred them to their PFAs for Pension and Gratuity could pay them knowing that this was against the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2004?

Narrating further their unlawful treatment by the commission, the disengaged employees said, “just three weeks after signing the MOU, NAICOM sourced our bank accounts from their records and paid in some money they called Pension arrears and thus commenced the illegal in-house Pension Scheme for us against the provisions of PENCOM, Act 2004”.

But our little contributions to the Contributory Pension Scheme in keeping with Pension Reform Act 2004, are still with our Pension Fund Providers (PFAs))”, they stated.

They said at their protest, the pension was also unilaterally stopped on the ground that the Commissioner who influenced it was leaving office in 2015 and the incoming management did not know what to do with the illegal scheme.

“They tried renaming it terminal benefit, it sounded suspicious! they stopped this illegal pension scheme abruptly for almost a year now, yet our jobs were not restored”, said the aggrieved former NAICOM staff.

According to them, unknown to them,the BPER had in a letter dated June 11, 2009 restored their jobs in a letter titled : “Reinstatement of severed officers from parastatals”and addressed to the then Finance minister.

They said following the approval of their reinstatement along others by the steering committee on Reforms, the then Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala directed the Commissioner for Insurance to reinstate them in accordance with this circular.

They quoted paragraph three of the reinstatement directive which reads : “You are accordingly requested to direct the Chief Executive of this Parastatals to issue recall letters to the reinstated officers not letter than two weeks from the date of your directive and also ensure their immediate reabsorption in accordance with the attached Guidelines for the Reabsorption of Reinstated staff.”

According to them, on seeing the directive

in 2011, they sought to confirm it by writing to the BPSR for a Certified True Copy, which it obliged them, they alleged that NAICOM hid the directive from them and refused to carry it out.

Having waited without getting response from the minister and not knowing that she had given directive for their reinstatement, the disengaged staff went to Federal High Court Abuja, which later transferred the case to Industrial Court Abuja.

On May 13, 2015, the Court passed a judgement stating that they had earlier obtained the Order of Mandamus from the Federal High Court. the disengaged staff in the petition letter to the minister of finance quoted Page 20 of Justice M.N Esowe’s judgement on the case dated 13th May 2015, as saying that a careful look at the file of the Court shows that the claimants had on April 4, 2012, before Justice Olotu of Federal High Court Abuja obtained leave for the issuance of MADAMUS against the Defendants and indeed obtained an Order of Mandamus dated 4/4/12 from the Court.

The disengaged staff said despite the court judgement, NAICOM refused to reabsorb them.

They therefore called on the current minister of Finance to intervene on their behalf and ensure that the commission recalls them to office as directed by the former minister of finance and both federal and industrial courts.

When THISDAY sent an SMS to the Assistant Director Corporate Affairs of the commission on the need to state the commission’s side of the story, he neither called nor replied the SMS. Also, when THISDAY contacted him on the commission’s statement on the demonstrating workers, he replied: “It is an in-house affair, we don’t want it in press, you can close your eyes against it.”

Looking at the scenario involving the commission and its work force, and lack of response by the commission which might tempt one into concluding that the commission has no genuine defense, one can simply say that the commission failed to allow the corporate governance code which it has set to implement among insurance firms to guide its operations especially in handling the affairs of its workforce.

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, 30 MARCH 2016

29

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Crowd Funding as Alternative Financial Model In order to give entrepreneurship a boost, Ugo Aliogo and Jemima Bolokor highlight the opportunities in crowd funding

Broad street

In every economy, small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in stimulating growth. It has been proven over the years that SMEs are the engine of growth and industrialisation because they contribute immensely to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

In Nigeria, SMEs have not performed to optimum expectations due to a combination of certain factors. One of such factor is access to adequate funding. The financial institutions don’t lend to SMEs because many of them (SMEs) are not well structured and do lack the basic requirements to qualify for such loans.

Therefore in order to provide an alternative source of funding for SMEs, corporate organisations and individuals, a new funding strategy known as crowd funding has been developed by the Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL).

The new business model would help revive the growth of SMEs, give more access to capital and strengthen their financial base.

According to investopedia, crowd funding is the use of small amounts of capital from a large number of individuals to finance a new business venture. Crowd funding makes use of the easy accessibility of vast networks of friends, family and colleagues through social media websites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to get the word out about a new business and attract investors. It has the potential to increase entrepreneurship by expanding the pool of investors from whom funds can be raised beyond the traditional circle of owners, relatives and venture capitalists.

A Managing Partners of OAL, Mrs. Olabisi Akodu described the model as an alternative financing option by which small businesses, corporate organisations and individuals can raise money from the general public through an online portal called a crowd funding portal.

She stated that the theory behind this business model is that if a large number of people, individually provide monetary contributions, then it is possible to raise substantial sums of money, without the need to go to the traditional lending sources.

Furthermore, she stated that crowd funding provides an alternative financing model, which is fast and it is being used in Europe, US and Asia to raise capital for various financial and non-financial projects.

She added: “There are today some 1000 crowd funding portals worldwide supporting a multi-billion dollar industry. Global crowd funding experienced accelerated growth in 2014 to reach $16.2 billion in the United States (US).

In 2015 the industry raised over $34.4 billion.”

She explained that the crowd funding market is made up of various funding models such as consumer lending, debt and equity financing for SMEs and donations for philanthropic causes, adding that the funds raised through crowdfunding ensures that small businesses have the credit to grow their businesses, which in turn creates jobs and stimulates economic growth.

Akodu noted that there are three broad platforms for crowd funding: the philanthropic and promotional - this platform allow individuals and charities raise money for philanthropic causes and artist promotions through online donation portals. While the second and third platforms are for investment. They provide for both debt and equity online transactions, which are referred to as Equity-based and Loan-based.

Regulatory Framework Akodu noted that in most countries such as

There are today some 1000 crowd funding portals worldwide supporting a multibillion dollar industry. Global crowd funding experienced accelerated growth in 2014 to reach $16.2 billion in the United States (US).

In 2015 the industry raised over $34.4 billion

Nigeria, soliciting finance from the public without legal authorisation is considered illegal, stressing that Crowdfunding arrangement that require people to contribute money to a company in exchange for shares.

She explained that such a company comes under the securities laws in Nigeria, which comprised of the Investment and Securities Act, 2007 and Securities and Exchange Commission Rules 2013 (SEC Rules) ‘however, there is no specific crowd funding legislation in Nigeria.’

She remarked that the US Securities and Exchange Commission recently adopted rules to permit companies offer and sell securities through crowd funding, adding that the new SEC rules and proposed amendments to the Securities Act are designed to assist small companies with capital formation and provide investors with additional protection.

The legal practitioner stated that in UK, the FCA introduced new rules that apply to the distribution of “non-readily realisable securities”, ‘these are shares or debt securities in new or existing businesses that are not listed on a regulated stock market.’

SEC regulates all securities offered for sale by public companies in Nigeria and there are no provisions relating to crowd funding in the SEC rules. What is interesting is that SEC is partnering with the Ontario Stock Exchange to develop a framework and rules on crowd funding for Nigerian capital markets.

As welcoming as this news may appear, it may not be a simple task bearing in mind the fact that Nigeria’s financial sector has not been successfully coordinated to accommodate new innovations such as this.

The Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004 (CAMA) regulates the formation and operation of all types of companies and enterprises in Nigeria. However, to meet the objectives of crowd funding for small businesses, it would be expedient for such business to register as a private company under CAMA. A review of some of the restrictive provisions of CAMA dealing with transfer of shares, and invitations to the public to subscribe for shares, for private companies may need to be made more flexible or there may need to be special provisions for public companies applying to register on a crowd funding platform.

The provision of CAMA restricting the

number of members of a private company to 50 could be an advantage in that it would ensure crowd control and may encourage high net worth investors, thereby establishing a class of self-certified sophisticated investors that would have sufficient knowledge to understand the risks associated with such an investment.

Crowd funding may very well be the answer to funding SMEs in Nigeria and there can be no better time than the present to review all legal and regulatory framework required to invigorate our capital markets and financial sector services.

It has been recommended that a centralised body akin to the Financial Conduct Authority be created to administer the financial sector.

In the UK the FCA protects consumers and financial markets by enhancing the integrity of the UK financial system while also promoting competition.

The FCA aims to support and empower a healthy and successful financial system, where firms can thrive and consumers can place their trust in transparent and open markets. It also makes sure that firms stick to the rules and take appropriate measures to prevent them from being used as a channel for financial crime.

The recommended review of the SEC rules should enable investors finance crowd funding projects subject to certain thresholds to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Companies seeking to raise funds should also be required to disclose information about their company and the securities on offer. There should also be enabling legal framework for intermediaries that may be involved in facilitating crowd funding transactions. The new rules should prohibit online portals from offering investment advice, soliciting sales or offers to buy securities and any information that would be considered to mislead or misrepresent prospective investors.

Establishing the legal and regulatory framework for crowd funding is a pragmatic move for SEC, which should involve a holistic review of our securities laws, company legislation and other related legislation. The on-going study should not be restricted to the Ontario Stock Exchange but should be broadened to include the UK that has similar laws as Nigeria. The next step will be for SEC to adopt a robust plan to ensure that crowd funding in Nigeria becomes a reality.

30

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, 30 MARCH 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Uduanu: Pension Funds Should be Invested in Viable Infrastructure Projects The Managing Director, PAL Pensions Limited, Mr. Dave Uduanu, in this interview with Nume Ekeghe, urged the federal government to ensure that pension funds are invested in viable infrastructure. He also spoke on key issues affecting the economy. Excerpts: There has been much talk about investing pension funds in infrastructural development, what is your stand on that Pension funds are long-term funds. So ideally in more developed countries, pension funds invest up to 10 per cent, in some instances like in the US, in Latin America it is up to five per cent and in Canada, it is up to 20 per cent in infrastructure. One would expect that in Nigeria that should be the case. However, in Nigeria, infrastructure as an asset class is very new it is not well developed. The bulk of infrastructure has been built by government and is done through appropriations from the budget. So our initial stance is that pension fund ideally should invest in infrastructure.

However we are quick to caution that investment should be secure, investment should be well structured and investment should be through an instrument or through intermediaries who are experts in infrastructure investing. There has been news in the newspapers about how the Federal Government plans to use the pension funds for infrastructure and we say that on the face of that, it is not possible to use pension funds directly. You cannot directly appropriate pension funds to invest in infrastructure because the funds are utilised and they belong to individuals. And one thing I need to quickly point out is unlike in Canada, Australia or in the US, the pension funds are contributions from individuals. In those other countries the pension funds are promises by the employers.

They are defined benefit schemes. And the bulk of the employer being government is at liberty to decide how these funds can be used.

But that is not the case in Nigeria where the pension funds are contributed by individuals, they are held in accounts and the individuals know their account balances and therefore it would be difficult to appropriate. That would be like a confiscation of pension asset which would send a wrong signal. So my stand is that yes pension fund should seek to invest in infrastructure in a safe and secured way. So what we are doing is liaising with the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, which is almost like the infrastructure ministry headed by Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, the ex-Governor of Lagos state to come up with safe and secure way to invest in infrastructure. He spoke at our last pension retreat and we seem to be in agreement that we should work together to see how we can safely channel funds from the pension funds to infrastructure investing working with investment banks, intermediaries and development finance institution (DFI) who are experts. However, we also made the point that we need government to put guarantees in place so that the pension funds are secured.

And also for government to put appropriate rules and laws in place so that if anything happens, people don’t lose their pension funds.

When do you think these appropriate rules and laws would be put in place?

The first thing we agreed was to set up a committee which has been done. So we are going to have a meeting in the middle of April and that working committee team is made up of representatives from PenCom, from the industry, from the pension operators and from the ministry. And that working team is to come up with a work plan on how these things should happen. So I believe that once that meeting is held we should be able to give more clarification around timeline. You know infrastructural development take time. When talking about investments in roads, airports, power plants, water schemes, railways, these things do take time. So what we also agreed is that they would come up with a shortlist of the type of investment infrastructure that can be completed within the next three and a half to four years which is the tenure of this regime

Uduanu

and see how we can work with government to issue out instrument so that pension funds can invest through does instrument.

Greater part of pension fund has been invested in federal government bond because the fund managers feel it is more secured, why can’t the fund be invested in other portfolios that will yield more profit and add value to the lives of the people?

Government bonds are the cornerstone of pension funds investing. I was reading somewhere that in Europe, the Germans invest up to 50 per cent of their pension funds in government bonds. And the reason is because government is the largest issuer in any market. Government bonds are used to finance the budget and in economies that are well structured, you find that these budgets are used to finance capital expenditure. So indirectly, government bonds investment is an indirect way of pension funds putting money in infrastructure. However, the problem in Nigeria is that the budget in Nigeria is skewed towards recurrent expenditure. The bonds are profitable. Two years ago, we had government bonds as high as 16 per cent. That is perhaps one of the highest investments you can make here. The stock market over the last

As inflation is beginning to inch up, the challenge now is that the bonds are still low, the stock market is still depressed and there are very few alternative assets to invest these pension funds

eight years since the financial crisis has not really done very well. In fact, it has been three good years of performance and five years of bad performance. So government bond investment has been profitable and it does add value to people’s life because this investment is used for the budget and government is still the largest employer of labour in Nigeria and some proportion of that goes into infrastructure. In fact, on the state government bonds, what Lagos state issued can appropriately be called infrastructure bonds because the bonds that were issued were used to fund all the road projects that you see in Lagos state which includes the Badagry Expressway or the rail line Lagos state is building. So it does really add value to people’s life.

How far have PenCom, fund managers and custodians gone with plans to invest in state government bonds?

We are being selective as far as state government bonds are concerned. If you take Lagos state and some of the oil producing states, you would find that a great proportion of these state governments rely on federal allocation to finance the budget. So with the drop in oil prices, there is a bit more risk in investing in state bonds because the monies that they get from the federal government has reduced by as much as 50 per cent and a lot of them have very low IGRs. I don’t expect to see a lot of investments in state bonds. However, about seven per cent of the funds are already invested in the state bonds. So there is selective appraisal of state bonds and each Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) make their own decision based on their judgement on the credit rating of the state and the ability to repay these bonds. So we don’t expect to see a lot of state bonds.

What is your assessment of performance of pension funds in 2015 and what is your company’s experience like?

2015 was a difficult year for the pension industry.

Simply because of two things- the elections and the year oil prices dropped. And because of that, the stock market didn’t do well at all and also bond yields started to come down because the central bank decided to reduce rates. So you find that bond yields dropped

from as high as 15 per cent to as low as 10 per cent last year. Stock market was negative. So pension funds didn’t do well. The returns were at about between seven and eight per cent on the average. But that was an exceptionally bad year because over the last five years or since inception, the average return on pension fund has been about 11.9 per cent, which up until now has been above inflation. As you know, the mandate of pension funds is to generate positive returns above inflation. But as inflation is beginning to inch up, the challenge now is that the bonds are still low, the stock market is still depressed and there are very few alternative assets to invest these pension funds. That is why we are actively seeking out for opportunities in private equity, infrastructure and housing so that we can continue to invest these funds profitably for the end users.

What is the impact of current inflation trend on pension funds and its investments?

One of the biggest enemies of investments is high inflation whether it is pension fund investments, individuals or corporate investments.

So as inflation begins to inch up, we need to find instruments that would give us returns that are above inflation and at the moment it only government bonds that can give you that sort of returns. Another thing is what to expect in a well-managed economy as inflation inches up: central bank begins to raise interest rates to manage inflation and money supply. And I think the last MPC decision by the central bank was in the right direction because they raised rates from 11 to 12 per cent and in response to that, the bond yield has gone up from 10.5 to as high as 12.5 per cent. And inflation is just below 12 per cent. So government bond yields are still giving a return above inflation. But we cannot say that much for money market instruments with banks which are below inflation and also, for the stock market which is also still in negative territory simple because of the currency policies which has seen exit of a lot of the foreign portfolio managers and therefore their withdrawal is depressing the stock market prices. So we are facing a significant challenge this year with inflation and one hope that inflation Continued on page 31

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, 30 MARCH 2016

31

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

UDUANU: PENSION FUNDS SHOULD BE INVESTED IN VIABLE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS would be brought under control through the activities of the central bank so that we can still see single digit inflation.

In your opinion, is the CBN going in the right direction?

They are going in the right direction as far as the monetary policy is concerned and we expect to see more rates hikes over the next MPC cycle. Our view in Pensions Alliance is that rates should go up to about 14 per cent. However with 14 per cent, it means that growth in the real sector would be affected but we believe that financial stability is more paramount at this point than growth. And if inflation begins to go up, a lot of investors would delay making investment decisions and then foreign direct investments (FDIs) would stay away from the country. We think that the CBN should raise rates by an additional 200 basis point to further moderate and reduce inflation.

When will the window transfer system take off?

This is something the public has been expecting for a while and the reason for the delay was the absence of reliable biometric data. Now that has been done by the banking system and we are hoping that perhaps it is possible for the pension industry to reach some sort of agreement to use that biometric data. The alternative is that the pension industry can do its own biometric exercise to authenticate the data. So what we feel is that this transfer window should open anytime soon. I cannot give you the real date but hopefully towards before the end of this year or early part of next year. But again it is really up to PenCom. PAL Pension is one of the prominent players in the market, what are your plans to increase your market share?

We are about number six in the market which

Uduanu

is a decent position but not where we want to be. At PAL Pension, our strategic plan is be one of the top five PFAs in the industry. So we are very close but not there and whilst one can begin to say we want to be the biggest, we are realistic because we also know that other pension players are not sitting down and folding their arms. We want to one of the top five but more importantly is to reach asset under management (AUM) of N500 billion over the next two or three years. How do we intend to do that? There are two ways, one is either through organic or by acquisition. In the organic area, we have just launched an aggressive market strategy were we want to position the brand as the number one brand within the youth market segment. Today we have moved from being a distant number in the social media space to being the top two or

three brands as far as social media is concerned and this is directly measured by the number of hits and likes that we have on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc.

We have also launched our YouTube channel and we have a crop of very young and creative workforce that is focused on this segment of the market. The second strategy on the organic side is on micro pension where we are also coming up with plans to be one of the key players in this new space. The pension industry is still largely formal and with numbers of about seven million. However, Nigeria has a huge informal sector with well over 80 million workforce but we think realistically 20 million of this work force can enter the scheme. So we are working alongside the industry and PenCom to launch a youth micro pension offering that would be separately branded and would rely on the best

technology platforms to reach the mass market.

The third strategy is by consolidation. We are actively pursuing opportunities to achieve consolidation with other players in the industry.

By this we mean combining our business with another PFA. We are currently just above N200 billion in AUM and we are talking to one or two other players and if those plans crystallise, we might reach close to N500 billion in AUM before the end of 2017. However it is still in the works and these things don’t happen overnight. But we are very bullish and we believe that without consolidation, the industry remains fragmented.

We see an opportunity to leap frog and move from number six to number two within 18 months. So our strategy to build market share is based on organic growth alongside engaging in consolidation and mergers with another PFA of similar size.

We are talking to PFAs of similar size not smaller so we can build scale because as you know pension fund management is a game of scale. If you reach N500 billion of AUM, you are better able to spend money on branch network, advertising, branding and employing the best skills in the market. Presently, we have arguably one of the best investment team in the country.

In investment world, one of the qualification that are recognised internationally is the CFA qualification and we are the only PFA with up to four CFA chartered holders in the team and another two or three that would emerge in the next two years. So our investment team is unrivalled, I can confidently say that there is no better investment team in the industry.

We are building the building blocks to create what we believe should be the second or third largest PFA in the country so we are just trying to execute on our plan. We have a five year plan which would see us reach 1 trillion in assets through a combination of organic growth, mergers and acquisition.

32

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016

EDUCATION JAMB UTME: Stakeholders Prefer CBT Despite Hitches In spite of the myriad of problems encountered during the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination through the computer-based test (CBT) and the calls on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to revert to paper and pencil test (PPT), stakeholders in the education sector think CBT should be upheld, but improved because of its advantages over the other. Uchechukwu Nnaike and Funmi Ogundare report

T

he Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) first introduced the computer-based test (CBT) method of writing its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in 2013, and conducted the examination in 2013 and 2014 using three modes- dual-based test, paper pencil test and CBT. In 2015, the board went full scale CBT, which continued this year.

However, the introduction of CBT came with several challenges like power failure, poor internet connectivity, late start, inadequate computer sets, among others.

This year’s examination, which commenced on February 27 in over 500 centres across the country, seemed to have witnessed more challenges, which led to series of protests by aggrieved candidates; the call for the sack of JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde for inefficiency; as well as the call by the House of Representatives to revert to paper pencil test.

On March 15, 2016, hundreds of candidates who sat for the examination and their parents publicly protested in Lagos over what they described as the many problems facing the CBT. There were allegations of frequent system trip-off while the examination was going on at some centres leading to loss of time before reconnection with JAMB’s server, multiple scoring, bonus marks of between 40 and 60 for some candidates, reduction in the marks of some brilliant students, posting wrong results for some of the candidates, and many others.

The board had to cancel some centres following complaints of poor facilities provided by the centres’ administrators in Lagos. Aside the poor facilities, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu also expressed concern over the plight of candidates who are not computer literate enough to write the UTME through the CBT mode. He made this known while monitoring the examination at JAMB’s Model CBT centre at Kogo in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Following these numerous challenges, the House of Representatives asked the Federal Ministry of Education to direct the board to revert to pencil-paper method in the conduct of UTME or adopt both PPT and CBT so that candidates can opt for any mode of their choice.

This followed a motion moved by a lawmaker from Lagos State, Mr. Oghene Emma-Egoh, on the conflicting scores of candidates who took the examination.

The lawmaker argued that the technical errors experienced during the examination have dashed the hopes of many of the candidates in gaining admission this year.

He cited two cases of conflicting results. One is that of Ibrahim Shawulu from Kogi State, who was said to have scored 399 out of 400, and in less than 24 hours his score was reduced to 199.

Another candidate Foluke, the 17-year-old girl in Ejigbo-Lagos, who scored an aggregate of 156 and when the result was checked again she had an aggregate of 196.

However, stakeholders in the sector have ruled out the idea of reverting to paper pencil test, saying that the benefits of the CBT outweigh the hitches and suggested ways to improve the conduct of the CBT. In his views, a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Peter Okebukola, noted that inertia to change is part of life, adding that over time, human systems adjust to change as the forces of homeostasis kick in.

“CBT of UTME is a classic example of this inertia; during the last two weeks and as expected, public comments have underlined the merits and demerits of the innovation which the Ojerinde-led JAMB recently introduced. I will argue that Ojerinde and his staff in JAMB should

Candidates in a CBT centre

be commended for the far-sighted innovation.

“The demerits of a full-scale CBT have been loudly canvassed to include weak technological infrastructure to support CBT on a large scale in Nigeria at this time and the low level of ICT literacy among potential UTME candidates.

Irregular power supply is another important element in the arsenal of people shooting down the idea of a full-blast CBT. Coincidentally, the worsening state of power supply met with the lament of President Buhari during the justconcluded retreat of the National Economic Council.”

In spite of these handicaps, Okebukola said: “For me, we need to be far-sighted in our approach and pitch our position on a number of emerging scenarios. We are training undergraduates for an ICT-dominated 21st century and hence should encourage all those who wish to take advantage of university education in Nigeria to be prepared for such a world through improving their computer-literacy skills before they obtain the form for the UTME. “The second scenario is that the Nigerian university system has capacity for only about a third of eligible candidates. It has more than enough to absorb hence it makes intuitive sense to select only the very best with ability to take the selection examination via the platform of a computer being a selection criterion. The third scenario is that not less than half of those who claim they cannot use the computer during the CBT, use devices such as smart phones and are fluent in the use of these devices which require just a little tweaking to upgrade their computer skills. They complain when they score abysmally in the UTME and find a scapegoat to blame- Ojerinde’s CBT!” The don added: “I queue up stoutly behind those who want the CBT to stay. There are two key advantages of not going back on the CBT mode of conducting UTME. First, it will catalyse the attainment of a higher degree of computer literacy by potential undergraduates of Nigerian universities. Secondly, it will reduce to the barest minimum, cases of examination malpractice in the conduct of the UTME. “With all the glitches which popped up

during the conduct of the 2016 UTME, my recommendation is for JAMB to regard the deadline of 2016 for stopping the paper and pencil mode as the ‘yellow card’ and set 2018 for the ‘red card’ when there will not be any form of paper and pencil testing. The two-year grace period will allow JAMB to dot its ‘I’s and cross its ‘T’s. It will allow JAMB to do an accurate census of centres that can conduct near hitch-free CBT and clean up all the bugs (errors) in the software for the CBT delivery system.

“I recall that JAMB did provide for a grace period about two years ago. Perhaps the public awareness of this grace period was weak. This time, JAMB should shout to the rooftops and show the world that it can adequately cope with the rigour of conducting UTME for about one-and-a-half million candidates with very little hitch beginning from 2018.”

One of the critics of JAMB, Mr. Shodunke Oludotun, who is the National President of the Association of Tutorial School Operators and who led the candidates in Lagos to protest the poor conduct of the examination, also agreed that CBT should continue because it has addressed the challenge of malpractices, including impersonation. He also called for an alternative in the event of system failure.

According to a Professor of Strategy and Development, Centre for International and Advanced Professional Studies (CIAPS), Anthony Kila, the students paid for a better service, so they deserve better.

“What has happened would have been enough to ask for the resignation of the head, but since that is improbably here, we can only suggest an inquiry into the operation and management.

Moreover, the system needs to be decentralised and the IT support needs radical improvement.”

The Vice-Chancellor, Fountain University, Osogbo, Prof. Bashir Ademola Raji, said CBT is still the way forward, despite the current challenges. “More centres need to be accredited, while secondary schools should organise CBT exams for their students. I am hopeful that the CBT exam next year will definitely be better.”

The Zonal Co-ordinator, North-Central, National Institute of Cultural Orientation (NICO),

Ilorin, Mr. Ohi Ojo, said there should be better examination centres and that the board should keep to time in the conduct of its exam.

“Candidates complain of their computers tripping off due to oblivious circumstances.

For instance, an exam which ought to have commenced by 6:30am then starts by 8am whereby some have been scheduled to have theirs by 9am in the same centre, this would trigger reshuffling which at most times disrupts the conduct of the exams.”

He said the computer software should be properly checked, adding, “a myriad of controversies have broken out with regards to the technical incompetence, candidates have made complaints that the score they were given were lower than they expected. Most candidates also claimed that the questions they answered were what they practiced prior to the exams.”

Further stating the advantages of CBT over paper and pencil exercise, Ojerinde was quoted as saying that: “There is need to support the board in its drive to improve the quality of education through CBT, which reduces examination malpractice to the barest minimum.”

Though he acknowledged that there are few challenges associated with the conduct, which he said are expected with any new technology, he said with the support of all, the board would gradually get it perfected.

“In an examination of over 1.5 million candidates, it is expected that there will be a few cries here and there, but when you look at the percentage of complaints vis-à-vis the success, one will comfortably say we are on the right track. We are very concerned even if it is one candidate that is not satisfied.

“Let us work together and see how we can make this good policy work. It will do us all good if we see CBT as a benefit to the Nigerian child and not all about JAMB,” Ojerinde said.

For the candidates, improvement in the conduct of the CBT should start with the provision of more centres and more computers to prevent prospective candidates from spending more time than necessary at the centres. They also called for improved internet connectivity.

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016

33

EDUCATION

Yale Varsity Alumni Plan Scholarship Scheme for Nigerian Students Uchechukwu Nnaike Plans are underway for the inauguration of a scholarship scheme that will provide an opportunity for exceptional Nigerian students to attend Yale University, a private, Ivy League research institution, based in Connecticut, USA. This was announced recently when the university’s prominent alumni members met for the second time within a year in Lagos, under the aegis of the Yale Club.

President of the club and founder of Zaria Academy, Dr. Haroun Adamu, said the club’s main goal is to create awareness about its existence and objectives. “One of the aims is to attract more qualified Nigerian students to the institution and encourage other accomplished alumni members in the diaspora to return home and contribute their quota to Nigeria’s development.”

Adamu, who attended Yale in 1966, said the club also wants to sensitise Nigerians, who have either heard of Yale or would want their children to attend the institution, about its willingness to assist their wards not only for admission purposes, but also for scholarship opportunities.

To him, any student that went through the rigorous Yale examination process and emerged successfully automatically deserves a scholarship. “There is no question about his ability or inability, he is on scholarship automatically.”

On the club’s other aims, he said, “we intend to create a forum, organise lectures, and we will invite professors, Nobel Laureates, to come and share with us their latest research findings in all fields.

This will expose Nigerians to what is happening in the world of research. These are

the kind of things we are trying to achieve, apart from Yale itself trying to engage with institutions within Africa.”

Yale’s Director of International Activities and Professor of Political Science, Ian Shapiro, affirmed that the club is working on developing a scholarship scheme for Nigerian students to attend the university. “We also would like to bring students and faculty members from Yale to Nigeria on exchange programmes.”

Shapiro said the institution also intends to facilitate research projects along many dimensions in the West African sub region. “We already have a long history in Ghana, but we don’t have any institutional history in Nigeria.”

Asked if the institution is planning to establish a campus in Nigeria, Shapiro said no.

“We are not in the satellite campus business,” he declared, but said he hopes to see more Nigerians at Yale and more of Yale’s activities happening in the country. “I look forward to more students (going to Yale), more faculty (coming to Nigeria), more conferences, more exchanges and more alumni coming and going.”

On how many Nigerian students are currently studying in the university, Shapiro said: “I don’t have the exact number, probably 20 to 25, and when you include all the professional schools (within Yale), maybe 30.”

Explaining the motive behind the formation of the club, he said, “there are more than 100 graduates of Yale University in Lagos, but we haven’t had a formal Yale Club as we have in many other cities where we have a sizeable alumni. About two years ago, we thought it was overdue to establish a Yale Club in Lagos because we have a big initiative on Africa in Yale and we are trying to build relationships. We have

Alleged Corruption: Group Wants FG to Publish Panel’s Report on YABATECH Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has called on the federal government to make public the findings of the committee set up to investigate the alleged financial and administrative impropriety of the Rector of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr. Margaret Ladipo.

The rights group made the call in a statement signed by its President, Igho Akeregha, which stated that it was already public knowledge that the report of the committee has since been submitted to the government for necessary action.

“The CLO was informed that the panel had submitted its recommendations and it is on the table of the minister of education for necessary action.

Having waited for months without words from govern-

ment, the CLO is by this letter appealing to you to please do the needful so the staff (whistle blowers) who exposed the massive corruption within the system are not abandoned to suffer for upholding integrity as they have been victimised and dismissed by the embattled rector.

“We also have on good authority that as the delay lingers, records of the crime are being obliterated and more acts of financial haemorrhage and brigandage are also being perpetrated while both the whistle blowers and the nation suffer incalculable damage.”

The group had earlier in a letter dated March 9, 2016, which was signed by Akeregha and addressed to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, to as a matter of urgency, take every necessary action on the panel’s findings without further delay.

so many distinguished alumni here and we are working with them to develop our activities on the continent.”

Recalling his days in Yale, Haroun said: “I went to Yale in 1966, two years behind President George Bush junior

(former President of the United States). His father, President George Bush senior, graduated in 1948. So, Bush junior was my contemporary and as I was leaving, both Hillary and Bill Clinton (also a former US President) were coming into

Yale to study Law. “John Kerry (US Secretary of State) was a 1963 graduate of Yale. So, you can see that Yale has a history of public service -producing Supreme Court justices, House of Representatives members, senators

and presidents. These are what Yale is known for- producing people to serve people and these are the ideals that have made us to come back and be of service.”

The club officially took off in Lagos on July 11, 2015.

A cross-section of alumni of Yale University, USA and some officials at their get-together in Lagos… recently

Gregory, Two US Varsities Plan Ex-Commandant Lauds Army for Approving Degree Programme at Exchange Programmes The management of Gregory University, Uturu has concluded plans for the participation of delegates from the institution in exchange programmes in two universities in the United States of America this summer.

This cheering news was announced by the Registrar, Dr. Austin Orisakwe, during a chat with journalists in his office recently. According to Orisakwe, two separate teams comprising students and officials of the university are expected to participate in the summer exchange programmes in Kennesaw State University, Georgia and Langston University, Oklahoma simultaneously.

The registrar added that “the exercise is in furtherance of our annual exchange programme policy which officially commenced last summer with visits to Langston University and The Opportunity Hub in Atlanta with resounding results.

“Having just perfected our partnership agreement with

Kennesaw State University, we shall therefore be sending another set of students and some faculty members to benefit from their rich academic profile that covers a wide range of academic disciplines.”

He commended the pioneering efforts of the Chancellor, Dr. Gregory Ibe, “whose inspiring leadership, due diligence and relentless commitment to globally-acceptable education standards resulted in the establishment of linkage relationships with many notable institutions in the US.” He therefore enjoined students of the university, who desire to expand the scope of their intellectual acquisition to apply for the programme, stressing that their grades from the exchange programme will be credited to them back home in Nigeria.

A team of 15 students and officials had successfully participated in last summer’s exchange programme in the US.

School of Education

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The immediate past Commandant of the Nigerian Army Education Corps, Major General Sunday Adebayo (rtd), has commended the Nigerian Army for giving approval for the commencement of a degree programme at the Army School of Education.

Speaking at the pull-out parade organised in his honour by the Army School of Education, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Adebayo said the gesture would help the army to provide quality education, training and exposure for its corps.

He said the school was designed to make the corps relevant in the society hence the need for the government to endorse it as a degree- awarding institution in the country.

The retired general added that the approval was a testimony to the commitment of the Nigerian Army to develop the school to be at par with

other international awarding institutions thereby reducing the rate at which corps travel abroad for further studies.

He added that the Nigerian Army has reviewed its training curriculum to address the current security challenges in the country and sub-African region.

Adebayo, who was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1982; held various administrative offices and retired as a Commandant of the Nigerian Education Corps, said, “Nigerian Army is now being well trained in the quest to curtail the current security challenges including Boko Haram.

He described the training he acquired at the Nigerian Education Corps as a good one, which he said contributed to his professional career. He therefore advised the corps to be up and doing in their chosen profession to make them more committed to the security of the country.

St. Martin’s School Holds Career Day St. Martin’s Catholic Nursery and Primary School, Surulere, Lagos, recently held its maiden career day to stimulate the interest of its pupils at an early age.

The pupils were divided and dressed to depict various professions such as engineering, medical doctor, lawyers, teaching, among others.

On hand were resource persons from the professions to educate the pupils on what it takes and the benefits the various professions.

In her remarks, the Supervisor of the school, Rev. Sister Stella Maris Idibie, stressed the need to plan one’s life carefully if one must have a successful career.

She admitted that laying a

foundation for a good choice of career starts in the secondary schools, and that the career day was organised for the pupils to arouse their interest early enough so that they can pursue it with vigour when they get into secondary schools.

“I therefore enjoin everyone present to participate actively in the different group they have

been placed and make maximum use of this opportunity for our gain. She thanked the planning committee and parents for their commitment and for a job well done.

The guests commended the supervisor of the school for the improvement and innovations she brought since she assumed duty at the school.

34

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016

EDUCATION

Groom Morally Upright Youths, Fashola’s Wife Tells Parents, Teachers Uchechukwu Nnaike In view of the growing cases of vices and moral decadence in the society and the need to raise a generation devoid of these issues, wife of the former Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, has called on parents, teachers and other stakeholders in the education sector to promote honesty and integrity over affluence and to be role models for the young ones.

Fashola, who made this known at the first parenting seminar for stakeholders with the theme, ‘For the Sake of the Next Generation’, organised by Bisi Ibitayo in Lagos recently, also stressed the need to teach children to love and respect not only their seniors, but also their mates.

In her paper, ‘Emphasising Values over Affluence’, she called for selflessness, saying that people should not expect anything in return for rendering social services. “Do unto others what you expect others to do unto you.”

She urged the stakeholders to shun all forms of corruption like stealing, budget padding, among others and to stand on their words and promises, saying that children are like sponges because they absorb all the traits they see around them.

In her remarks, Ibitayo called for synergy among parents, schools, churches, the government and other groups that have legitimate interest in the lives of the children. She said parenting is not limited to the biological parents alone, adding

that for the next generation to turn out well, all areas of influence in children’s lives must work in sync.

She regretted that adults are prepared to spend money acquiring knowledge on finance, health and other aspects of life, but would rather play guess on issues relating to the lives of children.

“I have observed that the next generation is deficient of so many things that helped mould our lives when we were growing up. It is time to return to the time when parenting was everybody’s business.”

Speaking on ‘Cordial Collaboration between Parents and Schools, the Director of Studies at Heritage House Montessori Centre, Mrs. Debola Atoyebi, said parents’ collaboration with schools boosts their children’s

performance.

She however noted that parents are hardly there for their children to learn things from like picking up good diction and learning languages, adding that sometimes when children have issues with their education, parents are in denial; they don’t confide in the school so that their children could be assisted.

Other papers at the seminar were ‘Fatherhood beyond Bread Winning’ by a former Attorney General of Ogun State, Olwuemimo Ogunde (SAN); ‘The Next Generation Needs a Dynamic Church’ by the Presentation by the Managing Director of Connect Marketing Services, Mr. Tunji Adeyinka; and ‘Facts and Help on Teens and Drug Use’ by Dr. Dokun Adedeji.

L-R: Wife of former Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola; the convener, Bisi Ibitayo; and the Chief Executive Officer, Heritage House, Mrs. Adebola Atoyebi, at the parenting seminar for stakeholders in Lagos… recently

Olashore School Rewards Long Serving Staff Funmi Ogundare Olashore International School, Iloko-Ijesa, Osun State recently rewarded staff who have served the school for a long time. The reward, which was part of activities marking the school’s founders’ day, was held to appreciate long serving staff and encourage upcoming ones.

According to the Principal, Mr. Derek Smith, reinforcing and celebrating teachers who have put in their best on the job is worth it. “Long service awards are impressive. The school is 22 years old and there are some staff who have put in their best on their jobs, and they really need to be appreciated particularly the non-teaching staff who have served for long.

This action demonstrates the relationship that the school has with its community being that some of these non-teaching staff hail from the community. It is good to reinforce and celebrate them.

“As for the academic staff, that is the teachers, this award is a way to encourage them.

It is believed that in as much as they have impacted in the

school, that they too have developed themselves, you can’t be a teacher for let’s say 10 years, and still be doing the same thing. At Olashore, we embark on international trainings, where we partner with Bradford University to train five or six of our teachers every year at the UK. With this, positive impacts are made on students from the trained teachers. I think teachers who have been helpful in impacting for years should be appreciated.

The long service award was rewarded in two categories- the 10 years category and the 20 years category.

One of the awardees in the 10 years category, Mr. Felix Adeboboye, encouraged his fellow teachers to be diligent and patient. “I joined Olashore in September 2005 as a Biology teacher, two years down the line, I became the Head, Department of Biological Sciences. As the HOD, my department was the best performing department, first to have a reference library and also produced a student who emerged third position all over the country in cocoa research. I trained students

to become good masters of ceremonies (MC) during events held in the school because it is believed that it is part of the leadership skills they requires.

“Recently too, I have been promoted to the post of Assistant Director of Extracurricular activities which widens the scope of my work in the school.”

Speaking on behalf of the 20 years category, Mr. Alao Folorunsho, the Head of Maintenance Supervision, thanked the school and encouraged people to have passion for their jobs.

“I joined Olashore on October 23, 1995. Twenty years is not a joke. Passion and diligence kept me. I advise my fellow colleagues and Nigerian workers to be passionate about their jobs so they can give in their best.”

Meanwhile, the guest speaker at the 20th founders day celebration, who is the Chairman, Board of Directors, Guaranty Trust Bank, Mrs. Osaretin Demuren, said the benefits of the celebration is that it allows people of the present generation to enjoy the legacies left behind by their fathers.

She advised the students

to make their parents proud by focusing on their studies in order to emerge the best, because their parents spent a lot on their education.

Counselling the students on ways to carry on through school, she said: “Given the opportunity you have as products of this great institution, and described by CNN as the ‘Pride of Africa’, you have the unique privilege to look beyond and go that extra mile because of the various and multiple options at your disposal. There are so many good schools competing for attention, and the world is getting more complex and sophisticated. To this end, you need something different to stand you out.”

“You need passion and inner strength to push hard work and integrity out there to show in whatever you do. Appreciate the time you are born into, take advantage of the choices, freedom and liberty, appreciate diversity around you and pick from people who are different from you. You must always do your best so that in the face of any opportunity, people can vouch for you.”

Your Feet Count so Much!

“How beautiful are the feet of them that bring the tidings of peace.” The Psalms.

Shoes are an item of clothing. Whatever their style or cost, they are simply foot wears intended to protect your feet. The human foot contains more bones than any other single part of the body. Shoes comfort your feet as you go about your daily activities. Your feet are vulnerable to environmental hazards such as hot and cold ground, pebbles or sharp rocks; glass fragments, nails, flints etc.

Shoes vary in style, complexity, cost, and purpose. Shoes are made from leather, wood, canvas, rubber, plastics and other petro-chemically derived materials.

We engage in a variety of activities hence the wide variety of different types of shoes available all over the world. Virtually every shoe is designed for a specific activity. We’ve got: Boots Athletic shoes Dress shoes Unisex shoes Dance shoes Orthopedic shoes Non-human shoes Just as the smells from your clothes add to your total body odour, so does the smell from your shoes add up to your overall body odour. Do you have a body odour?

Everyone has a peculiar body odour. Is yours offensive and restricting? Or, is yours inviting and enabling? When you ease off your feet from your shoes, do people quickly pinch their nose and turn away or do they look down and even check out your feet?

Smelly feet are caused by a build-up of sweat. Sweat glands give off sweat regularly throughout the day to keep your feet moist and supple. When your feet remain inside your shoes for a substantial amount of time, the sweat glands in your feet start to give out even more sweat. Some materials your shoes and socks have been made from actually increase the amount of sweat you produce. Your shoes absorb this sweat directly or indirectly via your socks and become damp.

Furthermore, certain hormonal changes in the body cause an increase in sweating. For instance, pregnant women and teenagers sweat more due to such hormonal changes. Hyperhidrosis, which is a medical condition that makes some people sweat more than usual, could be the reason for sweaty feet. Poor hygiene, where insufficient washing of your feet and changing of your socks, allow bacteria to thrive, is another reason.

Bacteria can also be formed when you forget to dry out your shoes after they’ve been wet in the rain or the like. Bacteria and fungi favour such damp and dark conditions. They then begin to thrive on the dead skin cells and sweat in the damp shoe environment. The waste they excrete during their metabolic processes, give off the mal-odorous smell emanating from damp shoes.

You can now see that foot care is just as important as facials, make-overs, body massages and hair-grooming.

With simple self-help techniques, you can keep on top of the smells coming from your shoes and feet.

Omoru writes from the UK

Benue to Award 700 Contracts for Schools Construction George Okoh In Makurdi The Benue State Government has concluded plans to award 700 contracts for the provision of structures and facilities in primary schools. The Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Philip Tachin, who announced this, said the contract would be given out on merit, adding that under his watch, the board would insist on project delivery. He explained that Governor Samuel Ortom has already approved the release of N3.8 billion as counterpart fund for the projects which would cost a total of N7.6 billion.

Tachin said the federal

government would release its counterpart fund of N3.8 billion through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), stressing that the funds would be applied judiciously. “I am going to read a riot act so that all the specifics would be met.” According to him, some boreholes were paid for in the past, but they were not properly drilled, saying that such a thing would not be allowed under him because a task force has been constituted for the purpose of monitoring the execution of all the projects.

Tachin stated that payment would only be made to contractors when jobs meet specifications and are certified to have been completed.

35

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAYMARCH 30, 2016

EDUCATION

Mimiko: UNIMED Will Reverse Brain Drain in Health Sector James Sowole in Akure The Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko has said the establishment of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, is the state’s strategic way of reversing the brain drain in Nigeria’s medical industry and to create an institutional base for the production of highly trained and proficient healthcare manpower to service the growing population.

The governor stated this in Ondo at the inauguration and first matriculation of the institution, the first specialised medical university in Nigeria and the second in Africa.

No fewer than 234 students took the matriculation oath at the ceremony attended by seasoned academia, the National Universities Commission (NUC), traditional rulers and other stakeholders from within and outside the education sector.

Mimiko said the dearth of seasoned, well trained professionals in the medical industry has been the bane of qualitative, efficient and sustainable healthcare delivery system in Africa.

He said the scenario was more compounded by the exodus of many competent doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other professionals, who in search of better training and working conditions, have moved overseas, thereby making the WHO’s Health Care Professional-Patient ratio unachievable.

“This university has been established to ensure, among other things, steady supply of experts in all fields of medicine for all our health care institution; deepening and sustainability of our globally-acclaimed achieve-

ments especially in the reduction of infant and maternal mortality; and to stem the tide of medical tourism to foreign countries.”

The governor said the university would also make Ondo State the new destination of choice for Nigerians and other African countries, adding that it is estimated that about 30,000 Nigerians spend over 250 billion on medical tourism annually.

He said with the establishment of the university, the state has been able to allay the concern of all key local and international partners about the sustainability of Abiye Safe Motherhood programme and other gamechanging initiatives.

“This university is expected to leverage on the benefits of the sprawling medical complex in this village to advance efforts in medical research and training and is envisioned to be a leading internationally-recognised platform for raising crops of professionally-competent individuals in the various disciplines of the health care industry.

In view of the rigorous admission process, Mimiko admonished the students to be dutiful and diligent to excel in their chosen careers.

“I must restate the zero tolerance of this university towards any form of anti-social behaviour such as cultism, gangsterism and the likes. I charge you to imbibe the highest standard of conduct befitting of this noble institution.”

The governor promised that the state government would continue to provide enabling social and policy environment for hitch-free activities at the university

Cowbellpedia Maths Qualifying Exam Attracts Mass Participation It was excitement all the way at different venues for the qualifying written examination of this year’s Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz, which held recently in various centres across the country.

Over 45,000 junior and senior secondary school students, who converged on their respective centres to write the examination, were excited and eager on arrival to complete their accreditation exercise. Surprised to notice the presence of officials of the states’ ministry of education, who got to the venues earlier to ensure that the locations were prepared for the students before verification started; some students expressed hope that they would qualify for the next round of the competition.

Speaking in Lagos, the Category Manager- Dairy, Promasidor, Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji, said there was an impressive turnout of students, as well as their teachers and parents who accompanied them to the venues of the examination across the country.

He explained that Promasidor designed the Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz to discover and nurture talented students in JS3 and SS2, adding that the participat-

ing schools were given equal opportunity in the qualifying examination, as five students in the junior category and five in the senior cadre represented each school. Two classes of candidates, online registered and manual registered, wrote the examination in each centre.

In conjunction with the ministry of education, the head of marketing said the company arranged for centres in strategic locations across the country to make accessibility easy for the participating students and their teachers.

In Lagos State, the examination was written in 26 centres, while in Ogun State, nine schools were used as centres. Among the schools used as centres in Lagos were: Ransome Kuti Memorial Senior High School, Mushin; Ikeja Senior Grammar School, Oshodi; Kuramo College, Victoria Island; Amuwo Odofin Community Secondary School, Mile II; and Oriwu Model College, Ikorodu.

Also, Remo Secondary School, Shagamu; Abeokuta Grammar School, Abeokuta; Ansar-Uddeen Comprehensive College, Ota; and Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode; were some of the schools that served as centres in Ogun State.

VC Decries Attempt to Drag MOUAU into Abia Politics Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia The new Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Professor Francis Otunta, has raised the alarm over attempts by “desperate” politicians to drag him and the institution into the politics of Abia State.

A national newspaper (not THISDAY) published a report claiming that the VC had gagged a lecturer who served as the INEC returning officer in the Abia North senatorial rerun election and “summoned him before the management to explain what happened during the election.”

Addressing a press conference on the issue, the VC said there is no truth whatsoever in the said publication, adding that it was “malicious and misleading” for the said newspaper to link him with an election he knew nothing about.

Otunta, who was less than a week in office when the said rerun election was conducted on March 5, 2015, wondered why a newspaper owned by one of the contestants should malign him with a published falsehood.

“I have never been involved in politics, even in my home state (Ebonyi),” he said, adding that the returning officer, though from MOUAU was not

known to him at the time of the election since he was still familiarising himself with his new environment as the fifth vice-chancellor of the institution.

The Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering at MOUAU, Dr. Bertrand Nwankwojike had acted as returning officer in the said election and had erroneously declared it “inconclusive” with Senator Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scoring 26,009, votes while his closest rival, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) polled 25,814 votes.

The electoral body had promptly corrected the returning officer, who later declared the

PDP candidate winner of the poll.

Nwankwojike, who was visibly angry about the accusation levelled against the MOUAU management, denied ever being summoned to appear before the management.

“I did not at any time discuss any election issue with university management,” he said, adding that he did not speak to any journalist about the said election.

The mechanical engineering lecturer further asserted that he had no personal contact with the new VC before and after the rerun poll and was never called upon to give any report about how the poll was conducted.

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER GRADUATE

Dr. Chioma Ekenta (right) bagged a PhD, while her daughter Ugochi was awarded BSc at the recent convocation ceremony of Imo State University

School Administrator Seeks Expert Canvasses Sound Promotion of Nigerian Culture Education for National Devt Funmi Ogundare The Administrator of Childville Schools, Ogudu Lagos, Mrs. Jola Alokolaro, has appealed to parents and other stakeholders in the education sector not to relegate their cultural values to the background, saying that it is the responsibility of every agent of socialisation to stifle cultural imperialism in the country.

Speaking at this year’s cultural day celebration held recently at the school with focus on south-south culture, she said the youths should be properly acculturated and assimilated to be proud of their culture.

“You will agree with me that schools being an agent of socialisation should not be left behind in immersing students into their culture. Childville as a school wants to be in the vanguard of elevation of Nigerian cultures, hence the school’s passion about its cultural day celebration. As a school, we do not pay lip service to cultural promotion and enlightenment particularly as it affects Nigerian culture.

“No culture is superior to the other but children can develop the illusion that their culture is inferior to others when theirs are never celebrated and promoted.

Alokolaro said that is why her school usually has a lead culture during its yearly celebration, adding, “though other cultures are on parade, but this year’s focus is south-south culture.

And it could be seen, southsouth food, way of dressing, dance, and other cultural expressions are on parade.

The rationale is for the students to have a holistic perspective of what the culture from the area is.”

She pointed out that people are defined by their culture and culture has better meaning when embraced at a tender age, adding that the school passionately promotes cultural day celebration as an extra- curricular activity.

The administrator called on parents and other stakeholders to promote Nigerian cultures to the young ones to ensure that they are not lost in the present day cultural imperialism.

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Ledra College Nicosia in Cyprus has collaborated with the Cool Global Interlink to canvass for sound education for national development in the country.

This was disclosed by the representative of the college, Professor Nicholas Georgiou at a seminar and scholarship award in Osogbo, Osun State.

He said it is a great opportunity for the less privileged people that have problem of education and urged the over 500 participants to see education as a weapon for all-round development. While disclosing that Ledra College has offered all the winners in the programme a 50 per cent discount scholarship to study, he said Nigeria is a beautiful country and urged the beneficiaries to maintain a good culture.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Cool Global Interlinks, Mr. Hamzat Kolade, said Nigerian education seems to be the best and as a result of that “we want to use that to assist the less

privileged people in the country on education.

He said the organisation is energetic and dynamically formed by a team of professionals full of experience in the education sector at home and abroad. According to him, the organisation represents more than 50 world-class universities and colleges from across the world and contributes towards youths’ education and development”.

He said the certificate of Ledra College is globally accepted, adding that the eradication of poverty through self-sustainability is the watchword of the organisation and expressed satisfaction with the step taken so far.

The two ambassadors of the Cool Global Interlink at the ceremony, Mr. Muyiwa Ademola and Mr. Rasaki Ojopagogo, said the organisation is a registered body that has affiliation to the immigration service, adding that it is not a fraudulent organisation and that it is well patronised by good ambassadors of the country.

36

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016 • T H I S D AY

CITYSTRINGS

Acting Features Editor: Charles Ajunwa Email charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

Water Shoots through the Roof Peter Uzoho who visited dealers of water packaged in sachets in Lagos, reports that the recent spike in the price of the product has affected their sales

W

hen the fall in naira ushered in increase in the prices of goods and services, the least expected to also be affected was sachet water. This is because it was regarded as a common article, as it was before now very cheap and affordable to both the poor and the rich in the country.

As found by THISDAY, the rise in its price has generated a lot of tension among the users – both the retailers and the final consumers, in many parts of the country.

At the moment, while the retailers complain of the drop in patronage, buyers on their own complain of inability to afford the new price.

They have unavoidably taken solace in drinking the unwholesome water from wells.

“When my suppliers came to supply me pure water as they used to, they told me that the price has increased from N60 per bag to N100, out of annoyance I asked them to go with their water”, said Mrs. Pauline Adeyemi, a provision and sachet water seller at Igando,Lagos.

“I thought they wanted to cheat me. It was when I went out later in the day that I confirmed what they said.”

Adeyemi who said that she later bought from them and started selling one sachet for N10 noted that people stopped buying it because of the increment. “I later bought it at that amount and started selling N10 each, but they stopped buying. When I asked them why, they said it was because of the increment.”She added that she no longer sells up to three bags in a day unlike before that she was selling as much as six bags in one day.

Found loading bags of sachet water inside fridge even when not sure of sales. It is actually a trying moment for her as she relies on the business for the training of her children. Even the fine location of her business, a garage at Igando, Lagos, no longer makes a difference as her sales have also dipped. Accordingly, she has cut down on the number of supply she used to have, due to the high price, and to avoid waste as well.

“Tell President Buhari that we are dying”, Mrs. Titi Ogunbisi, who sells sachet water at Igando Motor Park, told THISDAY.”See now, I cannot sell because people are not buying again. Pure water is costly now.

“I used to fill this shop with pure water before; they used to supply me 250 bags of water and I would sell it within one week. I have people that normally come to buy from me, and they will go and resell. I was buying it N70 for one bag, and I would sell N100 for one bag and then N5 for one sachet.” she said.

Explaining further, Ogunbisi said that, now that the price of the item has gone high, she only buys just 50 bags and would sell N150 per bag and N10 per sachet. “To sell now is a problem. How can I manage to feed and train my children”, asked Mrs Ogunbisi.

“Pure water is costly now”, said Abiola Idowu, who hawks sachet water at Iyanu-Iba.”I used to buy five bags for N350 and sold at N10 for one sachet and N20 for three sachets, but now it’s N500 for five bags, so I can’t sell three again for N20. Now, it’s N10 each”, Idowu said. He added that his daily sale has reduced owing to the rise in price.

Idowu is among the less-privileged who depend on the sachet water business for their daily sustenance. Now that the business has received its own hit of the economic trouble, where then lies their hope?

Some of the sachet water sellers seem not to see why the price of the article should be increased like others. They argue that none of the raw materials needed for its production is imported. According to them, water that is the chief raw material for the product is not an import commodity, neither is the nylon used to package it.”I don’t know why they’re increasing the price”, said Simon Ikem, a sachet water seller. “Every little opportunity people

A typical sachet water production factory

will use it to cheat others here in Nigeria. We have been asking them why the increase, they said dollar has gone up, naira has gone down.

What concerns pure water with the fall of naira or the rise of dollar,” Ikem asked.

But to some other sellers, sachet water is a business so those who produce it face the same challenges as their contemporaries in other lines of business. According to them, producers of the product have moral justification for increasing the price. “Are they not in Nigeria? Are they not facing the same thing other manufacturers here are facing”, asked Mr. Chibuzo Ahamba, who sells sachet water and drinks at Egbeda.

“They should not be blamed because everybody knows that almost everything in this country now has added money, so pure water producers should not be seen as being too greedy. They’re in business to gain and not to lose. They buy other things as others buy. They have their own financial responsibilities. So I think they’re right for increasing their own product, and we too have to add our own to gain as well”, added Ahamba.

“The only thing is that our sale has dropped

A woman selling sachet water

It is actually a trying moment for her as she relies on the business for the training of her children. Even the fine location of her business, a garage at Igando, Lagos, no longer makes a difference as her sales has also dropped

and many people are not patronising us like before. I think they have gone back to drinking water from the water wells in their compounds”, he further added.

Another sachet water consumer, Mrs. Helen Oyeniyi, told THISDAY that the producers of sachet water said that they had to increase the price because the chemical they use to produce the product is imported, so it is also affected by the increase in dollar. They said the chemical is not made here in Nigeria, that it is imported.

And that the increase in dollar has affected it like other things.”

A man who wants to remain anonymous, who used to buy some bags of sachet water for his family’s use told THISDAY that he has stopped due to the increase. He said his family now draw water from the well and they drink it even without boiling. According to him, they were used to drinking water from the well before

sachet water became common and affordable.

“I used to buy like five bags of pure water from time to time for my family’s use. That time it used to be five bags for N350 or sometimes N300 but when it increased to N500 for the five bags, I stopped buying because I can’t afford it anymore, I’m not a big man”, he said. ”Now we’re drinking water from the well in my compound.

We have been used to drinking it even before this pure water became a common thing, so it’s not going to do us anything; whether we boil it or not”, he added.

But how far can the fate of this family and the like carry them, as THISDAY’s findings equally showed that, these wells have been dug for many decades. Most of them are not well covered to prevent possible entrance of creeping objects, germs into them. The environment where they are located, are rarely kept neat, thus constituting health hazards to the users.

37

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016 • T H I S D AY

CITYSTRINGS

Strengthening the Nigerian Navy The Director of Nigerian Naval Information, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, recently paid a courtesy visit to THISDAY’s corporate headquarters in Apapa, Lagos, and spoke about the achievements of the navy in protecting Nigeria’s maritime borders, its forthcoming diamond jubilee anniversary, and how proper funding of the navy can keep miscreants at bay. Funke Olaode reports On the purpose of his visit to THISDAY When I was appointed as director of the Nigerian Naval Information on February 14, I quickly drew an action plan, and one of the major objectives of that plan was to engage and interact with the media. We also want to engage with the media in terms of advocacy and letting Nigerians know the consequences of crimes in the Maritime sector. It is common knowledge that 70 to 80 per cent of our wealth come from the maritime domain. So we need to secure these assets. And there is no better way than to partner with fellow security maritime agencies, the media and other stakeholders. Essentially, this is why we are here to solicit the media’s support and foster a cordial working relationship that will help and better secure our maritime space, which will enhance the prosperity of our nation, Nigeria. We also want to showcase our achievements. For instance, in the last few weeks, the Nigerian Navy has acquired about 30 boats and we are expecting 50 more by the end of May. This is in a bid to saturate the Creeks of the Niger Delta. That is another terrain that is often misunderstood because when you talk about Niger Delta (the region), it is made up of about 6,000 rivers and creeks.

It is a very difficult terrain, so we need to carry out operations to police our assets there. With the new boats that are coming up stream, it is hoped that it will better contain the activities of miscreants in that domain.

The Chief of Naval Staff has also instituted the use of houseboat with organic platforms to serve as a command post in major junctions of these riverine domains. This will make it more difficult for criminals such as pipeline vandals, crude oil thieves and illegal bunkers to move stolen products from the internal to vessels waiting offshore. The Chief of Naval Staff has also said every operational command, that is the Western, Eastern and Central Naval command, must have one capital ship at sea each day, irrespective of the various boats that operate from various operational bases. This increases the presence of the Nigerian Navy out there at sea.

On the current administration’s efforts to ensure that Nigeria’s maritime borders are secure Well, what the current administration is doing is to improve upon our surveillance systems. The regional maritime awareness visibility headquarters is here in Lagos but the satellite stations are along the coasts, and we have increased them to about nine, and we employ radars that have ranges of 25 to 35 multiple miles, which means our territorial waters are adequately covered by surveillance systems. The challenge would be the funding, but the good news is that the Nigerian Navy has a project that is being funded by the office of the National Security Adviser. Through this project, we employ the use of high frequency to transmit over the horizon. Once that project is completed, we should be able to see beyond 200 multiples miles. The Navy also has special forces that are on maritime fields. These forces carry out specific missions but because of the nature of those missions, we deliberately do not reveal the identity of the personnel involved and the mission they are engaged in. So the activities of these forces are highly unsung but they are contributing enormously to the operations in the North-east.

On the attitude of the Navy towards awarding security sensitive Navy contracts to private individuals Well, we are subject to our political masters and can’t challenge what is considered as

think the armed forced should deal more with the issues of external aggression on how to protect our maritime fields from sabotage.

The Atlas Cove is a domestic issue that needs to be countered or addressed domestically.

On measures being put in place to avoid missing of seized vessels, like the African Pride The African Pride was a major embarrassment to the Navy and the nation at large. Right now, the Chief of Naval Staff is advocating for Special Maritime Courts. The problem is that when you arrest a vessel at sea, so much happens. From the time you arrest the vessel to the point you bring it into the harbour. You arrest the crew and most likely you conduct preliminary investigations in the base, you hand over the crew to the police or the EFCC or to some other policing agencies of government. What about the custody of vessels? Most times, these agencies don’t really have where to keep these vessels. These vessels now remain in the custody of the Navy, where you keep your men on board to ensure that the vessel is secured. It is not as easy as people think. Even the missing African Pride, people said a lot of things, that the Admirals were involved in illegal crude oil trade. This wasn’t true. The issue was that the vessel was in our custody, and at a time, certain elements in the vessel got missing, and eventually the vessel disappeared. All I can say is that if the processes and procedures in effecting arrest and dispensing of those cases are highly minimised, there won’t be issues. We have had cases where a vessel was arrested, and 18 months after, the vessel is still in our custody. It is a challenge because you need to commit men and resources to protect these assets.

Ezekobe

right or wrong. But I can tell you there is something we call Economy Sub-Maritime Security. This will say what the cost of the various losses we have made is, compared to the cost of funding the Navy. If, rather than funding the Navy, you are funding a contractor to buy platforms under the auspices of the company to secure your maritime space, it is

There is no organisation that is as disciplined as the military. The only thing is that sometimes people don’t know how to go about seeking redress. I can assure you, if you write officially to the Army, Navy or Air force that somebody has infringed upon your rights in any form, we would take it up

like throwing money into the dustbin. Like I said, the decisions are above us. But what I can simply say is that the government has done a lot for us in terms of acquisition of platform, recapitalisation of our capital ships, but a lot more still needs to be done. There is a Malaysian Model that talks about policing of maritime spaces and says a medium offshore patrol vessels with helicopter attached to it could actually police about 6,000 square multiple miles. Our maritime space is about 84,000 square multiple miles. This means that we need about 14 offshore patrol vessels. Having said this, a lot more needs to be done. So funding contractors to me is a distraction. So many sentiments have been weaved around the Maritime sector and if you ask me, most of them are geared towards personal help and not the better interest of our nation or the well-being of Nigerians.

On the bombing of Lagos’ Atlas Cove, why such an incidence could happen again, and how to prevent it An incidence like the Atlas Cove happened and such unfortunate incidence can still happen again. And why can it happen? It is because it was an action that was carried out by Nigerians who woke up one morning and fired their speed boat into the Lagos area – findings revealed that they didn’t come by sea, but came from the creeks in the Ondo axis. They stormed the place, killed some people and zoomed off. We need to do a lot more in terms of intelligence gathering and that is not the military’s responsibility. For instance, we need to profile these individuals, the known War Lords of Niger Delta, get some data base to unveil their activities. I

On the Navy’s efforts to develop a cordial relationship with civilians Since we changed from military rule to democratic rule in 1999, most of the services have either actively or passively promoted civil-military relations. This is on-going where we talk to our men on how to win the hearts and minds of the public, and to keep a posture that is friendly enough for the exchange of information. Within the service itself, we have what we call divisional system, where a day in a week is set aside to talk on issues. There is no organisation that is as disciplined as the military. The only thing is that sometimes people don’t know how to go about seeking redress. I can assure you, if you write officially to the Army, Navy or Air force that somebody has infringed upon your rights in any form, we would take it up.

The military is so structured in such that an investigation must be carried out, and if our men are guilty, the person is in for trouble.

Very often we have demoted, dismissed and imprison depending on the level of the offense.

And if it is a minor offense we will call the person involved to fix it up.

On the Navy’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration The Nigerian Navy would be holding its Diamond Jubilee this year. It is turning 60 precisely on the 1st of June. There are activities lined up. We are also currently having recruitment going on which was advertised in the newspapers and the electronics media.

But some elements are still going about that they have the magic wand to get people into the navy. I want to use this opportunity to say that the forms are free and we have a portal nigeriannavy.com, where people can download and fill the form. The form is free and I want to advise Nigerians to resist these miscreants and use the right channel.

38

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016

39

40

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016

41

42

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Trump’s Campaign Manager, Lewandowski, Charged with Battery

Donald Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was arrested and charged with battery in Florida yesterday, the latest chapter in a raucous White House race marked by threats, insults and physical confrontations.

Police in Jupiter, Florida, charged Lewandowski, 42, with intentionally grabbing and bruising the arm of Michelle Fields, then a reporter for the conservative news outlet Breitbart, when she tried to question Trump at a campaign event on March 8.

“Mr. Lewandowski is absolutely innocent of this charge,” Trump’s campaign said in a statement. “He will enter a plea of not guilty and looks forward to his day in court. He is completely confident that he will be exonerated.”

Police released a video of the incident showing Fields walking alongside Trump and trying to question him. Lewandowski is seen grabbing her arm and pulling her backward. Previous videos of the incident had been obscured by people in the crowd.

At the time, Lewandowski called Fields “delusional” and said he never touched her.

Campaign rallies for Trump, the billionaire businessman who leads the race to become the Republican candidate in the Nov. 8 presidential election, have been marked by rowdiness and occasional clashes between protesters and supporters or security personnel.

His pugnacious campaign style, which includes personal insults directed at rivals and scathing criticism of protesters, has been criticized for encouraging physical altercations at his rallies.

The real estate mogul leads remaining rivals Ted Cruz, a U.S.

senator from Texas, and Ohio Governor John Kasich in polls and in the number of delegates to the nominating convention, despite a concerted effort by the Republican establishment to stop him out of fear he will lead the party to defeat in November.

Cruz picked up an endorsement on Tuesday from Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker ahead of the state’s primary next week. Walker, who dropped out of the presidential race last year, said he backed Cruz because he was a principled constitutional conservative.

“To me, I’m all in,” Walker said in a radio interview on WTMJ radio in Milwaukee, adding he was not endorsing Cruz in an attempt to stop Trump.

“I just fundamentally believe if you look at the facts, if you look at the numbers, that Ted Cruz is in the best position by far to both win the nomination of the Republican Party and to then go on and defeat Hillary Clinton in the fall this year,” Walker said, referring to the Democratic front-runner.

Walker joins a number of other more mainstream Republicans who have backed Cruz as the best alternative to Trump, who has racked up a strong delegate lead but alienated many party leaders with his harsh views on immigration, Muslims and women.

Cruz told reporters while campaigning in Wisconsin that the charges reflected the “abusive” culture of the Trump campaign. “When you have a campaign that is built on personal insults, attacks and now physical violence, that has no place in our campaign, it has no place in our democracy,” Cruz said.

Military Gains Will Speed up Syrian Political Deal, Says Assad The Syrian army’s successes and its strong support from Russia will help accelerate a political settlement to the country’s civil war, President Bashar al-Assad said, as the two allies maintained an offensive against Islamic State militants.

Assad was speaking in an interview with Russia’s RIA news agency published yesterday, two days after Syrian government forces, with intensive Russian air support, drove Islamic State from the desert city of Palmyra.

That military advance, which opened up much of Syria’s eastern desert stretching to the Islamic State strongholds of Deir al-Zor province and Raqqa, came after two weeks of indirect talks at the United Nations in Geneva.

Assad told RIA that the Syrian government delegation “displayed flexibility” at the talks with the opposition “in order not to miss a single chance” for settlement. “Russia’s military support, the support provided by Syria’s friends and the military achievements of the Syrian army - all this will lead to the speeding up of political settlement, and not vice versa,” he said.

“We did not change our position before Russia’s support or after it,” he added. Progress at the talks has been slow, with the government and its opponents deeply divided over any political transition, particularly whether Assad must leave power.

U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura says he wants the negotiations to address the “mother of all issues”, political transition in Syria. But before the talks started, the Syrian government said the issue of the presidency was a red line.

After seizing Palmyra on Sunday, Russian and Syrian jets targeted on Tuesday the town of Sukhna, about 60 km (40 miles) northeast, where many retreating Islamic State fighters had sought refuge, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.

State media said the army and its militia allies also captured territory around al-Qaryatain, about 100 km (60 miles) southwest of Palmyra, including farmland to the south and a mountain area to the west. “The town is almost encircled,” the Observatory’s director Rami Abdulrahman said.

Kasich’s senior adviser, John Weaver, said on Twitter that “campaigns reflect the character of the candidate and if this person was on our campaign he would have been fired long ago.”

Trump defended Lewan-

dowski after he was charged.

“Look at tapes - nothing there!”

Trump said on Twitter, calling Lewandowski “a very decent man.” Trump spokeswoman Katrina Pierson told CNN that Lewandowski would “absolutely” stay on the job.

Lewandowski was charged with simple battery, defined under Florida law as intentionally touching or striking a person against their will. For a first offense, it is a misdemeanor in the first degree, which carries a maximum sentence of one year

in prison or a fine of $1,000.

A court date was set for May 4, according to the police report.

Jupiter police said Lewandowski turned himself in to police, and he was issued a notice requiring him to appear in court and then released.

DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN

Bernie Sanders and actor Danny DeVito gesture during a rally at Affton High School in St. Louis, Missouri…recently

Suspect Arrested, Passengers Freed in EgyptAir Hijack An EgyptAir plane flying from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked and forced to land in Cyprus yesterday.

The passengers were freed while the suspect was arrested.

The passengers and crew were unharmed. Eighty-one people, including 21 foreigners and 15 crew, were on board the Airbus 320, Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement.

Conflicting theories emerged about the motives of the hijacker, an Egyptian. A senior Cypriot official said he seemed unstable and the incident did not appear related to terrorism. The Cypriot state broadcaster said he had demanded the release of women prisoners in Egypt.

In the midst of the hijack, witnesses said he threw a letter on the apron at Cyprus’s Larnaca airport, written in Arabic, and asked

that it be delivered to his Cypriot ex-wife. After the aircraft landed at Larnaca, negotiations began and everyone on board was freed except three passengers and four crew, Egypt’s Civil Aviation Minister Sherif Fethy said.

Soon afterwards, Cypriot television footage showed several people leaving the plane via the stairs and another man climbing out of the cockpit window and running off.

The hijacker then surrendered to authorities. Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said the hijacker had threatened to blow himself up and demanded that the aircraft be refuelled and head to Istanbul.

“It looks like he realized his demands would not be met, allowing the last two hostages, Britons, to flee the aircraft. He also tried to leave, running out.

He was arrested,”said Kasoulides.

“The explosives on him were examined. They weren’t explosives, but mobile phone covers.”Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said the hijacker would be questioned to ascertain his motives.“At some moments he asked to meet with a representative of the European Union and at other points he asked to go to another airport but there was nothing specific,” he said.

Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry said the pilot, Omar al-Gammal, had told authorities that he was threatened by a passenger who claimed to be wearing an explosive belt and forced him to divert the plane to Larnaca.

Reached by telephone, Gammal told Reuters that the hijacker seemed “abnormal”. Sounding exhausted, he said he had been obliged to treat the man as a serious security threat. Photographs on

Egyptian state television showed a middle-aged man on a plane wearing glasses and displaying a white belt with bulging pockets and protruding wires.

Television channels showed video footage of the hijacker, identified as Seif Eldin Mustafa, 59, being searched by security men at a metal detector at Borg al-Arab airport in Alexandria.

Interior Ministry officials said he was expelled from law school and had a long criminal record, including robberies.

Fethy, the Egyptian minister, said authorities suspected the suicide belt was not genuine but treated the incident as serious to ensure the safety of all those on board.

“We cannot say this was a terrorist act... he was not a professional,” Fethy told reporters after the incident.

Families of US Personnel Ordered to Leave Parts of Turkey The Obama administration ordered the families of U.S. military, diplomatic and other government personnel to leave parts of southern Turkey yesterday, warning U.S. citizens against travel to the region amid mounting concerns over security.

The U.S. military’s European Command said it had ordered the departure of families of personnel stationed in Adana, including Incirlik air base, which is used heavily in the fight against Islamic State militants.

It said families of U.S. military

personnel also had been told to leave Izmir and Mugla provinces.

The decision was authorized

by U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, a statement from European Command said.

“We understand this is disruptive to our military families, but we must keep them safe and ensure the combat effectiveness of our forces to support our strong ally Turkey in the fight against terrorism,”General Philip M. Breedlove, commander of the U.S. European Command, said in the statement.

The departures do not indicate a decision to permanently end U.S. families’ presence at military facilities in southern Turkey, the statement said. The U.S. State Department said later it had ordered the departure of family members of government workers at the U.S. Consulate in Adana, and that families of U.S. government workers in Izmir and Mugla provinces were also asked to leave.

The State Department issued a statement cautioning U.S. citizens more broadly against

traveling to southeastern Turkey.

It also warned of “increased threats from terrorist groups throughout Turkey.” The U.S. moves come a day after Secretary of State John Kerry met in Washington with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to discuss bilateral issues, including efforts to defeat Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was due to visit Washington this week to attend a Nuclear Security Summit with other world leaders.

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016

43

44

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Nigeria’s Business Confidence Index Down to 12-month Low US urges Nigeria to relax forex policy Obinna Chima with agency report Nigeria’s inflationary pressures intensified in the month of March, pushing all five parameters of the Sales Managers Index to a 12-month low.

A new set of data released on Monday by the Londonbased World Economics shows Nigeria’s Business Confidence Index down for the seventh consecutive month, reaching the lowest level in a year.

Businesses in the survey commented on poor consumer demand, rising unemployment, high inflation, lower oil prices and difficult exchange rate conditions.

The Market Growth Index measured by the report also showed fifth consecutive decline and the lowest since March 2015.

The Product Sales Index falls first time in 12 months as managers point to general rise

in prices charged for products and services.

At the employment level in the first quarter of 2016, the staffing index fell below the 50.0 no-change mark for the first time, as companies comment on staff rationing as part of cost-cutting measures at lower level of employment.

Meanwhile, the United States said on Monday it would press Nigeria in talks this week to adopt a more flexible foreign exchange rate to boost growth and investment in Africa’s largest economy. The US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told an audience at the U.S. Institute of Peace that Nigeria should ensure that the value of the naira currency versus the U.S. dollar was “more realistic.”

“While most people complain about the possibility of there being a devaluation, people are already operating on a devalued currency, and the only people

who are not, are people who are doing it officially,” Reuters quoted Thomas-Greenfield to have said.

“Our recommendation is, and we will have discussions about it ... that they should look at the exchange rate and try to make the exchange rate more realistic to what the value of the naira is to the dollar,” she added. She spoke before talks in Washington to be launched

by Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday and which will focus on Nigeria’s economy, security and development.

Nigeria faces its worst economic crisis in decades as the falling price of oil has slashed revenues, prompting the central bank to peg the currency and introduce curbs to protect foreign exchange reserves, which have fallen to an 11-year low.

Some members of Nigeria’s central bank monetary policy committee have said the naira should be devalued.

Fidelity Bank Partners NEPC, LBS to Build Capacity for Exporters As part of efforts to promote activities in the non-oil sector and also empower exporters in the country, Fidelity Bank Plc has gone into a partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Lagos Business School (LBS) to establish the Export Leadership Institute.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos yesterday, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, said the initiative would also help support the federal government’s drive towards diversifying the economy.

According to the Fidelity boss, the goal of the Export Management Programme is to deliver impactful and worldclass export management education to equip Nigerian MSMEs with the knowledge

and business know-how required to compete effectively in international markets.

Okonkwo, pointed out that long before the global oil price debacle, Fidelity Bank had seen the need for the diversification of the economy and the opportunities it portend for micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) and to that end, had renewed its focus on that segment of the market.

“Nigeria’s economy is facing severe headwinds on account of the falling crude oil prices and the direct consequence of increasing value erosion of the naira. This is further heightened by the current international trade paradigm which is mostly import driven.

“Foreign exchange earnings in Nigeria are largely from oil exports which account

for over 90 per cent of total export receipts.

The current currency debacle hinges on supply side dynamics as we have lost over 70 per cent of our dollar revenues in the last 18 months due to the falling crude oil prices. Hence, it is quite obvious that the key to growing the value of the naira is the diversification of Nigeria’s dollar revenue base via non-oil exports.

As further proof of our strong commitment to the growth of the Nigerian economy, we are collaborating with the NEPC and LBS to establish the Export Leadership Institute, the platform under which the Export Management Programme, a flagship export capacity development programme, will run,” he added.

Stanbic IBTC Notifies Market of Delayed Results Goddy Egene Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as well as its shareholders that it will be unlikely to complete its 2015 annual results before 31 March 2016 as required by the NSE’s rules.

The bank attributed this to the reporting challenges it experienced with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) in 2015, saying that it has been in discussions with its External Auditors about the details of the appropriate presentation of certain items in its financial statements, which are the subject of the ongoing legal proceedings.

“We have therefore sought the approval of the NSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission to file our 2015 Audited Financial Statements outside of the time period specified by the rules as we

continue to work towards the timely conclusion of our 2015 audit exercise. Our aim is to conclude all required regulatory requirements and file our audited financial statements with The Exchange on or before 31 May 2016.

“We also feel it is necessary to mention that Stanbic IBTC Holdings was recently served with a motion on Notice filed by the FRC at the Court of Appeal seeking an Order of Injunction which relates to certain aspects of our 2015 Financial Statements. The FRC, in its application to The Court of Appeal, attached a document purported to be the “Consolidated and Separate Annual Financial Statements of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC for 2015,” a statement from the bank explained.

To this end, Renaissance Capital (RenCap), a research and investment firm, in a report yesterday cut its target price for

Stanbic IBTC Bank Group by 19 per cent to N17 per share.

“The financials may be restated, but we would need to gauge the magnitude of any structural changes and the potential impact on the group’s earnings trajectory. The planned capital raise remains on the agenda, at least based on our latest discussions with management. While we still like the earnings buffer the wealth business provides to the group, we have moderated our group valuation largely owing to: the P/E de-rating of our global comps for the wealth business; a higher liquidity discount assumption; and higher CoR assumptions in the banking business. We therefore cut our TP by 19 per cent to N17.0 and downgrade the stock to HOLD, from Buy,” RenCap said.

The shares of Stanbic IBTC closed at N15 per share yesterday.

Buhari

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

DECEMBER 2015 Broad Money (M2)

20,029,831.12

-- Narrow Money (M1)

8,571,701.30

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,456,096.85

---- Demand Deposits

7,115,604.46

-- Quasi Money

11,458,129.82

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,653,320.37

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

14,376,510.75

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

21,612,452.09

---- Credit to Government (Net)

2,893,189.06

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

4,475,224.83

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-1,582,035.78

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

18,719,263.04

--Other Assets Net

-7,235,941.34

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,812,744.35

--Currency in Circulation

1,857,941.79

--Banks Reserves

3,954,802.55 • Source - CBN

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Price (N) Stanbic Balanced Fund

Buying Price(N)

Selling Price

1,660.29

1,685.29

Stanbic IBTC NEF

1,000.00

11,002.32

11,326.67.11

Stanbic SIBond

20

120.47

120.47

Stanbic IBTC Ethical

1

1.10

1.13

Stanbic IBTC GIF

142.90

143.38

UBA Balanced Fund

1.2563

1.2493

UBA Bond Fund

1.3443

1.3443

UBA Equity Fund

0.8205

0.8074

UBA Money Market Fund

1.1510

1.1510

ARM Aggressive Growth Fund

N13.0544

N13.4480

ARM Discovery Fund

N288.2515

N296.9425

ARM Ethical Fund

N22.5268

N23.2060

ARM Money Market Fund

13.1030 (Yield % ) • Monetary Policy Rate - 13%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT MONDAY, 28 MARCH 2016 The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $35.48 a barrel on Monday, compared with $34.96 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Minas (Indonesia), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

45

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

23-Mar-16 22-Mar-16

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

01 Dangote Cement Plc

164.00

168.00

-2.38%

2,794,643,214,420.00

10.64

15.41

5.68

4.88%

4.33

02 Nigerian Brew. Plc.

113.61

109.20

4.04%

900,825,151,885.68

5.37

21.16

3.26

3.17%

5.29

03 Nestle Nigeria Plc.

700.55

702.00

-0.21%

555,295,337,338.60

29.95

23.39

4.09

4.14%

14.61

04 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

16.00

16.30

-1.84%

470,898,867,584.00

3.38

4.74

2.05

11.06%

1.14

05 Zenith Bank Plc

12.54

12.90

-2.79%

393,712,032,076.44

3.37

3.73

0.91

14.35%

0.66

293.23

293.23

0.00%

381,926,533,832.69

4.45

65.92

3.06

1.18%

8.25

07 Lafarge Africa Plc.

81.19

82.61

-1.72%

369,812,477,953.90

5.93

13.70

1.38

3.70%

2.10

08 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

14.25

14.25

0.00%

261,481,104,813.75

1.39

10.23

0.51

4.35%

0.70

09 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd.

308.00

310.00

-0.65%

170,419,576,404.00

94.70

3.25

1.25

5.19%

0.82

10 Guinness Nig Plc

108.93

112.00

-2.74%

164,036,400,318.84

0.78

139.96

3.29

0.00%

3.67

11 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc

15.05

15.05

0.00%

150,500,000,000.00

2.04

7.39

1.27

0.66%

1.34

12 United Bank for Africa Plc

3.60

3.70

-2.70%

130,606,294,759.20

1.64

2.19

0.41

16.67%

0.39

13 FBN Holdings Plc

3.51

3.70

-5.14%

125,992,477,699.92

2.16

1.63

0.31

28.49%

0.22

30.92

30.92

0.00%

116,979,520,050.00

0.93

33.13

1.96

4.04%

16.15

3.95

3.90

1.28%

114,265,487,942.45

2.28

1.73

0.55

13.92%

0.31

16 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc.

151.59

151.59

0.00%

97,107,093,127.17

11.12

13.63

1.25

1.45%

4.05

17 P Z Cussons Nigeria Plc.

21.71

21.71

0.00%

86,199,056,646.95

1.10

19.78

1.19

5.99%

2.05

18 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

5.95

5.90

0.85%

71,400,000,000.00

0.96

6.19

0.71

8.40%

1.23

19 International Breweries Plc.

17.06

18.50

-7.78%

56,199,892,716.80

0.64

26.69

3.04

1.47%

4.66

154.91

162.45

-4.64%

55,859,812,036.42

11.22

13.80

0.68

3.87%

3.77

21 Julius Berger Nig. Plc.

41.50

41.50

0.00%

54,780,000,000.00

6.00

6.92

0.25

6.51%

2.15

22 Flour Mills Nig. Plc.

19.00

19.00

0.00%

49,860,506,553.00

1.84

10.32

0.15

10.53%

0.49

142.46

149.95

-4.99%

48,368,280,899.02

12.41

11.48

0.21

6.32%

3.92

24 Oando Plc

4.00

3.91

2.30%

48,138,475,576.00

0.50

8.00

0.08

18.75%

0.31

25 Sterling Bank Plc.

1.66

1.73

-4.05%

47,792,094,089.16

0.36

4.64

0.43

5.42%

0.50

26 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc

1.15

1.15

0.00%

44,529,147,038.75

0.02

48.09

1.10

4.35%

0.48

27 Fidelity Bank Plc

1.40

1.34

4.48%

40,564,715,832.20

0.48

2.90

0.32

10.00%

0.22

28 U A C N Plc.

20.48

20.95

-2.24%

39,339,302,645.76

3.62

5.66

0.49

8.54%

0.56

29 Presco Plc

34.25

34.25

0.00%

34,250,000,000.00

3.28

10.45

3.02

0.29%

1.53

30 Diamond Bank Plc

1.30

1.40

-7.14%

30,108,505,658.40

0.92

1.42

0.16

23.08%

0.13

31 Wema Bank Plc.

0.76

0.76

0.00%

30,011,163,641.88

0.06

12.90

0.65

0.00%

0.67

32 Okomu Oil Palm Plc.

31.42

33.07

-4.99%

29,971,852,200.00

2.25

13.99

3.38

3.18%

1.22

33 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc.

24.98

24.98

0.00%

29,872,994,670.24

0.81

30.95

0.98

1.20%

2.27

34 Cadbury Nigeria Plc.

15.53

17.20

-9.71%

29,168,477,681.20

3.21

4.84

0.87

8.37%

2.82

35 Cap Plc

38.50

38.50

0.00%

26,950,000,000.00

1.66

23.16

4.05

2.60%

15.33

36 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.81

3.81

0.00%

22,409,902,582.95

0.80

4.76

0.89

2.89%

0.86

37 Mansard Insurance Plc

1.95

2.04

-4.41%

20,475,000,000.00

0.16

12.32

1.24

2.56%

1.04

38 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc

6.86

6.86

0.00%

18,175,147,273.08

0.97

7.08

1.69

13.12%

3.24

39 FCMB Group Plc.

0.76

0.80

-5.00%

15,050,060,173.04

0.49

1.54

0.11

39.47%

0.10

40 Skye Bank Plc

0.96

0.99

-3.03%

13,325,089,353.60

0.85

1.12

0.10

31.25%

0.09

41 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

1.44

1.51

-4.64%

11,419,484,627.52

0.14

10.19

0.23

11.11%

0.53

42 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

8.60

8.60

0.00%

10,807,428,787.60

1.13

7.63

0.66

8.14%

1.01

43 Continental Reinsurance Plc

0.89

0.89

0.00%

9,231,742,437.68

0.16

5.59

0.58

11.24%

0.61

44 UACN Property Development Co. Limited

4.61

4.85

-4.95%

7,923,437,476.95

1.81

2.55

0.71

15.18%

0.24

45 Unity Bank Plc

0.67

0.70

-4.29%

7,831,856,421.14

0.54

1.23

0.12

0.00%

0.09

46 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,691,369,124.00

0.10

5.16

0.94

6.00%

0.45

47 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc

3.99

3.80

5.00%

6,480,632,812.50

0.45

8.87

0.79

7.52%

1.07

48 AIICO Insurance Plc.

0.83

0.85

-2.35%

5,752,069,718.40

0.18

4.73

0.22

0.00%

0.44

49 Resort Savings & Loans Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

5,664,866,202.00

4.68

0.11

0.02

0.00%

1.89

50 Fidson Healthcare Plc

2.53

2.53

0.00%

3,795,000,000.00

0.63

3.99

0.17

16.60%

0.59

06 Forte Oil Plc.

14 Unilever Nigeria Plc. 15 Access Bank Plc.

20 Mobil Oil Nig Plc.

23 Total Nigeria Plc.

TOTAL

8,216,898,935,082.88

TOTAL MARKET CAP

8,853,022,855,897.27

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

92.81%

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion) Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

Open 22-Mar-16

Close Change % 23-Mar-16

26,020.32 8.95

25,736.92 8.85

-1.09 -1.09

106.76 8.31

105.53 8.22

-1.15 -1.15

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers Stock

Open Close Change 22-Mar-16 23-Mar-16 %

Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc Fidelity Bank Plc Nigerian Brew. Plc. Oando Plc Access Bank Plc.

3.80

3.99

5.00

1.34 109.20 3.91 3.90

1.40 113.61 4.00 3.95

4.48 4.04 2.30 1.28

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

Open Close Change 22-Mar-16 23-Mar-16 %

Cadbury Nigeria Plc. International Breweries Plc. Diamond Bank Plc FBN Holdings Plc FCMB Group Plc.

17.20 18.50 1.40 3.70 0.80

15.53 17.06 1.30 3.51 0.76

-9.71 -7.78 -7.14 -5.14 -5.00

Market ASI sheds 1.09% after a 4-day gaining streak Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today- Wednesday, March 23rd, 2016, was negative as the market closed red due to profit taking. This was further highlighted by negative performance from the NSE Sub sectors; Banking, Insurance and Oil & Gas (Save Consumer Goods). Trading activities increased in volume as 398.28 million shares worth N2.647 billion in 3,581 deals exchanged hands today. This is an increase from the 344.12 million shares worth N2.460 billion in 4,386 deals carried out on Tuesday. Topping in volume terms was MultiTrex Integrated Foods Plc, Access Bank Plc and United Capital Plc, while Dangote Cement Plc and Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed negative with a 1.09% (-283.40) decrease to 25,736.92 from 26,020.32 the previous trading day.

Market Capitalization depreciated in tandem to N8.85 trillion from N8.95 trillion of prior trading day. The Thisday BGL 50 Index followed suit with 1.15% decrease to close at 105.53 from 106.76 the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at 8.22 trillion from N8.31 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 9 stocks gained on the bourse today while 32 stocks declined, leaving 141 stocks unchanged. Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc emerged the toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 5.00% to close at N3.99 per share. It was followed Fidelity Bank Plc with a gain of 4.48% to close at N1.40 per share. Others on the gainers list include: Nigerian Brew. Plc, Oando Plc and Access Bank Plc while on the decliners’ list; Cadbury Nigeria Plc led with a loss of 9.71% to close at N15.53 per share. It was followed by International Breweries Plc with a loss of 7.78% to close at N17.06 per share. Others on the losers list include; Diamond Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc and FCMB Group Plc. REQUIRED DISCLOSURE This report has been prepared by BGL Plc. BGL Plc does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should use this report as one of many other factors in making their investment decisions.

For more details go to www.thisdaylive.com

46

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016

MARKET NEWS

Skye Bank to Record Lower Profit on Impairment Charges Goddy Egene and Eromosele Abiodun The lull in the oil industry and real estate sector of the nation’s economy has impacted negatively on the operations of Skye Bank Plc. Consequently, the bank is expected to report a decline in profit for the financial year ended December 31, 2015.

In a profit warning notification to the capital market community, the management of Skye Bank Plc said the expected decline in performance is attributable to decision to recognise increased impairment on loans to sectors severely affected by the prevailing economic headwinds which are yet to abate, especially the lull in oil & gas and real

T H E MAIN BOARD

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

estate sectors.

“While this cautious approach has been adopted, we have designed and commenced appropriate remedial processes to salvage the affected assets as soon as possible. Full details of the Group’s financial performance will be disclosed after regulatory approvals of the financial statements. We remain committed to our focus

N I G E R I A N QUANTITY TRADED

STO C K

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Daily Summary as of 15/03/2016 Printed 15/03/2016 14:36:17.017 Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC TIGER BRANDED CONSUMER GOODS PLC UNION DICON SALT PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UNITED CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE

on supporting the growth of the retail and small and medium scale enterprise (SME) sectors amongst others,” the bank said.

Skye Bank explained that in 2015, it made substantial improvements to its risk management framework with a view to ensuring that its risk assets portfolio remain solid and of good quality.

19 5 24

33.07 34.25

116,531 10,700 127,231

3,841,928.14 384,772.00 4,226,700.14

12 12 36

1.22

851,138 851,138 978,369

1,044,028.36 1,044,028.36 5,270,728.50

1 184 28 213 213

0.76 1.14 20.95

240 24,090,695 82,460 24,173,395 24,173,395

180.00 27,641,625.48 1,699,248.06 29,341,053.54 29,341,053.54

1 1

0.50

50,000 50,000

25,000.00 25,000.00

14 14

41.50

92,917 92,917

4,113,798.00 4,113,798.00

9 9

5.10

41,627 41,627

216,923.46 216,923.46

1 1 25

10.00

15 15 184,559

150.00 150.00 4,355,871.46

9 47 10 109 175

3.00 112.79 18.50 93.00

186,330 56,810 38,825 910,268 1,192,233

546,898.50 6,260,194.48 687,308.64 86,403,248.71 93,897,650.33

34 34

154.00

175,349 175,349

26,907,869.08 26,907,869.08

31 35 30 20 189 1 306

6.01 19.29 1.64 8.00 3.04 11.25

226,918 201,814 905,530 151,351 15,627,864 1,282 17,114,759

1,336,423.28 3,895,080.32 1,492,087.65 1,185,227.30 47,491,930.79 13,704.58 55,414,453.92

15 49 64

17.20 690.00

15,705 22,562 38,267

262,529.44 15,371,795.58 15,634,325.02

4 4

4.30

3,949 3,949

16,151.41 16,151.41

22 24 46 629

25.00 28.05

130,500 107,357 237,857 18,762,414

3,100,335.48 3,067,966.81 6,168,302.29 198,038,752.05

230 30 26 135 460 57 366 553 37 17 34 1,945

4.58 1.35 16.26 1.20 16.20 0.99 1.65 3.74 5.71 0.64 0.83

13,454,556 3,849,052 319,603 12,616,743 16,476,426 3,971,581 2,583,895 71,981,533 632,510 615,732 1,508,719 128,010,350

63,541,837.77 5,228,335.10 5,359,956.99 15,258,417.75 273,236,491.23 3,932,566.39 4,263,864.13 269,169,272.92 3,619,529.94 394,068.48 1,256,638.76 645,260,979.46

12 16 1

0.81 0.91 0.50

166,176 7,966,000 450,000

131,718.23 7,260,650.00 225,000.00

1

0.50

598,888

299,444.00

4 5 9 2 1 14 65

0.50 2.14 0.75 0.50 0.50 0.50

1,500,000 63,000 418,199 250,000 1,000 3,383,010 14,796,273

750,000.00 139,386.17 317,306.24 125,000.00 500.00 1,691,505.00 10,940,509.64

7 7

1.07

162,085 162,085

172,360.10 172,360.10

1 1

1.25

250 250

297.50 297.50

160 4 132 1 16 159 472 2,490

3.20 3.81 0.86 0.50 15.30 1.75

7,068,868 177,095 11,539,007 10,000 297,321 15,166,381 34,258,672 177,227,630

23,028,383.26 669,657.55 10,000,439.45 5,000.00 4,489,324.44 26,376,256.46 64,569,061.16 720,943,207.86

“Our cost containment, internal efficiency and process improvement measures remain on track,” the bank added.

Skye Bank is the fifth financial institution informing investors to expect lower earnings for 2015 due to the challenging operating environment. FCMB Group, FBN Holdings Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

have all notified the capital market community of the lower earnings.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian equities market started the week on a negative note with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index declining by 1.4 per cent to close at 25,545.10. Similarly, the market capitalisation shed N214.2 billion to close at N8.7 trillion.

E XC H A N G E

MAIN BOARD

DEALS

Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 5 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. 9 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 13 NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC 1 Pharmaceuticals Totals 28 HEALTHCARE Totals 28 ICT Processing Systems E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC 1 Processing Systems Totals 1 ICT Totals 1 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC 11 BERGER PAINTS PLC 4 CAP PLC 8 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC 12 DN MEYER PLC. 1 LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. 86 Building Materials Totals 122 Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. 8 Electronic and Electrical Products Totals 8 Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. 3 Packaging/Containers Totals 3 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals 133 NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. 1 Chemicals Totals 1 NATURAL RESOURCES Totals 1 OIL AND GAS Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC 112 Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals 112 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC 54 ETERNA PLC. 5 FORTE OIL PLC. 11 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 3 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. 1 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 8 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals 82 Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD 24 Exploration and Production Totals 24 OIL AND GAS Totals 218 SERVICES Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. 1 Apparel Retailers Totals 1 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. 1 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals 1 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 2 TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. 3 Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals 5 Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC 3 TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC 1 Hotels/Lodging Totals 4 Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC 4 Media/Entertainment Totals 4 Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. 4 LEARN AFRICA PLC 5 Printing/Publishing Totals 9 Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC 1 Road Transportation Totals 1 Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 1 NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC 10 Transport-Related Services Totals 11 Support and Logistics C & I LEASING PLC. 1 Support and Logistics Totals 1 SERVICES Totals 37 EQTY Board Totals 3,811 Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC 425 Banking Totals 425 Other Financial Institutions FBN HOLDINGS PLC 265 Other Financial Institutions Totals 265 FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals 690 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials No. of Deals DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 60 Building Materials Totals 60 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals 60 PREMIUM Board Totals 750 Equity Activity Totals 4,561

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

2.70 24.98 0.91 0.72

120,557 18,477 507,725 9,000 655,759 655,759

309,846.49 442,241.10 465,638.71 6,750.00 1,224,476.30 1,224,476.30

3.00

60,000 60,000 60,000

180,000.00 180,000.00 180,000.00

24.00 9.42 38.50 8.60 0.70 84.00

30,185 2,394 60,465 3,541,915 1,000 12,060,208 15,696,167

727,173.05 22,264.20 2,243,736.00 30,462,346.00 670.00 1,002,849,990.28 1,036,306,179.53

1.58

72,500 72,500

115,310.00 115,310.00

45.50

17,169 17,169 15,785,836

742,387.56 742,387.56 1,037,163,877.09

3.95

66 66 66

248.16 248.16 248.16

4.82

1,757,769 1,757,769

8,473,384.08 8,473,384.08

20.10 1.80 293.23 171.00 47.18 150.00

342,445 90,000 5,223 357 150 9,000 447,175

6,767,782.21 162,315.00 1,454,971.11 57,994.65 6,724.50 1,338,064.00 9,787,851.47

350.00

202,644 202,644 2,407,588

70,931,581.10 70,931,581.10 89,192,816.65

3.00

15,000 15,000

42,750.00 42,750.00

0.50

10,000 10,000

5,000.00 5,000.00

4.00 1.18

154,695 2,562 157,257

618,780.00 3,151.26 621,931.26

2.47 5.51

97,060 500 97,560

239,747.20 2,620.00 242,367.20

0.50

111,000 111,000

55,500.00 55,500.00

0.57 0.86

65,000 68,575 133,575

37,000.00 58,439.50 95,439.50

0.50

10,000 10,000

5,000.00 5,000.00

2.20 3.91

3,000 211,963 214,963

6,930.00 828,703.07 835,633.07

0.50

11,111 11,111 760,466 240,996,082

5,555.50 5,555.50 1,909,176.53 2,087,620,208.14

12.83

31,187,922 31,187,922

403,549,637.99 403,549,637.99

3.73

14,091,156 14,091,156 45,279,078

53,063,627.44 53,063,627.44 456,613,265.43

Current Price 164.00

Quantity Traded 762,374 762,374 762,374 46,041,452 287,037,534

Value Traded 124,340,537.50 124,340,537.50 124,340,537.50 580,953,802.93 2,668,574,011.07

8.47 2.44 5.92 11.59 20.01

269,790 5 980 5 2,080 272,860 272,860 272,860

2,277,329.70 12.20 5,801.60 57.95 41,620.80 2,324,822.25 2,324,822.25 2,324,822.25

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF VETIVA BANKING ETF VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS ETF VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals ETF Board Totals ETP Activity Totals

6 1 1 1 1 10 10 10

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016

47

48

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Jonathan, Soyinka, Aregbesola, Others Pay Tributes to Braithwaite Shola Oyeyipo Two days after the sudden death of Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, eulogies have continued to pour in on him over his exemplary virtues even as scores of sympathisers thronged his Teslim Elias Close residence in Victoria Island, Lagos yesterday.

Some of the visitors to the deceased residence who all spoke highly of him included Nigerian Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka; former Chief of Army Staff, General Alani Akinriande (rtd), Chief Amos Akingba, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni; two Afenifere stalwarts, Chiefs Olaniwun Ajayi and Ayo Adebanjo; founder of CODER, Chief Ayo Opadokun and Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, Akin Oyebode.

Others were: Prof. Adebayo Ninalowo of Department of Sociology University of Lagos; President, Women Arise for Change Initiative and the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Joe OkeiOdumakin; representatives of the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Province 1, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Bayo Akinde, Rt. Rev. James Odedeji, Nwosu Nkechi; Group Managing Director, Japol Plc. Mr. Jegede Paul and several others.

Meanwhile, former President Goodluck Jonathan has described him as a strong democracy advocate who made significant contributions to national growth and development.

Jonathan, who stated this in

a condolence letter sent to the Braithwaite family, said he was one of the few courageous statesmen who stood in opposition during the military regime.

In the letter dispatched yesterday, the former president said: “I extend my deepest sympathy over the passage to eternal glory, of an elder statesman whose tremendous contributions has helped shape the progress and development of our nation.

“Braithwaite will continue to live in the memory of many Nigerians as a strong advocate of a truly democratic Nigeria and one of the very few who had the courage to stand in opposition during the military regime.

“I vividly recall our various encounters during which, as a strong believer in the unity of Nigeria, he ceaselessly clamoured for the national dialogue; seeing it as an avenue through which lasting unification of the country could be achieved. He never stopped advocating for policies that will improve the quality of life of all Nigerians.

“His family will be comforted by the fact that his legacies as a lawyer, author and a pro-democracy activist and contributions to national development and humanity will continue to endure.

“I pray that God Almighty grant his soul eternal repose and imbue you and the nation at large with the strength of spirit to bear his absence.”

During his visit to Braithwaite’s residence yesterday, Soyinka, who

disagreed with those who called him as elder statesman, said he considered him a counter-statesman.

He said: “The word elder statesman meant he was retired but I will refer to him as a counter-statesman who always put government on its toes,” he stressed, saying “Braithwaite was always on the side of the people.”

When he spoke with journalists during the condolence visit to the Braithwaite family, Ajayi described him as someone with whom he shared the same political ideology, particularly as regards the issue of true federalism and the urgent need to restructure Nigeria, irrespective of the fact that he was never a member of Afenifere.

“If he contested election, I would support him. I believe he would have done same to me if I contested election.

Ajayi seized the occasion to harp on the urgent need for restructuring in Nigerian body polity in line with the tenets of true federalism.

“Look at what is happening in Nigeria at the moment where we have somebody we call president but truly he is a monarch or a dictator.

On the other hand, Adebanjo

said Braithwaite was “A consistent, principled and patriotic man who has departed this world.”

According to him, “People like him are rare. We will miss him.

He was particularly chosen. He is one politician that believed in the unity and re-structuring of Nigeria to have a truly federal constitution.”

The Chairman, Afenifere, Lagos branch, Chief Supo Sonibare, also commended the late lawyer as a Nigerian totally committed to true federalism.

Akinrinade simply described him as a “mentor everyone will miss.”

Opadokun on his part, described death of Braithwaite as “the vanishing end of the true fighters of the liberty of the masses,” stressing that “Unlike many of his types, he was an intellectual. He was not one of those who will speak against government policy in the day and go back to prostrate in the night.

Also, Oyebode said Braithwaite was an exemplary patriot who jettisoned his noble birth and gave his life to the common people.

According to him, the late politician was determined to see a Nigeria free of corruption and earnestly waited for a better nation till he died.

Sharing his perspective on Braithwaite, Ninalowo said it is not only his family that will miss his departure but Nigeria at large and the whole world.

According to Okei-Odumakin, the late self-styled politician was “a great revolutionist and the life wire of Human Rights in Nigeria.”

In the words of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Owoseni, who also represented the Inspector General of Police “Braithwaite actually lived his life for the people and for the development of the country.”

Also, Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, said Braithwaite’s death is a huge loss to the nation.

The governor in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the death depleted the rank of Nigeria’s committed fighters for just society.

He tagged the late legal luminary as a “patriot and die-in-the-wool believer of Nigeria and did everything to make sure the political ship of the nation gets back on the right track.”

According to him, the late presidential candidate of NAP

would remain in the memory of Nigerians as one politician, whose primary constituency was his people - especially the downtrodden.

Another renowned Nigerian lawyer and human right lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), said Braithwaite was a consistent fighter for justice and fair play.

“As a man of strong principles, His daughter, Omowunmi, said her late father inspired her about her late father was his cordial relationship with the media “most of whom he usually referred to as my son/daughter anytime he was with them.

“He was a very loving man who hardly joke with his family despite his busy legal and political schedules.”

Reliving how Braithwaite came about his unique style, his fashion designer, Mrs. Shade Thomas Fad, who has known him for well over 35 years, said: “He asked us to design a particular style of outfit that would identify or associate him with the masses.

That was how we came about the Aso Oke and the style he used to wear until his exit.”

’Dangote Refinery will End Fuel Crisis’ As fuel crisis lingers unabated in Nigeria, Dangote Group, which is currently building the world’s largest refinery, has assured Nigerians that when its refinery commences operation, it will put an end to the recurring fuel crisis in the country.

While speaking to journalists in his office in Abuja yesterday, the Executive Director, Stakeholder Management and Corporate Communications, Mansur Ahmed, said by the time the refinery is ready, Nigeria will be transformed from fuel importing country to an exporting one.

“That plant (refinery) is the largest single refinery plant anywhere in the world. In addition to the plant, we are also going to produce other petrochemical products from the same complex.

These are polyethylene and polypropylene,” he said.

Ahmed said the petrochemical plant which covers 250,000 hectares and located in Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos is expected to gulp a whopping $14billion, and has the capacity to refine 650million barrel a day.

He suggested that government deregulated the downstream sector so that investors can play in an open market.

According to Ahmed, “One would prefer if it was deregulated so that we know that we are playing in an open market. The key issue is that if I buy crude oil whether from Nigeria or individual, I buy at an international price. If

I produce product and want to sell, I should sell that product at an international price.

“So, I would not be affected by the decision of local pricing, and it is on that concept that we went into refining. We expect that we would buy our input, especially crude oil, on an international market price and that when we produce products, we will sell them at an international price.

“The refining industry is a global industry, if you use those international benchmarks, you shouldn’t really worry about price.

“It is time Nigeria completely deregulated the downstream industry. The kind of reason that has compelled government to fix petroleum product prices has not been tenable.

“If they said it is done because of the common man, when you do the study, you do not see the ordinary people benefiting from it, it is a few people who benefit. This is the best time to deregulate.”

Speaking on the ongoing reforms by the federal government, the Dangote Group Executive Director, said it is a continuation from past governments, adding that it is in the right direction.

He however added that: “We haven’t seen the full implementation of the reforms, so it would be unfair to make any judgment, unless those independent units are clearly self-accounting and one can see whether these units are actually making profit or loss.”

PROMOTING MSMES

L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc., Nnamdi Okonkwo; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Segun Awolowo; and a Representative of the Dean, Lagos Business School, Dr. Frank Ojadi, at a joint press conference on export management programme aimed primarily at enhancing export readiness of micro small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria in Lagos...yesterday

Wike: INEC’s Failure to Release Rerun Results Breeding Suspicion, Conflict Wike said in a television programme on Monday said he would not complete the project which had allegedly gulped over $400 million, but reacting to Wike’s comment, Amaechi said the governor was playing politics with development and the lives of Rivers people, noting that the monorail project belongs to the people of the state; not him (minister).

“We watched with disgust and disbelief the recent television interview of Wike, excerpts of which had also been used in some newspapers. It was the typical Wike, twisting, butchering and turning the truth upside down; and in most cases telling outright deceptive lies

in his failed bid to denigrate, tarnish and rubbish the towering image, person and laudable, landmark achievements of his predecessor, Amaechi,” a statement issued from the ministers’ media office said.

It noted that most troubling was Wike’s propensity, “without any qualms whatsoever, to play politics with the safety and security of the lives of Rivers people. This is indeed most worrisome. It is no secret that Wike plays politics with development, the welfare and wellbeing of Rivers people. But no government should play politics with the safety and security of its citizens like Wike is sadly and shamelessly doing.”

The statement said Wike claimed that the brutal political killings and

murder of the All Progressives Congress (APC) members and other hapless citizens in the state are cult related or a result of cult clashes and wanted to know the cult wars the Governor was talking about?

“Since he claimed to have security reports, we challenge Wike to tell Rivers people the cult group that Franklin Obi, the APC Ward chairman in Omoku, belongs to, that led to his being gruesomely, beheaded and butchered, alongside his pregnant wife and teenage son.

Or did Franklin suddenly became a cult member because he had the guts and courage to host a resoundingly successful ward meeting of APC faithful in the

same ward as Wike’s PDP state chairman, Felix Obuah, just a few days to the re-run elections?

“We challenge Wike to tell us the cult groups and the cult wars that led to the killing of the innocent corps member, Chukwudumebi Okonta on the rerun election day? Was the corps member a cultist or victim of cult wars or yet another victim of politically motivated killings in Rivers State?

Wike must tell Rivers people the cult wars that led to the brutal murder of hundreds of Rivers people since the so-called election that made him governor, and the cult groups that all those that have been murdered, belong to,” the statement said.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016 • T H I S D AY

49

NEWSEXTRA

Corruption War: Senior Lawyers Warn against Abuses Caution against disparaging judges

Davidson Iriekpen The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) has warned the federal government and its agencies to ensure that its anti-corruption battle is fought within the ambit of the rule of law devoid of abuses of the fundamental rights of Nigerians.

Rising from its meeting at the Nigerian Law School in Lagos, the body, which is the umbrella organisation for all lawyers admitted to the Inner Bar, emphasised its abhorrence to corruption but cautioned that efforts to combat the malaise must not be corrupted by violation of human rights.

The anti-corruption agencies - especially the Economic and

Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) - have engaged in a cat-andmouse game with lawyers and their umbrella body, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over concerns that the anti-corruption battle is being derailed through abuse of human rights and lack of due process.

In a communiqué jointly signed

by Mr. Ebun Sofunde (SAN) and Mr. Seyi Sowemimo (SAN), BOSAN said: “The Body condemns all forms of corruption and money laundering by anyone, lawyers inclusive, and wholeheartedly supports appropriate efforts of the Government aimed at curbing the menace of corruption through thorough investigation and

Imo PDP Caretaker Committee Dissolves Wards, LG Executives Amby Uneze in Owerri Basking in the euphoria of her victory in an Orlu High Court which affirmed the legitimacy of its committee, the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Imo State yesterday announced the immediate dissolution of all party structures in all the wards and local government areas of the state.

The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Hon. Vitalis Okafor, who addressed journalists at the party’s secretariat in Owerri, said the party would soon embark on wider consultations among its leaders in the 27 local government areas of the state for the appointment of local government and ward caretaker committees .

On the party’s forthcoming congresses, Okafor added that the

party would equally commence a 10-day local government sensitisation tours which he said is of utmost importance in view of the forthcoming congresses whose time table would soon be released.

Flanked by members of his committee, Okafor disclosed that the party would constitute caretaker committees in all the 27 local government areas of the state.

He expressed gratitude to all executive members of the immediate past ward, local government and state executives for their support and steadfast in the midst of the rift within the PDP family.

“We are aware that some of them want to seek re-election and I assure such members of a level playing field as we prepare for a credible and all inclusive congress,” he said.

prosecution of offenders in a fair trial that complies with due process of the law and ensures equal access to justice by the prosecutor and the accused, while guaranteeing the fundamental rights of all persons as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

It stated that while it “welcomes the investigation of any lawyer, no matter how highly placed,” due process must be followed to ensure that rights of suspects are guaranteed, even as the body stated that its members have “a duty and a responsibility to hold ourselves to the highest professional and moral standards and are determined to continue to ensure that those standards are maintained.”

The elite group of lawyers condemned “all acts of disrespect by any person or agency of government, of valid orders of courts of competent jurisdiction,” warning that disrespect or disregard of court orders “is a step towards anarchy, which does not and cannot augur well for a democratic society

such as Nigeria.”

Turning to the assault on the judiciary and the integrity of judges, BOSAN expressed concern on the “spate of disparaging remarks and attacks on the Judiciary and judicial officers, often made in a generalized manner and perhaps calculated to intimidate and infuse fear in Judges, who are sworn to dispense justice without fear or favour,” adding: “It is the Body’s view that it is unfair to the many honest and hard-working judges in our country to be painted with the same brush as the few who have been found wanting for misconduct or those who bring the office into disrepute and violate their sacred oaths of office.” It also warned lawyers to desist from joining the bandwagon of issuing “generalised statements of a disparaging nature” against judges, describing such conduct as “unprofessional.”

BOSAN also condemned what it called the “evolving practice of delays and non-payment of judges and judicial workers their salaries

and allowances,” stating that this practice “severely undermines” the much cherished independence of the judiciary.

Dwelling on the right of accused persons to counsel of their choice and the duty of lawyers to defend their clients without fear or discrimination, the senior advocates reiterated their “belief that the harassment and intimidation of lawyers in any form in the course of their legitimate work is unlawful and counter-productive in a democratic society. Such actions are not only unlawful but antithetical to the rule of law.

“Nothing is further from the truth that once a lawyer undertakes the defence of an accused person, particularly a professional colleague, then he must be in active support of the alleged crime or be working against the anti-corruption crusade.

The Nigerian Constitution, for good reason, presumes a person innocent until proven guilty before a court of competent jurisdiction following

a fair hearing, with an opportunity to conduct his defence by a counsel of his choice.”

BOSAN enjoined lawyers to continue to represent their clients “to the best of their abilities, within the ambit of the law, and in compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007.”

It noted that the body “continues to endorse” the core values of professional excellence, integrity, industry, professional ethics, and leadership by example as its overarching principles, adding that it “has taken appropriate measures to ensure that the rank is not brought to disrepute as a whole by the actions of those adjudged of wrong-doing.”

The body also reiterated the position of the NBA’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on NBA’s anti-corruption and antimoney laundering stance as well as its stand on the rule of law as contained in the NBA communiqué issued at the end of its recent NEC meeting at Jos, Plateau State.

ESGN to Hold Gala Night Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria (ESGN) will hold a gala and fundraising dinner to round off the activities for the Endo awareness month.

The gala night, which will have the wife of the Vice-President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, as the special guest of honour, will take place at the prestigious Civic Centre on Ozumba Mbadiwe Road Victoria Island on April 9, 2016.

Preceding this grand finale event, ESGN had embarked on Endo awareness walks both in Abuja and Lagos on February 18 and March 5 respectively. The walks attracted various support groups from the public and private sectors of the economy. Notably in both walks were the Current Most Beautiful Girl In Nigeria, Unouaku Ayandike, whose per project is Endometriosis and a former Miss Tanzania, Millem Magese, who suffers from the condition.

Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, Managing Director, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Nordica Fertility Centre and trustee of Endometriosis Support Foundation (ESGN), apparently overwhelmed by the number of participants despite the rain during the Lagos

Walk, said: “I didn’t imagine that people will walk in the rain and that gave me also a shot in the arm. But, it is still a drop in the ocean because women need to know how to manage the lifelong disorder endometriosis so that they can have quality life and enjoy their marriages,” Ajayi further told the enthused crowd.

“It is a chronic disease where tissues that are normally found lining the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body forming lesions. During menstrual flow, these lesions bleed in their locations leading to pain. The most common symptoms include chronic pelvic pain, painful bowel movement, menstrual pain and sometimes some degree of infertility.”

The ESGN is a nongovernmental and non-profit making organisation with the sole aim of assisting women, both young and old who are challenged with the Endometriosis condition.

For over 10 years, ESGN has been at the forefront, actively lobbying for better outcomes, education and awareness, care, treatment options and support for these women affected with the endometriosis condition.

DIPLOMATIC ODYSSEY

L-R: Chief launcher Dr, Kase Lawal; Chairman of occasion Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Author of the book Ambassador Olusola Sanu; and Special Guest of Honour Gen.Yakubu Gowon (rtd), at a book lunch titled: A ‘ udacity on the Bound: A Diplomatic Odyssey,’ in Ibadan...yesterday Felix Ademola

Falana, Solanke Task Court on Improved Advocacy Ugo Aliogo Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has called on the courts in the country to work towards the improvement of the advocacy in Nigeria in order to strengthen the practice of the legal profession.

He said the legal profession was facing serious challenges, stressing that most members of the profession are not representing the profession in a positive light.

Falana disclosed this yesterday in Lagos at the presentation of a book entitled: ‘Oral and Written Advocacy: Law and Practice; Traditional and Modern Trends in Advocacy,’ written by Chief Folake Solanke (SAN) and Prof.

Fabian Ajogwu (SAN).

Falana stated that the book is a vital intellectual material which will contribute immensely to the practice of the legal profession especially from the angle of advocacy and

other vital areas, adding that members of the profession will find it very useful.

He added that the book has thoroughly treated the rules of professional ethnics in the legal practices, while lamenting that: “What you have done with this book is to remind us that in the midst of the challenges facing the profession, there are still some decent lawyers in the country. Folake Solanke represents the best among the old, while Fabian Ajogwu represents the best among the young.”

In her remarks, the lead author, Folake Solanke (SAN), expressed displeasure over the allegations of scandals against members of the bar and the bench, adding that there are many members of the profession whose practice is beyond reproach, ‘some members have polluted the stream of justice in gross violation of the cherished

and universal and tradition of our learned profession.’

She called on lawyers to imbibe the culture of reading, stressing that the reading culture is ‘abysmally low’ in Nigeria and the world, therefore, there is need to use the internet as an additional facility, not as a substitute.

Solanke remarked that in pursuit of superior advocacy, lawyers should pay attention to knowledge in order to know the law properly, while also advocating for increased attention in appearance and language.

She said: “The profession must therefore engage in continuing legal and professional education so that lawyers can be current in their legal knowledge in order to perform admirably in any situation.

It is fantastic pleasure to watch supreme spellbinding oral advocacy displayed in the court-room by an

erudite advocate. The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) national body and the branches must tackle these unacceptable professional lapses for the sake of the legal profession and the society.

“In my early years at the bar, the NBA Ibadan branch had a programme of continuing legal education on Saturdays. The programme enhanced the legal knowledge of lawyers including the speakers. It is recommended that each NBA branch should institute such a programme for the lawyers, particularly, the younger legal practitioners.

“This academic addition to legal literature is a wake-up call to the entire members of the learned profession to rededicate ourselves to what veritable and superior advocacy is all about, for the restoration of the golden age of the profession, when it was corruption-free.”

50

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016

51

52

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016

53

54

T H I S D AY •WEDNESDAY MARCH 30, 2016

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

AFCON 2017: It’s All over for Eagles

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Nigeria’s hope of qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted

by Gabon ended yesterday evening after the Super Eagles lost 1-0 to Egypt at the Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria.

This crash marks Nigeria’s back-toback absence from the continent’s football showpiece after similarly failing to qualify for the 2015 edition. Stephen Keshi failed to qualify Nigeria to defend the trophy Eagles won at South Africa 2013. Samson Siasia who stepped in to clean the mess left behind by Sunday Oliseh, also failed when it mattered most against the Egyptians.

Eagles’ last game at home to Tanzania is now mere formality with Egypt comfortably in the driver’s seat of Group G on seven points. Nigeria has a miserable two points from the draw against Tanzania and Egypt in Kaduna last Friday. Tanzania is at the

bottom of the log on a single point.

The East Africans still have a faint chance of upstaging the Pharaohs if they succeed in defeating Egypt and Nigeria.

Youthful Radwan Sobhi got the winning goal for the Pharaohs in the 66th minute when he toed a loose ball during a goal mouth melee. T h e k i c k wa s d e f l e c t e d b eyo n d t h e re a c h o f D a n i e l A k p ey i by d e f e n d e r Shehu Abdullahi.

B e f o re t h a t g o a l , t h e John Mikel Obi led team had put up a decent fight in the first 45 minutes, ending the half on a b a r re n n o t e .

A fter the retur n from b re a k , E a g l e s a p p e a re d lost and could not re e n a c t t h e f i g h t i n g spirit witnessed in the first half. They lost the confidence that made them dictate the tempo of the game for a better p a r t o f t h e f i r s t s tanza, though they never really threatened goalkeeper Ahmed Shennawi.

Egypt created two early openings – Hegazy headed narrowly past the Nigeria goal after five minutes and almost immediately skipper Al-Said fired with

a left foot from inside the box.

Skipper Abdallah AlSaid then delivered a low cross from the left in the 29th minute, but

Salah was not close to make contact.

In the seventh minute, Umar Aminu dashed into the Egyptian goal area, but his shot was firmly

held by the goalkeeper.

Odion Ighalo had a half chance when he controlled the ball inside the box, but he shot wide in the 15th minute.

HOW THEY STAND Group A Team

P

W D

Liberia Tunisia Togo Djibouti

4 4 4 4

3 2 2 0

0 1 1 0

L 1 1 1 4

GF

GA GD

Pts

8 9 4 1

2 2 2 16

9 7 7 0

6 7 2 -15

Group B Team

P

W D

GF

GA GD

Pts

Congo DR

4

3

0

1

L

6

4

2

9

C’African Rep. 4

2

1

1

5

6

-1

7

Angola Madagascar

4 4

1 0

1 2

2 2

5 3

4 5

1 -2

4 2

Team

P

W D

GF

GA GD

Pts

Mali

4

3

1

0

5

1

4

10

Benin S’Sudan E’Guinea

4 4 4

2 1 0

2 0 1

0 3 3

8 3 1

4 8 4

4 -5 -3

8 3 1

Team

P

W D

GF

GA GD

Pts

B’Faso

4

2

1

1

3

1

2

7

Uganda Botswana Comoros

4 4 4

2 2 1

1 0 0

1 2 3

3 3 2

1 4 5

2 -1 -3

7 6 3

Group C L

Group D L

Group E Team

P

W D

G’Bissau Congo Zambia Kenya

4 4 4 4

2 1 1 0

Team

P

Morocco Cape Verde Libya Sao Tome

S’Africa Misses Gabon 2017 Train A goalless draw between South Africa and Cameroun in Durban yesterday saw Bafana Bafana’s hopes of reaching the 2017 Africa Nations Cup finals

RESULTS

Egypt 1-0 Nigeria Sudan 1-1 Ivory Coast Angola 0-2 Congo DR S’Africa 0-0 Cameroun Gambia 0-0 Mauritania Liberia 5-0 Djibouti Uganda 0-0 B’Faso Namibia 1-3 Burundi Togo 0-0 Tunisia Ethiopia 3-3 Algeria Niger 1-2 Senegal Malawi 1-2 Guinea

GF

GA GD

Pts

1 0 0 3

4 7 4 2

4 5 3 5

7 6 6 1

W D

L

GF

GA GD

Pts

4

4

0

0

7

0

7

12

4 4 4

2 1 1

0 0 0

2 3 3

9 6 3

5 5 15

4 1 -12

6 3 3

Team

P

W D

L

GF

GA GD

Pts

Egypt Nigeria Tanzania

3 3 2

2 0 0

0 1 1

5 1 0

1 2 3

7 2 1

Team

P

W D

L

GF

GA GD

Pts

Group K

Ghana

4

3

1

0

11

2

9

10

Rwanda Mauritius Mozambique

4 4 4

2 2 0

0 0 1

2 2 3

6 3 1

2 12 5

4 -9 -4

6 6 1

1 3 3 1

L

Egypt’s Captain Abdallah Said (centre) in aerial battle for ball possession with Eagles defenders... yesterday

0 2 1 -3

Group F

Group G 1 2 1

4 -1 -3

Group H

Group I

in Gabon all but come to an end.

There is a very small chance that Bafana Bafana could still qualify, but it is a very tall order and you could see by the disappointment on the players’ faces that this is pretty much the end for Shakes Mashaba’s team wanting to reach the finals next year.

If the South Africans (who have 3 points) win their last two games (against Gambia and Mauritania) they will still need Mauritania to draw with Cameroun and Gambia to beat the Indomitable Lions for any chance of going to Gabon.

If that happens, Bafana would be tied on nine points with Cameroun at the top of the table and will go through on away

Team

P

W D

GF

GA GD

Pts

Gabon

4

2

1

1

L

6

2

4

7

Ivory Coast Sierra Leone Sudan

4 4 4

1 1 1

3 1 1

0 2 2

2 2 2

1 3 6

1 -1 -4

6 4 4

Team

P

W D

GF

GA GD

Pts

Algeria Ethiopia Seychelles Lesotho

4 4 4 4

3 1 1 1

17 7 4 4

5 12 7 8

10 5 4 3

Team

P

W D

GF

GA GD

Pts

Senegal Burundi Namibia Niger

4 4 4 4

4 2 1 1

9 7 4 2

2 7 7 6

12 6 3 3

Group J 1 2 1 0

0 0 0 0

L 0 1 2 3 L 0 2 3 3

12 -5 -3 -4

7 0 -3 -4

goals in head to head with the Indomitable Lions.

What about a final roll of the dice to reach Gabon by ending as the best placed runner up across all groups? You would be clutching at straws here because there are already four second-placed teams with seven points or more at this stage of the campaign.

So how did South Africa struggle to beat a depleted Cameroun in Durban?

Bafand Bafana went close early on when debutant left back Sifiso Hlanti’s curling free kick was tipped over the bar. Soon after, Hlanti delivered a deep cross to Thulani Hlatshwayo at the far post but his header went directly into the ground and bounced over the bar, with a slight touch from the keeper taking it out for a corner.

Just before the half hour mark, Cameroun skipper

Vincent Aboubakar fired a free kick way over the crossbar and a few minutes later the FC Porto star glanced a header just wide of Itumeleng Khune’s upright.

Hlanti had another crack at goal, which flew over the bar and soon after he forced the keeper to make another good save from a set piece.

Midfielder Hlompho Kekana saw his long range attempt narrowly miss the target as it became clear that Bafana were not going to find a goal.

Aboubakar then came close when he chested the ball on the run, turned and volleyed at goal but could not find the target. Then Mandla Masango flashed his volley wide of goal before substitute Prince Nxumalo almost stole a winner on debut in the final minute.

But his shot at goal from close range was blocked brilliantly by the Cameroun defence.

Group L Team

P

W D

Zimbabwe Guinea Swaziland Malawi

4 4 4 4

2 1 1 0

Team

P

W D

Cameroun Mauritania South Africa Gambia

4 4 4 4

2 2 0 0

2 2 2 2

L 0 1 1 2

GF

GA GD

Pts

8 4 5 4

3 4 8 6

8 5 5 2

GF

GA GD

Pts

4 5 3 1

2 3 5 3

8 7 3 2

5 0 -3 -2

Group M 2 1 3 2

L 0 1 1 2

2 2 -2 -2

55

T H I S D AY Ëž DAY MARCH 30, 2016

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

The Netherlands Dumps England in Friendly The Netherlands came from a goal down to seal a morale-boosting 2-1 friendly victory away to England yesterday.

Roy Hodgson’s side were riding high after their 3-2 victory over Germany on Saturday, but they failed to replicate the same standards they hit in the second half in Berlin against a Dutch side who looked far sharper than in recent displays.

Wembley observed an impeccable minute’s silence for the victims of the recent terror attacks in Brussels, Lahore and Iskanderiyah, while applause once again sounded in tribute to Johan Cruyff, but the

home fans did not have much to cheer until Jamie Vardy capped a fine team move to snatch the lead just before half-time.

Vincent Janssen, on his full debut for Danny Blind’s side, equalised from the penalty spot on 50 minutes after Danny Rose had handled in the area, and Netherlands - who had lost five of their last eight matches before the game - looked happy to sit deeper and exploit the counter-attack in the second half.

Substitute Theo Walcott, whose place at Euro 2016 would seem to be under increasing threat given the form of England’s forwards,

proved a real handful as the hosts looked to find a winner, but Luciano Narsingh converted Janssen’s cross - after a strong challenge in the build-up - to snatch a surprise victory.

Hodgson made eight changes from Berlin, Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater turning in a composed debut

performance, while Netherlands - captained

by Manchester United’s Daley Blind - started with just five of the players who began the 3-2 loss to France.

England began in sluggish fashion and Rose was fortunate not to concede an early penalty when he slid in and caught Joel Veltman just

inside the area, before Memphis Depay lashed a half-volley over the crossbar.

Applause r a n g o u t within Wembley in the 14th minute in tribute to Dutch great Cruyff, who died last week, and Ibrahim Afellay brought about the first save of the match soon a f t e r w a rd s , testing

F r a s e r F o r s t e r f ro m t h e e d g e o f t h e a re a a f t e r g o o d w o r k f ro m Q u i n c y P ro m e s .

Forster was at f u l l s t re t c h t o d e n y Georginio Wijnaldum’s b e n d i n g e ff o r t , b u t England, who improved their display as the half drew on, took the lead five minutes before the break.

TA B L E T E N N I S

Stage Set for African Junior Championship Africa’s future stars from East, West, South and North will from April 6 to 12 converge on Algiers for the 2016 ITTF African Junior Championships with all eyes on continent’s rivals, Nigeria and Egypt.

The battle for supremacy among young players will come to fore when the tournament serves off with 15 events to be competed for at the seven-day tournament.

Apart from the jostle for the best teams, the tournament would also afford teams to compete for the three slots allocated to the continent at the 2016 ITTF World Junior Championship holding later in the year in Pretoria, South Africa.

Egypt’s Youssef Abdel-Aziz and Nigeria’s Amadi Omeh will be the players to watch out for. Algeria’s Sannah Lagsir who singled-handedly halted the dominance of Egypt at the 2015 edition in Mauritius is another star capable of surprising the favourites.

According to the President of the Africa Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy, between 12 to 15 countries are expected at the championship with the inclusion of events like the Youth U-21 events for boys and girls. “We are expecting over

15 countries and from the way things are going on, everything is well prepared by Algeria Table Tennis Federation and I am completely satisfied with their final preparations. The unique thing about this tournament is that we are adding the events for Youth U-21 this year, and we will check if it suites to continue in the coming events together with U-18 and U-15 or to get such category into the African Cup and Clubs Championships,� the ATTF boss said.

The ATTF helmsman admitted that the presence of team from Nigeria would add vigour and glamour to the championship. “In 2015, Nigeria was absent from the tournament in Mauritius and their presence in Algiers will surely make the tournament more competitive particularly against teams from the Northern parts of the continent. “It will also help ATTF to select the best teams that will qualify for the World Juniors and select African teams for this year’s World Cadet Challenge.

I know that the fight for the teams that will qualify for the World Junior Championships will be among four Associations - Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria and Tunisia in the boys and girls categories,� he concluded.

Luciano Narsingh (left) celebrating his controversial goal against England with teammates last night

Zenith Bank League Has Impacted on Women in Nigeria, Says Bassey Bassey Kehinde James is a household name in the Nigeria Basketball Federation organised Zenith Bank Women Basketball League as she was part of the league from inception in 2005 with the Nigeria Immigration basketball team.

Aragbaye Holds Kitty for His Late Mother A golf kitty will be played on April 2 at Smokin Hills Golf Resort, Ilara- Mokin, Ondo State as part activities in honour of Madam Dorcas Aiyekunmi Aragbaiye who will be buried in Owo on April 1.

The kitty is organised by the friends of the son of the deceased, Ade Young Aragbaye,

who is a member of IBB International Golf and Country Cl u b , A b u j a .

The tournament to be played over 18 holes will feature gentlemen and ladies golfers from Abuja, Ado Ekiti, Ibadan, Ikeja and Ikoyi Club 1938.

Prizes will be presented to individual nett and gross winners at the end of the tournament.

Coach Bassey

Bassey, who is now the chief coach of the paramilitary side, spoke on a wide range of issues, including the sponsorship of the women’s league by financial giant – Zenith Bank Plc. The former post player thumb-up both the NBBF

and Zenith Bank for impacting positively on lots of female basketball players in Nigeria and urged both sides to continue the harmonious relationship for the betterment of the girl-child development. “I can’t thank Zenith Bank enough for the good it has done to better the lots of Nigeria women basketball players with its continuous sponsorship of the women’s league in the last 12 seasons. “I am happy to have being part of the league since inception as the league was without sponsor before the coming of Zenith Bank and all can see as our home-based players have always played their role in the national teams with laurels to show for it. “Though in my playing days the league boasts of taller and bigger players but it was a little slower compare to what we have today,� stressed Kehinde.

The chief tactician of the immigration was of the opinion that though the game is faster today

but it still lack some basic techniques and urged the NBBF and the sponsor to look into setting up clinics at least two months before the commencement of the season in order for some of the older players to impact some knowledge into the younger ones.

Kehinde who admitted that she have passion for coaching predicted that the time was coming that the nation’s women national teams would have female coaches at the helms of their affairs.

She appealed to the NBBF to give more female coaches opportunities to serve in its various national team projects. She observed that the present figure does not represent the large numbers of female coaches in the country.

Speaking about her team immigration, Kehinde admitted that it was in a phase of re-organisation and promised that the team will bounced back in the second phase of the 2016 Zenith B a n k League.

Wednesday March 30, 2016

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N150

MISSILE

Metuh To APC

“The dust shielding all the lies and propaganda against PDP has now cleared. The citizens have come to realize that they were misled. The rising inflation, lack of palliative programs, abandoned infrastructures around the country, insecurity, inability to provide basic amenities like fuel, increased unemployment, youth restiveness, lack of with foreign exchange for legitimate business transactions...” – National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh criticising the ruling rival All Progressives Congress (APC) for failing to live up to its campaign promises.

ISSAAREMU GUEST COLUMNIST

The Essential Bola Tinubu

A

siwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, two-term governor of Lagos state (Centre of Excellence), a one-time Senator and National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has just turned 64.

For a country notorious for death (as distinct from) life expectancy, it is a perfect time for another thanksgiving for the political octopus who had successfully navigated the political land mines from military dictatorships of all hues to civilian democratic dispensations of varying persuasions. It has almost become a national culture that great men and women in our land are celebrated only at the announcement of their obituaries.

We like to depart from this trend by acknowledging some of the remarkable things that have happened in the course of Tinubu’s illustrious career as a public figure.

Not few are unlucky in the politics of war of attrition. All must therefore rejoice and hail Asiwaju at 64! It is certainly not yet Tinubuism as a distinct philosophical/ political theory and practice attributable to the chieftain of APC. However at 64 there are emerging discernible patriotic and pan-African incontestable and verifiable political praxis of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which must not pass unnoticed at 64.

One essential attribute of Tinubu is organization and institution building.

There are very few politicians who have put so much energy and faith in cultivating political organizations and parties as vehicles for attainment of political power and good governance like Tinubu.

Well before President Barack Obama admonished Africans to invest in strong institutions, not strong men in 2009 in South Africa, Asiwaju had long been identified with pan Nigerian political organizations such as National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Alliance for Democracy (AD), the Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now, what has been tagged “the game changer” the All Progressives Congress (APC). Of course we dare to analyse the vibrancy and the objectives of these political organizations, we cannot doubt their historic relevance to the deepening of the democratic process in Nigeria.

Truly Tinubu can be described as a tested organizational man. He commendably cultivated new institutions to cope with the challenges of governance as the Governor of Lagos State. One that has passed the test of time and even copied by a number of states is Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, a Lagos State-owned agency under the ministry of transport.

Others include creative organs like KAI, LAMATA which have instilled “sanity and safety in the critical areas of public health and transportation”.

Another critical success factor in Tinubu leadership is the audacity to think outside the box and dare to succeed. Many political

Tinubu

pundits are still confounded how an AD, one party state in 2007 metamorphosed into 5 AC/ ACN states in 2011 notwithstanding the totalitarian disposition of PDP under emperor Olusegun Obasanjo.

Certainly, the transformation of an opposition party, APC to a ruling party in the biggest democracy called Nigeria, underscores once again the political sagacity of Bola Tinubu and his comrades.

Today most state governors lazily agonize over the dramatic fall in oil revenue. But did Asiwaju AD-led state survive the oil revenue allocation embargo imposed by President Olusegun following the creation of unlisted local government councils

The most remarkable attributes of Tinubu at 64 are his civility, audacity to be different and the courage to talk to power to which he belongs. It was on the floor of the National Assembly as a senator that he called for Resource Control, a demand that has improved on revenue allocation formula

between 2007 and 2011?

However, the most remarkable attribute of Tinubu at 64 are his civility, and audacity to be different and the courage to talk to power. It was on the floor of the National Assembly as a senator that he called for Resource Control, a demand that has improved on revenue allocation formula. Many political observers are recently certainly impressed that Asiwaju has audaciously “ruled the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, out of order for saying he should not be expected to conjure magic in resolving the current fuel crisis in the country.”

It is a sad commentary that many in the ruling political party, especially the state governors carried on while their citizens are sleeping at filling stations searching for fuel that is not free and not available to buy at official price. Tinubu in his timely commendable statement threw in his lot with Nigerians who, according to him, were “as right to feel insulted as the minister was wrong to

have said such a thing.” Indeed its time Kachikwu reconsidered his appointment as a Federal Minister. He was recently credited to have said it was cheaper to import refined petroleum products than refine locally. Is the minister working for foreign refineries or National Oil Company? He should live to the mission statement of his petroleum ministry, which is to maximise the benefits of the oil and gas sector for national development.

Lastly, essential Tinubu is his global outlook. At a time most Nigerian politicians are insular and killing their fellows to be local godfathers and local champions, Tinubu is a national and pan African politician attested to by his remarkable outreach in West African sub region in particular and in the continent as a whole.

Happy birthday, Asiwaju!

•Comrade Aremu (mni), General Secretary of Textile Workers’ Union, is the Secretary of Alumni Association of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).

POLITICIANS WHO CAN’T DO, TALK!

SO, HOW FAR WITH YOUR PROGRAMMES, SIR?

ERM… LET’S SEE…. WE’VE DONE ECONOMIC SUMMITS, WORKSHOPS, RETREATS, CONFERENCES, MORE RETREATS……

…YEAH, THOSE ONES ARE FOR THE CHATTERING CLASSES! SO, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT FOR THE POOR, HUNGRY MASSES?

I THINK WE’LL GIVE THEM TOWN HALL MEETINGS! FORTUNATELY, THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HAS PASSED THE 2016 BUDGET, SO WE’LL HAVE NO PROBLEM FUNDING IT!

30-03-16

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com