Friday 8 April 2016

800 Boko Haram Insurgents Offered Olive Branch by Army Senator Iroegbu with agency report The Nigerian Army has said 800 militants from the Islamist Boko Haram group who have surrendered and shown remorse will be

rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.

According to the BBC, they would be profiled, documented and offered training in new skills at several camps currently being set up, the army spokesman

said. Until now militants who surrendered were held in jail awaiting trial.

The army has been criticised in the past for its treatment of Boko Haram insurgents and suspects.

Last June, Amnesty

International said that 7,000 young men and boys had died in military detention in Nigeria since 2011.

The programme, known as Operation Safe Corridor, hopes to persuade others who are yet to renounce

their membership of the jihadi group to do so.

It is also an attempt by the army to show that human rights will be respected - a key promise made by President Muhammadu Buhari when

he came to power last year.

The seven-year insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria has killed some 20,000 people and forced more than 2.6 million from their homes.

Continued on page 8

See Special Report on Herdsmen's Reign of Terror on Pages 10-11 & 49-51 Friday 8 April, 2016 Vol 21. No 7652. Price: N150

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#PanamaPapers: My Hands Are Clean, Says Mark… Page 12

CBN Raises Forex Supply to Manufacturers, Oil Marketers to Get $200m for Fuel Imports LCCI: MPR, CRR hike worrisome, advocates flexible exchange rate Osinbajo: Some individuals stole equivalent of half of Nigeria’s foreign reserves Crusoe Osagie, Obinna Chima, Nume Ekeghe in Lagos and Chineme Okafor in Abuja As part of efforts to address the scarcity of foreign exchange that is impacting negatively on the real sector of the economy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

has increased dollar supply to manufacturers in the country.

The President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Frank Jacobs, disclosed this in a phone chat with THISDAY yesterday.

Continued on page 8

Buhari Receives Full Details of 2016 Budget Tobi Soniyi, Omololu Ogunmade and Damilola Oyedele in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday received the full details of the 2016 budget from the National Assembly.

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the

President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, alongside his colleague, Hon. Ismaila Kawu, who brought the document to the Presidential Villa confirmed its receipt to State House correspondents.

Continued on page 8

L-R: Director, Coronation Merchant Bank Limited, Mr. Larry Ettah; Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Abubakar Jimoh; Company Secretary, Ms. Cornelia Utuk; and Chairman of the bank, Mr. Babatunde Folawiyo, at the 22nd annual general meeting of Coronation Merchant Bank (formerly Associated Discount House Limited), held in Lagos… yesterday

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FRIDAY, april 8, 2016 • T H I S D AY

PAGE EIGHT CBN RAISES FOREX SUPPLY TO MANUFACTURERS, OIL MARKETERS TO GET $200M FOR FUEL IMPORTS Similarly, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), in its financial and operations report for February, confirmed that it would in partnership with the CBN provide up to $200 million for oil marketers to enable them meet their fuel import allocations in the second quarter of this year.

This came as Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday that the federal government was looking at ways to boost the real sector growth by reducing interest rates to single digit.

He equally decried the level of corruption under the immediate past administration, blaming some individuals for stealing the equivalent of half of the nation’s current foreign exchange reserves of $27 billion.

The vice-president made the remarks at The Nation’s Newspaper Economic Forum that took place in Lagos.

His statement came on the heels of concerns expressed by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) over the recent increase of the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 11 per cent to 12 per cent and the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) from 20 per cent to 22.5 per cent by the central bank, stating that the move signalled a return to monetary tightening.

Also, the Bankers’ Committee yesterday resolved to continue to take steps to support efforts by the federal government to revamp the economy.

Speaking to THISDAY, the MAN president said in the last few days, his members across the country have reported increased forex allocation from the central bank and urged the CBN to continue along this path, adding that it would go a long way in resurrecting Nigeria’s ailing economy.

Jacobs said: “There has been increased allocation of forex to manufacturers in the last few weeks. I had a meeting with them (CBN) about a week ago and since then, our members have reported that there has been an improvement in allocation of forex to them.

“We are very happy with that because they (CBN) gave us the assurance and they kept to that.”

Also on other concerted efforts by government to reverse the economic slowdown, Osinbajo said President Muhammadu Buhari's scheduled trip to China was targeted at tidying up the agreement on the funds the federal government would receive to commence the Lagos-Kano railway line as well as the Lagos-Calabar line.

He also assured participants at the economic forum that the federal government would ensure that capital expenditure in the 2016 Appropriation Bill rises from 15 per cent in 2015 to 30 per cent this year.

Furthermore, he said the federal government was looking at means to encourage local production and would ban some imports in the near future.

He added: “In the case of low interest rate lending to the real sector, this has remained a major problem for many in the real sector, especially those in the agricultural sector, because of the bank lending rates of over 25 per cent in some cases.

“In order to promote agriculture and diversify properly and support industry, there is no question that we need to be moving towards a single digit interest rate. The plan is to move towards the single digit interest rate.

“In terms of diversification, the way forward requires that we move from reliance on

crude oil to the production of petroleum products. By this I mean instead of merely extracting and exporting crude oil, Nigeria must now take full advantage of its petroleum sector and its entire value chain.

“It would also require making full use of our natural gas resources domestically and abroad and of course it requires that we fully implement laws and regulations in the oil sector so as to fully utilise its abundant forward and backward leakages.

“It is for this reason that the federal government would be prioritising the adoption and execution of the national oil and gas master plan this year.”

On efforts to ensure that the country becomes self-reliant, the vice-president said: “In order to diversify especially in the area of agriculture, we are planning to achieve self-sufficiency and in some cases become net exporters of certain agricultural items.

“For example, we are looking at being selfsustaining in rice production by the year 2018, in tomato paste by the year 2017, wheat we are looking at towards 2019.”

Also speaking on the fight against corruption, he said: “The amount of resources that individuals have pocketed is what accounts for where we are today.

“If some individuals can make away with $3 billion in just one sector and in another sector someone made away with another $4 billion, keep in mind that our entire external reserves stands at $27billion, so if individuals could make away with half of that, we really cannot talk about the economy.

“Those individuals must not only be made to account for the funds, but in the future it must be made clear that it would not be

acceptable and tolerated.

“Mechanisms would also be put in place to ensure transparency in accounting for these resources. To start with, a line has been created for recovered assets in the draft budget thus making the process subject to parliamentary and public scrutiny.”

The vice-president’s concern about high lending rates in the country was reechoed by LCCI which said that the recent increase of the MPR from 11 per cent to 12 per cent and the CRR from 20 per cent to 22.5 per cent by the CBN signalled a return to monetary tightening.

The president of LCCI, Chief Nike Akande, said among other implications of the increase in MPR and CRR for the business community and economy, it would trigger a hike in the lending rates, borrowing and overall costs in the economy.

Akande, during the chamber’s first quarter press briefing held yesterday in Lagos, explained that average naira exchange rate remained stable at the inter-bank segment of the forex market with a daily average of N196.99 to the US dollar between January 25 and March 14, 2016, adding however, that the value of the naira had depreciated by 17.2 per cent at the CBN window from N165 to the dollar in 2014 to the current rate of N196.9.

“However, the parallel market has remained under pressure for the last couple of months, even as the depreciation remains huge with the value of naira weakening by almost 100 per cent at an average of N320 to the dollar to date,” she said.

She noted that the recent sharp depreciation of the naira exchange rate in the parallel market was a cause for concern, warning that this should not be allowed to

BUHARI RECEIVES FULL DETAILS OF 2016 BUDGET He said: “The budget details have been transmitted to His Excellency, Mr. President today. The constitutional process begins thereafter.

“We have transmitted it to the office of the president and the constitutional process of timing starts.”

Buhari had refused to sign the budget when it was passed last month citing the absence of the expenditure breakdown. He insisted on seeing the details and having it scrutinised by the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), before signing the 2016 Appropriation Bill into law.

THISDAY sources confirmed that the Clerk

of the National Assembly, Mr. Salisu Maikasuwa signed the 1,800-page document yesterday morning and presented it to Enang at about 10 am for onward transmission to Buhari.

“I can confirm to you that Senator Enang received the document this morning.

You recall the clerk of the National Assembly received it yesterday. So he has signed it, and it has been given to the SSA,” a source said.

Another source, however, was critical that the process of transmission was dragged into an unnecessary controversy.

“For instance, it should not have been Hon. Jibrin

OUR ERROR In a report titled: AMCON Goes After Debtors, Seizes AA Bosses’ Properties’, published in our Sunday, April 3, 2016 edition, it was erroneously reported that the action of AMCON seizing the properties of AA Group was sequel to a Supreme Court judgment. It has however been discovered that there was no Supreme Court judgment to that effect. It was an order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, granting AMCON possession of the properties.

The error is regretted.

- Editor

Abdulmumim (Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation) that should even take it to the clerk.

“It was supposed to be the clerks of the joint Committees on Appropriations. But they probably needed to do it this way because of the unnecessary issues, which is also why it has been transmitted almost immediately,” the source said.

Meanwhile the Senate has provided clarifications into the controversy that surrounded the transmission of the budget details to the president.

Speaking with THISDAY late Wednesday night, the Senate spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, explained that the document initially transmitted to the president was not budget highlights as claimed by the presidency but the Appropriation Bill to which he would give his assent.

According to him, the normal procedure is to first transmit the Appropriation

Bill, which contains a summary of the budget described as the “highlights”.

He added that the president could not assent to the budget itself but the Appropriation Bill, which had been sent to him.

He dismissed claims that the National Assembly should have sent an explanatory note to Buhari that it was the Appropriation Bill that was transmitted to him while the federal legislature was still working on the details.

The senator said it was not the duty of the National Assembly to provide the explanation, adding that it was the responsibility of his aides on National Assembly matters to educate the president on such issues.

“What we did was to transmit the mega components which was the real thing. What we passed was the bill. The president has liaison officers who should explain to him.

Do you want to tell me they don’t know the procedure?” he queried.

continue. She further advised that urgent steps needed to be taken to stem the slide and volatility.

“It is as much of an issue to consumers as it is to producers and other stakeholders that create value in the economy. It calls for an urgent review of the current foreign exchange policy.

“It is important to clarify some conceptual issues in this conversation. The discussion at this time should not be about devaluation of the naira. It should be about a pricing mechanism that is sustainable, predictable and transparent.

“It is about a policy regime that would reduce uncertainty and inspire the confidence of investors. It is about a policy framework that would minimise discretion and arbitrage in the foreign exchange allocation mechanism. This is what the discussion should be about,” she said.

She also recommended that a flexible exchange rate regime should be adopted to cope with the changing demand and supply conditions in the foreign exchange market, pointing out that the benefits of a flexible exchange rate model would enhance liquidity in the forex market, reduce uncertainty in the market, and enhance the confidence of investors.

She added that the model would also serve as a more transparent mechanism for forex allocation, minimise discretion in the allocation of forex and reduce opportunities for round tripping and other sharp practices in the country.

“The current framework

adopted by the CBN is a fixed exchange rate regime. This model is better suited for a country that has adequate reserves to support the fixed rate. But in our case, we do not have the reserves to support the exchange rate at N197 to the dollar. This is the fundamental issue at this time,” she said.

According to her, the consequences of a fixed exchange rate regime are already manifesting in the widened gap between the official and parallel market exchange rates to an unprecedented level of over 60 per cent, lack of liquidity in the foreign exchange market resulting in acute scarcity, mounting trade debts, increasing factory closures as many manufacturers are not able to access forex for raw materials and other inputs.

The LCCI boss added that many investors are not able to meet offshore obligations while inflationary pressures continue to mount.

She said to address the situation, the chamber was recommending an adoption of a flexible exchange rate regime, adding that this would improve liquidity in the forex market, reduce uncertainty and enhance investors’ confidence.

“It will also deepen the autonomous foreign exchange market through the liberalisation of inflows from export proceeds, diaspora remittances, multinational companies, and donor agencies. Market rates should be allowed to prevail in the autonomous window,” she said.

Continued on page 9

800 BOKO HARAM INSURGENTS OFFERED OLIVE BRANCH BY ARMY Army spokesman Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar said there would be two or three camps by the military - the locations of which would be made public when they are officially launched in the next few months.

“They will be very big and all facilities will be put in place… to rehabilitate them to become good members of society,” he said.

Other government agencies would be involved in this new de-radicalisation programme, he added.

Asked if the repentant militants would be paid whilst they underwent training, Brig.

Gen Abubakar said: “I believe the government will definitely ask the relevant agencies to do what is needful.”

On questions about whether those who surrendered would be tried or given amnesty, he said that things needed to be taken “pace by pace”.

“The most important thing for us is to have them rehabilitated. Since they have shown remorse and come on board, I think it is our duty to ensure that we help them to become very productive members of this great country,” the army spokesman said.

As commendable as this arrangement is, there are many who doubt if communities are ready to wholly accept them.

It is likely that many victims of the cruelty of these former gunmen may find it difficult to forgive.

Meanwhile, a committee set up by Nigeria’s defence minister is due to submit its report on how areas liberated from Boko Haram should be handed back to civilian authorities.

At the moment the military is solely in control of most of the towns and villages recaptured from Boko Haram.

The majority of those displaced by the conflict have yet to return to their homes.

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

PAGE NINE

After Three Weeks in Jail, Appeal Court Grants Ibinabo N2m Bail Davidson Iriekpen The embattled ex-beauty queen and Nollywood actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima, yesterday got temporary relief, when the Court of Appeal in Lagos granted her bail pending the determination of her appeal at the Supreme Court following the five-year imprisonment slammed on her for manslaughter.

The appellate court, in a two-to-one split judgment, decided that Ibinabo’s application for bail had merit.

Justice Samuel Oseji, who read the lead judgment, granted her N2 million bail with two sureties in like sum.

The court said the two sureties must be resident in Lagos and must each swear to an affidavit of means.

Justice Oseji said he was inclined to exercise discretion in Ibinabo’s favour in view of her health and because there was no record that she had jumped bail in the past.

The judge said it would

amount to injustice if after the Nollywood actress had been kept in prison and the Supreme Court later, after about three to four years, decides that the five-year jail term imposed on her should be set aside.

Justice Sidi Bage, who presided over the proceedings, aligned himself with the lead judgment but the third member of the panel, Justice Y.B. Nimpar, dissented.

Justice Nimpar said the ill health, as reason upon which Ibinabo anchored her application for bail was untenable.

The judge noted that there was no record before the court that Ibinabo had suffered any complication since February when she underwent surgery for breast cancer and April when she brought her application for bail.

Besides, Justice Nimpar said there are adequate medical facilities in the prison to cater

Ibinabo for her health needs, adding that the prison hospital could also give her referral for consultancy in the event that she has any condition that could not be taken care of by the prison hospital.

“The surgery was uneventful. The surgery was done in February, now we are here in April and there is no complication.

“The applicant is already convicted and presumption

of innocence is no longer available.

“I personally will not exercise discretion in favour of the applicant,” Justice Nimpar held.

In support of Ibinabo’s bail application filed through her lawyer, Nnaemeka Amaechina, one Victor Eden had deposed to a sixparagraph affidavit stating that Ibinabo recently had a surgical operation for breast

cancer.

Eden said in the affidavit that Ibinabo was afraid that her life might be endangered if kept in prison custody.

He had urged the court to grant her bail in the interest of justice.

He said it would best serve the interest of justice to release Ibinabo on bail while the Supreme Court’s decision in her case was being awaited.

Surprisingly, the Lagos State Government, which is prosecuting her, did not oppose the application but asked the court to use its discretion.

The state, represented by Mrs. Rotimi Odutola, held that the concern of the state was the pursuit of the appeal filed by the convict.

She said the basis of the appeal was not on whether Ibinabo was guilty or not, adding that the actress did not dispute her conviction but only appealed the sentence.

Justice Deborah Oluwayemi

of the state High Court had in 2009 convicted Ibinabo for manslaughter, submitting that her reckless driving was responsible for an auto crash, which claimed the life of one Dr. Giwa Suraj on the Lekki-Epe expressway.

While sentencing Ibinabo to five years imprisonment, Justice Oluwayemi overruled the decision of the state Magistrates’ Court which had earlier ordered her to pay N100,000 for the offence.

The verdict of the Magistrates’ Court had angered the Lagos State Government, which expressed serious outrage and decided to appeal at the state High Court.

Dissatisfied with Justice Oluwayemi's verdict, the convict approached the Court of Appeal to nullify the verdict but the court also affirmed it, compelling the embattled Nollywood actress to approach the Supreme Court. The matter is pending before the court.

CBN RAISES FOREX SUPPLY TO MANUFACTURERS, OIL MARKETERS TO GET $200M FOR FUEL IMPORTS She said the global economic condition remained weak, reflecting to some extent the decline in commodity prices, adding that uncertainty still dominates the economic and business environment.

“According to the World Bank estimates, global growth is projected at 3.4 per cent in 2016 due to the expected gradual pickup in global activity especially in developing and emerging economies.

“Modest recovery is also expected to continue in the advanced economies though with a further narrowing of output gaps,” she said.

She noted that Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate fell to 2.11 per cent in the fourth quarter compared to 2.84 per cent recorded in the third quarter of 2015.

“Meanwhile, the conditions that characterised the economic slowdown in the fourth quarter of 2015, namely, uncertainty around economic policies, an adverse external environment, security challenges in some parts of the country affecting production and distribution of agricultural produce, low electricity supply, fuel shortages, and the foreign exchange crisis, persisted in the first quarter of 2016,” she added.

She pointed out that according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the consumer price index (CPI) increased to 11.4 per cent in February 2016, the highest in three years, saying that this represented a 1.8 per cent rise over the 9.6 per cent inflation in January.

“Meanwhile, the foreign exchange crisis remains the largest risk to the

inflation outlook. This is a huge cause for concern to industry players as patronage, turnover and profit margin outlooks become weaker.

The unusual combination of slowing growth and rising inflation present a difficult policy challenge,” she noted.

She also stated that the decline in the Nigerian stock market was showing no sign of abating any time soon as market capitalisation has continued to tumble, adding that as at 18th March, 2016, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index and market capitalisation depreciated by 1.13 per cent at 25,694.79 and N8.839 trillion, respectively.

“However, investors and market stakeholders expect an improvement in market situation as the economic and policy thrust of the new administration becomes clearer.

“The stock market performance is largely a reflection of the sentiments of investors in the larger economy. As the fundamentals of the economy improve, and the policy environment gets better, the stock market would rebound,” she said.

In a related event, the chief executive officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, while addressing reporters at the end of the 326th Bankers’ Committee meeting in Lagos yesterday, disclosed that the central bank had agreed to, in the next few days, the release of five per cent reduction in the CRR to commercial banks that was announced after the meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) last November so that the financial institutions would support the real sector.

“The committee focused on

economic development. At last November’s MPC meeting when the CRR was reduced by five per cent, the intention then was to release this five per cent to banks to enable them to lend to real sector at single-digit.

“So we discussed that and agreed that the central bank would hasten the modalities for releasing this five per cent drop in CRR, so we can lend it to the real sector at a single-digit rate of interest,” the Fidelity Bank boss said.

Also, in view of the drop in the country’s forex earnings, Okonkwo’s counterpart at Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, urged Nigerians to change their consumption patterns.

“The reality of where we are today is that we came from a price of $115 per barrel of oil to somewhere around $35 per barrel. We all have to make adjustments and our habits need to change a bit because we now have less money to spend. As corporates, we have to invest in import-substitution and develop things locally.

“We all have to make sure we allocate the scarce forex reserves that we have in ways to make the best of it and in the short to medium-term make sure we work to meet the demand. What we have in Nigeria today is a supply problem and the only way to deal with that is to cut back on demand and develop import-substitution.

“I am not sure that there is any magic we can perform as a country other than trying to make sure that your supply meets your demand,” Agbaje said.

The Director, Banking Supervision, CBN, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, while responding to a question

on the increase in banks’ non-performing loans (NPLs), blamed the rise on the downturn in economic activities, but assured her audience that Nigerian banks were safe and sound.

“The banks are conscious of this and they are preserving capital, they have enough capital as we speak and they are not distributing as much as their capital as they would have in the past, in anticipation of this risk that might crystalise," she added.

In order to promote financial inclusion, she said the central bank had licensed two super agents – Interswitch and Innovatives Limited.

Tokunbo explained: “If you recall, sometime last year, the CBN started agency banking.

There are two new agents who are expected to recruit agents and distribute banking services at cheaper prices.

“Hopefully, that is expected to take banking services to the nooks and crannies across the country at affordable prices to the citizenry.”

Meanwhile, the monthly financial and operations report of NNPC for the month of February has shown that the corporation in partnership with the central bank plans to provide up to $200 million to oil marketers to import petrol this quarter.

The report, which was released in Abuja yesterday, showed the amount of forex that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu may have negotiated to source from the CBN and international oil companies (IOCs) for oil marketers.

The scarcity of forex is partly to blame for the perennial fuel shortages in the country.

“NNPC is also collaborating

with CBN to provide $180 $200 million to support major private importers,” the report stated in one of its annotations on NNPC’s key challenges within the period.

It showed that the NNPC has also begun plans to secure an offshore petroleum floating storage facility around Port Harcourt to service supplies to the eastern and northern part of the country through dispatches to Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar.

The report also showed that in February, NNPC supplied over 1.1 billion litres of petroleum products to ensure constant product supply at its 559 NNPC retail outlets.

This, it added, was based on the reluctance of private marketers to import fuel due to forex scarcity and its assumption of the role of sole importer of products into the country.

The report also showed that a break on the 48inch Forcados export line contributed immensely to its loss of N24.23 billion in February, adding that the situation denied its upstream subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the opportunity to earn revenue from crude oil sales of about N20 billion.

“The huge deficit in the month of February 2016 was due to a production shut-in occasioned by vandalism of the Forcados export line. This situation denied NPDC the opportunity to earn revenue from crude oil sales of about N20 billion.

“This 48-inch export line was vandalised in February 2016. It crippled NPDC and all JV partners’ ability to export crude oil from the terminal. This situation led

to the declaration of force majeure by SPDC occasioned by production shut-in of about 300,000 barrels of oil per day.

“This infers that circa 130,000 barrels per day of NPDC crude will be impacted for about eight weeks as repair works is ongoing.

This adversely impacted on NNPC’s February 2016 report leading to a loss of about N20 billion of NPDC oil revenue,” the report stated.

On other oil sales during the period, the NNPC report said that a total of 66.68 million barrels of crude oil and condensates were lifted in the month of January 2016 by all parties.

Of this volume, 23.79 million barrels of crude oil were lifted by NNPC on behalf of the federation, comprising 16.69 million barrels lifted on the account of NNPC while 6.10 million and one million barrels were managed for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), respectively.

The report said of the 16.69 million barrels lifted on the account of NNPC, 11.30 million barrels and 5.38 million barrels were for the domestic and export markets, respectively.

The crude oil, it noted, was valued at an average oil price of $28.38 per barrel and exchange rate of N196/$, while the domestic crude oil lifted by NNPC was valued at $320,723,227.98 or a naira equivalent of N62, 861,752,684.08 for the period.

The report added that the remaining crude oil lifted for exports was valued at $156,189,385.88 at an average price of $29.02 per barrel, while the total value of crude oil lifted on the account of NNPC was $476,912,613.86.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 • T H I S D AY

10

HERDSMEN

SPECIAL REPORT

Herdsmen’s Reign of Terror With the increasing desertification of the northern parts of the country, forcing herdsmen to move downwards in search of grazing fields, violent clashes with farmers along the routes of the nomads have become frequent. The attendant human and financial losses arising largely from inadequate policy response from both state and federal governments are the object of this special report by Bolaji Adebiyi, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, George Okoh, Adams Abonu, Seriki Adinoyi, Wole Ayodele, John Shiklam, Segun Awofadeji, James Sowole and Omon-Julius Onabu

An armed herdsman guards his livestock

T

hey are no longer the stick-wielding skinny men that roam the Northern villages with their herds. Now they bear sophisticated weapons, including the very destructive killing machine, AK-47, which they use to subdue their unsuspecting hosts- the farming communities along their routes. Lacking in grass reserves to feed their herds, the herdsmen roam from the northern plains of the country that has been ravaged by desertification, downwards to the banks of the several rivers in the middle belt region, where the farmlands are not only rich in crops, but also grasses most suitable for grazing their starving herds.

Until about five years ago, the herdsmen, mostly Fulani, and the farmers managed their relationships harmoniously. But the climate-change-induced massive desertification of the north and the failure of the federal and state governments to respond concretely to the climatic changes have rudely interrupted these previous understandings and replacing peace with strife not only in the north and the middle belt regions but also in the southern region.

Part of the problem though, is the influx of several Fulani herdsmen from outside Nigeria, including Senegal, Niger and Cameroun, who do not have the affinity the Fulanis, indigenous to Nigeria, enjoy with their host farming communities. In these circumstances, therefore, herds stray into farmlands, destroying crops worth millions of naira. According to THISDAY findings, the initial reaction of farmers was to ask for restraint from the Fulanis, an appeal that usually fell on deaf ears, attracting, depending on the community, reprisal killings through poisoning of cattle by the farmers. On discovering this, the Fulani herdsmen soon reasoned that the best way to secure their herds was to have total control of the farmlands, mostly using force.

This is the crux of why the relationships have degenerated into the violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in many communities in the northern part of the country, particularly in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Taraba and Gombe States as well as some southern states, including Delta and Ondo.

T H I S D AY

• FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

11

HERDSMEN

SPECIAL REPORT

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom

These clashes, as evidenced in the recent case of Agatu in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, have features of a war of conquest given the weapons used and the level of destruction, which have left their tolls on hundreds of communities where thousands of lives and farm produce and property worth billions of naira have been lost.

A shocking finding by THISDAY revealthat in spite of the magnitude of the crises, there are no official figures on its human and economic costs. More shocking is that there is no concrete policy response, whether from the federal government or the state governments, regarding the phenomenon that has assumed a war situation in about seven states of the federation. In many instances, arrests were not made and the police neither have records of lives lost nor prosecutions made.

“It will take us one week to collate those figures,” Olabisi Kolawole, an Assistant Commissioner Police and Force Public Relations Officer, told THISDAY. More than a week after, and at press time, the police were still collating the figures.

Following public concern over the carnage in Agatu, where many communities were sacked and hundreds of lives lost, to days of violent attacks by herdsmen, the federal government said early in March, that it would grass 50,000 hectares of land in the north in the next six months for the grazing of herds.

“We are faced with cattle grazing challenge now and the conflicts. A lot of people are getting killed, it is my business to solve that problem. The president has told me so. I have done my survey and I have taken my decision that we have to grass-up 50,000 hectares of land in the next six months across the northern belt before we move south,” the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said at a press conference in Abuja.

Although Ogbeh was not specific about where he would find the land he intends to grass for grazing, hints of a major challenge to his grazing policy emerged almost as soon as it was announced. Samuel Ortom, Governor of Benue State, one of the most ravaged by herds, told a panel of senators sent by the Senate to investigate the crisis in his state that he has no land to give up for use as a grazing pack.

Yet, as THISDAY findings show, beyond setting up committees to hold meetings of stakeholders, including herdsmen, farmers, security agencies and government officials, to sue for peace, neither Ortom nor any of his colleagues in the other troubled states has any concrete animal husbandry policy to contain the internecine crisis.

But for many analyst who spoke to THISDAY, the way to end the bloodletting is to formulate policies that would modernise animal husbandry by restricting

Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura

cattle rearing to ranches and grazing parks.

BENUE Perhaps the most affected by the bloody encounters between herdsmen and farmers is Benue State where over 200 persons were reportedly killed and about 20,000 displaced in recent attacks.

The main theatre of hostility are Agatu, Guma, Logo, and Gwer Local Government Areas with Agatu being the worst hit.

At the end of the last hostilities between the period of February 1 and 2, 2016 nine villages, Akwu, Adagbo, Ayila, Okokolo, Akwu, Ocholonya, Adagbo, Ugboku, Aila, Odughehor and Ikopi, were reportedly razed by fully armed herdsmen.

Although the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Paul Yakadi, who could not give the casualty figures, said the situation had been brought under control. He acknowledged the tensionsoaked situation in the troubled areas, saying that over 5,000 cows accompanied by arms wielding Fulani herdsmen had taken over part of Agatu Local Government area of the state.

Yakadi, who led officers and men to assess the besieged communities, said they had been completely deserted.

He said the invaders stormed Agatu from Naka in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, Loco and Doma in Nasarawa State. Incidentally, no single arrest was made. But the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Solomon Arase, dispatched two units of riot police to keep watch over Agatu.

Beyond a visit to his Nasarawa State counterpart, Governor Tanko Al ’Makura, and an appeal for peace, the Governor of Benue State, Ortom, has announced no policy measures on the clashes, preferring to engage the federal government on the way forward in ending the recurring

In Donga Local Government, 18 persons were killed at Ananum; one in Borogo; two at Dogo; and 22 at Sabon Gida Isha, while seven were killed at Shaakaa and 11 at Wahanye totalling 61 people

carnage.

“We are working very hard to ensure that this crisis is arrested and addressed permanently. Though I cannot confirm the casualty figures at this moment because I cannot rely on any hearsay information, but everyone must observe utmost restraint in this matter,” he said, adding: “We must all live together as a people both herdsmen and farmers, it should be a live and let live situation and everyone would respect each other’s rights and privileges and in such a situation, there would be no need for these unnecessary conflicts.”

For the displaced, who are quartered in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Otukpo and Makurdi, life has been difficult for them. “We sleep on the bare floor since we don’t have mattress or mat. It is quite a difficult situation as we are exposed to mosquitoes and all kinds of insects and reptiles at night,” Sani Echioda, an indigene of Ayila, said at the Och’Idoma Square in Otukpo.

Food and medicines, the IDP added, are rare to find in the camp and appealed to the state government to come to their rescue.

Respite, however, came for the IDPs when former Senate President, Senator David Mark, came calling with relief materials. He used the visit to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently mobilise all the security apparatus to end the carnage.

“President Buhari as the Commander-InChief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria owes us a duty to protect us. It is the responsibility of the government to protect lives and property.

Government should ensure that this carnage is brought to an early end to let my people have their rest,” he said.

NASARAWA The most recent clash in Nasarawa State occurred on January 3, 2016 when Udenyi Magaji village in Nasarawa Local Government was attacked and completely razed at dawn. The police, however, said the attack was a reprisal on the Agatu inhabitants of the village because of an earlier attack on Fulani herdsmen in Agatu Local Government of Benue State.

“It was a reprisal. There was an initial incident where two Fulanis were killed so this was a reprisal by the Fulanis,” Public Relations Officer of the Nasarawa State Police Command, Umaru Numan, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), told reporters in Lafia.

The clashes further assumed crisis situation in the state in 2013 when Fulani herdsmen unleashed violence on Agyaragu, Udenyi Magaji, Asakiyo and Lafia, the state capital, leading to the loss

of more than a thousand lives.

According to Mallam Yau Usman, an official of the Miyetti Allah Association, an umbrella body of cattle rearers in Nigeria, who spoke to THISDAY in Lafia, “The people of Agatu and some others have found a way of attacking our animals and killing some of our people. We cannot continue to watch while these people destroy us and this is why we have these crises.”

While there is no official figure to the number of casualties from the skirmishes, THISDAY checks indicate that over a thousand lives and property worth millions of naira have been lost to the clashes.

Worried by the recurring violence among border communities, the governments of Nasarawa and Benue States held a high-powered security meeting at the Government House in Lafia last January.

Governors Al-Makura (Nasarawa) and Ortom (Benue) pledged to promote security of lives and property of the people of the two states.

Alleviating the plights of the communities displaced by the crises has been a herculean task for the government.

Explaining the efforts already made by the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) to alleviate the plights of the IDPs, its Director General, Dr. Abdullahi Usman, told THISDAY in Lafia that the state government provided funds and relief materials to the victims of the crises.

“After the January 3 incident in Udenyi Magaji, we intended to have a camp but the people declined. We, however, met them at Agbashi where many had gone to stay with their relatives. NASEMA brought the injured to Agbashi where we set up a comprehensive mobile clinic with helicopters, which did aerial surveillance and carried the injured who needed further attention to Lafia,” he said.

The NASEMA boss told THISDAY that the Nasarawa State Government had earlier provided N200 million for the rehabilitation of those displaced by the crises with many already returning to their communities.

But the agony of those affected by the crises appears to become more dire with daily pockets of violence by the Fulani aggressors who sack these farmers at each new planting season. “We are calling on the government of President Buhari to come to the aid of the Agatu people of Nasarawa and Benue States and save us from the hands of these Fulani nomads who have vowed to exterminate us. We also call on the governments of the two states to see this as a dire emergency Continued on page 49

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NEWS

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

Buhari Asks Doctors to Shelve Strike, Says FG will Honour All Valid Agreements FG declares diabetes national epidemic

Tobi Soniyi andPaul Obi inAbuja President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the National Association of

Resident Doctors (NARD) to shelve its plainned strike and give the federal government more time to address the grievances of doctors.

Natcom to Spend $1bn in Mobile Rollout Plan to Lagos, PH, Abuja James Emejo in Abuja NATCOM, the consortium which acquired the former national carrier, NITEL/Mtel, and now rebranded it to Ntel, said it planned to spend $1 billion as part of its post-acquisition plan to rollout services to Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja.

Ntel’s Manager, Mr. Osondu Nwokoro, said the company had recorded significant milestones in technological innovation, being able to deploy the 4th Generation mobile technology.

He said: “NTEL network designed for the 900 Mhz (Band 8) and 1800 Mhz (Band 3) frequency bands equips it to operate as the most advanced 4G LTE network in Nigeria.”

Speaking in Abuja during a post-privatisation presentation to the acting Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Dr. Vincent Akpotaire, Nwokoro added: “This milestone among others is geared towards making the dream of giving Nigerians a pure play advanced 4G LTE network offering mobile services across voice, data and video a reality.”

He said the new management was well positioned to justify the privatisation initiative championed

by the BPE, stressing that the company was also ready to distinguish Ntel as the preferred choice of telecommunications service provider in the country under the name NTEL. Akpotaire, however, challenged NATCOM on the need to come out with unique products and services, if they must make the desired in-road in the telecoms sector. He urged the Consortium to justify its emergence in the privatization process by deploying the right technology to turn around the sector.

In a statement by BPE spokesman, Alex Okoh, the acting BPE boss further expressed satisfaction with NATCOM’s post-privatisation roll out plans and assured firm of the Bureau’s dedication to its responsibilities towards achieving the set objectives of privatising NITEL/MTEL. He said he was optimistic that NTEL would fill the position of a strong indigenous telecommunications service provider, stressing that the Bureau would work with the National Council for Privatisation (NCP) to resolve some outstanding issues in order to expedite the execution of the roll out plans.

A statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Senior Special Assistant to the president on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, said Buhari spoke at a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Buhari gave the doctors an assurance that no agreements duly entered into by the federal government would be dishonoured by his administration.

The president called for greater understanding and support from doctors and all Nigerians in view of the present short fall in national revenue brought about by the decline of crude oil prices.

Decrying the adverse impact of the fall in oil prices on the federal government’s spending plans for health and other sectors, Buhari said his administration would continue to do its best to address issues that are of concern to doctors and other Nigerians.

The president also gave the

NMA delegation an insight into his administration’s plan to establish 10,000 primary healthcare centres across the country in the next two years with the objective of providing better healthcare for about 100 million Nigerians.

He also told the delegation led

by NMA President, Dr. Kayode Obembe, that the National Health Act would soon be gazetted and a steering committee appointed to oversee its implementation.

The Minister of Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, described the plan to establish more healthcare centres as “the single most ambitious health plan for the poor in the history of Nigeria.”

In his remarks at the meeting, Obembe called for the implementation of the report of the Yayale Ahmed Committee on better relations among professional groups in the health sector.

The NMA president also called for fast-tracking of the implementation of the National

Health Act. At a separate meeting with the leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), President Buhari promised that his administration would evolve and implement measures to curb friction and disharmony among the professional groups in the health sector.

The president urged the PSN to work more closely with the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to curb the sale of fake medicines in the country.

The President of the PSN, Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai, assured President Buhari that pharmacists in Nigeria were ready to work in harmony with other professionals in the health sector to help the federal government achieve its objective of improving healthcare services in the country.

Meanwhile, the federal government yesterday declared diabetes as a national epidemic

and posing the greatest health challenge to the government.

Minister of Health, Adewole stated this during the World Health Day in Abuja.

Using figures adopted by the International Diabetes Federation, Adewole observed that Nigeria’s prevalence of diabetes in adults between 20 and 79 years in the country was 1.9 percent in 2015.

The minister expressed concern over the number of cases of undiagnosed diabetes in adults estimated at 950 per thousand.

He said the federal government had developed six plans to deal with the disease.

“The plans are adoption of the global monitoring framework for non-communicable diseases; development of a national diabetes plan and policy; increased monitoring and surveillance systems; engagement and rights; improved access to care; and sustainable financing for management of diabetes.”

#PanamaPapers: My Hands Are Clean, Says Mark Segun James Even as the dust raised by the leaking of the names of prominent Nigerians among world leaders who operate dubious foreign accounts and offshore companies is yet to settle, former Senate President, David Mark, whose name was allegedly mentioned in the report, has denied the allegation.

Mark in a statement signed by his media assistant, Paul Mumeh, lamented that his hands are clean and that the inclusion of his name was “an attempt to blackmail and tarnish his hard earned image by some political elements.”

According to the statement, contrary to what was reported in the media, his name “is not listed anywhere in the database of Mossack Fonseca Law Firm. We reiterate categorically, that he is not directly or indirectly connected to any of the companies registered, operated or managed by the Mossack Fonseca Law Firm.

“We challenge all those behind this propaganda and media outburst to prove or show that Mark’s name was mentioned in the leaks. He is prepared to stand and defend himself against any accusation in relation to this matter.”

Mark stressed that searches carried out on “the Mossack Fonseca database found no statement, item or any connection to Senator David

Mark or his family. It follows that there is no record whatsoever of any impropriety or wrongdoing.”

The senator recalled that in his quest for senate presidency in 2007, there was an attempt to bring a similar issue to the fore in order to stop him.

“So what are their fears now in 2016 for regurgitating the same issue?” he queried.

The former Senate president therefore “distanced himself and any member of his family from the said Mossack Fonseca firm and has no affiliation whatsoever with any company operated, registered or managed by Mossack Fonseca.

“Mark has not contravened any laws of the land and he is treating this for what it is, an attempt to blackmail and tarnish his hard earned image by some political elements.

“As a public officer, Mark has maintained a high level of decorum respects and observes the laws of the land and believes in the sanctity of the rule of law. He will not be distracted by what is clearly a deliberate mischief and propaganda.

“Records of all his assets are available with the relevant government agencies and can be verified.”

Even though he never stated who he wanted to sue, Mark however said he had consulted his legal team on the issue.

HERE IS THE BUDGETFORTHE PRESIDENT

Chief of Staff to President, Abba Kyari (middle), receiving budget documents from the Senior Special Assistant to President on National Assembly Matters,SenatorEtaEnang(left);andHon.KawuIsmaila,atthePresidentialVilla,Abuja...yesterday GodwinOmoigui

Forex Shortage Hits Airlines as $575m Get Stuck in Nigeria

Airline operators in Nigeria have started feeling the negative impact of the current foreign exchange policy of the federal government, as they have an estimated build-up of $575 million held in the country, which they are unable to repatriate, according to the Financial Watch.

Experts said this development might result in a drop in investments and loss of jobs in the country’s aviation sector, as many airlines may be faced with the option of laying off staff.

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) warned last month that about 2,000 Nigerian aviation workers might be sacked by foreign airlines.

This is because airlines are

unable to transfer their earnings to their home countries to meet operational costs, in accordance with international aviation industry rules.

The acting General Secretary of NUATE, Olayinka Abioye, called on the federal government to intervene in the situation and prevent the anticipated job losses in the sector.

In addition, many airlines operating in Nigeria might be tempted to cut corners in their maintenance schedules as the scarcity of forex makes it harder to buy and stock consumables for aircraft in reasonable quantities, some aviation experts have said.

This is in view of the

International Air Transport Association (IATA) rule that monies that are not repatriated within a period of two months should be considered as blocked.

Further checks revealed that it was this situation that informed the British Airways (BA) downgrade of its flight operations to Nigeria from B747 – 400 with capacity to carry 406 passengers to the B777-200ER which only carries 217 passengers.

“Airline operators are required to change their tyres on a weekly basis, pay for wear and tear on a monthly basis and fix old engines when the need arises, and this is often done outside the country and requires dollars to foot the bills,”

Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria, Nogie Meggison, said.

Meggison said these routine activities which are mandatory are becoming very difficult for the airlines, as forex is not made available.

Some airline operators said the high exchange rate is also taking toll on domestic airlines operations because major checks are carried out overseas and payments for such services are made in foreign currency, whereas they earn their revenue in naira.

The slide in the value of the naira since last year, prompted airlines to vote more funds from their meagre earnings on maintenance.

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Power Sector Lost N7.7bn to Workers’ Strikes in Two Years, Says Fashola FG frets over NLC’s planned protest Chineme Okafor and Paul Obi in Abuja The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday said frequent strikes by workers in Nigeria’s electricity industry resulted in huge revenue losses to the sector with about N7.734 billion was lost between 2014 and 2016 alone.

Fashola who spoke at the third triennial delegate conference of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) in Abuja, also called on workers in the power sector to progressively begin to shed off their resistance to new private investors in the sector, as well as their views of the investors as exploitative.

He said a snap survey of strikes in the electricity sector and its affiliations which he conducted showed that between April 2014 and March 2016, strikes embarked upon by electricity workers union in the country had resulted in up to N7.734 billion revenue loss to the sector.

“Can an employee who caused the employer such financial losses in all good conscience expect improved welfare packages or industrial peace? Or have the employees taken over from the employer?” Fashola asked.

His claims and admonition also came with that of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, who asked the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to consider

Buhari Forced Me to Contest for Governor of Kaduna, Says El-Rufai.

John Shiklam in Kaduna Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari forced him to run for the governorship of the state.

According to him, without the encouragement he received from Buhari, who was the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), he wouldn’t have been governor of the state.

He also said he would have lost the election if not for the card reader introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC).

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the two-day Kaduna Investment Forum which held at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Indoor Sports Hall, Murtala Square, Kaduna, the governor maintained that without the card reader, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would have robbed him of victory at the polls.

“It was President Buhari that

forced me to contest for the governorship race of Kaduna State in revenge for persuading him to run the presidential race.

“If he had not asked me to run for the governorship, I wouldn’t have stood before you today as the governor of the state.

“It is the Buhari phenomenon that had swept away the PDP. Buhari is a man of integrity, a Nigerian leader whose name has not been found in the Panama documents,” he said.

According to him, “The president inherited 16 years of impunity, and it will take time to clean it up, so all Nigerians need to be patient with him. And with the quality of leaders we have in the country, Nigeria will take its rightful place in the comity of nations.

“I thank the people Kaduna State for voting for us, we did not pay kobo to get those votes, if it were in those days without the card reader, we would have lost the election.

Nigerian with ISIS Link Arrested for Terror Plot in Germany The Bavarian police have said they have arrested two men, an Iraqi and a Nigerian, on suspicion that they may have been preparing a “serious act of violence.”

The state criminal police office said the 46-year-old Iraqi and the 29-year-old Nigerian were detained in Munich and nearby Fuerstenfeldbrueck on Thursday following a tip to Bavarian security authorities.

They didn’t elaborate but the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung quoted Munich prosecutor Thomas Steinkraus-Koch as saying there had been indications the two were in contact with members of the Islamic State group.

Police said no suspicious objects have been found and that, as far as authorities knew, there was no “concrete danger to the population.”

I Neither Built Nor Own Whitefield Hotel, Says Ahmed Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has denied any link with the management, ownership or construction of Whitefield Hotel, Ilorin.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, Ahmed described as false, mischievous and

evil the publication by an online news medium that he reportedly built the said Ilorin hotel.

The governor therefore, stressed that he remains committed to fulfilling his covenant with the people of Kwara State and refuses to be distracted by any deliberate or malicious falsehood.

ongoing negotiations on the recently introduced electricity tariff before embarking on a nationwide strike.

NLC had last Wednesday threatened to declare a one-day nationwide strike against the government in protest against electricity tariff hike and fuel scarcity in the country, but Ngige noted that such action would be unnecessary because the National Assembly had already taken up the issue.

He thus asked NLC to in deference to the National Assembly, hold on with its planned industrial action.

However, Fashola who decried his claims of electricity workers’ continuous resistance of private investors’ plans to upgrade the country’s power sector as well as government’s implementation of its policies in the sector, averred that today, government

employees cling more to their unions than to government to the detriment of expected productivity.

He noted that the workers had in this regard failed to realise that the unions do not pay their wages but the government,and that the task of making sure that electricity is produced and supplied to Nigerians was a collective responsibility that the workers who in turn rely on the sector’s revenue share.

The minister said to the union: “The finger pointing should stop.

Our responsibility is to provide electricity, let us go back to work, we will solve the disputes one by one. It is improved productivity of electricity that yields the money that goes into your pockets, let us understand it because you don’t get paid in advance but in arrears.

“You produce power and collect revenues. Electricity is now largely private sector driven, let us not see those who have invested as our opponents, let us try and learn their language and also communicate in our own language.”

Speaking on other outstanding labour issues in the sector, he said: “If there is an agreement that the whole purpose of this relationship is that your employer will earn profit as a result of what we the workers produce and that we will earn our wages based on what has been agreed, why should there really be a dispute, whys should we continue these disagreements?

On his part, Ngige said: “The dispute over the increment in electricity tariff is right before the National Assembly and it is only right that as law abiding social partners, that all parties

afford the National Assembly to arbitrate. The chairman of NLC is not here but this occasion offers a crucial avenue for me to state government’s position on this hot button issue.”

He urged SSAEAC to be committed to a productive change and the inculcation of sanity in the conduct of government business and hoped that the change mantra would instill discipline in the entire citizenry of Nigeria and promote transparency, accountability and other good governance principles.

Ngige maintained that the dialectical relationship between capitalism and labour should be played down and minimised in order to enable a viable environment for sustainable development and growth of the nation devoid of industrial actions.

DOING BUSINESS IN NIGERIA

L-R: Chairman, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Europe, Africa, and South America, Mr. Pascal Cotte; Chairman of BCG Nigeria, Mr. Luis Gravito; Chairman of the Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, at the official opening of the Nigeria Office of the Boston Consulting Group in Lagos...yesterday Akinwunmi Ibrahim

ObasanjoVisits Buhari, Says He Never Signed Budgets without Details Presidency prepares staff retirement programme Tobi Soniyi Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday said he did not sign budgets into law without seeing the details while he was in power.

Obasanjo, who was responding to comments credited to the National Assembly that during his time, he signed budgets into law without seeing the details, said the purveyors of the news needed to be contacted the second time to prove the authenticity of the information.

The former president, who spoke with the State House Correspondents after a private meeting with president, when asked why he was at the Villa, said he came to share some of his experiences with the

president.

“You know that not too long ago, I was out there. I have come to share some of my experiences with him,” he said When asked what the experiences were, he replied, “Ha! Ha! If I say I shared experiences with my wife, will you ask me wetin I talk with my wife?”

Obasanjo said he could not comment on the 2016 budget because he was yet to read the details.

“Before I will be able to tell you something about the budget, I have to read it and know what it contains and know what to talk about,” he added.

On the delay in signing the budget, Obasanjo said the constitution allowed the

president to continue with the budget provided he did not go beyond the previous year. This, he said, could be done up to the middle of the year.

He refused to comment on the ongoing war against corruption being waged by President Buhari.

Meanwhile, the presidency has commenced a vocational and entrepreneurial programme to prepare its staff adequately for retirement.

The 81 prospective retirees are being trained by the presidency on livestock, fisheries management, personal finance planning and other useful skills and vocations at the workshop which opened yesterday.

Declaring open the two-day workshop for State House staff who

are about to retire, the Permanent Secretary, Jalal Arabi, said the programme was also designed to prepare them mentally and psychologically for retirement.

“What the State House has set out to do is to commence a process of early pre-retirement training for potential retirees.

“This is in the firm belief that adequate planning for retirement will make life after retirement much more attractive,” Arabi said.

The permanent secretary said the overall aim of the presidency was to ensure that all staff undergo pre-retirement training at least 3-4 years before their retirement.

“This approach is based on the realisation that it usually takes about three years to incubate and develop most business ideas,’’ he added

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Dangote Commences Construction of 3 Million Tonnes Cement Plant in Cote d’Ivoire Crusoe Osagie The Dangote Cement Plc has announced the commencement of the construction of a new three

million metric tonnes per annum capacity cement grinding plant in Cote d’Ivoire.

The new project is coming just as the company announced

Orubebe’s Trial Commences as Prosecution Calls First Witness Alex Enumah in Abuja The trial of the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, has finally commenced before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja.

At the commencement of the trial yesterday, the prosecution counsel, Mohammed Diri, told the tribunal that they would call three witnesses in the case, following which Samuel Madujemu who is a staff of CCT in the Asset Tracing Department was called as the first witness.

According to Madujemu, the former minister was invited to clear himself by making a declaration in the asset form for the year 2007-2011, for which Orubebe was issued with forms five times.

He further explained that in the intelligence assessment on the declaration made by the defendant, they discovered that there were other properties allegedly traced to him.

The witness further said record examination was also conducted by writing to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Department of Lands Administration, who in their response, stated that Plot No 2057 Asokoro district, Abuja for which the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) was issued on April 10, 2011 belonged to Orubebe.

He added that when they compared the information supplied with that of the records from the FCT land, it was discovered that the Asokoro property was not disclosed even as at May 29, 2011 when he left office.

The Chairman of Citi Bank (former Nigeria International Bank Limited), C.S. Sankey, and its former Managing Director, Emeka Emuwa, (now Managing Director of Union Bank Plc), risk being slammed with bench warrant by a Federal High Court in Lagos if they fail to appear before the court on April 14.

The bank chiefs are accused of allegedly defrauding an Onitsha-based business mogul and Chairman of Micmerah Group of Companies, Chief Michael Emerah, of N390 million, under the pretense of assisting him to import some Volvo brand of luxurious buses and vehicle spare parts.

But they had repeatedly been absent in the court several times their case was called, thereby prompting the presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, at the last court sitting in Lagos in March to order that the summons be served

up of two lines of 1.5 million metric tonnes capacity each, when completed, will more than double the total capacity of local cement production in the francophone West African nation, as the plant would raise total local cement production capacity of the country by over 100 per cent.

The plant when completed will utilise power off the grid and provide direct and indirect jobs for over 3,000 people from within Cote d’Ivoire and other west African countries.

Edwin disclosed further that upon completion, Nigerian experts would be deployed to carryout initial training of local manpower and skill transfer.

The project is being undertaken

by Ayoki Fabricon, a mechanical and civil engineering company based in Pune, India. Tyssen

Krupp, a German steel firm is also a sub-contractor.

Established in 1984, Ayoki has been involved in fabrication, erection and commissioning of cement, power, sugar, boiler, distillery and material handling projects both in India and abroad.

Ayoki has undertaken fabrication, erection and commissioning services of plants for clients which include Jaypee Group, Ambuja Cements, Aditya Birla Group, Lafarge, JK cement Group.

Dangote group recently announced that it will be building new cement plants in two Nigerian communities of Okpella, Edo State and Itori, Ogun state.

The forthcoming Nigerian plants are expected to add 12 million metric tonnes per annum

(mmtpa) to the company’s current local output of 31.25mmtpa, raising it to a total 41.25mmtpa.

Edwin had explained that the Okpella plant would have two cement lines which will churn out 3mmtpa each, while the Itori plant will deliver approximately 3mmtpa from two production lines. Both plants are expected to come on stream within the next three years.

He explained that said the company’s expansion drive was targeted at expanding its spread nationwide and reducing the transportation cost component of its operations.

He added that the new investments would also lower the cost of production, bring about a future reduction in the price of cement, and generate employment opportunities for youths of the host communities.

Tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar, admitted the five assets declaration forms and four others presented by the prosecution in evidence.

But admissibility of one of the documents which is a response from the FCTA in February, 2016 was opposed by the defence counsel Larry Selekeowei, SAN on the ground that the documents cannot be admissible as the maker, Funke Audu, an Assistant Chief State Counsel at the FCTA is an interested party and the documents was procured at the pendency of the suit.

But prosecution counsel responding, said the C of O dated April 10, 2011 was signed on 26 May 2011 by Bala Mohammed and the documents were received

by CCB in respect of criminal investigation therefore the letter can be admissible.

In a bench ruling the tribunal overruled the objection and held that Funke Audu being a state counsel can be posted anywhere and is on the payroll of the federal government and not on that of the AGF therefore not an interested party.

Madujemu ended his testimony by disclosing that when Orubebe was called to clear the discrepancies in the asset declaration, neither him nor any legal representative showed up.

The tribunal adjourned till April 14, for the defendant to cross examines the witness.

Orubebe is standing trial on one count charge of false asset L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Personal Assistant to the President, Mr. Tunde Sabiu and declaration.

OBASANJO AT THE VILLA

Bank Chiefs Risk Bench Warrant Arrest over Alleged Fraud Case Sunday Okobi

the groundbreaking of a new six million metric tonnes per annum Greenfield cement plant in Okpella, Edo State and commencement of works on a six million mtpa capacity plant in Itori, Ogun State.

Dangote Group Executive Director, Strategy, Projects and Portfolio Management, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, while making the disclosure in Lagos, said the Cote d’Ivoire project would cost the company $200million and would be completed in 18 months.

The project, which the director said has aroused a lot of interest from both the government and people of Cote d Ivoire, is sitting on over 60 hectares of land, next to the New Industrial Park in Yongbon, a city just outside of Abidjan, the nation’s capital.

The grinding plant, made

on the defendant by substituted means - pasting the order in their offices and residence to ensure they appear in court.

Failure to serve the court process on Sankey, Emuwa, alongside the Citi Bank’s Legal Adviser/Company Secretary, Mrs. Olusola Fagbure and 14 others, and their non-appearance in court had stalled several previous attempts by the federal government to arraign the key bank officers.

Counsel for the prosecution, Mr. Gordy Uche (SAN), had told the trial judge that they could not effect service of the summons on Sankey, Emuwa and 14 other co-defendants in the case, and complained that the defendants were allegedly, evading service of the court process.

Sources pointed out that Citibank Nigeria, had been reaching out to key officers both in the country and abroad to permanently stop the case.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, after the president’s meeting with Obasanjo at the State House in Abuja...yesterday Sunday Aghaeze

Alleged Forged Senate Rules: Ekweremadu Challenges Competence of Suit against Saraki, Himself Alex Enumah in Abuja The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has challenged the competence of a legal action instituted at the Federal High Court in Abuja by five aggrieved senators to contest the legality of his election and that of Dr. Bukola Saraki as the Senate President.

Ekweremadu, in a motion filed against the suit, claimed that the five aggrieved senators erred in law by filing the action vide the originating summons.

The deputy senate president who disclosed that since the case of the aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) senators was predicated on alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Order, they (senators) ought to have brought the action to court through the writ of summons instead of originating summons.

Ekweremadu, in a motion on

notice filed by his counsel, Mr. Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), prayed Justice Evoh Stephen Chukwu to order that the case of the aggrieved senators was inappropriate for determination vide the originating summons procedure.

He also asked the judge to order that the case be transferred for hearing under the general cause list, and that the parties in the suit be directed to file and exchange pleadings and witness statements on oath for hearing and determination of the suit.

The motion was predicated on the ground that when a case is transferred to another court to be commenced de novo (afresh), it is trite law that the suit be heard anew and that all findings of the previous court cannot be adopted or built upon by the new court.

He argued that the suit filed by originating summons on July 27, 2015, was anchored on alleged falsification of the Standing Order

of the Senate.

In an 18-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion, Ekweremadu claimed that the allegation of contriving or concocting the Senate Standing Orders 2015 amounted to falsification, forgery or fraud and that by the nature, the suit cannot be decided by originating summon but by the writ of summon, where evidence can be adduced orally.

He maintained that it was necessary to call oral evidence in order to resolve the material conflicts in the affidavit and counter-affidavit of the parties, and that unless oral evidence tested under cross examination is produced, the conflicting affidavit will be incapable of resolution in the suit.

“I have vehemently asserted in my counter affidavit to the originating summons that the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as

amended) is valid and the eighth National Assembly being convened was entitled to conduct its affairs independent of the Rules enacted by the seventh National Assembly,” he said.

When the matter came up yesterday for hearing, counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman (SAN), who addressed the court through Dele Adesina (SAN), told the court that Ekweremadu took him by surprise with the new motion served on him in the open court.

He complained that the action of the deputy senate president was a ploy to scuttle hearing of the case filed since last year, therefore asked for an adjournment to enable him react to the motion.

Counsel to Saraki, Mr. Kayode Eleja (SAN), who did not oppose the application for adjournment, however, stated that both parties have been serving each other with court process in the open court.

FRIDAY APRIL 8, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Anti-Graft War: Sagay Charges EFCC to Be Resolute How ex-PDP chair, Haliru, son got N300m, says witness

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has charged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to relent in carrying out its mandate of ridding the country of economic and financial crimes.

Sagay, who led some members of the committee to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, on April 7, 2016, also stressed the pivotal role the anti-graft agency has to play in winning the war against corruption.

“The common interest of Nigerians is at stake, because corruption affects everyone, and we have the same objective, therefore you can rely on us to give you support in all ramifications,” he said.

While commending the EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu, for rejuvenating the activities of the anti-graft agency, Sagay noted that there was still much more to be done.

“The energy you have brought in to the activities of the EFCC since your assumption of office has

encouraged us, and we want you to continue to do more,” he said.

Re-echoing the views of Sagay, the committee’s secretary, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, stressed the importance of securing convictions in cases involving high profile individuals.

“We commend you for your efforts, but there is need to further enhance the good work you are doing by securing convictions in high profile cases,” he said.

Reassuring the committee of the commission’s resolve not to relent in its efforts, Magu, used the opportunity to intimate the committee of some of the reforms he has initiated.

“We are restructuring the operations aspect of the commission and weeding out the bad eggs,” he said. “We are also carrying the anti-corruption crusade to the grassroots.”

He added that the efforts of the agency were yielding results, noting that the EFCC was determined to get to the root of major corruption cases in the country, including the Halliburton case.

“We are getting back the confidence we have been lacking,” he said.

He further told the committee that the commission was facing a major problem with regards to accommodation, and there was a need to have an Academy equipped to international standards.

Other members of the committee at the meeting include Prof. Sadiq Isa Radda, Prof. E. Alemika, Prof.

Femi Odekunle, Ona Peters, Ola Olukayode, and Olusegun Odesina.

Meanwhile, Stella George, a witness in the ongoing trial of

Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday told Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja that there was an inflow N300million from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA), to the account of BAM Projects and Properties Limited, owned by the accused.

George, a banker with Sterling Bank, while being led in evidence today by counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), stated that, on March 18, 2015 a sum of N137, 200,000

( one hundred and thirty seven million, two hundred thousand naira) was transferred to Kumu Golo Limited and another transfer of N178,800,000 (one hundred and seventy eight million, eight hundred thousand naira) was made to North Polo Global Services same day.

According to her, the Certified True Copies (CTC) of account opening package, mandate card and statement of account from January 2015 to date of BAM Projects and Property Limited, as well as copies of instruments used for inflow and outflow from the

account were all made available to EFCC on request.

Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Solomon Umoh (SAN), George said although she was obliged to know her customers especially the account owner but, she did not know anything about the companies who received the money under reference.

The former PDP chief is being prosecuted alongside his son, Bello Abba Mohammed, on a four-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering by the EFCC.

Delta Govt, US Firm Sign MoU for 500MW Power Plant Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Delta State Government yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an American company, Alpha Energy and Electric Inc., for the generation of 500 megawatts (MW) of electricity through public- private partnership.

The MoU was signed on behalf of the state government by the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Mr. Festus Ovie Agas, witnessed by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and some members of the state executive council.

Okowa said at the ceremony at the Government House, Asaba, that the development of the Independent Power Plants (IPP) was designed to boost the energy capacity of the state in the light of the increasing power needs of investors and businesses in the state, noting that power was invaluable for investments and industrialisation to thrive.

Thursday’s signing of the MoU for a new IPP is coming as a relief in Delta State as the N23.2 billion state IPP project in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area, had run into a hitch.

A recent visit to the moribund project site at Oghara by the Delta State House of Assembly team showed that there was nothing seriously on ground after the project, awarded to a local construction company, Davenotch, had gulped over N19 billion.

THISDAY learnt that apart from the perimeter fencing, about three small buildings and a gantry, there was nothing to show for the project, which was expected to ease the state’s energy problem by adding about 138 MW of electricity when it commenced in 2009.

Okowa said: “This MoU we are signing today is for the development, design, financing, construction and maintenance of multiple power production plants in multiple locations in the state. As a state we are ready to give the necessary assistance

and co-operation to enable your company succeed because the power generated in the country is very low and we need to boost it to meet the power needs of our industries and attract investors to the state so as to impact on our economy and create employment.

“President Buhari has promised to improve energy generation in the country to 10,000 MWA by 2018, so this partnership will enable us contribute our quota to achieve the president’s energy goal while investors will get high yield for their investment.”

The governor said the state government would partner with credible investors to develop the economy, create employment for the youths and improve the state’s infrastructure stressing that “the state has vast untapped a deposit of natural gas, land and friendly environment which investors can put into use.”

He assured the company of government’s support and the necessary investment friendly environment to enable the IPP project succeed and charged them to commence work as soon as possible.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Energy and Electric Inc., Mr. Ike Nwabuonwu, explained that the company was in the state to develop and maintain multiple power production plants in multiple locations in the state to generate 500MWA of electricity, disclosing that they were keying into the Obama Power Initiative For Africa to contribute their quota to the improvement of power in the country using various energy sources.

“The MoU is to design, develop, finance, construct, operate and maintain multiple power production plants in multiple locations in Delta State of Nigeria. It is estimated to be up to 500 megawatts. This 500 megawatts will be executed in phases; the first phase is estimated to be for up to 150 megawatts,” Nwabuonwu said.

SEARCHING FOR SOLUTION

L-R: Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; and his Imo State counterpart, Chief Rochas Okorocha, during the first National Forum on the Economy with the theme: ‘National Economy, the Way Forward,’ organised by The Nation Newspapers in Lagos...yesterday

20 Oil Firms Shun N’Assembly Hearing on NDDC Devt Tax Levy Committee queries presentation of dollar remittances in naira Damilola Oyedele in Abuja Twenty oil companies out of the 31 invited by the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to an interactive session aimed at reconciling accounts for the three per cent development tax were absent at the meeting on yesterday.

Oil firms operating onshore and offshore, and gas processing companies operating in the Niger Delta region are required to contribute three per cent of their annual budget estimates to the NDDC to develop the region.

Afew of the companies, including Addax Petroleum, were regarded as absent by the lawmakers, for sending officials below the rank of General Manager to represent their Managing Directors.

The Chairman of the Committee, Peter Nwobochi, frowned at the development, describing it as a disrespect for the parliament.

He also expressed displeasure at the firms who chose to send officials below the rank of General Manager, adding that the concession to accept the rank was made during the meeting, even though the committee was initially insistent on having at least the rank of Executive Director.

“These companies that have refused to come here today would be given one more chance. The secretariat is directed to do a strongly worded letter to them. I hope they would not make us exercise our constitutional right,” he said.

The Committee heard from the Managing Director of Brittania-U Nigeria Ltd, Mrs. Uju Ifejika, that the company has not paid the three per cent tax since its establishment in 2010.

Ifejika said the law did not take into cognisance small oil firms, and added that the firm has however been living up to responsibilities to the community where it is operating from. “We have never had any issue of

shut down. We are the only oil company that gave two per cent equity stake in our block to our community,” she said.

Ifejika however expressed readiness to sit down with the acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenetari, to work out a payment plan.

Nwobochi, who earlier in the session, exchanged light hearted banners with Ifejika, urged her to commence payment in the earliest time possible.

“The law was already in place before some of you entered the business, and you knew about this tax requirement. So, there should be no excuse for not paying it in six years,” Nwobochi said.

Hon. Michael Eyong berated what he called a pattern of deceit by many of the firms, who were supposed to provide the three percent immediately their annual budgets have been developed.

“There must be reprisals. This tax was imposed to develop the region

where they do business,” he said. The acting MD of NDDC, Semenetari, told the Committee that while some of the companies pay, they do not do so in full compliance with the law.

She disclosed that the commission has received about $15 billion since its inception as tax.

She was however queried for providing the figures of the remittances of Platform oil company, in Naira, N944.4 million, when it was received in dollars.

Officials of Platform disclosed that the company has paid over $6 million since its establishment in 2008. Hon. Rima Shawulu said presenting dollar remittances in naira does not make accounting or financial sense. “...because you have presented to the committee documents showing dollar payments from other companies. Why would that of Platform oil be recorded in naira? It means somebody in your tax management is playing pranks.

You have to prove at what rate the money was converted,” he said.

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 8, 2016

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

COMMENT

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

A LEAP TOWARDS PEACE IN KADUNA (1) Nasir el-Rufai’s preaching bill is in the interest of all, argues Uba Sani

K

aduna State is in the cusps of an economic, social, ethical and political renaissance. It is a mission that the state’s Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai is fervently and feverishly committed to; and in less than one year in office, he is at the verge of meeting the set targets. But Kaduna State is a peculiar state: sentiments, particularly religious sentiments are easily amplified and often blown out of proportion, leading to very damning consequences. This is hardly surprising given the rather generous population of adherents of both Islam and Christianity in the state. This diversity, ordinarily ought to be a blessing and a strength that could easily be harnessed for the greatest good of all. However, over the years, zealots, religious contractors, extremists, crisis profiteers and unscrupulous political and community leaders have for pecuniary or political reasons, perfected the nefarious act of using religion to unnecessarily destabilise Kaduna State.

As a child of the 70s, I recall ever so vividly growing up in both Zaria and Kaduna with the trauma of the several extremely acrimonious and destructive religious upheavals in our dear state. Between 1980 and 2011 alone, over 25 avoidable religious or ethnic-inspired crises led to the unfortunate loss of thousands of lives, destruction of property worth several billions of naira and generally left Kaduna State in turmoil, despondent and in disrepair. Some of the most unfortunate crises include the Kafanchan riots of 1987; the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria riots, 1992; the Kaduna North/Kaduna South and Kafanchan crisis, 1999; the so-called Sharia riots, 2000; another Zaria Crisis, 2001; the aborted Miss Nigeria riot, 2002 and of course the post-election riots of 2011 to name but just a few. Sadly, the ordinarily boisterous and welcoming Kaduna State eventually gained notoriety as a hotbed of religious and ethnic crises. This of course had telling effects on the economic, social and ethical wellbeing of the state and its long-suffering people. To be fair though, many of the past political administrations in the state did not just fold their arms and did nothing to stem the series of religious crisis.

Successive administrations in Kaduna which had contended with bloody and destructive religious riots had resorted to legislations to rein in religious extremism in the state. The most far reaching of the legislations remains the Regulation of Religious Preaching Edict No. 7 of 1984, which has been amended twice - in 1987 and 1996. The mother edict was promulgated by the then military governor, AirCommodore Usman Muazu on July 17, 1984 following the Maitatsine riots in some parts of Northern Nigeria at the time. The edict provided for the mandatory licensing of preachers. It also restricted the playing of religious cassettes to homes and banned the use of

SUCCESSIVE ADMINISTRATIONS IN KADUNA WHICH HAD CONTENDED WITH BLOODY AND DESTRUCTIVE RELIGIOUS RIOTS HAD RESORTED TO LEGISLATIONS TO REIN IN RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM IN THE STATE

abusive language against any person or religious organisation or religious leader. The edict expressly banned the use of loudspeakers for religious purposes other than in a Church or Mosque, the abuse of religious books and the use of such expressions as “infidels,” “non-Islamic,” or “pagans” in describing other religious groups.

The penalty for violating the edict was two years’ imprisonment with an option of fine.

On March 9, 1987, the then military governor, Lt. Col. Abubakar Umar, amended the 1984 Edict and expunged the option of fine and extended the term of imprisonment upon conviction to five years. On November 25, 1996, Lt. Col. Hamid Ali, the military administrator of the state at the time, further amended the 1984 Edict by limiting the validity of a preaching license in Section 7 (c) of the edict to a period not exceeding six months subject to revocation at any time.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Religious Preaching Regulation Bill that is currently before the Kaduna State House of Assembly is just a slightly amended version of the same law that has been in existence since 1984. So, why are certain persons going about creating the wrong impression that Governor El-Rufai is introducing a new religious preaching regulation law in Kaduna State? Like has been clearly outlined, this preaching law is an old law that previous administrations in Kaduna State have either enacted or retained in response to outbreaks of religious violence in the state over time.

Contrary to the impression some political jobbers and enemies of the state are currently creating, in revisiting this law, Mallam El-Rufai’s government is not only responding to current realities in most states in northern Nigeria but also proactively nipping in the bud the possibility of Kaduna State returning to its destructive ugly past. The truth is that in spite of the dogged efforts by critics and mischievous politicians to tar El-Rufai with the wicked brush of religious extremism, this lie is just refusing to stick especially given that Islamic clerics have opposed the bill much more than Christian leaders. It is indeed an open secret that religious zealotry is not one of the weaknesses of Nasir el-Rufai. As a close aide to the governor, I can wholeheartedly attest to the fact that in seeking to discourage the use of religion for violence and division, he is merely advancing the administration’s agenda of making Kaduna State a model state in northern Nigeria, to showcase peaceful and gainful coexistence of persons of diverse cultural, religious, social and economic backgrounds and persuasions.

Sani is the Special Adviser to Governor Nasir el- Rufai on Political Affairs

WHY GOVERNOR FAYOSE MUST HANG The Ekiti State Governor epitomises democracy, writes Chuks Iloegbunam

P

eter Ayodele Fayose. Two-time Governor of Ekiti State. There’s certainly something to say for this man. Without question he is, for good or for ill, the most talked about state governor in Nigeria today. He is one of the most controversial, if not the most controversial. Those who believe in him, who swear by his name, would readily die for him, would give whatever it would take for their man to retain his gubernatorial seat, will strike innumerable blows to thwart his traducers. Others who hold Fayose to be beneath contempt, who proclaim that disdain expended on his account amounts to vital energy exercised in obedience to barrenness, people who abhor all that the man stands for, and who stand eternally against his regular ventilation of contrary opinion, would yearn for a cudgel – and a chance to bring the deadly weapon hard down on his head, to shatter his cranium, to finish off everything for the first-and-final time.

Yet, there is something to say for Ayodele Fayose. If the country ever had an autonomous governor, the accolade belongs to this occupant of the Ekiti Governor’s Lodge.

Leftwing ideologue Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, tried his hands at autonomy as governor of the old Kaduna State during the Second Republic. He waged a determined war against the behemoth known otherwise as feudalism. He got impeached in less than two years. Even though the exercise that moved him from office was unwarranted, unjustified and shameful, the federal government then run by the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) sanctioned it. He went. Balarabe may have had a chance to bounce back to the governorship seat but a second, protracted military interregnum killed and buried the possibility.

He still lives though – with his integrity intact – while very little is today heard of those who

abused democracy to get a blameless leader off the principled path.

Fayose is empathetic to Balarabe’s experience. On October 16, 2006, he suffered a similar fate when into the third of his four-year tenure as Governor of Ekiti State.

He was impeached, not necessarily because he was a wolf among the sheep, but largely because the top leadership of his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), found him expendable. But age was on his side. Only a month shy of his 46 birthday when he was impeached, he bided his time.

He switched parties. He contested other elections. He ultimately returned to the PDP. Then he strode back to Government House, Ado-Ekiti!

Peter Ayodele Fayose has soared to the zenith. He has plummeted to the nadir.

The extreme experiences have fashioned and sharpened his choices. It is said that a man who moved forward, and then moved backward, stood in a proper stead to contextualise positioning, in order to determine the best of options at all times. Fayose has seen it all. Like gold, he has been tempered by the alchemist’s unrelenting fire. If he professed half measures previously, the Fayose of the Second Coming has shed kid gloves for iron fists in the fight against chicanery. He has effected an adamantine repudiation of fear.

He now has little problem glaring at the lion and spitting in its face. Like a Shakespearean scholar, he has taken to heart the immortal words of Caesar in Julius Caesar: Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once.

Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear, Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come.

Fayose has left many disconcerted and scandalised. Coming from Ekiti, a state reputedly peopled by professors, he wasn’t even counted in the ranks of academics. So, what business had he being the tenant at Government House, Ado-Ekiti? Those mouthing this question forget that professorship and leadership stand in distinction. They take no account of the fact that Ekiti indigenes appear infinitely more interested in those who care for their very existence than the rest who are interested mainly in stuffing their brains with the contents of the fattest tomes.

They are becoming wiser, or are they?

They had impeached Fayose in 2006. When they tried a reenactment of the absurdity last year, the people refused and said No! They demonstrated their preparedness to die for the one unafraid to die. Thus, they worsted undemocratic elements. At that time, all members of the Ekiti State Assembly were of the opposition. They commenced a fresh move to impeach Fayose this year, when all members of the State Assembly are of the governor’s party! The Honourable members went public, disavowing inducement with filthy lucre, opting instead for long stretches behind bars or worse! They would never abide by the disgraceful plot to impeach the one that led from the front.

Whatever his political adversaries and opponents mete out to him today or the day after today, (And only what the Lord sanctions can happen to him), Fayose has become a star. He will, like Balarabe Musa, shine over the dulled and dying ends of the political Lilliputians wielding political power tyrannously; politicians in opposition to the contentions and contretemps that add colour and vigour to democratic culture and texture.

The critical cannot but be sorry for the pathetic lot against Fayose because he is sometimes clad in T-shirts and jeans pants,

and rides on Okada motorbikes, and eats in open spaces and bukaterias with society’s flotsam and jetsam. Fayose only borrowed from Fela who, during the 1970s craze for the Mercedes Benz cars, had purchased one such German limousine and used it to carry firewood through the streets of Lagos. Fayose has demystified governance and shamed those that confuse the hood for the monk.

He has exposed the ludicrousness of fops invariably turned out in what a well-known teacher once memorably described as the Garment of Stupidity.

In the sense of embodying free speech, Fayose is currently an epitome of democracy. He never shies away from the right to pronounce in mediation of contemporary challenges. His interventions should keep any true leader on their toes. He has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to shun globetrotting and settle down to some work! He has questioned Buhari’s physicality for the onerous job of directing Nigeria’s affairs. He has condemned the political leadership’s indifference to the marauding massacres by Fulani herdsmen. He is, therefore, more patriotic than hypocrites and sycophants who would tell a leader that the stench of his fart wafts like lavender.

Only last week, the Ekiti chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) spectacularly claimed that Governor Fayose’s conduct was a threat to “national security.” If they got a chance, they would probably recommend that he hangs. Since I have written, not about a saint, but on a voice against the crowning of unworthy heads with the halo of sanctity, I align myself with the metaphor of hanging.

But, say I, Governor Fayose is not a candidate for the noose. Rather, his official portrait should hang prominently on a wall in the nation’s Hall of Fame.

Iloegbunam is the author of Ironside, a biography of Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

EDITORIAL STILL ON DRUG ABUSE IN NIGERIA There is need to strengthen the campaign against hard drugs

W

hile there may be no means of measuring the effectiveness of the battle against illegal drugs, evidence suggests that Nigeria is not winning the war.

Hard drugs, ranging from cannabis (often called Indian hemp) to cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine are increasingly available on the streets and abused by both the young and the old. Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, the Emir of Katsina, recently expressed concern about the dangerous trend.

He said many youths, and even married women, are getting hooked on hard drugs and charged the authorities to adopt measures to curb the menace.

Indeed, cannabis, cocaine, heroin and amphetamines, ecstasy and many psychotropic drugs are available on asking on many streets in Nigeria. Nigeria is one of the largest growers of cannabis in the West African subregion. In 2014 alone, some 54 million kilogrammes of cannabis in farmlands were destroyed, according to the National Drug Law STATISTICS ARE HARD TO Enforcement Agency COME BY BUT THERE IS A (NDLEA). The irony CORRELATION BETWEEN is that as some of the THE ABUSE OF DRUGS farmlands were being AND ORGANISED CRIME destroyed, others were sprouting in other areas. Last February, the Kaduna Police Command intercepted 33 bags of Indian hemp and 34 baskets of hard drugs from various suspects in Kaduna.

Since the weed is grown locally, it is easily available, cheap and therefore the most abused of the illegal drugs in the country. About 8 per cent of the population reportedly abuses the substance. Hitherto, it used to be smoked in dark street corners and hideouts. Not any more as the habit seems to be spreading, particularly among the youths who openly wrap the substance, sometimes called “pot” and puff away, anywhere – at car wash spots, at motor parks, and on the streets, to get “stoned” and sometimes with even law enforcement agents looking away. But cocaine, heroin and amphetamine-type

Letters to the Editor

stimulants and over-the-counter drugs are also being increasingly abused. Recently the NDLEA arrested four Mexicans who were allegedly helping Nigerians build a “super-lab” capable of producing billions of dollars worth of methamphetamine. Mitchell Ofoyeju, spokesman of the NDLEA, said it was the first industrial-scale production of crystal meth found in West Africa.

The drug agency has discovered more than 10 methamphetamine clandestine facilities across the country since 2011. Mr. Femi Ajayi, a former Director-General of NDLEA, had long attested to the pervasiveness of these mind-blowing drugs, some with evidence of increasing the risk of psychotic illnesses. “We tend to pretend that we are only a transit country, not drug using country,” said Ajayi. “But that is not true. You have so much cannabis everywhere. Same goes for heroine and others, so the problem is here.”

T 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

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STILL ON THE ENDLESS FUEL SHORTAGES

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igeria is the Africa’s largest oil producer and the continent’s largest economy, but the country has been paralysed by fuel shortages for weeks. One is actually curious why an oil producing nation like Nigeria cannot run refineries at optimal levels.

It is quite disheartening that the four refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna are functioning at a sub-optimal capacity and the country continues to spend substantial foreign exchange to import fuels.

The fact that the bulk of Nigeria’s crude oil is still refined abroad is a pointer to this fact.

Indeed, because domestic refining in Nigeria cannot meet up with domestic consumption, Nigeria resorted to the importation of refined crude for almost the whole of 2010. The four refineries with a combined capacity of 445,000 barrels per day could only refine a mere 80,757 metric tonnes of petroleum products. These are 19,967mt of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) 53,223.4mt of Automotive Gas Oil, (diesel) and 7,567mt of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (cooking gas).

The rest 8.1million mt of petroleum that came into the downstream sector was imported. Not only does Nigeria import refined products, the process of importation is fraught with irregularities, high

he NDLEA, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as well as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime had in the past called for the strengthening of legislations and an aggressive public education in the war against illicit drugs in the country. The Senate recently could not help but joined the chorus and urged the police, NDLEA, NAFDAC, the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria and other regulatory agencies to develop a collaborative approach towards curbing the incidence of drug abuse in the country.

Hard drugs are essentially poisonous and cause serious problems for the user and the society at large.

Statistics are hard to come by but there is a correlation between the abuse of drugs and organised crime. Indeed, many of the audacious crimes including vicious robberies and murders, raiding of banks, prisons and churches, kidnappings, and insurgencies in the Northeast and Niger Delta are said to be aided by drugs. Many homes, families, relationships and careers have been shattered by those who find it difficult to wean themselves of hard drugs. Indeed, Dr. Paul Orhii, former Director-General of NAFDAC said that issues relating to drug abuse have increased the public health and security challenges in the country.

level of corruption and the inflation of figures of imported products (in order to make high subsidy claims) at huge cost to both the government and Nigerian citizenry.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) some years ago indicated interest in the building of three new green refineries with a total capacity of one million barrels each in three states of the federation. But it so far a mere dream. Multinational oil firms such as Shell Nigeria, Exxon Mobil, Total, Agip and Addax, have continued to shun investment in refinery projects in the country due to the absence of incentives.

But other OPEC member states including Saudi Arabia, Libya, Iran Kuwait, United Arab Emirate, Algeria, Qatar and Venezuela, are fast expanding their refineries both at home and abroad. Libya and Kuwait for instance own offshore refineries in Europe where crude oil is shipped to be refined and dispense to consumers from fuel stations in Europe.

However, in Nigeria, fuel scarcity has become a phenomenon; despite that it affects the nation’s economy adversely. Fuel in Nigeria is used not just to run cars and transport goods and services, but also used to power generator at homes and businesses, because of epileptic supply of electricity.

Temitayo Taylor, Abiola Way, Abeokuta

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THE GENDER PARITY BILL

watched with rapt attention on national television few weeks ago the reaction of our ‘most distinguished senators’ particularly Senator Sani Yerima from Zamfara State to the proposed Gender Parity Bill initiated by Senator Biodun Olujimi from Ekiti State. I was bewildered at the former’s lack of intellectual insight on the issue of gender parity which has been adopted by developed nations and most recently the Catholic Church with the introduction of women in the traditional feet washing spiritual exercise.

I find it cynical that Nigeria as a nation state which is signatory to many global conventions centered on gender equality which includes but not limited to The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women (CEDAW) and Beijing Plan of Action, yet fail to adopt the recommendations of these laws demonstrates a lack of commitment to gender equality and affirmative action by the Nigerian government which is currently reflected in the number of women in the federal cabinet.

Many nations in the Global North and quite a few in Africa have made demonstrable efforts to elect quite a number of female members of parliament and even females heads of state as

even in the richest country in the world. The current front liner in the presidential debates in the United States is a woman.

For a nation which is aspiring to be one of the developed nations by year 2020 to be not interested in passing a bill to promote gender parity in the name that it negates the principle of Sharia law/ the Christian religion which advocates that the woman be submissive to the man is a statement I find very hard to comprehend. May I then inquire if Sharia/Christian law support the marriage / coitus of a man to a girl young enough to be his grand child or does any religion support corruption or even the begging of alms by young boys whose counterparts in civilised societies are obtaining education?

The time has come for all women irrespective of social status, political affiliation and educational background to come together to fight for the passage of this bill as this is the right time for the Nigerian woman to fight for her rights to be respected in the market, society and political space.

Oluwatoyin Olabisi Oloruntola – Taiwo, CEO, Women and Girl-Child Capabilities, Enhancements and Empowerment Organisation

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FRIDAY APRIL 8, 2016 T H I S D AY

17

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY FOCUS

Ogun 2019 and the Early Graph Plotters The reunion between former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu and his erstwhile Ogun State counterpart, Olusegun Osoba, has major political undertones geared towards the 2019 power struggle in the state. Sheriff Balogun writes

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vidently, the publicised return of former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba to the All Progressives Congress (APC) might have stoked early extrapolations ahead of the battle for the 2019, Oke Mosan Government House.

Osoba and the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s power tussle started at the beginning of Amosun’s first term in office.

The fight stemmed from the battle to control the soul of the APC at inception. National leadership of the APC failed to resolve the crisis while the party was preparing for another election in the state. Following the unresolved leadership crisis, Osoba led members of his camp to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as the 2015 elections inched closer.

Now, Osoba is back in his former party, the APC, where he was believed to have been outplayed by Amosun in cahoots with other party leaders in and outside the state.

Interestingly, Osoba, who left the party in anger, is back again in the fold with the support of the same party leaders, who had failed to resolve the leadership crisis then and still have not really addressed the issue.

Osoba’s return to his former party was facilitated by Tinubu and the Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, among others.

Shortly after the peace meeting held at Osoba’s residence in Lagos, Aregbesola announced that the discussions had brought Osoba back to the progressive fold in western Nigeria.

“It is my pleasure to address the band of media houses that the leadership of the progressive politics in the western part of Nigeria met today at the residence of Akinrogun Aremo, and have resolved all the differences completely with the leadership. We are happy to inform the world that the leadership of progressive politics are united and ready to jointly prosecute the agenda for purposeful leadership in western part of Nigeria as we plan to do at the national level to revive the economy.

“I believe with good governance and purposeful leadership, West Africa and the black race will be better for it. A time was when Aremo switched to another party. He was with the SDP but with what we have done, Aremo is back in the progressive leadership of Yoruba race,” Aregbesola said.

However, during and after the meeting, Amosun was conspicuously absent and no representative of the governor attended either. Amosun’s absence from the meeting, according to Tinubu, should not be misread or misinterpreted, saying “Nobody is left out.

No one! The governor is with us. We can excuse people. He was elected on the APC platform. He is for the APC.” Tinubu added: “You see me here, what do you expect? My happiness is personal to me. What is crucial is forging on “I’m an unapologetic progressive and I will remain a progressive. This is not a leaderless revolution.

It is clear we are one, including the governor of Ogun State. Who told you we are fighting?

That is your insinuation.”

But the way and manner the reunion was packaged is an indication that the crisis is far from being over. And the coming battle, it appears, is going to be very interesting between Osoba and Amosun. Already, there are indications that the state chapter of the APC will not accept Osoba back into the fold.

A top party member in the state, who spoke to THISDAY on the condition of anonymity, said it was laughable to read about Osoba’s alleged return to the APC, when no member

Osoba and Amosun...can do two work together again?

of the party from the state was present at the meeting, where the peace was allegedly brokered.

He said the idea of determining the fate of a people at private meetings by those at the top would not work in this particular case because, as far as the Ogun state APC is concerned, Osoba openly denounced and renounced the party in Abeokuta, the state capital with his supporters and that the only sensible thing to do in a case of returning to the fold is to follow the same process, otherwise they would issue a disclaimer on him.

“And then, you have such a meeting in Lagos, at his residence and people tagged it as returning to the APC. He probably reunited with his friend, which is understandable. But he did not return to the APC because no executive member of the party was present,

Unfortunately, while reconciliation might have been made even more difficult with the path recently treaded by Tinubu and others, a fight-to-the finish too is not in anyone’s interest. This is where the Ogun APC challenge presents a more disturbing scenario, which is neither good for crisis nor ideal for peace

much less the governor of Ogun State and you called that as returning to the APC? Impossible!” the source said.

Confirming that the gathering was a clear gang-up against the Amosun administration and person, the source said contrary to the impression given by the APC leaders, the governor was neither informed nor invited to the meeting, a clear indication that they had something mischievous up their sleeves.

According to him, the process of the reunion had been on for about three months, with meetings held in different places, including Ibadan, the Oyo State capital during the coronation of the new Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, before it was consummated last week during Senator Bola Tinubu’s 64th birthday Colloquium in Abuja.

He contended that in all the meetings, Amosun was not invited even when he was said to have been privy to the one held in Ibadan, shortly after leaving the coronation venue. He noted that the leadership which brokered the reunion was obviously not keen about reconciliation hence it was comfortable for them to damn the Ogun governor.

He hinted also that there had been many dirty sides to the reunion with predetermined sinister plans to undermine Amosun. For instance, he said one of the South-west governors was allegedly handed the assignment of poaching the governor’s camp in readiness to infiltrate his support base and whittle it down.

Although the supporters were said to have kept it away from the governor because they were worried he (Amosun) would react immediately, the consequence of which might not be palatable, they had however informed persons close to the governor to warn him to be wary of the plans and be circumspect.

The source listed as some of the governor’s sins against the other APC leaders, his closeness to President Muhammadu Buhari and the issue of the list of ministerial nominees, which was said not to have reflected the wishes of some of the APC leaders. They believed, according to the source, that Amosun influenced the eventual list that the president submitted to the Senate for approval.

In also fighting the governor, the source said the APC leaders has enlisted the offices of one of the president’s key appointees, believed to have been influenced by one of the APC leaders to help push some agenda that are yet to be fully mapped out.

It is against this backdrop that the executive and members of the Ogun APC are said to have resolved to go for the broke as far as the pending battle is concerned. Although it is not their intention to let the crisis drag or fester, the source argued that the leaders had shown through different indicators that they wanted to take their pound of flesh from Amosun at all cost and the only way to do this is to work ahead of 2019.

A former media aide to former governor Gbenga Daniel, Mr. Wale Adedayo, while analyzing the development briefly on the social media said “Senator Solomon Adeola (Yayi) from Ogun West remains, for now, Tinubu’s choice for governor,” adding that the choice has been cemented with Chief Olusegun Osoba’s group already.

“The second addition in cementing the arrangement remains Otunba Gbenga Daniel, whose group is fairly dispersed like Osoba’s into PDP, APC and siddon-look. The Ogun State PDP itself is already fractured with three groups emerging from the once solid one held in trust by Senator Kashamu Buruji.

“The senator was proactive enough to poach OGD’s supporters, lavishing various items on them. But Ladi Adebutu (Omo Baba Ijebu) and Dimeji Bankole are not leaving things to chance.

“Amosun’s structure (within APC) seems intact. But grumblings persist, not just among the topmost echelon, but down to the grassroots as well. So, the emerging Tinubu Group, Bankole, Adebutu or Kashamu should have little problem deploying stomach infrastructure to lure many from there,” he argued, pointing out that without Adebutu and OGD assisting Amosun for the 2015 elections, things would have gone the other way.

“It is possible Adebutu might roll with APC in 2019. Kashamu is also believed to be making under-the-water contacts with both sides of the APC divide. Right now, the best structure on ground, which can win election remains Amosun’s, closely followed by Kashamu’s if the OGD supporters remain on board. Bankole has an edge over Adebutu. But should OGD and Adebutu join the Tinubu side, Amosun should be an appointee in Abuja after his tenure,” he reckoned.

But there is a different school which disagreed with the above analysis in a way.

This school reckons that apart from the fact that the party structure resides with Amosun and Osoba completely non-existent, Tinubu’s influence does not effectively extend to Ogun State and therefore, any reconciliation that does not factor into account, Amosun’s standing as an incumbent and performer is futile.

And if it is a move geared towards wresting the state, Amosun would rather contend with the local tendencies in the state, where CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

POLITICS

TRIBUTE

Mark the Legend

Adams Abonu pays tribute to former President of the Senate, David Mark on his 68th birthday

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t the beginning of the 8th Assembly of the Nigeria’s federal legislature in June 2015, a conversation arose between two senators, who just won reelection on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and which this reporter was privy to.

Senator Y: Whatever plans we make to have the Senate Presidency must include Senator David Mark, if not, we could end up in futility.

If we cannot get our acts together in the majority, the seat would be Mark’s to keep.

Even if he decides not to run for the seat, we can never underestimate his capacity to build relationship across the aisle.

Senator Z: (Grimacing) I quite agree with you, especially, in the light of PDP Senators’ strength in the incoming senate. If you consider how he navigated through the outgoing senate and brought considerable maturity to the senate, you would see that the man cut his teeth in the game. I think we might as well co-opt him into our plans or suffer the consequences. (Both Senators then bust into a hilarious laughter) The above conversation captured the very essence of the person of Senator David Aleichenu Bonaventure Mark: a testament to the strength of character that an individual could portray and in the long run, become an institution of wider reckoning.

Senator Mark’s mavericks and personality have been chronicled in various interventions by pundits, well-wishers and antagonists alike and this article is not an addition to the punditry but an analysis into the political phenomenon of this titan, who bestrode national consciousness at critical points of our national evolution.

For an individual, who has demonstrated qualities worthy of emulation in a clime with a dearth of elderly mentoring, David Mark’s trajectory in the national scheme of things has distinguished him as a veritable rallying point for national development.

Born into a humble background in the ancient town of Otukpo in the present Benue State, Mark’s rise to the pinnacle of achievement is a worthwhile academic research for development scholars. The man conquered all odds often encumbering genuine aspirations to beget a sterling military career and a subsequent foray into political leadership that is still unfolding.

While in the military, Mark’s designations played crucial roles in Nigeria’s most crucial times viz-a-viz his role as Communication Engineer in charge of signals of the Nigerian Army during the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 to 1970. His subsequent posting as the Chairman of the Abandoned Properties Commission, which saw him overseeing the rehabilitation of properties of victims of the war, made him a toast of the people of the South-east considered as the worst casualties of the civil strife.

As a young Lieutenant-Colonel, Mark was appointed by the General Ibrahim Babangida regime into the Armed Forces Ruling Council as Governor of Niger State, where he performed creditably to the adoration of Nigerlites and

to the path of civil democracy.

While many pro-democracy activists like Pa Abraham Adesanya, Alfred Rewane Bola Tinubu and others did their best in calling international attention to the blight in Nigeria, Mark’s exemplary speakout against the infamous regime became the undoing of the despotic tendencies of the dark-goggled dictator.

Though this attracted the ire of the junta and Mark had to flee to exile in Ireland to save his life, that action engraved his name in gold as one of the progenitors of Nigeria’s current democratic experience.

“What you cannot deny is that Colonel Mark left enduring legacies as Governor of Niger State, when you go around the state. Every standing institution till today in Niger State was a testimony of the man’s hard work and sense of service and the state is better for it.

“If we can turn the constitution round and have Mark come from Niger State, I am very confident that the people of the state would even celebrate him better as their leader than the present crop of leaders we have in the state,” Major Tudun Abubakar, a retired military personnel from Niger, told THISDAY during the course of this report.

Mark’s return to Nigeria upon the demise of General Abacha and at the point when Nigeria was returning to civil democracy

being superintended by General Abdusalami Abubakar was the more instructive. He returned to a heroic welcome by the people of Benue State, who prevailed on him to represent them at the Senate. The people of Benue South senatorial district, the homeland of the Idoma ethnic nationality made Mark a rallying point for development and ensured that his election into the upper chamber of the National Assembly was a done deal.

In the senate, the intelligent and knowledgeable soldier-turned-politician made his mark as a refined lawmaker with a patriotic and nationalist frenzy. He served in various capacities in the senate between June 1999 and June 2007, when senators recognised his leadership acumen and overwhelmingly voted him as the President of the Senate.

At the exalted seat of the Senate President, Mark became a national institution and was instrumental to the survival of the nation’s democracy at points, when Nigeria tottered around the brink. Once when the late President Musa Yaradua of blessed memory was incapacitated by illness and the ship of state danced rudderlessly because of a somewhat vacuum in the leadership at the highest level, Senate President David Mark salvaged the dire situation with his thoughtful “Doctrine of Necessity” which empowered then Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to act in Yar’Adua’s stead and thus resolving the unbecoming lockjam.

With laws such as the Anti-Terrorism Act, the National Minimum Wage Act, the Social Insurance Act and a proportionate other development Acts of the National Assembly made into laws of Nigeria under Senator Mark at the helm of affairs, the man’s time as Chairman of the National Assembly will always remain a topic of discourse in political circles far into Nigeria’s future.

A former senator, who served when Mark was Senate President, Mujateeb Mallam, told THISDAY that “What Senator Mark did as Senate President has become a standard for incoming leaders of the National Assembly and subsequent Senate Presidents might have to measure up.

“Senator Mark brought decorum to the lawmaking process and sanitised the entire process with his penchant for service as he often reminded us that laws made by the National Assembly must reflect on the lives of the people.”

As the nation grapples with various challenges occasioned by economic crunch and a new administration encumbered by development indicators, the sagacity and sharp intellect of the senator from Benue would always come in handy. President Muhammadu Buhari’s poise to return the country to the path of greatness should embrace the wealth of experience and strength of character of this political colossus of modern Nigeria.

As he turns 68 today, his mark of excellence, the capacity to build bridges across political divides and his penchant for service to fatherland is the political legend of David Mark and posterity has found a model in this leader of all time.

left the party to form People Party of Nigeria (PPN) in the bid to realise his aspiration, a development believed to have paved the way for the emergence of Amosun, believing that it was the PDP that defeated itself in that election.

As it is now, the Ogun APC appears to be heading in a similar treacherous direction as recent developments had shown that Amosun and Osoba are incapable of working together.

Apart from putting up different fronts in public, there are indications that the return of Osoba is not really to make peace with Amosun but seize the opportunity of the

opening created by the gulf between him (Amosun) and Tinubu to have his own pound of flesh.

And knowing Amosun too for who he is, he might have seen all the games coming and therefore not taking chances for his career sake. Unfortunately, while reconciliation might have been made even more difficult with the path recently treaded by Tinubu and others, a fight-to-the finish too is not in anyone’s interest. This is where the Ogun APC challenge presents a more disturbing scenario, which is neither good for crisis nor ideal for peace.

Mark...68 and still counting

then as Minister of Communications, where he saw to the digitalisation of the Nigeria’s national communication carrier, the Nigeria Telecommunication Limited (NITEL).

However, Mark’s climax at military service was to be a courageous interview he granted to Newswatch newsmagazine in 1995, where he exposed the insincerity of the General Sani Abacha junta towards returning the country

Senator Mark’s mavericks and personality have been chronicled in various interventions by pundits, well-wishers and antagonists alike and this article is not an addition to the punditry but an analysis into the political phenomenon of this titan, who bestrode national consciousness at critical points of our national evolution

OGUN 2019 AND THE EARLY GRAPH PLOTTERS Osoba, whose support base is said to be scattered around and no longer a big deal as his demystification from the last election remains a critical factor.

But the APC in the state may witness a whiff of what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) encountered during its state congress ahead of the 2011 elections and Amosun is believed to know better than to allow for any such development, knowing full well its implications.

Recall that during the Ogun PDP primaries ahead of the 2011 elections, the party had two factions headed by Daniel and Obasanjo.

The two factions held separate primaries to produce two governorship candidates in the persons of Gboyega Isiaka and Gen. Tunji Olurin.

However, following the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the candidates submitted

by Obasanjo’s faction, the equation changed significantly.

The failure to recognise the Daniel faction, which had Isiaka as governorship candidate further fractured the PDP at a most inauspicious period. At the end of it all, Daniel’s governorship candidate and his supporters

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

Buhari and Tinubu’s Blind Spot

Blaming the PDP for the country’s problems almost a year after leaving office is defeatist, reckons Reno Omokri

Buhari and Tinubu at a recent meeting

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read the papers today and two of the most conspicuous headlines centered on comments made by President Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National Leader of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

As if in a coordinated onslaught, both of them blamed Nigeria’s current woes on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its 16 years in power. There were many headlines reflecting their accusations, but the most descriptive, in my opinion, were from THISDAY and the Punch newspapers.

The THISDAY headline went thus: ‘Buhari Blames PDP for Nigeria’s Economic Woes’, while Punch had the following title: ‘PDP Responsible for Fuel Scarcity-Tinubu’. But are these claims and accusations factual?

Let us examine the first accusation by President Muhammadu Buhari. He said “In the First Republic, more enduring infrastructure was built with meagre resources. But in the past 16 years, we made a lot of money without planning for the rainy day”.

If the President actually is aware of contemporary history, he may have thought twice before making that accusation for the simple reason that it is actually his party, or more accurately, those who would go on to form the nucleus of the ruling APC that are to blame for the problems identified by the President. Let me explain.

Being the type of person that he is, President Jonathan thought it wise to save for the rainy day and he not only thought about it, but he began to do so through two vehicles, namely the Excess Crude Account, which he inherited from the Obasanjo administration and the Sovereign Wealth Fund, which was an initiative of his administration.

After he formed his cabinet following his victory in the 2011 general election, both President Goodluck Jonathan and new Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, came under excruciating pressure from

governors, most notably Governor Rotimi Amaechi, to end the Excess Crude Account and atop saving in the Sovereign Wealth Fund and instead share the funds in those accounts amongst the three tiers of government.

As a matter of fact, the governors, with Rotimi Amaechi at the forefront, approached the Supreme Court, to challenge the legality of the Excess Crude Account and the decision to transfer $1bn from that account to the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

They further wanted the court to order that the proceeds of the ECA be paid into the Federation Account and shared amongst the three tiers of government.

Was President Buhari unaware of this, when he rewarded the same Rotimi Amaechi with a ministerial appointment?

Ever a man of peace, President Jonathan tried reasoning with the governors and called a National Economic Council

Ever a man of peace, President Jonathan tried reasoning with the governors and called a National Economic Council meeting and even brought the unfolding matter to the attention of the National Council of State of which President Muhammadu Buhari was a member. To the best of my knowledge, President Buhari did not speak out against the behaviour of the governors.

Perhaps, if he had, he would not be complaining today

meeting and even brought the unfolding matter to the attention of the National Council of State of which President Muhammadu Buhari was a member. To the best of my knowledge, President Buhari did not speak out against the behaviour of the governors. Perhaps, if he had, he would not be complaining today.

It should be recalled that though he met about $6.5 billion in the ECA, the Jonathan administration had grown that amount to almost $9 billion by 2012.

Eying this amount, the governors using their influence at the House of Representatives got that august body to declare the Excess Crude Account illegal in 2012.

Going a step further after the founding of their party, APC members of the House of Representatives approached a Federal High Court on the 7th of February, 2014, for a perpetual injunction restraining the Jonathan administration from operating the ECA and to pay all the proceeds of that account into the Federation Account for sharing amongst the three tiers of government.

I cannot speak to the eleven years before the Jonathan administration, but the truth is that those, who frustrated the desire of the last PDP administration to save for the rainy day are precisely those who are most vociferous in condemning that administration for not saving in the time of plenty. Is that not a tad bit hypocritical?

Even if President Muhammadu Buhari wants to start saving anew today, he may or may not be aware that he cannot do so with the Federation Account, as everything going into that account must be shared according to the revenue formula.

The President cannot also save in the Foreign Reserve. Unknown to a lot of people, who think that the foreign reserve is cash in the bank which governments can dip into, a foreign reserve is simply foreign currency reserves that are held for the sole purpose of guaranteeing or attempting to guarantee a nation’s liabilities such as its import and other

valuables sourced from foreign nations.

The Government cannot also count on the Treasury Single Account (itself an initiative of the Jonathan administration from start to finish). The TSA is just a single account. It is not a savings account.

So, if President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration wants to save money for the future, there is no other way to go about it than creating a savings account other than the Federation Account, which is precisely what the Jonathan administration did.

And for one who is so convinced that we ought to be saving, I am rather surprised that the President agreed to bail out state governments with some of the funds saved up by the Jonathan administration (although the APC falsely claimed the funds came from the dividends paid to the government by the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited) So you see, even from his first month in office, President Buhari has himself succumbed to the pressure from our governors to spend and share.

As for the esteemed Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, what I would say to him is very short, very short indeed! Before Tinubu blames the PDP, he should look to his right and his left, look in front and behind. What he will see around APC are former PDP members.

Of the remaining APC members, who are not former PDP, he will find that a great number of them helped to ground the country in January 2012 in protest against then President Jonathan’s plan to completely deregulate the petroleum industry, a move that would have prevented further scarcities such as the excruciating one we are experiencing today.

Having frustrated that effort, can Asiwaju in all good conscience today blame the PDP? If I ask you, na who you go ask?

-Omokri, host of Transformation with Reno Omokri, is the founder, Mind of Christ Christian Center, California, USA

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

POLITICS

OFF-THE-TURF

Unbelievable! Ikpeazu is a Soccer Freak Whenever the opportunity to decompress avails itself, the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu chooses the game of football over other things, writes Shola Oyeyipo

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mong the present crop of Governors in Nigeria, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is not your average Nigerian governor. A humble and down-to-earth character, the grandeur of political office has had little or no effect on the person of the governor, best known for his rebuilding efforts in Aba. Aside housing the most prominent commercial capital of the South-east region of Nigeria (Aba), one other thing the State of Abia is known for is being home to Africa’s football champions, the Enyimba FC International.

Both the city of Aba and Enyimba happen to be dear at heart to Governor Ikpeazu, who in a period of ten months has exhibited commitment to the development of Abia’s economy through a revitalised Aba and has supported the growth of sports in the State.

Like Aba, sport is also a passion for Governor Ikpeazu, and beyond that, a hobby

Like Aba, sport is also a passion for Governor Ikpeazu, and beyond that, a hobby of the number one citizen of God’s Own State.

To relax, Governor Ikpeazu most times plays soccer and other times table tennis.

For those who know the governor, playing soccer is a weekly affair, done every Sunday

of the number one citizen of God’s Own State. To relax, Governor Ikpeazu most times plays soccer and other times table tennis.

For those who know the governor, playing soccer is a weekly affair, done every Sunday.

Whether a few days after receiving a devastating news item like the Appeal Court judgment of December 31, 2015 that had questioned his electoral mandate before the Supreme Court reversed the judgment in his favour, or on his 51st birthday, nothing can stop Governor Ikpeazu from playing soccer.

Since coming into office, Governor Ikpeazu has given the necessary support to the State-owned football clubs, Enyimba and Abia Warriors. When Enyimba defeated the Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure to become Nigeria Glo Premier League Champions of 2015, Governor Ikpeazu was present at the Teslim Balogun Stadium,

Lagos, venue of the finale.

He had joined in receiving the trophy and described the victory as for all Abians and pledged his government’s support to enable the CAF champions perform better in their future engagements. This pledge has resulted in the ongoing renovation of the teams’ stadium located on School road, Aba. When Enyimba pinned sisters, Abia Warriors at the Umuahia Township Stadium penultimate week before the Lagos victory, Governor Ikpeazu had donated two luxury buses to both teams as an encouragement.

A passionate believer in everything Made-in-Aba, Governor Ikpeazu, according to positive feeders from Abia State, has taken his passion and hobby for the sporting game of football to another level – one where his administration remains committed to youth and sports development.

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Quick Takes EthiopianTours South-east

Ethiopian Airlines, the first international carrier to fly into South Eastern Nigeria stormed the cities of Enugu, Aba, Onitsha and Owerri to thank the market leaders and others stakeholders who had supported its operations from Enugu.

Speaking during the visit , Anthony Nebechukwu Nwodo said easterners are the biggest travellers in Africa and any airline that wins their heart would thrive. They, therefore urged Ethiopian Airlines to increase frequency of its flight from three weekly to a daily schedule. They also asked for a big body aircraft like the Boeing B777 along with regular cargo flights to bring back all their bags when they travel.

They assured the airline executives that the airline would be supported to succeed in Enugu as they consider Ethiopian Airlines an organised airline. The airline team later visited the Kenyatta market in Enugu. Other towns the team are visiting on the thank you tour include Onitsha, Aba and Owerri. The tour is part of Ethiopian Airline’s reach out to Nigerian travellers over the last three months.

Kadri Confirmed as SAHCOL Boss

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (right) and Chairman of the Snake Island Integrated Free Zone, SIIFZ, Mr. Anwar Jarmakani, during Ali’s visit to the Zone...recently

Nigeria Loses $1.5bn Yearly to Monopoly in Oil Logistics Ejiofor Alike The Chairman of Jagal Group, owners of Nigerdock, Mr. Anwar Jarmakani has said that Nigeria was losing between $3 and $5 on every barrel of oil produced, which translates to $1.5 billion yearly to non-existent laws, which purportedly encouraged monopoly in oil and gas logistics in the country Speaking during a recent visit of the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali to the Snake Island Integrated Free Zone (SIIFZ) in Lagos, Mr. Anwar Jarmakani, who is the chairman of SIIFZ, lamented that monopoly had destroyed Nigeria’s reputation in oil and gas logistics.

He said dominant monopoly

ENERGY in Nigeria’s oil and gas, as well as supply services had existed for over 20 years “sabotaging the national economy, conspiring and working against any potential competitors, particularly against Snake Island Integrated Free Zone”.

Jarmakani said the monopoly had consistently and aggressively used different government institutions to entrench its monopoly position with impunity.

“Regrettably, attempts have been made in the past to also use the Nigeria Customs Service.

We, therefore appreciate the fact that the present administration is aggressively doing away with such impunity,” he added.

Jarmakani added that this monopoly has damaged Nigeria’s

international reputation, while oil and gas supply and logistics service in the country has become the most expensive in the world because of this monopoly.

According to him, this monopoly has over the last 20 years used a non-existent law to justify the assertion and false claim that “all oil and gas cargo must first be discharged at their ports of preference.”

He noted that the number of ports owned by this monopolist had increased from one to five, adding that “one day, they will buy the Atlantic Ocean.”

“The monopoly has consistently used this non-existent law to coerce the industry and service providers into doing their bidding and thereby undermining the Nigerian economy. If this law indeed exists, the federal government of Nigeria would

not have encouraged other critical players like Snake Island Integrated Free Zone to make a huge investment in this industry,” he said.

In his speech, Ali said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would reverse any decision made in the oil and gas sector, which was contradictory to the laws of the country.

The NCS boss, who visited Nigerdock Yard at Snake Island, further stated that Buhari’s government stood for equity, justice and fairness, adding that the NCS had no choice than to work along the path of the administration.

“In the past, certain things were done but not in accordance with the laws. I can assure you that if we find anything Continued on page 22

Cash Crunch Threatens FAAN’s Operations Chinedu Eze Reduction in revenue sources and poor patronage occasioned by the nation’s dwindling economy, have adversely affected the finances of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

THISDAY investigations have revealed that the agency is finding it difficult to pay salaries and carry out other fiscal obligations because of its revenues that have plunged since late last year.

Inside sources told THISDAY on Wednesday that the number of air travellers both in the domestic and international destinations has reduced and this means less passenger service charge to FAAN. THISDAY learnt that some

AVIATION foreign airlines have reduced their frequency from daily flights to three times a week and there have been a lot of flights cancellations due to low passengers traffic.

A source said FAAN also loses money from landing and parking charges when airlines cancel flights. There have been a lot of cancellations recently because some airlines, instead of airlifting few passengers at a particular time, merge flights in order to have improved load factor.

For example, flights scheduled for 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm could be merged, resulting in cancellation

of the 2:00 pm flight.

What this means is that if Aero, for instance does not take off from Lagos to Abuja, FAAN would not earn revenue from landing and parking because Aero does not pay the charges from its operational base, which is Lagos. It is when it flies into any other airport that it would pay the charges.

A FAAN source said: “FAAN is finding it difficult meeting its financial obligations because of cash crunch, which is caused by the general downturn of the nation’s economy. It is by God’s grace that we are still able to pay salaries and carry out our activities; but the situation is really tough.

“Revenues have dwindled

in the cargo section, Cargolux used to come to Lagos seven times a day, but now it comes once or twice a week and before now, we used to record up to three million tones of cargo per week, but these days we barely have one million tons. It is really tough for us.”

The source also confirmed that non-aeronautical revenue sources have also dropped, but for the rent and toll-gate, which are fixed. He said that this is a reflection of the hard times in the country because there is drastic reduction on importation; consequently there is drastic reduction in the number of those who travel for business Continued on page 22

The Board of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), has confirmed the appointment of Rizwan Kadri as managing director/chief executive officer (CEO), with effect from April 1, 2016.

Kadri joined SAHCOL in December, 2015 as Chief Operating Officer (COO), but was later appointed as acting MD in January,2016, after the former Managing Director, Oluropo Owolabi was moved to the Board.

“The performance of Kadri since his stepping into the pilot seat of SAHCOL has impacted positively on the image of the company, which has therefore given the board further confidence of confirming his appointment, now as MD/CEO,” said company’s spokesman, Basil Agboarumi.

He said Kadri is a senior aviation ground and airport operations executive, highly experienced in aviation management with over 25 years of extensive international experience gained in managing airports and airside operations, especially when it concerns passenger and cargo terminals, ramp, dangerous goods regulation (DGR), and is a licensed load controller for various aircraft types and for various airlines.

Peugeot Pledges Sales Drive

Paris-based Peugeot is targeting a 10 per cent increase in sales by 2018 and a further 15 per cent by 2021, as it expands in Latin America and the Middle East while adding production in India and Southeast Asia, Chief Executive Carlos Tavares said on Wednesday.

In what he described as a “global product and technology offensive”, Tavares outlined plans to reach more customers through after-sales offerings, car-sharing, used car sales and a multi-brand leasing operation tasked with achieving 100 million euros ($113 million) in profit by 2021.

“Peugeot will also take its first steps toward an eventual return to the North American market by launching a carsharing service there in 2017,” Tavares said. A partnership with Paris electric car-sharing operator Bollore is under consideration.

The so-called “Push to Pass” plan unveiled on Tuesday builds on a two-year recovery that brought the company back from near-bankruptcy to its highest profitability in 14 years, with the help of a government-led bailout.

Peugeot’s operating margin surged to five per cent last year, a target Tavares had initially set for 2019 onwards.

On Tuesday he unveiled a more conservative goal of 4 per cent for the next three years, rising to 6 percent by 2021.

“I am a servant and I am here to try and serve the Nigerian public. The ministerial toga and titles are important but frankly they mean nothing in the absence of good service” Minister of State for Petroleum

Dr. Ibe Kachikwu

22

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD NIGERIA LOSES $1.5BN YEARLY TO MONOPOLY IN OIL LOGISTICS contradictory to the laws, we will correct it. It is our responsibility to ensure that investors and every player succeeds in Nigeria as we look forward to a successful Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is a government of equity, fairness and justice.

If we see things that were not done in accordance with the laws, we will correct it,” Ali explained.

Ali, who said he was impressed with the huge investments in the Snake Island free zone, assured that the present administration would do anything possible to encourage more investments in the zone and create more job opportunities for Nigerians, in line with the administration’s commitment to create jobs.

“I assure you that we will do what we can as a government to ensure that more people are gainfully employed here. We do not need to carry our materials to Korea for fabrication. We have the talent; we have the investments,” he added.

CASH CRUNCH THREATENS FAAN’S OPERATIONS as well the volume of cargo brought into the country.

Another top official of the agency also disclosed that in the last six months, FAAN expended huge resources to upgrade the airside of the four major airports in the country in order to meet the stringent conditions given by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). This was to enable it meet its safety standard, which was why Nigeria passed the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).

“The management expended huge resources and worked so hard to ensure that we meet the criteria for the audit. Now, pilots say the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos has become an airport like any other in the best of nations in terms of operational standard. We have come up to that standard and they spent a lot of money to achieve that. No other management has achieved what this current one achieved,” the source 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 (Maritime)

NEWS

Usoro Resigns as Abuja MoU Secretary General John Iwori The Secretary General of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Port State Control (PSC) for West and Central African Region, Mrs. Mfon Ekong Usoro has resigned from office.

The MoU on PSC for countries in the West and Central Africa Sub-Regions otherwise called Abuja MoU is hosted

by Nigeria with its secretariat in Lagos.

It is styled after similar organisations across the globe such as Paris MoU, Tokyo MoU, Indian Ocean MoU, and the Mediterranean MoU. Others are the Acuerdo Latino MoU, Caribbean MoU, Black Sea MoU and Riyadh MoU. Backed by the global maritime watchdog, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Abuja MoU, just as its counterparts elsewhere, has a mandate to ensure that PSC is implemented in member nations that are signatories to the MoU. Since it entails the inspection of foreign ships in other national ports by PSC officers or inspectors, PSC is vital to efficient port operations worldwide.

It also involves verifying the competency of the master and officers on board, and the condition of the ship and its equipment comply with the requirements of international conventions.

Although speculations about the resignation of Usoro, who was the pioneer Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration (NIMASA) have been rife since last year, THISDAY checks revealed that

she has formally notified the Congo Minister of Transport and Chairman of Abuja MoU, Mr. Rodolphe Adada; Nigeria’s Minister of Transport, Right Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, Secretary General of IMO and MOWCA of her resignation in writing.

In line with Article 55 (c) of the Abuja MoU Staff Rule, Usoro is expected to formally leave office on June 16, 2016 as her notice of resignation

was dated January 26, 2016.

In spite of the fact that Usoro is not leaving office immediately, her resignation is already causing ripples in the shipping world as there are fears that her exit may affect Abuja MoU. Contacted on the development, Usoro simply said via an sms: “I have resigned.”

Though no reason was given for her resignation, sources at the corporate headquarters of

at the just concluded regional workshop organised by Nigeria, Abuja MoU, and IMO in Lagos, over 19 countries were in attendance.

The minister said PSC was vital because merchant ships often trade outside the areas that under the jurisdiction of the flag state, maritime agencies cannot therefore guarantee that all ships under their flag are in full compliance with safety requirements.

WOOING INVESTORS

L-R: Executive Director, Corporate and Transactional Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Ms Yewande Sadiku; Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; and Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc., Mrs Sola David-Borha at the opening of the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit in Kaduna...recently idris egaji

Ambode: Moves to Boost Ease of Doing Business Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has unveiled the Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment, also known as ‘Lagos Global’, in line with his administration’s efforts to boost ease of doing business in the state, as well as to actualise the state’s vision of becoming Africa’s model megacity and financial hub.

At the official presentation in Lagos recently, Ambode, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the initiative was also part of the commitment of his administration to make Lagos an investment destination of choice by creating a favourable environment for local and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

According to the governor, Lagos State has remained the desired investment destination, having attracted massive FDI such as the $1.65 billion Lekki Deep Seaport and the $12 billion Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Plant among other investments coming to the State.He promised that the seaport would be completed in 2019 to become the deepest seaport in Sub-Saharan Africa.

the Ministry of Transportation in Abuja told THISDAY that the Minister of Transportation is aware of the development.

“The Minister was shock when he received the resignation notice. You are aware that the organisation has achieved a lot since Usoro’s appointment as the Secretary General of Abuja MoU,” said the source who did not want his name to be mentioned.

THISDAY had reported that

The governor also emphatically stated that the Badagry Creek Industrial Park, a $1.3billion investment, would be completed in 2018.

He said: “As the world continues to acknowledge Lagos as a regional financial hub, we as government have demonstrated the commitment to strengthen this position through deliberate policies aimed at improving the business climate in our state.

“In this regard, we have successfully placed Lagos on investors’ radar by putting in place effective legal and regulatory frameworks such as the Land Reform Act, Double Taxation treaties, Limited Liability Reviews and the development of Free Trade Zones. Likewise, the on-going judicial reform is aimed at strengthening our laws for the protection of enterprise.”

Ambode said his administration was committed to infrastructure development and maintenance was evidence in an efficient Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which transports over 200, 000 passengers daily; functional Integrated Power Projects; enhanced security and access roads to sea and airports,

among others. He said all of these projects , underscored his administration’s determination to make Lagos a functional megacity. In his welcome address, Special Adviser to the Governor on Overseas Affairs and Investment, Prof. Ademola Abass, said Lagos Global was created by the current administration to act as one-stop shop with the mandate of promoting foreign investment into the state and managing export out of the state.

He also said the office has the mandate of managing foreign investment transaction and ensure that would-be investors enjoy seamless and hurdle-free experience by providing first class service delivery to them right from the point of initial enquiry down to the setting up and running of businesses in the state. This, he said, would eliminate difficulties and bureaucracies often associated with multi-agencies handling of investments. “Never again will an investor give up the hope of setting up business in Lagos State on the obstacles of suffocating an interminable bureaucracy.

Akwa Ibom Targets 80,000 Acres of Cocoa Plantation in Three years Okon Bassey in Uyo Akwa Ibom state government has said that in the next three years, it will increase cocoa production in the state to 80,000 acres of plantation.

The State Government also restated its commitment to undertaking the cocoa maintenance and production scheme as well as Coconut Oil Refinery in the state.

According to Governor Udom Emmanuel, the state investment in that aspect of agriculture was because of their viable value chain as the price of cocoa and coconut oil remained higher than crude oil in the international market.

Speaking in Uyo at the launch of Akwa Ibom Enterprise and Employment Scheme, AKEES, the governor said the scheme was to ginger Akwa Ibom youths to explore other avenues for economic growth through aggressive Agricultural enterprise. Emmanuel said his administration would continue to encourage cocoa cultivation by providing incentives

to farmers with at least five hectares and explained that if the state could cultivate a hundred hectares of cocoa it will regain it ranking as one of the major producer of the crop.

“Akwa Ibom used to be the fourth largest producer of cocoa in Nigeria and we are ready to get back there. Our target, which is very measurable, is that in the next one and half year, we want to double current production. In the next three years, we expect to have up to 70,000 to 80,000 acres of cocoa plantation in Akwa Ibom. I am sure with that we will rank among the first two in Nigeria”, he stressed.

He said the specie of cocoa produced in the state has the best flavour and that a business retreat to brainstorm on how to utilise the various natural endowments to create wealth would be held to enable the State go into large scale production of cassava, tomatoes, vegetables and other cash crops with the application of the right technology to feed industries and for both local consumption and export.

WEEKEND WEEKLY PULLOUT

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

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FILE

THE COBBLER BEHIND OONI’S FOOTWEAR

ACTING EDITOR CHARLES AJUNWA / charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

24/COVER

08.04.2016

The Cobbler Behind Ooni’s Footwear He is a young man, with a good head on his shoulders. He is a lad that has tread a terrain usually characterised by drop outs or never do wells. Adesola Omotayo Benson is an Ikorodu-born shoemaker who is gradually carving a niche for himself. His passion for shoe making was ignited 30 years ago when he was barely 13 years old. Three decades later, Benson is living his dream and is living proof to doubting thomases that you can actually excel in any field if you put your mind to it. He spoke to Funke Olaode about his sojourn in footwear manufacturing and how he intends to make Ikorodu a Mecca of sorts for shoe aficionados in the country

Benson at work

How old were you when you ventured into shoe making?

I was in Junior Secondary School two (JSS 2) when I stumbled into it and I have not looked back. Honestly, it wasn’t my initial ambition, dream or plan to go into shoe making. My mother was working with the then former military Governor of Lagos State, the late Air Commodore Gbolahan Mudasiru. I went with my mum to visit the governor that fateful afternoon and I joined the children in their playroom. After a few minutes, the governor’s wife came to remind the children not to forget to pick up their shoes at the shoe maker’s place. She asked me if I wanted a pair and I said yes. So I followed them and saw how the guy was making shoes and I got interested. I got that pair of sandals and when it got spoilt, I went back there and got another one. Of course, my passion was ignited and I looked for a shoe maker very close to my house. Every afternoon I spent four hours learning shoe making. And I was going there throughout

my secondary school days. My mum didn’t know that I made shoes. But when I got to class five she caught me with a pair of shoes. Since then I have been doing shoes.

Well, in Nigeria it is not a vocation that has been tapped into, because I studied it, and if you count four people in Nigeria who studied footwear, I will probably be one of them.

You know people have been doing it the way they like.

But I see more prospects in it as time progresses

How has the response been?

Well, in Nigeria it is not a vocation that has been tapped into, because I studied it, and if you count four people in Nigeria who studied footwear, I will probably be one of them. You know people have been doing it the way they like. But I see more prospects in it as time progresses.

What is your wife’s response to this unusual job that people believe is meant for drop outs?

Before I got married, my wife knew that I am into shoe making. One day she said her mother has been asking her what I do for a living but she had not said anything to her.

I said ‘but you know what I do now’. I am not a lawyer, engineer or medical doctor but a shoe maker. She accepts me that way. While I was going abroad, some people challenged my mum that your son is going abroad to study shoe making. As a matter of fact, most of my friends then don’t associate themselves

with me because I am a shoe maker. It is now that they have realised that that is my passion and that I have been doing this for close to three decades. They don’t have a choice if they want to tag along with me.

When did you float your Nigerian company?

After my training, I worked in the United Kingdom but decided to come back home two years ago. I floated my outfit Shola Benson Exclusive Shoes Company four years ago in Sabo, Ikorodu. My family stayed back in the UK and shuttles every now and then.

What do you think set you apart? And why the empowerment programme for 100 shoemakers?

I am fortunate to be educated, apart from what I do, because most of the guys in the footwear industry are not educated. So, I want to empower 100 shoe makers in Ikorodu. I mean people who are not opportune to go to the university or don’t have the financial means to go and learn in the university like I

25/XTRA

08.04.2016

Oba Ogunwusi adorning one of Benson's shoes during his wedding to Olori Wuraola

There is this general belief that most products made locally are sub-standard. What makes your products tick?

My training over the years has really helped me and distinguished my products. I trained in the best schools of fashion and shoes in developed countries. Also, I use pure leather inside and outside for my shoes. I remember I made a shoe for a guy who came back after one year that I should make another one for him. His testimony was that he wore the same shoe for 365 days in a year and its quality has not diminished. I explained to him that I used pure leather for all my shoes. Quality standards have really stood Shola Exclusive Shoes out over the years. I believe so much in quality.

Benson at his workshop

did. I want Ikorodu to be like a city in Italy renowned for shoe making. You know if you come to Italy now a part makes men’s shoes, another makes women’s shoes, children’s shoes and even furniture. Just tell them what you want and they will tell you where to go to. I want Ikorodu to be a Mecca for shoes in Nigeria so that other states in Nigeria can emulate us.

What could have prompted this?

It is because I have passion for humanity and it is just one minute between a rich man and a poor man. A poor man’s misfortune can change to fortune within a second. And because of the situation I found myself I just have to tag along.

Any breakthrough since you started shoe making?

Well, I had made shoes for APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But the one that brought me to the limelight was a pair of shoes that I made for Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. He is a man of humility and peace who believes in the unity of Nigeria. His humility humbled me. He is a young man that encourages others to grow. I don’t know him personally. I just admire him from afar and was looking for someone who knows his size. You know everybody kept telling me it is not possible, and somebody even discouraged me that he doesn’t wear made in Nigeria shoes. That put me off. I took up the courage and made a pair of half shoe for him and looked for a way to get it across with a proposal on developing a footwear industry in Ile-Ife. I was happy when I learnt that he embraced it and he loved the shoes. Up till date, I have taken six pictures of him wearing the shoes I designed for him. He wore the same shoe when he met with the Cuban Ambassador and wore the same shoe at his traditional wedding to Olori Wuraola in Benin City recently. When he went to see President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, he wore the shoe. That has been my major breakthrough. Since that day, I have been getting calls from people that I should make shoes for them. They said the fact I could make shoes for a man of timber

and caliber shows that I can make shoes for them as well.

Do you support the call for made in Nigeria goods?

Yes. On my part, I have been able to train about 10 shoe makers who stayed with me for four years. Training is my area of specialisation and from time to time I have been able to ensure that I supervise them.

The local shoe makers will have breakthrough if federal government can encourage local manufacturers like us to make shoes for para-military personnel instead of importing.

This will not only encourage us, it will also boost the nation’s economy by patronising made in Nigeria goods.

How affordable are your shoes?

I try to make it affordable because I want every living soul to be able to afford and wear my shoes in Nigeria, Africa and, nobody can tell, the world. The cheapest right now is N7, 000

What challenges do you face in shoe making?

The major challenge is manpower and getting capable hands to work for me. Nigerians are not trained enough to understand how standard shoes are made. For the next two and half years, I was busy training people on how shoes are being made. We have passed that now and moved to shoe manufacturing.

How do you source for your material?

Interestingly, they are locally sourced. We get it mainly from Mushin in Lagos. Ironically, Nigeria is one of the greatest countries that

I am hoping that in the next 10 years, I would have put down a legacy and become an icon that before you do anything concerning shoe making you have to consult me. If I am able to train 300 people and they in turn train others, the multiplication effect, no doubt, will trickle down on the country’s economy

Oba Ogunwusi with Benson's shoes during a courtesy visit by the Cuban representatives

produce leather. We have so many of them in Kano but 90 per cent of these leathers are exported and later imported back to Nigeria as Wet Blu; it is like a processed leather.

They leave it in plane white and bring it back to Nigeria. As manufacturers we can now turn it into the colour of our choice.

For me, the 10 per cent left in the Nigerian markets is what I buy and use locally. So, I am happy about the recent gospel of made in Nigerian goods being propagated by the federal government. It is another way to empower local manufacturers and also boost the nation’s economy.

You embraced this vocation at a very tender age and 30 years on, you are still waxing strong. Are you fulfilled?

Absolutely. You know all of us cannot work in multinationals. I have chosen this path and God has been faithful. A few days back, two graduates walked up to me that they wanted to learn shoe making in two years. They said they have been following my trajectory in shoe business in the last one year and made up their minds after the mandatory one year service to toe my line.

This is encouraging. Each time I see that people appreciate what I do, I am encouraged to do more.

What is the future of this vocation in Nigeria?

In as much as government has banned the importation of shoes, the future is bright.

Most African countries don’t produce shoes and we have a chance to export to African countries. But if Nigeria still imports substandard shoes, it is going to have negative effect on local production.

Where would you be in the next 10 years?

I am hoping that in the next 10 years, I would have put down a legacy and become an icon that before you do anything concerning shoe making you have to consult me. If I am able to train 300 people and they in turn train others, the multiplication effect, no doubt, will trickle down on the country’s economy.

26/ NEWS

08.04.2016

National Troupe Gets Royal Blessing Mary Ekah The National Troupe of Nigeria recently got an endorsement from the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, when the royal father commended the management, staff and artistes of the Troupe for putting up a spectacular performance in his honour at a reception organised for him by the Cuban Embassy in Abuja.

The Ooni who said that he was thrilled by the dance drama that the troupe put up to honour him described it as colourful, energetic and evocative performance. ‘’I was totally thrilled by the performance. The National Troupe should take this kind of performance everywhere.

They should be on tour promoting and propagating our rich cultural heritage. I know funding is a challenge but I want to join my voice to the call for increased funding and attention for the National Troupe. They are propagators of our culture. I am impressed and we should do more to encourage the troupe and artistes generally,” the Ooni said.

At the reception held at the residence of the Cuban ambassador and attended by high net worth guests including the Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, the National Troupe staged a dance drama titled ‘Yemoja’.

The Director in charge of Drama of the National Troupe, Ms. Josephine Igberease, directed it.

‘Yemoja’ is a colourful and fast pace piece laced with chants and heavy drumming.

The piece is designed as an evocative homage to Yemoja, the Yoruba goddess of the sea. The performance of Yemoja for the Ooni typified the evocation that is usually captured in worships among the

Yoruba in the Americas. The performance inculcated the spiritual ambience quite commemorative of the candombie sessions common in Yoruba diasporic spiritualism.

But the performance in honour of the Ooni was just one of the performances that the National Troupe put up in Abuja.

The Troupe had on February 14, 2016 –Valentine Day, collaborated with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the staging of a dance drama titled ‘Love Nigeria’. The dance drama held at Abuja Unity Square and it was focused on the need to promote patriotism and loyalty.

The Artistic Director of the National Troupe, Akin Adejuwon, explained that the dance drama was staged to complement NOA mobilisation programme series ‘Do the Right Thing Fall in Love with Nigeria’, which the NOA intends to prosecute from state to state.

Besides, the Artistic Director stated that the project aims at promoting the values of love and selflessness among Nigerians. ‘’Given the

background of insurgency, regional agitations, religious and cultural proclivities which are currently affecting our national cohesion, the need to encourage citizens to use the pervasive ambience of love at valentine to reflect on the positive achievements of our nation and to encourage members of the public to show selfless love for our country even as we show love to our fellow citizens cannot be over-emphasised’’, he said.

The highpoint of the Troupe’s weeklong performance tour of Abuja was a performance at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Abuja. The Troupe put up its touring piece ‘Murna’ at the IDP camp located in Garki and at the games village in Abuja. ‘Murna’ written by Mike Anyanwu and directed by Josephine Igberease, was conceived by the National Troupe to be staged as part of its IDP performance project which it flagged off in December 2015 with a performance at the IDP camp in Bauchi.

Nollywood Movies Awards Set to Dazzle Mary Ekah The Nollywood Movies Channel UK, is set to dazzle Nigerians and the world as plans for the 4th Edition of the Nollywood Movies Awards, now tagged ‘The Nolly’s’ is almost concluded. This edition is sequel to the huge success of previous editions.

The 2016 edition, organisers said aims to raise the bar even higher.

The Nolly’s 2016 billed to take place on May 1 at the prestigious Land Mark Event Centre, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos, will be preceded by an exclusive nominees unveiling ceremony to be broadcast via a live television audience. As a result, there is huge anticipation over the forthcoming 2016 edition, promising great opportunities for Nollywood stakeholders, advertisers and category sponsors who are part of this high profile event.

An off shoot of the Nollywood Movies channel in the UK, the 2016 Nolly Awards will mark the fourth year of celebrating excellence, outstanding achievement, promise and diversity in the Nigerian Film Industry. Already established as the number one movie awards event in Nigeria, it remains unique in that it is the only movie awards event that focuses exclusively on Nollywood. With 27 Nolly’s up for grabs, it promises to be the most exciting event yet.

L-R: Kola Munis, Creative Director, Dipo Winsala, Executive Diretcor Nolly Wood Movies Tv Uk, Lolo Eremie, Creative Coordinator and Kingsley Ogoro, Technical Dierctor

The Nolly Awards is not just a one-night event. It will continue to be the focus of subsequent news and Nollywood related chat shows both in the UK and Nigeria well into 2016.

The glamorous inaugural awards event of 2012 was well received, seeing the thriving Nollywood industry was in need of a dedicated awards ceremony and consequently the various professional film guilds, the press and the general public gave it a seal of approval. It received wide coverage throughout the national press, on the internet worldwide and both on local and national radio and television stations.

One national newspaper commented that 'Nigeria now truly has its own Oscars in a country where everything is believed to be compromised'. The results were seen to be authentic and the winners truly deserving.

The countdown campaign to May 2016 has already begun through as media sponsors alongside a number of media collaborations added to the reach. It is expected that at the height of the campaign, awareness would spread across Africa, Europe and even to the Caribbean in anticipation of the fourth edition and all 27 silver-plated Nolly’s up for grabs.

Expert Tasks Nigerians on Culture of Excellence Ugo Aliogo Convener, Excellence in Life Series, Dr. Femi Paul, is of the view that as mediocrity has affected many sectors of the economy and this doesn’t portray the nation in a positive light in the comity of nations.

He therefore called on Nigerians to imbibe the culture of excellence in their daily endeavours.

Speaking during the series one conference with the theme; ‘The Power of Excellence’, Paul called on Nigerians to join the campaign to rescue the country from mediocrity, stressing that it is vital to build a culture

of excellence and leave a lasting legacy for future generations because “excellence is simply about doing things well.”

Paul added that the initiative also aims to set people and the nation on the course of greatness, noting that the initiative was borne out of his passion to leave a lasting excellence for future generations.

He explained that excellence in life series is bi-monthly meeting which hopes to eradicate the prevalent culture of mediocrity, adding that it aims at transforming mindsets and inevitably optimize the potential of individuals, institutions and the nation in general.

According to him, “The culture of excellence is rare in Nigeria and knowing its immense transformational power, I have the task of spreading the culture of excellence power, I have undertaken the task of spreading the culture of excellence alongside other men and women. The excellence in life series is simply the platform by which I strive to eradicate the prevalent culture of mediocrity and propagate in its place, the much needed culture of excellence. Today, Nigerians prefer to use more of foreign products than made in Nigeria goods. The reason is because most foreign goods are driven by a culture of excellence.”

Chapeville School Feasts at Maiden Sports Day The pupils of Chapeville Nursery and Primary School, Ikorodu, Lagos, recently hit the fields for its novel inter-house sports at Strong Tower Academy.

The school, which turned five in March, says sports is part of education; hence, to give their pupils standard, quality education the school administration injected into the system the inter-house sports competition.

Speaking to THISDAY at the grand opening of the programme, the Proprietress of the school, Mrs. Olajumoke Ogunsanya, explained that it is in an effort to enhance the pupils’ learning and social skills, mentally and physically as well as give them good character and principle of fair play.

“Although the calendar for this term is very tight, the children showed so much excitement and commitment during the preparation. This made some of their parents present today despite their tight schedules. We have, at least, 60 per cent of our parents here.

She said that everything went smoothly as teachers were assigned to handle different aspects of the interhouse sport, the financial aspect wanted to stand as a setback but some of the parents stood up for us they gave us support.”

Ogunsanya, who lamented the plight of parenting these days, appealed to government at all levels to help improve the living condition of parents so that they would take care of their children – the future leaders.

“The government should create a working situation where all mothers will close at a specific time, early enough. That will enable them take care of their children.

If we continue this way, I fear the future is bleak.”

Meanwhile, the Head of the School, Mr. Francis Muili, gave reasons for using Strong Tower Academy field. “For a sport like this we need a very standard field because you cannot say you are organising a competition in a very small environment like ours, our field is very small our playing ground is relatively smaller than this, that is why we came this far.”

Michael George’s My God Music Video Debuts Following the recent premiere of his debut singles My God, Uwese and Chioma, Nigeria’s sensational gospel music act Michael George, has released the video of the spirit moving single ‘My God’ which has been enjoying massive airplay on Michael George Nigeria’s urban foremost radio stations.

With his very unique and beautiful voice, Michael George croons ‘My God’ a song inspired by his late mother- Caroline Omogberha to delight of his listeners.

‘My God’ is a worship song that connects listeners to the awesomeness of God, ushering them into the worship mode of the Almighty, the Glorious God and certainly bringing down the Holy Spirit.

The music video is directed by AJE Filmworks shows a reflection of the wonderful artwork of God’s creation through series of scenes displayed in the background.

This music video incites a divine consciousness as you watch and listen to his rendition of each verse.

George is a prolific singer, songwriter who respects the power of his art. With a heart that churns love and a voice that warms the heart he incites emotional and spiritual uplifting to those who connect with his unique sound.

An indigene of Edo State was born in Lagos on the 10th of October. He holds a Bs.c degree in Business Administration from Lagos State University.

Raised from a young age by Little Saints Orphanage, he creatively follow his passion for music and relentlessly groomed his skill, with a heart that cares for humanity and a strong desire to leave a lasting impact in the lives of many through his music. Michael George is indeed one artiste that wears his heart out on his sleeves. With a mission to draw many to God with his music, he is poised to deliver quality records that will attract both the young and old to the praise of God. His biggest musical influences are Mali Music, Michael W. Smith, Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, Tasha Cobbs, Nathaniel Bassey, Kerra Sheard and Don Moen. With his strong and dynamic vocal uniqueness compiled with his energetic stage presence, he has graced the stage with the likes of Midnight crew, Nosa, Monique ushering many into the presence of God.

27/LIVING

08.04.2016

LG to Set the Pace in Golden Age of Television Looking at the slow lurch of technological progress in the latter half of the 20th century, it is apparent that the pace of change has been dwarfed by the improvements made in the past 15 years alone. The catalyst for these changes began once manufacturers were no longer shackled by the limitations of cathode ray tubes. No longer reliant on bulky tubes, the capabilities of TVs began to grow exponentially. Picture quality drastically improved, screens grew in size and production became more cost-efficient. For the first time, TVs were able to offer with more colours, smaller bezels and thinner casings.

The accelerated pace of change means that a TV that was state-of-the-art just five years ago is woefully outdated compared to current products, despite representing a massive leap forward over what was available 10 years ago. Just as cathode ray tubes represented the turning point in television design, the unrivalled picture quality of OLED represents a similar turning point for TV innovation. OLED may prove to be the spark, which causes TV technology to explode at an ever-increasing rate. Leading electronics manufacturers are now intensely investing in research and development in order to come up with modern TVs that address various consumer needs. One of such companies is LG Electronics with its large array of game-changing TVs. The most impressive TV innovation at the 2016 CES surprisingly came from LG. The long time peddler of wild wacky and crazy expensive living room technology showed off a 4K OLED TV that is as thick as four credit cards. Nothing will be as revolutionary as the invention of TV except for the world’s first Curved OLED TV. Commenting on present TV trends, General Manager, Home Entertainment division, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Steve Ryu said: "We are fully committed to bringing next generation technologies to the Nigerian market.

“Our groundbreaking OLED TV marks the beginning of a whole new era in home entertainment. Its IMAX-like curvature

LG Curved TV

guarantees an amazingly immersive and comfortable viewing experience. Indeed, it is a point of pride that we were able to bring the OLED TV into the Nigerian market and we will continue to expand and improve our industry leading television technology”, he stated further.

Despite the advent of 3D movies, bigger screens, 4D motion seating and ultra-premium cinemas, the traditional movie theater is under threat from increasingly popular streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Criticallyacclaimed shows like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad have convinced viewers across the world that what’s on in their living room is just as exciting as whatever’s showing at the theater. This rise in quality of television content has ushered in what critics have called, “The Golden Age of Television”.

In addition to the rich content available to today’s viewers, the explosion in the popularity of television as a medium for storytelling can be tied to the interactive power of smart TVs as well as recent strides in image rendering technology that allow picture quality to increase exponentially every few years.

High definition TVs that once represented

ITECH GEORGE OGUNLEYE

the pinnacle of display technology are being replaced by the next generation of 4K ultra high definition (UHD) TVs. As the ability to faithfully render images improves with each passing year, the price of high tech televisions continues to fall, making advanced sets available to more consumers than ever.

Today, several display formats are competing to replace traditional CCFL LCD and become the standard bearer for the next generation of 4K UHD televisions. The two primary contenders are OLED and LED LCD. After a strong showing at CES 2016, there is little doubt that OLED is poised to become the dominant format for tomorrow’s UHD TVs. However, despite OLED’s ability to render images in striking detail, its adoption by the public has been slowed by higher price tags that have warded off all but the wealthiest consumers. LG and other companies pushing OLED continue to invest heavily in R&D in the hopes of developing less expensive screens, and these efforts are yielding impressive results with OLED prices recently dipping below USD 2,000 for the first time. The drop in prices and surge in 4K content is likely to lead to a boom in OLED popularity.

Email: george.ogunleye@thisdaylive.com,

Mother and Child Expo to Host Lagos Biggest Pregnancy, Parenting Expo After successfully hosting Nigeria to the largest pregnancy and parenting exhibition, The Mother and Child Expo has officially announced the dates for its third edition scheduled to take place from April 16-17 at the Avila Event Centre, Ligali Ayorinde, Victoria Island, Lagos.

This year’s Expo, held in partnership with “Mums World Africa” will hold in three major cities namely Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt making it the first and biggest mother and child-centred exhibition in Nigeria.

The event embraces a wholesome approach to family and childcare, highlighting issues affecting not only children, but also parents and mums.

This year ’s exhibition will feature an impressive array of brands, retailers and vendors that will attend to the needs of expectant mothers, fathers and children.

It will also hold free educative seminars and workshops facilitated by advanced Medical Professionals and Nutritionists to give practical tips on everything from nutrition, infertility, and pregnancy to breastfeeding.

The Mother and Child Expo offers participants a unique platform to connect with local and international businesses that are dedicated to the health and wellness of mothers, babies, and the general public.

Some unique features of the event include a children’s play area, mother’s lounge, father’s lounge, nursing rooms and more.

It is clearly an event for the whole family.

"The third year edition of the Mother and Child Expo is more than just an exhibition, as there would be more learning, shopping, fun, and in fact triple of everything good and It's free to attend for the whole family", said one of the organisers, Segun Opebi.

The Mother and Child expo has a proven track record of delivering value through its highly targeted, well attended, quality visitors. Mumsworld Africa proudly sponsors the expo.

www.itechthisday.blogspot.com Tel 07032143733(sms only)

LG's Dual Door-in-Door Refrigerator The Compasso d’Oro (“Golden Compass”) was established in 1954 to celebrate the products that were made in Italy. Hosted exclusively by Associazione per il Disegno Industriale (ADI), the theme for this year’s award was Design for Food and Nutrition.

The 2015 competition was the first time the award was open to competitors from outside Italy, making LG among the first foreign winner of Compasso d’Oro International.

Entries were evaluated on three criteria: Innovation, Communicative Quality and Sustainability.

The innovative Dual Door-In-Door Refrigerator is powered by LG’s Inverter Linear Compressor thus making highly energy efficient. The door-inside-refrigerator-door concept has a doubling convenience over its single Door-in-Door counterparts by limiting unchecked access to the core of the refrigerator. The refrigerator’s first access door is designed to house frequently sought food items and give users quick access to these items, while simultaneously reducing cold air loss. lg-double-door-in-door-refrigerator-rf956edsb-r-f956vdsb-r-f956vddn-r-f956vdsr-2 LG took the initial Door-in-Door concept one step further by adding another Door-in-Door compartment to double the convenience.

Door-in-Door technology reduces the amount of cold air loss by up to 47 per cent and with the addition of a second independent Door-in-Door compartment, cold air loss is further reduced.

There are various compartments in the Dual Door-in-Door refrigerator each ergonomically design to make organization very easy. The Family Space compartment can be accessed from the outside at the push of a button and

is perfect for frequently accessed items such as snacks and drinks. The Cooking Space on the left can be opened with an Easy-Open Handle that is hidden by the bottom of the door trim and holds essential cooking ingredients such as chopped vegetables, condiments and sauces.

The refrigerator also features contourprocessed, tempered glass over a curved glass surface. Black patterned finishing provides a stylish design that is both aesthetically pleasing and leaves the outside fingerprint and smudge resistant.

LG’s Dual Door-in-Door also utilizes LG’s revolutionary Inverter Linear Compressor that enables the refrigerator to consume 32 per cent less energy and produce 25 per cent less noise. Employing a linear piston drive instead of a conventional reciprocating drive, LG’s advanced Inverter Linear Compressor generates less internal friction than other compressor systems. The reduction in friction results in lower energy requirements and noise production as well as greater reliability and durability for the compressor due to the reduction of friction points. The Inverter Linear Compressor creates an optimal temperature balance inside the refrigerator, helping extend the amount of time that food stays fresh.

08.04.2016

28/ENTERTAINMENTRAVE

eraveonline@gmail.com

@eraveng

www.eraveng.com

Eva Alordiah Denies Quitting Music, Set to Release Debut Album Few weeks back, Popular Nigerian rapper, Eva Alordiah posted a message on Instagram that suggests that she might be quitting music.

The statement was however followed by lots of backlash on the social media. "It’s tomorrow!! My last show as a ‘Music Artiste’!

Yes, I am ending another chapter in my life and ready for the next! If you Love Eva, you gotta be here tomorrow no? Please, I really want you to come. Bring 4 friends.

I would be performing songs from before you knew me till right now! It is Live and Unplugged with the band and I want to share this experience with only the best and realest fans!.

Probably following the backlash, the rapper has denied reports that she will be quitting music and clarified her earlier announcement via a letter she posted on Instagram. She also said she would release her first book together with the release of her long awaited album ‘1960’.

KISS DANIEL Ahead of the release of his new album in May 2016, talented Nigerian artiste, Kiss Daniel has released a new single titled Mama and produced by popular producer, Young John.

The G Worldwide signed act will stage an album release concert at Eko Hotel and Suites on 15th of May 2016 alongside other leading Nigerian artistes.

JJC AND FUNKE AKINDELE Eva-Alordiah

Banky W Announces He is Taking a Break from Music

Nigerian artiste, Abdul Rasheed Bello popularly known as JJC Skillz celebrated his birthday this week in London with his mom and kids. His fiancée, actress Funke Akindele was also in attendance.

In a snapchat video shared by JJC, his mom was spotted praying for ‘Funke and JJC’ desiring for Alaafia, owo, omo, ma feyin gbomo jo (good health, money, kids, I’ will carry your kids). Funke shouted an Amen to her prayers.

K-SOLO

Banky-W Bankole wellington, is a singer who has done well for himself in the music business since his return to Nigeria.

The talented artiste disclosed in a recent interview that music has always been what he loves doing but he will be

giving it a break. “Family is needed at this stage of my life and as such, will love to do some tours and release some singles before starting up a family."

The talented singer also said, “Living an artiste’s life does not lend itself to

working on a relationship. It’s very tough.

After I’m done releasing this music and touring, I want to take some time off.

Like I want to have some kids and get married. Get married first and then have some kids.”

Yemi Alade Unveils Artistic Cover for Mama Africa Deluxe Edition Few weeks after the release of her sophomore album, ‘Mama Africa: The Diary of an Africa Woman’, Singer Yemi Alade is not slowing down as she has unveiled the new cover of the deluxe edition of the new album slated for release on the 6th of April, 2016.

The deluxe edition of the album will contain additional six songs with collaborations from SouthAfrica artistes, Bucie and hip-hop star AKA. Yemi Alade Mama Africa

Airtel TRACE

Popular music producer, Solomon Oyeniyi popularly knwon as K-Solo has welcomed his second child with is Cameroonian babe, Matop Nyenty. The bouncing baby boy arrived on Saturday April 2nd, 2016 in Lagos, Nigeria.

The producer cum musician already has son from his 2012 crashed marriage with Kikelomo.

LYNXXX VS INSTAGRAM Nigerian artiste, Lynxxx shared a broad post on the implications of premarital sex on his Instagram page during the week. But the next morning, the singer announced that Instagram has taken down the post. "So I woke up to this message this morning.

Instagram removed my post from yesterday (Obviously bcos some people must have flagged and reported it) here's the thing about the "Truth", no matter how u take it, it doesn't change. So I guess the mirror reflection was a bit too bright for some. Oh well, shout out to everyone that saw it and left a comment / tagged friends, Liked or Shared it (Most pple that reposted it STILL have it up so I guess d 'Violation' was only from my page) THANK YOU all who took time to read that post, the response was OVERWHELMING. I hope it resonated with you one way or the other, may God continue to strengthen us through our journey to live in His Will and obey him. Truth would always be the Truth... U can report my posts but u can’t silence this vessel!#DailyLynxxxspiration continues! stay blessed fam".

29/ TRAVEL, LEISURE & TOURISM

08.04.2016

A Man of the People

It was an eclectic display of culture and gratitude on the day one illustrious statesman was honoured by his people for embracing the eternal qualities of equity, writes Solomon Elusoji

Orji acknowledging cheers from the crowd after he was bestowed with the title of 'Opuruiche 1 of Igboland'the title 'Opuruiche 1 of Igboland' (One who is unique in Igboland) by Umunneato of Ngwaland, held at Ugba Primary School, Bende Road , Umuahia

Orji On a warm afternoon in March, the sound of guns rent the air in anticipation of the arrival of one of Abia’s most important personalities.

The crowd waited with bated breaths. Dancers took centre stage, swirling, twirling and making merry. There was a continual stream of important delegates from Abia and beyond, into the Ugba Community Primary School, Bende Road, Umuahia. When Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji finally cruised into the arena, the gunshots fired into the air tripled, and the jubilation of the crowd knew no bounds.

The crowd a few minutes later went wild when Orji’s wife, Mercy (Osinulo) arrived the venue as all the women escorted her from her car to the warm embrace of the husband who was already seated in the front row.

At a civic reception organised in his honour on February 1, 2014, at the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Orji the then Executive Governor of Abia State, had declared that his successor would come from the Abia South Senatorial District, particularly from the Ukwa/Ngwa bloc. He anchored his decision on the fact that of the three senatorial districts in the state, only the southern district was yet to produce the state governor since its excision from Imo State in 1991.

The first civilian governor of the state was Ogbonnaya Onu, who hails from the Afikpo Division, which in 1996 became part of the newly created Ebonyi State. At the time Mr. Onu became the state chief executive, there was the Abia Charter of Equity, which would have ensured that for the purpose of fair play, the position would rotate among Afikpo, Bende, Isuikwato and Aba Divisions, in that order. But, in 1999, Orji Uzor Kalu, who hails from the northern district, won the state’s governorship elections, and ruled for eight years, before handing over to Theodore Orji.

So this was the time to make amends and restore equity, Orji had argued. But it was never going to be a stroll in the woods, because of the mountainous opposition he encountered.

On December 8, 2014, Okezie Ikpeazu, who is from Ngwa, won the primary elections

Orji and his wife, Mercy (Osinulo), after Orji was bestowed with the title 'Opuruiche 1 of Igboland' of the Peoples Democratic Party, and from there, went on to clinch the ticket into Abia’s Government House, against all odds, including the fearless gavel of the Appeal Court. This could not have happened without the help of Orji, who is popularly referred to, by his people, as Ochendo.

So, the cultural spectacle at the Ugba Community Primary School on that warm March afternoon was an event organised by

The cultural spectacle at the Ugba Community Primary School on that warm March afternoon was an event organised by the Umunneato Ngwa Traditional Rulers Committee (comprising Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma) for Ochendo’s fearless display of equity and purpose in sticking to an Ngwa man as his successor. It was also the medium for the installation of a prestigious Igbo title on Ochendo, the title of Opuruiche 1 of Igboland, which means ‘one who is unique’ in Igboland

the Umunneato Ngwa Traditional Rulers Committee (comprising Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma) for Ochendo’s fearless display of equity and purpose in sticking to an Ngwa man as his successor. It was also the medium for the installation of a prestigious Igbo title on Ochendo, the title of Opuruiche 1 of Igboland, which means ‘one who is unique’ in Igboland.

The event was spiced up with an avalanche of cultural display. There was a cultural group from Niger State that gave a serenading performance, there was the Chinyere Age Grade group, there was the Udo Ugochukwu group, all twisting and singing to different local rhythms. Others included the Okezie Ikpeazu Victory Team and the Amalgamated Women group. There was equally time for the Ohafia War Dance and the Ibeku Cultural Dance, who came from Ochendo’s hometown.

“We are all gathered here today to celebrate the buoyant hearted man who made the impossible in the political equation of Abia State possible for the Ukwa Ngwa nation,” the Chairman of the appreciation community and General Manager of Abia Water Board, Leo Ogbonna, said.

“I am happy and I appreciate what is happening today, because every reception and appreciation given to Ochendo is well deserved,” the immediate past Commissioner for Commerce and industry in Abia State, Hon. Ngozi Orji, told THISDAY. “This has been what others could not achieve in Abia State. Nobody had the heart to give power to the Ngwa people. But Ochendo said it and he brought it to actualisation.”

The current governor of Abia State, Ikpeazu, who was represented by his Deputy, Ude Oko Chukwu, noted that Ochendo “is a man of history, a man that has done what others would have found very difficult. This is the man who allowed power to shift to Ngwa axis.

The entire Ngwa nation will always remain grateful to him, because there is nothing that you can give for fairness, equity and justice.

And that he has done.”

A former Commissioner for Commerce, Hon. Sampson Orji, equally told THISDAY that Ochendo had a divine mandate. “In my own opinion, God made him governor for two things. One was to ensure that the governorship of Abia State shift to Abia South, where you have the Ukwa/Ngwa people. And then to take Abia away from idol worship, which was the order of the day in the previous administration. So, today, people are only expressing their gratitude.

He was the one that God used to do what no man could do; there’s no other person that could have resisted the kind of pressure that he resisted, when he insisted that the governorship should shift,” he said.

“Ochendo is an enigma”, Ochendo’s present legislative head and media adviser, Chief Eddy Onuzurike, told THISDAY. “If you check all he has done for Abia State, you will know that he is just gifted. He is a Moses who has come to solve some problems.”

By the time Ochendo, who is now the senator representing Abia Central at the National Assembly, took centre stage, to deliver an acceptance speech, in relation to the gratitude and title that had been bestowed on him, it was clear why he was a man of the people.

Gifted in oratory, he connected with the crowd inside the arena, and communicated his message effectively and smoothly.

He urged the people to give the Ikpeazu-led government their full support. He also asked the people to support the Federal Government, despite it being headed by an opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The support we give them is for them to succeed. If they succeed, things will be good for every person; if they do not succeed, all of us will suffer. But when elections come, you know where to vote,” he said.

Just like his arrival, his departure was another potpourri of jubilation, as more gunshots rent the air and voices rose in gratitude, for a man who had proved to be bigger than the darkness that had once loomed over Abia.

Ochendo brought light to Abia.

30/ETIQUETTE

08.04.2016

THE ETIQUETTE FORUM ADEKANMI OTEDOLA-OLUSANYA

email mretiquetteonline@yahoo.com

tel. 08112661635, 0809285 4855

How Not to Talk like Donald Trump (3) In the last three weeks, I have looked into the communications etiquette sense of US republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, the lapses and lessons that can be learnt there from. I touched on how it can be applied to our marriages, workplaces, and in general our social lives and the business environment. This week, I conclude on how not to talk like Donald Trump. Somewhere along the line, Trump’s political advisers would eventually say to him some of the things I have harped on in these series.

I thought I was the only one appalled by lack of finesse in communication by the US presidential hopefuls when just last week, Tyler Perry the multitasking hit maker reacted to the demagogic mudslinging going on at the US presidential primaries when he said, “When Obama was being elected into his first term in office I was so excited about what was going on in politics. Now I’m completely disgusted by what is going on now I am disgusted by the division and the hatred and the darkness”.

STAY AWAY FROM ME, I, AND MY, STATEMETNS Donald Trump can be guilty of this most times.

"I will build a great wall — and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me —and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall.

Mark my words.”

“I think the only difference between me and the other candidates is that I’m more honest and my women are more beautiful.”

Such statements that contain an avalanche of ego feeding ‘I’, ‘Me’ and ‘My’ are selfish, egotistical and narcissistic and put more attention on the person in question than on others.

WHEN CRITICIZING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, FOCUS ON A POLICY, PRINCIPLE OR PREDILECTION RATHER THAN A PERSON. It’s easy to lose focus when talking about biting issues and focus on a person rather than on the topic in question. For example people may focus on a president when talking about terrorism, a governor when fulminating on traffic, a CEO when remonstrating on an organisational malaise, or a past hero when agonising on a current malady.

Take Donald Trump in this instance where he uses people sweating in a non air-conditioned room as a parallel for their potential to deal with the ISIS.

“The other candidates (referring to other republican candidates at a debate) they went in, they didn’t know the air conditioning didn’t work. They sweated like dogs...How are they gonna beat ISIS? I don’t think it’s gonna happen.”

STAY ON THE POSITIVE SIDE. Recently, President Obama said “Donald Trump will not become President of the United States”. I was taken aback by that statement from somebody I consider to be a gentleman in many ways. Those words “….not become President” against a person is negative and harsh. He could have made much the same statement by giving it a positive twist. No one else said this better than Warren Buffet when he also recently said that Hillary Clinton would become the next President of the United States” This applies to every one of us I tell customer service officials for example that making a statement like “I can’t do that” is negative.

A better way to say the same thing would be “Let me get someone who can help you with that”.

In general, stay away from words like “Cant”, “No”, “Don’t”, “Never”, “Wont” etc.

AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, STAY AWAY

FROM NAME CALLING. Donald Trump is ever guilty of this, hear him in a few instances.

Trump said "If I were running 'The View,' I'd fire Rosie (O'Donnell). I mean, I'd look her right in that fat, ugly face of hers, I'd say, 'Rosie, you're fired.'"Abusive statements towards the opposite sex are demeaning and sexist.

“Hillary Clinton was the worst Secretary of State in the history of the United States. …..”

A better way to say this would have been to say “We have had better Secretary of States in the last decade” Even though I happen to be using Donald Trump in my series, I have not used any abusive words against him. Also to maintain balance in my message and to efface all nuances of negativity as much as possible, I also did highlight some of his strengths such as his ebullience.

You could purchase a copy of my book on etiquette titled PROPER MANNERS AND ETIQUETTE IN ANYTHING AT ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE at the price of N3,500 at our corporate head office at 340 - 344 Ikorodu Road, by Idi-Iroko Bus Stop, Maryland, Lagos.

Or call 0802 312 6010 or 0811 266 1635 to have a copy sent to you.

Tyler Perry the multitasking hit maker recently reacted to the demagogic mudslinging going on at the US presidential primaries when he said “I’m completely disgusted by what is going on now I am disgusted by the division and the hatred and the darkness”.

As much as possible stay away from name calling when speaking of people in a negative context.

Donald Trump said, “Hillary Clinton was the worst Secretary of State in the history of the United States. …..”. A better way to say this would have been to say “We have had better Secretary of States in the last decade”

Recently, President Obama said “Donald Trump will not become President of the United States” Those words “….not become President” against a person is negative and harsh. A better way to pass across the same message would have been to say “Donald Trump would not become the next President of the United States”.

Recently Donald Trump said “I think the only difference between me and the other candidates is that I’m more honest and my women are more beautiful.” Such statements that contain an avalanche of ego feeding ‘I’, ‘Me’ and ‘My’ are selfish, egotistical and narcissistic and put more attention on the person in question than on others

31/XTRA

08.04.2016

Focusing on the Gains of Current Economic Hardship

Precious Uwisike

Many countries of the world are fervently seeking ways to cushion the effect of oil prices that have fallen rapidly since mid-year 2014. The plummeting oil prices are largely deemed to be an effect of huge oil glut, with subliminal effects of global growth projections. These recent developments have been predicted to affect global economy and inflation, an effect which is currently biting hard on the economy of many countries especially developing nations.

Last year, many countries, having reconciled with the harsh economic realities, began making adjustments and reviewing their national economic policies to build some form of defense against the effect of dropping oil prices.

Similar to the falling oil prices is the plummeting naira. Nigeria’s position as the largest economy in Africa after rebasing its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), may be threatened by the continued fluctuation and depreciation of its currency. There have been disheartening speculations about the continuous plunge of the Nigerian currency and the falling oil prices with ripple effect on the general economic welfare of the country.

An economy that draws the bulk of its export revenue from the oil sector, its revenues keep plunging as prices drop and governments are slashing spending, shunning construction of new projects and delaying payments of civil servants’ salaries. Price trends are peculiar to commodity-dependent nation, like Nigeria.

It is no news that the firming of the dollar and constant rise of other foreign exchange against the naira is not only affecting the cost of doing business but may also be driving many organisations into insolvency as a result of accumulated debt and the inability to assess fund or pay their foreign partners. Speculations reveal that if this is not contained, it may lead to reputational risk and the eventual loss of jobs.

Despite strong opinions about the naira and the predictions of an inevitable devaluation, President Muhammadu Buhari has stated vehemently his stance, shunning all alternative standpoints by economic mongers.

Although, many policy makers are on their toes trying to fix the situation, the Nigerian Senate, on one hand has expressed concern over the salient issue and has constantly

Renowned Global Economist and TL First's Senior Partner, Richard Scase teaching on taking advantages of current economic meltdown

sought ways to alleviate the pressure of the acute foreign exchange crisis on the Nigerian economy. One of its efforts was summoning the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to give an account of the regulatory financial institution’s role in remedying the current economic crisis.

Emefiele’s presentation reflected the current global economic downturn, characterised by external shocks, including the sharp decline in commodity prices, the geographical tensions along important global trading routes and tightening of monetary policy in the United States. The apex bank governor was, however, optimistic that the eventual rise of the naira against the dollar and other foreign currencies, was near.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, urged the government to focus on other revenue sources like taxes, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and solid minerals—resource fields that remain largely untapped. Saraki revealed that focusing on these areas will contribute to

the defense of the naira against the dollar and other currencies. He expressed optimism that the naira will stabilise if given the necessary support and the diversification of the currency.

On the flip side, optimistic economists are suggesting that economic policies of developing countries should be reviewed to begin to seek opportunities and strategically begin to discover the upside of the downturn.

At a leadership conference organised by TL First Integrated Management Group, a leading global consulting firm, former adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Christopher Kolade, had emphasised the importance of Nigerian economic policy makers to begin to re-engineer their focus on the gains of the present economic downturn. While urging Nigerians to quit with the lamentation of hardship, he sought the re-orientation of Nigerian mindsets to start discovering great benefits in developing the country’s resources and diversifying in different core areas that can be developed

Deadly Kidnap Syndicate Invades Festac A deadly kidnap syndicate that specialises in forcefully taking their victims and demanding for millions of dollars before allowing them to breathe the sweet air of freedom again is currently on the prowl in that part of town.

So far, they have kidnapped over a dozen men and women, some of whom parted with millions before being let off the hook.

In fact, right now in Festac Town, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos, nearly all the millionaires live in fear – and constantly pray never to fall victim. Some have even begun moving out of the area.

Always dressed in military camouflage, their targets mainly are multi-millionaire Igbo businessmen ruling at ASPAMDA, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos. Another thing about them is that they always want their ransom paid in dollars. Well-coordinated and obviously working on information, they sometimes ask that the money be transferred to their accounts in South Africa, America and even London. Their latest victim is one Frank Umeh. The multi-millionaire industrialist was kidnapped in front of his house (inside Raji Rasaki Estate, Amuwo-Odofin) on January 28, 2016. Interestingly, they only took the man, abandoning his driver with whom he was inside the car when they struck. And

Lagos CP, Fatai Owoseni

afterwards called the man’s family, asking for millions.

The family of another victim reportedly paid a whopping $1million. Yet the man has not been released, because the kidnappers claim the victim’s family disrespected them in the course of negotiation. Prior to Umeh’s kidnap, one Cosmas Ojukwu Anayo, also a businessman at Trade Fair Complex while going home (House 16, X Close, 21 Road) at about 8.15pm, was kidnapped. The man was with his four apprentices, but none of them was taken away. Before that, Toyin, wife of The Sun Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Steve Nwosu, was also kidnapped and only got freed after ransom was allegedly paid.

Surprisingly, other than Mrs. Nwosu – whose kidnap attracted so much media attention – none of the others has been released. Meanwhile, visitors to Road 21, 22, 7, 3 and 4th Avenues are now subjected to thorough screening and security checks before being allowed in. The Nigeria Police and other security agencies have also been notified, and they are working round the clock to unravel and unmask the syndicate behind this. Families of the victims have remained distraught, praying and fasting for the safe return of their breadwinners.

Likewise some of the victims’ friends, well wishers and business associates.

to create revenue-generating causes. He added that should Nigerians focus on these new areas of development and cut down on importation, issues of foreign exchange and plunging oil prices will be a thing of the past. Global Economist and expert on management trends, Professor Richard Scace attested to this when he stated that leadership is understanding times, seasons and trends and knowing actions to stay ahead.

In the words of notable International Economist and Chartered Accountant, Dr. Olu Olasode, “economic downturns provide opportunities for repositioning, strength and growth. Leaders of today need to rethink strategies, realign priorities, block leakages, and stress-test institutional readiness for rebound and growth." Now is Nigeria’s time to awaken its ingenuity and rise against the backdrop of current global economic challenges.

Uwisike works at TL First Group, a consulting organisation

Paula B to Host Exclusive Listening Party Sunday Paula. B is an upcoming Indie soul singer and songwriter with a blend of genres such as electro-soul, alternative hip-hop and alternative RnB. A recent graduate of Psychology in the UK, she combines doing music and mental health innovatively as never seen before. Paula describes music and mental health as her two greatest loves.

Paula. B who has been critically reviewed and described as a fresh cross between Asa, Nneka and Lauryn Hill, is determined to use her eccentric soulful sound to pass a message of positive mental wellbeing in each record she releases whilst making meaningful impact in both fields. She cites Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Nneka, Asa, Maverick Sabre, Lianne La Havis etc. as her influences. And if you are in Lagos, you wouldn't want to miss her first live exclusive listening party on April 10 at Bogobiri House, Ikoyi from 5-7p.m.

32/COLLAGE

08.04.2016

General Overseer, Ewulomi Evangelical Church of Christ, (C&S) Arowojobe, Mende Village, Maryland, Prophet Oluwademilade Omololu Akpata(left) and his brother, Olusegun during Wake- Keeping Service for their mother, late Princess Elizabeth Tomori Akpata in Lagos...recently

L-R: Secretary, Administrative Committee, God's Kingdom Society (The Church of the Living God) Egbe Branch, Lagos, Mr. Edoja Peter; Treasurer, Mr. Bonny Ogwara; and Chairman, Mr. Segun Dawodu during Doctrinal Service Thanksgiving of the Church in Lagos at the... recently JAMES AGORI

Prof. Kamil Koyejo Oloso (middle) flanked by the chief host Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi and wife, Folake at the reception lecture in honour of adistinct academician and Islamic Scholar Prof.Kmil Oloso held at Owu Crown hotel Ibadan... recently

L-R: Mrs. Tobulaya Ejilobor; Mrs. Nmah Birdet and Miss, Preye Abeki during the Burial of their Late Father Hon Chamberlin Fidelis Abeki in Patani, Delta State...recently JAMES AGORI

Newly wedded, Mr. Oluwaseun Ajibode and former Miss Adetutu Adegbayibi, (middle) flanked by brides parent; Mr. Ademola and Mrs. Cleopatra Adegbayibi, during Tutu and Seun wedding ceremony held at Toly Palace Hotel, Ejigbo, Lagos...recently

L-R; Wife of the Arch Bishop of calabar province, Mrs. Oluwakemi Odufuwa, President, African Church Ministers' Wives' Association, Mrs. Ene Udofia,and her Husband/Primate, The African Church, His Eminence, Emmanuel Udofia, and Chairperson, Planning Committee, year 2016 Bi-annual ministers' wives' retreat, Princess Bola Ajayi , during the 2016 ministers' wives' retreat in Lagos recently

L-R: Groom’s Mother, Mrs. Florence Olukayode; Bride’s Father, Mr. Ben Ajeigbe; the couple, Mr.and Mrs. . Olutayo and Oluwatobi Olukayode; the Groom Father, Mr. Olufemi Olukayode; and the Bride’s Mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Ajeigbe, during the solemnization of Holy Matrimony between former Miss Faith Oluwatobi Ajeigbe and Mr. Olutayo Oluseye Olukayode, at United Baptist Church, Jos, Plateau State recently

33/THISLIFE

08.04.2016

Agbebi: Exemplar of Dedicated Teachers Dare Owolabi and Rufus Adu For many members of our generation of students of Anglican Grammar School, Igbara-Oke (AGSI), Ondo State, the memory of Pa Samuel Agbebi, whose body would be buried today, would linger for some reasons. In particular was his beautifully crafted cursive writing embodied in the end -of-term report of every student? At the end of his comments was his inimitable signature, which was legible enough to be read as “S O Agbebi”, the distinguished school principal. Such was the dedication of teachers in those days that Agbebi had something to say about academic performance and character of each of the hundreds of students in the school.

The 1972/76 to which we proudly belong would remember Agbebi especially for the fact he was the principal when we were admitted to the school 44 years ago. However, by the time we left school 40 years ago, Agbebi had been transferred to another secondary school. By the time he retired in 1984 he had moved to the Christ School, Ado-Ekiti. Agbebi’s time at AGSI was doubtless glorious. We can bear testimony to his good work as a dedicated teacher and eminent school administrator. Not a few would readily describe the period of leadership as part of the golden era of the school. It was a period of absolute dedication to teaching and commitment to moulding the character of students under the care of teachers. In those years Tinubuthat he served as principal in Igbara-Oke, Agbebi gave leadership to his colleagues who were excellent teachers in various subjects. As the principal, he found time to teach English with emphasis on phonetics. Among his colleagues who taught various subjects during our time were Agbebi’s able deputy, Mr. F.A. Adenegan (Geography); Mr. Modupe Ayodele (Government); Mr. R.O. Akindusoye (English); Mr. Aknwunmi (Religious Knowledge); Mr. Owoeye (Economics); Mr. Oguntuase (Geography); Mr. P.A. Kayode (English); Mr. Adegoroye (History); Mr. Falebita On a bright, sunny and day Gamesmater); in January 2015, (Physical Education the All Progressives Congress (APC) took Mr. Udai Kuma Rohatgai (Biology/ its presidential campaign tour to the Teslim Chemistry); Mr. in Onilemo Balogun Stadium Lagos, a (Mathematics) key state in that and Mrs. Sophie Oluwole year’s presidential elections. (Yoruba), There was the who became a professor of phiusuallater mammoth crowd and speeches, but one losophy University Lagos.leader man was at thethe galvaniser – theof national ofMany the APC, Ahmed Tinubu. admirers of Bola the students who His benefited call him Jagaban (Leaderat of the warriors). from sound education school Tinubu, who had time co-spearheaded the coalition during Agbebi’s have today of the Action Congress (AC) and the Congress distinguished themselves in medicine, for Progressiveteaching, Change (CPC) to form a bigengineering, law, accountancy ger party capable of matching the Peoples and other professions. of the Democratic Party (PDP) atThe the years polls, was the teachers were years in chiefAgbebis magicianasthat masterminded Nigeria’s which quality education was readily most important democratic ‘coups’, till date. available public schools.

There “God ininHis wisdom placed me were in the not manytoprivate schools at the that time.was position recognise the change needed andreflection, to help effectuate change,” Now on we are that firmly Tinubu would say indiligently 2016. “What was convinced thatlater Agbebi served accomplished in in 2015 was not aand singular effort. in Igbara-Oke the 1960s 1970s It was done throughcontext. the collective within a definable And love this and labour of millions of Nigerians.” is Born instructive given the condition of on March 29, 1952 in the city of Lagos, the school today.

In other words, the Tinubu attended St. John's Primary School, great achievements of Agbebi andSchool his Aroloya, Lagos and Children's Home colleagues as teachers were partly duein in Ibadan. He went to the United States to a good of human structural 1975, wheremix he studied first atand Richard J. Daley College inThe Chicago, Illinois and properly then at Chicago factors. teachers were State University. at Chicago, contested trained, many While of them armedhe with for the President of the Accounting Society chains of degrees to teach secondary in his final year and won.

Heloved graduated school students.

They also their in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in job with uncommon passion. This was Accounting. unmistakable thetopsychological Tinubu wentinon work for American atmosphere that pervaded the school companies Arthur Andersen, Deloitte, during the Agbebi years.

It is regrettable that more than 40 years after Agbebi left Igbara-Oke; the condition of AGSI has deteriorated in many ways. The beautiful structures within which Agbebi and his team operated decades ago are now a shadow of themselves. The school atmosphere is no more inviting for teachers and students alike.

The decline is sadly manifest

Tinubu: The Political Wizard

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at 64, is a paradoxical puzzle to his detractors and a centrepiece of brilliance, to those who know where he is coming from, writes Solomon Elusoji Late Agbebi Haskins, and Sells, and GTE Services Corporation, before returning to Nigeria in 1983, where he obtained work with Mobil Oil Nigeria, rising to become an executive ofAs theprincipal, company. Agbebi conducted the daily morningpolitical assembly students His Nigerian careerofbegan in 1992, of all he classes.

He did so Nigerian with im-Senate when was elected to the representing the LagosHymns West constituency mense enthusiasm. from the in the short-lived Nigerian Third Republic, Songs of Praise, the famous S.O.P, via the now defunct Social Democratic Party were deleteriously rendered before of which he lead was one the founding a(SDP), teacher would theofassembly members. After the results of the June 12, in prayers. A fascinating feature of 1993 presidential elections were annulled, the assembly the reading of of the Tinubu became was a founding member chosen passages in the Bible,Democratic a task pro-democracy groupNational that senior students performed Coalition (NADECO), which mobilised with support poise and panache.

It wasand indeed an for the restoration of democracy recognition exciting thing for a After senior student to of the June 12 results. several assaults,

be given a date to read the Bible to the assembly. Such an occasion was a great opportunity to display one’s mastery of phonetics under the watch of the revered principal. Remarkably, In politics, youassembly have been the daily morning was a formidable force, helping also an opportunity for Agbebi to enforce as a names of violato putdiscipline together great tors of school rules were announced political that wonThe and verdictsparty promptly passed. assembly often subdued power at thebecame centre in in silence when punishments wereto Nigeria.You have proved handed down to offenders. Debonair be aradiating true hero of democracy, and a gentle mien with red spots on his lips, Agbebi be inspired a light that cannot his students with awe. So for Agbebi concealed and his colleagues, the rod was

harassments and detentions, he was forced to flee the country in 1994 and only returned in 1998 after the death of military dictator Sani Abacha, which ushered in a transition never spared; to civilian rule. looking back now it is soul-lifting that many theelections, children Bola of In the run-up to the of 1999 those become great and Tinubudays was ahave protégé of Alliance formen Democracy (AD) leaders Ayo women today.Abraham This is aAdesanya deservedand tribute Adebanjo.

Heofwon the AD in primaries for the to the sense discipline the Agbebi Lagos State in competition years.

For gubernatorial this, Agbebielections indisputably with Funsho Williamsof and Dosunmu, a earned the respect hisWahab students. former Minister of Works and Housing. In April It is also worth stating, of course, that 1999, he stood for the position of Executive salaries teachers were on paid andticket Governorofof Lagos State theasAD when due in those days. So Agbebi had and was elected. theWhile moral authority to go round the on in office, he made huge investment classes morning and afternoon making education, rehabilitated roads and constructed new ones, in order to meet the challenges sure that teachers were doing what theyof the fastpaid growing Lagos.

He wonand several awards were to do – teaching setting for himself for his performance as good examples to excellent their students.

Agbebi Governor, in aintenure for eight himself rode a goodthat car.lasted He lived years (1999- 2007). in a suitably furnished apartment. The On the March 29 this year, Tinubu celebrated welfare of his colleagues was also fairly his 64th birthday and the national community good.

Agbebi and other teachers were was agog with high praise for a man who respected within community.

They has paid his dues.the President Muhammadu were the wish, small praising elite Buhariprominent sent him among a birthday found in the community.

There generosity was a his doggedness, forthrightness, and diligence, in a statement the synergy of purpose betweenissued Agbebibyand Special Adviser to the President on Media the community. and Adesina.

ByPublicity, the way,Mr. theFemi school began as an Theofstatement read: “The president assures idea the Igbara-Oke community in the national leader that his patriotism and 1957 before government took it over in commitment to democracy and good goverlater years.

Agbebi personally interacted nance, and his generous spirit will always be with the Igbara-Oke elite who lived remembered and appreciated by generations

outside the community who were

of Nigerians.

“He prays that the Almighty God will grant the Asiwaju long life, good health, wisdom and prosperity as he steadfastly supports efforts interested development of the to promote in thethe development of Nigeria.” school in particular and of thethe community On his part, Speaker House of in general. He also had Dogara, such relationRepresentatives, Yakubu expressed his birthday wishes who to Tinubu, describing ships with parents were not from him as a formidable political forcewent who has Igbara-Oke. No doubt, Agbebi brought political landscape beyond changes the call to ofthe duty to ensure that of Nigeria, in a statement by his Special the students under hisissued care received the Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. best of education.

Turaki Hassan.

It is this regrettable that more than 40 “On joyous occasion of your birthday, years Agbebi Igbara-Oke;salute the we in after the House of left Representatives condition of AGSI has deteriorated in you, great leader, for the milestones you have many ways.

The beautiful structures attained in Nigeria,” the statement read. “Your feats are which bold and exceptional; from business within Agbebi and his team opto governance and ago politics. a governor, you erated decades are As now a shadow made sweeping reforms that atmosphere till date, your of themselves.

The school successors still building on and and making is no moreareinviting for teachers Lagos State proud. students alike. The decline is sadly “In politics, you have been a formidable force, manifest. helping to put together a great political party However, weatmake boldintoNigeria. say that that won power the centre You Agbebi played parthero well. us, have proved to behis a true of For democracy, was ancannot exemplar of goodAsteachers. ahe light that be concealed! you mark As another Agbebi’s body buried yet year, myisprayer fortoday you isinthat God will continue to consolidate your Osi-Ekiti, Ekiti State, we salute hisefforts and crown them all with success.” illustrious memory as we offer sincere Today, despitetoallthe efforts to rubbish Tinubu’s condolences Agbebi family. monumental political legacy, he continues to May His Soul Rest in Peace. soar, persisting in being a paradoxical puzzle • Owolabi and Adu are President, to his detractors and a centrepiece of brilliance, Secretary respectively 1972/76 to those who know where of he the is coming from.

Set of Anglican School, Tinubu is simply aGrammar political wizard!

Igbara-Oke, Ondo State

34/OPINION

08.04.2016

ADEOLAAKINREMI HOME TRUTHS

Email: adeola.akinremi@thisdaylive.com

Tel 08116759785(sms only)

Ekiti: From Land of Honour to Land of Horror

T

he pattern has continued. Accusations and counter-accusations. The father is a fraudster and the son is a confidence trickster. They have a company of cracksmen, magsmen, mobsmen, murderers and junkies.

It is the story of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose and his “boy”, Temitope Aluko—a man old enough to lead the nation, but chose to be a scalawag for Fayose.

Do you think Ekiti State is jinxed?

One moment missed on June 21, 2014, following the election that threw out its cerebral governor, Kayode Fayemi, the state is now back to the old order.

A fountain full of knowledge has become a place full of dry bones. The leviathan has turned a restful state to a state of turmoil. The land of honour has become a land of horror.

Frankly, the leviathan must be tamed now, except we want more damage.

Ekiti moved from boom state to doom state after the former governor, Kayode Fayemi, was manipulated out of office by forces within and forces without.

We’ve all followed the charade of the recent weeks and the melodrama between Fayose and Aluko.

We’ve watched youtube videos and live interviews on how the gubernatorial election was won and lost.

The troubling part was the ruse of a truce is this: in less than five hours after Aluko and Fayose jointly addressed journalists in Lagos claiming they’ve settled their scores, the headlines changed. Aluko recanted.

Fayose

Two people who should be in jail for electoral fraud are still out making mockery of our democracy and we, the people, are laughing.

The sense of solidarity that characterised the Ekiti Parapo during the Yoruba war of independence is what is needed now to rescue Ekiti State from the abyss.

The Ekiti intelligentsia must make this a project that they can all be proud of. There are many reasons for my advocacy.

A vituperating governor, Fayose, has abandoned the business of governance to fighting war he willingly created by himself.

From senseless attacks on the federal government policies to his personal vendettas for President Buhari, Fayose has rubbished himself and the state for his unintelligent statements in the media.

He’s one governor who speaks with makeup statistics. Fayose’s politics is undesirable in modern politics. It is like an abscess or sore that must not be allowed to fester.

For decoy, Fayose has been creating controversial projects to deceive the Ekiti people.

For instance, after his airport project suffered defeat, he has rolled over to a flyover project.

Does Ekiti need airport and flyover for its small population and agrarian economy at this time, when money is not easy to come by?

It is one of several machinations of Fayose to leave Ekiti in complete ruins, when he leaves office.

There are important areas that will impact several lives that Fayose is not concentrating on.

His opportunity for redemption, after his first term of controversial exit, has now been lost.

Can anyone explain the rousing welcome Fayose organised for a legislator under federal investigation?

I’m always pained to see people in Ekiti gathered to celebrate poverty of thought each time Fayose returns to the same limited set of ideas.

After the state lawmaker, Akanni Afolabi, who was unjustly detained by the DSS was released, Fayose resorted to cheap publicity stunt by ferrying the lawmaker from Abuja to Ekiti with a private helicopter using the taxpayers’ money for self-glorification. He didn’t stop at that.

In his effrontery, Fayose, who has not been able to pay salaries to workers then paid for newspaper adverts to advertise his folly.

The governor wasted money publishing

court records on bail application for Akanni and then rewarded him with a car gift for his “loyalty.”

Of course, this kind of politics can best be understood from Akanni’s vote of thanks after he received the car gift.

It is about loyalty to individual and not the state, though Akanni sworn to an oath to put the interest of the state above anything else.

“The DSS asked me so many questions about the governor and I stood my ground. Governor Fayose is one man that I can never betray because he is my helper and my mentor. He has done a lot for me,” Akanni said.

In our polity, when political corruption such as electoral fraud in Ekiti and other places that has now been established through many evidences is allowed, the gang of thieves will be in every state and they will carry on with the business as usual and we’ll be the victims.

Aluko who has been working and walking with Fayose for decades and served as chairman, Security and Intelligence Committee of his campaign organisation during the 2014 election must have been involved in other shady deals over the years, but it is quite unfortunate that we don’t have a strong criminal investigation system in Nigeria.

A simple background check on Aluko would have revealed so much were he to be living in the West, particularly in the United States.

It is a shame that even the federal government has not slammed court action against Aluko so far and Fayose continues to act in impudence, because of immunity.

LEKANFATODU HEADS-UP

G

Email lekantodun@yahoo.com

Tel 07058069255 (sms only)

Silence, for God's Sake, Silence!

overnor of Kaduna State and the preeminent accidental public servant, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, is not a stranger to controversy. In the same way, he is someone very prone to public “accidents”.

If the governor is not bulldozing illegally erected buildings by some opportunistic public officials, as the claim was when he was the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he will be up in arms about citizens who allegedly constructed houses on government restricted and dangerous spaces, as it happened between the Kaduna State government and some residents at the beginning of his term as governor.

Currently, the governor is in the news over “A Bill For A Law To Substitute The Kaduna State Religious Preaching Law, 1984”. On this, Governor el-Rufai has found himself on a collision course with some faith leaders in Kaduna State and across the country. While some Christian associations have termed el-Rufai “anti-Christ”, a few Muslim groups have dismissed him as a phony Islamic faithful over the bill. This seems to be the toughest battle el-Rufai has faced as a public official, and the reason is not far-fetched.

In Nigeria, religion is not just the hope of the masses; it has become the most dependable government of the citizens, because of the laxity of the constituted government, even though many of these religions have different variants and their activities are filled with evil deceits, and wicked manipulations.

But according to the bill, the same deceits and vices that the religions promote with impunity and preach so loudly are what the

El-Rufai

Kaduna State government seeks to ‘regulate’ and ‘silence’ in sustaining peace and safety of the general public.

Essentially, the proposed legislation is seeking to regulate religious preaching in Kaduna State in an effort to minimise the radicalisation of the impressionable citizenry, and proactively arrest the brainwashing and negative doctrines that gave birth to deadly sects like Boko Haram whose act of terrorism has claimed thousands of innocent souls in different parts of Nigeria lately.

In pursuit of the foregoing commendable reasons, the Kaduna State government included, as parts of the provisions of the controversial bill, the banning of the use of loudspeakers for religious purposes other than inside a mosque or church and the surrounding areas outside the stipulated prayer times.

It also recommended restrictions on the playing or circulating of all cassettes, CDs, flash drives or any other communication gadgets containing religious recordings from certified preachers other than inside one’s house, church, mosque and other designated places of worship, and the banning of religious recordings in which derogatory language is used against any person or religious organisation or religious leaders.

The bill also proposes rigid conditions for licensing or certification of preachers, with an Inter-faith Ministerial Committee to be set-up by the government and saddled with the responsibility of issuing or denying licences to religious bodies, even after Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the major umbrella organisations of the Muslim and Christian faiths may have certified and confirmed the eligibility of the religious body or preacher.

Literally, the power for the licensing lies with the government and without a valid licence, local preachers cannot preach and without a permit, external preachers cannot preach in the state. The bill also provides for fine or two-year imprisonment for any violation of the law.

However the seemingly lack of wider stakeholders consultations, clarity and reasonable considerations in the details and the presentation of the document to the public has given reason for the wide-spread outrage that has trailed the otherwise proactive and vital legislation.

Truth is Kaduna State and Nigeria as a whole need well thought-out and active laws that will effectively curb the incitement to violence and extremism that is often promoted in the name of religion across the country; and the nuisance and public disturbance that has become the new normal for many religious leaders and

their followers.

Therefore tougher decisions should be taken against religious activities that encourage civil agitation and pandemonium.

As such those in favour of the bill have cited some Western countries like the UK on how its government has stipulated seven years maximum prison for incitement to religious hatred and extremism. And the country has given legal backing to policy for the exclusion of foreign preachers whose teachings encourage hatred.

Meanwhile, those against it have argued that the propositions of the document are at variance with Sections 38 of and 39 the 1999 Constitution, which protect the rights of citizens to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

This group is of the position that provisions of the bill will enable total clampdown on peaceful wider evangelism and fellowship.

They further stated that even in the UK which the supporters of the bill have referenced, there is no law that requires a “preaching permit or license” before a preacher living in the UK can preach at any place within the country.

Instructively, like many Nigerians, Governor el-Rufai is apparently exasperated on the absurdities that run unhindered in the name of religion and he doesn’t want its attendant consequences to derail his efforts at improving the socio-economic condition of Kaduna State and protecting its people. So he must put the religious recklessness in check or totally silence it where possible.

But the step must be taken with due considerations for extant laws and massive involvement of all stakeholders particularly in terms of ideas contributions and inputs before any meaningful achievement can be recorded on the policy.

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FAAN to Create More Jobs after Airport Remodelling Chinedu Eze The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN (FAAN) has said new business opportunities and employment would be created after the massive reconstruction and upgrade of airport terminals at the 22 federal government owned airports across the country.

Speaking at the 2nd Airport Business Summit and Expo in Abuja on Tuesday, the Managing Director, FAAN, Saleh Dunoma said the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has put in place the necessary commercial offerings, which resulted in renewed interest by investors in the sector.

He said the federal government as the primary investor in Nigeria’s 22 airports is gradually opening doors for genuine private investors to partner and work with it to explore the various opportunities in the sector.

He explained that beyond improving operational efficiency and passenger facilitation, the new terminal facilities when

completed would create opportunities for more investments to make the airports more user friendly and offer passengers a whole new travel experience in line with international standards and practices.

The FAAN boss said: “Stakeholders and partners in airport services delivery including; the airlines, handling companies, retailers, contractors etc have been aligned with this objectives through periodic training and sensitisation seminars to maintain the same customer centric service standards.”

He added that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) 20-year passenger growth forecast projects that passenger numbers are expected to reach 7.3 billion by 2034 which represented a 4.1 per cent average annual growth in demand for air connectivity.

Dunoma stressed that African airports rated amongst the fastest-growing markets would benefit from this growth and thus Nigerian airports are therefore

expanding their user handling capacity both in aeronautics and non aeronautics services.

Also, the organiser of the Airport Business Summit, Mr. Fortune Idu said the event presented the aviation industry from the airport perspective and linked it to the development of cities and regional economies.

He added that the summit was a multi-sector summit with delegates expected to come from industries with direct and indirect dealings with the airport, such as airlines, retail, security, safety, technologists, media, taxi companies, hotels, tourist attraction companies, etc.

“The summit expo will help airports and the cities market their profiles and make them attractive for airlines and investors by showcasing a one stop information portal for; passenger projections, facilities, infrastructure, potentials and essential amenities of the region that attracts travel and investment”.

NCAT Rector Calls for Massive Investment in Aviation Sector The Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Captain Samuel Caulcrick has said that to ensure a sustainable air transportation growth, there is the need for massive investment in growthsupporting infrastructure and human capital development.

Caulcrick, who spoke a recent aviation conference in Abuja, reasoned that the industry must pursue smart, coordinated, and cooperative manpower development strategy for the nation’s air transport industry.

He observed that the availability of qualified and competent personnel is the propelling force

for the sustainable growth of aviation in other countries as well as Nigeria’s, adding that it is also the path towards excellence in safety and security.

“It is the quality and proficiency of the aviation personnel that can credibly birth a safe air transport industry, build air travellers’ confidence, make valuable contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)”, he said.

The NCAT boss said despite the challenges facing the industry, progress has been achieved, stressing that aviation is playing important role in Nigeria’s economy, and contributing

enormously to the nation’s GDP He said the aviation sector in Nigeria contributes 119 billion (0.4 per cent) to Nigerian GDP. He listed the benefits to include, 59 billion directly contributed through the output of the aviation sector (airlines, airports and ground services); 34 billion indirectly contributed through the aviation sector’s supply chain; and 27 billion contributed through the spending by the employees of the aviation sector and its supply chain and in addition there is 78 billion in catalytic benefits through tourism, which raises the overall contribution to 198 billion or 0.6 per cent of GDP.

South African Airways Supports Drive to Promote Local Tourism South African Airways has thrown its weight behind tourism authorities, destination marketing organisations and travel and tourism trade show hosts in an effort to stimulate the growth of tourism to and in the country.

Through its participation at the World Travel Market® Africa (WTM® Africa), a fast growing inbound and outbound travel and tourism show, which takes place from 6 until 8 April at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), SAA supports the Department of Tourism’s objective to further stimulate Business and Leisure tourism to South Africa.

“We have seen an upsurge in tourists interested in travelling to South Africa due to a combination of factors such as the exchange rate advantages to travellers from countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom.

South Africa is also, besides the value for money on offer, a destination which offers a host of natural and historic

attractions. Stimulating tourism has the added effect that it helps with job creation,” says SAA Spokesperson, Tlali Tlali.

In South Africa, SAA would be assisting in bringing a vast selection of visitors, hosted buyers and media from around the world to Thebe Reed Exhibitions’ WTM® Africa exhibition, where the airline will also be exhibiting and promoting its product to the International Trade. In 2015 WTM® Africa welcomed 4,127 industry professionals, buyers, media and travel trade professionals from across the continent and worldwide and is set to see a further increase this year.

“SAA offices in all the countries where we operate, in Africa and globally, are intensely involved in promoting tourism to South Africa through a variety of activities and by participating in tourism trade exhibitions both in South Africa and in other parts of the world.

Recently, a group of media and well known personalities

from West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana) visited South Africa to familiarise themselves with the country to highlight leisure experiences that appeal to West African consumers. This coincided with the launch of SAA’s flights to Abuja, Nigeria,” he added.

From East Africa, in partnership with SA Tourism, SAA representatives and travel agents participated in an educational trip to South Africa to expose them to the ever developing dynamic destination, product South Africa.

International highlights were the World Travel Market in London, which is different to the SA WTM with a focus on growing tourism to South Africa from the United Kingdom and indeed from the rest of Europe. This was supported by a roadshow and press events across the UK, blogger trips to South Africa, and a giant outdoor consumer event in London to showcase the incredible diversity and value the country has to offer.

AIR WATCH Nigeria’s Growing Stature in Aviation

Aliu

I

n the last two weeks, two good things have happened to Nigeria’s aviation sector. The country scaled the huddle of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).

The first time Nigeria met the conditions and passed the audit was in 2006. That was the same year the country passed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Act into law, which made the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) autonomous.

According to industry analysts, by passing the audit, Nigeria has shown consistency in maintaining and sustaining the ICAO safety standard and so much positive things have happened in the industry between 2006 and 2016.The analysts said it showed that the first time the country passed the audit was not a fluke and the country had maintained that consistency in sustaining and improving the expected safety standard for safe airline operation.

Another good thing that happened in the aviation industry in the last two weeks was the visit of the President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the world-revered body.

In late 2013, Dr Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu was elected President of the ICAO and since January 2014, the Nigerian citizen has been serving the international organisation. He is the first African to be in that position and feelers indicate that he has distinguished himself in his job.

The ICAO President, prior to his election on the 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 – 2004.

Before the ICAO Audit, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had renewed Nigeria’s Category 1 Safety Status, which showed that despite imperfections, the country had maintained high safety standard that meets the expectation of FAA. The Category 1 Safety Status was what opened the door for Nigerian carriers to fly to the US and for US airlines to also fly to Nigeria.

Also, few weeks ago,Transport Security Administration (TSA) of the US visited Nigeria and assessed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and after the assessment exercise, it gave the airport a pass mark and also commended Nigeria and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for improving the security at the nation’s airports.

It could be said that the year 2006 was a turning point for Nigeria’s aviation industry. It was the year of NCAA autonomy and after that Nigeria became signatory to the Cape Town Convention and since then the country has been making its presence felt in the global aviation industry.

Industry observers say that besides the fact that in the last few years Nigeria arguably has the second highest number of private jets in Africa, Bombardier’s first port of call in the continent

became Nigeria before South Africa and Angola.

Bombardier is the manufacturer of prime private jets in addition to single isle commercial airliners.

Although that market has dwindled due to the low turn of the nation’s economy but the potential is still very high as the country is projected to become the largest market in Africa with its huge population made up of largely young people.

The ice on the cake about the prominence of Nigeria in the global aviation industry is the election of Aliu as the President of ICAO Council.

Industry analysts also said while it is important to recognise these positive developments, it must be noted that considering its potential, Nigeria still lags behind. Nigeria, they observed, has not been able to earn huge revenue from the aviation sector, considering the high population of air travellers; there is not much to cheer about Nigerian airlines, many of which are not doing well and Nigeria is yet to take advantage of its location in Africa and in the world to become a hub for West Africa.

There are two issues that are retarding Nigeria’s development in aviation: The country does not have Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility. The country’s skilled manpower in the sector is diminishing and there is no defined programme supported by government for manpower development.Aliu is aware of this. In one of his meetings during his visit he said he was working very closely with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Zaria (NCAT) to transform the college to a regional training centre of excellence as means of capacity building. This is very important because Nigeria ought to train pilots, engineers and others that should do the work for the airlines and the aviation agencies. Today majority of the pilots and engineers are expatriates. With the dwindling value of the Naira, airlines are finding it difficult to pay these expatriates in foreign currency. In fact, THISDAY learnt that some airlines are renegotiating with their expatriate staff on currency of payment modalities in the face of biting economy. But this situation would not arise if majority of the technical manpower in the sector are Nigerians.

Aliu however commended the level of infrastructural development and implementation in the industry, which he described as encouraging.

However, industry stakeholders are of the view that Nigeria would take advantage of the ICAO President’s position to attract investors that could partner with the Nigerian government and the airlines to build MRO facility for the country.

Former Director General of NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren would always say that it is the way to go.

He believes that without MRO Nigeria’s aviation growth and development would be retarded.

Aliu also said his goal for Nigeria is for the country to become a hub for West and Central Africa and with the development of NCATas manpower development centre for Africa, Nigeria will actualise its dream of becoming a major air transport centre in the world.

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Babatunde: Intelligence is the Best Weapon against Terrorism Aviation security expert and the CEO of Scope Centre, Adebayo Babatunde in this interview with Chinedu Eze, said Nigeria should strengthen her intelligence and technology at the airports to ensure that airport users are adequately protected. Excerpts: Recently, terrorists bombed Brussels airport.

How can we continue to protect Nigeria’s airports to ensure that such tragedy never happens in this country?

The first thing to look at is what actually happened at Brussels airport. There was security breach, which enable the terrorists to have access to the terminal and they were able to detonate their weapons of destruction, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDS). The second thing is to look at the efforts of the intelligent community in all of this. Situating it from the last point, you remember that some of the fellows involved in this attack had earlier been apprehended in Turkey and Turkey shared the intelligence with Belgium.

But for the failure of the local intelligence in Belgium, these people were not linked to terrorism and were let off and eventually they were able to perpetrate the act. What this tells us is that intelligence is the most potent weapon to tackle these problems.

How does it work? We are in the cyber age where if everything happens in the flash of a second and therefore terrorism has a lot to do with cybercrime. Countries are investing to counter cybercrime technology, such that the state security is able to manage and nip in the bud potential terrorism act. I listened to Euro anti-terrorism chiefs who subtly mentioned that the debt situation in Belgium could have been responsible for low investment in cyber terrorism. That was what happened.

It is very simple, if you don’t invest in the latest cyber terrorism technology and the latest counterterrorism, you cannot and you will not be able to counter this. It tells us one clear story; that we don’t focus our attention on intelligence and investment in e-technology solutions.

Having said this, it is very clear that all studies have proven that the softest target is the airport because you cannot prevent passengers from coming to the airport with their baggage.

The question is, at what point do you decide to screen passengers as people and their baggage as luggage? Is it when they have entered the terminal and you now go through the formal screening process or before the terminal?

What this means also is that if you are going to decide to implement scanning solutions from the point of entry to the terminal then you have to invest. What do you invest in? You have to invest in solutions that can detect availability of IEDs and on person’s terrorism weapons.

Looking at what is going on in Nigeria and how far the security at the airports has developed, what are the things need in order to improve on what has already been done and to keep abreast and ensure that all the airports are continuously protected?

Today’s solution is that you have to look at the entire airport security architecture. Do we have adequate remedy for the level of threat that pervades the world today? Are we able to prevent situation as it happened in Brussels? Are we able to do that in Nigeria? This is because you should not forget that security breaches don’t happen everyday. It never happened in Brussels. It happens once and once it does it has maximum economic damage.

So we need to look at what we have on ground. We need to have a comprehensive risk assessment of our airport environment. If we cannot do it at the airports we start with the international airports because attack on them will have maximum effect. Terrorists look for opportunity to strike where they can get maximum effect.

So let us look at all the international airports.

Then we do a very comprehensive and professional risk assessment. Let us first look at what is available so that we can look at solutions

security operations.

This is because if we adopt our usual knowme-I-know-you attitude it will be a problem.

So to bring it to what happened in Egypt, we must ensure that our screening operation is up to date. Everybody that passes through, that goes from the landside to the airside, which is the sterile area, must pass through our screening operations. And our screening operations must be up to the test. This is because if the passenger or whoever is going to the airside, he goes through both the body scanner and the walk through scanner. Automatically there will be detection; except if somebody closes his eyes to the result.

Now, this calls for better supervision. The kind of technology available today provides opportunity for remote supervision, so that even the supervisor does not have to be on the spot but can monitor what is going on and take action quickly if there is any attempt to breach security. So this calls for new level of training; new level of investment in technology and effective screening of our airports by security operatives.

It is clear to say that five to six years ago one will not be talking about security of our airports and because of the scattered location of our airports, the security threat levels are high; the same with the security profiles of each airport, which is different from one another. So we cannot assume that the security prepared for Lagos airport will be suitable for the airport located in Maiduguri.

Through the comprehensive risk assessment you will be able to determine the potential security threat. The gaps that are necessary and the solutions you need, to close those gaps in terms of technology and access control.

Babatunde

that can be proffered to all these gaps. Then we move on from there. That is what I think we should do.

Let’s look at security personnel at the airport, including aviation security from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the operatives from the Nigeria Air Force and the Nigeria Police. How are they going to fit into the new system?

How do we prepare them in terms of skills acquisition and training?

Well, the first thing is to do what I call personal profiling because no matter what level of security technology that you have; if you have the security personnel that are likely to

The kind of technology available today provides opportunity for remote supervision, so that even the supervisor does not have to be on the spot but can monitor what is going on and take action quickly if there is any attempt to breach security.

So this calls for new level of training; new level of investment in technology and effective screening of our airports by security operatives

breach it you won’t succeed. So the first thing is to do a background check on everybody. You see what happened in Brussels? You find out that about 50 per cent of the security personnel at the airport had links to ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). When you have such, you are already sitting on a keg of gunpowder.

So do we have the profile of manpower at our airports? What do we know about them?

So we need to first of all screen them professionally. Once we succeeded in doing that then we look at their training profile. The airport authority conducts certification training for security personnel, but not everybody passes.

Some of them don’t pass the screening test and these people are still allowed to continue to work and screen passengers or are they dropped? You cannot have a blind man conducting scanning and screening operations. He is not going to detect any threat.

So let us weed out those that do not have the capability and capacity to do any of these operations. That will be when you will have the right people doing the job.

Looking at what the local terror group we have in Nigeria is able to do, how do you prevent the tragedy that happened at Sharm el-Sheik in Egypt where security insiders enabled the movement of a bomb into Russian airliner and killed 224 people.

How do we prevent such from happening in Nigeria?

If you are familiar with aviation security operations; one of the major issues that professionals are worried about is familiarity and compromise by operators. What happens in Nigeria is quite interesting because operators sometimes allow people to pass without really screening them. Apart from that, too much familiarity and soliciting for money by the security personnel make the system porous.

We need to ensure professionalism in airport

What do you think government should do to prevent terror attacks and runway incursion at the airports?

Let’s first of all look at the essence of aviation security; it is for the protection of air travellers from unlawful interferences. Now there are basic structures set up to ensure that this happens. Among the structure is the structure of airport security itself, demarcation of specific areas of the airports, the land side, the airside and the perimeter, then you have the process of aircraft security, areas for screening passengers and their baggage, cabin baggage, then others like courier mails etc. then you have structure for screening merchant supplies which include in-flight and cabin supplies, food and the rest.

Of course you will also look at scanning of vehicles to the airside including those used for fuel refill for the aircraft. Most importantly you look at the staff recruitment processes to ensure that you do your full comprehensive background screening so that you don’t employ criminals and terrorists as aviation security operatives.

Then you look at the standard for the scanning technology that you apply. So, all of these, put together are the basic requirement used to put in place a thorough aviation security; man and equipment. These are also covered in a particular document in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Every country is enjoined to have its own national security conduct.

The national security programme detailed all of these as it relates to the aviation security programme, which also has a correlation with the integrated national security programme because the nation has its own national security document. So the national aviation security programme is just an integral part of the global security programme. You also have what you regard as the national quality control, which is basically the process of monitoring and ensuring compliance, which is the duty of the civil aviation authority; in our case it is the NCAA.

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The Yearning for Review of the Cabotage Act Calls for a thorough review of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act of 2003 have intensified in recent times, writes John Iwori Since the enactment of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act Number 0.5 of 2003, it has not really achieved its objectives. Otherwise known as the Cabotage Act, the law was enacted in order to place Nigeria in a vantage position to derive maximum benefits from the huge potential in the maritime industry.

However, this has not happened. Hence, stakeholders have been calling for a review of the act. Many factors are responsible for the calls but the main issue is that the Act has gone through several administrations in the last 13 years yet its implementation has not yielded expected dividends.

To some stakeholders in the maritime industry, this should not be allowed to continue in the years ahead if the provisions of the Act are to achieve the set goals and objectives.

The Act borrowed substantially from the provisions of the Jones Act in the United States of America (USA). It emanated from the clamour for a law that would give legal backing to the earnest desire of Nigerians, especially indigenous ship owners to take their destiny in their own hands and occupy the rightful place in the scheme of things in Nigeria’s maritime industry. To attain its set goals and objectives, the Act provides that vessels that vessels in cabotage must not only be owned by Nigerians, crew by Nigerians but also built in Nigeria. The framers of the provisions of the Act envisaged that it is the strict implementation would stop foreign vessels from lifting crude oil or other cargoes within Nigeria’s territorial waters thereby freeing such cargoes for Nigerian ship owners. However, in spite of the strict provisions of the Act, Nigerians, particularly indigenous ship owners, are yet to enjoy the benefits.

Provisions of the Act The Act in Part 1, (2) defined cabotage as: “The carriage of goods by vessel or any other mode of transport, from one place in Nigeria or above Nigeria waters to any other place in Nigeria or above Nigeria waters, either directly or via a place outside Nigeria and includes the carriage of goods in relation to the exploration, exploitation or transportation of the mineral or non-living natural resources of Nigeria whether in or under Nigerian waters.”

Act explains that cabotage is the “carriage of passengers by vessel from any place in Nigeria situated on lake of river to the same place, or to any other place in Nigeria, either directly or a place outside Nigeria to the same place without any call at any port outside Nigeria or to any other place in Nigeria, other than as an in -transit or emergency call, either directly or via a place outside Nigeria.”

Implementation In order to ensure that its successful implementation, the Act also established the Cabotage Vessels Financing Fund (CVFF).The management of the CVFF was put in the hands of Nigeria’s apex maritime regulatory authority, the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). The agency said as at January, 2016, not less than N50 billion has accrued into the cabotage fund.

However, since establishment of the fund no Nigerian ship owner has succeeded in accessing it despite repeated promises by successive helmsmen in the Federal Ministry of Transportation and NIMASA. The authorities had raised the hopes of indigenous ship through a process that was expected to lead to the release of the funds. In this regard, primary lending institutions (PLIs) comprising commercial banks, meant to disburse the fund were selected. Yet no disbursement has been made.

Clamour for Review/Losses The waiting game continues. It is this endless wait for the disbursement of CVFF

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi

that has fuelled the clamour for the review of the Act. Another factor responsible for the strident calls for the review of the provisions of the Act is the huge losses that Nigerians, especially indigenous ship owners, have been incurring since 2003.

Stakeholders in the maritime industry are unanimous on the huge losses of Nigeria due to the poor execution of the Act. Stakeholders agree that that indigenous ship owners have not fared well in the implementation of cabotage in the country while foreign ship owners are still calling the shots. This is contrary to the provisions of the Act. For instance, the Nigeria Indigenous Ship owners Association (NISA) puts the loss suffered by indigenous operators at N2 trillion annually.

The association, which is the oldest forum for indigenous ship owners, said the loss arose from the huge capital flight to foreign countries that own vessels used to lift about 150 million tonnes of cargoes, especially crude oil and petroleum products such as premium motor spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol.

The President of NISA, Captain Niyi Olabinjo said: “Nigeria is losing N2 trillion annually from shipping business. From fisheries, because we are not protecting our water, other nations are taking our fish away and we are instead importing fish. We are losing about $2 billion that is about N300 billion. Then we are also losing the entire insurance of that amount because if these ships are working, they will be insured. So our insurance companies also lose N16.5 billion. In terms of employment, Nigeria is losing five million jobs”.

According to him, “If you look at the number of ships to be engaged, the total number of ships that called at Nigeria ports for one year is over 4,000, so you can imagine where indigenous ships are working. Then we have our oil. We produce 2.5 million barrels per day. In one month, that gives us about 70 million barrels. Over 20 ships are needed to lift the oil. So, we calculated the number of ships that are required in every sector. We also realised that we need about one million direct employments. But you know that shipping also has auxiliary

service providers, including the financial sector, banks and insurance.”

Nigeria remains an import dependent country, importing virtually everything. On the other hand, Nigeria exports her crude oil and imports its derivatives. Ironically, Nigerian ship owners are not involved in the export and import of these cargoes.

The former Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Ziakede Patrck Akpobolokemi also expressed regret at the losses incurred by Nigeria as a result of the poor execution of the Act. According to him, Nigeria loses an estimated $3 billion (about N465 billion) annually to foreign seafarers.

“If you add the remuneration of other foreigners in the shipping and logistics chain, we would probably be talking of losing about double this amount. The implication of retaining about $6 billion in the country annually cannot be underestimated. Besides, a lot of foreign income can also be earned from seafarers working on foreign-flagged vessels,” Akpobolokemi said.

Blocking the Loopholes Stakeholders have said that going forward, all hands must be on deck to block all the loopholes in the implementation of the Act. This, they said, could be attained if the federal government take the lead in ensuring that it put measures in place to successfully implement the Act. According to them, blocking the loopholes in the Act by way of a review is the best way to go. They, however, insisted that the government should strive to be the forefront in this regard.

The Chairman of Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Greg Ogbeifun called for federal government’s urgent intervention in the nation’s shipping industry.

He hinged his call on the present slide in the price of crude oil in the international market which he argued, had impacted negatively on the indigenous shipping.

Ogbeifun, who is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Starzs Investment Limited, noted that indigenous ship owners are fully involved in the oil and gas industry.

Ogbeifun argued that the poor condition

of Nigerian shipping industry has been compounded by the continuous low price of crude oil in the international market since last year. While highlighting that a good number of Nigerian shipping companies were presently idle because they were unable to secure contract from the international oil companies (IOCs) as a result of the prevailing economic situation, he stated that it had become imperative for shipping practitioners to join hands with the government on how to shift attention to non-oil exports in the months ahead.

According to him, thousands of container vessels are calling and moving out of Nigerian ports. No single Nigerian ship is involved in the shipment of these cargoes.

“The federal government must play a pivotal role by creating opportunities for indigenous ship owners, not only to ensure their survival, but to enable them assist and promote government’s employment dreams, with the government offering the indigenous operators the right of first refusal, in the shipment of non-oil exports,” he said.

Ogbeifun added the federal government should see the need to encourage smaller vessels to do trans-shipment of cargo from Lagos ports to Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt and Calabar port as well as other ports in the neighbouring countries, to reduce container trucks on the roads, while reinvigorating the economy.

“We should begin this initiative without delay.

It will reduce the number of containers on the road, boost the economy, create jobs and help in the training of cadets. Government agencies, especially the Nigerian Shippers Council need to take the bull by the horn. Government has a critical role to play in this regard. Government must encourage the stakeholders to drive the sector, by supporting them like Britain. While most ship owners prefer to dry dock their vessels within the confines of the routes they operate, it was a pity that up till now, Nigeria has no facility that can be used by a 30,000 tons ships,” he said.

He stated that as at today, shipbuilding is relatively non-existent in Nigeria. “The building of ships involves enormous amounts of money.

At the moment, Nigeria has only one ship building yard located in Onne, Rivers State, while there are other small yards that build barges and fibre glass small personnel-carriers.

The big shipyards and dockyards capable of meeting the maintenance needs of heavy docking or for serious general ship repairs are not available here. The country was thoroughly losing the much revenue it ought to attract, as clients are forced to seek for such services elsewhere,” Ogbeifun said.

Timely Intervention The need for timely intervention in the implementation of the Act cannot be over stressed. The timely intervention is key in the propose amendment of the Act. This is due to the prolong delay associated with the passage of bills in the National Assembly. The federal government needs to immediately present the Act for amendment.

It should be doing so at the twilight of its tenure. If the request for its amendment is not done on time, the present 8th session of the National Assembly might not likely complete it before the expiration of its tenure, thereby prolonging the present challenges associated with the implementation of the Act. There are fears that if the legislative arm of government does not give the proposed amendment of the Act the desired attention, the primary purpose for which the Act was enacted over a decade ago may not be realised.

This is the basis of the strident calls in some quarters for the speedy review of the Act so that Nigerians, particularly indigenous ship owners can begin to reap the huge benefits in the Act as it is the case in many other maritime nations where Cabotage is

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BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

Piracy, Still an Ever Present Threat With the recent hijack of an oil vessel, MT Sampatiki and abduction of its crew in Delta State, Nosa Alekhuogie reasons that adequate measures should be put in place by the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA to rid the nation’s waterways of piracy

Vessel on the sea

Maritime insecurity in Nigeria waters keeps growing at a disturbing rate and is threatening the global flow of goods and services across the world’s shipping lines.

Maritime operators have continued to witness intense attacks as pirates have made their vessels carrying oil and gas their targets.

Although these attacks have been on over the years, the rate has increased in recent times. Over 13 vessels have been hijacked on Nigerian territorial waters between 2015 and 2016, showing the dangerous dimension the trend is assuming.

Porous security on the waterways While there have been efforts to stop these attacks, it is obvious that such efforts are not good enough. Analysts said there is the need for more commitment to safeguard the territorial waters against all forms of threats including piracy, sea robbery, poaching.

In view of the increasing hijacks and kidnapping over the years, it is certain that the security on our territorial waters is very porous and needs to be tightened.

In Nigeria, piracy and maritime militant activities are particularly rampant in the waters and around the coast of the Niger Delta.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside pointed out that there is no way security can always be readily available at all times but prompt response is very paramount.

While NIMASA takes responsibility for activities in the maritime industry, the agency needs the collaboration of other security agencies and stakeholders to make

our waterways safer.

Analysts said there should be a division of responsibilities between the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Police so the safety of the waterways is not left to NIMASA alone.

Some stakeholders have also argued that the benefits of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA have not been well maximised.

Some have said the Navy’s largely dysfunctional logistical and administrative infrastructure is also an underlying problem contributing largely to the number of hijacks on the high sea.

However, Peterside noted that the INTERPOL and the Nigerian Navy are putting in efforts to ensure that if the piracy cannot be completely eradicated, it should at least, be reduced to the barest minimal.

Some stakeholders have also argued that the benefits of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA have not been well maximised

Securing the water ways The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has promised that the Nigeria’s maritime sector will become the hub of trade in Africa. This can only be possible if the Nigerian territorial waters are secure.

Amaechi, had at a recent training workshop on port state control in Lagos, expressed the hope that with an enhanced safety regime and the full cooperation of core maritime stakeholders, the safety of the coastal waters would be guaranteed, which will in turn boost the economic development in the maritime sector.

Experts and stakeholders have continually called on the federal government and several agencies of the government, NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy in particular, to take full responsibility to curb the menace of piracy and other illegal activities on our waterways.

NIMASA, which has also proposed a draft of the Anti-piracy Bill to the National Assembly, explained that the satellite surveillance facility is still very active.

According to UK’s maritime intelligence and operations company Dryad Maritime, thieves will almost certainly continue to board and rob vessels on an opportunistic basis throughout West Africa, make the most of dark, nights and lax on board security.

It is possible that hijack for cargo theft will again increase as the country adjusts to the lower price of fuel.

During a recent teleconference in Lagos, the Chief of Multinational Coordination Centre Zone D Captain , Sylvester Founkoua Mbah advised the Nigerian government to ensure that West and Central African countries worked together to combat piracy, illicit

trafficking and illegal fishing, among others.

He remarked that government needed to improve its maritime capabilities, expertise and also, collaborate with other membercountries of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) and Economic Community of Central African State (ECCAS) to boost security on the waterways.

He said: “Regional security is vital to us all, and mutual understanding makes us a stronger, faster team. Maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea has improved due to our collective efforts. It takes strength, co-operation, and commitment to combat the criminals who operate at sea. That is why we talked about a collective partnership and with the American Navy and African navies to train together in order to overcome these threats.”

Lasting Solutions to Piracy Going by the history of piracy in countries like the United States of America, the case of ship hijacking is rarely heard. The US coast guard is extremely alert and professional and the coast is well guarded. Can Nigeria with piracy activities along her coasts say the same? This is the question on the lips of many stakeholders.

Though there has been several debates about the use of armed security teams, which is not only centered on the legality of the weapons, but also the obvious associated dangers of having arms on board oil and gas tankers, which are floating bombs.

Stakeholders in the maritime sector have suggested that the various Nigerian maritime security operatives should be well trained and mobilised to be able to combat the piracy because these pirates come heavily prepared.

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

CWG Explains Loss, Refocuses US Firm to Assist SMEs Business Strategy Leverage $10bn Credit Line Goddy Egene Exchange rate losses, reduction in margins in traditional reseller business and inability to transfer increased cost of doing business to customers combine to affect the bottom-line of Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) for 2015.

The company, which is into systems integration, operating in Nigeria and other part of Africa, had sent a profit warning to the capital market community that it would end the 2015 year with a loss.

Although the company recorded a gross profit of N2.443 billion, it ended with a loss after tax of N1.796 billion. According to CWG, foreign exchange loss to the tune of N600 million was

recognised arising from the fluctuations in the exchange rate, the decline in United States dollars availability and the dearth of hedging options.

“This significantly impacted CWG’s traditional business which is in most part vulnerable to foreign exchange risks (payments from customers are in naira while the corresponding payments to Original Equipment Manufacturers and other partners are in dollars),” it said.

The company added that it wrote off N431 million following technology changes and ongoing business model changes which made some previous investments such as the investments in Very Small Aperture Terminal(VSAT)) and Multiprotocol Label Switching

(MPLS) network obsolete.

“This performance occurred on the back of a challenging and uncertain macroeconomic environment including the general elections of 2015 and the subsequent takeover by a new administration which caused significant delays in investments by our traditional customers,” the company noted.

Looking ahead, CWG said despite the many challenges of 2015, it has stayed focused on re-inventing itself to be in better control of its costs, margins and product offering, saying it is in the last stages of transition from a reseller of technology to being a provider of technology platforms that enable growth across a broad spectrum of the economy.

Nosa Alekhuogie In a bid to ease indigenous entrepreneurs access to funds in the country, a financial consulting firm, King Solomon Capital Empire, has said it is set to assist them (entrepreneurs ) secure alternative funding solutions outside the local banks.

Speaking last week ahead of an impending business finance seminar billed for Lagos on Saturday, the Chief Executive of King Solomon Capital Empire, Dr. Wilson Christson, said the firm would help entrepreneurs and financial institutions with consultancy services on how to access loans and financial instruments to the tune of $1 million to $10 billion. Christson

said: “Local banks do not have enough cash flow to fund redundant projects littered across the country,”, adding, “Nigeria banks, governments, entrepreneurs, importers and exporters should not have any issue raising funds to execute any kind of project.”

Speaking on the seminar being organised by the firm tagged: ‘Africa Business Opportunity Seminar’, which he said is a means to achieving the target, Christson said: “This is aimed at increasing business and investment opportunities in Nigeria and Africa at large, and also to provide for business owners, alternative funding solutions outside the local banks. Our aim also is to ensure that

businesses we fund succeed.”

While acknowledging that Nigeria provides the highest return on investment than any other country in the world, the US-based businessman and financial analyst said, “for the seminar, we are expecting bankers, business owners, financial institutions, project owners, among others.

We’re ready to teach them how to understand and leverage financial instruments to generate funds so that they won’t be relying heavily on customers’ deposit. We are capable and ready to assist SMEs in Nigeria.”

Christson urged participants to come with their proposals and business partners for a one on one interaction with the firm to enable it know how best to

IXPN Upgrades Operation to Become West Africa’s Regional IXP

Emma Okonji

The Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) has achieved a major milestone in a bid to expand its operations, by elevating to the status of the West African Regional Internet Exchange Point (IXP).

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IXPN, Mr. Muhammed Rudman, who made the disclosure in Lagos recently, said the stride was

made by successfully vying in the Africa Union Commission’s (AUC) African Internet Exchange System (AXIS) project for a Regional Internet Exchange Point (RIXP) for West Africa.

Until the recent development, the IXPN, a core network infrastructure provider company that allows several Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Telecommunications companies, Carriers, and Content Providers, to exchange traffic among their networks

locally, was primarily focused on localising internet traffic in Nigeria by interconnecting Nigerian networks. While explaining the import of its new status, Rudman said: “IXPN has moved from national to a regional service provider. Its infrastructure shall be upgraded in consonance to its new rules to ensure a more resilient operation in the function of connecting all other Internet Exchange Points in the region and to accentuate

its capacity to handle the traffic coming thereby.” According to him, “the fact that the regional IXP for West Africa is domiciled in Nigeria should leap frog the nation to the information hub in the West African sub-region. It will invariably boost patronage of complementary and ancillary services in Nigeria from telecoms companies, content providers and other IP-centric organisations in the region.”

Becoming the regional IXP

holds great prospects for the Nigeria economy. Typically, if the big telecoms companies and ISPs across the region connect to us, it will make the country the main hub for information communication exchange within the region, which would eventually attract regional and global content providers into the country, and thus translating to more patronage for our data centres, Rudman said.

He explained that if Nigeria

becomes the hub in the region, its multiplier effect would mean submarine cables in the country will sell more capacity, Data Centre in the country will have more patronage from the West Africa region, as major Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies within the region will begin to host their information in Nigeria locally, with more interconnection of the service provider.

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CITYSTRINGS

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

The enthusiastic crowd at the Ofala festival

Ukpo Ofala: A Celebration of Culture

Kasie Abone writes that the annual Ukpo Ofala festival has grown to become an incredible fiesta

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fala festival in Igbo land is an occasion for stock taking and planning for the beginning of a New Year. It is also a day to thank God for a fruitful year and pray for a better year ahead. The day is marked with colour, fun and funfair including dancing, masquerade and other cultural performances. Friends and well-wishers and kinsmen and women troop out in their hundreds to join the royal fathers in the celebrations.

But for Igbo kingdom besides the cultural significance of the annual ritual, Ofala festival is gradually assuming a completely different dimension. Thanks to the chief promoter of the fiesta, Prince Arthur Eze, the younger brother to the royal father, Igwe Dr. Robert Eze, the Okofia VI, most respected business man and politician whose influence and philantrophy has broken barriers of region, religion and tribe.

It has become a day to share love and touch humanity with kind gestures. It is also wearing a political tag as the event is attended by the timbre and calibre of the political class.

In addition, the day also is used to set the mood for Christmas as the eve of the D-Day is marked with carols by different choir groups from different parts of the state. Clergy men irrespective of denominations also use the opportunity of the glorious occasion to pray for the town, Anambra State and the country at large.

The last edition, 24th in series was very significant in the sense that besides parading an array of over 400 clergy men, it also served as a gathering of political heavy weights, business moguls and of course a moment to show love

to the less privileged.

As early as about a week to the event when the news went round that Prince Eze, popularly called Ozoigbo Ndu (‘Saver of Lives’ in recognition of his generosity) had returned to town, queues began to form on daily basis at the entrance of his palatial country home. From far and near, they congregated for a windfall; the indigent, the job seekers, artisans, the widows, the sick all seeking one form of help or another. And

But for Igbo kingdom besides the cultural significance of the annual ritual, Ofala festival is gradually assuming a completely different dimension. Thanks to the chief promoter of the fiesta Prince Arthur Eze, the younger brother to the royal father, Igwe Dr. Robert Eze, the Okofia VI, most respected business man and politician whose influence and philantrophy has broken barriers of region, religion and tribe

it did come in droves.

The Ofala was preceded by a Christmas carol night, officiated by the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Rt. Rev. Alexander Ibezim and attended by clergy men from different denominations and a beehive of political and business activities by heavy weights. Traditional rulers from other communities from within and outside the state also came to show support and camaraderie to one of their own. The evening featured choir competition by different choir groups who rendered soulful songs, speeches and admonitions, Christmas carol and gospel songs to usher in the Christmas and New Year in advance, prayers and giving out gifts.

Sumptuous meals and assortment of drinks were in abundant supply too much that many had to take away.

The Ofala began the next day with the traditional offering of prayers and blessing of the subjects by the royal father, Igwe Dr. Robert Eze, with the breaking of kola nuts.

This was followed by the royal outing to greet his subjects, friends and well-wishers.

This was done in an atmosphere of pomp and pageantry made more joyous by a long procession of different cultural musical groups displaying their rich cultural heritage of the Ukpo kingdom.

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, led a galaxy of eminent politicians, government functionaries and business moguls to the event. They include Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, former National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Minister for Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Ben Obi, Senator Andy Ubah,

Senator Annie Okonkwo, Britannia U Ltd CEO, Mrs. Uju Ifejika, Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, Lt. Col. Kalaja from 302 FAR Army Regiment, Onitsha among many others.

Chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council and the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe led other traditional rulers including Igwe of Igboukwu, Dr. Martin Eze (Idu II), Alhaji Isyaku Abdullahi, The Turakin of Jiboga, Igwe Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu, Igwe of Alor, HRH Igwe Mac Anthony Elibe Okonkwo, Eze Okovo Kingdom, Chief Emmanuel Igwu-Ibeagwanike, and numerous other royal fathers to grace the occasion.

Prince Arthur Eze, resplendent in his white traditional chieftaincy regalia joyfully embraced and ushered guests into the palatial Ofala arena and his sprawling castle bubbling with a beehive of activities which lasted from dawn to dusk with assortment of dances and masquerade performances thrilling the mammoth audience.

In a sermon during the purification commemorative church service to herald the festival held at the palace, Bishop Ibezim enjoined Nigerians to repent and surrender their lives to God whose kingdom is almost at hand as the world approaches rapture. The bishop prayed for the successful reign of Igwe Eze and the continued peace and progress of the state and Nigeria emphasising that the situation in the world today calls for soul searching by everyone if we can make the world a better place to live in.

Delivering his good will message, Igwe Eze thanked God for granting him the grace to celebrate the 24th Ofala edition on the throne.

He congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari

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CITYSTRINGS

His Royal Highness, Igwe Robert Eze, the Igwe of Ukpo Kingdom

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano (middle), Prince Arthur Ezeand Mrs. Uju Ifejirika of Britannia U Ltd and other dignitaries at the Ofala festival

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano (R)and Prince Arthur Eze, in a chat at the Ofala festival

and his Vice, Yemi Osinbajo for their victory at the polls and wished them a successful tenure.

Igwe Eze further urged the President to expedite action on the repairs of the badly dilapidated federal highways and infrastructures in the area especially the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. He also commended Governor Willie Obiano for recording such enviable achievements within a short period of time especially in the areas of security, restoration of peace and general infrastructural development. While thanking the governor for appointing some indigenes of the town in his government, he called on him to fast-track actions towards the completion of the strategic byepass linking Ukpo kingdom and Oyeagu-Abagana. He thanked his brother, Prince Arthur Eze, the President General of Ukpo Improvement Union (UIU), Gp. Capt.

Benson Okoye (rtd) and all the illustrious sons and daughters of the town and their friends who contributed immeasurably to the success of the festival.

In his maiden address at the occasion, Okoye thanked God for the reign of Igwe Eze and the massive support given to the town union executives by Ukpo indigenes especially Prince Arthur Eze who helped in establishing a business centre equipped with 25 computers to provide jobs opportunities to the youths in the town.

Okoye further disclosed that the new leadership of the town union planned to establish two modern skills acquisition centres and a befitting civic centre while scholarships had been awarded to deserving students, cultural reawakening, community vigilante in support of government efforts to rid the state of crime and criminality. He called for more support to the town union.

The high points of the day were the conferment of titles to deserving members of the society and the launch of Premier Breweries owned by the prince of Ukpo kingdom.

Prince Arthur Ezeh welcomes guests to the palace during the Ofala

Prince Arthur Eze addressing his guests

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COALITION FOR CHANGE #09 Oni Obi Street, Edo State, Nigeria.

OPEN LETTER TO MR. PRESIDENT

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n a full page advertorial published in several newspapers this week, a certain company, Oil Mogul Nigeria Limited, published an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari raising certain issues bordering on alleged excesses of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu.

As a group that believes in accountability and a clean break from the past characterised by ‘business as usual,’ to a future where everyone must account for his or her actions and inactions, we decided to immediately investigate the issues raised in the publication before taking on Dr. Kachikwu headlong.

Our findings, however, turned out to be the direct opposite of what was published. At the end, we realised that the advertisers of the alleged sins of Dr. Kachikwu had ended up advertising their ignorance and selfish interest.

First of all, there is something fictitious about the address of Oil Mogul Nigeria Limited. In the said publication, the office address is: 17, Calcuta Crescent, GRA, Apapa, Lagos.

However, on a certain website with the same company’s logo, the office address is: 1291, Osi-Esa Crescent, Amuwo Odofin GRA, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos. This contradiction is suspicious. How can one company have two different addresses on two different platforms—newspaper and website?

In the said publication, some pedestrian issues were raised against Dr Kachikwu who is also the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Under normal circumstances, we would have ignored the publication because it lacked factual substance.

But we know that when truth is subdued or locked, falsehood reigns.

It is clear that sponsors of the publication are surely aggrieved by the transparent policies introduced by the Buhari administration to clean the NNPC of its past rot and put in place a more effective managerial structure aimed at delivering on the original mandate of the Corporation.

It is absolutely nauseating to have them compare the current NNPC to the NNPC under Mrs. Dezani AllisonMadueke.

For instance, they complained about “selection and imposition of contractors without regard (to) due process or competence.” What are the facts? We dare them to publish the names of such incompetent contractors and how they were picked.

For the avoidance of doubt, NAPIMS, which is the investment arm of the NNPC is the body that supervises the activities of the IOCs, hitherto reported to the GED. At what point did Kachikwu now pick the contractors?

The advertisers further displayed irresponsible falsehood by alleging that Dr Kachikwu “has not been able to engage the IOCs (International Oil Companies) towards realising government’s objectives.”

Lies, complete bare-faced lies! The Minister of State and

relevant officers of the NNPC have engaged the IOCs for at least 15 times on various issues and ways to improve efficiency and reinvigorate the oil industry. Specifically, the Minister of State, as part of these efforts, had gotten the IOCs to sell foreign exchange to oil marketers to ease importation of petroleum products. The minister has also engaged the IOCs in negotiating, for the first time in our recent industry history, the exit strategy for cash calls and the attraction of funding into the industry.

Those familiar with the operations of the oil sector know that it is impossible to take any action on these issues without talking to the IOCs. Or wait a minute: did the IOCs complain to Oil Mogul about this? IOCs have even commended the GMD for this serious engagement which they say never existed at this level in the past.

The advertisers have also questioned the on-going restructuring of the NNPC. Their conclusion is that the exercise has left too much power with Dr. Kachikwu. The first question is: are they aware that this is a public institution; and that Dr Kachikwu is not implementing a personal agenda? Are they also aware that by the restructuring, there is a complete devolution of power; unlike what was in the past? Each of the independent entities is to be managed by CEOs who only reports to the GMD for smooth coordination.

By asking Buhari to investigate the activities of Dr. Kachikwu and reverse the on-going restructuring, the sponsors of the advertisement are simply asking the President who is also the Minister of Petroleum Resources to investigate himself.

The truth is that the President and other right thinking members of the society see the restructuring as the only way forward for the NNPC. Lastly, is the issue of the use of private jet. For avoidance of doubt, Dr. Kachikwu does not own or operate a private jet; neither has he hired one since assumption of office. He is sometimes availed the use of logistic resources by the IOCs to support the efficiency of his activities as Minister; and this is at no cost to the Federal Government of Nigeria; unlike what operated in the previous regime.

We expected Oil Mogul and its co-travellers to have also said that Dr Kachikwu is still living in a personal rented apartment since he assumed office; or is still driving his personal car; at no cost to government. Yet, they have chosen to ignore these important facts and decided to focus on simplistic selfish issues.

Enough of these distractions; please Dr. Kachikwu is not a saint but he must be left alone to do his job. Managing the oil sector in a depressed economy is not a tea party. He needs all the concentration required for the job. Whoever has been genuinely disqualified from doing business with the NNPC should look elsewhere and stop resorting to cheap blackmail.

Isaac T. EJEH (Chief) Director

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FRIDAY APRIL 8 2016 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

South Sudan’s Opposition Leader to Return to Juba South Sudan’s opposition leader, Riek Machar said yesterday that he would return to the capital, Juba on April 18, to form a transitional government with President Salva Kiir, more than two years after a feud between the two men erupted into war.

Kiir sacked Machar as vice president in 2013, exacerbating a political dispute that erupted into fighting in December that year between soldiers loyal to both men, reopening ethnic rifts between Kiir’s Dinka group and Machar’s Nuer.

Fighting was initially contained to Juba but Machar and his supporters left the capital. After that violence spread across South Sudan, killing thousands and forcing more than 2.3 million people to flee their homes.

Under pressure from the United States, the United Nations and other powers, the sides signed an initial peace deal in August and agreed to share out ministerial positions in January. The deal has broken down repeatedly.

“I am therefore confirming the

date of my arrival to be April 18 and thereafter form with President Kiir the Transitional Government of National Unity and hold the Transitional National Council of Ministers,” Machar said in a letter to the head of the body monitoring the implementation of the peace deal.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan said in a statement on Wednesday it had helped Machar’s SPLM/A group transport 802 military and police officers to

The United Nations envoy to Libya has urged a rapid, complete handover of power to a unity government that arrived in Tripoli a week ago, warning that a fragile peace in the city may not hold if the new government is unable to deliver.

Martin Kobler also called on Libya’s internationally recognised eastern parliament on Wednesday to hold a long-sought vote on whether to approve the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), telling Reuters in an interview that the chamber risked being sidelined if it failed to do so.

Shortly after he spoke the prime minister of Tripoli’s self-declared National Salvation government

issued a statement calling on his ministers to stay in place. That contradicted a statement backed by some ministers on Tuesday saying the National Salvation government was stepping down.

The GNA emerged from a U.N.-mediated deal signed in December and aimed at resolving the political chaos that engulfed Libya after the 2011 overthrow of autocrat Muammar Gaddafi. From 2014 the country had two pairs of rival parliaments and governments in Tripoli and the east, both backed by loose coalitions of armed brigades.

Western powers are backing the GNA as the best chance for uniting armed factions against Islamic State in Libya, stemming

the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean, and rescuing the economy by reviving oil production.

Kobler, who visited Tripoli on Tuesday, said a handover of power at the foreign ministry was yet to be replicated in other ministries.“We know of ministers who are willing to hand over,” he said. “But the ministers have to change, they have to peacefully hand over their power and give the new administration to the Government of National Accord.”

A source close to National Salvation government head Khalifa Ghwell said his ministers were divided over whether to hand over power. He said Ghwell was still in Tripoli but no longer working out

I formerly known and addressed as FIMBAR AUSTIN, now wish to be known and addressed as EKEH AUSTIN CAJETAN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Juba, including two of its generals.

Machar said in February that a condition to his return to Juba and taking up his old position of vice president was the demilitarisation of the capital and that some of his soldiers be allowed to return with him.

The conflict has hit hard the economy of South Sudan, an oil exporter. Its currency has weakened, inflation has spiralled and oil revenues have dropped due to falling production and falling world prices.

UN Envoy Urges Rapid Libyan Handover of his old office, which has been secured by an armed brigade loyal to the GNA. Kobler said the GNA needed to be able to quickly improve economic conditions and failing health services.

“It can change tomorrow, but now it’s quiet. If the government doesn’t deliver, it will not stay quiet.”The GNA’s leadership, or Presidential Council, has been operating out of a naval base in Tripoli, where Kobler said it was being guarded by “regular forces”.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to inform the public that I, AROWOLO ADELE ABRAHAM is also known and called AROWOLO ABRAHAM AKINDELE from birth.

Hence all documents in the name of AROWOLO ADELE ABRAHAM and those of AROWOLO ABRAHAM AKINDELE is for the same person and thus remain valid for legitimate business transactions.

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WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

Islam and the Idea of Worship Spahic Omer/IslamiCity Islam teaches that man has been created as Allah’s vicegerent on earth. With his honorable vicegerency (khilafah) mission, man signifies both the climax and the epicenter of Allah’s act of creation and its divine purpose. As such, when completely submitting to the Will and Word of his Creator and Master – as man’s ultimate fate ought to be – man elevates himself to the highest level in the hierarchy of life’s multifaceted constituents and beings, including angels. Man’s life, then, in its totality becomes one sweet song of worshipping, glorifying and praising Allah, the Lord of the universe. It becomes a form of worship (‘ibadah) where Allah in all the life interests and pursuits of man becomes the ultimate object of all his spiritual cravings and desires.

In Islam, life is a perfectly meaningful, consequential, purposeful, beautiful, pure and wholesome affair. Thus, it is regarded as sacred, and living it in accordance with Allah’s guidance, which is meant for that very purpose, is synonymous with worship and submission to Allah. Allah says that He had created both men and Jinns only that they may worship and serve Him (al-Dhariyat, 56). It follows that for a person to thus live his life is to keep things in a natural order, to remain on the right path and to remain faithful and loyal to Allah. It means, furthermore, that he is bound to remain faithful to his inner self and to what he really is and was always meant to be.

Conversely, for a person to alienate an aspect of his life from the inspiration and guidance of Allah is to start moving towards an aberrant order of things, unfaithfulness, and disloyalty to Allah.

The more estranged his life aspects from divine guidance and inspiration, the more alienated from Allah a man becomes, and the more deviant and anomalous the life tendencies become, and the more alienated from, and deceitful towards, his intrinsic self and its disposition, a man becomes.

As Muhammad Iqbal remarked: “When faith is lost then so is peace, And there is no life for the one who is not enlivened by religion (Islam), Whoever is pleased with a life bereft of faith Has made total ruin to be life’s substance.”

Hence, Islamic pure religious rituals, which have been prescribed to be performed at appointed times, are to be viewed as neither separated from nor imposed superfluous actions on the smooth flow of everyday activities. Rather, such religious rituals are to be viewed as life’s integral dimension which inspires, guides, facilitates, and gives a perfect sense to the rest of life’s dimensions. The two systems of expression (spiritual and physical), construct a perfect whole which transcends them and aims for a higher metaphysical order of ideas and things where its full potential can only be fully realized.

However, if the two systems are separated, always being at odds and on a collision course with each other, the religious rituals will then be reduced to mere mechanical and spiritless movements and acts, spawning in turn a lifestyle deeply rooted in a deadening formalism which is incapable of bringing much good to anyone.

As per the same proposition, the physical aspects of human existence, once separated from divinity, will become ephemeral, imprudent, hollow, and, more often than not, perilous. The spiritual and physical aspects of life need each other for their individual as well as collective realizations. Man’s fulfillment of his vicegerency mission completely depends on such a coalition. Without it, man would not really be a man, his life a life, and his life mission a mission. Islamic worship combines the mundane with the spiritual, the individual with the society, and the internal soul with the external body.

Islam is a religion of actions and deeds. Islam is a religion of life accomplishments. Islam is life, and life, the way Allah created and predetermined it, echoes the quintessence and ethos of Islam. The word “islam” which implies a total submission to Allah through one’s acts, words and thoughts, clearly attests to it. Islam is not a religion of mere words, slogans, or symbols. Islam is not a religion of an abstract philosophy, or a set of sheer religious rituals. Islam knows no distinction between the spiritual and material realms of existence along the ideological and ontological lines. To assert something like that is to distort the Islamic message and to live in the wrong. Due to the unity and oneness of Allah, Islam likewise propagates the unity and oneness of the truth and of the meaning,

purpose and providence of life and man.

Moreover, Islam is a religion of culture and civilization. It is as much a matter of a personal spiritual transformation and enrichment, as it is a matter of an all-embracing societal upbringing, reform, and advancement. Islam is a religion of wisdom and erudition where revelation and reason are not at loggerheads with each other.

Rather, they cooperate with and support each other, each one knowing its respective intent and scope, while honoring the intent and scope of the other pole. Islam is a rational religion.

Practicing Islam inevitably means the creation of a comprehensive culture and civilization that carry the imprints of Islamic values, teachings and principles, in some aspects more and in other aspects less. Islam is so much concerned about quenching man’s thirst for socializing and interacting with others that some people could not help observing that Islam, as a matter of fact, have a preference for the sedentary over the nomad, and for the city dweller over the villager. While contending that Islam is a “profoundly urban faith”, those people were implicitly suggesting the universalism, comprehensiveness, pragmatism and dynamism of Islam’s teachings and value and belief systems, which in no way can be restricted to a geographical region, a point of time, a group of people, or a single aspect – or a few aspects – of human existence.

It was because of this underlining character of Islam, surely, that after Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had received in the cave of Khira’ his first revelation, and with it his appointment as a messenger of Allah to people, where heretofore he used to spend long periods contemplating and reflecting on the spiritual depression and failure of the world around him, he subsequently never returned to the cave. He did so because Islam is not a religion of isolation to be practiced by certain ascetic individuals away from the masses and the pressing realities of life. It must be pointed out that the whole process of the Islamic transformation project started right in the cave of Khira’, but not with the words of, for example, “pray” or “fast” or “perform pilgrimage”, etc., but rather with the words “Read (iqra‘) in the name of your Lord Who created. He created man from a clot.

Read and your Lord is most Honorable, Who taught (to write) with the pen.” (al-‘Alaq, 1-4) Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was asked – as is anyone who subscribes to Islam and Muhammad’s mission – to read, study, try to solve and make known the problems and maladies of his people, as well as of the world and life in general. This is strongly suggested by the notions of Allah the Creator and Guardian, and man the guided and taught mortal completely dependent on Allah, which are enfolded in the above mentioned verses.

If Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was asked to read in the narrowest meaning of the word iqra‘, such would have been a paradox because Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was, and remained, an illiterate man. However, since he was asked to read in the widest and most comprehensive meaning of the word iqra’, without which even the purest religious rites and ceremonies cannot be carried out, such not only was not a paradox, but also made the most perfect sense, as Muhammad (pbuh) in terms of wisdom, intelligence, perspicacity, spirituality and morals was the most complete man. His sublime conduct embodied all the qualities which were expected to rise from the Islamic “iqra‘” scheme. Though outwardly illiterate, Muhammad (pbuh) was a perfectly “literate” man. He perfectly exemplified the Islamic message. The words “Read (iqra‘) in the name of your Lord Who created” perfectly exemplifies the Islamic message too. Because of him being an excellent exemplar, Allah’s chosen one, every single Muslim believer extraordinarily admires and endeavors to follow Muhammad’s most beautiful pattern of conduct in his daily life. A prominent place in that task occupies the application of the universal model of iqra’ with all of its dimensions and implications. Due to this, the relevance of Muhammad (pbuh), iqra‘ and Islam never fizzles out. “It was Allah Who educated me and Who perfected my good manners”, were once the words of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Due to this, furthermore, the relevance of Islamic worship, which spawns all-encompassing Islamic lifestyles, never fizzles out either.

2016 RECRUITMENT EXERCISE

An equal opportunity employer is seeking to recruit young Nigerian men and women into her organization as follows:

GRADUATE CADRE Ÿ Not more than 27years. Ÿ B.Sc./H.N.D holder Ÿ Must have completed NYSC

DIPLOMA CADRE Ÿ Not more than 25 years. Ÿ N.C.E./O.N.D holder

S.S.C.E CADRE Ÿ Not more than 21 years. Ÿ S.S.C.E holder (minimum 5 credits

including Mathematics & English).

Please note that all applicants: Ÿ Must be single. Ÿ Must have their relevant educational

certicates and not statements of result. Ÿ Must be physically t. Ÿ Must attach their certicate of Indigene/Local Government Area and Birth Certicate to their applications.

All applications should be addressed to Head, Human Resources, P.M.B 166, Garki, Abuja and must be received on/before 20 May, 2016. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

46

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Enugu Set to Privatise 17 Moribund Companies Obinna Chima Enugu state has said that its forthcoming investment summit scheduled to hold from April 12 – 14, 2016, is expected to be the pathway for it to commence the privatisation of about 17 moribund companies in the state.

The Director-General of ‘Oganiru,’ the brand name for the summit, Mr. Ike Chioke, disclosed this to journalists in Lagos yesterday.

According to Chioke, the companies to be privatised include five agricultural firms, three hotels, a transport company, marketing company, among others. Chioke said the move would held revive the commercial and economic base of the state.

He said the state which used to be very strong in agriculture needs to take steps to revive the sector.

“Once upon a time, we had a vegetable oil processing in the state, which used to process palm oil from palm kernel coming out of United Palm products, which used to be another huge palm plantation. It had palm trees going as far as over 10 hectares of land.

“It used to be a very beautiful place. We had Premier Cashew, Ada Rice and the state was sustainable. As at that time, there was nothing like oil and we were just an agrarian based state. In addition, the state was privileged to have been the capital of eastern Nigeria and had hospitality as part of its business.

“It had a 5-star presidential hotel and had built Nike Lake Resort and the state had a zoo, wild life and game reserve. Outside of agriculture and tourism, the state was also very strong in industry.

So, all of these things have all shrunk to become a shadow of

itself. So, we decided to start from the platform we already had. The governor also looked at the fact that there is a state law on privatisation and commercials ation which was passed in 2008 by the former administration.

“So, the idea of the summit is to tell investors that Enugu is open for business, Enugu is serious for business and we have created the enabling framework and we are going to showcase all we have. So, the idea of this summit is to sensitise investors and coming out of this summit, we would start the process of privatising these companies,” he added.

The Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah; and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, have all been confirmed as speakers at the summit which holds in Enugu.

Abia to Secure N1bn Agric Loan from CBN Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia Abia state government is still engaged in efforts to secure N1 billion loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in order to boost agriculture, which is one of the pillars of its developmental policy.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Godwin Adindu made this known yesterday while briefing journalists on the high points of the administration of Okezie Ikpeazu in the last 300 days, stating that the governor has remained consistent both in service and performance.

He said that the agricultural loan being sourced would be used to give real meaning to the agricultural revolution policy of the Ikpeazu administration, which is already gathering

steam.

“This loan will be disbursed purely to genuine farmers and not for political patronage,” he said.

The governor’s spokesman said that government has indeed given serious attention to the agric sector and has launched the return to farming and women in fish farming initiative to create employment and boost food production.

He explained that “the initiative was aimed at empowering the youths and women by setting up farming cooperatives which will help drive key government policy a regards agriculture”, adding that government would make land, finance and training accessible to farmers.

Adindu noted that the overall

objective of the agric revolution policy of Abia government was to make agriculture a major “support base” of the state economy as government aims to make the economy less dependent on oil money from federal allocation.

He also said that the state has adopted a new approach to rural development with the formation of the Abia State Rural Infrastructure Development Initiative (ASTRIDE) aimed at providing at least one project in each of the 184 INEC wards across the 17 local governments.

Already ASTRIDE committees have been set up and they are required to choose for their areas the type of project needed from the list of government projects thereby closing the gap in infrastructural development in the rural areas.

AFC Defies Economic Headwinds, Posts Impressive Results The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has announced its 2015 fiscal year results. Despite a difficult operating environment, the corporation delivered strong underlying operating results, achieving 25 per cent growth in its balance sheet.

Also, a statement from the AFC showed that while its total assets grew to $3.2 billion, net interest income increased by 39 per cent to $108.4 million, with net interest margins growth to 4.4 per cent, a seven per cent improvement over the prior year.

Its fees, commissions and other income however declined by 85 per cent, largely due to one-off revenues of $46 million recorded in 2014.

In April 2015, as part of its efforts to diversify its funding base, the orporation successfully issued its maiden eurobond of $750 million as part of its established US$3 billion Eurobond Global Medium Term Notes (GMTN) Programme. Reception of the bond was strong, and it was six times over-subscribed, positioning AFC in the capital marketsas a strong African credit.

“As expected, as a result ofthe challenging 2015 economic environment there was the

need to maintain a tight rein on costs. Management had strong oversight on operating costs resulting in a 22 per cent year-on-year decline to $30 million delivering a cost to income ratio of 22 per cent down from the 26 per cent recorded in 2014.

“Although no risk asset was impaired during the year under review, the corporation’s first portfolio impairment charge of $26.7 million was recorded, in light of increased default risks, particularly in the corporation’s oil and gas risk asset portfolio.

Overall, the corporation remains strongly capitalised, with a capital adequacy of 50 per cent.

“AFC is also very liquid, with approximately $1 billion liquidity as at December 2015, positioning the Corporation to take advantage of investment opportunities in 2016,” the statement added.

In addition, the corporation recorded total comprehensive income of $70.3 million for the year, representing a decline of 38 per cent compared to 2014.

However total comprehensive income, after the adjustments forthe exceptional fees accrued in 2014 represents a growth of three per cent, even after

taking into consideration the Corporation’s first portfolio impairment charge.

2015 was characterised by a decline in commodity prices, in particular oil, minerals and soft commodities. Oil prices remained under pressure owing to a supply glut, a situation which saw prices plummet by approximately 50 per cent during the year. In addition China’s demand for raw material imports decreased as the country’s economy rebalanced away from manufacturing to services.

Commenting on the results, the President and CEO of AFC, Mr. Andrew Alli said: “We are pleased to report that despite the economic headwinds we have seen our total assets grow by 25 per cent. Support for the AFC and its mandate as an investor in crucial infrastructure across Africa has also been met with the launch of our US$750 million Eurobond, which was six times over-subscribed.

“As global economic uncertainty persists, the AFC is well placed to continue to deliver returns to shareholders and new infrastructure that will bolster economic growth and have real social impact across Africa.”

Governor for Enugu State Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

FEBRUARY 2016 Broad Money (M2)

20,489,166.72

-- Narrow Money (M1)

9,095,578.34

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,377,483.11

---- Demand Deposits

7,682,095.23

-- Quasi Money

11,429,588.38

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,471,351.78

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

15,017,814.94 22,414,322.75

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC) ---- Credit to Government (Net)

3,424,029.62

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

4,807,604.55

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

1,383,574.93

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

18,990,293.13

--Other Assets Net

7,396,507.81

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,095,380.23

--Currency in Circulation

1,711,623.51

--Banks Reserves

3,383,756.72 • 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 TUESDAY, 5 APRIL 2016 he price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $32.63 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $33.33 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

47

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

7-Apr-16

01 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc.

6-Apr-16

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators

Open 6-Apr-16

NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion)

25,455.69 8.76

25,369.52 8.73

-0.34% -0.34%

Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion) Diamond Bank Plc

104.55 8.14

104.16 8.11

-0.37% -0.37%

3.96

4.08

3.03%

147.00

147.00

0.00%

94,166,783,361.00

11.12

13.21

1.21

1.50%

3.92

02 Access Bank Plc.

4.05

4.04

0.25%

117,158,285,105.55

2.28

1.78

0.56

13.58%

0.32

03 AIICO Insurance Plc.

0.80

0.80

0.00%

5,544,163,584.00

0.28

2.89

0.17

6.25%

0.57

04 Cadbury Nigeria Plc.

14.77

14.77

0.00%

27,741,044,130.80

3.21

4.61

0.82

8.80%

2.68

05 Cap Plc

38.50

38.50

0.00%

26,950,000,000.00

2.49

15.49

3.82

2.99%

17.73

06 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

7.03

7.03

0.00%

8,834,444,694.98

0.96

7.36

0.68

1.42%

0.87

07 Continental Reinsurance Plc

0.90

0.89

1.12%

9,335,469,880.80

0.16

5.65

0.59

11.11%

0.62

08 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

4.09

4.09

0.00%

24,056,824,557.55

0.71

5.73

0.81

4.89%

0.92

169.99

172.00

-1.17%

2,896,715,853,775.95

10.64

15.98

5.89

4.71%

4.49

10 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

5.30

5.30

0.00%

63,600,000,000.00

0.96

5.51

0.63

9.43%

1.09

11 Diamond Bank Plc

1.30

1.24

4.84%

30,108,505,658.40

0.92

1.42

0.16

23.08%

0.13

15.15

15.00

1.00%

277,995,700,907.25

1.39

10.88

0.54

4.09%

0.74

13 FBN Holdings Plc

3.50

3.50

0.00%

125,633,524,772.00

2.16

1.62

0.31

28.57%

0.22

14 FCMB Group Plc.

Table 4 Top 5 Losers

0.98

0.98

0.00%

19,406,656,538.92

0.24

4.08

0.13

10.20%

0.12

Stock

15 Fidelity Bank Plc

1.35

1.36

-0.74%

39,115,975,981.05

0.48

2.81

0.27

11.85%

0.21

16 Fidson Healthcare Plc

2.34

2.46

-4.88%

3,510,000,000.00

0.50

4.72

0.43

2.14%

0.56

19.55

19.55

0.00%

51,303,837,005.85

1.84

10.62

0.16

10.23%

0.50

293.23

293.23

0.00%

381,926,533,832.69

4.45

65.92

3.06

1.18%

8.25

19 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc.

24.97

24.97

0.00%

29,861,035,905.36

0.81

30.94

0.97

1.20%

2.26

20 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

14.13

13.99

1.00%

415,862,562,435.12

3.38

4.18

1.81

12.53%

1.01

100.00

100.00

0.00%

150,588,818,800.00

0.78

128.49

3.02

0.00%

3.37

1.41

1.44

-2.08%

11,181,578,697.78

0.14

9.98

0.23

11.35%

0.52

23 International Breweries Plc.

20.00

20.00

0.00%

65,884,985,600.00

0.64

31.29

3.56

1.25%

5.47

24 Julius Berger Nig. Plc.

43.00

43.00

0.00%

56,760,000,000.00

1.85

23.26

0.42

3.49%

2.34

25 Lafarge Africa Plc.

75.00

75.00

0.00%

341,617,635,750.00

5.93

12.65

1.28

4.00%

1.94

1.90

1.81

4.97%

19,950,000,000.00

0.16

12.00

1.20

2.63%

1.15

161.99

161.99

0.00%

58,412,826,491.38

13.51

11.99

0.91

4.44%

3.80

7.15

7.14

0.14%

18,943,484,402.70

0.79

9.00

1.17

7.69%

2.67

675.00

690.00

-2.17%

535,042,970,100.00

29.95

22.54

3.54

4.30%

14.08

3.89

3.72

4.57%

6,318,210,937.50

0.33

11.75

0.74

5.14%

1.04

108.99

108.00

0.92%

864,192,705,783.12

5.37

20.30

3.13

3.30%

5.07

4.07

4.28

-4.91%

48,980,898,898.58

0.50

8.14

0.09

18.43%

0.31

33 Okomu Oil Palm Plc.

29.77

28.36

4.97%

28,397,900,700.00

2.76

10.79

2.92

0.34%

2.35

34 P Z Cussons Nigeria Plc.

23.50

23.50

0.00%

93,306,210,557.50

1.10

21.42

1.29

5.53%

2.22

35 Presco Plc

34.60

34.60

0.00%

34,600,000,000.00

3.28

10.55

3.05

0.29%

1.54

0.50

0.50

0.00%

5,664,866,202.00

4.68

0.11

0.02

0.00%

1.89

309.15

306.50

0.86%

171,055,883,263.95

23.48

13.17

1.51

5.15%

0.61

0.96

0.92

4.35%

13,325,089,353.60

0.85

1.12

0.10

31.25%

0.09

13.45

13.70

-1.82%

134,500,000,000.00

2.04

6.60

1.14

0.74%

1.20

1.60

1.60

0.00%

46,064,669,001.60

0.36

4.48

0.42

5.63%

0.48

157.60

157.60

0.00%

53,508,641,511.20

11.92

13.22

0.26

8.88%

3.29

1.07

1.04

2.88%

41,431,467,244.75

0.05

20.39

1.02

0.00%

0.47

20.45

20.45

0.00%

39,281,676,714.15

2.70

7.58

0.54

4.89%

0.53

4.17

4.17

0.00%

7,167,187,479.15

1.81

2.31

0.64

16.79%

0.22

29.00

29.00

0.00%

109,715,591,250.00

0.32

92.02

1.85

0.17%

13.71

46 United Bank for Africa Plc

3.20

3.15

1.59%

116,094,484,230.40

1.64

1.95

0.37

18.75%

0.35

47 Unity Bank Plc

0.69

0.72

-4.17%

8,065,643,179.98

0.54

1.27

0.13

0.00%

0.09

48 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,691,369,124.00

0.10

5.16

0.94

6.00%

0.45

49 Wema Bank Plc.

0.74

0.79

-6.33%

29,221,396,177.62

0.06

12.27

0.62

0.00%

0.62

50 Zenith Bank Plc

11.00

11.01

-0.09%

345,361,431,646.00

3.37

3.27

0.80

16.36%

0.58

09 Dangote Cement Plc

12 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

17 Flour Mills Nig. Plc. 18 Forte Oil Plc.

21 Guinness Nig Plc 22 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

26 Mansard Insurance Plc 27 Mobil Oil Nig Plc. 28 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc 29 Nestle Nigeria Plc. 30 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc 31 Nigerian Brew. Plc. 32 Oando Plc

36 Resort Savings & Loans Plc 37 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd. 38 Skye Bank Plc 39 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc 40 Sterling Bank Plc. 41 Total Nigeria Plc. 42 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc 43 U A C N Plc. 44 UACN Property Development Co. Limited 45 Unilever Nigeria Plc.

TOTAL

8,110,154,825,224.23

TOTAL MARKET CAP

8,726,640,457,326.66

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

92.94%

Close 7-Apr-16

Change %

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers Stock

Open 6-Apr-16

Mansard Insurance Plc Okomu Oil Palm Plc. Diamond Bank Plc Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc Skye Bank Plc

1.81 28.36 1.24 3.72

1.90 29.77 1.30 3.89

4.97% 4.97% 4.84% 4.57%

0.92

0.96

4.35%

Open 6-Apr-16

Wema Bank Plc. Oando Plc Fidson Healthcare Plc Unity Bank Plc Nestle Nigeria Plc.

Close Change % 7-Apr-16

0.79 4.28 2.46 0.72 690.00

Close Change % 7-Apr-16 0.74 4.07 2.34 0.69 675.00

-6.33% -4.91% -4.88% -4.17% -2.17%

NSE Market index declines by 0.34% Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today - Thursday, April 07, 2016, was negative as the market closed red due selling pressure caused by limited activities on the exchange compared to the previous day.

This was further highlighted by negative performances from the NSE Sub sectors; Consumer Goods and Oil & Gas (Save Banking and Insurance). Trading activities decreased in volume as 264.69 million shares worth N1.31 billion in 3,033 deals exchanged hands today.

This is a decrease from the 398.28 million shares worth N2.65 billion in 3,581 deals carried out on Wednesday.

Topping in volume terms was Equity Assurance Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, while Guaranty Trust Bank 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 0.34% (-86.17) decrease to 25,369.52 from 25,455.69 the previous trading day. Market Capitalization depreciated in tandem to N8.73 trillion from N8.76 trillion of prior trading day. The Thisday BGL 50 Index followed suit with 0.37% decrease to close at 104.16 from 104.55 the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N8.11 trillion from N8.14 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 21 stocks gained on the bourse today while 16 stocks declined, leaving 152 stocks unchanged. Mansard Insurance Plc emerged the toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 4.97% to close at N1.90 per share. It was followed Okomu Oil Palm Plc with a gain of 4.97% to close at N29.77 per share. Others on the gainers list include: Diamond Bank Plc, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc and Skye Bank Plc, while on the decliners’ list; Wema Bank Plc led with a loss of 6.33% to close at N0.74 per share. It was followed by Oando Plc with a loss of 4.91% to close at N4.07 per share. Others on the losers list include; Fidson Healthcare Plc, Unity Bank Plc and Nestle Nigeria 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

48

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

MARKET NEWS

May & Baker to Pay N59 Million in Dividends Goddy Egene and Eromosele Abiodun The board of directors of May & Baker Nigeria has recommended a dividend of N58.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The dividend, which is 20 per cent higher than what was paid the previous year, was recommended following an increase in the bottom-line of the

company despite the challenging operating environment.

According to the audited results of the company, profit before tax rose by 41 per cent from N101.2 million in 2014 to N142.4 million in 2015. Net profit growth was, however, constrained by a total tax burden of N74 million comprising regular and deferred taxes. As a result, profit after tax increased by 7.4 per cent

T H E

from N63.34 million to N68.03 million.

The company’s sales grew by 7.8 per cent, from N7.02 billion in 2014 to N7.57 billion in 2015. While distribution expenses reduced by 11 per cent, sales and marketing expenses remained flat. The company also contained finance charges which have for over four years now remained a major drag

N I G E R I A N

on the company. Finance cost reduced from N603.87 million in 2014 to N588.18 in 2015.

The management also reined in administrative expenses which reduced by 8.4 per cent from N641.33 million in 2014 to N587.3 million in 2015.

Analysts identify working capital as a major handicap of the company, which has led its dependent on bank borrowing

STO C K

with its crippling cost of funds.

To reduce the reliance on bank borrowing, the company had in 2014 received that approval of shareholders to inject more equity funds into the business.

“This would further improve the bottom-line and ensure sales growth results into higher earnings for shareholders. As approved by the shareholders in 2014, the company will soon

E XC H A N G E

actualize its plan to raise additional N3.2 billion through rights issue or private placements,” the company said.

Market analysts had said the 2015 results needed commendation considering the fact that the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry in particular and manufacturing in general was seriously challenged due to an inclement operating environment.

T H I S D AY

• FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

49

HERDSMEN

Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong

because our lands are being destroyed and we have become refugees in our own lands,” Ngbede Abonu, a leader of the Agatu people told THISDAY in Lafia.

PLATEAU In Some villages in Plateau State, just like in many neighbouring states, herdsmen have severally attacked and wreaked untold havoc on villagers, particularly the farmers, most of who have now abandoned their farms and fled to safety.

With the assumption of Governor Simon Lalong who set up a committee to engage the Fulanis and the indigenes, some respite has come but the toll of the clashes in the state remains visible.

The attacks had become more frequent from October 2010 when the villages of Dogo-Nahawa and Kuru, both in Jos South Local Government Area of the state, were sacked by herdsmen, who killed over 350 villagers in just two nights of hostilities.

Women and children were stabbed to death, while men that tried to escape were shot from behind and their remains dumped in wells. Farms were totally destroyed and crops in the victims’ houses burnt to ashes. In one of such attacks, no fewer than 200 corpses were given mass burial.

The attacks continued on villages in Jos South, part of Jos North, Riyom, and Barkin Ladi nearly on a daily basis throughout 2010 and 2011, and got to its peak in 2012 when the senator representing Plateau North, Dr Gyang Dantong; and a Plateau State Assemblyman, Hon Gyang Fulani; both Berom, were killed.

They had gone to mourn and bury hundreds of their kinsmen that had earlier been slaughtered by the attackers in an overnight raid. It was during their burial that they were also attacked. The herdsmen in their large numbers, bearing sophisticated weapons, overpowered the security men attached to the lawmakers and killed scores of the mourners.

Many families have been wiped out with fathers, mothers and children, and sometimes cousins, nephews and nieces killed in their sleep.

The attack on Shonong in Riyom Local Government area of the state, where over 30 women, children, and the aged were massacred in broad daylight was shocking.

The males were away in their farms to provide food for the families when the herdsmen struck, killing their families and completely razing their houses. By the time they returned from their farms, the same people they had gone to labour to get bread for, were already dead and their

SPECIAL REPORT

Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku

bodies burnt beyond recognition.

Resolving the problem has been difficult for the state government as it insists that it has no land to earmark for grazing the herdsmen’s cattle. A Plateau North former senator, Gyang Pwajok’s efforts to reconcile the herdsmen with the farmers met with little success. He had organised town hall meetings, met with the elders of the Fulanis and the native tribes in the state and paid compensations to the affected communities and persons. But, all these came to nought.

Apart from grazing issues, cattle theft is another reason advanced by the Fulanis for their hostility. The Fulanis accused their host communities of rustling and selling their cattle. Contending that the cattle are their only source of livelihood, the Fulanis say they will not sit back and watch their means of livelihood taken away from them.

Once, the National Assembly sent a fact-finding committee to the state to investigate the problem. The eight-man committee, led by Senator Mohammed Magoro, returned to Abuja empty handed.

So serious was the crises that the federal government in 2013 ordered the Defence Headquarters to dislodge the Fulani enclaves in Barkin Ladi from where they were launching their attacks. The security agents had said it gathered intelligence that the herdsmen had piled up weapons in the enclaves.

But at the end, the exercise yielded nothing because the Defence Headquarters had given the villagers three weeks to relocate their villages before the operations, and the period was also enough for the herdsmen to hide their weapons.

The state government, however, established a security outfit, Operation Rainbow, to tackle the challenge, which according to Mark Longyel, the Senior Special Adviser (Media) to the governor, is not unique to Plateau State, but had claimed thousands of lives.

Longyel said though he did not have any official figures of casualty, the clashes, which had spread across Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Jos South, Jos North, Wase, Langtang North, Langtang South, and Bokkos Local Government Areas have drastically reduced in recent months.

He said: “As part of Governor Lalong’s five-point Agenda, he had deliberately engaged the warring communities, urging them to sheathe their swords. He also reconstituted the Operation Rainbow and appointed Major General Steve Go’ar, a tested crisis manager, to head the security outfit and the result is that we now have relative peace in the state.”

The Plateau State Police Command could not also give an official figure. The command’s Police Public Relations Officer,

Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai

Mr Emmanuel Abuh, said he could not give any official figures. “This is a crisis that has dated back to over 10 years, I cannot just get a figure for you so soon; I will need some days, but as an institution, I think the police should have a figure; I will check,” he said.

However, there is an unsubstantiated figure of 53,787 of violent deaths reported by the Committee of Rehabilitation and Reconciliation of Internally Displaced People (CRRIDP) that was set up by a former governor of the state, David Jang’s administration to look into the crises in the state since 2001. But certainly this is not all associated with herdsmen/farmers clashes.

Some were associated with elections.

TARABA In Taraba State, the fights are not only over destruction of farmlands but also cattle rustling. For instance, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the state stated that the rustling of over 17,000 cattle in the past years in Wukari and Takum alone left the herdsmen with no other options than to protect their source of livelihood.

But the President General of Tiv Cultural Association in Taraba, Mr. Goodman Dan Daida, denied the allegation of cattle rustling, saying only those who understand the language of cattle can steal the animals.

However, some of the clashes in the state were spillovers of the clashes in neighbouring Benue and Nasarawa States.

Though security agencies and state government officials declined to provide casualty figures on the violence, a study by the Nigerian Security Conflict and Analysis Network (NSCAN) indicates that about 1,484 farmers were killed in the state between December 2013 and June 2015, while over 500,000 others were rendered homeless.

According to the report, 364 persons were killed in Bali Local Government; specifically six at Agbadorough; 89 in Borno Kuruku; 127 in Jatau; 43 in Maihula and 10 in Moaveze. Also, 61 were killed at Nahuta; seven at Pasoki and 21 at Sabon Dare.

In Donga Local Government, 18 persons were killed at Ananum; one in Borogo; two at Dogo and 22 at Sabon Gida Isha, while seven were killed at Shaakaa and 11 at Wahanye totalling 61 people.

In Gashaka Local Government, three people were killed at Ajai; six at Bashirshir; 21 at Gangunmi; 25 at Garbabi; while five persons were killed at Katee totalling 60 people.

In the same vein, 240 people were killed in Gassol Local Government namely 26 at Chediya, 79 at Dan Anacha, 51 at Dinya

Village, 67 at Sabon Gida Takai while at Yerima, 17 people lost their lives.

In Ibi Local Government, a total of 140 people were killed 30 of whom were killed at Dampar, 20 at Dooshima, 10 at Gazor, 15 at Ibua and 10 at Kaamem, while 15 persons were killed at Moti, 30 at Sarkin Kudu and 10 at Zogon-Kaya.

In all the attacks, Tiv farmers were at the receiving end though the herdsmen equally suffered casualties particularly at Wukari and Ibi Local Government Areas.

According to the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr David Ishaya Kassa, over N5 billion has been lost to these incessant attacks. “The losses are enormous. Several villages, particularly between Gassol and Wukari local governments were entirety razed, including large numbers of farms and residential houses,” he said.

However, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor, Sylvanus Giwa, told THISDAY that the state government was making frantic efforts to ensure that those displaced by the clashes were resettled in their various communities. Part of the efforts, he stated, was the recent suspension of four district heads and three ward heads who were alleged to be selling plots of land belonging to the displaced persons to frustrate their resettlement.

He noted that since assuming office, the administration of Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku had held series of meetings with leaders of the various ethnic groups with the sole aim of ensuring that permanent peace returned to troubled areas in the state just as he revealed that the government would soon formulate a policy that would promote ranching and modernise animal husbandry.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Shaba Alkali, told THISDAY that two herdsmen were arrested at Donga with AK 47 rifles and sub machine guns. “We have charged them to court,” he said, adding: “We are equally putting in every effort to recover all the illegal weapons in the hands of people.”

He, however, said there is no law in the state restricting movement of animals including cattle.

Alkali said to check the escalation of the clashes, his command holds frequent meetings with the stakeholders, traditional rulers, heads of tribal groups, including Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and the Ardo’s in the villages with a view to preventing any group from carrying out violent attacks. This strategy, according to him, is yielding fruits.

On the way forward, Kassa said that the state government would rehabilitate and reintegrate the displaced persons. He stated that government had demarcated grazing routes in all the 16 local government areas of the state but noted

50

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

HERDSMEN

SPECIAL REPORT

Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo

the need for an appropriate legislation for government to achieve any meaningful results.

KADUNA Herdsmen violence and cattle rustling in the southern part of Kaduna State have been a major challenge to the state government. Hardly did a week passed without attacks and raiding of communities in the southern part of the state by armed Fulani herdsmen; while cattle rustling and armed robbery were the order of the day in Birnin Gwari local government area.

The activities of the herdsmen started after the post presidential election violence in 2011. After the violence, Southern Kaduna, which is dominantly populated

by Christians, never knew peace again as Fulani herdsmen started unleashing violence on its rural communities.

From 2011 to late 2015, the area, especially Jaba, Jema’a, Kachia, Kaura, Sanga and Zangon Kataf Local Government Areas became killing fields following the ferocious attacks by the herdsmen. The worst of the attacks, which shocked the nation were those in Bondong and Atakad villages of Kaura Local Government and seven other communities in Sanga Local Government Area in 2014.

In Bondong, about 160 persons were killed by 100 Fulani herdsmen during a night raid on the village. The herdsmen were said to have been armed with AK 47 riffles, machetes, knives, sticks and explosives. The entire village was razed while those who survived the attack were rendered homeless.

The attacks were mostly in the night in spite of several military checkpoints that dotted the area. Several families were wiped out while their homes and belongings were looted or destroyed.

The defenceless communities were at the mercy of the superior fire power of their traducers, the herdsmen. Social and economic activities were paralysed as it became dangerous for the people in the communities to go to their farms or organise social functions.

The killings in seven villages namely, Gwantu, Ankpong and Kabamu and four other villages in Sanga Local Government in 2014, was another brutal and callous massacre as 250 persons were reportedly killed while about 300 others were wounded with their houses burnt to ashes.

Also in Atakad chiefdom of Kaura Local Government, the District Head of Zangang, Mr. Joseph Shingkut, was assassinated by herdsmen in January 2015 while on his way to Kafanchan. Several villages on the hilly area bordering Plateau State were sacked by the

• T H I S D AY

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko

herdsmen in 2014.

According to the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), an umbrella body for all the ethnic groups in the Southern part of Kaduna State, over 100 attacks were launched on various villages in the area between 2011 and 2015.

Former President of the union, Dr. Ephraim Goje, was emphatic that the attacks were perpetrated by herdsmen, saying that each time such observation was raised, Fulani socio-cultural organisations in the state denied the involvement of their people outright, asking for proof or evidence.

Goje said: “In some of these attacks, suspects were arrested and handed over to security agencies for prosecution only for the suspects to be seen walking freely on the streets the next day”.

According to him, the southern Kaduna people had lived peacefully with these Fulani herdsmen for over 400 years, adding: “It’s in this spirit that we have had several peace meetings with their leaders all in an effort to encourage peaceful co-existence and harmonious relationship but each time we did this, the next moment, our communities comes under attack by gorilla styled and blood thirsty murderers.”

He said about 2,000 people were killed, while around 10,000 others were internally displaced. He put lost property at N40 billion.

But the situation seem to have come under control following security steps taken by the Nasir el-Rufai administration.

THISDAY gathered that since December 2015 to date, there had not been any reported case of attack by herdsmen after a combined team of soldiers, airforce, the police and other security agencies were deployed in the area to comb all the surrounding bushes and hills for criminal gangs.

Another step taken by the state governor, Mallam el-Rufai, to end the

In Bondong, about 160 persons were killed by 100 Fulani herdsmen during a night raid on the village. The herdsmen were said to have been armed with AK 47 riffles, machetes, knives, sticks and explosives

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa

killings, was the setting up of a committee headed by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Martin Luther Agwai, to investigate the causes of the frequent attacks.

The committee, which submitted its report in July 2015, identified the causes of the killings to include the post-presidential election crisis of 2011; pastoralism/grazing; land matters/boundary issues; drug abuse/unemployment; religion and culture as well as the indigene/settler dichotomy.

To tackle the problem of cattle rustling, el-Rufai and his counterparts in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Niger and Kano decided to collaborate and approached the security agencies for a special task force to confront the criminals. The security task force comprising the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Airforce, the police and Civil Defence Corps was constituted by the governors, and according to Samuel Aruwan, spokesman of the Kaduna State governor, the result has been very fruitful.

Aruwan said since the establishment of the task force, no fewer than 4,000 heads of cattle and other domestic animals had been recovered by the security team while about 500 of the bandits were either arrested or killed during the operation.

Also the General Officer, Commanding One Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj- Gen. Adebiyi Oyebade, at a news conference early in the year, disclosed that the combined security team had succeeded in recovering 37,000 livestock, including cows and goats from rustlers, adding that the animals were handed over to the various committees in the zone for delivery to their owners.

According to him, 294 cattle rustlers were arrested during the operations conducted across the states within the North-west zone. He said over 100 rustlers were killed during the operations, while more than 103 assorted weapons were recovered from the rustlers and other criminal gangs.

He lamented, however, that six soldiers were killed by the bandits.

GOMBE The state’s four-year-old respite from herdsmen and farmers’ clashes broke down recently as some Fulani herdsmen in March razed, Polido, a village of about 200 inhabitants in Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State, killing one person and injuring four others.

The marauders also destroyed all food crops in the village.

Although the paramount ruler in Billiri and Mai Tangle, Dr. Abdu Buba Maisheru II, described the incident as the activities of thieves, many villagers said the attackers were herdsmen who were in search of grazing area for their herds.

The attack has left the village deserted

as its inhabitants have been evacuated to Billiri and other surrounding villages.

Hon Rambi Ibrahim Ayala, who represents the area at the state House of Assembly, described the destruction of the village as unimaginable and heartbreaking, saying that government should forestall a recurrence of the violence.

Dahiru Ajiya, who was injured during the raid, told reporters on his sick bed at Billiri General Hospital that the marauders came to the village around 2:00 pm with over 10,000 cattle and started their operation. He said they killed his uncle, Ayuba Saleh, and destroyed all the crops in his farm.

He added that four villagers who tried to prevent the herdsmen from continuing with their destruction of their farms were wounded with bows and arrows and were receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.

The village head of the area, Ajiya Magaji Buba, and head of the Polido community, Jauro Yakubu Abba, lamented the absence of a detachment of the Mobile Police Force, which they said had helped in securing them from the attackers in the past.

ONDO Ondo State may have been spared the bloodletting, but the government has also been grappling with the challenge of settling quarrels between herdsmen and farmers.

The state hit the headlines as a theatre of conflict in September 2015 when a prominent farmer and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, was kidnapped from his farm at Ilado Village in Akure North Local Government by suspected herdsmen.

Falae, who was having a running battle with the herdsmen had got some of them arrested by the police. In an apparent retaliation, he was kidnapped and released after the payment of N5 million ransom to the kidnappers.

The Falae kidnap opened the eyes of the state government and the police to the security threats the herdsmen posed to the state as it revealed that the herdsmen had in their possession guns, which many alleged were being used to rob commuters along Owo-Akure Road.

But long before the Falae case, farmers in the state had suffered losses worth millions of naira as unrestrained herds grazed on their farmlands, resulting in the destruction of farm crops. The worst hit were farmers in the local government areas of Akoko, Akure North and Ifedore. Their crops, fish ponds and beehives had been ravaged Continued on page 51

T H I S D AY

• FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

51

HERDSMEN

SPECIAL REPORT

A herdsman leads his cattle down a motorable road

by herds. Towns like Ogbese, Ilu Abo, Ilado, Eleyowo, Igbatoro, Ipele, and Uso as well as some towns in Owo Local Government Area had been under pressure by the herds particularly during the dry season.

In spite of the huge economic losses and allegations of rape, however, there has been no violent reprisal from the farmers.

The menace of herdsmen in the state sometimes is also known to affect flights at Akure Airport as aircraft pilots are occasionally instructed not to land because herds would have occupied the runway for hours.

Though, there are no official figures on the loss from grazing on farms, farmers have been counting their losses in terms of loan secured from the banks for farming.

Chairman of Ondo State Farmers’ Association, Mr Akin Olotu, told THISDAY about their frustration with the herds and said the association had already demanded N2 billion from the federal government as compensation for their losses arising from the destruction of their farms by herds.

Complaining that herdsmen always threatened to kill his members when the farmers tried to ward off the herds from their farms, Olotu said that the herdsmen had become a serious threat to the security of the nation, adding that farmers in the state had called the attention of the state and the federal governments to the hydra headed problems of herdsmen who allegedly rape, rob, kidnap and set farms on fire.

Said Olotu: “Bee-keepers are not left out. A prominent bee-keeper in the state lost over N2 million last year when his hives were destroyed by herds.

What is more, a lot of our farmers are on loan from different financial institutions. Who bears the loss? Several thousands of hectares of cassava, maize, vegetable farms are either grazed upon or destroyed by cattle or their handlers who set them on fire in annoyance against resistance to grazing by farmers.

“Farm investments running into several billions of naira have been ruined and our farmers are licking their wounds. When a young cocoa tree is lost to fire, the loss is not just restricted to the yield of that year, but the investment in land preparation, planting, nursing and the potential yield projected over 10-15 years. “ A farmer at Ogbese Village in Akure North Local Government, Mrs. Oladiwura Akinsehindemi, explained that her entire farm was destroyed while the herdsmen threatened to kill her and her children when they tried to confront them over the destruction. She stated that several complaints had been lodged with security agencies in the state but nothing positive has come out of it.

But following the increasing complaints

of farmers and the rising tension in the state, the state government banned grazing within the state capital and some other communities, including Airport Road, Army Barracks, Oba Ile, Oda Road, Adofure, Idanre and Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) area.

The Commissioner for Environment, Chief Sola Ebiseni, who announced the ban, directed the immediate evacuation of cattle within Parliament Estate behind the School of Nursing, while cattle herdsmen and owners were asked to register with the state government.

Ebiseni, who gave this directives after a meeting of the state government with representatives of farmers, Cattle Breeders Association and Cattle Market Association, said the step is to stop further destruction of farm produce and to guard against any face-off between the herdsmen and farmers.

In addition, the Ondo State Ministry of Environment in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, organised a meeting of stakeholders, including security agents, farmers, cattle breeders, cattle rearers, traditional rulers, community heads, and government officials among others to broker accommodation and peace.

The police too have been part of the efforts to avert an outbreak of violence as this was a major issue discussed when the IG, Arase, visited the state. At a stakeholders’ meeting, the IG directed the then Commissioner of Police, Mr Mike Ogbodu, to instruct all the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) to hold regular consultations and security meetings with farmers and herdsmen with a view to nip in the bud, any potential breach of peace.

“This issue is a national issue and the federal government is worried, but on our part here, apart from the fact that we always engage the Fulani herdsmen to discuss the way out, we also sensitise them on the need to avoid friction with the farmers,” the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ondo State Command, Mr Femi Joseph, said of the intermittent face-offs in the state.

He told THISDAY that: “From the beginning of this year, we have been arresting anyone caught committing the offence of malicious damage and we have been charging them to court. As at today, we have charged three different cases to court.”

DELTA STATE Herdsmen’s harassment of Delta farming communities did not receive much attention until the fatal kidnap, last January, of the monarch of Ubulu-Uku, a peaceful agrarian community in Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state.

Initial link of the dastardly act with some daredevil Fulani herdsmen was obviously

received with scepticism while some even dismissed it simply as some implausible insinuation.

However, the arrest and the parade of the suspects before newsmen, last month in Asaba, by the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr Alkali Baba Usman, left no one in doubt that Fulani herdsmen had a lot to do with the abduction and death of Edward Akaeze Ofulue III, the Obi of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom. Usman said that six persons were arrested by police detectives who went as far as Sokoto to apprehend the suspects while at least two others were still at large.

In the last four years, there had been other reports of attacks on several other communities across Delta State, especially residents of rural farming communities, including communities in Kwale in Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Isoko North, Ethiope East and Ethiope West Local Government areas. For example, three persons were allegedly killed in Ndokwa East by armed Fulani herdsmen as the victims attempted to protect their cassava and yam farms from being destroyed by cattle, as the itinerant herdsmen have the penchant for herding through people’s farms indiscriminately.

Usman confirmed three arrests in connection with that incident which occurred in early September 2015.

He also rest assured Nigerians that more detectives would be deployed in the affected areas. However, there were several other reported incidents in Ndokwa communities, including attacks on Ogume, Ossissa and Umuosumili, a neighbouring community to Ossissa, communities stringing Ughelli to Ogwashi-Uku expressway. Earlier this month, a man, Ndudi Chiedozie, and his wife escaped death by a whisker following an attack by the herdsmen on the way to their farm while property burnt or destroyed during an attack on Ossissa village included bicycles and motorcycles. Five others were also attacked with cutlasses and swords in Onitsha-Ndokwa communities which recorded two fatalities.

In Oghara, Ethiope West, a woman was reportedly killed in her farm in 2012 and her corpse thrown into a well by some herdsmen. Generally, many cases of assault and rape of women by the herdsmen have been frequently reported with many people said to have abandoned their farms for fear of attacks by the small band of Fulani herdsmen. Some communities have organised themselves into vigilante groups for self-defence because justice in several cases involving violent attacks by the herdsmen on innocent farmers

appeared not to be in sight. Similar sentiments were expressed by the leaders of Amorji community and neighbouring village Okuke in Ndokwa West, which have suffered such fatal attacks between September last year and March this year.

The youth president of one of the Ndokwa communities, Mr Lucky Ijibueze, said that ravaging of their farms, attacks and abuse of their women and girls have gone on intermittently for more than three years without concrete help coming from either the security agencies or the government.

The disillusioned traditional head, the Okpara-Uku Ijibeze, expressed disappointment with the Ndokwa East Local Government council and elected representatives from the area.

In apparent response to the affected communities’ demand for the state government’s assistance towards the possible evacuation of the herdsmen back to their respective states or resettlement in grazing parks, the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah, said the state government was not folding its hands. He said that government had been organising regular peace meetings with the herdsmen and their host communities in collaboration with the local government councils and the police.

Specifically, Ukah said that the appointment by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of “an Hausa-man as a special adviser to the governor is one of the practical steps taken” by the state government to ensure sustained harmonious relationship between the communities and the Fulani herdsmen and to forestall future hostilities when the herdsmen pass through the communities with their animals.

The information commissioner further assured the people that the appropriate federal authorities including the ministry of agriculture were making plans to find a lasting solution to the problem. He, however, noted that Delta State and most states in the federation were not included in the planned grazing grounds or parks for the herdsmen particularly during the dry season when itinerant grazing is more intense. The federal ministry of agriculture proposes to establish three of such grazing parks up north, he pointed out.

The state police command spokeswoman, Mrs Celestina Kalu, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), could not provide specific statistics on the incidents of attacks across the state in terms of arrests and prosecution, but she said the police have often taken proactive measures to douse tension between the herdsmen and their host communities, particularly farmers. The latest of such was the recent meeting with community leaders in Oghara and the leaders of Hausa-Fulani in the area.

In the same vein, the state police commissioner, while admitting that some Fulani herdsmen and their associates in Asaba were in possession of illegal automatic weapons, assured Nigerians that efforts were ongoing by his command to mop illegal weapons in identified black spots, including Abraka bus-stop market in Asaba where many of the herdsmen are known to reside. THISDAY learnt that some policemen were even disarmed by some of the hoodlums who reside in the Asaba slum, though Usman said that the mop-up operation is an ongoing exercise, adding that over 20 suspects had been arrested during a recent exercise in Asaba alone.

But the state Chairman, Cattle Market Association, Musa Ahmed, said all the allegations against the herdsmen in the state should be shifted to members of Cattle Breeders Association who employed the services of immature men who move cattle across the state even to restricted areas.

He said the movement of their cattle is restricted to a certain area along Ado road where they can take them out for grazing before they are sold adding that the area was established some 26 years ago.

Also, the Chairman of Miyyati Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Bello Garuba, denied the allegations against his men, saying those perpetrating the acts are not from the state. He said herdsmen in the state are peace loving people who will not destroy the existing peace in the state.

FRIDAY APRIL 8, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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CRIME&PUNISHMENT

NAMA MD, Three Directors, Others Remanded in Prison for Alleged N6.9bn Fraud Davidson Iriekpen The Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management

Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalam, three directors and wife of a director were yesterday remanded in prison custody by

3,000 Persons Trapped in Newly Liberated Borno Communities Michael Olugbode More than 3,000 people are now trapped without food, water and shelter in the newly liberated Rann, the headquarters of Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.

Indigenes of the area told journalists in Maiduguri, the state capital, that after the dislodgment of pockets of insurgents from the area that shares border with Cameroun Republic over a week ago by the Nigerian troops, the humanitarian workers have not been sighted in the area which have made over 3,000 people liberated from Boko Haram to face untold hardship.

One of those who spoke to journalists anonymously, said mostly affected are women and children who survived the onslaught in the area and are now taking refuge at Rann in Kala-Balge.

He said they are left without food or water, as there was no presence of officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) or Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to render humanitarian services with the area largely

inaccessibility.

Speaking on the development to journalists, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Hon. Usman Zannah, who expressed concern over the plights of the newly liberated people, promised that state government is taking immediate measures to address the myriads of problems faced by the trapped citizens in Kala-Balge.

He said: “We just received a message that more than 3,000 people, mostly women and children are stranded after the liberation of Kala-Balge and other surrounding villages, but we have started mobilising people, including security operatives, SEMA officials and members of the civilian JTF to deliver relief materials to them as soon as possible.”

The Information Officer of NEMA, Mallam Abdulkadir Ibrahim, who also responded to journalists’ enquiries on fate of the people of Kala-Balge, said necessary arrangements and assessment had been put in place by the agency to render humanitarian assistance to the displaced persons.

Power Drunk Policemen Assault, Render Lawyer Partially Blind in Lagos Chiemelie Ezeobi In another case of severe police brutality, some policemen attached to the Onipanu Division of the Lagos State Police Command yesterday assaulted a 42-year-old lawyer, Sunday Elimihe, which landed him in the hospital with a partially blind eye.

Elimihe while narrating the incident from his hospital bed at Shomolu General Hospital, said asides being beaten by the drunk policemen, he was also stripped of the N150,000 in his vehicle’s pidgin hole.

He said: “On my way coming from Lekki where I went to check a property with my client, I decided to use the Onipanu police station road, by Apata.

“Immediately I drove into the street close to the station, one Corporal Alonge stopped me, demanded for my vehicle particulars. I gave them to him, then he demanded for my driver’s

license, which I also gave him.

“When he discovered I did not commit any offence, he asked for my tinted glass permit which I gave him.

“He told me I was using a forged tinted glass permit. I told him I could not have forged a police document as a lawyer. He became furious and said he was going to arrest me.

“He jumped into my vehicle and insisted I must give him N1,000 to bail myself. I said I was not going to give him any money since I have not committed any offence.

“He pounced on me and cocked his gun threatening to shoot me if I make a move. Another policewoman who sighted us came and dragged the gun from him.

“The policeman after being disarmed descended on me and gave me the beating of my life.

He pushed me into the cell and another policeman came inside the cell, locked up the cell and beat me for 30minutes.

a Federal High Court in Lagos following their arraignment for an alleged stealing and conversion of the agency’s money amounting to N6,850,447,609.90.

The accused were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The directors of the agency docked with Abdulsalam are Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche.

Wife of Adegorite, Joy Ayodele Adegorite who is the Managing Director of Multeng Travels and Tours Limited and two limited liability companies

Randville Investment Limited, Multeng Travels and Tours Limited alleged to have been used as conduit pipe to defraud the agency were also arraigned.

In a 21-count charge preferred against the accused persons, the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, alleged that all the accused persons and one Nnamdi Udoh, still at large, between January 31, 2013 and September 3, 2015 with intent to defraud and by false pretence, conspired to induce the NAMA to deliver the sum of N2,847,523,975 to Delosa Limited, Air Sea Delivery

Limited and Sea Schedules Systems Limited under the pretence that the said sum represented the cost of clearing consignments belonging to the agency The accused persons were also alleged to have converted various sums of money amounting to N4,003,532,608.90 belonging to NAMA. When the charges were read to them, all the accused pleaded not guilty.

Consequently, the EFCC prosecutor, Oyedepo, prayed the court to remand them in prison

custody and also adjourn the case for trial.

However, Mr. Ayo Olumofin, leading six other lawyers representing the accused persons, told the court that they had filed bail application on behalf of their, but Mr. Oyedepo told the court that he needed time to react to the bail application.

Consequently the presiding judge, Justice Babs Kiewumi, adjourned the matter till April 12, 2016 for the hearing of the bail applications and ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody.

SEEKING COLLABORATION

Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam (left) in a chat with the Managing Director of Nigeria-Turkish International Colleges (NTIC), Mr. Orhan Kertim, when a delegation from NTIC, Turkish-Nile University and Nigeria-Turkish Nizamiye Hospital visited him in Abuja... yesterday

NDLEA Intercepts Congo-bound Illicit Drugs, Arrests Two Suspects Chiemelie Ezeobi The National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday intercepted some illicit drugs including cocaine, which were to be smuggled to Congo Brazzaville.

The agency also arrested two suspects who attempted to smuggle the drugs: 28 packs of Tramadol weighing 21.99kgs and 1.8kgs of cocaine, through a disc jockey box and boxer shorts respectively.

While 27-year-old Afube Izuchukwu Henry, was identified as an automobile parts dealer, the other suspect, 36-year-old Chijioke Chukwuemeka Raphael, was said to be a factory worker in Dubai.

Confirming the arrests, NDLEA

Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Ofoyeju Mitchell, said the seizure was made at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

He said: “The Tramadol which was hidden among camera items was intercepted during pre-shipment inspection. The consignment was destined for Congo Brazzaville in Central Africa.

“Another suspect was also caught with 1.8kg of cocaine in his boxer shorts on his way from Dubai. Both suspects are being investigated.”

Also, NDLEA commander at the airport, Ahmed Garba said: “Chijioke who deals in automobile parts was arrested for attempting to export 21.99kgs of Tramadol hidden inside a DJ rack box meant for

export to Congo Brazzaville.

“Another suspect, Chijioke Chukwuemeka Raphael, a Dubai based factory worker was arrested with 1.8kgs of cocaine packed inside socks and concealed in his boxer shorts during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirate flight from Dubai.”

Afube who hails from Anambra State and married with two children, said he only acted on his elder brother’s instruction.

He said: “I am an auto-parts dealer. My brother who lives in Congo asked me to send a DJ Rack box to him.

“Unfortunately, when I took the box to the airport, NDLEA discovered tramadol inside it during their search and I was arrested

in the process.”

On the other hand, Chijioke, who admitted he was offered N450,000 to smuggle the drug to Nigeria, said: “I have been a factory worker in Dubai for the past six years. I am married with three children but I cannot take good care of my family.

“I work from hand to mouth and I am tired of working without seeing the benefits of my labour. I met a man seven months ago in Nigeria who introduced me into drug trafficking.

“He promised me a better job in Nigeria and offered me N450,000 naira. I accepted the offer because I wanted to come back home and start a better job.”

Court Remands Man, 30 for Alleged Murder James Sowole in Akure

Elimihe on his hospital bed

the offence allegedly committed by the suspect at about 6a.m. at For allegedly stabbing a 25-year-old Oloko Junction, Akure Magisterial Ojo Akintoye to death with a District on March 4,2016. broken bottle, a Chief Magistrate’s The offence, according to the Court sitting at Oke-Eda in prosecution, contravened sections Akure, the Ondo State capital, 316(1) and 319 of the Criminal has remanded a 30-year old man, Code Cap 37 Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo Sunkanmi Gabriel in Olokuta State of Nigeria 2006. prosody.

The plea of the accused person, The magistrate, Mrs. Victoria who was represented by Adelanke Bob-Manuel, gave the order over Akinata, was not taken.

The police prosecutor, Martins Olowofeso, urged the court to adjourned the case to enable him send the duplicate file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

He prayed the court to remand the accused person in Olokuta prison custody pending the issuance of the advice by the DPP. The magistrate subsequently

ordered that the accused person be remanded in prison pending the outcome of legal advice from the DPP. She ordered the police to submit the compiled case file and its duplicate to the clerk of the court in order to transfer the original to the office of the Chief Registrar for safe keeping.

The case was adjourned till May 2, 2016.

FRIDAY APRIL 8, 2016 • T H I S D AY

53

NEWSEXTRA

Local Content: Liman Takes over ARCO, Agip Case Fixes June 14 for hearing on jurisdiction, summons, contempt Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Hearing resumed yesterday at

the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on the contract dispute between Arco Group Plc and Nigeria

UNILAG Students Boycott Lectures to Protest Lack of Power, Water Supply Uchechukwu Nnaike Students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) yesterday shunned lectures and other academic activities to protest the epileptic power and water supply to their hostels.

The students, who barricaded the university gate to prevent entrance into and exit from the main campus, regretted that availability of water and power had reached an all-time low, and with the first semester examination scheduled to begin on April 18, there is need to urgently address the matter once and for all.

THISDAY learnt that the students started the protest on Wednesday and continued yesterday because they did not get any promise of addressing the situation by the management.

One of the protesters who preferred anonymity, said it was been difficult for them to get water for their basic needs, adding that the problem had persisted for a number of days.

Another 300-level female student said: “The situation has been bad since the beginning of this semester

in January. That is when they started sharing it: bring it in the morning and take it in the evening. It is worse now.” She said the power went off at 4:30a.m. yesterday and it was restored at the time of filing in this report.

In a statement, the Public Relations Officer of the Students’ Union, Miss Jumai AF, said the decision to embark on an “epic” protest was a part of the resolutions reached by the students in a meeting held on Wednesday.

“Sequel to the disrespect and continuous evasive methods the school management has adopted over time, now is the time to act.

We need water. We want judicious supply of power! Sodeinde Hall must be opened.

“We resolved that there will be no tests, no labs, no field work.

Yes, nothing academic; that all students, who have our collective welfare at heart, should converge at the Amphitheatre within the Students’ Union compound for the Season 02 of this epic aluta movement.”

Agip Oil Company which borders on the Nigerian Content Act, with Justice Mohammed Liman as the new presiding judge.

Liman takes over from Justice Lambo Akanbi, who has been retired by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Arco, an indigenous oil firm, had, in suit number FH/PH/ CS/02/2015, dragged Agip, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Conoco Philips Petroleum Nigeria Limited and the Nigeria Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) before the court to determine whether in view of the provision of section 3 subsections (2) and (3) of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, having demonstrated ownership of equipment, Nigerian personnel and capacity to execute the task

of performing the contract for the maintenance service of rotating equipment at the Nigerian Agip Oil Company gas plants at OB/OB, Ebocha and Kwale, is entitled, being a Nigerian company, to the exclusive right to be considered and granted such contract including any extension of its duration.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to Nigerian Agip Oil Company (1st defendant), Thompson Okpoko (SAN), wanted the court to take arguments on the jurisdiction of the court over the matter.

He said: “This case came to court by way of originating summons. We took the position that this court does not have the jurisdiction over this matter. Parties should address the court on the issue of jurisdiction.”

But counsel to the Arco (the plaintiff), Albert Akpomuje (SAN), said based on the rules of the court, the issues of jurisdiction and

originating summons should be taken together.

He however noted that Agip had been flouting orders of the court and said the court should treat the issue of contempt first.

“We have complained to the court that its orders are being flouted. There are no appeals against them by the defendant (Agip). Our submission is that the contempt proceedings be taken before any other thing,” he said.

Akpomuje insisted that: “Before the issue of jurisdiction, we want the issue of contempt taken because, if the defendant can disobey Order1 and Order 2, what guarantee do we have that the defendant will obey any other order of the court?”

After listening to the arguments of counsel to both parties, Justice Liman said he would not take arguments on the matter because he just heard

the matter for the first time.

He said he would need time to study the files on the matter.

He therefore adjourned the matter to June 14 to hear arguments on the originating summons, contempt and preliminary proceedings.

The judge also ordered that hearing notice be served on the third defendant, Conoco Philips Petroleum Nigeria Limited, as they were not represented in court.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the court session, Counsel to Arco, Abert Akpomuje (SAN), while commenting on the change of the presiding judge, said: “It is okay. Any judge can go, any judge can come. We are not particular about any judge.

They are all judicial officers and we believe in them. Anybody can handle the matter.”

Olanipekun: INEC Plotted Coup against Constitution by Declaring Bello Kogi Gov Eminent lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) plotted a coup against the Nigerian constitution by declaring Yahaya Bello as the Kogi State Governor.

Olanipekun, who is the counsel to James Faleke, the petitioner, told the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja that his client was the rightful person for the governorship seat.

“What INEC did in the state on November 22, 2015, by substituting a stranger (Yahaya Bello) for a substantive candidate (Faleke) in an election that was already concluded is a coup against the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Olanipekun submitted.

He cited sections 179(2) and 181(1) of the Constitution to buttress his submission that INEC’s decision to declare the election inconclusive was a coup against the constitution. Section179 (2a&b ) states: “A candidate for an election to the office of the governor of a state shall be deemed to have been duly elected, where being two or more candidates, he has the highest number of votes cast at the election and he has not less than one quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two thirds of all the local government areas of the state,” while section 181(1) states that “if a person duly elected as governor dies before taking and subscribing to oath of allegiance and oath of office or is unable

for any reason whatsoever to be sworn in, the person elected with him as Deputy Governor shall be sworn in as Governor and he shall nominate a new Deputy Governor who shall be appointed by the Governor with the approval of a simple majority of the House of Assembly of the state.”

Olanipekun emphasised the supremacy of the constitution declaring: “My Lord, the spirit and letters of the constitution is self-executory, and it is like the rock of Gibraltar that cannot be moved. Indeed, no single word in the constitution is a waste!

So, INEC has no discretion with regards to sections 179 and 181 respectively at all.”

On whether the petitioner, Faleke, has a locus standi to approach the tribunal, Olanipekun submitted that the petitioner indeed was a candidate who has the locus in view of section 187 of the constitution.

He referred to the case of CPC VS INEC where the then President Umaru Yar’Adua and his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan, were jointly sued, adding that if Jonathan as Vice President was not a candidate, he would not have been joined in the suit.

He further urged the tribunal to discountenance the argument of the respondents that votes in an election belong to political parties and not candidates. Citing a recent Supreme Court ruling, Olanipekun said: “Parties only sponsor candidates but candidates stand for elections.

FOR A PROSPEROUS ENERGY SECTOR

L-R: Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN); the Principal Partner, Dele Oye and Associates, Mr. Dele Oye; and a former Minister of Defence, Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), after a capacity building workshop on the energy sector organised for judicial officers in the country in Abuja...recently

FG Pledges Support for Kano’s Proposed N10.88bn Leather Cluster Targes over 5,000 direct jobs James Emejo in Abuja

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar, yesterday expressed the federal government’s willingness to back the Kano State Government in its bid to develop the Industrial Development Centre (IDC) located at Tiga to a world class leather cluster park and training center.

The three-phased project is projected to gulp a total of N10.88 billion with equity funding of 40 per cent and 60 per cent by the state and federal governments respectively.

Speaking in Abuja, shortly

after a project presentation by a delegation from the Kano State Government, led by the state Commissioner for Commerce, Mr. Rabiu Bakko, Abubakar, who expressed delight at the initiative, said the current administration had been brainstorming on how to transform all the 23 IDCs across the country in order to boost the economy.

She further expressed confidence in the proposed facility, promising that the federal government would work handin-hand with the private sector to ensure that the project was completed within the 20-month target period.

Noting that the best way to drive the project was through effective private sector partnership, the minister said government would provide the enabling environment for private sector involvement in the project.

She said the project is in line with the present administration’s agenda to create millions of jobs for Nigerians.

Under the project proposal, the federal government is expected to provide N6.5 billion funding while the state will commit N4.3 billion.

However, Bakko said when completed, the leather cluster would help to reduce the acute

shortage of jobs and also help the state regain its historic leadership in hide and skin business globally.

He said the country must take advantage of the global leather industry which is currently worth $40 billion annually, with 60 percent of the leather sourced from developing countries including Nigeria.

“The project is aimed at giving millions of jobs to the people Also speaking at the meeting, the Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Bature Masari, said if implemented, the project would have mass effect on Nigerians.

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FRIDAY, april 8, 2016 • T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS Eagles Drop Five Places in April FIFA Ranking

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Duro Ikhazuagbe Nigeria’s free fall in FIFA ranking has continued as the three-time African champions slipped five places to the 67th spot in the April standing released yesterday. The Super Eagles are 14th in Africa.

Eagles’ failure to snap a place in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Gabon, due to the draw against Egypt in Kaduna and the loss in Alexandria four days later, accounted largely for the poor ranking. The Pharaohs are ranked fifth in the continental standings.

Now, while this rating is likely going to impact on Egypt to be seeded among the top five when the World Cup draw is staged on June 24, the poor standing of Eagles means that the possibilities of confronting any of the top countries in the continent is very imminent.

Nigeria is likely going to be grouped with at least two better ranked teams in the World Cup qualifying group phase.

In Africa, the Super Eagles are behind Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, Egypt, Cape Verde, Tunisia, Congo DR, Guinea, Congo, Cameroun, Morocco and Mali.

Meanwhile, Algeria remains Africa’s best football nation after moving four places to the 33rd position in the world while second-placed Cote d’Ivoire climbed two places to 34th and Egypt zoomed nine places up to 44th in the world.

At the global level,

Argentina leapfrogged Belgium to take the top spot in the world ranking.

La Albiceleste’s recent performances in World Cup qualifying matches helped Argentina end Belgium’s five-month-long reign at the summit of football’s world ranking which began when the Red Devils snatched pole position from Argentina back in November 2015.

Close behind, Chile moved into third spot (up two places), Colombia fourth (up four) and Uruguay jump to ninth (up two) to strengthen the South American grip on the top ten.

A total of 171 games were taken into account for the April edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, which includes 51 qualifiers for Russia 2018, 60 continental qualifiers and 60 international friendlies.

The two most outstanding performers for April hail from the African continent. Guinea-Bissau (up 45) climbed the most positions by rank, while Morocco (131 points) enjoyed the biggest move by virtue of points.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on May 5, 2016.

AFRICA’S TOP TEN Algeria Cote d’Ivoire Ghana Senegal Egypt Cape Verde Tunisia DR Congo Guinea Congo

Iwobi Picks Eagles over Arsenal Nigeria’s newest kid on the block, Alex Iwobi will likely miss Arsenal’s start to the 2016/17 season after indicating interest to play for Nigeria at the 2016 Rio Olympics this August.

Iwobi, who made his international debut in the 1-1 draw with Egypt in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Kaduna last month wants to line up for Nigeria’s Olympic side in the football event the commences on August 3.

Arsenal begins the season ten days after the Olympic tournament starts and if Nigeria gets to the final, Iwobi will still be in Brazil by August 20, a move which might pop up a club vs country clash.

The youngster has been in fine form for club and country over the past few weeks with

his performance last weekend against Watford catching the eye. Iwobi scored a goal and made an assist as the Gunners beat Watford 4-0.

Nigeria won the Olympic football gold in 1996 in Atlanta with a squad that had Iwobi’s uncle Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Ikpeba.

Current Under-23 coach Samson Siasia, was in charge at Beijing 2008 as Nigeria won the silver, losing the final to a Lionel Messi inspired Argentine side.

The ‘Dream Team’ won the Africa U-23 Nations Cup in Senegal to book a ticket for the Rio Olympics with Siasia in-charge.

The former FC Nantes striker will look to go one further than he did eight years ago in China.

Alex Iwobi… wants to be part of Nigeria’s Olympic team at Rio 2016

BOA LAWYERS’ LEAGUE

Agbakoba, Falana, Others in S’final Showdown Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL) dream of a back-to-back BOA Lawyers Football Tournament title is on course as the 2015 champion takes on T.Oyetibo/B. Osipitan in one of the semi final matches on Sunday at the Astroturf 2000 in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The other semi final clash involves Falana & Falana and Aluko & Oyebode.

To reach the last four stage, Agbakoba went through blood and thunder to snatch the semi ticket from the grips of another past champion, Banwo & Ighodalo with a 1-0 victory.

Now, the defending champion is looking forward to an encore that may not come easy considering the pedigree of T.Oyetibo/B. Osipitan. The later got to the semi in a penalty-shoot out against ADVOCAAT after regulation time deadlocked on a barren note.

T.Oyetibo/B. Osipitan

eventually got the nod to the last four on a 2-0 victory in that shoot-out.

Falana & Falana have Tayo Fashanu to thank for the brace that ended the ambition of a past winner, Lagos State Ministry of Justice (LSMJ) while Aluko & Oyebode was the lucky team in the penalty shoot-out with

Olajide Oyewole. Aluko & Oyebode scrapped through to the semi on a 5-4 victory.

Given the quality of skills displayed in the four matches of the quarter final last weekend, surprises appear to be the watch word as the semi finalists file out on Sunday to see the two teams to match into the grand

finale to cap the 2016 edition of the lawyers’ football tournament.

The Bankole Olumide Aluko Football Tournament (BOA), also known as Lawyers’ League, is held in memory of the late lawyer, Bankole Olumide Aluko, a founding partner in the law firm of Aluko & Oyebode, who passed on 14 years ago.

UN Partners Sports Ministry on Devt The United Nations and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports have entered into partnership on sport by presenting footballs and other items to the Internally Displaced Persons to mark the International Day of Sports for Development and Peace.

Permanent Secretary. Federal Ministry of Youth and, Christian Ohaa, former trade unionist and

now a Member of the House of Representatives, Hon Peter Akpatason, former Chairman of the house sports committee, Hon Godfrey Gaiya, Under-23 Head Coach, Samson Siasia, GM SuperSport, Felix Awogu and Emmanuel Omije attended the lecture to commemorate the occasion.

They also paid a visit to IDP camp, where they presented 500

balls donated by SuperSport.

Ohaa said that the event was about buying into the UN Charter of using sport for world peace and domesticating it in Nigeria by focusing on youth development.

Akpatason described sports as at tool for the mobilisation of people, while Gaiya clamoured for a day to be set aside to celebrate the essence of sports in the lives of the people.

NTF Clinic, Tournament Light up Niger, Kaduna The Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) is taking full advantage of the current school holiday with a couple of programmes aimed at developing tennis as the Niger Holiday Tennis Clinic holds in Minna while the inaugural Alhaji Adewale Issa Memorial Tournament holds in Kaduna with over 100 players taking part.

According to the Coordinator of the Niger Holiday Clinic holding at the Minna Tennis Club, Seidu Musa, over 40 kids drawn from primary and secondary schools within the state

are being introduced to the game in order to avoid the vacuum that will be created when the senior players leave the stage.

Musa, an ITF Bronze badge referee, who has officiated in grand slams such as Wimbledon, Australian Open and US Open as well as the Olympic Games said the kids are being familiarised with the latest techniques in the sport under its catch-them-young theme.

He commended the NTF for its support for the weeklong clinic which will end on

Saturday disclosing the federation provided all the balls and racquets in addition to logistics for the programme.

Similarly, the 1st Adewale Issa Memorial Tournament is equally attracting over 60 kids at the Kaduna Clay Court on Works Road.

Among the participating states for at the event that is also enjoying the full backings of the NTF are Abuja, Kano, Jigawa, Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue Plateau, Katsina and host Kaduna.

The programme is being

facilitated by an ITF white badge official, Arinola Isa, with additional support from Nigeria’s junior tennis Head Coach, Mohammed Ubale.

Boys are competing in five categories namely U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18 while girls are competing in U10 and U14 categories.

Alhaji Issa, who died in March 2015, was the coach who discovered the highest number of Nigerian tennis stars including; Sadiq Abdullahi, Sule Ladipo and a host of others.

55

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016

FRIDAYSPORTS

Nigeria on Verge of Qualifying for ITTF World Junior Championship Nigeria’s junior boys and girls’ teams are one match away respectively of securing their places in the 2016 ITTF World Junior Championship after beating host – Algeria in the quarterfinal match of the team event at the ongoing ITTF African Junior & Cadet Championship in Algiers.

In the boys quarterfinal tie, the trio of Amadi Omeh, Azeez Solanke and Abayomi Animashaun were not intimidated by the home crowd in their 3-0 bashing of Algeria.

The match which served as the decider to determine the team that will qualify for the semifinal round of the competition became a one-sided encounter with Nigeria dominating from the start to the end.

It was Amadi Omeh who started the rout with 3-0 pounding

of Algeria’s Islem Tifoura while Azeez Solanke increased the lead to 2-0 with another 3-0 pummeling of Omar Annane.

Not ready to give the host nation any breathing space, Abayomi Animashaun who despite his age has challenged some of the top players in the competition started well against Salim Amokrane with a 2-0 lead but motivation from the fans boosted the confidence of the Algerian teenager who won the third game. In order to avert a comeback, Animasahun did not look back in the fourth game to end the encounter at 3-1 to give Nigeria an emphatic 3-0 win.

With this win, Nigeria has joined the trio of Tunisia, Egypt and Congo Brazzaville in the semifinal stage of the championship.

For the semifinal pairing, Nigeria will battle against Tunisia while Egypt will face Congo Brazzaville

for places in the final.

The girls’ team made up of Ajoke Ojomu, Esther Oribamise and Nimota Aregbesola had to dig deep to overcome their Tunisian counterparts 3-2 to berth in the last four of the tournament.

For the semifinal pairing which will determine the eventual qualification for the World Junior Championship, Nigeria girls will battle the home team – Algeria for a place in the final.

A confident Animashaun said they cannot afford to miss out from the bigger event holding on Africa soil in November.

“We were never considered as favourite to qualify because we could not come to the 2015 edition held in Mauritius and we were not seeded for the tournament but we knew we had a battle to fight in Algiers.

“In the group match against

Egypt we fought well but we lost 3-1 and we finished second in the group. After knowing that we were going to face Algeria, we talked to ourselves that we should not be intimidated by the

crowd and this was what really worked for us.

Now, we are just a match away from qualifying for the World Junior Championship and we are not going to relax

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Enyimba, Etoile Set for Group Stage Ticket War in Aba Enyimba will battle Confederation Cup title holders Etoile du Sahel in the first leg of their CAF Champions League second round clash on Sunday.

Kick-off at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba is set for 4pm.

The last Nigerian team in continental campaign overcome Uganda’s Vipers and Vital’O of Burundi en route to this stage of the competition, and will now face the Tunisians with a place in the lucrative group stage on the line.

Enyimba Coach Paul

Aigbogun has praised his side’s attacking ability in recent times, especially after their 5-1 home win over Vital’O in the previous round, and he hopes to see the same kind of showing when they host the North Africans.

“We’ve been doing well, creating chances and thank God we converted these chances,” Aigbogun said yesterday.

“It’s a process, it’s a new team, a lot of players came into the team, so I kept on saying that it takes time to build a team and we thank God it all came together.”

Etoile, who beat Morocco’s Olympique Khourigba 3-1 in the previous round, will see this tie as a chance to gain revenge on Enyimba.

The teams famously met in the final of the 2004 Champions League, with the pair drawing 3-3 over the two legs. However, the Nigerians went on to win the tie on penalties, thereby claiming their second successive African crown.

Togolese referee Kokou Hougnimon will take charge of the match in Aba. The return leg is set to be played at the Olympic Stadium in Sousse on April 19-20.

Neymar Could be Stripped of Brazil Captaincy Barcelona’s Brazilian star Neymar could see his place in his national team setup downgraded, with reports in his home country claiming that the 24-year-old could be stripped of the captaincy after a series of poor decisions.

The Brazilian Football Confederation is said to have been irritated by his booking against Uruguay recently, which saw him suspended for the next World Cup qualifying match against Paraguay - which ended in a 2-2 draw.

Reports from O Globo said that the booking was just the latest in a string of ‘offences’ by the Barcelona star, with the CBF also unhappy that he chose to leave the squad and return to his club early after his suspension was confirmed.

A lack of discipline also saw Neymar sent off and banned for four games during the summer’s Copa America tournament after he kicked a ball at a Colombian

player in frustration following the final whistle, before appearing to headbutt another and reportedly showering the referee with abuse.

He also left the squad after his suspension was confirmed on that occasion, leaving the team he had been charged with leading as they crashed out on penalties to Paraguay at the quarter-final stage.

Domestically, Neymar has been the subject of a number of

transfer rumours of late. Paris Saint-Germain and a number of Premier League clubs hold a reported interest in bringing the Ballon d’Or shortlisted forward to their respective teams, but Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu put an end to the speculation recently, saying: “If someone wants to negotiate with Neymar, we will not give them permission. Neymar will stay at Barcelona.”

PUBLIC NOTICE OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTING 92/93 SET ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Alumni Association has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under Part C of the Companies and allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MR. TAIWO YISA OLADIMEJI PRESIDENT 2. MR. KOLEOSHO OPEYEMI VICE PRESIDENT 3. MR. OGEDENGBE ANTHONY SECRETARY 4. MR. OLORUNFEMI AYOKUNLE ASSISTANT SECRETARY 5. MRS. OMISORE OLUFUNMILAYO TREASURER

6. MR. OMOLEYE OLUFEMI PUBLICITY AND SOCIAL SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.To promote unity and friendship among members of the Association.

2.To build a network of contacts, and cooperate with other bodies, international agencies, non-governmental organizations and voluntary agencies with similar objectives.

3.To organize lectures, seminars, workshops and conference, awareness campaign for the purpose of education.

4.To engage in all forms of lawful activities that will enhance and promote individual and collective

progress of members of the Association 5.To cater for the social, moral and financial needs of members of the Association.

6.To promote education and scholarship.

7.To maintain a high level of active membership of the OAU ACCOUNTING 92/93 SET by creating a range of programs and services so appealing that the alumni will seek to remain engaged with each other.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigirs Crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: MR. TAIWO YISA OLADIMEJI President

Abayomi Animasahun… new kid on the block

and take each match as they come. The Tunisians are nit pushovers and we will ensure our coming to Algiers is fruitful,” the assistant captain of the team said.

Friday, April 8, 2016

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Price: N150

MISSILE Tinubu to PDP

“We want to stay focused and redirect Nigeria. We want to reverse the decay of 16 years. We are hearing comments from the PDP left and right. We are saying we want to clear the mess they created. For 16 good years, the PDP destroyed the country. We should not be lamenting over petrol queues today if they had seen what was necessary and done what was necessary for this country.” – The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu accusing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being responsible for the ongoing fuel scarcity across the country.

SHAKAMOMODU THIS REPUBLIC

shaka.momodu@thisdaylive.com

0811 266 1654

Tinubu’s ‘State of the Nation’ Treatise

T

here is a saying in the land of my fathers that the party is good and enjoyable while it lasts, but the hangover can be a real headache. The honeymoon for the party of change has since run out, we are now in the season of hangover and it is proving to be a debilitating headache.

The former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the political godfather of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Asiwaju of South-west, the “owner” of Lagos and its people, the irrepressible Jagaban of Borgu, the Lion of Bourdillon, the ingenious political strategist of our time, the shrewd and cunning mastermind of strange political alliances, the conqueror of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), “the defender of poor and vulnerable” Nigerians, the progenitor of propaganda in modern-day Nigerian party politics, the one who does not tolerate dissenting groups/views, the advocate of party supremacy when it is convenient, the self-acclaimed democrat but who is everything but democratic, the one who imposes candidates on his party and organisations, is at it again.

A fatally flawed progressive democrat, the “national leader” of this fraudulent contraption called the All Progressives Congress, (APC) makes or mars the political careers of friends and foes at will. Loved and loathed in equal measure, his quest for power and control has put Nigerians in chains of uncertainty and misery instead of bringing the much-desired change that was promised.

Tinubu, the one who has elevated propaganda to an art form, is not a happy man. His dream of expanding his political empire to the Sahara Desert is failing woefully.

This was not the plan. However, I must give him some credit; he is a very smart politician of no mean measure, well ahead of his peers in reading the political barometer, and who sure knows how to play the populist card in a dog-eat-dog world of politics with its shifting alliances and tendencies.

He recently hit Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Group Managing Director of NNPC with a firebomb. It was a well-timed bomb which exploded in the face of Kachikwu; primed to cause maximum damage to the real intended target and it has achieved just that. By latching on to the lingering fuel scarcity which has grounded businesses, caused tremendous suffering and frustrations around the country to spew his latent grievances arising from the loss of political patronage, Tinubu is indirectly spoiling for a fight for his own political survival.

Yes, many people now spend more hours in fuel lines that stretch as far as the eye can see, than they spend at work or with their families. Sometimes, they even have to sleep at fuel stations just to be able to buy the all-essential petroleum product to be able to move around. Yes, we are experiencing the worst fuel crisis in recent memory in a supposed era of change. To me, all these are of less concern to Tinubu; it is more about self-preservation. By speaking up, he is offering a token atonement for the deceit he foisted on Nigerians as change and perhaps, hopes for redemption from the traumatised people pointing the finger of suspicion at him. Desperate Tinubu and his fellow power-hungry conspirators had sold guava to Nigerians as apples.

Now the barefaced lie they packaged and sold to the public as change is what is unravelling before their very eyes. Just in case he doesn’t know, it is not only the scarcity of petrol that is pauperising Nigerians.

Under the APC-led government, the economy has practically collapsed - industries are shutting down, workers are being laid off in their thousands, our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate has fallen for four

Tinubu straight quarters to a record low and is set to fall even further in the first quarter of this year, importation has dropped by over 75 per cent, inflation has galloped to 11.4 per cent, Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) have shrunk by 82 per cent, all because of a lack of fiscal policy direction. To boot, electricity supply has collapsed.

In fact, the economy is at a standstill. The exchange rate of the naira to the dollar peaked at a record high of N405 before resting at N325. What about the 2016 budget? It was riddled with corruption, padding and errors. In summary, according to Lai Mohammed, even though he later denied it, the economy has reeled out of Buhari’s control.

The rule of law, one of the pillars of democracy has lost its meaning, arbitrary detention of people without trial is now the order of the day, (even highly respected lawyers/activists and career critics have become dismissive of court orders and even abuse judges for granting bail to suspects). Normally, they would shout to the heavens when such violations occur, but “normal” never seems to apply when abuses are committed by the APC-led government.

Furthermore, impunity is on the rise as the Department of State Security (DSS) has become a Gestapo organisation, invading state government houses of opposition party, arresting and detaining Ekiti State lawmakers as it pleases. The judiciary is regularly harassed and routinely intimidated by the agents of government. We now hear of opposition to “unmoderated rule of law” by agents of this APC-led government. Some have even called for the suspension of the constitution to give Buhari more powers to do as he wishes without the encumbrances of human rights protection.

But Tinubu’s attack on the minister must be seen for what it truly was: an opportunistic moment that a man of his political pedigree and experience could not just let slip through his fingers. It was not about the love for the people or love of country, otherwise, the dire economic situation that has turned many families into beggars would have drawn his attention.

It was about Tinubu’s personal grievances couched in populist rhetoric for maximum impact. What perfect opportunity was there than Kachikwu’s careless and innocuous statement of not being trained as a magician.

Clearly, Kachikwu was not the intended target of such a comprehensive vote of no confidence from one of the leaders of change. The minister’s statement merely provided a cannon fodder and a decoy for Tinubu to attack the government he helped to midwife. Let me remind those who have forgotten that Buhari is

actually the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

Tinubu is using the plight and suffering of the people in a very uncanny manner to once again shore up his weakening political machine and possibly to remind those who have sidelined him in case they have forgotten, he can still throw a punch or two. Now, recall that Buhari himself had once told the world that he was not a miracle worker who would suddenly fix all Nigeria’s problems. This was after he and the APC had raised expectations and got elected on the strength of the many bogus promises they made on the campaign stump.

While it is difficult for anyone to defend Kachikwu on the lingering fuel scarcity across the country, it is equally difficult to believe that Kachikwu’s innocuous slip irked Tinubu so much that he wrote such a lengthy treatise to launch such a vitriolic attack on the minister.

Nearly every sentence in the 1,140-worded treatise was a punch to the guts - an overkill.

My take here is that Tinubu has already seen the handwriting on the wall that this government is groping around in the dark on how to manage the economy and seems totally clueless on the way forward. And since he cannot admit that openly, he is picking on “soft targets” of the Buhari government to give full vent to his feelings and his much-talked about alienation in the current scheme of things.

In case you have been fooled, Tinubu may be trying to reposition himself for 2019 as the new voice of the voiceless having seen that his experiment of merging ultra-conservatism with a deeply flawed progressivism is failing - in the hope that the people would forget his role in bringing this confused government to be. I don’t know if he would succeed, but given the gullibility of

the people, he may well succeed. But I am not about to let him escape blame of the tragedy he brought on Nigerians. He is the father of this disaster. He cannot disown it.

The APC talking points of “if you see the mess that was left behind,” “we met an empty treasury,” or “the last government ran the country aground” have lost their mojo and no longer impress. For those hooked on APC’s talking points, let me remind them that in 1999, the “mess” the military left behind was far worse.

They practically raided the treasury before handing over. Every institution of state was in a shambles. Add that to Abacha’s direct stealing from the Central Bank of Nigeria, then you would get the picture.

President Olusegun Obasanjo inherited the “mess” left, cleaned it up and created institutions to prevent a recurrence. He was not wailing and whining like Buhari and his APC are doing now, nor did he throw his hands up in the air in surrender. He governed and set the tone for the economic direction of the country, laying the foundation for a new economic order. “Memories fade, juries can be bought.”

Let no one accuse me of supporting looting. Punish the culprits according to the law. The point here is that this listless “mess” campaign cannot be an excuse for doing nothing or exhibiting lethargic incompetence.

What Tinubu said was essentially a strong message to Kachikwu’s boss, perhaps a personal reflection on change and more than that, it appeared to have some elements of deep personal wounds and disappointment with the outcome of the change, of which he was one of the key drivers and architects. Fellow Nigerians, the more they shout change, the more things stay the same or even turn for the worse.

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