Thursday 14th April 2016

2016 Budget Polarises Senate into North-South Divide House to re-examine Appropriation Bill

Omololu Ogunmade and Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The controversy over the non-inclusion of the CalabarLagos rail project in the 2016

budget has pitted southern senators against their northern counterparts, with the former throwing their weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to withhold

his assent on the budget.

In the view of senators from the southern section of the country, the president should not sign the Appropriation Bill until the joint Appropriation

Committees of the National Assembly include the CalabarLagos rail project in the budget.

THISDAY learnt yesterday that senators from the South-west and South-south

geo-political zones met in their respective caucuses on Tuesday night where they concluded that the project was deliberately removed because it is a southern project.

Their position may have been strengthened by reports that the Appropriation Committee headed by two Continued on page 6

FG Accused of Diverting UK Aid to Persecute Buhari’s Political Foes… Page 11 Thursday 14 April, 2016 Vol 21. No 7658. Price: N150

www.thisdaylive.com TR

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New Video Shows Chibok Girls are Alive FG: We are in negotiations for their release

Our Correspondents with agency report US cable news network, CNN,

has aired a “proof of life” video, which was recorded by Boko Haram on December 25, 2015, showing that the 219 girls

US, Malala, BBOG, others call for unconditional release of girls Laureate, Malala Yousafzi, the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) Group, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC),

joined millions of Nigerians and others across the world to

who the terror sect kidnapped from their secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, may still be alive and in captivity.

The video was broadcast yesterday just as the United States government, Amnesty International, Nobel Peace

Esther Ayuba

Glory Dama

Dorcas Yakubu

Glory Yaga

Baraya Musa

Labara John

Layatu Habila

Naomi Philimon

Continued on page 6

Still Missing, But Not Forgotten…

Bolaji Adebiyi in Abuja

Exactly two years ago, the Islamic terror group, Boko Haram, abducted 276 girls from their school, Government Secondary School in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State.

Although 57 of them managed to escape from their abductors and found their way back home, 219 others have remained in captivity, with the federal government still searching for their whereabouts.

As part of the search and rescue efforts, THISDAY/ ARISE TV had at the time exclusively obtained the names and photographs of the girls from local family sources in Chibok, following a painstaking investigation that took weeks to conclude.

Based on our efforts, the names of 197 girls still in captivity were provided by family sources and the Borno State Government. Of the 197 names, photographs of 142 were backed by photographs thus enabling THISDAY/ARISE TV to put a face to the names of the victims whose ordeal captivated the world, and effectively cleared any lingering doubt in some quarters that the dastardly event ever occurred.

Two years on, it is an unfortunate national embarrassment that not one of the 219 Chibok schoolgirls has been found by the federal government and its security agencies.

As President Muhammadu Buhari put it in his only media chat since Continued on page 8

See more pictures on pages 8-10

To Our Esteemed Readers: THISDAY Will from Tomorrow Increase the Cover Price of the Newspaper to N250 and the Sunday Edition to N400

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THURSDAY, april 14, 2016 • T H I S D AY

PAGE SIX 2016 BUDGET POLARISES SENATE INTO NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE northern lawmakers diverted allocations to some projects in the north.

The southern senators therefore vowed to resist any attempt to deprive the people of the south access to such a major project.

Besides the Tuesday meeting of South-south and South-west senators, South-south and South-east senators were also said to have met at a secret venue yesterday while the South-west senators also met in the residence of Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East).

The southern senators were said to have rejected the call for the supplementary budget on Tuesday, describing it as an attempt to deny the southern region of the rail project.

At the South-west caucus meeting on Wednesday, the senators backed the statement issued by Ashafa on Monday that the Land Transport Committee recommended the rail project to Appropriation Committee but did not know at which point it disappeared from the budget.

A senator informed THISDAY: “Personally, I see no reason why the funds in the

Ministry of Transport should be moved completely to the Ministry of Works for the construction of roads which belongs to state governments without engineering designs.

“We are seeking the reversion of this decision because the Calabar-Lagos rail project is very viable and it cuts across states in the South-south and South-west and it would galvanise the social and economic activities of the both regions.

“Apart from this, the project is a joint venture between Nigeria and China and it is time bound. Any attempt to leave it out of the budget this year, will affect the execution of the project,” he said.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday said it would re-examine the budget passed by the National Assembly about two weeks ago.

The Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara made the announcement after the lawmakers concluded a two-hour closed-door session.

He explained that the reexamination is in the interest of Nigerians to ensure an

implementable budget.

“In view of the prevailing economic situation and in the interest of our people, we have resolved to re-examine the budget with a view of ironing out any differences with the executive.

“This is for the overall interest of the country in order to have a workable budget that is implementable,” he said.

However, the speaker did not make reference to the Calabar-Lagos rail project, which has pitted the Senate against the executive arm of government.

Plenary in the lower legislative chamber started later than usual yesterday at 11.56 pm and dissolved into the executive session.

Briefing newsmen after the session, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas explained that the executive was yet to formally communicate with the National Assembly on what the issues of concern in the budget are.

He added that the speaker

has been designated to liaise with the executive to identify areas of concern, “and if they are of national interest, we are open and we would accommodate them so we can move forward”.

Namdas however did not clarify if any additions would only be entertained through a supplementary budget, or in the 2016 Appropriation Bill, which is yet to be signed into law by the president.

“If we look at it, and are convinced 60 per cent (of the budget) is okay, we would urge the president to sign it and let’s start implementing the 60 per cent. Then let’s accommodate others in the supplementary budget,” Namdas said.

Namdas however noted that the House was not working at cross-purposes with the Senate.

“Let’s wait and see what the president would say, and then we would know how to go about the modalities,” he said.

The House spokesman also refuted reports that the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, Hon.

Jibrin Abdulmumin was being asked to resign, adding that he, Abdulmumin briefed the lawmakers during the closed-door session.

Abdulmumin was accused of unilaterally allocating unplanned constituency projects to the tune of N4 billion to his constituency, Bebeji/Kiru Federal Constituency in Kano State.

Namdas further reiterated that the contentious CalabarLagos rail project was not in the budget estimates presented to the National Assembly, even though it is a viable project.

“We know some presidents send ministers to present the budget, but this president brought it himself, so we could not accept any other document through the backdoor.

“If we allowed it (CalabarLagos rail project) to be smuggled in at the committee level, next year others too will wait for their budget to be at the committee level, and smuggle in all kinds of things.

Then the National Assembly will be accused of padding the budget,” he added.

Speaking on the latest feud over the budget, the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Leo Ogor, in an interview with THISDAY, said the executive should stop resorting to the blame game on issues it can resolve through dialogue, instead of being confrontational.

“Nobody can take away the power of appropriation from the National Assembly. If anyone thinks he can bring a budget to the legislature and it would be returned to him the same way, he must be dreaming,” he said.

Ogor added that the impasse must quickly be resolved in the interest of Nigerians.

Speaking in the same vein, Hon. Daniel Reyeneiju (Delta PDP) said it was unfortunate that the 2016 budget continues to be enmeshed in unnecessary controversies.

“The heads of the executive and the legislature must quickly meet to resolve this.

Whatever power tussle we are engaged in, is not in the interest of Nigerians, in whose interest we must exercise our constitutional powers,” Reyeneiju said.

video, and that it was in negotiations with those who supplied it to secure the girls’ release, but said it remained unable to confirm or reject the recording’s authenticity.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed said during the interview that there were concerns that the girls did not appear to have changed sufficiently, that they were not as “different as one might expect”, given the two years that had elapsed since their disappearance.

CNN spoke to a classmate of the girls seen in the footage, who confirmed the identity of several of her friends.

He however said there were ongoing talks, but the negotiations could not be disclosed openly so as not to endanger the girls.

The soft-spoken teen, whose identity it did not reveal for her safety, was supposed to be at the school that Sunday night to sit exams along with the other girls, but made a last minute decision to go home, from where she could hear the school being attacked.

“We ran into the bush and stayed there for a month,” she said.

Watching the video, she becomes emotional, exclaiming “Oh my God!” as she recognised a close friend, pointed out another who was in the same hostel as her, and identified one of the school’s prefects, a leader in her class.

While she considered herself one of the “lucky ones”, the teenager said she still has nightmares about the experience.

“If I hear something on the news about them, it makes me have bad dreams and I cry,” she confided.

Crowded around, their eyes glued to the computer screen, three of the girls’ mothers weep and hug each other.

Rifkatu Ayuba, Yana Galang and Mary Ishaya made the 125km journey from Chibok to Maiduguri reluctantly, not

knowing what was in store; accustomed to endless media requests and intrusions into their grief, they arrived world weary and impatient.

But this time it was different: there was a rare of glimmer of hope.

CNN told them it had important information to share with them about their daughters. Then the network explained that it had a video of girls believed to be their daughters and wanted their help to verify it.

Clad in boldly-printed headscarves and wrappers, the trio sat in the courtyard of a Maiduguri hotel, and watched intently as CNN hit “play”.

Within seconds, their worry-lined faces crumpled, the bottled-up pain of the past two years flowed freely.

Hardly able to speak through the tears, Ayuba and Ishaya pointed out their daughters, Saratu and Hauwa, in the crowd of young women on the screen.

But for Galang, there was no such reward for her journey: she looked and looked, but her daughter Rifqata was not among the captives shown in the video.

Her heartrending sobs as she came to realise this were difficult to hear.

“We have seen enough,” she said eventually. “We know that the girls are alive and they are hidden. We are not worried.

Our daughters look well.

“We have heard a lot of stories before but this video confirms that they are alive. The government should negotiate with Boko Haram.”

And there was comfort in this at least -- to know that, even after two years, there was still a chance the girls will be brought home to their families.

“I didn’t see my daughter but I now have more hope that she is alive,” she told CNN and her friends. “You can see what is yours on the screen but you can't get it. All we want is our daughters.”

Calling for their unconditional

release yesterday, the US, in a statement by the deputy spokesperson of its State Department, Mr. Mark Toner, charged the federal government to step up efforts to rescue all victims kidnapped by Boko Haram.

“In the last two years, in spite of re-assurances from those at the highest level of the Nigerian government, the parents have not seen any concrete progress in locating and liberating their daughters.

“The lack of access to information increases the suffering of the abductees’ families through false hopes and frustrations.

“The grievances of the families and their most basic right to be kept informed about the plight of their loved ones has largely been ignored” the statement read.

It added: “We are nonetheless seriously concerned by the absence of follow-up in the provision of care, recovery and reintegration measures for victims of sexual violence.

“The reintegration and rehabilitation of women and children are essential in the path towards lasting peace.

“Both the Nigerian authorities and the international community should make it clear that all alleged crimes perpetrated by Boko Haram will be promptly, thoroughly and independently investigated.

“And, those responsible, directly or as commanders or superiors, should be brought to justice.

“The declaration by the African Union making this year the African Year of Human Rights with a specific focus on women’s rights should be an additional call to action for African States and the international community.

“They should actively support Nigeria in its fight against Boko Haram, and also in addressing deep-rooted human rights violations such as gender-based violence and discrimination.”

In the statement US reiterated its call for the immediate release,

without preconditions, of all hostages held by Boko Haram, noting that the kidnapping of the young women, along with the kidnappings of countless others

by Boko Haram, epitomised the terrorist group’s depravity.

US said it would continue to assist the federal government in its efforts to locate and bring home all those who had been kidnapped by Boko Haram with intelligence and advisory support.

It also said it was delivering over $240m in development and humanitarian assistance across the Lake Chad Basin region to provide conflict-affected populations and refugees with transitional assistance, psycho-social services, health programmes, and emergency education for children displaced by violence.

In its statement, the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement yesterday, implored the federal government to speed up efforts aimed at rescuing the abducted schoolgirls.

Mr. Sesugh Akume, the spokesperson of BBOG told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that time was running out as the girls would have spent two years in captivity by today.

NEW VIDEO SHOWS CHIBOK GIRLS ARE ALIVE call for the immediate release of the girls who were abducted exactly two years ago.

Their abduction on April 14, 2014, sparked a social media campaign spearheaded by the BBOG group and global outrage over the girls who were sitting for their final year secondary school exams at the time of their kidnapping.

CNN obtained a video showing 15 of the Chibok Girls which was sent to government negotiators by their captors as “proof of life”.

According to CNN, the video had been seen by negotiators and some members of the federal government, but no one had shown the parents until now.

According to the cable network, when one of the mothers’ of a kidnapped girl, Rifkatu Ayuba, caught sight of her long-lost, desperately missed, now 17-year-old daughter on the video, she wailed: “My Saratu!”, as she reached out to the laptop screen, the closest she’s been to her child in two years. She was desperate to comfort her little girl, but helpless.

Saratu Ayuba was one of 15 girls seen in the recording shown to some of the families for the first time at an emotional meeting this week. Wearing a purple abaya (hijab), with a patterned brown scarf covering her hair, Saratu stares directly into the camera.

“I felt like removing her from the screen,” her mother told CNN, desperate to pluck Saratu from the mysterious location where she was being held and bring her home. “If I could, I would have removed her from the screen.”

The video was believed to have been made last December as part of negotiations between the government and Boko Haram.

It was released by someone keen to give the girls’ parents hope that some of their daughters were still alive and to motivate the government to help release them.

The girls, their hair covered and wearing long, flowing robes (hijabs), line up against a dirty yellow wall. They showed no obvious signs of maltreatment.

As the camera focused on each of them, an off-camera voice of a man fired off questions: “What's your name?

Was that your name at school?

Where were you taken from?”

One by one, each girl calmly states her name and explains that she was taken from Chibok Government Secondary School.

Only the occasional hesitation betrays a flicker of fear and emotion.

As the two minutes clip came to an end, one of the girls, Naomi Zakaria, made a final -- apparently scripted -- appeal to whoever was watching, urging the Nigerian authorities to help reunite the girls with their families.

“I am speaking on 25 December 2015 on behalf of the all the Chibok girls and we are all well,” she said, stressing the word “all”. Her intonation seems to imply that the 15 teens seen in the video have been chosen to represent the group as a whole.

The date given by Naomi matches information embedded in the video, suggesting it was filmed on Christmas Day, though whether that's true or whether the day was picked deliberately is unknown.

Most of the 276 girls taken from Chibok on April 14, 2014 were Christians. They were believed to have been forced to convert to Islam by their terrorist captors.

Their kidnapping -- and a lack of progress in tracking down and returning the girls -- sparked mass protests in Nigeria and across the world, with luminaries including Michelle Obama and Malala Yousafzai joining the social media campaign to #BringBackOurGirls.

In an interview with CNN, the federal government acknowledged that it has a copy of the “proof of life”

Continued on page 11

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THURSDAY, april 14, 2016 • T H I S D AY

STILL MISSING…

A SPECIAL REPORT

STILL MISSING, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN… assuming office last year, there is no credible intelligence on the whereabouts of the schoolgirls. This statement made by the president about

five months ago, would ordinarily have foreclosed any hope that the girls stood a chance of making it back home safe and alive.

But THISDAY believes, as

the parents of the missing girls and many other Nigerians do, that in spite of the lackadaisical attitude of the federal government towards the rescue of the

abductees, hope for their freedom must still be kept alive even as every Nigerian must do more to pressurise the government and the security agencies

to step up their efforts to locate, rescue and bring the girls back home alive.

As we did two years ago, we present again, the names and photographs of the

missing girls in the hope that this will renew the resolve by everyone to prevail on the federal government to intensify its efforts to find the schoolgirls.

Christiana Ali

Hauwa Tella

Naomi Luka

Falmata Lawan

Paimata Musa Nkeki

Rifkatu Amos

Rifkatu Yakubu

Comfort Amos

Ruth Wavi

Tabi Pogu

Asabe Lawan

Comfort Habila

Maryamu Lawan

Fibi Haruna

Rose Daniel

Safiya Abdu

Margret Shettima

Hanatu Nuhu

Bolomi Titus

Esther John

Margret Yama

Rhoda John

Maryamu Wayi

Rhoda John

Solomi Pogu

Aisha Lawan Zanna

Aishatu Musa

Amina Bullama

Awa Yerima

Comfort Bulus

Comfort Habila

Deborah Abare

Esther Usman

Fatima Tabji

Glory Aji

Hajara Isa

Hannatu Ishaku

Hauwa Baltai

Hauwa Ntakai

Jummai Aboku

Kabu Malla

Juliana Yakubu

Lugina Samuel

Lugwa Mutah

Lydia Emmar

Lydia Simon

Margret Watsai

Amina Ali

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

A SPecIAL RePORT

STILL MISSING…

Mariama Yahaya

Maryam Abubakar

Maryam Yakubu

Mwa Daniel

Naomi Bitrus

Patience Jacob

Rahila Yohanna

Rebecca Joseph

Rhoda Peter

Ruth Kolo

Ruth Lawan

Sarah Nkeki

Saraya Amos

Tabitha Thomas

Yangana Joseph

Yana Bukar

Yana Pogu

Rejoice Sanki

Rifkatu Galang

Lugwa Abuga

Naomi Zakariya

Mary Amos

Kwazuku Haman

Pinbar Nuhu

Patience Jacob

Gloria Mainta

Maryamu Musa

Kauna Lalai

Maimuna Usman

Hauwa Peter

Hauwa Abdu

Hauwa M. Maina

Filo Dauda

Naomi Zakariya

Maryamu Lawan

Moda Baba

NAME

EXAM LAST NO EXAM

NAME

EXAM LAST NO EXAM

1

AZARE GONI

167

GOVT

2

FIBI HARUNA

178

GOVT/PHY. 3

3

AISHA LAWAL ZANIA

4

8

SARAYA STOVER

429

9

MAGRET YAMA

508

530

9

HAUWA ABDU

9

HAUWA MUTAH

348

11

MARYAMU WAVI

5

MONICA ENOCK

148

12

6

COMFORT BULLUS

106

7

HAUWA NTAKAI

366

GOVT

NAME

EXAM LAST NO EXAM

15

SARATU DAUDA

132

16

YAGANA JOSHUA

249

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

17

HAUWA BALTAI

77

GOVT/PHY. 3

466

GOVT/PHY. 3

18

GLORYYAGA

471

GOVT/PHY. 3

NAOMI ADAMU

30

GOVT

19

AWA ABUBA

25

GOVT/PHY. 3

13

RHODA PETER

387

PRAcT. PHY.

20

AMINA POGU

392

GOVT/PHY. 3

14

DORCAS YAKUBU

494

GOVT

21

AMINA BULLMA

100

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

10

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

STILL MISSING…

A SPECIAL REPORT

NAME

EXAM LAST NO EXAM

NAME

EXAM LAST NO EXAM

22

MODA BABA

75

23

KWAZUKU HAMMAN

24

82

MARYAMU MUSA

332

142 NAOMI FILIMON

156

GOVT/PHY. 3

176

83

VICTORIA DAUDA

135

143 SERAH SAMUEL

406

PRACT. PHY.

GLORY AJI

32

84

COMFORT HABILA

167

144 SUZANNA YAKUBU

504

GOVT/PHY. 3

25

LADI PAUL

377

GOVT/PHY. 3

85

HADIZA YAKUBU

496

145 MARY SULE

430

GOVT/PHY. 3

26

MARY PAUL

380

GOVT/PHY. 3

86

LUGWA ABUGA

26

GOVT/PHY. 3

146 DEBORAH PETER

385

GOVT/PHY. 3

27

KAUNA LUKA

285

87

GLORY DAMA

116

GOVT/PHY. 3

147 JUMAH PAUL

376

GOVT/PHY. 3

28

RUTH LAWAN

282

88

ESTHER USMAN

448

GOVT/PHY. 3

148 SARATU TNAUJI GURAH

437

29

KABU MALLUM

300

89

JABI POGU

399

GOVT/PHY. 3

149 MARY DAUDA

128

30

LARABA MALLUM

307

90

SOLOMI TITUS

442

GOVT/PHY. 3

150 AGNES GAPANI

161

31

HAUWA MAINA

295

91

RHODA JOHN

239

GOVT/PHY. 3

151 SARATTU THAUJI HIKAMA

438

32

LYDIA SIMON

424

92

LARABA JOHN

237

GOVT/PHY. 3

152 SARATU ILIYA

198

33

HELIN MUSA

330

93

MARYAMU LAWAN

278

GOVT/PHY. 3

153 SARATU MARKUS

310

34

AISHATU MUSA

323

94

SARAYA PAUL

382

GOVT/PHY. 3

154 MARYAMU DANIEL

120

GOVT/PHY. 3

35

SARAH NKEKI

363

95

ELI IBRAHIM

183

155 TABITHA HYYGLAMA

181

GOVT/PHY. 3

36

YANA BUKAR

99

96

ASABE LAWAL

274

156 LADI WADAI

457

GOVT/PHY. 3

37

CHRISTIANAH ALI

40

97

RUTH ISHAKU

207

157 RAKIYA GHALI

159

GOVT/PHY. 3

38

MWA DANIEL

121

98

RUTH WAVI

467

158 MARY DAMA

117

GOVT/PHY. 3

39

RIFKATU SOLOMON

427

GOVT/PHY. 3

99

RAHILA YOHANNA

523

GOVT/PHY. 3

159 REBECCA IBRAHIM

189

GOVT/PHY. 3

40

HAUWA TELLA

435

GOVT/PHY. 3

100 MARY ALI

46

GOVT/PHY. 3

160 HALIMA GAMBO

160

GOVT/PHY. 3

41

HAUWA PETER

386

101 REBECCA JOSEPH

245

GOVT/PHY. 3

161 RUTH NGILADAR

354

GOVT/PHY. 3

42

LUGWA MUTAH

351

102 ESTHER AYUBA

71

GOVT/PHY. 3

162 ABIGEL BUKAR KAIGAMA

254

GOVT/PHY. 3

43

MARY YAKUBU

498

103 DEBORAH SOLOMOM

426

GOVT

163 DEBORAH JAFARU

217

GOVT/PHY. 3

44

SOLOMI POGU

398

104 RAHAB IBRAHIM

182

GOVT

164 REBECCA KABU

251

GOVT/PHY. 3

45

AWA YERIMA

515

GOVT/PHY. 3

105 SARAYA SAMUEL

407

GOVT/PHY. 3

165 RAKIYA KWAMTA

269

GOVT/PHY. 3

46

PATIENCE JACOB

316

GOVT/PHY. 3

106 ESTHER JOSHUA

247

166 CHRISTIANA YUSUF

526

GOVT/PHY. 3

47

RIFKATU GALLANG

158

PRACT. PHY.

108 GODIYA BITRUS

85

GOVT/PHY. 3

167 HAUWA KADARA CHIROMA 253

48

RACHEAL NKEKI

362

GOVT/PHY. 3

109 LYDIA HABILA

172

GOVT/PHY. 3

168 LARABA YIKABA

518

49

FILO DAUDA

123

110 ZARA ISHAKU

209

GOVT/PHY. 3

169 AISHA MOHAMMED ISHA

317

50

RUTH KOLLO

261

GOVT/PHY. 3

111

90

GOVT/PHY. 3

170 JUMMAI ABOKU

19

GOVT/PHY. 3

52

MAIRAMA YAHAYA

487

GOVT/PHY. 3

112 REJOICE MUSA

336

GOVT/PHY. 3

171 RAHILA BITRUS

91

GOVT/PHY. 3

53

LADI JOEL

226

GOVT/PHY. 3

113 DEBORAH ABARE

6

GOVT/PHY. 3

172 LUGWA SANDA

408

GOVT/PHY. 3

54

REJOICE SANKI

413

GOVT/PHY. 3

114 COMFORT AMOS

55

GOVT/PHY. 3

173 MARY DAUDA MAGOTA

129

GOVT/PHY. 3

55

KAUNA LALAI

271

GOVT/PHY. 3

115 LUGINA SAMUEL

406

GOVT/PHY. 3

174 ELIZABETH JOSEPH

241

GOVT/PHY. 3

56

ROSE DANIEL

122

GOVT/PHY. 3

116 SHITA ABDU

12

GOVT/PHY. 3

175 SARATU EMMANUEL

147

GOVT/PHY. 3

57

HANNATU ISHAKU

204

GOVT/PHY. 3

117 MARYAMA YAKUBU

499

GOVT/PHY. 3

176 NAOMI YOHANNA

521

GOVT/PHY. 3

58

MARY AMOS

56

118 SARAYA AMOS

62

GOVT/PHY. 3

177 HASSANA ADAMU

29

GOVT/PHY. 3

59

MAGRET SHEITIMA

417

119 NAOMI LUKA

286

GOVT/PHY. 3

178 KWANTA SIMON

423

GOVT/PHY. 3

60

AISHA GREMA

168

120 MARYAMA LAWAN

278

GOVT/PHY. 3

179 HALIMA ALI

41

61

MAIRAMA BASHIR

80

121 ESTHER JOHN

232

GOVT/PHY. 3

180 MARYAM ALI MAIYANGA

47

62

JIMKHAI YAMA

507

122 TABITHA SILAS

421

GOVT/PHY. 3

181 DEBORAH YARAMA

513

63

YANA POGU

400

123 LYDIA EMMAR

146

GOVT/PHY. 3

182 YAYI ABANA

5

64

HAUWA JOSEPH

242

124 MAGRET WATSAI

464

183 HAU ISHAYA

212

GOVT

65

PATIMA TARJI

431

GOVT/PHY. 3

125 HARARA ISA

202

184 RHODA HARUNA

179

GEO.

66

SAFIYA ABDU

11

GOVT/PHY. 3

126 RUTH BITRUS

92

185 DEBORAH ABBAS

7

67

YANKE SHEITIMA

420

GOVT/PHY. 3

127 GLORY MAINTA

299

GOVT/PHY. 3

186 YANA YIDAU

517

GOVT

68

JUMMAI JOHN

235

GOVT/PHY. 3

128 ASABE MANU

308

GOVT/PHY. 3

187 REBECCA MALUM

306

GOVT/PHY. 3

69

VICTORIA WILLIAM

468

GOVT/PHY. 3

129 LYDIA JOSHUA

234

188 GRACE AMADU

53

GOVT/PHY. 3

70

HAUWA NKEKI

356

130 MARYAMA ABABUKAR

24

189 HAUWA KWAKWI

268

71

AMINA ALI

35

131 MAIMUNA USMAN

452

190 IHYI ABDU

10

72

GRACE PAUL

374

132 HANATU NUHU

368

191 MARTHA JAMES

220

73

HANATU MUSA

326

133 JULIANA YAKUBU

497

GOVT/PHY. 3

192 HANNATU

184

74

SARAYA MUSA

340

134 NAOMI ZAKARIYA

528

GOVT/PHY. 3

193 ZAINAB YAGA

75

PALMATA MUSA NKEKI

335

135 NGUBA BURA

110

GOVT/PHY. 3

194 AWA ALI

42

76

PINDAH NUHU

367

136 RIFKATU AMOS

57

GOVT/PHY. 3

77

HAUWA K. MUSA

327

137 FALTA LAWAN

276

195 MARYAM BULAM

104

78

JUMMAI MUTAH SAKWA

349

GOVT/PHY. 3

138 HANATU STEPHEN

428

GOVT/PHY. 3

196 SARAYA YANGA

511

79

SARATU AYUBA

74

PRACT. PHY.

139 ESTHER MARKUS

309

GOVT/PHY. 3

80

ASARE ALI

32

140 LAYATU HABILA

171

GOVT/PHY. 3

197 LADI AUDU TANGWA

169

81

BLESSING ABANA

2

141 RIKATU YAKUBU

502

GOVT/PHY. 3

198 AWA BITRUS

84

GOVT/PHY. 3 GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

NO’AMI BITRUS

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

NAME

EXAM LAST NO EXAM

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

GOVT/PHY. 3

11

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

PAGE ELEVEN

FG Accused of Diverting UK Aid to Persecute Buhari’s Political Foes Presidency dismisses report, says it’s full of inaccuracies

Tobi Soniyi with agency report Hundreds of millions of pounds of British foreign aid given to Nigeria to help combat Boko Haram terrorists is instead being used to fund a witch-hunt against opposition politicians, it has been claimed.

Britain has committed to spending £860 million in foreign aid to Nigeria, which now boasts Africa’s largest economy, to help support the country’s efforts to crush the Boko Haram terror group.

Boko Haram is responsible for a six-year reign of violent attacks and suicide bombings leading to the deaths of thousands of persons, including the kidnapping of hundreds of men, women and children from their homes in the Northeastern part of the country.

The UK-based Telegraph reported on Tuesday that Western officials are now raising concerns that the government of the country’s recently elected leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, is misusing the funds to persecute political opponents.

But the presidency has denied the report by The Telegraph, stating that the article was not only full of inaccuracies, it also betrayed a “shocking sense of ignorance of Nigeria and the ongoing war against terrorism”.

According to the British newspaper, since Buhari came to power last July, a number of prominent members of the former ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been arrested and imprisoned without charge. Among those detained was the party’s official spokesperson, Olisa Metuh.

Most of the arrests have been sanctioned by the governmentcontrolled Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), which was set up to tackle corruption and receives funding from the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

But while Buhari’s government continues to use

British aid money to target his political opponents, it is proving less effective at tackling the Islamist-run Boko Haram terrorist group, reported The Telegraph.

Much of the aid Britain provides to Nigeria is aimed at helping the country’s security forces to become more effective at tackling Boko Haram, which boasts of its links with the Islamic State and achieved international notoriety two years ago after kidnapping 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State two years ago.

Scores of British military personnel – including members of the Special Forces – are based in Nigeria helping to train the military to tackle Boko Haram. But despite Buhari’s pledge during last year’s general election campaign that he would make tackling Boko Haram one of his top priorities, there is growing concern among Western officials that the Nigerian military is failing to take effective action against the terrorists.

This has resulted in Boko Haram now being regarded as the world’s deadliest terrorist organisation, responsible for more deaths than the Islamic State. There are now reports that the group is trying to train kidnapped children to act as suicide bombers.

“This is a scandal in the making,” explained a senior U.S. official. “There is no doubt the growing strength of Boko Haram is because President Buhari is far more interested in settling scores with his political opponents than concentrating his energy on defeating terrorists,” “The result is that Nigeria is starting to look more and more like a police state while Boko Haram just goes from strength to strength.”

Another Western diplomat added: “If Buhari was serious about fighting corruption he would be focusing all of his efforts on targeting corruption that is impeding Nigeria’s ability to focus its efforts on tackling Boko Haram.”

Accusations that Nigeria is abusing British aid will add to the growing controversy over Downing Street’s commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of GDP on the foreign aid budget.

Last week the Telegraph reported that DFID was under pressure to cancel £200 million of foreign aid to Tanzania following concerns over a widely condemned election.

This resulted in Dr. Liam Fox, the former Defence Secretary, accusing the government of “spraying money around” simply to achieve the 0.7 per cent target.

Western officials have expressed concern about Buhari’s increasingly autocratic style of government since he came to power last year. A retired major-general, Buhari, 73, previously headed a brutal military dictatorship following a coup in December 1983, which lasted until he was overthrown by another coup in 1985.

Now political opponents claim he is returning to his old dictatorial ways, abusing British aid meant to improve Nigeria’s ability to tackle Boko Haram to consolidate his hold on power.

Apart from the concerns over British aid, American officials are also angry that $2.1 billion of aid given to the Nigerian military to tackle Boko Haram has not been properly accounted for.

Buhari’s claim that he is winning the war against Boko Haram - recently claimed the

group no longer poses a serious threat - has been undermined by recent revelations that the Nigerian authorities have tried to cover up the fact that hundreds more schoolchildren have been abducted by Boko Haram.

Human rights activists have now confirmed that around 400 women and children were abducted last year by militants from the Nigerian town of Damasak.

It is now believed that some of these children may have been trained as suicide bombers. U.S. counter-terrorism experts say at least 105 women and girls trained by Boko Haram have taken part in suicide attacks since June 2014.

Reacting to the report yesterday, the president’s media aide, Mr. Garba Sehu, said the news report by The Telegraph was not only full of factual inaccuracies, it also betrayed a “shocking ignorance of Nigeria and the country’s ongoing war against terrorism”.

Shehu said the author’s tactic was to quote unnamed “senior officials” and “Western diplomats” and “Western officials” and “political opponents” making fact-free and unfounded statements.

He said: “It also appears that he sought out only those opinions which suited and reinforced his disgracefully false headline. Nowhere in the piece is there anything that suggests he attempted to contact the Nigerian government for its own side

of the story.”

Referring to the $2.1 billion aid from the US government, Shehu pointed out that it did not occur to The Telegraph that the said amount he referred to was budgeted for and wholly spent by the government (Jonathan administration) that Buhari and his party defeated in the March 2015 presidential election, and that one of the president’s priorities has been the investigation and misuse of those funds.

He added: “It also does not appear to occur to the author that the ‘political opponents’ he is falsely accusing President Buhari of ‘targeting’ and ‘persecuting’ are actually facing trial on account of how they spent the $2.1 billion in question.

“The author is equally unaware of the fact that the investigating panel set up by President Buhari to probe the $2.1 billion recently published a preliminary report that confirmed that much of that money was indeed looted or mis-spent by the accused persons, and that the government has started to recover the funds.

“He accuses President Buhari's government of attempting to cover-up the abductions of 400 women and children abducted last year by militants from the Nigerian town of Damasak.

“This is absolutely untrue.

The Damasak abductions he’s referring to, which was recently widely reported, took place not ‘last year’ as he says, but in late 2014, well before Buhari was elected president of Nigeria.

(And by the way, President Buhari came to power on May 29, 2015, not July, as he reported).

“A simple search by the author in his paper’s archives would have revealed these facts. A simple fact-check by his copy editors would have spared The Telegraph the embarrassment of publishing this drivel.

“There are several other inaccuracies and baseless

they will come home, finish their education and choose their futures for themselves.”

On its part, Amnesty International said all those abducted by Boko Haram must be released and those whose lives had been devastated by the armed group must receive support and justice.

It said its activists will join #BringBackOurGirls demonstrations in Abuja and campaigners around the world today to mark the anniversary and remember all those abducted, killed and displaced by the armed group.

“Few of us can begin to comprehend the suffering of parents who have not seen their daughters for two years,” said Country Director

of Amnesty International, Nigeria, M.K. Ibrahim.

“In addition to the Chibok schoolgirls, today we also remember all those abducted, killed and displaced. Two years on, the Chibok girls have come to symbolise all the civilians whose lives have been devastated by Boko Haram.”

“Whilst the fate of 219 of the 276 schoolgirls taken from Chibok secondary school remains unknown, so does that of thousands of other women, girls, young men and boys abducted by Boko Haram.

“Amnesty International is calling on Boko Haram to stop targeting and killing civilians and for the Nigerian government to take all

possible lawful steps to ensure their protection and restore security in the north-east.

The international community should also continue to assist Nigeria’s government in addressing the threat posed

by Boko Haram.

“Muhammadu Buhari’s government should do all it lawfully can to bring an end to the agony of the parents of the Chibok girls and all those abducted. They should do more to bring back our girls, guarantee the protection of civilians in the north-east of the county and ensure access to education for children in the region,” said M.K. Ibrahim.

It also said that those guilty of inflicting “this unspeakable suffering must

Buhari

statements in the piece, but the author is too enamoured of his anonymous sources to realise they might be misleading him, or he is as ignorant about the situation.

“The suggestion that Boko Haram is going ‘from strength to strength’ is an eminently laughable one; not even Nigeria’s opposition party would make such an absurd claim.

“Since President Buhari took office, schools in Borno State, shut for more than one year under the previous government, have reopened.

The same applies to the airport in Maiduguri, shut down in December 2013 after a devastating Boko Haram attack near the Air Force base.

“Thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) have now started returning home. Last Sunday, El-Kanemi Warriors Football Club played its first game at its home base of Maiduguri in more than two seasons. Until now they had been forced to play home games outside the region, on account of security concerns.

“There are several more examples of how the people of the region are finally getting a chance to rebuild their lives, as the Nigerian Armed Forces and a Multinational Joint Task Force continue their work of routing the terrorists.

“The author not only sounds like a spokesperson for the very people whose corruption and mismanagement allowed Boko Haram to bring Nigeria to its knees – and whose disastrous legacy President Buhari has spent the last one year redeeming Nigeria from – he is also guilty of failing to observe the most basic rules of responsible journalism.

“He needs a refresher course on responsible journalism as much as he needs a crash course on Nigeria. Until he submits himself to these, we’re afraid he will continue to embarrass not only himself, but also the revered British media institution that is the Telegraph.”

be brought to justice, once and for all”.

NLC also joined the leadership of the BBOG movement and several other civil society groups to call for action on the release of the Chibok girls.

NLC president, Mr. Ayuba Wabba said in Abuja yesterday that the kidnap of the girls numbering 276 was a severe injury to the nation at large, stating that, the return of the kidnapped girls was sacrosanct to Nigeria’s quest to defeat terrorism.

Wabba said: “NLC with its 50 affiliate industrial unions nationwide and 6 million organised members joins the world to demand for the safe return of the abducted schoolgirls in Chibok.

NEW VIDEO SHOWS CHIBOK GIRLS ARE ALIVE Akume said it was the duty of the Nigerian government to rescue the Chibok girls from Boko Haram captivity.

“On January 14, we met with President Muhammadu Buhari and he promised to open an investigation into the abduction of these girls. It is three months now and that investigation is yet to be completed.

“Opening that investigation will lead to credible intelligence that will lead to the rescue of the Chibok girls.

“By tomorrow (today) it will be 730 days since these girls were abducted. The previous government was slow in taking action, this new government gave us hope”, he said.

Akume said that BBOG movement would continue to agitate until the girls are

released. “We will not allow Nigerians, we will not allow the government, to forget the girls or treat the demand for their release as an irritating issue.

“We will focus on it, and we will keep calling on the government to ensure that the girls are brought back home, “Akume said.

Similarly, Malala Yousafzai wrote an open letter about the abduction of the schoolgirls.

The Nobel laureate wrote: “As I did last year, I call on President Buhari of Nigeria – and everyone who can help rescue the Chibok girls – to act now.

“Would a president give up the fight for his own daughter? These girls are just as precious to their families.

“My dream is that one day

12

THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

FG Sets Aside N500bn Intervention Fund for Poorest Nigerians Promises to rescue Chibok girls soon

Senator Iroegbu inAbuja In response to the growing state of insecurity across the country, occasioned by poverty, especially in the Boko Haram ravaged Northeast, the federal government, has set aside a N500 billion intervention fund for the poorest Nigerians.

This is coming as the government also vowed to do everything within its powers to rescue the Chibok girls very soon.

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, stated this yesterday in Abuja during ‘a Roundtable on Vulnerable People in Insurgency and other Conflicts in Nigeria’, organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in honour of the Chibok girls and other victims of internal conflicts.

Osinbajo said poverty had been identified as one of the over-aching issues in the country, which must be tackled through various intervention

programmes.

He said the current budget, is tailored in such a way to reflect the need on poverty alleviation in the country.

He however disclosed that determining the number of the poor in the country has proved difficult, but added that government is overcoming the challenge with the assistance of the World Bank.

He said: “I want to emphasise on the interconnectivity of the issues.

I think it’s Aisha who talked about how poverty is an over-aching issues that exposes state systems, the institutions of state itself and make them almost incapable of being able to solve the problems.

“I recall that this was one of the first meeting I held with those who are concerned with the economy and running the budget. This was even before ministers were appointed. There seems to be a problem around the

TUC: Labour May Extend One-Day Strike to One Week

whole concept of what a budget should be, what our preparation should be, and for the country.

The way that many of us have been raised and taught is to look at the economy around sustaining industry and sustaining enterprise, around sustaining institutions that produce some public good. But the question of course is that in societies where you have extremely poor people, and large numbers of poor people, there must be a different way of looking at how you prepare and how you plan for that society. You must have perhaps a greater attention paid to how to provide for the very large numbers of the poor who cannot catch up in any way and who simply cannot even benefit from the public good that business or enterprise may produce, because they are so disempowered by their poverty and can not even wait for what ever it is that can be delivered by business or enterprise, because they are far too poor and may not even live long enough to enjoy

those things.”

“So there is a sense to which we must pay some attention to how we design government programmes and budgets. So we take into account the great poverty of our people, then of course question of education, health care go along with that, especially education and health care for the most vulnerable is important.

“I think that is the soft under belly of our system which expose our people to the harshest possible conditions and the fall out and only a fall out is just collateral damage, that vulnerable people. And the fall out it is only a fall out and just collateral damage that vulnerable people are exposed, even more in conflict situations that is why one of the chief concerns of this government has been the social investment we are trying to make and which was provided for in the budget.”

“About N500 billion has been provided for social interventions, including conditional cash transfers

to the very poorest, including loans to market women and persons who are engaged in informal trade, about a million of those, even in compiling the names and list of those who are the poorest, has been a difficult process, but we have been greatly assisted by the world bank and the Bill Gates Foundation,” he noted.

The vice president however disagreed that poverty is the major cause of terrorism and radicalisation, as being propounded by some people. He noted that most actors of terrorism, especially in the Middle East and Europe are well educated and from middle class families.

“There is no question that radicalisation is something we are going to deal with, especially why is it that the terrorists continue to find it possible to recruit. For me, I think that the whole issue of radicalisation should be looked into deeply and addressed holistically, as I don’t think it is poverty. I don’t feel that this whole issue of radicalisation is

caused by poverty,” he clarified.

On the Chibok girls, who were abducted exactly two years ago, Osinbajo said federal government is working towards bringing an end to the wait in resolving the issue.

He promised that government is working hard to ensure that the girls and other missing persons are rescued very soon.

“I am sure, we will rescue those girls and I hope it will be very soon. We must do something and I think there is hope that we will do something.

“The Chibok girls, obviously remain the focus of a lot of our attention on vulnerable persons, also we must remember that even before the Chibok girls, we had the Bunu Yadi boys at the Bunu Yadi Secondary School in Yobe State, 59 of them killed in their boarding house just a couple of months before the Chibok incident.”

“And of course several others who had been abducted and killed. At various times before those incidents,” he said.

21-day ultimatum stands, says resident doctors Paul Obi inAbuja As the federal government intensifies efforts to pacify the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the organised labour from embarking on its planned one-day nationwide warning strike, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) yesterday said labour might extend the anticipated strike to one week.

TUC’s position came on the heels of reports of likely cracks ahead of the planned NLC nationwide warning strike, which the union said, is aimed at expressing its angst against government poor handling of the economy, electricity tariff hike, fuel scarcity, among others.

Speaking to THISDAY, TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama, said the plan to embark on the warning strike was still on ‘course’ stating that, consultations were still on-going.

He said: “Of course, the plan to go on strike is still on; the most important thing is consultation. You know, to organise a strike is not a tea party, you have to consult widely before you go on with the plan,” Kaigama said.

“At the moment, we are still monitoring the situation; it is also likely that, it (strike) may be extended to one week in order to make an impact” the TUC president told THISDAY. Asked if government had reached out to the TUC in an attempt to compel the body to shelve its plan, Kaigama said at the last forum in Abuja, such overtures were made, but that TUC was yet to receive an official request to halt its plan.

THISDAY gathered that government through the Minister of Power, Works and Housing has been making frantic efforts to persuade the TUC to soft-pedal on its quest to join the NLC to go on a nationwide strike. An effort

many believed might have yielded positively, going by the delay in arriving at a definite date for the strike on the part of the organised labour.

Contrary, NLC officials denied any obstruction to the planned nationwide warning strike, NLC Head of Media and Information, Ben Upah, told THISDAY that there was no need to speculate about a possible crack among the organised labour, in their effort to reach a consensus on the strike.

Upah rather stated that “we have a process of consultation, it’s not just about a phone call, and there are several organs within the labour union. The president traveled out of the country; it is a process, so don’t insinuate anything about our silence, when there is nothing there,” he said.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) yesterday said the 21-day ultimatum it gave the federal government stands, notwithstanding on-going talks with the government.

NARD’s first Vice President, Dr Kolawole Olajide, told THISDAY that the position of NARD, requesting that government address its demands on several salient issues within the health sector still stands.

Olajide informed THISDAY that though they met with the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, nothing has changed.

“Talks are on, we met with the minister, and we are working on the issues. That doesn’t mean because the talks are on, we have shifted grounds,” he said.

Olajide maintained that “until government responds to our demands and actualise them; if at the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum, government fails to meet our demands, we will still go on strike. So, the status quo stands,” NARD first Vice President stressed.

REPLICATETHIS IN NIGERIA

President Muhammadu Buhari (lright), receiving a presentation from the Chairman of China Aerospace ScienceTechnology Corporation, Mr. Lei FanPei, duringthepresident’svisitto thecorporationinBeijing,China...yesterday.Withthemis theMinisterofScienceandTechnology,ChiefOgbonnayaOnu(left)

FCT Polls: APGA Records First ElectoralVictory in North Party vindicated, says Oye

Onyebuchi Ezigbo inAbuja The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has recorded its first electoral victory in the northern part of the country following yesterday’s declaration of its candidate Hon Adamu Mustapha Danze, winner of the chairmanship election in the Gwagwalada area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) In the result of the re-run poll conducted in some parts of Gwagwalada yesterday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APGA polled additional 426 votes to bring its total to 15,738.

The closest opponent and All Progressives Congress (APC)

candidate got 14 additional votes, scoring a total of 14,560 votes.

Before yesterday’s rerun polls, APGA had recorded 15,312 as against APC 14,546 and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 6,082, which made APGA to demand that INEC declares it winner of the election.

Addressing party men at the secretariat of the party in Abuja, the National Chairman of the victorious party, Chief Victor Oye, said the victory at the FCT poll had proved that APGA is a national party.

“With this victory, we have recorded in Gwagwalada, nothing will keep us from taking over the affairs of the nation in 2019.

Though enemies will work to

divide the party, he cautioned members of the enemy’s ploy to prevent them from realising the objectives it has set for itself,” he said.

He added that the party would not allow detractors to destroy what it had been able to build over the past nine months.

“APGA as a political party is a national party, I want to use the opportunity to emphasise it that APGA is not an ethnic or regional party,aregionalpartydoesnotwinany election in FCT. To win FCT election, you must have a national appeal.

“Nigerians have no reason to suffer under the conditions they have found themselves. An APGA government by 2019 will galvanise the human and material resources that abound in the country to

build a nation that can compete favourably with the global super powers. Nigeria has the resources and mental capacity to achieve this.

“The meeting with party state chairmen is aimed at fashioning the way forward for the party. The meeting will assess the performances of the party in each state of the federation to discover areas of weakness and strong points.”

According to Oye, the party is in the process of rebuilding its structures to be able to adequately play its role of building the nation economically and socially.

He appealed to the members who were aggrieved to sheath their swords and work for the actualisation of the collective dream of the party.

THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 • T H I S D AY

A

NEWS

Senate Begins Legislation on PIB, Probes NNPC’s Joint Venture Cash Calls Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Senate yesterday began the process of passing the controversial and much awaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as the bill scaled first reading on the floor of the upper chamber. The bill was re-christened as Petroleum Industry and Governance Bill (PIGB).

The first reading of the bill yesterday was the aftermath of the conclusion of its harmonisation by both chambers of the National Assembly, thus marking the third time it would pass first reading in the Senate.

This came as the Senate also asked its Joint Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream and Downstream), Finance and Appropriation to immediately commence the investigation of joint venture cash calls by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Both the Senate and House of Representatives had recently harmonised a new draft of PIB and renamed it PIGB following a prolonged silence by the presidency on the bill as well as the continued agitation for its passage by the citizenry.

The National Assembly has been

in the eye of the storm over its failure to pass PIB in two consecutive assemblies. Critics blamed the legislative institution for rampant and prevalent corruption in petroleum industry which they said the bill set out to salvage.

The increasing wave of criticisms over non-passage of the bill therefore compelled both Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to repeatedly urge President Muhammadu Buhari to present a new PIB to National Assembly.

But perceived indifference from Buhari to the presentation of a new bill in the face of persistent agitation from the public forced the National Assembly to take up the responsibility of drafting and harmonising the bill.

The petroleum industry framework was first conceived by the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and sent to the sixth National Assembly. But the failure of the sixth National Assembly to pass the bill compelled the immediate past government of President Goodluck Jonathan to re-present the bill to the seventh National Assembly.

However, the seventh National Assembly again failed to pass the bill as a result of stiff opposition

from Northern lawmakers especially over the allocation of 10 per cent royalty to oil producing communities in the bill.

Northern lawmakers had opposed the provision of host community fund in bill on the ground that Niger Delta region where oil is domiciled had received more than enough benefits with little or nothing to show for it.

They therefore argued that the region did not deserve any further 10 per cent royalty provided in the bill.

The lawmakers who claimed that the Niger Delta region had secured more that N11 trillion from government’s treasury since 1999, further argued that besides the 13 per cent derivation earned by each oil producing state, the region also has the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the

Ministry of Niger Delta all created to facilitate development of the region.

While northern lawmakers insisted that the provision of host community fund must be expunged, their Niger Delta counterparts vehemently disagreed, thus resulting in a stalemate which led to the non-passage of the bill.

Besides, international oil communities (lOCs) also rejected the bill over insinuations that the bill imposed a huge tax regime on them which they said was at variance with best practices.

The new bill tagged: “An Act to Provide Governance and Institutional Framework for the Petroleum Industry and Other Related Matters,” re-christens PIB as Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).

The new bill also renames Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation

(NNPC) as National Petroleum Company (NPC). It also scraps the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and provides for a new one to be known as Ministry of Petroleum Incorporated (MOPI).

The bill also scraps Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agencies (PPPRA) and Petroleum Inspectorate (PI).

PIGB then replaces DPR, PPPRA and PI with Nigeria Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPRC).The bill also removes local content which was one of the strong contentions of IOCs. Also yesterday, the Senate expressed concern over an allegation that the NNPC had been violating rules governing its joint venture cash call responsibility and consequently asked its committee to investigate the allegation. It simultaneously asked

the committee to come up with sanctions for any known violation of appropriation acts in the oil and gas sector.

The move followed the adoption of a motion by Senator BasseyAkpan (Akwa Ibom North-east). Akpan in the motion alleged persistent constraints by NNPC to meet its cash call obligations, a situation he said had worsened the country’s crude oil production output and other activities in the oil and gas sector.

Putting the current outstanding cash call obligations in the oil and gas sector at $6 billion, Akpan argued that cash calls ought to be treated as first line items by NNPC before remittance of available balance on its collectible revenues from crude sales to the federation account.

He said such revenues ought to be handled as approved by the National Assembly.

DSS Arrests UN Building Bomber’s Deputy, Impersonators of Public Officers Yemi Akinsuyi in Abuja The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Bello DanHajiya, the second-in-command to Khalid Al-Barnawi, the mastermind of the bombing of the UN Building in Abuja and other blasts across the northern part of the country.

Briefing the media on the recent successes recorded by the service, Garba Abdullahi, on behalf of Tony Opuiyo of the DSS, said the service also arrested some fraudsters and impersonators of top echelons in Nigeria.

He said: “You may recall that last week, this service informed the public of the arrest of Khalid Al-Barnawi, known for his leadership and notoriety in terrorism activities in Nigeria.

Nigerians were also informed of his talent-spotting and recruitment of young people into the Ansaru/ Boko Haram terrorist groups. With the arrest of Al-Barnawi, the DSS has made an uncommon success in the decimation of these groups and their leadership. Similarly, the Service wish to inform that it has further arrested Danhajiya, a close associate and presumed second-in-command to Al-Barnawi.”

Danhajia, according to the DSS, is a Fulani from Zamfara State and a strategic accomplice of Al-Barnawi and that preliminary investigations have disclosed his involvement in gun-running, cattle rustling and other nefarious criminal activities principally on the directives of his commander, Al-Barnawi.

The Service said so far, efforts were being made to conclude the investigations and commence prosecution in line with the law.

Abdullahi said in another development, the service, worried by the spate of impersonation of government officials and the

increasing rate of defrauding of unsuspecting members of the public by some unscrupulous elements, launched detailed investigations aimed at checking the situation and has arrested five suspects in connection with the crime.

They are Aminu Ado (aka Yusha’u Muhammed Yerima Adam), David Ali Michika, Umar Hamza, James Malu Akune and Kazeem Kayode Usman.

Aminu Ado, according to Abdullahi, was arrested on March 24, 2016, at Keffi, Nasarawa State, and confessed to defrauding General T.Y. Danjuma (rtd) of N1million in 2015 and wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor of N300,000 in collaboration with one Hajia Aisha (FNU), who impersonated the wife of former Gombe State Governor, Danjuma Goje.

The DSS representative also said he confessed to defrauding members of the public by claiming to be the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the President and that further investigation revealed that Ado had the mobile phone numbers of all the Federal Executive Council (FEC) members, some state governors, their wives and aides as well as that of prominent Nigerians and military and police officers.

He said 43-year-old David Ali Michika from Jimeta, Adamawa State, but resides at Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State, once lived in Riyad, Saudi Arabia for ten years as an illegal immigrant until he was deported in 2008.

He was said to have been arrested in Kano for impersonating the Secretary to the Government of The Federation (SGF) and had called several high ranking Government officials soliciting for funds to settle spiritualists (Mallams) for prayers rendered for the success of the APC in the 2015 general election and for peace in the nation.

GATHERING FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE

L-R: Special Adviser , Social Investments to the President, Mrs. Maryam Uwais; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; and Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, during a roundtable on vulnerable people in insurgency and other conflicts in Nigeria in Abuja...yesterday

2019: Sheriff Predicts PDPVictory in 30 States Party suspends Borno chairman Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has said with the strategic repositioning currently taking place in the party, it would be able to record victory in at least 30 states of the federation in the 2019.

The position of the PDP chairman, came just as the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Bala Mohammed, led a delegation state of party stakeholders from Bauchi to the National Secretariat of the PDP yesterday, pledging that top party leaders in the state are ready to unite for the challenges ahead.

Addressing the party faithful from the state, Sheriff, challenged them to go beyond mere show of solidarity and go back to work as family to rebuild the party.

Sheriff said unless other aggrieved political bigwigs from the state agree to sheath their sword like the former FCT minister is doing, there would never be headway in the reconciliation

effort of the party.

“With the present efforts at reconciling ourselves and rebuilding process taking place in the PDP, the party stands a good chance of reclaiming our lost glory. I like to see us emerge from the 2019 general election with at least 30 governors,” he said.

According to Sheriff, Bauchi is one of the most important states of the federation, adding that the state chapter of the party should try to summon a stakeholders’ meeting to kick start reconciliation among its aggrieved members.

He said he was aware of the crisis rocking the leadership of the party in Bauchi but expressed the hope that time had come for all involved to reconcile their differences and to work together in the interest of the party.

According to Sheriff, with the calibre of leaders of the party in the state, reconciliation should not be a problem. He promised to be party of any reconciliatory meeting to resolve the problems.

“If the North-east has problem and is not resolve I may not have the locus standi as a politician to

go outside to seek their mandate,” he said.

While speaking during the visit, the former FCT Minister, Mohammed, declared that he is ready to extend his hand of friendship to the former state Governors, Alhaji Ahmed Adamu Muazu and Mllam Isa Yuguda, for the progress of the PDP in the state.

Mohammed said: “There is no way to write the history of Bauchi State without the mention of Mu’azu and Yuguda. I respect them as my seniors and if I will constitute a stumbling block to the unity of the state, we are advocating I would rather stand aside for peace to reign.

“Instead of washing our dirty linens in public I’ve agreed to bow to any of my ambition in order to ensure that there is unity of purpose for PDP to prosper in the state.”

The former FCT minister who earlier stated that he was among the contenders for the national chairmanship position of the party, said he was pledging his loyalty to the new leadership as Allah gives power to whom He

so wishes.

He described impunity, arrogance and lawlessness as the cause of the party’s defeat in the general election, commending the PDP national chairman for his doggedness, stating that: “You are devoid of such vices that lead to the party’s defeat.”

A member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly and the Minority Leader, Mr. Marcus Makama, said the time has come for the PDP to encourage greater youth participation in politics and affairs of the party.

The delegation also advised Sheriff to pursue with greater vigour the reconciliatory efforts aimed at wooing back former members of the party who had left the party.

A woman legislator said there was no doubt that Bauchi State is a PDP state despite not being in government presently, adding that the party would definitely bounce back to power in 2019.

Meanwhile, the PDP has approved the suspension of the chairman of the Borno State chapter of the party, Alhaji Baba Basharu.

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THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Zakzaky Has Lost His Left Eye, Left Hand is Paralysed, Says Shiite Counsel Institutes N2bn law suit against army, FG Shiites have no respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty, police, DSS allege John Shiklam in Kaduna Counsel to the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shiites, yesterday disclosed that the leader of the movement, Sheikh Ibrahim ElZakzaky, was being detained at the Headquarters of the Department of State Security (DSS) in Abuja.

At a news conference in Kaduna, the IMN counsel led by Mr. Festus Okoye, said El-Zazzaky has lost his left eye while his left hand is partially paralysed, adding that they could hardly recognise him when they met him in detention.

According to him, the Shiite leader now walk with the assistance of limps, saying ElZakzaky has become a complete shadow of himself after the clash with the Nigerian Army in Zaria on December 12, 2015.

Okoye revealed further that El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, were fatally shot by soldiers who raided their Gyallesu residence in the wake of the bloody clash which left several members of the movement dead.

Only recently, Director General of the Kaduna State Interfaith, Alhaji Namadi Musa, while testifying before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry(JCI), disclosed that the 347 members of the sect were given mass burial at Mando area in Kaduna after the clash with the army.

According to the lawyers, ElZakzaky was quite frail and looked completely different from who he used to be before he was arrested by the army.

“He lost his left eye and he struggled to recognise us because of the damage done to him by the army. His left hand completely lost its motion function. The wife was shot thrice. I must say they are not in a good state of health.

Several operation had been carried out on them, especially the leader the IMN,” said Maxwell Kyon, one of the lawyers who visited El-Zazzaky in detention.

He dismissed claims that the Shiite leader was flown to France for medical treatment by the federal government, saying that all the operations on the Shiite leader and his wife were carried out in an undisclosed hospital in Lagos and the Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna .

Okoye said during the meeting with El-Zakzaky, the legal team discussed the on-going panel set up by the Kaduna State Government on the Zaria clash.

He said the Shiite leader told them to institute a case against the army and the government (Kaduna), as well as his continued detention at the DSS at the regular court.

He said the IMN leader expressed his reservation over the Shiites putting up appearance before the Commission of Inquiry considering the composition of the commission and the fact that the Nigerian Army is a federal institution not subject to the control of the Kaduna State Government and its agencies.

He added that based on the instructions, the IMN had instituted a N2 billion suit against the federal government and its institutions for the abuse of the rights of the leader of the sect and the destruction of his residence.

He said on April 12, 2016, the legal team of the Shiite leader filed two originating motions before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on behalf of the El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat.

Joined in the suit, he said, are the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, the DSS, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney

British MinisterVisits Nigeria UK humanitarian aid in N’East tops agenda Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja United Kingdom (UK) Minister for International Development, Nick Hurd, has arrived in Nigeria on his first visit to the country.

During his stay in Nigeria, Hurd will focus on Britain’s assistance for the humanitarian situation in the North-east, as well the UK’s support for increasing the use of solar energy.

In a statement by the Head of Communications, British High Commission in Nigeria, Edward Dunn, the minister will also participate in a range of discussions with the federal government to emphasise the importance of good governance and accountability in ensuring poverty reduction.

“Hurd will use part of his visit to focus on the humanitarian situation in the North-east and will explore what more can be

done to protect civilians affected by conflict with Boko Haram.

“He will also meet with the Bring Back Our Girls Campaign at the end of their Global Week of Action.

“Over the course of the visit, the minister will also meet with industry representatives and business leaders to discuss the potential for large-scale business development in Nigeria, as well as innovative work on recycling and waste management that can improve the lives of poorer citizens,” the statement said.

It added that the Hurd will view projects to witness the support the UK is giving to the development of Nigeria’s rapidly growing solar energy market.

“This forms part of the UK’s Energy Africa campaign, which aims to light up the African continent quickly without resorting to technology with high-emissions,” the statement noted.

General of the Federation.

He insisted that the IMN would not participate in the on-going panel on the clash as it will only amount to mere waste of time.

Okoye noted that the Shiites by now had been vindicated following the revelation by the state government that 347 members of the movement were given mass burial at Mando area of Kaduna.

The Nigerian Police and the State Security Services (SSS), yesterday alleged that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shiite have no regards for constituted authorities.

The two security agencies also alleged that the Islamic group was being funded by Iran and Iraq.

In their separate testimonies

before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kaduna state government to investigate the December 12, 2015 clash between the Islamic group and the Nigerian Army , the two security agencies said IMN was operating a state within a state with outright disregard to constituted authorities.

Testifying on behalf of the Nigerian Police, Keneth Dika, a Deputy Superintendent of Police and a lawyer said the IMN does not recognised the constitutionality of the police.

Responding to questions under cross examination, Dika maintained that the Shiite has become a formidable organisation with arms and have refused to submit themselves to the authorities.

“Like the Boko Haram, if you trace the history of the Shiite, you

will find that they have become difficult” he said.

He admitted that the police was aware of the activities of the Islamic group over the years, including complains by some residents of Sabon Gari, Zaria, but there was nothing much the police could do to check their excesses.

In its memo, the police alleged that over the years, members of the Islamic group don’t honour police invitations and were always in the habit of resisting arrest.

The “usual altercation between the Shiite and police are: Non recognition of police as a constituted authority, dishonouring of police invitations for whatever reason whenever invited and resistance of arrest whenever any of them is reported to have committed an offence” the police

alleged.

It alleged further that the group was being funded by Iran, Iraq Lebenon and the Lebanese community in Nigeria” the police said.

The police urged the federal government to “control the source of external funds for the sect especially from Iran, Iraq, Lebenon and Lebanese community in Nigeria”.

Dika said the army did not inform the police about the visit Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai to Zaria on December 12, 2015, until during the face-off that erupted with the Shiite when the Kaduna state police commissioner was informed and promptly gave instructions to the police area commander in Zaria.

A VISIT TO THISDAY

L-R: Team Lead, Media and External Affairs, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Olufemi Adekola; Head , Strategic Communications and Media of the bank, Omotola Oyebanjo; and Editor, THISDAY Newspapers, Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, during a visit by the Media and External Affairs Team of the bank to THISDAY Corporate Head Office in Lagos...yesterday Dan Ukana

NNPC: Fuel Scarcity over in Days Corporation says $1.8bn spent on imports quarterly Tobi Soniyi inAbuja

vessels were discharging products in various parts of the country.

The persistent fuel queues in the He said apart from these, private country will disappear in the next importers were also discharging few days going by assurances from at least 120 million liters of their the Nigerian National Petroleum products to complement NNPC Corporation (NNPC). imports.

Giving an update on the supply He explained that there was and distribution of the product delay in circulation of the products during a press briefing at the across the country because they Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday, had to be trucked since the NNPC’s management team led pipelines were still not in good by its Chief Executive Officer condition.

(Upstream), Bello Rabiu, said Rabiu said: “The plan going the corporation would saturate forward from today, we want to the market with more petrol than make sure that we give more than the nation could consume. what is required in the whole Rabiu also revealed that the country. The total requirement of country was spending about $1.8 the country is just about 1,300 billion per quarter to import fuel. trucks but our plan is to make Flanked by the Chief Operating at least 1,500 available everyday Officer (Downstream), Henry until this thing clears up.

Nkem-Obi; Chief Operating Officer “So, we want to make sure (Refineries), Anibo Kragha and that we saturate the market in a Group General Manager (Public very short time and I think you Affairs), Garbadeen Mohammed, can see clearly now that Lagos Rabiu said as at yesterday, five is almost cleared and Abuja is

getting better. Other places will follow.”

He said the corporation knew what each state needs and the demand would be met, saying: “we just want to ensure this thing happen and quickly too.”

He again apologised for the fuel scarcity on behalf of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and the NNPC, and said that it would never repeat itself.

Rabiu noted that part of the ways to guard against reoccurrence was to have incountry storage capacity so that it would take minimum time to move products to depots in any part of the country, adding that the NNPC was therefore concentrating on that.

The CEO stated that efforts were also underway to ensure that the refineries and the pipelines were put back in order to achieve stability and make

fuel queues a thing of the past.

He appealed to Nigerians to refrain from panic buying as the products would now be available on a regular basis in all the filling stations around the country.

Rabiu also noted that the Port Harcourt Refinery had started delivering about five million litres a day enough for Port Harcourt and Bayelsa areas while Warri was close to adding another 2million liters.

He said 12 cargoes of fuel ordered by the corporation online were expected to be on Nigerian waters by next week to meet the demand and supply balance.

NNPC, he said was also working to ensure that private importers who have approvals to import get foreign exchange cover to bring in the cargoes on time.

Rabiu revealed the country was spending about $1.8billion per quarter to import fuel.

THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 • T H I S D AY

C

NEWS

N780bn Fine: FG Accuses N’Assembly of Stalling Settlement by MTN Chairman of S’African telco to exit as fine resolution looms Dele Ogbodo inAbuja with agency report The Minister of Communications Technology, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, yesterday accused the National Assembly of stalling progress in the payment of the balance N780 billion fine imposed on the telecommunications giant MTN, for breach of SIM card registration rules last year.

Asked on why there is delay from MTN in settling the balance fine, he said: “If you are talking about MTN fine, I was at the National Assembly recently and the real process to my mind is the fact the National Assembly particularly the House of Representative is investigating this matter.

“Those of us expected to make comments decided to withhold our comments because we know that whatever we do will invariably be subject to the outcome of this investigation by the lawmakers.

So for me, that is the reason we have not yet made greater progress.

“And as you would have seen

yesterday the process of legislative investigation is still ongoing and once it is concluded, I hope positively that we get things going and I think the matter will be put behind us.”

Shittu who spoke at a workshop organised by thea Nigeria Information Technology Professionals in Civil and Public Service (NITPCS) in Abuja said the best candidate that emerged best from the recently conducted interview for the position of the Post Master General for the Postal Service (NIPOST), will soon be announced following approval from President Muhammadu Buhari.

Meanwhile, MTN Group executive chairman Phuthuma Nhleko, who returned to lead the African wireless company’s negotiations over a record N780 billion fine in Nigeria, is moving forward with plans to step down next month, according to a person familiar with the matter, a sign that he is confident a resolution will be reached by then.

Nhleko would not return to a non-executive role before he came

to an agreement with the Nigerian attorney-general, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the plans were private.

The chairman took the executive position on a six-month basis in November to “proactively deal” with Nigerian authorities after chief executive Sifiso Dabengwa resigned, Nhleko said at the time.

The plan for an on-time departure provides a ray of clarity, however thin, into a murky, monthslong crisis that has gutted the share value of MTN by one-third.

Getting it solved has been the top priority of Nhleko, who ran MTN as chief executive for almost nine years until 2011.

The company according to

Bloomberg, proposed a $1.5billion package last month that included N150 billion (R11billion) in cash alongside other incentives.

The Nigerian government has not formally responded, though some legislators have called for even bigger fines.

MTN spokesman Chris Maroleng was not immediately

available for comment.

A spokesman for the Nigerian attorney-general said he was preparing a statement.

MTN was hit by the penalty in October for missing a governmentimposed deadline to disconnect 5.1 million subscribers who had been declared unregistered following a crackdown on security.

NEITI Boss, Waziri Adio Declares Assets at CCB Chineme Okafor in Abuja The new Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr. Waziri Adio, has declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) all the assets -both cash and otherwise - he had acquired in his 23 years of working to press home his desire to transparently run the NEITI. Adio in a statement he issued yesterday in Abuja said though it was not mandatory for him to turn in the status of his assets to the CCB, he opted to do same because it was, “a potentially powerful sunshine mechanism that could help, in very practical ways, limit the incidence of corruption, which one of the major challenges of our country.”

Adio runs the NEITI, a transparency and accountability agency of the federal government, with the mandate to shine more light on how Nigeria’s revenues from her extractive industries are applied for public good.

“As required by paragraph 11 of the 5th Schedule of the 1999 Constitution and Section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, I have submitted Form CCB 1.”

The NEITI boss gave reasons to buttress his decision to declare his assets, saying public declaration of assets was public good.

He said after 23 years of working in the media and international development agency, and as a consultant and an entrepreneur, he owns a total of N3, 810, 206 in naira accounts with Access Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and United Bank for Africa as at March 30, 2016, and a total of $821 in domiciliary accounts in Access Bank and UBA. Adio also noted that he had closed down the foreign accounts he operated at different times as a student or a fellow in the United

States.

He said he has a unit of a 3-bedrooom bungalow in an estate in a suburb of Abuja which he bought in 2011 at N17.5 million but currently valued at N25 million after renovation, and two units of 3-bedroom flats built over 13 years (between 2000 and 2013) in Lambe, Ogun State, currently valued at N12 million.

Also included in his assets are two plots of land together measuring 1000 square metres which are demarcated by a dwarf fence in Iwo, his hometown in Osun State, and bought in 2013 but valued at N700, 000 as well as a yet-to-be-located 600 square metres land in a disputed estate in Sabon-Lugbe, Abuja, which he bought in 2011 at N750, 000.

He listed private firms which he has interests in to include Think Tank Consult Limited, SW4 Media Limited, Publishers of Metropole Magazine; Elan-Metro Foods Limited and Cable Newspaper Limited, Publishers of TheCable online newspaper.

“I also have equity in two nonoperational companies: Papyrus Media Limited and Bamisoro Media Limited,” he said.

A new VW Passat bought in 2011 at N5.8 million, BMW X5 2008 Model bought second hand in February 2016 at N3.3 million, 9 KVA Hyundai Diesel Generator bought at N850, 000, 3 KVA Sunkam Inverter bought at N450, 000 and other household furniture, electronics, exercise equipment, artworks and others valued at N3.5 million are also parts of the assets he declared to the CCB. Adio further said: “I have shares in Skye Bank, Sterling Bank and Staco Insurance, bought in 2008 at N2.5 million now presently valued at N296, 610.

“My wife runs two businesses-a salon and a bakery, with equipment and distribution vehicles all valued at N28.5 million. We have three children under 18 and they do not own any assets.”

SOLIDARITY VISIT

L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Dino Melaye; Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki; President, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ikenga Ugochiyere; Acting National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank; and Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Sabi Abdullahi ,during a solidarity visit by NYCN to the Senate President in Abuja... yesterday

Witness Narrates How Orosanye Operated Secret Account to Profit from FATF Account Tobi Soniyi in Abuja Another prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of a former Head of Service of the Federation and former Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force, Stephen Orosanye, yesterday told an Abuja High Court how the defendant opened a secret account in the name of the task to divert about N190 million belonging to the federal government.

The witness who is an employee of Access Bank Plc, Olubunmi Ojoko, was led in evidence by the EFCC’s counsel, Ufom Uket, told the court that Orosanye opened the account on behalf of the PCFATF in 2012, without obtaining an approval from the Accountant-General of the Federation.

“He (Oronsaye) called me that he needed to open an account on behalf of the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force.

“I met him at his residence in Asokoro, where I handed him the documents for the account, including the Access Bank account opening request of the committee signed by him, his passport photograph, copy of his passport and documents that set up the committee by the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

“I scrutinised the documents and discovered that the AccountantGeneral of the Federation’s approval was not included. So

I asked him for it and he said it was not necessary. I asked for the Accountant-General of the Federation’s approval because it is needed when opening a government account. Since he said that it wasn’t necessary, I took him by his word.

“I took the documents to the bank and the account was opened,” she stated.

She further told the court that she never met any other member of the committee, including Mr. Jalal Arabi, a counsel in the Presidential Villa, who served as the secretary to the committee, throughout the period the account was operated.

She added that there were a total of four lodgments into the account from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other cash deposits, adding that the lodgments totalled N285 million, part of which were invested in fixed deposits with part of the interests that accrued re-invested.

Ojoko further stated that at the time the account was closed, Oronsaye had withdrawn from the account about N150m which was partly the accrued interests on the investments, through cheques which he allegedly issued in favour of himself and various beneficiaries Highlighting the inflow of cash into the account, the witness stated that, “the first transfer was N50million in October 2012.

The second in April 2012, was N90million from the CBN. In

May 2013, there was another cash lodgment of N45million. The fourth lodgment of N100million came in December 2014 from CBN. “After the first lodgment (of N50million from CBN) several cheques were drawn by the defendant (Oronsaye). In favour various beneficiaries.

“The second inflow of N90million was invested in fixed deposit account. It was fixed in Banker’s Acceptance which is a form of investment, for 90 days at nine per cent. On maturity, the N45m (the third inflow) had come and it was fixed for 90 days.

“Upon maturity, they (the investments) were usually rolled over on the instruction of Oronsaye and the interest were credited into his current account.

“The N100million (the fourth inflow) came in December 2014 and it was placed in fixed in Banker’s Acceptance for 90 days.

“The total of investments and roll overs were about 28. About N150million interests accrued on all the investments.

“Now the account is at zero balance after the N163.5million in it was transferred to the Treasury Single Account.”

The witness was led to read from the statement of the account which was tendered and admitted by the court without any objection from the defence.

Ojoko while giving the breakdown of the cash withdrawals from the

account, said: “On September 20, 2013 -there was a cheque withdrawal of N900,000 in favour of Mr. Stephen Oronsaye.

“On October 31, 2013, there was a cheque withdrawal of N500,000 in favour of Oronsaye. On December 12, 2013, there was a cash withdrawal of N3m in favour of Oronsaye. On December 23, 2013, there was another withdrawal of N3million in favour of Oronsaye.

“On January 29, 2014, there was another withdrawal of N3million in favour of Oronsaye. On February 3, 2014, there was a withdrawal of N3million by Mr. Stephen Oronsaye.

On February 17, 2014, there wa a withdrawal of N600,000 by Oronsaye.

“On April 8, 2014, Oronsaye, withdrew N3million with cheque. On July 3, 2014, there was withdrawal of N3m by Oronsaye. On July 10, 2014, there was withdrawal of N3m by Oronsaye. On October 30, 2014, N900,000 was withdrawn

by Oronsaye. On December, 17, 2014, there was N3m withdrawal by Oronsaye.

“On December 22, 2014, the sum of N950,000 was withdrawn by Oronsaye. On Decenber 24, 2014, there was withdrawal of N980,000

by Oronsaye. On January 6, 2015, there was N2million withdrawal by Mr. Stephen Oronsaye. On March 16, 2015, the sum of N650,000 was withdrawn by Oronsaye. On March 20, 2015, there was N3million withdrawal by Oronsaye.”

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THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016

STATEMENT TO THE NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE AND SHAREHOLDERS ON THE UNAUDITED RESULTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED March 31, 2016.

THREE MONTHS RESULTS CONSOLIDATED & SEPARATE STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

CONSOLIDATED & SEPARATE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

Three months ended 31st March, 2016

Three months ended 31st March, 2016

Group March 2016 N'000

March 2015 N'000

Company March March 2016 2015 N'000 N'000

Gross Earnings

1,856,577

1,306,723

448,821

205,594

Investment income Fee and commission income Net trading income Net interest margin Net operating income

947,547 550,888 2,171 260,729 1,761,335

615,778 353,194 48,841 163,771 1,181,585

63,335 379,625 442,959

45,585 159,272 204,857

Other income Net gains/(losses) from nancial assets held for trading Dividend income from Subsidiaries Total Revenue Personnel expenses Other operating expenses Depreciation & amortisation Total Expenses

95,242 1,856,577 (226,201) (206,162) (20,621) (452,984)

153,824 (28,687) 1,306,723 (231,082) (259,902) (20,857) (511,841)

5,862 448,821 (90,791) (64,244) (12,429) (167,463)

737 205,594 (79,265) (67,780) (11,093) (158,139)

Cash and cash equivalents Financial assets: - Held for trading - Loan and receivables - Available for sale - Held to maturity - Investment in property Investment in associates Investments in subsidiaries Property, plant and equipment Intangible assets Trade and other receivables subsidiaries Deferred tax assets

18,033 1,421,627

97,570 892,451

281,358

47,455

TOTAL ASSETS

Income tax expense

(283,784)

(185,027)

(56,272)

(9,491)

LIABILITIES

Prot for the period

1,137,842

707,424

225,086

37,964

Other borrowed funds -

-

-

Total comprehensive income for the period Prot for the year attributable to: Equity holders of the Company Total comprehensive income attributable to: Equity holders of the Company Earnings per share-basic (kobo) 12

(116,264)

(2,996)

(2,995)

(184,551)

(116,264)

(2,996)

(2,995)

953,291

591,160

222,090

34,970

1,137,842

707,424

225,086

37,964

953,291

591,160

222,090

34,970

4

1

19

12

2015

2016

2015

N'000

N'000

N'000

N'000

96,840,875 72,736,383

824,221

1,289,919

15,784

-

-

-

-

-

-

48,781,859 30,856,189 8,325,798 10,548,229

39,190

42,186

26,330,893 23,163,229

2,041,230

1,714,746

2,281,363 -

270,000

-

-

2,266,396

1,650,000

1,650,000

750,000

750,000

-

156,908

158,703

97,363

29,712

31,069

29,712

31,069

3,919,885

3,418,928

741,135

729,623

2,921,616

2,921,616

334,367

334,367

656,967

656,967

187,340,046 144,106,093

LEO OKAFOR Company Secretary

99,945

1,471,309

22,205,594 22,280,960

2,973,552

-

-

150,674,751 109,105,099

-

-

16,259,381 16,144,955

13,704,523 13,704,523

5,105,981

3,286,581

381,064

734,795

2,454,563

2,175,137

1,437,267

1,380,996

219

219

175,966,204 133,685,542

-

-

15,522,855 15,820,314

SHAREHOLDERS FUND Share capital Share Premium Retained earnings

3,000,000

3,000,000

3,000,000

3,000,000

683,611

683,611

683,611

683,611

9,570,899

8,433,057

3,059,976

2,834,888

Other reserves

(1,880,668) (1,696,117)

(60,849)

(57,853)

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS FUND

11,373,842 10,420,551

6,682,738

6,460,646

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S FUND

187,340,046 144,106,093

The Board of Directors is condent that United Capital’s positive performance will continue to improve barring unforeseen circumstances in the future.

BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD

12,776,759 12,717,488

Current tax liabilities

TOTAL LIABILITIES (184,551)

2016

Other liabilities Deferred tax liabilities

Items that may be reclassied subsequently to prot or loss Net fair value gain/(loss) on available for sale securities Other comprehensive income for the period, net of taxes

Bank Over draft Managed funds

-

Company December

Dividend receivable from

Share of prot of equity accounted investee Prot before income tax

Other comprehensive income, net of income tax Items that will not be reclassied subsequently to prot or loss

Group March

22,205,594 22,280,960

14

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016

COMMENT

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

NIGERIA’S SECOND CIVIL WAR The war on corruption is an uphill task, argues Nnamdi Ebo

W

ar is a state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states or parties. The period of such conflicts may differ depending on the tactics, techniques and procedures and the type of science employed. War is also a condition of active antagonism or contention: a war of words; a price war; a concerted effort or campaign to combat or put an end to something considered injurious; a war of attrition; an internecine war like Nigeria’s First Civil War (i.e.

Nigeria-Biafra War) and now Nigeria’s Second Civil War: “War Against Corruption”.

When Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), as he then was, won the election on All Progressives Congress’ “Change” and “War Against Corruption” mantras, I was hopeful that the entrenched corruptible customs and traditions of Nigeria will be eradicated. President Buhari had started a war. As Buhari’s war against corruption stuttered/ stalled, I saw corruption fighting back. I wondered why but as the war progressed aimlessly I decided to conduct research into the native customs and traditions of the major indigenous peoples of Nigeria i.e. the Hausa/Fulani, the Yoruba and Igbo, as the guinea pigs (human subject research).

My findings will shock the western countries, including U.S. President Barack Obama, French President François Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Nobody can eradicate corruption in Nigeria, not even Buhari; not Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Department of State Service (DSS); no Nigerian, living or yet to be born, or is it the Nigerian military or the Police? You can tell that to the U.S. Marines. After taking a comprehensive survey, observations, consultations, evaluation and analysis, especially with hindsight and the aid of historical antecedents of the various Nigerian tribes and their behavioural tendencies, I came to the inevitable conclusion that Buhari’s war against corruption is Nigeria’s Second Civil War. The Nigerian Police is already regarded as the highest bastion of corruption and revelations from the corruption trials show that even the Nigerian Military is not immune.

A tradition is a belief or behaviour passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. The concept of tradition, as the notion of holding on to a previous time is also found in political and philosophical discourse. In Nigeria, what the western countries call corruption is mired in “tradition” which transmits proceeds of corruption for safekeeping and enlivens the concept of illegal monetary transfers into the realms of “legitimate inheritance”.

Accordingly, the modern meaning of tradition can be seen

THE TREASURY SINGLE ACCOUNT IS AGAINST TRADITION. IF YOU WORK FOR RAILWAY YOU CAN ALSO COLLECT WAGES FROM P&T. IN NIGERIA, “CORRUPTION” MEANS “THANK YOU” IN ENGLISH, “NAGODE” IN HAUSA, “ESHE” IN YORUBA AND “DALU” IN IGBO. I CAN’T SEE BUHARI WINNING THIS WAR

as having evolved in the Nigerian concept and discourse in about the last 100 years, during the colonial period. I have counterposed the concept of modernity with the concept of tradition, in the context of culture which is “the way of life”, especially the general customs and beliefs of a particular group of people or nation-state. The “One Nigeria” story began in 1914 with Lord Frederick Lugard. The ten-per cent-in-contract custom/tradition was the major reason the first coup plotters gave after they overthrew Nigeria’s First Republic in 1966.

Corruption has been with all the indigenous peoples of Northern and Southern protectorates before the 1914 amalgamation - albeit in different forms, steeped in the native customs and traditions. The “extended family system” in Nigeria does not lend credence to the notion or concept of any corruption index. The “nuclear family system” as a basic social unit in western countries discourages corruption while the former encourages corruption.

In the course of my research, one elderly man told me that his five children were trained by his illustrious junior brother who had four children of his own, a civil servant.

A young man told me that he is a product of the extended family system and Buhari’s war against corruption must be stopped. Other reactions to my enquiries are to the effect that Buhari wants to kill the extended family system which has produced doctors, engineers, lawyers, accountants, even a president who had no shoes as a Pickaninny.

There is no inclination/determination of the Buhari administration to make this fight a concerted one. His cabinet members and APC leaders/members are not contributing to the fight against corruption. Many of his party stalwarts and political associates are alleged corruptible suspects; the bar and bench are reluctant allies. President Buhari, the commander-in-chief, is alone. He has been deserted by his soldiers in the battlefront. What the western countries call corruption is regarded in Nigeria as a means of survival, a means to wealth and those who get rich by it are regarded as the hardworking people, successful people.

It’s taboo to occupy high office with nothing to show for it - you’re a failure! It’s traditional/customary to say “thank you” to ministers or civil servants who award contracts and/ or the godfathers who bankroll campaigns/runs for political offices/positions. Salaries are not compensations but irritable unsatisfying inadequate stipends. The Treasury Single Account (TSA) is against tradition. If you work for railway you can also collect wages from P&T. In Nigeria, “corruption” means “thank you” in English, “Nagode” in Hausa, “Eshe” in Yoruba and “Dalu” in Igbo. I can’t see Buhari winning this war. Nigeria’s Second Civil War may rage for another 100 years. www.nnamdiebo.com

REMEMBERING BOKO HARAM’S VICTIMS Salil Shetty writes that Chibok girls have come to symbolise all the innocent people whose lives have been destroyed by Boko Haram

I

n September 2014, a 19-year-old woman whom I will call Aisha was celebrating a friend’s wedding in a small village in north-eastern Nigeria when Boko Haram attacked. The fighters killed the groom and many of the male guests. They abducted Aisha, along with other women, including her sister and the bride.

They were taken to a Boko Haram camp in Gulak, Adamawa State, home to about 100 other abducted girls. Over the three months she was held captive, Aisha was raped repeatedly, sometimes by groups of up to six fighters. She was taught to use firearms, detonate bombs and attack villages.

She was sent on “operations,” including an attack on her own village. She says she did not kill anyone herself — but she met women and girls who told her that they had.

Stories like Aisha’s do not make for easy reading. Her’s is just one of many told to Amnesty International researchers in the two years since more than 200 schoolgirls were abducted from a secondary school in the town of Chibok, Borno State. The fate of the schoolgirls made headlines around the world. But those girls, still missing, are sadly only a small proportion of those abducted

by Boko Haram in recent years.

Thousands of women and girls have been abducted by the armed group. Men and

boys have also been abducted and systematically executed or forced to join the fighters.

Amnesty International’s research found that abducted girls were taken directly to Boko Haram’s camps in remote communities or to makeshift transit camps. From these transit camps Boko Haram moved them to houses in towns and villages and indoctrinated them with their ideology in preparation for marriage. The suffering of these abducted women and girls, some of whom were forced not only to marry fighters but also to become fighters themselves, is beyond comprehension.

Over the course of the past few years, there have been notable successes by the combined forces from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger that have given Nigerians so much hope. In addition, the support from the international community since President Buhari’s election as president, provides an opportunity for Nigeria to protect civilians in the northeast. But there is a huge work to be done.

The abducted must be rescued and President Buhari should spare no effort in using all lawful means to protect civilians from Boko Haram attacks — and to ensure that human rights are not violated by the Nigerian military in combating Boko Haram, as has happened repeatedly in past years.

The authorities must also urgently ensure humanitarian assistance reaches those in

need, particularly to more than a million people forced to flee their homes.

The conflict in the northeast has created religious tensions, and the Muhammadu Buhari government will, therefore, have to act swiftly to prevent a lasting legacy of distrust between some Muslim and Christian communities, especially in areas ravaged by Boko Haram attacks.

An important element of the post-conflict reconciliation process will be a thorough, impartial and independent investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity.

While the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened a preliminary examination of the situation in the northeast in 2009, the primary obligation to bring perpetrators to justice lies with the Nigerian government.

But if Nigeria is unable or unwilling to investigate crimes or bring suspects to justice, the ICC can begin a full investigation.

So far the Nigerian government has not taken adequate steps to investigate crimes committed by both sides of the conflict. This is another challenge that Mr. Buhari must address with utmost urgency. Nigerians and the world are expecting to see if his commitment that the “government will investigate all human rights violations, including by the military” — will soon be translated into concrete action.

It is vital that the government ensures that bodies are disinterred from mass graves,

that victims and witnesses are given the opportunity to give evidence and that the guilty are brought to justice. Only then will the pattern of impunity that has plagued Nigeria be broken.

Two years after their abduction, the Chibok girls have come to symbolise all the innocent people whose lives have been destroyed by Boko Haram. There is still hope that the Chibok schoolgirls may one day be reunited with their families.

Aisha eventually made it home. She escaped in January 2015, fleeing through the bush in the dead of night. During her time in captivity she saw more than 50 people killed by Boko Haram, including her sister.

They were buried in shallow graves and the smell of their rotting corpses hung heavy in the air.

Aisha walked for three days until she reached a village where she was given shelter for two days, a change of clothes and N500. She then set off again, for another five days, until she reached her home. When she got there she discovered that her father had died soon after she and her sister had been abducted. The local doctor had put his death down to a coronary thrombosis brought on by high blood pressure. Others believed that no medical language was needed: Aisha’s father died of a broken heart.

Shetty is the secretary general of Amnesty International

15

T H I S D AY THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016

EDITORIAL CHIBOK GIRLS: TWOYEARS IN CAPTIVITY The nation cannot afford to give up on the girls

O

n April 14, 2014, a gang of gunmen dressed in military camouflage broke into the students’ hostels at Government Secondary School, Chibok and forcibly shepherded no fewer than 276 female students into their trucks. “We are here to assist and protect you,” one of the gunmen reportedly told the frightened female students 57 of whom would later escape to tell their stories. That marked the beginning of a tragedy that reverberated across the world and has become a nightmare for many parents.

Although the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan handled the abduction in a sloppy manner, first with denials and later by theatrics from the then First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, there is no indication that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has done any better on the issue. In fact, the response of the government so far does not inspire confidence that any meaningful search WHILE THE CHIBOK GIRLS for the girls is going MAY HAVE BEEN AWAY on or that there are FOR TWO YEARS, IT CAN concerted plans NEVER BE TOO LATE TO for their rescue. It BRING THEM BACK HOME is almost as if the TO THEIR PARENTS government has surrendered to pessimism with the Chibok community practically left in the lurch since options appear unclear.

Not only is there no news on the whereabouts of the girls, the whole tragedy has degenerated into petty politics, the latest being the statement from the Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose that the girls’ abduction was a hoax. We consider Fayose’s statement most unfortunate as it can only compound the agony of the Chibok parents at a time they have nothing left but hope.

Against the background that Boko Haram stands for “western education is sinful”, the

Letters to the Editor

A

Chibok tragedy, coming only a few weeks after the massacre of 59 innocent students at Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, was a clear indication of the nefarious agenda of the insurgents: to create a climate of fear and insecurity so as to discourage parents from allowing their children to go to school. It is therefore important that we all stand up as a nation to confront the insurgents.

As we have repeatedly pointed out on this page in the last two years, giving up on rescuing the Chibok girls cannot be an option for any self respecting society. Therefore, the federal government must step up its game by deploying all necessary resources, equipment, intelligence and whatever else it would take to find and bring the girls back home.

T H I S DAY

EDITOR IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU DEPUTY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OLUFEMI ABOROWA DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, FIDELIS ELEMA, MBAYILAN ANDOAKA, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HENRY NWACHOKOR, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI GENERAL MANAGER PATRICK EIMIUHI GROUP HEAD FEMI TOLUFASHE ART DIRECTOR OCHI OGBUAKU II DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

I

t is in this respect that the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) coalition deserves commendation for the manner in which it has helped to put the issue of the Chibok girls in both local and international limelight and for sustaining the campaign for their rescue. At a workshop in Abuja on Monday with the theme, “Endangered Education”, BBOG members and key participants harped on the need for government to do more to protect children who seek education. Both the Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Aisha Alhassan and former Education Minister and BBOG co-convener, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili set the tone for the discussion that ended with a clarion call that the Chibok girls must never be abandoned. It is a call we wholeheartedly endorse.

What this administration must understand is that Nigerians desperately need the assurance that the federal government has the capacity to defend our territory and our people wherever they may choose to reside. In a vibrant country such as ours, the issue of citizens in distress should always be on the front burner of public discourse. While the Chibok girls may have been away for two years, it can never be too late to bring them back home to their parents.

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

THE TROUBLE WITH THE DOWNSTREAM OIL SECTOR

s a Nigerian, I am disturbed by the alarming rate of job losses especially in the downstream sector of the oil industry. What is happening in the downstream sector has also triggered massive job loss in the banking sector and others. Recently, a company sacked a neighbour of mine who has spent all his youthful age working for a popular major oil marketing firm following the downsizing of workers.

The worst hit are companies owned by Independent oil marketers. Over 10,000 Nigerians have lost their jobs due to the resolve by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to starve independent marketers of petroleum products.

The Independent Marketer Programme came as a result of the petroleum products shortage of the 1970s which was partly attributed to lack of sufficient investment by the major oil marketing companies in petroleum retailing outlets, especially in the rural and more distant areas of the country.

Consequently in 1979, the indigenous independent marketers’ scheme was established to increase the number of outlets, particularly in the rural areas and to permit the direct participation of Nigerians in the petroleum marketing and distribution business. As of date, over 1,500 independent marketers spread all over the country, are registered with the Petroleum Products Marketing Company to lift products from all the depots.

Today, most, if not all the independent marketers have been complaining bitterly about this sad development because unlike previous governments which recognised that independent

marketers have the largest number of retail outlets (petrol stations) when compared to the major marketers, this present regime favours the majors in product allocation for inexplicable reasons.

Unfortunately for the independent marketers, the umbrella body that represents their interest, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has broken into two factions and the disunity is adversely affecting their primary role and taking up this unfortunate development forcefully.

The past few months have been terrible for the independent oil marketing community. Most independent marketers have reduced their staff and some have closed down their stations thereby increasing the number of unemployed Nigerians in the job market. How could the president feel unconcerned when his fellow countrymen are losing their source of livelihood? To compound matters, there are independent marketers that accessed and used banking facilities to develop their outlets and do their business that are now in default with the affected banks harassing them for loan repayments.

It has been observed that the ongoing restructuring of NNPC appears to be in consonance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which provides for, amongst others, the ‘unbundling’ of the corporation and the creation of autonomous corporate entities that will be allowed to operate purely as companies in the private sector. This is a very positive development.

However, in so doing the Minister of State for Petroleum/GMD, NNPC should also adopt and follow the true spirit of these reforms by creating a more level playing field for all participants

in the downstream sector generally. That policy direction will allow for a more positive outlook going forward, since there is no way NNPC through PPMC can ever solely cater for adequate supply of petroleum products efficiently and effectively to the nation, taking into consideration the realities on ground. That is why the fuel scarcity is biting harder presently.

President Muhammadu Buhari has always stressed that he hates adopting any policy that would end up creating hardship and sufferings for Nigerians. Unfortunately, the insistence by the federal government to hold on to the fuel subsidy regime and artificial pricing controls of petroleum products (PMS & DPK) has exactly that avoidable deleterious effect on practically all Nigerians. With the massive drop in the cost of crude oil prices since last year, prices which have a direct relationship to the cost of refined petroleum products, the federal government has an excellent opportunity to completely deregulate the market now before crude oil prices shoot up again.

In addition, the Mr. President must as matter of urgency address the immature and confused foreign exchange policy which has scared away foreign investors willing and eager to capitalise on the huge and growing opportunities in a market adjudged only recently as the largest economy in Africa. Such foreign exchange policies must allow for unfettered inflows and outflows of legitimate foreign currencies that would allow forces of supply and demand to inevitably impact the current exchange rates positively.

Odita Sunday,oditasonny2002@yahoo.com

16

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

POLITICS

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

THE PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

Baraje: APC Has Failed to Provide Leadership One of the founding leaders of the All Progressives Congress and a former acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, recently spoke with journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on a wide range of state and national issues. Hammed Shittu was there and provides the excerpts:

W

hy have you remained silent on issues affecting the APC? My silence was because I am an elder in the party and elders don’t just talk, particularly the ones that know what they are doing and I don’t believe in flippancy. You don’t get me talking because I want to remain focused. Secondly, and also because I have been busy doing too many things. You are all aware that APC is a new party and the party is a coalition of various political groups, which I happen to belong to one of them.

Therefore, as a senior citizen and elder of the party, I have been busy building the party together with the remaining of us, who are desirous of building a very formidable party. I have been busy, ensuring that we build bridges among the members, particularly between the elders and leaders.

It is not easy to come from various ideas to form a political party because our ideologies and focus about the country must be blended together as one to take Nigeria forward. While we are busy building, we must ensure that the structures are firm and we have gotten to a reasonably level. Now, I think we have gotten to a point, where we and Nigerians can assess and make comments.

The APC has also been silent on the travails of the senate president. Why is that?

Many of us have been surprised or taken aback that the party has not been living to expectations about the trial of the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – living to expectation in terms of making the Senate President feel belonged and as part of the party, which is very

Today, we have counted about one 150 rerun elections both at the state and national levels across the country and our party, the APC has lost majority of the elections. Not because the party has lost popularity, but because of the lack of enough presence of the party in the various places, where the elections were held. Politics is not technical but practical

plan to form a new party in the country?

We also heard it just like you. But I have not entered into any alliance or gone into any meeting with anybody. So far, so good, APC is still on the ground but we want the president to shine his eyes as Nigerians would say but that cannot be done successfully except he plays politics.

Would you consider leaving the party if this alleged impunity continues?

Every politician or group has aspirations in any part of the world and not only in Nigeria. The time we were going into merger to become the APC, our aspiration was that the then government of PDP was not giving us that desired governance and Nigerians were suffering. We want to be part of the solution to the problem to make life easy for our people. But how far have we then achieved those aspirations because there is nothing to show on ground now? Some will say our group has the senate president but he has not been in peace. Since the coming of Obasanjo in 1999, no senate president has had dry, blatant, politically tyrannical and open persecution as Saraki.

Baraje...Buhari must start to play politics now

important for any member let alone the calibre of the Senate President, who has sacrificed lot for the party. I have been trying to make the party realise that not only the senate president but everybody that contributed to the success of the party matters from the highest to the lowest hierarchy.

We have gotten to a level, where we have to be realistic and ensure that the right thing is done at the right time and in the right manner, more so from the fact that we belong to a group that is not very satisfied with the performance of the party, not only because the Senate President is currently going through a very pronounced political persecution, but because there are other cases and instances where we are not happy about the performance of our party.

A case in point is the recent rerun elections in Rivers State. You will agree with me that before and during the elections, the APC did not have the expected and desired presence of our party in Rivers State. With the volatile nature of the rerun election, some of us with our humble experiences expected the national presence of our party much more there. It is regrettable.

Today, we have counted about one 150 rerun elections both at the state and national levels across the country and our party, the APC has lost majority of the elections. Not because the party has lost popularity, but because of the lack of enough presence of the party in the various places where the elections were held.

Politics is not technical but practical. If the APC decided to abandon its members at the middle of the election, you don’t expect magic from such action.

Politically, the party should be proud that the Senate President is from the APC. Even though if he was not wanted by some certain interests, he went into an election and won. The PDP episode with Tambuwal (former House of Representatives speaker) is still fresh in history. The PDP then didn’t throw the baby away with the bath water, knowing full well that such a move will be counterproductive.

It was well managed and he remained the speaker of the then PDP. Our party may loath the ways of PDP, but out of every bad situation and experiences, there are atoms of goodness

and every visionary leader will separate the chaff from the grain and take what is good out of it. So it is not as if the Senate President has gone against his party. I was a witness of how our Senate President got the seat and I can tell as at the time we went for the election, the party had no candidate for the election. At the beginning, the party first made a statement that it had zoned the seat to the north central before all the intrigues that went into it.

Can you then assess the performance of your government at the centre?

I want to say there have been distractions. The Buhari-led administration is well intentioned.

Lots of things went wrong before Buhari came in and to build is difficult. When there are lots of distractions, you will lose focus and the APC has lots of distraction created by the party itself. In line with the constitution of the country, we have three arms of government.

These are the pillars that should hold the country’s fabrics together and if one of the pillars get jeopardised, what do you expect?

The senate president is the chairman of the legislative arm in Nigeria and he is not getting the support that he should get simply because some very few individuals thought they are more powerful than the party itself.

As disorganised as PDP was, everybody was a member. It was because of the tradition of impunity that was creeping into the PDP that made us raise the alarm and that was why we left and you can see the consequences.

Now, the same scenario is creeping into the APC. We must sound a note of warning to President Buhari to shine his eyes. There are people in the party in the guise of reconciling people and say they are working for the success of the party while actually doing that for their own selfish interest. But it will lead them to nowhere. We would never romance impunity.

President Buhari should be wary of them and play more politics now, he has gone into the house and has seen how bad it is; he has reorganised the house and what is left now is to consolidate on the reorganisation to build on the foundation.

Is your wing playing any role in the reported

What’s your reaction to the trial of Saraki at the CCT? The case of Saraki has not followed due process and the rule of law. It was the due process that was missing in the case of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and he was discharged but not acquitted. So why is the Saraki case different?

So as regards whether we are comfortable with where we are and whether we are joining other groups, every politician has aspirations about the development of his people and if you cannot achieve it in one place, you go to another place.

It doesn’t mean that I am a political prostitute but that I am a principled person and will not stop until I get what I want, which in this case is good governance, equality, democratic dividends for my people. Impunity, lawlessness, lack of due process are not what formed APC. With the intervention of some leaders like us, that party will continue to thrive, but for it not to go the way of PDP, the president must play politics.

Is it true that Saraki was still receiving salary after leaving office as Kwara governor?

Immediately Saraki left office like any other civil servant, who worked for it, he begins to enjoy his pension and the vouchers that pay those benefits began immediately and the banks still referred to it as salaries. One of the major goals of this trial was to create sensation and media hype. We had barely gone out of the court that day when the media started calling for his resignation. Like you read in the papers, this morning (Sunday), there have been plans for those people to organise protest against Saraki in Abuja, Lagos and Ilorin.

But I want to assure that if that happens, we will see mother of counter protests to demonstrate that the Senate President has followers. Hitherto, APC had only three states in the north central and with dint of hard work, Saraki delivered the zone one 100 per cent. So if some people hide under the trial of Saraki to want to destabilise this government, then we won’t sit down and look and that is not a threat.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisday.com

17

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

INTERVIEW

Mustapha: It’s Dangerous to Set Buhari against Tinubu Achieftain of the All Progressives Congress, an Egba chief, close ally of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and erstwhile National Auditor of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode Mustapha, has warned of the danger of setting President Muhammadu Buhari against Senator Bola Tinubu. He spoke to Femi Ogbonnikan on other pertinent national issues.

Excerpts:

D

All I would appeal is that the president should not allow anybody to pitch him against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who we all know did a ‘yeoman’s job’, which the president himself recognises, in putting together this opposition. There are a lot of pocket Lords in states, who try to play God in their states and who try to pitch President Buhari against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The President should not allow that to happen

on’t you think that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is too slow to improving the lots of the citizenry?

As at today, we have N3 trillion in the TSA. In the last 16 years, before the APC government came, does anybody even know how the budget of this nation was being funded? The answer is no! It was all based on procrastinations. Today, we know we now have N3 trillion and we now know exactly how much we need to add to be able to have a balanced budget. Now, to me, slow and steady wins the race.

In the past, did anybody even know how much we were earning from crude oil? Where was the money going? Where was it being paid? Everybody was helping himself, dipping his or her hands in the till. Today, we have a structured system that at the snap of the fingers, the President can know through the Central Bank, how much we have as a country.

It wasn’t the case in the past.

You can’t undo all that went wrong in 16 years in a year. My appeal is for Nigerians to still remain patient and to see the good that is coming out of what is being done at this point in time.

The opposition has been saying perhaps President Buhari doesn’t have an economic blueprint The last administration practically refused to hand over till the last minute. How can you have an economic blueprint when you don’t even know what is in the till? Even if he has an economic blueprint, how can you work with an economic blueprint in a situation, where so much money was squandered and everybody was taking his own share?

Imagine how much people were pocketing without doing anything. So, how can you plan when you do not have facts? At any time that President Buhari is to hand over to anybody, he can say as at today in the Treasury Single Account (TSA), we have so much. So, whoever is coming can plan, but President Buhari didn’t have such an opportunity and we all have to realise tha So, it is a question of time. One is a function of the other. Where you do not have all the facts before you, you cannot have an economic blueprint. That is what I am trying to say.

The recent arrests and trials of past public office holders, especially those connected with the arms purchase deal has been viewed by the opposition as a game of selective witchhunting. What is your take on that?

That is total rubbish! Retired Brigadier-General Jatau Musa is a very close ally of the President.

What has happened? He accepted he collected N170 million and he has refunded N100 million and he made a pledge to refund the remaining balance of N70 million. So, what is selective in that? When you talk of selective, is it true that they did what they did? That’s the first question. Please, don’t mix the message with the messenger.

People were collecting money meant for purchase of arms and ammunition to go and fight Boko Haram while people were being internally displaced, moved away from their homes, from their farms, people were killed, people were kidnapped, women were molested, were raped and some people could sleep. Soldiers who were sent to the war front without being adequately equipped were being killed like chickens and people can sleep.

Also, Nigerians have been complaining that rather than globetrot, President Buhari should sit down at home and address the problems

Mustapha...Tinubu is the soul of APC

facing this country. Do you agree?

Is it not achieving results? First of all, when he came onboard, he was travelling to our neighbouring countries so that we could have joint security network to face Boko Haram, which at a point, got affiliated to Islamic State of Iran and Syria (ISIS). Now, getting affiliated to ISIS, if not nipped in the bud, the war can consume the whole of this country.

We have seen conventional war, which was Biafran war and which we pray never to see again. We don’t want a situation of the IRA in this country. Now, he has been busy doing that.

He has gone to the United Arab Emirates to sign agreement on repatriation of looted funds, seizure of funds, tripartite or bilateral relationship and based on that people are now getting jittery. I am sure that by the time all these monies are brought back into the country, it would revamp the economy.

What ex-president Obasanjo did for the first two – three years in office was to launder Nigeria’s image. He was practically his own Minister for Foreign Affairs. That is what President Buhari is doing indirectly at this point in time, because our image has been badly battered.

No doubt about it.

The recent signing of a military tie with the Arab world in the fight against ISIS insurgency has been interpreted to mean that President Buhari has taken the country to join the Organisation of Islamic Countries, thereby exposing Nigeria to external threats of the insurgents. Isn’t that correct?

I don’t think so. You see, when you have a challenge that is spreading, for example, if you in Community Development Areas in a town or in a state that are facing the same problem and their leaders come together to address it jointly say, we want to join forces together to face this problem, that does not make Nigeria an Islamic state.

I am a Muslim and I don’t see it happening. I will never support Nigeria becoming an Islamic state. And I don’t think Mr. President has that intention. It is a way of coming together with people, who have the same problems,

to share intelligence and to come together to face that challenge.

What’s your take on diversification given the slope in the price of oil in the international market?

If you look at the economic summit that has just been concluded, a lot of emphasis was made on these thematic areas, agriculture and others. Before oil, Western region under Chief Obafemi Awolowo, we relied on cocoa. We had our own Agent-General in the United Kingdom. Cocoa House was built with Cocoa money. There was no reliance on oil, because there was no oil. There was the groundnut pyramid in Kano. There was coal in Nkalagu, in the Eastern region.

We threw all these things to the dustbin because of the emergence of oil. Now, we will have to go back to the drawing board.

Here in Ogun State, I can tell you for free that there is load of bitumen. I can tell you for free that there are solid minerals like gold, palladium, platinum and so on in large quantities in Ogun State. I know it. I am into mining business. So, this is not a story.

But what is the government doing to develop the mining sector? That’s the question. How do you support the people who are in the mining business positively? For example, we are talking of one barrel of oil at even $100, whereas we are talking of one ounce of gold of 14 grammes at $1,200.

So, why should our country not shift its emphasis away from oil and go and pump more money into the mining sector? Pump more money and give incentives to those people, who are in the mining sector, so that they can also attract the Rio Tinto of this world and several other investors in the mining business.

As a member of the APC, does your party appreciate the essence of internal democracy?

I do not know of anything called groups within the party. The party is one indivisible entity. Credit must be given where credit must be given. You can’t take away the national

leadership of this party from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. You cannot. You can say what you like. He is the person God has endowed with the dexterity to put together what is called APC today. You can’t take it away from him.Unfortunately, in politics, once a government is formed, people try to pit one person against the other, and I am sure and I am very sure that President Buhari would not allow anybody to pit him against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, because for crying out loud, but for the work that this gentleman did, maybe we would be having N5 million to $1 because without putting together this strong opposition, which he single-handedly spare-headed, there would have been another PDP government and all these rots would have been swept under the carpet and our currency would have become torn-money.

It would have been worse than Zimbabwe.

So, all I would appeal is that the president should not allow anybody to pitch him against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who we all know did a ‘yeoman’s job’, which the president himself recognises, in putting together this opposition.

There are a lot of pocket Lords in states, who try to play God in their states and who try to pitch President Buhari against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The President should not allow that to happen, because like they say in Yorubaland, “omi l’ama kan ki a to kan yanrin “ (it is the water that we will see first before the sharp sand).

People should stop all these old situations – this was a former ANPP and this was former CPC. If ANPP could do it alone when President Buhari ran for office, they would have won the elections and the presidency. If CPC could do it alone, they would have won the elections and they would have won the presidency for President Buhari.

Now, it is the time that we have an APC and people are drawing a wedge between the President and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu but without what this man (Tinubu) started, like a joke, there would be no APC today and probably some of us would have travelled out to go and work overseas.

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

INTERVIEW

‘Jonathan’s Regime Empowered Individual Pockets’ Chief FemiAlafe-Aluko, an economist and property consultant, spoke to Femi Ogbonnikan, on the root causes of the fall of the PDP-led government in last year’s general election and the challenges of the present administration, among others. Excerpts:

I

things will improve.

I believe, he consults enough and he has set up different committees. I believe there is still a lot of rooms for improvement because at the end of the day, nobody is going to be happy if you have worked and you are not getting renumerated as and when due. It gives a lot for concern. But I know that he has good intentions.

t seems you have been on sabbatical leave for some time because you have not been heard in the political circle of Osun State, in recent times. Why did you choose to go quiet?

So, many factors can be attributed to it. The first factor is that the looting galore and stealing with impunity that took place under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration are disappointing and demoralising. I thought the party’s slogan was power to the people. What transpired was power to the leaders’ pockets and another factor was the brazen daylight robbery that was called PDP primaries.

The after effect of that shameful conduct is there for everyone to see. It left a very sore taste in my mouth.

The party was hijacked by an unelected cabal. If they conduct their congresses in the same manner, it is farewell to the party’s existence in Osun. It is not about going back to the Bisi Akande-led progressive camp. The other day Nuhu Ribadu went to visit Baba Akande at his country home, Ila, Osun State, he was still a PDP man.

The two major parties have almost similar ideologies, conservatives and progressives in their folds, apart from the President, Tinubu, Akande, Onu, Oyegun and Momoh, tell me one APC leader, that doesn’t have PDP blood.

It is not about party affiliation, but having the desire and the will power to do what is right and proper for our people once voted into power. Baba Akande, whom I contested against, was a man in 2003, whose prudent use of scarce resources I admire.

How was the mood when Chief Bisi Akande, a national leader of the APC, and your very good friend, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, received you back into their fold?

Well, Aregbesola has been a very good friend, because we were always communicating when I was even contesting under the PDP. He has always been a friend. Our friendship transcends politics. Politics will come and go. So, it is not a matter of me retracing my steps but he is just like a brother – getting closer to a brother, rather than on a party platform.

Chief Bisi Akande will always remain a political father to me, just like others are political fathers to me, also in PDP. Dr Olu Alabi is a political father to me. Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun is a political father to me. So, it is not a matter on which platform. Those are people you look up to for guidance.

Before you left PDP, was the party no longer fashionable for your choice?

It is not that I left PDP, but I was not happy with the happenings within the party. Things I predicted two years ago were going to happen to the party are happening now. I used to quote the governorship primaries of the party, because I was an active participant and I have stated my misgivings about it and I hope such a thing will not happen again, because it was like a daylight robbery. And I am sure it is something that APC too will also learn from.

Imposition will not get you anywhere. Politics is now dynamic. There is more awareness.

The populace or the voting public also knows what they want. Also, individuals know what she or he wants. But when a party insists on imposing a candidate, of course, there is going to be a backlash. That was what really put me off from PDP and I just pray they will get their acts together.

If you are to do an appraisal of the present state of affairs of PDP in Osun State, how would you describe it?

They are saying they are trying to get their acts together and it is one thing to say and it is another thing to see it in reality. When you have a cabal, who are holding the party by the jugular, then nothing good can come out of

Alafe-Aluko...Jonathan abused his office

it. They will just be groping in darkness, like motion without movement. The congresses they are going to do in May will determine whether they are really sincere or not that

The looting galore and stealing with impunity that took place under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration are disappointing and demoralising. I thought the party’s slogan was power to the people. What transpired was power to the leaders’ pockets and another factor was the brazen daylight robbery that was called PDP primaries

they want to overhaul the party or move it forward.

In APC, Governor Aregbesola has good intentions but the fall in oil price has really affected some of the projects he wants to embark upon. That’s not to say I have totally agreed with his government, for instance, the new Local Development Councils Area (LCDAs) being created.

Yes, he has stated that there is going to be no additional cost involved, but I want to see how that will materialised because I know they will have new chairmen, they will want to buy new vehicles, there is going to be overhead costs, they are going to rent buildings for councils headquarters, they are going to print new stationeries and so on. It is a good intention, but whether this is the time to do such things is another thing entirely.

But I know he really has good intentions.

Now, that you have joined APC, are you nursing any political ambition in the nearest future?

I have no intention to do so because I had vied for the governorship seat of Osun State three times and I think it is high time to relax.

It is not only when you are a governor that you can contribute positively to the society.

You can be an adviser at the background.

Nobody foresees the future, but for now, I have no intention of contesting any political position.

How is Governor Aregbesola performing in terms of governance, bearing it in mind that civil servants are being owed salaries for months?

Osun is not the only state where salaries are being owed. At least, he has been open enough to let the civil servants know how much is coming to the state from the federal allocation. And I am also sure that he has fully engaged the union leaders on how things are. Of course, everybody is praying that

Nigerians are despaired over the ‘change’ mantra yet to manifest at the centre. In your views, why hasn’t the government lived up to its expectations?

Maybe his economic team didn’t foresee that there was going to be a drastic fall in oil prices.

And governance, under military, is not the same as under a civilian dispensation. I am sure, there are many things he should start learning because the president has military background.

The change mantra was, of course, a votewinning slogan but unfortunately, like I said earlier, the only way you can judge that things are improving is how much comes into your pocket and how much you get at the end of the month. Much, as it is nice, is to look inward – people should start patronising ‘Made-in-Nigeria goods and so on and so forth.

People are yet to feel the impacts of government and I know that it is still less than a year. I think one should be able to do an appropriate assessment after one year. Also, they should let us know the value of all the looted money they have recovered and how they are going to be used. I think the government should concentrate more on transportation, power together with infrastructure and of course, fighting corruption, as well.

If the government can concentrate on these sectors and let the people see the impacts, because I remember that between June and July, I am sure that Nigeria was generating 4,000 plus megawatts in power and for it now to drop to about 1, 500 it means, something is wrong. It is the job of the government to rectify it.

And what are we producing? South Africa is producing 140,000 megawatts. And even in our foresight that we want to produce 10, 000 or 5,000 shows that we are not ambitious enough and if you look at the money that has been invested into that sector, with what we are getting now, how commensurate is it?

I was in Ghana about two weeks ago and not once was there any blackout. And I am sure Ghana is not as buoyant as Nigeria. So, every Nigerian prays that things will improve.

And of course, now, at least, to a certain extent, elections are now more transparent.

If they don’t perform, they will be voted out in 2019.

Should anti-corruption crusade take predominance over other activities of the government?

It should not be the main thing. Of course, when you are fighting corruption, ultimately, it ought to have a holistic view. Corruption is everywhere. Anti-corruption should start from our household. I am not saying that anybody that has stolen, whether in PDP or APC should not be brought to book but when that money is being recovered, we should know how much it is.

For instance, about $ 321 million Abacha’s loots is to be released by the Switzerland government, but I am happy they gave conditions for the release. What projects are going to be done and what projects are these funds to be released for?

The anti-corruption crusade should also cut across all parties, whether APC or Labour Party or PDP and everybody should be brought to book. Everybody that holds a position of responsibility should be asked to come and account for his or her stewardship. We are not out of the wood yet, but I pray things will get better.

19

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

INTERVIEW

PMP is the Alternative Platform, Says Opara Chief Perry Opara, the first chairman of the Inter-party Advisory Council and a founding member of the National Unity Party, who later served on the campaign team of former President Goodluck Jonathan, is the founder of a new political organisation called the Peoples Mega Party, which he describes as the alternative party in the future. He spoke to Onyebuchi Ezigbo. Excerpts:

S

ome aggrieved politicians are said to be contemplating a new party, the Peoples Mega Party (PMP). Is this a coincidence or it has anything to do with the expectations from Nigerians?

Yes, it has a lot to do with such expectations from Nigerians. As a matter of fact, I am one of the people that came under the umbrella of Senator Ken Nnamani and under that umbrella we had governors, ministers, former advisers, all manners of people, who felt they were credible. We saw Ken Nnamani as the only man standing that can be an umbrella over every other person. Be you former vicepresident, be your former senate president, be you senator, governor – everybody felt that Nnamani has the capacity, the image and the credibility to be a leader.

So, when all of us came under him, we thought that we could assist and rebrand PDP; we could assist and fix a BoT chairmanship that has expired; we could assist fix National chairman’s position that was zoned to the North-east and a South-south person took over and was eating into their time.

All of us were there, the aggrieved members of PDP under the leadership of Ken Nnamani but something happened on the 12th of November when Nnamani assembled the green of PDP made up of former governors, former senators, former advisers and many people to visit Wadata plaza. I was number 17 on that list.

We went to Wadata Plaza and then acting National Chairman of the PDP and others addressed us but unfortunately, we couldn’t extract firm commitment from the Wadata plaza visit and we discovered that it was a journey to nowhere.

Some of us who are younger, who felt our future was dim in PDP started thinking of a way to move and the forum of ministers met and was thinking in that direction although it was suicidal for former functionaries of government for 16 years or more to gather to form a political party, it doesn’t work like that.

What you see in PMP is a reaction to the impunity, the high handedness and the level of corruption that has afflicted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It took us three months to go round Nigeria to set up structures because we wanted to build a party from the bottom to the top.

We want to give power back to the people and not a few people coming to Abuja to give money to members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and they give them registration materials, forms and they go to their states and begin to re-appropriate it.

We wanted to end this impunity, a situation where forms are sold N10 million for governorship, N1million for expression of interest and you now have to carry bags of ‘Ghana must go’ in billions to begin to bride members of the NWC to give you ticket.

PMP is a response to the expectations of Nigerians that there should be an alternative platform.

Not necessarily an opposition party, an alternative platform for those of them who are aggrieved in PDP, those who are aggrieved in APC, those who are aggrieved in other political parties like APGA, Labour Party and other parties.

You did say something about your association with Senator Nnamani and that you had sought for an opportunity to fix things in PDP, especially the BoT, was that part of the frustration all of you had?

No! Nnamani is a credible Nigerian. He is one man that money and position doesn’t mean anything to. I am one of his boys that begged him to accept to lead the group (PDP).

It took us days of persuasion before he agreed

than my own position. These state executives are going round the whole federation selecting three persons as BoT members. Not the one you come to Abuja and give money and they make you a BoT member. The state are taking one person per senatorial zone in their state and forwarding them to national as possible members of BoT. We are going to invite all of them for a meeting very soon and I assure you that those BoT members will be made up of big names. Nigerians will be able to see them, know them and asked them penetrating questions about why they joined Peoples Mega Party.

With your experience and relationship with former Senate President Nnamani, can you say you can come to stand where he stands now?

I am not the biological son of Senator Ken Nnamani but he has shown me more love than my late father in politics. My dad wasn’t involved in politics, so if I assume that I am a political son to Senator Nnamani, he has treated me so well.

Opara...the need for a new platform is imperative

to lead and I am also one of the people that took time to try to convince Nnamani to make himself available for BoT position. He declined several times, there was pressure on Nnamani.

Mind you, Senator Nnamani is not from the North-east. The North-east people were the people that came to Nnamani to beg him to accept to lead them so that this matter

PMP is a response to the expectations of Nigerians that there should be an alternative platform.

Not necessarily an opposition party, an alternative platform for those of them who are aggrieved in PDP, those who are aggrieved in APC, those who are aggrieved in other political parties like APGA, Labour Party and other parties

wouldn’t be a regional fight or a zonal fight for the North-east. Let it be a national fight and Nnamani is one man who has the credibility to lead.

So, Nnamani didn’t leave PDP because he was frustrated or because he wasn’t made BoT chairman, no! Nnamani felt that the house stinks.

He felt that the place was no longer good enough for him to be and as a decent man, he felt that he can’t be in a place where people who are not serious and are corrupt, so he quickly resigned and Nigerians respect him for maintaining his integrity.

You said very soon you are going to launch the party and even the BoT of the party. Who and who can you say are other partners in this new journey?

We want to capture the youths, the unemployed men and women. Our party is giving up to 40 per cent position to Nigerian women.

So they wanted a new face, they wanted a younger person to be their national chairman and that is what brought me on board. They also wanted a man who has experience in managing the party.

Having said this, there are people from various states, who are former members of the National Assembly, some of them two times, some three times members, who have decided to take positions at the state level as state chairmen. There are former secretaries to government, former ambassadors, former commissioners many of them that have decided to take part in this.

Why it is difficult to mention one or two people at the national level is that this is a party that is built with the philosophy of building from the bottom to the top. That is why as I speak to you, we are not talking about National Working Committee; we are talking about state executives that are ready.

That is why within a short three months we were able to assemble structures in all the states and we are able to come to Abuja on March 1.

The state chairmen are the most important people in this party, they are more important

What can you say about your credentials that qualified you to launch a new political party?

I formed a party, National Unity Party (NUP) in 2006. The same day Bola Ahmed Tinubu registered AC was the same day Chief Perry Okpara registered NUP. They were the only two parties registered that same day and I was National Chairman of that party for four years and I was also the man that exhumed the Inter Party Advisory Council from the Electoral Act. I am the first Nigerian to become the National Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council.

I was also elected president of West African Association of Political Party and I was also president of Nigerian Union of Political Parties of which we used to meet at PDP office then.

I had a stable party for four years and my tenure was over. We could only win some pockets of small elections in Rivers State – councillorship elections and my tenure finished. When my tenure finished was about the time Goodluck Jonathan wanted to run for president in 2011 and I liked Jonathan; a very humane, very humble man that believes in rule of law and I wanted to support him.

By that time I had finished running the campaign of Barrack Obama in Nigeria, I joined Jonathan and tried all I could to make sure that he wins. I was made Director Contact and Mobilisation of Goodluck Support Group and I was able to deliver and Goodluck won the 2011 election.

I have experience on how to form a party and how to get it registered. I also have experience on how to have cohesion in a party and how to move it forward and I think also they feel that my age is comfortable to be able to attract the Nigerian youths that is why they made me National Chairman and I assure you that PMP, when registered will be the alternative platform.

How many states do you have structures as a political organisation at the moment and do you think you will be able to meet the INEC conditions for registration?

As I speak now, we have structures everywhere and INEC doesn’t require structures everywhere but because we are into serious business that we have been planning, we have structures everywhere and our structures are not just hiring of people and writing names for them, we have human beings who are domicile in those states.

Have you got a national office?

It is going to be unveiled in 2 weeks. We are working on that.

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THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016

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IMAGES

L-R: Executive Director/Chief Investment Officer, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Oliver Andrews; President/CEO, Andrew Alli; Chairman, Sarah Alade; Chief Operating Officer/ General Counsel, Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbade and the Executive Director, Financial Services, Sanjeev Gupta, during the 8th Annual General Meeting of African Finance Corporation in Lagos....recently

L-R: Rev. Jacob Ajetunmobi; Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; his wife Olori Kudirat and the Otun of Olubadan, Chief.Lekan Balogun, during the special thanksgiving service of Olubadan at Cathedral Church of St. David, Kudeti Ibadan…..recently FELIX ADEMOLA

L-R: Author/ Producer, Loud Whisper, Mr. Joseph Edgar; Executive Producer, Olisha Adibua; Comedian and Actor, Mr. Ali Baba and the Director, William Benson, during a media briefing on the stage play of Loud whispers, in Lekki Lagos.......recently KOLA OLASUPO

L-R: Marketing Director, Pfizer Nigeria / East Africa Region, Winston Ailemoh; President Nigerian Cardiac Society, Dr. Amam Mbakwem; Medical Director, Pfizer Nigeria / East Africa Region, Dr Kodjo Soroh; Director, Regulatory Affairs, Pfizer, Bunmi Femi Oyekan; Chairman of the occasion, Lere Baale; National Secretary, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Gbolagade Iyiola; Director of Ports Inspection, (NAFDAC), Maureen Ebigbeyi; Sales Director, Pfizer Nigeria / East Africa Region, Olayinka Subair; at the re- launch of one of Pfizer’s leading cardiovascular brands in Lagos ...recently

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

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

L-R: Ag Director General, National Agency for Food Drug and Administration Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. Yetunde Oni; wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode and the Managing Director/CEO, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Mr. Roy Naaman, during the unveiling of the new Bournvita pack and the World’s Largest CocoaBeverage Inflatable Jar, in Lagos...recently KOLA OLASUPO

L-R; Regional Sales Manager, South-South East, Giant Beverages Limited, Mr. Eke Leonard; Marketing Manager, Mrs. Bose Ogunyemi and the Regional Sales Manager, Lagos/South West, Mr. Emmanuel Akpah, during a press briefing by Giant Beverages vitamin water, on the launch of their new products, in Lagos... recently DAN UKANA

L-R: Principal, Comprehensive Senior High School, Isolo, Mrs. Adeola George; District Governor Nominee, Rotary Club Distrcit 9110, Dr. Wale Ogunbadejo; President, Rotary Club of Isolo, Mrs. Lolade TempitopeOgungbe and the Permenent Secretary, Education District 6, Lagos State, Mrs. Anifowosho Amidat Abimbola, during the Rotary Club of Isolo’s family breakfast session and commissioning of classroom building/empowerment programme, in Lagos......recently ETOP UKUTT

L-R: Comrades Elijah Banny; Yusuf Sherif; Hauwa Muhammed; the Chairman of National Assembly Legislative Aide Forum Samuel Melaye, Ibrahim Nassir and Comrade Disebe Donga, during the commissioning of National Assembly Legislative Aide Forum shuttle bus at National Assembly.....recently

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MINISTERIAL TOUR

L-R: Group Co-CEO, Jagal Group, Maher Jarmakani; Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu and Managing Director, Rack Centre, Ayotunde Coker, during the minister’s visit to Rack Centre data facilities in Lagos...recently

Minister Warns Telcos, VAS Operators against Unsolicited SMS Stories by Emma Okonji The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu has warned telecoms operators (Telcos) and Value Added Service (VAS) providers to stop broadcasting unsolicited short message service (SMS), popularly known as text messages, or risk sanction.

The minister, who gave the warning in Lagos recently, expressed deep concern over the rate at which telecoms and VAS operators flood the mobile phones of subscribers with promotional messages that they did not solicit for.

He said the situation was becoming embarrassing to

TELECOMS Nigerian subscribers, including the minister, who also receives such SMS intermittently on his mobile phone.

According to him, such unsolicited messages are embarrassing because they are transmitted as bulk messages and in most cases, the messages hit the mobile phones of subscribers at a time when subscribers are expecting important messages, only for them to open their phones to see all manners of promotional messages that are annoying to read because they make no meaningful impact on their lives.

Apart from the inconve-

niences that such SMS cause to subscribers, Adebayo said the subscribers are also charged for messages that are meaningless to them. He described the situation as a rip-off on the part of subscribers, which he said must stop immediately.

“We have over 170 million subscribers and the charges of operators vary from N50/ week to N100/month, which amounts to huge sum of money for the operators, at the expense of subscribers,” Adebayo said.

He, however, explained that he had summoned all telecoms and VAS operators to a meeting in Abuja, where he highlighted the implications

Telcos Reject New Tax Communications Services Telecommunication companies (Telcos) have collectively rejected fresh plans by the National Assembly to introduce a bill that will promote a new tax on electronic communications services, targeted at operators and their subscribers.

The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), in a joint statement, condemned the planned hike in telecoms tariffs and called on the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu and the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, to intervene quickly to prevent

ICT the adoption of the new tax on electronic communications services, as planned by National Assembly.

Chairman of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo, President of ATCON, Lanre Ajayi, and National President of NATCOMS, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, in a joint statement, condemned the planned hike, explaining that it will increase the amount of taxes currently being paid by telecoms operators.

The GSM Association (GSMA), the industry association representing mobile operators worldwide, has also joined forces to condemn the plan.

on

The proposed tax is to be levied on charges payable by users of electronic communication service, which include any communication through the use of wire, radio, optical or electromagnetic transmission emissions or receiving system or part of these and include interconnection at nine per cent of the charge for the service. The specific services highlighted are voice calls, SMS, MMS, Data, TV viewing, even though they do not seem to be exclusive.

The bill, which is sponsored

by Senator Ali Ndume, who is a principal officer of the Senate, has already gone through first reading at both chambers, awaiting the second reading.

According to telecoms

of their actions on subscribers and warned them to stop it, yet they kept broadcasting the messages with impunity.

He warned that should the broadcast of unsolicited SMS persists, he would force operators to make refunds of such monies deducted from subscribers, on demand.

President of National Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), Deolu Ogunbanjo had in the past, raised the alarm on the amount of money charged by Telcos and VAS operators for unsolicited messages and called on the Nigerian Communications Continued on page 24

Electronic operators, the proposed bill will require a number of clarifications. It is necessary to know if the bill will replace the existing VAT charges. If not it means the consumers will be made to pay to government 15 per cent more on present tariff, and this is not fair to our consumers.

They said if introduced, it would result in an increase in prices for consumers, have adverse impacts on the adoption of mobile services and industry investment, and be counter-productive to the longer term national digital strategy objectives set by the government of Nigeria.

Continued on page 24

The Abia State University, Uturu has announced that it will confer the Degree of Doctor of Science (DSc), Honoraris Causa on the Chairman of OpenMedia Communications Limited and former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe. The conferment of the honorary degree on Ndukwe will be a high point of its 24th Convocation Ceremony, slated for Saturday April 16th 2016.

In the letter conveying the University’s decision to honour Ndukwe, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Uche Ikonne, stated that “the offer is in recognition of Ndukwe’s high accomplishments in his chosen profession as an Engineer and meritorious national service as Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission”. Ikonne further noted that the Management, Senate, Staff and students of Abia State University are excited at the thought of associating with such a distinguished personality as Ndukwe.

Ndukwe, fondly dubbed ‘the father of the telecommunications revolution in Nigeria’, has proved ever passionate about the need for the gains of the past not only to be consolidated but also to be improved upon. He has consistently canvassed for the building of pervasive ICT infrastructure such as broadband, long distance and metropolitan fibre backbone. He has often pushed for focused capacity building in human resources, protection of the consumers, favourable enabling environment, availability of trusted systems and legal instruments to ensure transparency, confidentiality, integrity, availability and security. He is also an advocate of robust legal and financial framework to support e-commerce, ICT software development, digital content creation, competition and rural telephony.

Aisha To Dedicate Book Proceeds

In furtherance of her avowed commitment to the amelioration of the sorry plight of the parents of the abducted Chibok Girls and over 40 Buni Yadi Boys murdered by the Boko Haram terrorists, wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari will make a public presentation of her book titled “The Essentials of Beauty Therapy” at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja today, to bring to the front burner the sad episode.

Mrs. Buhari has written the book to mark the second year anniversary of the kidnap of the Chibok Girls and the gruesome murder of the over 40 secondary school boys from Buni Yadi community in Yobe State.

The wife of the President has decided that proceeds of the book launch would be dedicated towards charity and bettering the living conditions of families of the embattled girls, parents of the deceased Boys and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The book launch is also an eloquent expression of the fact that the federal government is deeply concerned about the Chibok Girls and the Buni Yadi Boys who were earlier murdered by Boko Haram before the abduction of the Chibok Girls.

The book is a masterpiece on the intricate linkage between beauty and wellness therapy and improving health conditions of Nigerians.

Honeywell Supports Sisi Eko’s Initiatives

Honeywell Flour Mills Plc has launched a campaign to support activities lined up by the Lagos State Government to celebrate the state at 50.

The campaign is part of corporate social responsibility(CSR) initiatives of the company to support development of the Nigerian youth through partnership with Vision of the Child (VOTC). Honeywell was the Literary Arts sponsors of VOTC last year where it awarded cash and product gifts to the six children that emerged as winners at the dinner/gala night.

Speaking during the launch of Honeywell in Sisi Eko’s Kitchen picture contest recently, Managing Director, of the company, Mr Lanre Jaiyeola described the Lagos at 50 celebration as a significant landmark, saying it provides an opportunity to celebrate Lagos State’s past achievements and showcase its immense potential for future growth and development to the world at large.

“As the need of consumers evolve, manufacturers must strive to provide them with an improved experience” Managing Director, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Mr. Roy Naaman

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BUSINESSWORLD MINISTER WARNS TELCOS, VAS OPERATORS AGAINST UNSOLICITED SMS Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, to address the issue.

Before now, telecoms operators have denied any involvement in unsolicited SMS, blaming it on VAS operators who were licensed by the NCC to provide certain services to subscribers.

Four GSM operators, MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat had in different consumer parliament fora organised

by NCC denied sending unsolicited messages to operators. They explained that they went as far as introducing a dedicated code on their networks, tagged ‘Do Not Disturb’, which gives subscribers the opportunity to subscribe to it, if they do not want to be receiving such messages.

Aside warning on the unsolicited messages, the minister also appealed to telecoms operators, through the Telecoms Advisory Council of the Association of Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ATCON), to address the poor service quality across operating networks, which he said, ranged from drop calls, poor voice clarity, call diversion, delay in delivering text messages among others.

TELCOS REJECT NEW TAX ON ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES They are of the view that further taxation on electronic communication services would hit lower income consumers the most, who are already struggling due to the adverse economic situation and increased price pressure and for whom affordable access to information and communication technology is critical to their social and economic inclusion.

Considering the negative impact on mobile industry investment, telecoms operators said the proposed tax would have adverse effect on the industry investment needed to improve and expand mobile connectivity across the country.

Group Business Editor

Chika Amanze-Nwachuku Maritime Editor

John Iwori

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Crusoe Osagie

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (AgricBusiness)

NEWS

Deployment of ICT Will Reduce Poverty in Nigeria, Says Danbatta Emma Okonji The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, the Nigerian Government is using the potency of Information and Communications Technology (ICTs) to tackle poverty in the country.

Danbatta, who made the disclosure during an interactive session with participants of Senior Executive Course (SEC) No. 38, 2016 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Jos, Plateau State recently, said government has set up various ICT intervention agencies and programmes to contain poverty in the face of unexpected oil revenue crash.

Danbatta also said that the strategic vision of the Commission, which is anchored on an 8-point agenda, among them, Facilitate Broadband Penetration, Improve Quality of Service, Optimise Usage and Benefits of Spectrum, Promote ICT Innovation and Investment Opportunities, and Promote Fair Competition and Inclusive Growth, would contribute in no small measure to government’s efforts in fighting poverty with ICTs. He, however, said in the pursuit of ICTs for development and poverty reduction, three things remained very important, which he listed to include Access to Service, Availability of Service and

Affordability of Service.

Danbatta explained that the challenge for the poor is inability to access information due to inadequate infrastructure, ignorance or illiteracy.

“The availability of information sources for the poor should be of great concern if poverty is to be reduced,” he argued.

Separating digital poverty from traditional poverty such as general scarcity, dearth, or

the state of lacking a certain amount of material possession or money, Danbatta pointed out that most developing nations are suffering from digital poverty, such as the lack of means with which to access ICTs, the lack of skills to use the ICTs, and inadequate information about the usefulness of ICTs. Digital poverty, according to him, incorporates a demand component, a capability dimen-

sion and a supply component.

“In order to fight poverty in all its ramifications ICTs must be considered a key driver for social development and economic growth,” Danbatta said.

“To stimulate the Nigerian economy particularly in production, agriculture and intellectual property, we should aim to improve ICT penetration in both mobile

telephony and broadband services to all parts of the country no matter how remote. The target should be increased ICT interaction and usage in Agriculture, Health, Trade, Finance, Insurance and Transport. This would automatically affect the nation’s GDP, improve the quality of life, reduce dependency on forex and improve the value of the naira”, he submitted.

FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Laoye Jaiyeola; Chairman, NESG, Mr. Kyari Bukar and Vice Chairman, NESG, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, at the 20th annual general meeting of the group in Lagos ...recently ETOP UKUTT

Nigeria to Generate $2bn Revenue from Tourism Raheem Akingbolu With government and economic drivers working to improve the economy through non-oil sector, the Acting Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Paul Angya, has said Nigeria can rake in billions of dollars from tourism and hospital industry sector.

Angya, who spoke through the Director, Standard Directorate in the agency, Mr. Abiola Komolafe, disclosed that stakeholders in the sector, led

by SON, are set to attract over one million international tourists in the year to beat the previous record. At dollar exchange rate of 200 According to him, the government is determined to develop tourism as a means of growing the country’s economy, noting that Nigeria was ready to take her share of the global trillion dollars tourism investments.

“As Nigeria diversifies its economy from oil, tourism and its related activities can be one of the game changers for foreign exchange earnings, job creation, infrastructure development and business,” he said.

Angya said there has been tremendous increase in the numbers of international tourists globally from 166 million in 1970 to 1,035 billion in 2012, with attendant earnings.

He said: “The 2012 visitors

spent $1 trillion on travel (excluding international passenger transportation expenses valued at $213 billion). Directly and indirectly, their spending accounted for 9 per cent of the world’s GDP and 6 per cent of its exports.”

He stated that for tourismdependent countries and destinations, tourism’s share of GDP can exceed twice the world average, adding that presently international receipts exceed $1 billion per year in some 90 nations.

Angya, however, explained that though tourism is acknowledged as an important sector that drives the socio-economic development and growth of nations, only developing countries actively pursued tourism exports as a key development strategy.

The SON acting DG said World Economic Forum (WEF) report in 2015 showed that West African countries are among the least in global tourism, stating that poor performance in Africa could be adduced to limited accessibility in terms of airline traffic, shortages of hotels and other lodgings, skilled staff, inadequate service and security concerns.

He said the newly inaugurated committee is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring standard that will position Nigeria’s tourism sector to compete globally.

The new Chairman of the

committee, who is also the Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Mrs. Chika Balogun, called for political will to move tourism

sector forward, pledging that the committee would ensure that Nigeria succeeds in the drive at developing the non-oil sector. ”It has to be Nigeria

without oil. We all want to make Nigeria great and this we can do by making sure that tourism is not left behind when we talk of lexicon of business in Nigeria,” she said.

‘Data Hosting Outside Nigeria Amounts to Economic Loss’ Emma Okonji The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu has condemned the rate at which corporate organisations and some government agencies, export their data outside the country for hosting in foreign lands.

He said such foreign hosting of data constitutes monumental economic loss, running into billions of naira.

The minister, who made the disclosure when he visited Rack Centre Limited, a Tier 111 data centre in Lagos, encouraged the company to expand its operations and capacity, in order to accommodate more data from organisations in Nigeria, including government agencies, who currently host their data outside the country.

He, however, commended Rack Centre for its world class Tier 111 Data Centre, which he said could be matched in standards and quality, with foreign data centres.

“Organisations like Rack Centre need the encouragement of Nigerians and the Nigerian

government to increase its data centre capacity to accommodate more data from other organisations and government agencies, in order to discourage Nigerians from hosting their data outside the country,” Shittu said.

According to him, “today we still have a lot of organisations, including government agencies that still host their data outside the country when we have a world class data centre at the Rack Centre that addresses all security issues associated with data hosting. Millions of naira have been lost to Nigeria in the area of exporting data outside the country for hosting purpose. “ “So if we have enough capacities at the Rack Data Centre, I see no reason why Nigerians should be spending so much money to host organisation’s data outside the shores of the country. So I encourage Rack Centre to expand the storage capacity and I also encourage Nigerians to take advantage of what we have in the country, instead of looking elsewhere outside the country, which of course

amounts to developing other economies at the detriment of the Nigerian economy,” Shittu said. Highlighting key areas on how best to encourage Nigerians to partronise existing data centres in the country, the minister said government would continue to draw the attention of Nigerians to support local content policy, which demands that organisations and industries in Nigeria, including government agencies, must patronise locally developed products from Nigeria.

He said government would create the enabling environment for business to thrive and that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is one area of business that is lucrative and dynamic that needs government attention and support.

“I have visited Korea, Japan, United States of America and other world industrial areas, I have come to realise that what drives those economies is ICT and we must begin to replicate that in Nigeria. Most countries that are developed never had oil.

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BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Entrenching Broadband Policy in Nigerian Telecoms Sector Emma Okonji writes on the need for proper implementation of the National Broadband Policy in order to achieve the projected 30 per cent broadband penetration by 2018 On September 20, 2012, former President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the presidential committee on the national broadband strategy and roadmap. The committee which was cochaired by the former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe and the founder of Zenith Bank, Mr. Jim Ovia, had 15 core members representing various stakeholder groups in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector and an additional set of co-opted members.

Although the broadband plan, as submitted by the committee was rich in content with achievable targets, its penetration level was largely hindered by the weak implementation process that characterised the broadband plan. For instance, the target was to increase broadband penetration in Nigeria from six per cent in 2013, to 30 per cent in 2018; but as at January 2015, the country was able to achieve only 10 per cent broadband penetration, a situation that heightened the fears of industry stakeholders to conclude that Nigeria was not likely going to achieve the projected 30 per cent broadband penetration as captured in the National Broadband Plan.

Given the current state of broadband penetration in the country and the level of implementation, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said last week in Abuja, that the government may not be able to attain the 30 per cent broadband target before 2018 because of inadequate infrastructure layout in the sector.

Benefits of the broadband The broadband policy, if well implemented, can stimulate growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) and cooperatives, and it could enhance both backward and forward economic linkages. In the area of employment generation, broadband networks have been shown to have a direct impact on employment.

It is however the use of these networks towards growing economic activity and enhancing social development, that unlocks the potential increase in employment.

The cost of communication can also be reduced by an increased rollout on infrastructure and improved availability of broadband services.

Reducing the cost of communication will be beneficial to citizens, business and government.

Government’s expected role According to the National Broadband Plan, governments at various levels have critical roles to play in the drive to have pervasive broadband infrastructure across the nation.

Government no doubt, has interest in converting the nation into a digital haven that will be fully networked and ready to be integrated into the new world order of digitally enabled citizens in an environment of e-governance, e-health, e-commerce and e-agriculture, among others.

The federal government’s primary role is focused on policy formulation and direction as well as legal and regulatory functions.

Government is therefore supposed to focus on providing overall policy, legal and regulatory platform for attracting the required investment for the sustainable development of the sector to support national development goals and plans.

Aside the federal government, the states and local governments are supposed to do their parts in ensuring that their citizens have access to the necessary infrastructure vital for connecting to the information superhighway of the digital age.

But instead of government and its agencies working towards achieving the objectives of the national broadband plan, there have been reports from some areas of the country where government agencies at state and local government levels, create bottlenecks in the deployment of ICT facilities by operators, either by imposing taxes arbitrarily, or obstructing,

Jonathan

delaying, or denying right of way applications.

The local government is a focal point for community development and it is recommended that local governments can facilitate broadband growth and adoption by working with communities to reduce disruption to infrastructure development and creating innovative schemes to encourage adoption and usage of the internet to enhance development, rather than posing as obstruction to broadband development.

Challenges As telecoms operators make efforts to deepen broadband penetration in the country, they are also faced with lots of challenges, which most times, impede the speed of broadband rollout in the country.

Challenges common to operators in the telecoms sector have been identified as: the high costs of right of way resulting in the high cost of leasing transmission infrastructure; long delays in the processing of permits; multiple taxation at federal, state, and local government levels and having to deal with multiple regulatory bodies; damage to existing fibre infrastructure as a result of cable theft, road works and other operations; and the lack of reliable, clean grid electricity supply.

Another major challenge impeding broadband penetration in the country is the inability of operators to transmit broadband capacities from the shores of the country to the hinterlands, where the services are most needed.

There are appreciable number of submarine cable landings on the shores of the country providing over 9 Tbit/s of combined capacity.

However there is a growing concern about the fact that all the landings are in Lagos and that access to other parts of the country is choked due to the limitations of distribution infrastructure to the rest of the country.

The operators have done well to heavily finance their submarine cable for broadband connectivity from Europe to the shores of Nigeria, but government is yet to build a national backbone infrastructure that will transmit broadband capacity from the shores to the hinterland, thus putting unnecessary burden on the cable operators to begin to seek alternative means at their own expense, to transmit broadband capacity, a situation that has resulted in slow broadband penetration in the country.

MTN for instance, had since 2012, berthed its MTN WACS submarine cable at the shores of Lagos, which has 14 landing points, with 12 along the western coast of Africa and two in Europe (Portugal and England). It also has bandwidth capacity of over 5.12 Tbps and spans 14,530 km. The cable is made up of four fibre pairs and is 14,530 km in length, linking from Yzerfontein in the Western Cape of South Africa

Ndukwe

to London in the United Kingdom. The landing points are South Africa, Western Cape, Namibia, Swakopmund, Angola, Sangano near Luanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Muanda, Republic of Congo, Matombi, Cameroon, Limbe, Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, among others.

Main One submarine cable, which was launched in Lagos on July 22, 2010, completed its upgrade and has boosted its capacity to 100G wavelength on its submarine cable network between Nigeria, Ghana and Portugal.

In 2015, it completed connectivity between Nigeria and Cameroon and the submarine cable currently delivers high speed bandwidth of 1.92 Tbps and has been proven to provide capacity of at least 4.96 Tbps.

The Glo 1 submarine cable is a 9,800 km long cable from Lagos to UK, connecting 17 African and European countries to UK. It has landing points in Nigeria, London, Senegal, Morocco, Spain, Bude, UK and Lisbon in Portugal.

It also has 16 branching units to connect countries in West Africa.

The submarine cable has a minimum capacity of 640 Gbit/s and total capacity of 2.5 Tbit/s.

What MTN and other cable operators need, is a national backbone infrastructure, which must be provided by government to transmit broadband capacity from the shores of the country to the hinterlands.

Broadband deployment in other jurisdiction South Africa, in July 2010, published its Broadband Policy and was able to grow its mobile broadband penetration to 26 per cent, which is still regarded as being low. The low mobile broadband penetration is ascribed to the unavailability of electronic communications infrastructure and the high cost of broadband services that is stifling broadband growth.

In order to grow its broadband penetration to the current level, the South African government introduced direct policy intervention and strategic investment.

In addition, the government also came up with a broadband legislative framework, and set up broadband implementation committee, to further drive broadband penetration.

The implementation committee involved the three spheres of government in South Africa, namely National, Provincial and Local governments.

While the national government was involved in the provision of electronic communication network services towards increasing access and affordability of broadband services, the provincial government was involved in ensuring the provision of electronic communication network services in the province. The local government was busy aligning existing broadband strategies in line with the national and provincial broadband

Ovia

policies, without any of them imposing levies and taxes on operators for broadband service rollout as it is the case with Nigeria.

India, which has 7.6 per cent mobile broadband penetration, is faced with several challenges in the deployment of broadband across the nation, just like Nigeria.

The challenges and the requirements of broadband access in India are radically different from the developed world. Delivering a broadband connection to rural users, that is viable and profitable at the current low levels of Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), is a mammoth task.

The challenges range from lack of desired infrastructure, lack of nationwide optic fibre backhaul, which is the primary barrier in adoption of high speed broadband in the country, to Right of Way (RoW) challenge, low last mile connectivity, and lack of adequate content, among others.

In the United Kingdom (UK), the Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, is delivering super fast broadband and better mobile connectivity to the nation.

The government is however investing in its broadband policy to provide super fast broadband coverage to 90 per cent of the UK by 2016 and 95 per cent by December 2017, and to provide access to basic broadband for all.

The government came up with a super fast broadband programme, aimed at providing super fast broadband speed of 24Mbps or more for at least 95 per cent of UK premises and universal access to basic broadband.

Government funding is stimulating private sector investment in broadband to ensure that the benefits of better broadband are available across the UK. Funding has been allocated to projects in two phases: Phase one aims to provide super fast broadband to 90 per cent of premises in the UK and universal access to basic broadband of 2Mbps. Phase two is further extending coverage to 95 per cent of the UK citizens.

Possible solutions Going by the accelerated broadband growth in other regions that have adopted broadband policy implementation, the Nigerian government should therefore promote a seamless interconnectivity regime and an Open Access Infrastructure sharing agreement among operators, to boost broadband penetration in the country.

The federal government should therefore promote the rapid establishment of recovery agreements and the delivery of additional cable landing points to other coastal states such as Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa and Ondo as soon as possible.

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BUSINESSWORLD

CONSUMER

The Burgeoning Water Industry Raheem Akingbolu writes that with the growing number of bottled water makers in Nigeria, the regulatory authorities should redouble their efforts to ensure the market is not flooded with substandard products As the world’s population continues to grow at an alarming rate, with many consumers returning to natural drinks to stem the fear of consuming adulterated drinks, water has suddenly become the most consumed drinks globally. To fill the vacuum in Nigeria, international manufacturers and beverages companies like Coca Cola, 7up; UAC and Nestle have successfully opened up the market to give consumers quality water.

Until recently, the leading brands in the local markets were Swan and Ragolis but the trend has since changed. Today, aside the market giants like Coca Cola’s Eva, 7up’s Aquafina and UAC’s Gossy, there are over hundred water brands in the market with each of them jostling for a sizeable share of the market. However, recent findings have revealed that most of the table water brands are threat to healthy living because of their unhygienic method of production. As a result of this, concerned Nigerians have consistently appealed to regulators like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Consumers Protection Council (CPC) to be proactive in the regulation of the industry, to save consumers from consuming substandard products.

Market size According to NAFDAC, estimations on water consumed in Nigeria daily, ranging from bottle water to pure water is about N8 billion. The former Director General of the agency, Dr. Paul Orhii, who recently revealed this at a forum organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), admitted that water is fast growing business in the country.

Aside the fact that there is an existing markets for the bottled water in Nigeria, records have shown that a well purified and packaged water are exportable to some part of Europe, some African countries and America.

“Each bottle water cost N50 at the minimum, with the population of Nigeria which is over 167 million people, 100 million Nigerians take one bottle water per day, am not counting water used during parties, am not counting those who brush their teeth or wash their hands with bottle water, am counting those who drink a bottle per day, to satisfy their thirst.

“When you multiply N50 with 100 million, it is about five billion. Then the sachet water, called pure water, 167 million Nigerians are taking it, it constitutes about N3 million.”

Speaking on registration of products, Orhii had stated that the agency was stringent about requirement. But despite NAFDAC’s position, many still wonder how mushroom companies, without address get their products into the market.

Production process Recent experiences of global financial meltdown, the dwindling oil revenue and high unemployment rate have necessitated the rush towards devising various money making ventures in the country. It is believed that establishment of small-scale industries will be one of the many ways of creating job and income opportunities.

Being a universal consumable requires by every living human every day, many believe that access to water is the only major thing needed to set up a cottage company. This is where some companies are getting it wrong and consumers are paying dearly for it.

A Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at the Ekiti State University, Dr. Akeem Azeez said at a forum in Ado Ekiti recently that the need for good quality drinking water packaged under very stringent hygienic condition cannot be over emphasised. “When one considers the costly effect of water borne diseases like diarrhea, typhoid fever and cholera, it becomes paramount to go for clean water,” he said.

Driving home, his point, Azeez urged manufacturers of water in the country to invest well in innovative purification and packaging of

colourless and tasteless drinking water, adding that pure potable water is essential for healthy living to avoid dehydration and eventual death.

Beyond having access to water sources, the university don recommended that prospective investor must have a decent building in a clean environment, delivery van and good treatment facility before approaching NAFDAC for approval.

Market segment and top players Through pricing and packaging, most brands in the market have tactically identified their target audience in the market. Again, while top brands in the market have a national and wide spread, some operate in their localities.

Another deviation is the fact that some premium brands appeal to the elite and the corporate Nigeria while some are manufactured for the masses, who could access them in traffic or at the kiosks in their environment. In most cases, brands in this category hardly extend beyond their location. Sylvester Omale, who hawks drinks in Maryland area of Lagos, told THISDAY during the week that the factory that supplies him and his other colleagues in the axis, bottled water is located in Maryland area and it gives them incentive to be able to sell. He also stated that they don’t patronise some brands because of price.

“We have a few factories around that supply us water and in most cases, they ice it for us to appeal to consumers. The last six months have been extremely good because of the dry season which encourages more people to buy. We don’t sell brands like Gossy, Eva or Aqua Dana because of price and strict process required before getting them directly from the manufacturers,” He however pointed out that some local manufacturers take quality and health of consumers serious while some are careless about it. According to the College of Education, Oju, Benue State graduate, he and his colleagues had in January stooped patronising a particular manufacturer because of his nonchalant attitude towards hygiene.

Eva: A Coca Cola product, Eva came into the Nigerian market at a time when only 2 major bottled water; Swan and Ragolis, dominated the market. Over the years, the water has managed to survive and becomes one of the major players.

Among other factors, the fact that it comes from the stable of Coca Cola with good market

network, delivery fans and chain of distributors have helped its growth and acceptability. As a premium brand, Eva appeals more to the upper class of the market.

Aquafina: From the stable of 7up Nigeria, Aquafina also enjoys what Eva enjoys in the market; good heritage and wide coverage. As Pepsi is giving Coke a run for its money, so the water brand is seriously challenging Eva. It is also a premium brand for the upper class and corporate Nigeria.

Gossy Water: Warm Spring Waters Nigeria Limited, the manufacturers of Gossy Water is a joint venture company of UAC of Nigeria Plc, Ekiti State Government, Ikogosi-Ekiti Community and some industrialists of Ekiti State. The company has been engaged in the bottling and distribution of GOSSY Natural Spring Water since 2003 and has ride on the success of UAC to penetrate the market. Gossy Natural Spring Water is sourced from the only Warm Spring in Nigeria - the rocks of Ikogosi, Ekiti State - and passes through layers of rocks which naturally filter the water, preserving its naturalness. Many consumers go for the brand because of its link with the Ikogosi natural warm spring.

Valmont: Giant Beverages Ltd is a new entrant into the Nigerian Market. The company commenced operation about two years ago with production of Valmont water at Ikorodu area of Lagos. To carve its own niche in the market, handlers of the brand, had, from day one, gone for a unique packaging and expansive factory of international standard. Its sport cap and red colour is unrivalled in the market.

Last week in Lagos, the company unveiled a set of beverage products to further explore the market. As a local brand that is working towards competing with the giant of the industry, pundits have advised the company to be consistent in its production and marketing process.

Lasena: Obviously the first Artesian water in Nigeria and the first known premium pumpless well, with a natural temperature of 70 degree Celsius in this part of the world. Located on the Lagos end of the Lagos- Ibadan express road, the well has a flow of 70,000 litres per hour.

Like Gossy, its strength lies in its connection with nature and this is daily attracting many patrons, who see it as being medicinal.

The first known Artesian water is the Zamzam well in Saudi Arabia, discovered around 1417BC. Some Catholic missionaries sank the second from Rome over 1126 AD in a small town called Artois in France from which the word Artesian was coined. They decided to sink a well to cater for their water needs as well as for the community. Having sunk pipes into the earth they struck an aquifer that allows water to rise to the surface with very high natural pressure. It was an interesting finding that water from the well in its natural state has healing powers.

From 1126Ad till date, about 15 of such premium water wells have been discovered in different parts of the world. Studies have shown that drinking antioxidant-rich alkaline mineral water from Artesian well improves health, supercharges immune system, and fight the aging process.

In a recent interview with THISDAY, the Managing Director of Oak Group Limited, makers of Lasena Artesian Water, Mr. Lance Musa Elakama, said Lasena Artesian Water which has been validated by National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to be rich in antioxidants, has a high potential Hydrogen (pH) value of 7.8, zero microbes and flows out continuously under pressure at temperature of 70 degree Celsius.

“It was discovered by luck and that is why I said it was a gift. Gift because that was the fourth borehole after three attempts at getting water had failed.

We were looking for water to process as a small cottage industry: refine it, process it, bottle it and sell. But after three attempts, there was no water and I gave up about water and went to producing plastic bottles and caps for other bottling companies. After about nine months, with the help of a Turkish hydro engineer, we were able to strike water when and where we did not expect. We were not looking for it anyway and so we did not expect. It was nature’s gift to man because we now found out that it was not like other water,” he said.

Aquadana: Another leading brand in the water market, Aquadana is produced in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. It belongs to the same class with Eva, Gossy and Nestle water and has since inception been consistent in quality and market expansion.

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Home Appliances Manufacturers, Bosch, Enters Market Stories by Raheen Akingbolu Global home appliances giant, Bosch, has partnered a Nigeria company, Pedini Nigeria Limited, to compete and give consumers choices in the market.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Bosch Centre in Lagos recently, the Chief Operational Officer of the company worldwide, Dr. Michael Schoellhorn, said Nigeria’s population and growth prospect is among other attractions that propelled investment of Bosch in the Nigerian market. Bosch Home Appliances is part of BSH Home Appliances Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, based in Munich, Germany and its Europe’s largest producer of household appliances and a world leader in its field.

With the partnership, BSH Home Appliances has thus opened a 200-square-metre showroom. Schoellhorn said he has no doubt that the Nigerian market would benefit immensely from the quality of products and services Bosch is bringing to the table.

“We are expecting a lot in Africa and indeed Nigeria considering the size of the population and the potentials it has for growth. We have no doubt that the Nigerian market would benefit immensely from the quality of products and

services we are bringing to the table,” he said.

Also, the Head, Africa Region of Bosch, Mr. Novert Klien, said Nigerian consumers, would find their array of quality home and kitchen products very useful and hard to resist.

The Chief Executive Officer of Pedini Nigeria Limited, Mr. Chiedu Nwokolo, said many of the products they were bringing into the market are targeted at addressing the day to day challenges faced by many Nigerians especially with appliances used in kitchens.

“At Pedini, we decided to partner with Bosch in solving some of the problems encountered by many Nigerians in the kitchen because they are the most reliable brand in the entire continent in terms of durability, quality and technology.

“We are very confident of the Nigerian economy, the size of the market and also in the quality and pricing of our products which are tailored to compete favourably well in the market.

We intend to build between 50 to 100 Bosch-branded stores across the country over the next three years. This is to further serve the Nigerian public better,” he said.

This historic occasion, which brought together notable personalities from the industry and beyond, had more than 100 home appliances on display at the unveiling of the new showroom earlier in the week.

CONSUMER

Samsung Opens New Service Centre to Deepen Footprints Samsung Electronics West Africa has opened a new service centre in Ikeja, Lagos to further bond with its customers.

Located in Opebi, the new service centre, according to the company, provides customers with instant access to service, repairs and enquiries on Samsung’s full range of audiovisual, mobile and computing devices in a standalone location.

“The centre which is a partnership between Samsung and M-Store Nigeria, serves as a training facility for Samsung device users as well as provides visitors with holistic lifestyle consulting services, including on-the-spot software upgrades and information on how to make the best use of Samsung’s smart ecosystem by utilising

accessories, content and service offerings that are available from the company,” the company stated.

The centre is the latest in the series of Samsung’s roll out of premium, ultra-modern service centres all over Nigeria and brings the total number of the company’s customer service outlets in the country to 34, with nine centres in Lagos alone.

Speaking at the launch of the service centre, the Head of Service, Samsung Electronics’ West Africa, Mr. Raymond Olatokun, reiterated the company’s commitment to providing its customers with an exciting and enriching consumer brand experience.

“Through our service

centres, we are happy to deliver after-sales support to our customers, the kind of support that meets the latest global standards. We are moving the customer service trip into an interactive, cheerful experience, allowing our customers discover what our products can do, and how they can derive optimal value from them to enrich their lives.

We have always applied a customer-centric approach to our business - with us, the customer comes first,” Olatokun said.

He added: “Our customers in Ikeja, Opebi, and its environs can enjoy peace of mind and rest assured that a service centre that can handle both major and minor

repairs for their mobile and computing devices, as well as their consumer electronics and home appliances, is just around the corner.”

Olatokun further stated that the centre provides Nigerians with a premium service experience, showcasing Samsung’s unassailable leadership in technology innovation.

Also speaking at the event, the Technical Head of M-Store, one of Samsung partners, Gagandeep Lakhanpal, described the opening of the new service centre as a platform for Samsung together, with its partners, to provide its customers with end-to-end solutions, from product purchase to delivering on their after-sales expectations.

PRCAN Partners Brand South Africa on Nation Branding The Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) has committed itself to collaborating with Brand South Africa in enhancing the relationship between both leading African countries.

As a result, PRCAN will work towards participating actively in the Brand Summit scheduled to hold in South Africa later in the year.

President, PRCAN, John Ehiguese, who led his team to receive a delegation from Brand South Africain Lagos, said there were lessons that Nigeria could draw from the strategies deployed by Brand South Africa in its own destination branding programme.

According to Ehiguese, there were salient opportunities for Nigeria to consider arising from the successful nation branding of South Africa.

He said: “We suffer from a negative perception externally.

The image of Nigeria out there is not what it should be. It is not that Nigeria is as bad as it is often portrayed, but that is the perception generally. We think that there is an urgent imperative to do for Nigeria what Brand South Africa did for South Africa.”

The PRCAN president recalled that the relationship between the Association and Brand South Africa began about two years ago when the then Chief Marketing Officer of Brand South Africa, Wendy Tlou delivered the second PRCAN Gold Medal

Lecture in Lagos. He said that PRCAN was quite glad that even with a change of guard at the marketing arm of Brand South Africa, the conviviality between both organisations continued. “We will be glad to partner with you in any area that will enhance the relationship between both our countries,” he assured.

He told the delegation that PRCAN was committed to outreach programmes locally and internationally, explaining that the association had entered into partnership with the African Public Relations Association (APRA) to organise the 2016 APRA Conference in Calabar next month. He said that being a member of the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), PRCAN had invited Maxim Behar, ICCO President, as lead speaker on the Consultancy Day of the 2016 APRA Conference.

Chief Marketing Officer of Brand South Africa, Linda Magapatona-Sangaret, said her team was delighted to be in Nigeria and would explore immense partnership opportunities with PRCAN. She invited PRCAN to get ready to be part of the proposed Brand Summit to be held in South Africa later in the year.

Magapatona-Sangaret said that Nigeria and South Africa had a lot in common and that the mission of Brand South Africa was to have all of Africa recognise as a quality brand.

CELEBRATING A MILESTONE

L-R: Registrar, National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), Dr Olatunde Aworanti; Guest Speaker at the unveiling of Vatebra, Dr. Doyin Salami; Managing Director, Vatebra, Mr Kunle Akinniran; Deputy Managing Director, Mr Mike Aigbe and Registrar, West African Examination Council, (WAEC), Dr. Iyi Uwadiae, during the unveiling of Vatebra, formerly Fleet Technologies Limited, in Lagos...recently

Fleet Technologies Becomes Red Media Africa wins Facebook Vatebra PR Account Fleet Technologies, a top brand in the fast growing Information Communication Technology (ICT), sector, has changed its name to Vatebra. The company, which is positioned as the backbone of major industries in Nigeria, has indicated that the move was taken to serve customers better.

Dr. Doyin Salami of the Lagos Business School, who delivered a lecture titled: Beyond NowNigeria without Oil, Prospect for Technology and Innovation at the event, said Nigeria need Information Communication Technology (ICT) to drive the much desired national development we all crave.

According to Salami, “Technology has become arguably, the fastest growing sector in Nigeria. In 2016 alone, ICT accounted for 10% of the total Nigerian Revenue, the highest in a decade and half.”

The scholar added that recently, Nigeria ranked 121

out of 148 in the Global Innovation Index. With this in mind, he said Nigeria needs to create necessary infrastructures to accelerate technological innovations if truly the country is serious about matching up with the pace of growth and development around the world.

He also, noted that the launch of Vatebra is a great step towards achieving technological innovation in Africa.

The high point of the event was the transition of the old Fleet Technologies corporate logo to a new, dynamic and futuristic global brand identity called Vatebra, which means backbone. With the emergence of the refreshed brand, it is believed that the economy of Sub Saharan Africa now has a backbone upon which it can ride.

The Managing Director of Vetabra, Mr. Kunle Akinniran, said the company has seen the evolution of thoughts and ideas.

Few weeks after winning the Nigerian Breweries Public Relations business, Red Media Africa has been appointed as agency of record for Facebook in Nigeria.

With its headquarters at Menlo Park, California, Facebook continues to drive its mission to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected, connecting over 1.04 billion daily active users worldwide and 7.2 million daily visitors from Nigeria.

Red Media Africa will lead on Facebook’s communication, relationships and activations across the country with its teams from policy to developer relations and will also provide secondary support in markets across West Africa.

A reliable source in Red Media Africa said the agency is preparing for more surprises this year as it plans to announce

several other businesses.

Chude Jideonwo and Adebola Williams teamed up few years ago to start future awards but their biggest brief came in 2014 when the agency was trusted with the social media campaign of the President Muhammadu Buhari.

The political campaign brief was believed to have shore up the profile of the agency and reposition it for the future.

Facebook came into reckoning in 2004with a mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.

People use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what is going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them. Facebook has 1.04 billion daily active users on average worldwide and 7.2 million daily visitors from Nigeria.

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INTERVIEW

Ndukwe: SMEs Must Have Well Defined Long-term Goals The Chief Executive Officer, Bubez Foods Limited, a thriving food processing company, Mrs. Ijeoma Ndukwe, in this interview with Nume Ekeghe posits that SMEs must have very solid plans and well defined long-term goals to thrive It doesn’t come easy; SME’s should give themselves a five year guideline. We are used to quick fix or quick rich syndromes so we hope whatever our business ideas are would begin to materialise and generate the kind of income without realising that it is a lot of background work

Can you give us a brief background on Bubezfoods?

We are a competitive player in Nigeria’s food processing industry, established in August 2012, Bubez Foods is equipped with modern, leading-edge machinery for the processing and packaging of raw Pap (Akamu/Ogi) and our product range is ever increasing. Bubez Pap is fortified with Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, Folic Acid, Niacin, Iron and Zinc making it an amazing meal for babies, pregnant & lactating mothers, the elderly and the entire family at large.

All our products are manufactured in a safe and hygienic environment, ensuring that the product is of utmost quality and complies with all federal regulations. We endeavour to provide our customers with the best value for money and to maintain the confidence our products have earned.

When did this journey start and how did you decide to focus on Pap? It might sound like a cliché but really I was an idea from God. I was having my personal study and then he kept on this particular scripture for like a week (2nd Kings chapter 4 verse 2)and the amplified version says what do you have in your house of amplified value and literally transported me to my fridge and I could see the Pap. At that time, my sister who lived in Benin had a baby and would want to give her kids Pap but wanted something hygienic.

So she would buy all the raw materials or ingredients then give to some lady who she felt was clean enough to process for her. So I just figured within a split second that I could actually be that woman to a million other people and that really brought about the birth of bubez foods. And this was in august 2012 and by next day or two days later, I was in the market with N200 bought two corns and that was how we started this journey.

A lot of manufacturers lament on the lack of basic infrastructure such as electricity and others, how has your company been able to cope?

I have not overcome all of it totally, it is a journey. It is about having a long term vision and goal so we are just taking it one day at a time hoping that everything would work and add up together. We have all sorts of challenges especially with the forex issue.

Some people say we are lucky because we are processing a local product but there are things we still import like our sealing foil.

Also, the company who manufactures our bowls have to import their raw materials so if they can’t access forex for raw material to do their own production it would in turn affects us and our pricing. So it is not something

own 5percentof something big.

Ndukwe

we have overcome totally but we hope, trust and believe that it would get better.

Why do you have to import your sealing foil?

We have to import because the technology we use for our pap this is because we do not add preservatives and additives. The technology we use is called a modified atmospheric packaging and the substrate we use for our foil is like a barrier for fog so it is an anti-fog foil which is not available in Nigeria. So we are left with the option to keep importing because we are big on quality and health.

Pap is produced via fermentation so we want to make sure that we control the level of fermentation it undergoes between us and the consumer.

Asides from electricity and the inability to asses forex what other challenges does your company have?

Funding of course; you wake up every day and you realise there are new innovations and new ways you can do things but all of these things cost money. From hiring the right talent, the right machinery, the distribution channel, everything cost money so access to cheap funds.

There are CBN intervention funds for SMEs. Has it been hard accessing it?

Well the criteria for accessing the CBN funds, you might want to go to the bank and have them give you that checklist and it doesn’t add up. It may make sense for some of the bigger companies but not for the SME’s who are struggling to get somewhere. SME’s wouldn’t meet all the criteria most times.

Your company has done very well for itself, what would you say contributes to why most SME’s struggle to succeed?

The truth is the challenge would be that SME’s do not have solid plans and well defined long term goals and nobody wants to really invest in.

If you come up to an investor and your plans are not solid enough to prove to the person that you have a clear direction of where you are going to even if not total at least you have an idea to where you are headed I doubt if you wouldn’t have some kind of funding it may not be loans. Another thing is that we in Nigeria are not very open to partnerships equity investments and there are a lot of other ways to fund a business but us small business owners want to own 100percent of nothing when we can actually

Have you been able to access any of these funds and investments?

At this point, we are seeking equity funding and some part of it would be debt funding.

Right now we are just taking it in our own strides so we don’t shoot ourselves on the legs.

With all these challenges mentioned, what would you say to upcoming SME? I would say that the challenges are unbelievably enormous so you need perseverance and hard work to be on top of your game because only hard work enough can’t suffice. Meaning that if you are hardworking but you are ready to dump this idea and move on to the next. So you need to persevere to pull through and see that idea through.

It doesn’t come easy; SME’s should give themselves a five year guideline. We are used to quick fix or quick rich syndromes so we hope whatever our business ideas are would begin to materialise and generate the kind of income without realising that it is a lot of background work such as your branding marketing, sales, customer service etcetera. It is all of these things put together that would help grow your business and it doesn’t happen overnight.

Any plans to export your products?

Definitely, we have started some mini kind of exportation and it’s encouraging so we are hoping to more in the future.

Google To Train One Million Africans on Digital Skills Emma Okonji Google has announced fresh plans to train one million young Africans in digital skills in the next one year.

The plan according to Google, is part of its commitment to bridge the existing digital divide in Africa and to provide technology skills for Africans.

In realising its commitment, Google is supporting its partner, Livity Africa to run two training programmes: ‘Digify Bytes’ to give digital skills to young people looking to develop a digital career; and ‘Digify Pro’, a

3-month immersion programme for digital specialists.

The programmes have already been launched in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, and will be scaled to reach more people in the next 12 months. A group of 65 volunteer Googlers from around the world are helping the Livity team with content development, ‘training the trainers’ and, in some cases, delivering the training sessions.

The launch of digifyafrica.com, an online-learning portal that will house a range of digital skills courses, available to anyone in Africa, will

come free of charge. The courses are designed to be as easy as possible so they don’t eat up valuable data. There are nine training courses already available and Google aims to have 50 available by July.

Speaking on the announcement.

Country Manager, Google Nigeria , Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, said: “The internet is at the heart of economic growth and the Digital Skills Program is aimed at helping more Africans play a part in the digital economy.

Everyone can succeed online, start a new business, grow their existing one, or share their passion.”

According to Google, by 2020 there will be half a billion internet users in Africa, presenting an opportunity for African businesses and digital entrepreneurs. Youth unemployment across Africa is high (35 per cent in South Africa, 17 per cent in Kenya, 13 per cent in Nigeria).

So developing digital entrepreneurship and creating new job opportunities for young people is critical to Africa’s transformative growth. But digital skills are still under-developed, making it harder for African economies to get the most out of the web, Google said.

Speaking on the Digify Bytes training session in Lagos, Ehimuan-Chiazor said more needs to be done to support people in Africa to succeed in the digital world, and we want to be part of that. The internet offers huge opportunities to start new businesses and grow existing ones, and we are committed to helping Africans make the most of the digital revolution.

“The internet is a growth engine, and it is for everyone. There is never been a better time to be an entrepreneur in Africa, and we urge Nigerians to take advantage of this initiative,” Ehimuan-Chiazor added.

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PERSPECTIVE

Danbatta and Deployment of ICT for Poverty Eradication Yakubu Musa It’s not for nothing that the nation’s apex training ground for public policy makers, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, made the current Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the commission to share his thoughts with participants of its course.

If you are searching for a man to address you on the imperatives of mainstreaming Information Communications Technology (ICT) for poverty reduction in the country, you will no doubt don’t need to go beyond the professor of telecommunications engineering. Indeed, Danbatta is not only at the helm of affairs of an agency in charge of developing the sector, he has already demonstrated unmatched zeal in actualizing his vision on the subject matter. His 8-Point Agenda has, among others, laid emphasis on deepening broadband penetration as well as deployment of other telecommunications infrastructure to stimulate socio-economic development, in the country.

Perhaps no one captures the connotation better than the man who introduced the Professor of telecommunications engineering at the historic event.

“You can’t get a better man to do justice to the topic,” noted Rear Admiral Obi Ofodile, after reading a wonderful citation on the NCC boss.

Interestingly, the NCC chief opened his address with a clarion call to Nigerians at all levels to embrace ICT for not only poverty eradication but economic development. To him, we are living in an era that ICT is sine- quo non to economic growth. You can’t argue with that.

Danbatta

Yet like a physician diligently diagnosing the ailment of his patient, Danbatta lamented failure to tap on the nation’s abundant endowments to fight poverty to standstill as the bane of the nation.

“The poverty level in Nigeria is not a true reflection of our population size, natural and envionmental endowments. This is because the poverty level in the country contradicts the country’s immense wealth.

“The challenge en¬countered by developing nations is no longer poverty in its traditional sense, but a lack of access to ICT tools and the vast potentials derivable from ICT. ICTs have the potential to combat poverty, be it rural or urban poverty,’’ he pointed out.

The NCC chief was also of the opinion that one of the major challenges for the poor is inability to access information due to the inadequate

infrastructure, ignorance or illiteracy. He put the current nation’s broadband penetration at around 7 percent.

“For most developing countries, particularly those with large populations, inadequate infrastructure has made it difficult to participate as equal partners in the worldwide enterprise of knowledge production and dissemination,” he further explained.

The domino effects, according to him are: “unequal distribution of access, resources and opportunities in this new economy”.

Yet if the diagnoses are compelling, the prescriptions, too, are unmistakable. “In Nigeria, ICT must be considered a critical key driver for social development and economic growth. To stimulate the Nigerian economy particularly in production, agriculture and intellectual property, we should aim to improve ICT penetration in both mobile telephony and broadband services to all parts of the country no matter how remote,” he stressed.

He further maintained that ICT interaction and usage in critical sectors like agriculture, health, trade, finance, insurance and transport should be increased since it would automatically affect the nation’s GDP, improve the quality of life, reduce dependency on forex and improve the value of naira.

He, however, noted that, ICTs are not simply a connection between people, but a link in the chain of the development process; and its contribution to socio-economic development cannot be over-emphasised adding :“It goes without saying that ICTs have the potential to combat poverty, be it rural or urban poverty.

It will also foster sustainable development if appropriately deployed and made to address the diverse discrepancy in the ICT needs of people of all locations, age group and economic

status.”

Besides, he said investment in ICT alone was not enough for development to occur and be sustained or for poverty to be eradicated, noting that successful ICT poverty reduction interventions could only be achieved with an enabling environment, participation of the private sector and non-governmental organisations, free flow of information, access to ICT by women and youths, and capacity building.

He said, “Consequently, ICTs may be regarded as an enabler of other developmental efforts and infrastructure required for sustainable development. Only a banquet of strategies duly implemented can attempt to resolve the global menace of poverty.

“The challenge for the poor is inability to access information due to inadequate infrastructure, ignorance or illiteracy. The availability of information sources for the poor should be of great concern if poverty is to be reduced.

“For most developing countries, particularly those with large populations, inadequate infrastructure has made it difficult to participate as equal partners in the worldwide enterprise of knowledge production and dissemination.”

Danbatta thereby asserted that ICTs are critical resource in the promotion of socio-economic development, with a potency to alleviate poverty which is caused as a result of lack of access to ICT tools and know-how.

At the end of this brief piece, I can’t find a more eloquent word to concur with Danbatta that “we must all join hands, support the government, protect our resources and infrastructure, grow our economy and push poverty away from our nation for the benefit of all Nigerians”.

- Musa, Special Assistant (Media) to the EVC of NCC, wrote in from Abuja.

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DEVELOPMENT

Tackling Corruption Scourge on Multiple Fronts To boost the current anti-corruption campaign of the present administration, the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACA) has enlisted the help of Civil Society Organisations (CSO), the media and the general public to help win a long-lasting fight, Abimbola Akosile and Ugo Aliogo report Nigeria has truly evolved. She has gone beyond mere perception, on the issue of corruption.

Here, corruption is very real and it is endemic.

To some, the annual figures released by Transparency International (TI) in its global Corruption Perception Index (CPI) only scratch the surface when it comes to Nigeria, and these reporters are wont to agree with the assertion.

Before the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari came into power, they had an electioneering mantra tagged ‘change’, in a bid to bring change to the governance process in the country.

To give teeth to the change mantra, the President and his team have embarked on a full scale anti-corruption war, which is yielding positive results for the nation, as stolen monies are being recovered, and some looters are being prosecuted in the courts of law.

But that is only a tip of the ice-berg, when it comes to checking an issue which has persistently hindered this nation from reaching its desired level of national development; and the issue goes beyond official response only.

Task for All To underline the fact that the anti-graft war is a campaign which requires collective efforts, a workshop was organised recently in Abuja by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNOC) under the European Union (EU) funded project on Support to anti-corruption in Nigeria.

At the well-attended event, the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption (PACA) sought collaboration from the Civil Society Organisations (CSO), Anti-Corruption Agencies (ACAs), media and the public to ensure that the war on corruption is tackled holistically.

Speaking at the forum, the Chairman of the occasion and a member of PACA, Prof. Femi Odekunle, said the workshop was aimed at collaborating with CSOs to ensure that they buy into the anti-corruption fight of the present administration appropriately, stressing that it is high time “we get over the attitude of seminar workshops in hotel rooms and take it to the streets for actions.”

He explained that the fight against corruption must involve everyone, especially those stakeholders that are suffering from the direct consequences of the corruption problem and urged the CSOs to get the public involved in the campaign.

Odekunle explained that PACA has been working on sensitising judges, lawyers on prosecution, the ACAs such as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other relevant bodies on the strategy to follow in the fight against corruption.

The PACA member remarked that if President Buhari was operating in the manner he operated in the 80s, the public would have accused him of autocracy, stating that Buhari is an oasis of integrity in the desert of corrupt elites.

To the Trenches In his presentation, the Chair of CSO Advisory Committee, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraj, stated that the CSOs have been active in the fight against corruption through rallies and campaigns, while commending their efforts during the 2011 general elections.

He explained that the CSOs have fought to address the abuses and excesses in public offices and to hold government accountable, noting that people were sufficiently mobilised to vote beyond primordial considerations during the 2011 general election.

To him, the expectations of Nigerians are very legitimate and the demands are very valid, adding that the CSOs are working to move beyond the face value of public expectations.

“For us, it is important to ensure that we are not just looking at the face value of every actions of government. There is a clear reason of opposing the government based on certain decisions and actions. But in expecting dividends, it does not come within that short period. There are certain palliative measures that could be taken by government to the extent that they would reduce the hardship of the people.

Harnessing Strengths In his welcome address, the Country Director, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pa Lamin Beyai, stated that the workshop seeks to empower CSOs to increase their participation in anti-graft activities, stressing that a vibrant CSO can a play crucial in the anti-corruption war.

“CSOs and the Media can be invaluable assets in the fight against corruption through their networks and access to the community”, he affirmed.

Beyai, represented at the forum by a UNDP official, Mr. Segun Olusola, said the workshop was a follow-up to the maiden meeting of PACA, Anti-Corruption Agencies (ACAs) and CSOs, which charged the CSOs to enhance their support to the activities of PACA and to adopt a more inclusive and coherent approach to their engagement. He expressed confidence that the regular interface between technical experts in the ACAs, CSOs, and PACA can help to facilitate international cooperation in asset recovery and the return of proceeds of crime to legitimate owners, with backup from existing frameworks such as the United Nation Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).

Media Action A representative from the Centre for Social Justice (CENSOJ) Mr. Eze Onyekpere stated that the media under Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution is charged with the responsibility and accountability of government to the people.

He therefore called for close collaboration between the media and the office of the Auditor-General of the federation in order to disseminate audit reports, follow-up on audit findings, “the media should also inform the public about public office holders who are running foul of extant legal and financial provisions.”

He said, “Public officers and politicians do not generally like to be mentioned negatively in media reports. A strong collaboration between the Auditor-General and the media may serve

as deterrence to financial misdemeanours, even if it is for the purpose ‘of naming and shaming’.

Ironically, the war against corruption is not for government or CSOs or the media alone, and the final solution goes beyond naming and shaming. Until corruption is torn up from the roots in the fabric of the Nigerian society, development and the much-sought-after progress may well remain a pipe dream. The war against corruption is a task for all, and this change will not come easily. Simple truth.

RANDOM THOTS Lessons from Asia

Although President Muhammadu Buhari has gone to China reportedly to strengthen economic ties and to obtain a huge loan to help fund Nigeria’s N6 trillion budget 2016, there is a need to learn more from that region, specifically from Japan and China.

After the 2nd World War in 1945, vanquished Japan withdrew into its shell and developed its economy from scratch, using local technology, dedicated citizens and tax incentives to emerge a current global power.

China also leveraged on its highly-educated populace, trade restrictions, anti-corruption war and government loans to grow its economy to become the world’s largest economy, arguably competing with the United States.

Can Nigeria possibly learn from these Asian giants through technology transfer, trade and border restrictions and tax incentives to grow a virile economy that is truly Africa’s biggest, beyond mere paper rebasing? Just wondering...

Abimbola Akosile

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

DEvELOPmENT/ISSUESINBOx

Young female Nigerians of various tribes

Can Nigerians Ever Agree on One Single Issue?

Given our ethnic, cultural, religious, political and educational differences, there is a strong belief that Nigerians can never agree on any single issue for the interest of overall development. Meanwhile, China, with a population of more than 1.5 billion people, agreed to wipe out corruption to move forward and ensure a sane Society. Can Nigeria ever agree on any single issue for our national development? Which issue would that be?

Abimbola Akosile * The age-long egg-before-chicken paradox comes to mind. Has importation survived this long due to the failures of local manufacturers or did local production dim because of increased importation? I think people should be able to choose what level of quality they want to purchase in a free market system. Therefore government’s focus should be on the empowerment of local manufacturers towards comparable quality and availability.

- Mr. Akosile Olubunmi, Akron University, Ohio, USA * When issues of national interest are being handled, what comes first in the mind of individual Nigerians is how such matters would affect their ethnic group, state of origin, and geopolitical zone. Consideration of national interest is insignificant. Hence, there can never be an agreement on many issues concerning national development. But agreement would approach 100 per cent if we want more states to be created, because this would give the ethnic groups more say in governance.

- Mr. Neville Kikpoye-Jonathan, President, Abua National Associates, Amalem-Abua, Rivers State * Haven’t we already collectively agreed to wipe out corruption?

- Mr. Michael Simire, Lagos State * You know the devil is in the detail and from time to time you see devil’s tail in detail - a mix of ethnicity and tribalism; a mixture of religion and the federal republic; an admixture of ethno-religious politics; a co-mixture of institutionalised systems of mediocrity; a remix of the federal character principle immixed with favouritism, cronyism, and nepotism.

- Mr. John Adebisi, Abuja * It would be hard for Nigerians to ever agree on one single issue. Apart from ethnicity, cultural, political and educational differences, which can easily be overcome, the most dangerous element that will ever keep us apart is religion. The problem is mostly here in the North where too many illiterate preachers cause a lot of problems in our midst and have great number of followership.

- Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna * If we agree on corruption, Nigeria will move forward speedily.

- Miss Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos State

THE FEEDBACK Yes, we can agree:

5

No, we cannot agree:

7

Others:

6

Radical tip:

Unity in corruption!

Total no of respondents: 18 Male:

13

Female:

5

Highest location:

Lagos (7)

* Before now, Nigerians could agree on sports, but not anymore. The fight on corruption would have united Nigerians, but that today has been politicised. Today the obvious fact is that considering the fall on oil price, diversifying the economy particularly towards agriculture based economy appears to the current uniting factor.

- Mr. Okechukwu Ikonne, Ogbor, OkeOvoro Mbaise, Imo State * Nigeria may not agree on one single issue now, due to the corruption level across political parties. The involvement of lawyers, civil servants, judges, e.t.c. calls for concern. This could be part of the revolution going on presently, which is from the top, and the unemployed graduate and masses below are keenly watching.

- Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna * Definitely Nigerians can agree on a single issue inspite of our litany of differences.

The existence of a Supreme Being, for an example! I believe the potential for greatness is in each Nigerian; this should be harnessed and unfurled on the world.

- Mr. Ekwenjo Iheanyi Chukwudi, B.A.R., Apo, Abuja * Yes, Nigeria quite can; it is just a matter of time. We need genuine unity to develop with the world jet pace. Orientation is overdue for our leaders to be more confident through unity and patriotism to both the Quran and Bible, all human beings are equal before God. Inferiority complex has made some people inferior to others (mindset); hence, a tiny island as Britain colonised all the people they did.

- Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos State * Yes, we can if we have tenacity of purpose and remain focused. The past administration did their best in keeping their promise of free and fair elections, and no to do or die

affair during elections. I expect the current administration to toe the path of Jonathan without being biased.

- Pst. Obinna Osagu, Akure, Ondo State * No, Nigerians can hardly agree on one single issue. If only we can agree to support the fight against corruption, we will progress as a nation. However, our ethnic, regional and religious sentiments, which are being manipulated by our rulers, are not helping us as a country. Places like China do not have the kind of diverse differences that we have in Nigeria, and that is why they can easily agree on issues.

- Mr. Umoru Jeremiah Isah, Malali, Kaduna * I think the one area Nigerians can agree on at the moment is the economy. Money needs to be injected into the system and it needs to be injected now. Only government money can sustain and grow the economy at the moment. In other words, start implementing the budget.

- Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State * Our leaders at all levels should carry everybody along in governance, irrespective of party, religion, tribes and whatever differences for national development. Our problem is that Nigerians dwell much on sentiments, which make us presently a Third World country despite our huge human and natural resources.

- Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State * No! Ethnicity, religion, culture, politics, education e.t.c. affect our diversity and lack of genuine one voice especially on our national issues debated in the two Houses.

This is showcased in the manner in which budget is being dragged up and down for so long without a tangible headway. We need honest leaders like PMB that will exterminate corruption now.

- Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State * No, not in the immediate present. There is stress in Nigeria now and people are losing confidence and failing to trust each other even on national issues. Our leaders must be truthful, honest and patriotic in order to kill corruption finally. Manipulating the system and the people is evil. We need unity to survive this harsh time.

- Ms. Saiki Ometere Tina, Gboko, Benue State * No, because Senators and representatives act violently during sessions. All our

elections have turned violent and deadly e.g. recent Rivers, Kogi and Bayelsa elections. Budgets got delayed endlessly and corruption is fast becoming a norm. Truth and unity is what we need now to leave the woods.

- Mrs. Taiwo Hennessey, Badagry, Lagos State * Yes, Nigerians unanimously agree that the country is in bad shape and that this nation can actually do better than where she is presently. This depressing template can serve as a launch-pad for new national development spurred by sincere leadership as being demonstrated by President Muhammadu Buhari. - Mr. Olumuiywa Olorunsomo, Lagos State * National development is achievable if we can stop leadership of self-centredness and selfish interest. After all, we have enough resources to make Nigeria a better place for all.

- Mrs. Ijeoma Nnorom, Lagos State

Next Week: Corruption in Nigeria, Who’s Really to Blame?

Although almost every citizen agrees that there is endemic corruption in various forms in Nigeria, opinions differ on who is really to blame for the negative trend, which has hindered national development for years.

Is it the greedy elites who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the collective; or the masses who applaud looters and remain docile against corrupt leaders; or is it foreign powers who selfishly allow local rulers to steal and stash the loot in foreign accounts; or a combination of above factors, or something entirely different? Please make your response direct, short and simple, and state your full name, title, organisation, and location. Responses should be sent between today (April 14 & monday, April 18) to abimbolayi@yahoo.com, greatbimbo@ gmail.com, AND abimbola.akosile@ thisdaylive.com. Respondents can also send a short text message to 08023117639 and/ or 08188361766 and/or 08114495306.

Collated responses will be published on Thursday, April 21

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Road development at Erejuwa Street in Makoko, Lagos

CLEMENT DANHUTOR

PanamaPapers:AdoptMoreRobust,ProactiveApproachtoRevelations, FG Urged Abimbola Akosile The Federal Government has been urged to adopt a more robust, comprehensive and proactive response to revelations coming from the recent leaks of documents belonging to Mossack Fonseca, now simply referred to as the Panama Papers.

Relevant agencies of government were also urged to undertake a thorough study of the Panama Papers to identify all Nigerians involved, conduct additional investigations to determine the extent of illegality and criminality involved, apply the full weight of the law on anyone found culpable and work in collaboration with their counterparts in the relevant countries, work to recover whatever is due to the nation for use in national development.

The calls were made by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, (CISLAC), a National Contact for Transparency International in Nigeria, and the Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC), a coalition of over one hundred CSOs and numbers of individuals committed to the fight against corruption.

The calls were contained in two different statements issued in Abuja by the CISLAC/ Transparency International (Nigeria National Contact) and Chair Steering Committee Zero Corruption Coalition, Mr. Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) and Programme Officer, ZCC, Mr. Lukman Adefolahan.

According to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)

report, about 140 politicians and public officials, including 12 current and former world leaders have used more than 214,000 offshore entities to hide the ownership of their assets.

The two organisations (CISLAC and ZCC) also expressed worry at the rising profile of official corruption involving Nigerian political elites.

They also called on the National Assembly to also mandate its relevant committees to study the Panama Papers and determine the extent to which the legislature either through improved laws or better oversight can contribute to the prevention of such illicit activities.

“The systematic system failure has its root in the manifestation of corruption at all level which undermines development and promotes insecurity and poverty in our country. Nigeria accounted for more than 30 per cent of all illegal financial transactions in Africa from 2002 to 2012”, they noted.

“The revelations listed the names of serving Senators and their relations and other prominent Nigerians as having utilised the services of companies in Tax Havens and secrecy jurisdictions to hide assets and stow away wealth which sources are questionable and ownership suspicious.

“Tax Havens are known to provide politically exposed persons, corporate organisations and high-net worth individuals with the needed secrecy to stash away proceeds of crime, corruption and tax evasion, thereby facilitating illicit financial flows and depriving countries of much

needed resources to finance development”, the statements added.

“We are aware that these processes (additional investigations) require time, determination and resources as demonstrated by the experiences of repatriating looted funds and bringing some suspects to trial in the face of glaring corruption and recovering funds held in foreign accounts but we urge them to be undaunted.

We urge the Federal Government to, in addition to these, address the fundamental issues of secrecy as it relates to our institutions, by taking steps, which are directly under her control.

“It is possible for transactions and investments to be carried out by proxy using faceless Board Members, Directors and Shareholders who are able to move funds through a network of financial institutions. This is at the root of these forms of corruption and fraud, much of which is also perpetrated within our shores”, Rafsanjani and Adefolahan noted.

They renewed their call for mandatory disclosure of beneficial owners of both local and foreign companies operating in every sector the Nigerian economy.

The federal government was urged to establish a Registry of all companies with the full disclosure of beneficial owners wherever located and made available for the public to access as a means of preventing financial secrecy.

“Full disclosure of beneficial owners should also become

a mandatory requirement for any firm bidding for contracts in government procurement processes. These will empower journalists, civil society and citizens to compliment the work of anti-corruption agencies through whistle-blowing” they added.

“Tax Havens and their ignoble role in international trade and investment have been with us for a long time.

It required a leak of only a few names by one law firm to show the complexities of the transactions involving Trusts and Shell Companies. We need a more robust national and

international response of legislative and policy frameworks and international collaboration to prevent, detect, and sanction these actions in the future.”

They called on the federal government to ensure that Nigeria as a major victim of Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) on the continent plays a leading role and to ensure that Africa’s position is loudly expressed and incorporated into on-going global efforts to curb illicit flows and confront the activities of Tax havens.

The civil society was urged not to relent in advocacy and campaigns to ensure that

beneficial ownership and other sunshine efforts that make it possible to know who has access to the commonwealth are open to public knowledge.

The media was enjoined to intensify the acquisition of skills for investigative journalism and all professional bodies, especially Lawyers, Accountants, Real Property Developers, Estate Valuers and Bankers to join in the campaign and demonstrate patriotism by adopting policies that ensure that their members do not collaborate with prospective clients to facilitate such.

Oyo Worst Hit by Malnourished Children in S’West, Survey Reveals Ademola Babalola in Ibadan The excruciating poverty ravaging the people has resulted in Oyo state being the worst hit by malnourished percentage of the children under the age of five among other states in the South-west geopolitical zone of Nigeria, according to the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS).

This was part of the communiqué released after a one-day mentorship training for media champions in child and family health organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in collaboration with Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) held at the Chesterfield Hotel, Lagos recently.

The session brought reputable

media champions advocating for, and demanding accountability in child and family health in Oyo state, under one roof for a training on prioritising and amplifying child and family health issues - Nutrition, Routine Immunisation, Family Planning and management of childhood killer diseases, in the forefront of the media coverage and reportage, recognised the importance of family planning as the key pillars and most effective means of achieving safe motherhood.

The forum noted that inadequate awareness, wide funding gaps, existing socio-cultural factors and poor accessibility to family planning services at all levels are impeding challenges confronting efforts to reduce high burden of maternal mortality in the country.

It also recognised that malnutrition contributes to more than half a million deaths of children under-5 in Nigeria; and that out of 800,000 under-5 deaths annually in the country, 40 per cent are preventable through adequate vaccination (WHO, 2012).

The poor policy attention and curiosity at all levels towards full operationalisation and implementation of various international and national commitments like the National Blueprint on Family Planning and National Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition (NSPAN) to promote adequate accessibility to contraceptive commodities and combat malnutrition, respectively, also became matter of concern among the health professionals.

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The Federal Government borrows an average of N600 billion monthly; and federal government gets N130 billion, and sometimes if it is lucky, it gets N200 billion from Federation allocation, and we have an expenditure profile of roughly N800 billion to N900 billion. Naturally, you need to augment sources from everywhere and from wherever you can find it” - SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION (SGF), MR DAVID BABACHIR LAWAL, SPEAKING IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE

Okorocha Unveils Skills Acquisition Centre, Extols Wife Amby Uneze in Owerri

Data Essential to 2030 Agenda, UN Commission on Population and Devt Told Abimbola Akosile The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon has underscored the importance of the UN Commission on Population and Development’s role in advancing the new global development agenda.

While addressing the opening of the 2016 session of the Commission in New York on Tuesday, the UN Scribe said, “This Commission has a proud tradition of focusing on people”.

He stressed that the body addresses issues related to the timeless opening words of the UN Charter: ‘We the Peoples’.

Above all, people are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he said of the 15-year vision unanimously adopted last year by UN Member States.

Ban highlighted the importance of understanding demographic trends, a pillar of the Commission’s work, in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in a UN release.

“We all understand that people can never be reduced to mere numbers,” he said. “At the same time, statistics are essential for tracking progress. When people are not counted, they are excluded. To live up to the commitment to ‘leave no one behind’, we have to make sure everyone is counted.”

Governments will have to gather census data and use it to understand demographic change because that will help them develop effective plans, he said. He urged all countries to have archives of these records and guarantee the rights of citizenship and identity to all.

Data is also critical to providing optimal public health services and to ending inequalities, he added. Sustainable development demands securing sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, gender equality and the

Ban

empowerment of women and young people, Ban said.

Many countries have empowered women and men to make their own decisions about the timing and spacing of their children. Where this leads to lower birth rates, countries can benefit from a demographic dividend by providing education and other opportunities, especially for youth, he said.

In some countries, very low fertility levels are causing population decline. Rural areas are

being de-populated, and losing their economic vitality. In other countries, where reproductive health care is lacking, fertility rates remain high.

These countries struggle to match the pace of population growth with an expansion of economic output, infrastructure and services.

The world now has the largest generation of young people in history, and to unleash their potential, there is a need to invest more in education, opportunities and services for youth, he said.

Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha has commended his wife, Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha for embarking on projects that touch the lives of the people of the state especially the unemployed, indigent widows and orphans in the society.

Okorocha made the remark during the unveiling ceremony and first matriculation of students of the newly-built ultra-modern Skills Acquisition Centres in the three senatorial zones of Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe recently, christened ‘Nneoma Skills Acquisition Centre’.

He commended the initiative behind the setting up of the Centres, describing it as a step in the right direction in view of the nation’s prevalent disturbing economic climate.

The governor expressed the desire to link up the centre with the relevant department of the State Polytechnic, so as to design requisite certificates that would be awarded to the students when they graduate.

According to him, “Education alone is not just preparation for life, but it is life itself. The best form of education is that which allows one to develop the talent inside thereby making oneself his/ her own boss. This great initiative needs not to be re-emphasised. It calls for all and sundry to support the first lady of Imo State”.

Speaking during the unveiling of the centre for Okigwe Zone built in Ihitte/Uboma Council area, Mrs. Okorocha explained that the centre was established for the purpose of skills acquisition and economic empowerment of the people.

“My target is that in no distant time, our students would become self reliant, independent and great entrepreneurs of repute who I believe would eventually become captains of industries and employers of labour”, she said.

She added that the centre is a practical arm of the ‘Factory, Job, Employment’ vision of the state governor, which he promised the people of the state in his second term.

Conscious of the current global economic recession, the governor’s wife noted that it is no longer ideal to depend entirely on whitecollar jobs; hence the necessity for the skills acquisition centre.

The Centre, she said, trains students is different skills such as computer training, fashion and designing, hairdressing and beauty, catering, photography and cosmetology, adding that the centre is a great brand of excellence which boasts of highly-qualified instructors who are skilled, committed and above all passionate about their work.

The Imo First Lady said the curriculum of the centre had been developed and adapted to be in line with best practices in collaboration with the State Polytechnic School system.

Also speaking, the administrator of the centre, Mr. Rex Onyemara, disclosed that the centre is a place of knowledge where students learn from highly qualified instructors, and under a very serene environment.

He said the six skills acquisition departments have state-of-the-art equipment but listed some challenges of the centre to include: a mini cottage industry which he said was not yet operational due to non availability of industrial machines that are rather expensive.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UN MILLENNIUM CAMPAIGN / UN SDG ACTION CAMPAIGN

36

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Fighting Diabetes to a Standstill As Nigeria joined the rest of the world last week to mark the World Health Day, with a focus on eradicating diabetes, Martins Ifijeh writes on the need for preventive measures and management of the disease by Nigerians

“

There are fat men. There are old men.

But you can never see fat old men anywhere. You either lose your fat and grow old or you die a fat man without reaching old age. The two has never been known to cohabit together.” These were the exact words of the Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Chris Bode, during the 2016 World Health Day media roundtable tagged ‘Beat Diabetes’.

He believed one of the risk factors associated with overweight is the tendency to be diabetic, hence fueling the inability of the person to enjoy life up to old age, as the scourge is known to compete with old age if it is not prevented on time or managed properly.

He said one of the ways of beating diabetes was for Nigerians to check their weight, avoid factors that predispose them to increased body size, while engaging in exercises that help bring the body weight back to its physiologic state.

He said with most low and middle income countries like Nigeria fast mimicking the lifestyles and dietary habits of the West (where diabetes was known to be highly prevalent), the incidence rate of the scourge is becoming common, making it no longer an exclusive disease of developed countries or the rich.

“Today, most of us prefer to drink sugary beverages, against taking water. We no longer patronise water the way we used to, rather people prefer to take these sugar-laden substances, forgetting that this represents the bedrock in which diabetes thrives.

“These days, when our children are going to school, we prefer to give them sugary foods, biscuits and all sorts of drinks, and over time the kids will be used to such foods and drinks. The truth is, since these are what they are exposed to, they will continue to eat such things even when they grow up.

This is becoming a growing habit in Nigeria and other developing countries, thereby making us highly prone to diabetes mellitus,” he stressed.

Prof. Bode, who represented the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, at the media roundtable, said the federal government has noticed the high incidence rate of the disease in Nigeria and was putting all measures in place to tackle it head-on, adding that with the recent decision to put the country’s primary healthcare centres to optimal use by the federal government, diabetes care will feature prominently in these centres across the country.

He said Nigerians should be aware that diabetes was essentially a lifestyle disease and can be prevented simply by adopting a healthy lifestyle which involves good diets, regular exercise and health consciousness.

He lamented that diabetes represents a silent killer, which was why many people in the country do not know they have the disease and continue to live without taking necessary precaution to control it.

According to him, there was a great need for everyone in the country to join hands and prevent diabetes, while those already diagnosed should adhere strictly to their doctor’s recommendations on control measures.

Diabetes, according to experts, is the most common disorder of the body’s hormonal system, which occurs when blood sugar levels consistently stay above normal, thereby unable to let the body cells receive sugar (called glucose) due to lack of insulin to drive it into the body cells or lack of the cell receptors to recognise insulin, and then utilise its function.

Glucose is an essential source of energy for the brain and the body, and insulin is one of the main hormones that regulates blood sugar levels and allow the body to use glucose for energy.

But several years ago, this scourge used to be an exclusive disease of people living in developed countries or that of the few wealthy people in

Sugar level monitor

low and middle income countries like Nigeria, but overtime, it has snowballed into a medical emergency in Nigeria, with both the poor and the rich becoming victims of the disease.

Presently, Nigeria has the highest number of diabetics in Sub-Sahara Africa, with over 12 million persons estimated to be suffering from the non-communicable disease, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Federation of Diabetes and Diabetes Association of Nigeria.

Available report suggests that about 80 per cent of diabetics in the country are either not aware they are diabetic or are unable to treat themselves and be free from the scourge.

This, therefore is evident in the steady rise of diabetes, diabetes-related complications or deaths recorded in the country; leaving most sufferers at the mercy of the disease, since they are neither aware of the disease or are unable

Nigerians should be aware that diabetes is essentially a lifestyle disease and can be prevented simply by adopting a healthy lifestyle which involves good diets, regular exercise and health consciousness

to receive treatment.

Over the last 30 years, the prevalence rate of diabetes was said to be 0.4 per cent among the Nigerian population; in 1992, it rose to 1.6 per cent; in 2004 it was 3.1 per cent, and just recently, it has risen above 4.5 per cent, according to a survey conducted by Osuntokun et al.

In 2015 alone, about 120,000 Nigerians were said to have lost their lives to the disease; which may, if recent predictions are relied on, become the number one cause of deaths in the country among other non-communicable diseases, thereby topping the chart, as against cardiovascular diseases currently leading the causes of deaths occasioned by NCD. No wonder a Consultant Endocrinologist, Dr. Afoke Isiavwe, warned that if nothing was done by the citizens, the government and the stakeholders to reduce the high incidence rate of the scourge, it would immensely reduce the prime of the country’s workforce, while impacting on the country’s economy in a negative way.

She advocated the need for government and other stakeholders to embark on massive public enlightenment to draw attention to the growing problem and rapid increase of diabetes in the country and the world in general.

Dr. Isiavwe, who is also the Medical Director of Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre, emphasised the need for government to improve access to good diabetes care in the country to prevent some complications now being experienced by people with diabetes in the country.

The renowned endocrinologist described diabetes as a chronic metabolic disease characterised by high levels of blood glucose. She listed symptoms associated with it as frequent urination, excessive thirst, increased appetite, weight loss, among others.

Unfortunately, she noted that most people may not notice these symptoms early, which is why the condition is often referred to as a silent killer.

“Also many patients do not seek appropriate management for the control of the disease until they begin to develop complications which could sometimes be deadly. Poor management may lead to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves,” she disclosed.

According to her, the prevalence of diabetes has been on a steady increase worldwide especially in low-and middle income countries like Nigeria.

She however disclosed that the prevalence in Nigeria was still not known, adding that the guess estimates could be in the region of 8 to 10 per cent.

She said, while most people with diabetes in developed countries were people above retirement age, the disease affects people in the productive age between 35 and 64 in Nigeria. She said 80 per cent of deaths from diabetes occur in low-and middle income countries.

She further explained that “knowledge exists to reverse this trend through targeted prevention and appropriate care. When diabetes is uncontrolled, it has dire consequences for health and well-being. It is clear that a diabetes epidemic is also an epidemic of complications.”

She predicted that by 2025, no fewer than 270 million people worldwide would develop diabetes complications such as eye disease, heart, nerves and kidney problems.

According to her, diabetes was a leading cause of blindness, amputation and kidney failure, which, she added could result from lack of awareness about diabetes, combined with insufficient access to health services.

On her part, the Medical Director, Roche Nigeria, Dr. Jeanne Coulibaly, commended the Publisher of Nigerian Health Online, Mr. Sam Eferaro for the roundtable initiative to create more awareness about diabetes in Nigeria.

“Good health is important for everyone to be productive and be able to develop the country. We at Roche are conscious of this fact and we strive to assist the communities everywhere we are located, in providing drugs, diagnostic equipment and generally helping in the dissemination of vital health information to the people.”

Also lending his voice, the WHO Coordinator, Lagos, Dr. Omoniyi Abidoye, disclosed that a person dies from diabetes every 60 seconds worldwide. According to him, diabetes will become the 7th leading cause of death in the world by 2030, adding that deaths from the condition would also rise by more than 50 per cent in the next 10 years.

37

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

HEALTH

NEWS

CSLAC Urges FG Implement Tobacco Act The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), has called on the Federal Government to implement the National Tobacco Control Act which has been passed into law since 2015.

The group, which stated this at a media briefing in Abuja recently, stressed that nearly after a year that the Act was enacted, government was yet to work on modalities to kick start its implementation.

The Executive Director of CISLAC, Mr. Auwal Musa, who spoke on behalf of the centre, said enacting the law was a justification of Nigeria’s commitment to World Health Organisation Framework on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) which the country signed onto in 2004, and subsequently ratified in 2005.

The director, who was represented by a member of the group, Mr. Okeke Anya, explained that the act was however a product of a long and tedious campaign which, according to him, spanned a decade with tobacco control advocates from the civil society, health practitioners, regulatory agencies and the citizenry joining in the calls for Nigeria to have an enforceable tobacco control legislation.”

He however faulted some sections of the Act which he gave as Designated Smoking Area (DSA) in some indoor public places and work places, and the recourse of the Federal Ministry of Health to the National Assembly to issue regulations in the Act. He said by now the government ought to have set up a committee on the implementation of the Act.

to

The committee, he noted, was vested with the responsibility of making regulations to govern the implementation of the Act. Musa, explained that prior to the ratification of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the country only had a weak and poorly implemented tobacco control policies which he named as the Tobacco Smoking (Control) Act 2004 “which was a direct replacement to the former Tobacco Smoking (Control) Decree 20 of 1990, the Code of Advertising Practice (APCON), 1993.

These decrees and policies did not proffer efficient tobacco control in Nigeria as tobacco production, sales and consumption remained an indiscriminate practice in the country.”

He noted that the new law has brought some improvements to curtailing smoking in the country. He listed such improvements to include increase in graphic health warnings to 50 per cent, a ban on misleading packaging and labeling of tobacco products, ban on single stick sales and any packaging containing less than 20 sticks, among others.

“Tobacco consumption remains a menace to public health in Nigeria and indeed the world.

This is the obvious reasons for the enthusiasm exhibited in welcoming the NTCA 2015.

Globally, tobacco consumption remains the leading cause of preventable deaths. Statistics by the WHO reveal that over six million people die annually from tobacco consumption,” he explained.

40% of Nigerian Women Suffer Endometriosis Martins Ifijeh A renowned fertility expert and the founder of Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi has disclosed that about 30 to 40 per cent of Nigerian women and girls are victims of endometriosis in the country, while over 176 million women suffer from the scourge globally.

He said a recent study also revealed that about 11 per cent of women and girls with no symptoms or complaints suggestive of endometriosis were actually living with the disorder in the country, as the women were often unaware of the ailment for years before it is diagnosed by a medical practitioner.

Abayomi revealed these

at the Physician roundtable discussion championed by Nordica Fertility Centre for the discovery and networking on the latest trend in treatment and management of endometriosis.

He explained that several women and girls across the country have been silently battling with the disease, even as it cause them so much pain and other discomforts that affect both health and the social lifestyle of the victims.

“Symptoms of endometriosis could be severe pain during menstruation, which may lead to temporary incapacitation.

Most times the pain is also intense when the woman is having intercourse,” he added.

Endometriosis, according to experts, is condition whereby

the lining of the uterus, called endometrium is found outside the uterus as deposit, and causes intense pain in women, especially during the monthly menstrual cycle and intercourse.

The dangerous disease as described by the expert can cause premature menopause, as well as a broken home when the woman refuses intercourse due to the pain she undergoes during the act. He advocated for early diagnosis of the ailment, as this would help in the treatment and management process.

He condemned the idea of Nigerians traveling abroad for medical attention, saying there were medical technologies in the country to oversee their medical problems and thus exclaimed for partnership

between the public and private practitioners to ensure quality medical services are provided in Nigeria.

Also lending his voice, the Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris, who was represented by the Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Dr. Donald Imosemi, expressed his concern for health safety of the people and then pledged partnership with Nordica Fertility Centre and other medical centres to ensure good health services.

He expressed gratitude to the organisers of the roundtable for championing awareness cause of endometriosis, which has silently affected millions of women and girls across the country.

L-R: Consultant Surgeon, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Dr Adekwu Amali examining one of the patients during an assessment exercise of the MTN Foundation Hearing Aid Support Project in Markurdi ...recently

Nordica Rewards Journalists for Health Ministry, Fire Services to Fertility Reports 500,000 Nigerians Become Partner on Emergency Rescue Afflicted with Cancer Annually The Nordica Fertility Centre, country but the committee Operations through its maiden edition of Media Merit Awards, has reward three Nigerian journalists with an award of N250,000 each for quality and impactful reports on fertility and its related issues in the country.

The awards, which cut across the print, television and digital categories had entries from journalists across the country who had written on fertility and Invitro Fertilisation (IVF) within January 2015 and December 2015.

On the gala/award night which was held in Lagos over the weekend, a poet from Port Harcourt, Odimegwu Onwumere, emerged the winner in the Digital Category, the Health Editor of New Telegraph newspapers, Mrs. Appolonia Adeyemi emerged the winner in the Print Category, and Toyin Aboh of Television Continental emerged winner in the Electronic Category.

Speaking during the conferment of awards by the Committee Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, who is also the Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard Newspapers, he noted that many entries were gotten from several journalists across the

members pruned it to just three, which represented the best entries in all categories for the maiden Nordica Media Merit Awards.

In his remark, Onwumere, who won in the Digital Category, expressed joy and satisfaction with the process and conferment. According to him, Nordica Media Merit Awards were judged on merit and not on tribe, or who you know.

“I want to thank Nigerian editors and newspapers publishers, who do not publish the chaff, dropping, and the wheat. The online publishers have kept the spirit running and they deserve the support of Nigerians and the leaders.

“I’m of the view that no matter what some quarters are suggesting that journalism in Nigeria is heading to extinction, I want to make a consolidated remark that journalism will not die in the country; rather some journalists may be going out of the profession for something, but the ones who remain stoical will continue to represent social justice and impartiality, contributing to society as well as being the watchdog of the society,” he noted.

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

Stakeholders at a one-day public hearing on a Bill for an Act to Establish National Centre for Cancer Research and Treatment in National Assembly yesterday expressed concerns over the spread of cancer in Nigeria as Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Lanre Tejuoso, disclosed that between 100,000 and N500,000 Nigerians become afflicted with the disease annually.

Tejuoso who recalled that World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that cancer was a major cause of global deaths with seven million being recorded every year and 72 per cent of such deaths occurring in middle income countries such as Nigeria. He put the rate of deaths caused by cancer across the globe at 13 per cent.

According to him, the Cancer Research Centre will foster scientific improvement to cancer prevention, treatment and care and as well co-ordinate and liaise between the wide range of groups and health care providers with an interest in cancer.

He listed other objectives

of the centre to include making recommendations to the government about cancer policy and priorities; overseeing dedicated budget for research centre; assisting with the implementation of government policies and programmes in cancer control and providing financial assistance out of money appropriated by the National Assembly for research and treatment.

Tejuoso further painted a tragic picture of the ailment when he disclosed that one out of every eight women expect to be diagnosed of breast or cervical cancer in their life time adding that two of every 10 men expect to be diagnosed for prostrate, lungs and colorectal cancer.

He added: “It is also well known that the various forms of cancer disease have been more felt in Africa and Nigeria in particular where resources and awareness are not readily available for prevention, diagnose and treatment.

This bill seeks to provide for establishment of the National Centre for Cancer Research and Treatment to research into cancer and to provide treatment to patients in Nigeria.”

Martins Ifijeh The Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Fire Service of Nigeria have agreed to join force to provide efficient emergency rescue operation services in the Country.

This was made known on earlier in the week when the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, met with the Controller –General, Federal Fire Service of Nigeria, Engr.

Joseph Garba Annebi in the Fire Service Headquarter Abuja.

The Minister said that provision of emergency services was the responsibilities of many Departments and Agencies of Government, including Federal Fire Service of Nigeria.

“Federal Fire Service plays two major roles in emergency response, first is to control and investigate fire incidence and second to provide rescue services before taking the victims to the hospital.

“It is because of these two main functions that we need to have close collaboration between the fire service, Federal Ministry of Health and other agencies responsible for rescue operations”.

The Minister said that the essence of the collaboration was to work together and provide quick emergency response and harmonize areas of overlapping. Some Departments or Agencies have ambulances, some provide first aid treatment, we want to pool all our resources together and deploy them in such a way that we can work efficiently and cover the whole country.

“We want improved response, improved speed in such a way that we should arrive at scenes of incidence immediately and be able to render synergised service at minimal cost,” he added.

Dr. Ehanire also said that the two Agencies, Health and Fire Service would share ideas, exchange of knowledge and skills on rescue operation so that whoever comes first at the scene can be able to perform little functions of the other before he come and take over.

In his remarks, the Controller –General, Federal Fire Service of Nigeria Engr.Joseph Garba Annebi said that fire service was actually involved in fire fighting as well as rescuing of victims from any disaster.

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HEALTH

PoliticsRuiningNigeria’sHealthcareWorkforce Odimegwu Onwumere

T

he pioneer chairman, National AIDS Control Programme, (NACP), Professor Ibironke Akinsete returned to Nigeria some 50 years ago from Canada to work at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

She exposed to the media on ‘Nigeria @ 55’ that there was unadulterated empathy among the workforce to give healthcare to the sick in those days, unlike today, “We seemed to have missed it at some point and nothing seems to work anymore.”

The former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and Vice President, Commonwealth Medical Associations (CMA), Dr Osahon Enabulele frowned at the unfortunate political assurance given to the healthcare sector.

Dr Enabulele said, “It is sad that in what has become a recurring decimal, Mr. President could not spare a critical thought on his plans for Nigeria’s Health Sector in his Independence Speech.”

Workforce marred by politics Governments at different levels in Nigeria are yet to accustom the universal uplift programmes of health workers.

The outcome of the lackadaisical approach being shown to Nigerian doctors was experienced recently: Medical doctors were outraged over what they described as “anti-life” policies of Governor Rochas Okorocha, where taskforce was being used to standardise medical practice in Imo State.

The doctors were not happy how taskforce was being used against them; they said that this is against the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria’s policies. Hence, they voyaged for a protest on February 4 2016, disclosed as anti-concessioning protest of public health institutions by Governor Okorocha.

The protest latter turned bloody. An account by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), stated, “It was gathered that when the doctors got to Orlu Road Junction, Owerri, riot policemen in about 10 Hilux vans started throwing tear gas canisters at the group, during which a gun was suspected to have been fired, which injured a doctor.”

A Consultant Physician with the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, Dr. Bede Azudialor was supposedly shot in the head by the riot policemen drafted to monitor the demonstration by doctors. Aftermath, the Nigerian Police denied shooting him.

Politics of shooting and denial The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Andrew Enwerem, said, “Police did not shoot anybody and nobody who is shot in the head will ever remain alive. Let them produce a doctor’s report to confirm that it was a real case of shooting in the head. Anybody can pick any blood stained material from anywhere and claim that he was shot.”

Dr. Azudialor was said to have been rushed to a hospital for prompt medical attention, where he is believed to be receiving treatment. His colleagues spurred for a three day warning strike, as was made public by the state Chairman of the Nigerian Guild of Medical Doctors, Dr. Darlington Akukwu, following the incident.

Why the doctors protested There was the Third Global Forum on Human Resources for Health, HRH, held in Recife, Brazil, from November 10-13, 2013, which represented the largest-ever global gathering on HRH. IntraHealth was an official co-host and, with CapacityPlus, served as the organiser of one of the themes, “Empowerment and incentives: Harnessing health workers’ voice, rights, and responsibilities in moving toward universal health coverage.”

In that forum, Pape Gaye, President and CEO of CapacityPlus lead partner IntraHealth International, said, “The health worker is the most important element of the health system.”

On-the-contrary, the health worker in Nigeria is estranged. The Imo State chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Hyacinth Emele was very angry that the governor did not consider the plight of doctors in the state upon their advise not to concessionise public

Buhari

health institutions.

Part of reports made available by Emele on their dilemma in the hands of Governor Okorocha read, “Despite NMA repeated advise government went ahead to concession virtually all the state public health institutions from primary to tertiary (health centre, general hospitals and Imo State Specialist Hospitals, and Imo State University Teaching Hospital) and their management.”

The furious NMA chairman, added, “The state will stand to lose completely from the assistance of donor agencies and partners like the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank, Global Fund among others that sponsor immunization, malaria, tuberculosis, family planning and HIV/ AIDS services to these institutions.”

The governors react While the Police denied shooting any doctor, Governor Okorocha in a swift reaction in a statement purportedly made available to the public by his spokesman, Sam Onwuemeodo, regretted that the protest turned bloody, even as he added that the protest embarked upon by the doctors was uncalled for and a ploy to blackmail him and his administration.

Part of the statement read, “It has also become important at this stage for Nigerians of goodwill to tell the doctors to publish the reasons for their protest for Nigerians to see and give their verdicts. The doctors involved have not been able to tell their audience their grievances or why they took to the street if not to blackmail the governor and his administration.”

Failed healthcare workforce data Healthcare The workforce is important and one of the eight pillars of the National Strategic Health Development Plan.

Nigeria knew about this and in 2011, the Federal Ministry of Health aided by the WHO, and the Centre for Diseases Control, CDC, instated the National Steering Committee for the National Health Workforce Registry and the Committee on Nigerian Public Health Training Initiative.

Conversely, the aim of the pursuit has been defeated, which was to achieve a formidable HRH data for all health workers in Nigeria.

Carter Foundation was in the formation for a working Health Registry with the Federal Government (FG). The initiation was called “Health Workforce Registry”.

In all of this, politics now rule over. The torment that the health workers in Nigeria face and followed by the economic depression of the late 80’s and till date, have made them to look beyond their nose and move for greener pastures outside the country.

Adewole

Greener pasture elsewhere The world over, how to improve on the physiological wellbeing of health workers, has been a topmost priority.

Organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO), seek ways to reduce healthcare costs and improve on the universal health coverage.

WHO has a publication with the title: “Establishing and Monitoring Benchmarks for Human Resources for Health: the Workforce Density Approach.” The international organisation was worried in the report concerning the shortage of health workers in Nigeria and as well, the daunting situations that surround the issue, which have made finding solution impossible.

The shortage of health workers in the country has reduced the workforce. The Human Resources for Health (HRH), which represents the foundation of the health structure, has been touched.

Many patients, few doctors There have been incessant strikes by health workers across the country at different times, at primary, secondary or tertiary health centres.

At most of the hospitals the question is always where have the over 30,000 medical doctors, 150,000 registered nurses nationwide, gone to.

In Imo State, Governor Okorocha sacked over 3000 workers. In Lagos alone it has become habitual to keep ‘vigil’ in the hospitals by patients, so that they could see a doctor to attend to them in the morning. Most times, a chance of seeing a doctor is slim upon the stretched long hours of waiting for a doctor. $ 51 billion and 700 doctors In the early part of 2015, the Federal Government sought for about $51 billion (N9.4trn) to fix the healthcare in order to meet international standard by 2030.

Nigeria would also need over 700,000 additional doctors to meet the timeframe. According to a source, “Nigeria currently has roughly 14 percent of the number of doctors per capita of OECD countries. To catch up, Nigeria would need approximately 12 times as many doctors by 2030, requiring, under current training models, about $ 51 billion.”

It was gathered that this is because many emerging economies face rising occurrence of non- transmissible diseases determined by aging populations and injurious lifestyles. Budding economies have under-invested in health.

The source added, “In 2012, their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) allocation for health was on average 5.6 percent, less than half that of developed economies (12.5 percent). This has led to shortages in health infrastructure and workforce.”

Nigeria’s bleak universal health coverage The year 2015 was when Nigeria had in 2009 set goal to achieve Universal health Coverage (UHC). The promise was to make sure that all citizens in the country enrolled into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

But there were miserable scenarios for the Health Sector in 2014 as Budgetary Allocation failed below anticipation in the African Union’s agreed 15 per cent budgetary allocation for health.

Media reports stated, “The total vote for health in the 2014 expenditure plan of the federal government is N262.74 billion. This is about 5.6 per cent of aggregate expenditure of the national budget. This year’s provision is a further 0.82 drop from the N279.23 earmarked for the sector in 2013. More perplexing is the fact that the budget proposal allocates 76.3% to recurrent expenditure and just 23.7% to capital expenditure. What this means is that the budget is meant to just keep the country and its burgeoning bureaucracy running with nothing spectacular to show for. Experts believe that a budget focused on massive development of infrastructure would assign more to capital rather than to recurrent which covers personnel and overhead costs.”

Conclusion: Nigeria is yet to follow the world Seven years after Nigeria set the goal to meet the 2015 Universal Health Coverage target, many Nigerians are yet to tap into the enormous advantages of health insurance, experts have said.

Hence, voices are being raised incessantly in the country suggesting that health insurance should be made available to all Nigerians and not only a handful that can pay.

During its “NMA’s Physicians’ Week” recently, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) called on General Muhammadu Buhari to declare emergency in the health sector.

The reason is that there is a dearth of welldesigned guidelines for medical practice in Nigeria, because the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria Board was wrongly dissolved.

The NMA lobbied for the appointment of a Chief Medical Officer of the Federation to superintend and fast-track the urgency needed in the health sector.

It also called on the authorities to instantaneously start the discharge of the 2014 National Health Act. It added that there is need for a vivacious primary healthcare system in the states to enliven immunisation and healthcare.

Onwumere writes from Rivers State. (apoet_25@ yahoo.com)

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

NEWS

HEALTH

Nigeria Needs $284m to End Polio by 2017, Says FG Paul Obi in Abuja In order to completely stem out Polio virus in Nigeria by the year 2017, the federal government yesterday said Nigeria requires about $284 million to achieve the target goal.

This was made known by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) ahead of the Conference for Anglophone Africa Peer Review Workshop on sustainable immunisation financing in Abuja.

NPHCDA Executive Director, Dr. Ado Muhammed, told journalists in Abuja that vaccines and immunisation financing are very critical to Nigeria’s anticipated eradication of Polio virus in the country next year.

According to him, “As it is now, we require about $210 million for polio campaign.

With support from partners and funding from government for 2016, we have been able to bridge the gap. We don’t have a gap for polio campaign in 2016.

“However, by 2017, we will have about $284 million required for Polio campaign.

Taking cognizance that the government of Nigeria have been consistence in terms of providing resources, this year, the federal government is providing about $80 million as part of its contribution for polio campaign while partners are making up the difference.”

The executive director added that: “With that, we believe that in 2017, we should be able to give to Africa and Nigeria a polio-free country.

We are very optimistic that

by July 2017, we will deliver to the president a polio free country.”

Muhammed explained that

Nigeria has “spent over 20 months without any case of polio in the country. Yes, Nigeria has been removed from the list of polio endemic countries by the World Health Organisation (WHO), but it is not yet a polio-free country. I think we need to understand the difference between the two.

“Nigeria doesn’t transmit polio virus anymore; we have been delisted from the list of polio endemic countries, but we need to know that it will take us close to two years which byJuly 24, 2017- by then, it will have been three years without a polio virus.

We have some few months to go before Nigeria is certified as a polio-free country.”

Chairman of the National Immunisation Financing Task Team (NIFT), Dr. Ben Anyene, told journalists at the event that stakeholders in the health sector are concerned over “report of exclusion of funds for vaccines in the recently passed 2016 federal budget.

“If true, we demand that adequate funds for vaccines and immunisation in general, be included in the 2016 Appropriation Act before assent, and we should rather increase budgetary allocation and appropriation for immunisation not discard it.”

Speaking on the imperative of immunisation financing, Anyene explained that since the year 2000, Nigeria and other countries received tremendous financial assistance from GAVI through various windows.

He however, stated that: “Following the rebasing of the economy, Nigeria’s Gross National Income (GNI) rose to $2,950 in 2014 and surpassed the eligibility threshold of $1,580 for GAVI support.

“Badminton is Suitable Exercise for the Aged” Solomon Elusoji The sport of badminton has been described as one of the best ways to stay fit in the twilight of one’s years, according to a veteran lawyer and prominent member of the Ikoyi 1938 Badminton Club, Rotola Williams.

“It is a game that demands more mental strength than physical,” she told THISDAY, during an International Badminton Tournament held recently at the Ikoyi Club 1938, Lagos. “At the club, we have septuagenarians who play the game, and play it very well. It helps them to keep fit.”

Unlike lawn tennis, badminton can be played indoors and demands more of agility and awareness than sheer strength, Williams believes. “It is not like football where, when you are above forty, your performance level begins to drop. In fact, age matters very little in badminton, and it is a very advisable sport for the elderly.”

However, not many people know this, as badminton is not a very popular sport in

Nigeria. This was one of the chief reasons why some members of the Ikoyi Club 1938, including Williams, teamed up and organised an International Badminton Tournament involving badminton clubs from all over the country and outside.

“It’s not an expensive sport to play and anyone – from 3 years to 70 years – can play it,” Williams said. “In fact, you can play it in your backyard with just a net and a pair of rackets, but many Nigerians do not know this.”

“Badminton is not well appreciated in Nigeria because most people think that it is an Asian sport,” the Chairman of the Ikoyi Club badminton section, Chikwendu Ogbonna, also pointed out to THISDAY. “But we will do all we can to promote it, and this event was one of the steps toward that direction.”

Chikwendu also called for the government to pay less attention to football, the major sport in the country, and lend more support to other minor games like badminton, which can help improve the overall health of the nation.

Nigeria Lacks Good Dental Clinics, Says APDPN President Martins Ifijeh As part of efforts to draw awareness on oral health in Nigeria, the Association of Private Dental Practitioners in Nigeria (APDPN), a body that specialises in the management of oral health, have lamented the dearth of standard dental clinics in the country to properly tackle oral health issues in the country.

Speaking during the Association’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos recently, the President of the group, Dr.

Bidemi Dawodu, said despite Nigeria having about 896 dentists, the country still has dearth of good dental clinic to address issues relating to oral health.

He said since the past three years when the association was birthed they have given their quota in this regards towards oral health in the country.

“We have been working with governments to build standard clinics. We hope to see that if possible all the 774 local government areas in Nigeria have their own dental

clinics and most importantly we have been following up on the oral health service that was launched about two years ago.

“About two years ago, a comprehensive policy was launched then in Abuja by the former Senate President, David Mark in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The policy aim is to ensure that dental services are made available to Nigerians. To spread it all over the 774 local government areas in the country and see that every local government has its own dental clinic,”

he said.

He revealed that the policy to ensure there were good dental services across the country was yet to be implemented by the government, hence the association was calling on the government to put action to it.

“One thing is to formulate a policy and it’s another thing to implement it. The implementation has not been seen till now. We need government to be courageous enough to implement it, so that the country will be better off in terms of oral health.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Cardiac and Renal Centre, Gbagada, Prof. Babatunde Green; Financial Advisor, ICMG, Frans Ojielu and Chairman, ICMG, Mike Osime, during a press briefing on the Cardiac and Renal Centre Initiative in Lagos ...recently

Cardiac and Renal Centre Gbagada to Provide World Class Healthcare Delivery Martins Ifijeh The Chief Executive Officer of the Cardiac and Renal Centre, Lagos, Professor Babatunde Green, has stated that the hospital is set to provide a world class healthcare delivery to Nigerians, just as it is done in Europe and the United States of America.

He said the centre boasts of a cardiac catheterization laboratory, angiography care which is a technique where a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel usually in the groin and is guided towards the heart with the assistance of the x-ray imaging.

“Also available is echocardiography, a safe and non invasive diagnostic test that uses frequency sound waves to produce images of the heart and its vessels, and electrocardiography, a diagnostic test to detect abnormalities in the heart rhythm. Patients with complex kidney diseases and urologic conditions can find the full range of treatment options at the cardio-renal centre as our operating time is 24 hours service,” he noted.

According to him, “my company got the concession from the government to operate and run the hospital as a privately run facility. The expectations are high and so is the quality of service we render. Most times, only the rich are able to travel to receive treatment abroad because they can afford

it but what of those who can’t?

We are however glad that we have a place here where people can get the best they want and they do not need to travel out for care. I have a list of over 20 consultants who have signed up with us including those from abroad coming here to work with us. It’s about quality and

by God’s grace, that is all we stand for,”. He added.

He said the centre was exceptionally well equipped to global and best practice standards, adding that the renal support facility features 24 fully equipped dialysis machines. “The open heart surgery service is supported by two anesthetic machines, blood and fluid warmers, a cell saver machine, three intra aortic balloon pumps in addition to numerous other equipment and facilities.

“There are 19 critical care beds (5 ICU beds, 10 coronary care beds and 4 recovery room beds) and the centre offers a 24 hour service with teams of international professional credentials. The centre provides cardiology and cardiovascular care for adults and children with heart diseases and disorders world class cardiologists, cardio-thoracic surgeons and interventional cardiologists,” he noted.

Lending his voice, the Financial Advisor of the project, Frans Ojielu, stated that, “ICMG will mobilize total support including finance and

technology to enable Gbagada Cardiac Renal Centre provide cutting edge healthcare delivery in view of the huge savings in foreign exchange (estimated about $1billion annually) that could result if the centre and other centres of excellence begin to provide in-country health care to Nigerians and residents of Nigeria.

The project falls into the overall goal of ICMG of assisting in the import substitution programme of the federal government to enhance the value of the Naira.”

The Cardiac and Renal Centre is a tertiary and referral hospital built and equipped by Lagos state and wholly managed by Renescor Health, a private limited liability partnership.

It is located in the Gbagada area of Lagos, Nigeria, specialising in comprehensive advanced cardiac and renal care as well as providing state of the art inpatient and outpatient services. It is the first public private partnership in cardio-renal services between a state government and a private company in Nigeria.

Minister for Health Pays Medical Expenses for a Kidney Patient Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, Tuesday, paid an unscheduled visit to a 14 year old patient in need of kidney transplant in Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital, Abuja.

During the visit on behalf of government, the Minister promised to pay all medical expenses accruing to the patient, Miss Faith Andrew, one of the six children of a widow who cannot afford N25, 000.00 thrice a week for her daughter’s dialysis, let alone N7million needed for her Kidney transplant.

The Minister informed that

in the spirit of the people oriented government of President Muhammadu Buhari , the government would not rest on its oars in ensuring that dividends of democracy gets to the down trodden in the society. He also stated that every Nigerian would soon benefit from the Universal Health coverage programme that is being championed by the present administration as efforts were already at advance stage in this regards.

The Minister’s visit was a reaction to an article written by Simon Kolawole and published at the back page of Thisday Newspaper of Sunday 10Th April 2016.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

ChibokGirls:AGapingWoundTwoYearsAfter Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that two years after 276 Chibok schoolgirls were abducted from their school, 219 remain missing, with 17 of their parents losing their lives as a result of the trauma, thus making it a journey of pain, lack of closure and disillusionment not just for the affected families, but also for the Bring Back Our Girls campaign

C

losure, they say, often happens when one makes peace or comes to terms with an unpleasant event.

While this might be true, the same cannot be said to hold true for the families of the 219 Chibok girls who are still missing after their abduction two years ago by the Boko Haram sect. For them, today, Thursday, April 14, 2016, has been two long years of unfulfilled promises. Two years of pain, uncertainty and disillusionment.

Undoubtedly, it has been a case of unfulfilled promises either from the past administration or the present. Although 297 girls were abducted from Government College, Chibok in Borno State, 57 were able to escape, leaving 219 girls still in captivity.

It's no gainsaying that prior to April 14, 2014, Chibok Town was just one of the obscure towns in Borno State until the Boko Haram sect struck and brought global focus to it for the wrong reason. The sect had struck at Chibok Government College, Borno State that fateful night and abducted 276 girls in one fell swoop.

That began the days of anxiety and anguish for the affected families.

Although the school had been closed for four weeks prior to the attack due to the security situation at that time, the students had been recalled to write their final exams in physics amidst heavy military presence. When the news of the abduction broke, it was first deemed as rumours until the parents of the abducted girls began to speak up. The confirmation of the abduction was further concretised when the Boko Haram sect had claimed responsibility and in a video they released, promised to treat them as slaves. In the video, the girls were draped in hijabs, a Muslim dress style.

Three weeks after they were abducted, the Federal Government had said they were not in the know of where the girls were taken to. When it was finally certified that the girls were indeed abducted, attempts to secure their release proved abortive despite help from global powers like United States, France, Israel and even Britain.

Shocked at the brazen abduction of the girls despite military presence, street protests and online campaigns were held with solidarity for the cause gaining wide acclaim and attracting sympathy beyond Nigeria's shores.

That was then. Except for the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group, who has kept faith, the ovation is practically dead.

Still Missing in Action After the abduction, among the list of abducted girls as released by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), were Deborah Abge Christian, Awa Abge, Hauwa Yirma, Asabe Manu, Mwa Malam Pogu, Patiance Dzakwa, Saraya Mal. Stover, Mary Dauda, Gloria Mainta, Hanatu Ishaku, Gloria Dama and Tabitha Pogu.

Others were Maifa Dama, Ruth Kollo, Esther Usman, Awa James, Anthonia Yahonna, Kume Mutah, Aisha Ezekial, Nguba Buba, Kwanta Simon, Kummai Aboku, Esther Markus, Hana Stephen, Rifkatu Amos, Rebecca Mallum, Blessing Abana, Ladi Wadai, Tabitha Hyelampa and Ruth Ngladar.

Also abducted were Safiya Abdu, Naomi Yahonna, Solomi Titus, Rhoda John, Rebecca Kabu, Christy Yahi, Rebecca Luka, Laraba John, Saratu Markus, Mary Usman, Debora Yahonna, Naomi Zakaria, Hanatu Musa, Hauwa Tella, Juliana Yakubu, Suzana Yakubu, Saraya Paul, Jummai Paul, Mary Sule and Jummai John.

Not left out were Yanke Shittima, Muli Waligam, Fatima Tabji, Eli Joseph, Saratu Emmanuel, Deborah Peter, Rahila Bitrus, Luggwa Sanda,

The missing Chibok girls

Kauna Lalai, Lydia Emmar, Laraba Maman, Hauwa Isuwa, Comfort Habila, Hauwa Abdu, Hauwa Balti, Yana Joshua, Laraba Paul, Saraya Amos, Glory Yaga and Naomi Bitrus.

The whole nation has failed these children.

Parents, families and friends of our dear daughters, I am here today not just to speak to you, but to speak to the nation and to the world as one of you. I am here as a father burdened by the captivity of our daughters, and I am here as a friend.

I am here to express our frustrations and to speak of our undying hope as we wait expectantly for the return of our dear Chibok girls

Also, Godiya Bitrus, Awa Bitrus, Naomi Luka, Maryamu Lawan, Tabitha Silas, Mary Yahona, Ladi Joel, Rejoice Sanki, Luggwa Samuel, Comfort Amos, Saraya Samuel, Sicker Abdul, Talata Daniel, Rejoice Musa, Deborah Abari, Salomi Pogu, Mary Amor, Ruth Joshua, Esther John, Esther Ayuba, Maryamu Yakubu, Zara Ishaku, Maryamu Wavi, Lydia Habila, Laraba Yahonna, Naomi Bitrus, Rahila Yahanna, Ruth Lawan, Ladi Paul and Mary Paul, were also abducted.

Others include, Esther Joshua, Helen Musa, Margret Watsai, Deborah Jafaru, Filo Dauda, Febi Haruna, Ruth Ishaku, Racheal Nkeki, Rifkatu Soloman, Mairama Yahaya, Saratu Dauda, Jinkai Yama, Margret Shettima, Yana Yidau, Grace Paul, Amina Ali, Palmata Musa, Awagana Musa, Pindar Nuhu and Yana Pogu.

Other girls’ names on the list included: Saraya Musa, Hauwa Joseph, Hauwa Kwakwi, Hauwa Musa, Maryamu Musa, Maimuna Usman, Rebeca Joseph, Liyatu Habitu, Rifkatu Yakubu, Naomi Philimon, Deborah Abbas, Ladi Ibrahim, Asabe Ali, Maryamu Bulama, Ruth Amos, Mary Ali and Abigail Bukar.

Deborah Amos, Saraya Yanga, Kauna Luka, Christiana Bitrus, Yana Bukar, Hauwa Peter, Hadiza Yakubu, Lydia Simon, Ruth Bitrus, Mary Yakubu, Lugwa Mutah, Muwa Daniel, Hanatu Nuhu, Monica Enoch, Margret Yama, Docas Yakubu, Rhoda Peter, Rifkatu Galang, Saratu Ayuba, Naomi Adamu, Hauwa Ishaya, Rahap Ibrahim, Deborah Soloman, Hauwa Mutah, Hauwa Takai and Serah Samuel, were also abducted.

The abducted Muslim schoolgirls were Aishatu Musa, Aishatu Grema, Hauwa Nkeki, Hamsatu Abubakar, Mairama Abubakar, Hauwa Wule, Ihyi Abdu, Hasana Adamu, Rakiya Kwamtah, Halima Gamba, Aisha Lawan, Kabu Malla, Yayi Abana, Falta Lawan and Kwadugu Manu.

So far, from the 276 girls abducted, 57 were said to have escaped from the terrorist's hideout

in Sambisa forest, while 219 of them are still missing despite government promises to find and reunite them with their respective families.

Global Support To show solidarity to the group, world leaders and famous celebrities joined the hashtag #BBOG including United States' First Lady, Michelle Obama and activist, Malala Yousafzai. Countries like the United States, France, United Kingdom, Israel also reached out to Nigeria then.

Also showing their support, about 900 Bangladesh Students last year stood in solidarity with the BBOG group in Nigeria, creating the hashtag #EndChildMarriage. In a picture posted on the twitter handle of @WGLBangladesh, it showed girls with cut-out papers spelling out 'Bring Back Our Girls' at the Tillagaon High School, in Kuluara, Mouivibazar, Bangladesh.

In the same vein, Nobel peace laureate, 17-year-old Malala Yousafzai, last year wrote a letter to the Chibok girls, where she lamented that both the Nigerian government and international community failed them. She said, "In my opinion, Nigerian leaders and the international community have not done enough to help you.

They must do much more to help secure your release. I am among many people pressuring them to make sure you are freed.

"Nigerian forces are re-gaining territory and protecting more schools. Nigeria’s newly elected president, Muhammadu Buhari, has vowed to make securing your freedom a top priority and promised his government will not tolerate violence against women and girls. I look forward to the day I can hug each one of you, pray with you and celebrate your freedom with your families. Until then, stay strong and never lose hope. You are my heroines."

A Week of Global Action Thus, to commemorate two years of the continued disappearance of 219 Chibok girls,

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FEATURES CHIBOK GIRLS: A GAPING WOUND TWO YEARS AFTER after they were abducted from their school in Borno State, the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group commenced a week of global action. The week themed '#HopeEndures', which began on April 8, 2016 ended today April 14, 2016, coinciding with the exact day the girls were abducted from Chibok Government College in Borno state The statement from the group, which has been the chief campaigner for the freedom of the Chibok girls, lamented that it would soon be exactly two years since the girls were abducted

by Boko Haram terrorists.

The group also said the week was to mark the "Unfortunate incidence and to refocus the world’s attention to the fact that 276 schoolgirls were abducted in their school, 57 escaped, 219 remain missing till date, with 17 of their parents losing their lives as a result of the trauma.

"We urge persons wherever they may be to carry out activities to commemorate this event.

There are activities already lined up in many cities of the world, we encourage everyone to participate and/or organise one, however simple."

The week which began on April 8, started with special prayers at Jumat service and ASR prayers at Unity Fountain, also had talks by Islamic scholars. On April 9, the group had a virtual meeting with an online engagement that was more of a 'tweet meet' and the next day, April 10, was the Christian prayers and talks.

On Monday, April 11, the group hosted a workshop on 'endangered education' at the Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Centre, Abuja. While the keynote speaker was Hajiya Aisha Alhassan, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, the opening address was read

by BBOG Co-convener, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili.

The workshop which focused on the Nigerian girl-child was a parley for high level discussion on issues affecting the Nigerian girl-child. It also afforded them the opportunity to remember and honour students and teachers killed by Boko Haram and launching of the 'Initiative for Day of the Nigerian Child'.

Tuesday, April 12, the group visited the United Nation and six embassies including the United States of America, France, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Israel. On Wednesday, April 13, the group had a walkathon, red ribbon day and evening of arts, which was basically an event to remember the girls led by the Chibok Girls Ambassadors.

After the walk to the presidency at Presidential Villa, the group had a world press conference, where they highlighted their struggles and the next line of action. However, beyond the week of global action, a visit to the group's website revealed their demands to the Federal Government as, "That the 219 Chibok schoolgirls abducted on April 14, 2014 be rescued by the government.

"Improvement of government’s accountability to Nigerians on security issues, particularly in the North-east. How? Through improved communications on Nigerian security happenings with daily briefings on the rescue of the abducted girls. Creating communication channels that help inform the public on safety measures being taken to protect Nigerian citizens.

"Provision of rehabilitation services, such as counseling and healthcare, as well as witness protection, to all abducted girls who have escaped

We need to refocus the world’s attention to the fact that 276 schoolgirls were abducted in their school, 57 escaped, 219 remain missing till date, with 17 of their parents losing their lives as a result of the trauma

President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and BBOG Co-convener, Ezekwesili during a dialogue with the presidency

Malala (middle) showing support for the BBOG cause

or been rescued. Taking measures to ensure the protection of children of school age to curb future abductions and sexual violence, as well as the Passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill (VAPP BIll) that protects girls to ensure persecution of those responsible for sexual violence once captured."Also speaking on the continued abduction of the girls, Senior Pastor of the Latter Rain Gospel Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, flayed the Federal Government for its role in the matter.

Speaking at a special sit-out of the BBOG, Bakare said, "The whole nation has failed these children.“Parents, families and friends of our dear daughters, I am here today not just to speak to you, but to speak to the nation and to the world as one of you. I am here as a father burdened by the captivity of our daughters, and I am here as a friend. I am here to express our frustrations and to speak of our undying hope as we wait expectantly for the return of our dear Chibok girls.

"We are not unmindful that the Nigerian state failed to provide security for our daughters as they gathered to write final examinations despite prior intelligence reports that suggested they were in danger. It is most severely injurious to see that the fate of our daughters has been frequently politicised. Rather than rise to the occasion as stakeholders and custodians of the security and welfare of the citizens of this nation, political parties and politicians have paid lip service, using our pain and plight of our daughters to score cheap political points.

Yesufu

"We are not convinced that the matter of our daughters has been given the needed thoughtfulness. We do not believe that those who are in a position to act have taken sufficient actions towards addressing the issue or even towards calming our anxiety as waiting parents."

Asserting that the girls would have been rescued if they were children of politicians, he said that those responsible for the rescue of the girls, either past or present government, have not taken sufficient actions in the last two years that the girls were abducted.

He continued, “We do not believe those concerned have taken sufficient actions concerning the rescue of these girls. We believe that they are still alive, at least no evidence, satellite evidence that they are in a mass grave. We believe they are alive. It remains a scar on the soul of this nation until these girls are brought back."

The Journey So Far It has been one tortuous journey that has spanned two years. Like a thief in the night, the Boko Haram sect had struck and abducted the girls on April 14, 2014, and smuggled them out to Sambisa forest in trucks without resistance.

It took the government weeks before they could actually verify how many students were abducted and where they were taken to. Of course, the parents of the abducted girls flayed the lackadaisical attitude of the government.

When the government was not forthcoming in rescuing the girls, the parents led by the BBOG group held a peaceful protest in May. The march

was not just in Abuja but was simultaneously done in many states across the country.

After the abduction, the group and families have tried to keep hope alive. In 2014, their hopes were raised by the purported cease fire deal between the Federal Government and the sect, which part of the deal was the release of the Chibok girls. The former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd) had on a certain Friday, October 17, 2014, announced the ceasefire with instruction to service chiefs to comply immediately.

Afterwards, the then Senior Special Assistant to the former President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, had revealed the role played by the Prime Minister of Chad, Idris Derby, adding that the abducted Chibok schoolgirls would be released and the Boko Haram menace would become history in no distant time.

Stating that negotiations started months ago, he said part of the deal was the release of the wife of the deputy Prime Minister of Cameroun, Chinese officials and the traditional ruler of a border town between Nigeria and Cameroun. Unsurprisingly, the sect reneged. As time went on, it became clear that the purported ceasefire was merely a ploy to get the military to backdown especially as they had the upper hand at that period.

Days after the ceasefire would be, the sect launched deadly attacks on Azur Village near Shaffa town in Hawul Local Government Area of Borno and killed no fewer than eight persons.

When local vigilante, known as Civilian JTF,

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FEATURES CHIBOK GIRLS: A GAPING WOUND TWO YEARS AFTER

The Bring Back Our Girls group

went to the village to bury the victims, they were also killed and on that same day, they hoisted their flag in Abadam, a border community between Borno State and Niger Republic after they had killed about 40 innocent residents in their attack on the community.

Again, two hours after the ceasefire, about 60 women (40 from Waga Mangoro and 20 from Garta), were said to have been allegedly kidnapped by Boko Haram from Waga Mangoro and Garta villages in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State. With the outrage the botched deal had provoked then, it was the parents of the abducted girls and BBOG group that suffered the most for it. Expressing the feeling of the group, Ezekwesili had lamented that the group cannot afford the luxury of hopeless disappointment, given the dashed hopes, squashed joy and diminished euphoria.

It was also in May 2014 that Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, in a video claimed responsibility for the abduction and vowed to sell off the girls as slave brides, even as he said he had converted the girls to Islam.

When it became clear that the girls were actually abducted, the international community attempted to help and countries like China, Israel, France,

I assure you that I go to bed and wake up every day with the Chibok girls on my mind. The unfortunate incident happened before this government came into being. What have we done since we assumed office?

We re-organized the military, removed all the service chiefs and ordered the succeeding service chiefs to deal decisively with the Boko Haram insurgency

Agbambu

Britain and Unites States provided some level of intelligence gathering.

This came at the heels of the claims by Amnesty International that the Nigerian military were forewarned about four hours before attack but, they claimed they could not muster enough security personnel, an allegation they have since denied.

In September 23, 2014, one of the girls, Susan Ishaya escaped and it was announced on Ezekwesili's twitter handle at about 11.17pm.

The traumatised girl was rushed to the hospital for treatment. But that was it, till now, the 219 missing girls are yet to be found. In October, the BBOG group tried to march to the presidency to commemorate the six months anniversary of the missing girls, but they were stopped by security forces.

Last year April, as part of the one year anniversary of the girl's disappearance, the group held a commemorative service where they unveiled the Rescued Victims Identification Initiative. Held at the THISDAY Dome in Abuja, Ezekwesili later took to her Twitter handle to note that the lecture by His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan was beyond profound as the depth and breadth honoured #ChibokGirls.

She wrote, "Cardinal John Onaiyekan - The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja left the nation with very deep perspectives for retrospection and introspection. With assurance by @DefenceInfoNG of sustained momentum against terrorists by our Military, we anxiously await rescue of our #ChibokGirls!

"We are overjoyed to see more citizens regain their freedom from terrorists’ enclave.

We applaud @DefenceInfoNG successful effort.

We want more.

Days before April 30, 2014, we used all social media platforms to call out to you to join us to March for our #ChibokGirls. Many turned up. On a day like this, one year ago, after two weeks of social media advocacy and birth of hashtag #BringBackOurGirls, we moved into Unity Fountain.

"On that April 30, 2014, we marched and have never stopped marching. Today is one year and painfully, our #ChibokGirls are still not back.

Hadiza Bala Usman driven by same bond of shared humanity with our #ChibokGirls reached out with idea for a March. None of us thought, one year. On April 30, 2014, no way Hadiza Bala Usman Maryam Uwais, Saudatu Mahdi and I imagined the rescue of our #ChibokGirls would go beyond two weeks."

On the initiative, the group had designed a verification and identification system that would assist in identifying each rescued terror victim easily. Tagged the Verification, Authentication and Reuniting System (VARS), the group said it was holistic for credible rescued victims' identification, adding that the FG should adopt the system. They never did.

Also during their one year anniversary, 219 #ChibokGirlsAmbassadors were presented to

the world on the one year anniversary as they joined BBOG all around the world in the #GlobalSchoolGirlsMarch to march for the missing girls. Then the group had said, "We are all saddened as the one year of this heinous abduction approached. However, we are organising to commemorate this sad event if they aren’t back by then.

"There is also the Chibok Girls Ambassadors.

Schoolgirls aged 10 -18 who would volunteer to stand for our missing Chibok girls. Schools would also be able to participate by organising marches called the Global School Girl March.

During our Special Global Week Of Action commemorating our #ChibokGirls’ abduction, we shall like to have all our friends across Nigeria and the world to join in and support our activities in their different communities, cities and countries.

"And, we wish to demand expeditious global campaign to accelerate all efforts being coordinated by the Nigerian Government and her allies towards their rescue. The effort of every man and woman, far and near, in this particular period will be critical in driving the required renewed demand and pressure to find our girls and bring them home to their parents.

"A day in the captivity of terrorists is agonizingly dreadful enough. One year is too much and too difficult to imagine. Our #ChibokGirls are innocent global citizens that the world must ensure are #NeverToBeForgotten."

Also to mark the anniversary of the missing girls, THISDAY gathered that the famous Empire State Building, was lit in purple and red in their honour of the BBOG campaigners. The organisers had explained that while the red colour stands for the BBOG chosen colour, the purple stands for the campaign to end violence against women.

Broken Promises For the affected families it's been from one broken promise to another. Last year, their hopes were buoyed when the military began its assault on the sect and recovered all the claimed cities. But their hopes were dashed when the military announced that they have no idea where the girls were. This would not be the first time their hopes would be dashed.

Severally, the military would announce that the girls have been rescued, only for the news to turn out to be false.

One of such occasions, the then Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, had said the girls would be rescued within a given period. Then he had said the onslaught against the sect was prolonged because the military were not in possession of adequate machineries needed in the proscription of the sect. He later said the successes recorded then was because the military had taken delivery of the military hardware, which it had placed orders for at the inception of the Boko Haram crisis.

Another of such promises was made by the then Minister of State for Defence, Senator

Musiliu Obanikoro, who said the government was working assiduously to rescue the girls.

He had said, “Let me say that as a father, all hands are on deck to ensure that those girls are brought back. I know, because I see the President everyday and I know he is pained that those girls are out there.

"All it takes to appreciate what the president is going through is to sit back and switch roles, so you can imagine the pain. I am also pained because I have daughters and I would not want them abducted for anything and having said that I want to let you know that everything humanly possible is being done to return those girls."

Again, after the present administration assumed office, their families hope of a rescue soared because part of the campaign promises

by Buhari was that the girls would be rescued.

In fact, on the eve of the first anniversary, Buhari had in a statement said, "Today is a time to reflect on the pain and suffering of the victims, their friends and families. Our thoughts and prayers, and that of the whole Nigerian Nation, are with you today.

"I want to assure all of them, and particularly the parents, that when my new administration takes office at the end of May, we will do everything we can to defeat Boko Haram.

We will act differently from the government we replaced; we hear the anguish of our citizens and intend to respond accordingly. This new approach must also begin with honesty. We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued.

Their whereabouts remain unknown. As much as I wish to, I cannot promise that we can find them.

"But I say to every parent, family member and friend of the children that my government will do everything in its power to bring them home. What I can pledge, with absolute certainty, is that starting on the first day of my administration Boko Haram will know the strength of our collective will and commitment to rid this nation of terror, and bring back peace and normalcy to all the affected areas. Boko Haram means ‘Western Education is Sinful’.

"When they are defeated militarily, as they will be, we will ensure our citizens in the affected areas have improved educational opportunities as a direct counterbalance to Boko Haram’s twisted ideology. In particular, we will educate ever more young girls ensuring they are empowered as citizens of Nigeria.

"Let us use this anniversary to remind each other that the attack on Chibok was an attack on the dreams and aspirations of our young people. We stand united in our pledge to resist terror in Nigeria– not just through military means but also through the power of opportunity and the hope of a better future for all."

Again, in January 2016 Buhari had also admitted that securing the missing girls is his responsibility. This was after he ordered the National Security Adviser (NSA), General Babagana Munguno, to set up a panel to in-

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FEATURES CHIBOK GIRLS: A GAPING WOUND TWO YEARS AFTER vestigate the abduction of the girls.

Afterwards, a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the president on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said the “investigation will seek to, among other things, unravel the remote and immediate circumstances leading the kidnap of the girls by Boko Haram terrorists as well the other events, actions and in actions that followed the incident.”

But earlier, in a meeting with some parents of the abducted girls, representatives of the Chibok community and members of the BBOG at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Buhari had said he remained fully committed to his pledge to rescue the girls.

He said, “I assure you that I go to bed and wake up every day with the Chibok girls on my mind. The unfortunate incident happened before this government came into being.

“What have we done since we assumed office?

We re-organised the military, removed all the service chiefs and ordered the succeeding service chiefs to deal decisively with the Boko Haram insurgency. In spite of the terrible economic condition we found ourselves in, we tried to get some resources to give to the military to reorganise and equip, retrain, deploy more troops and move more forcefully against Boko Haram.

“And you all know the progress we have made. When we came in Boko Haram was in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno. Boko Haram has now been reduced to areas around Lake Chad.

Securing the Chibok girls is my responsibility.

The service chiefs and heads of our security agencies will tell you that in spite of the dire financial straits that we found the country in, I continue to do my best to support their efforts in that regard.

“This is a Nigeria where we were exporting average of two million barrels per day at over 140 dollars per barrel. Now it is down to about 27 to 30 dollars.

“You have been reading in the press how they took public funds, our funds, your funds and shared it, instead of buying weapons. That was the kind of leadership I succeeded. That was the kind of economy I inherited."

Months after that promise, the status quo still remains. The girls remain missing despite the rescue of thousands of persons abducted by the terrorists.

Keeping Faith On April 30, 2014, the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group was born and had, since the girls were abducted, kept faith despite all odds.

April 30, 2014, no way Hadiza Bala Usman Maryam Uwais, Saudatu Mahdi and I imagined the rescue of our Chibok girls.

Led by the duo of the former Minister of Education and Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and Hadiza Bala Usman, the group has become a worldwide phenomenon. Week after week, they staged marches, protests, had meetings, all on strategies to bring the girls back.

The group even had a global week of action to mobilise everyone around the world to demand for the immediate rescue of the Chibok girls and end this humanitarian tragedy. Everyday, the group met at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, where they held daily sit-outs despite the elements,

We refuse to speculate as to whether they are alive or dead we don’t even want to think about the possibility of death, we know that they must bring back the girls, their parents are still waiting for them, they are holding on to a slim hope that the girls will be rescued

Ekhomu

praying, encouraging themselves and liaising on the way forward.

Against hopes, Ezekwesili said they won't think of possibility of death, adding that they can still be rescued before May 29, 2015. She had said, "We refuse to speculate as to whether they are alive or dead, we don’t even want to think about the possibility of death, we know that they must bring back the girls, their parents are still waiting for them, they are holding on to a slim hope that the girls will be rescued.

How can our country move on without 219 citizens that can still be rescued, it just doesn’t make sense, no society grows by abandoning its citizens."

Also re-echoing her sentiments then, the Chairman of the Chibok community in Abuja, Hosea Abana, expressed dissatisfaction with the level of search. He said, “I believe the girls are still alive, I am not sure that they have combed Sambisa as they may want us to believe, Sambisa is very large. I don’t know where the girls are but I refuse to share the view that they have been killed. The girls that we called for their return 360 days ago are still not back with their parents. People want to move on, but we can’t afford to move on, we must find our girls and bring them back."

Also, sometime in April 2015, Ezekwesili took to the world stage to task President Barack Obama of the United States to replicate the Osama effect and rescue the girls. Speaking as one of the TIME Magazine 2015 World Most 100 Influential People, held at Lincoln Centre, New York City, she said if Obama could succeed in bringing down world renowned terrorist, Osama Bin Laden, then he can very well rescue the girls.

She had said, "If he could get Osama Bin Laden, he could get our girls. It is time for someone as powerful as Barack Obama to compare the girls of Chibok to his own daughters. These girls are a symbol of our own message to girls, that they should be educated, that we would go beyond the call of duty for you."

Still keeping faith, the BBOG and the families took the bull by the horns and a meeting was fixed with President Muhammadu Buhari, as regarding the fate of the remaining 219 Chibok girls, who are yet to be found.

One of the Co-convener of the group and former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, led other members and they marched to the presidency. Chief among the questions the group asked was what the government was doing to bring the girls back.

She had said, "I could have chosen the easy path of looking away on the tragedy of our #ChibokGirls to avoid the toxin they spew.

God forbids. I stand on. We have written to request for a meeting with the President as we did on several occasions with the previous government. "The meeting shall enable us to express our deep anxieties at the failure of the Federal Government to rescue our 219 Chibok girls. We shall also use the meeting to understand and contribute to the strategy for countering terrorism, ensuring post-insurgency recovery and other related issues."

That meeting didn't go too well as they left disillusioned. While some members of the group alleged that the president walked out on them angrily during the dialogue, Ezekwesili however debunked it, although she did add that there

Usman

was no connection.

Battle with Critics Expectedly, the unflinching stance of the group was not without some challenges. They have had to battle with the elements, snide remarks, countless accusations and even physical confrontations. During one of their sit-outs in Abuja in 2014, the then Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu had attempted to disrupt their gathering, threatening to arrest them for disturbing the peace of the city. Believing firmly in the rule of law, the group sought legal redress, also for restraining order against the police, and they were later backed up by the Inspector General of Police, who distanced himself from the attempt to arrest the group.

It was during one of such attempts to besmirch the campaign that Ezekwesili, went for the jugular of those seemingly opposing their efforts, calling them heathens. She had said, "I had to offload my fury on those who should consolidate effort at rescuing our #ChibokGirls but are rather directing energy at wrong targets.

Heathens who proudly work evil thinking that the creator of eyes and ears can neither see nor hear. Hear me well, God is not mocked.

"Heathens who see public office as a spoil can never understand we who passed through same office and spat on those ignoble and accursed wealth. If even the parents of the girls abducted them, would we as a sane nation not do everything to rescue them? What then is the irritation about. "Heathens wish that we should feel guilt for standing for the cause of the vulnerable children of our nation. We shall stand on. Heathens wish to embed a culture of wickedness as the spirit of our shared humanity?

No. It cannot be, Keep on raging. We"ll keep demanding. These heathen just cannot get it.

How can they? Heartless, they make double Victims of #ChibokGirls who were already victims. Heartless lot!" Condemning claims that they were paid by the then opposition she had said, "These heathens imagine vain things by lying to themselves that our empathy is opposition inspired, money or power induced.

Heartless lot. We will not stop demanding for our #ChibokGirls. Take joy in persisting. No matter how loud the heathens rage and imagine vain things. "We have reason to thank God for keeping filthy minds far from us. Filthy minds for whom money and power are reason to ignore the #ChibokGirls. Let it be known to all that nothing the Federal Government and their minions do to me for standing for the #ChibokGirls shall ever dissuade me. Heathens who have decided that we all must join and call bad, good and good, bad. We who refused are torn at. You waste your time."

This came right on the heels of the recent twitter clash between her and the presidential Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe, where the latter called her out, adding that her grouse was her inability to accept Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's sublime supremacy over her.

Although that was in the past administration, nothing has changed now. From their botched attempt to protest to the presidency to the belief that they had lost tempo and claims by critics that they were bought to embarrass the previous administration.

At another time, some critics on the social media tasked the group over their recent

purported silence since the assumption of office of the new administration. The critics claimed the BBOG had reduced the tempo of their demands, unlike what they did during the regime of the former administration.

Hiding his identity but tweeting from @ RadicalYouthMan, one critic wrote, "To all those activists in BBOG and Twitter that sold us a lie and called it change, receive your reward from APC. God's reward, comes." Another salvo was shot by one Skywalker tweeting from @ Irosky007 who wrote, "Today, the vociferous, unholy campaigns and harassment of #BBOG has automatically seized, or have the girls returned?"

Tweeting a gift card he had created as "An award of hypocrisy' one @Mayourspeaks wrote, "This award Goes to #BBOG Mummy @obyezeks.

Thanks so much for your hypocritic contribution to finding our girls. Love you ma." Also sharing the picture of the group at the daily sit out, he wrote, "Well in case you don't know!! This are the no of people left in the #BBOG propaganda started by our Mum @obyezeks."

To which Tunji Iromini tweeting from @ Detunjiprino replied, "So if I pray right now that your sister, mother, daughter or loved ones be kidnapped, will your Amen be resounding? Also, social media entrepreneur, Japheth Omojuwa came to the defence of the group.

Tweeting from @omojuwa he flayed claims that the group had disbanded.

He wrote, "If you said no girls were kidnapped and you are tweeting 'what happened to #BringBackOurGirls?' you should donate yourself to a BioGas company. Because the #BringBackOurGirls group continues to meet in Abuja everyday, like they did during the last ill-fated government. Only there is a difference between now and then: today's government considers the BBOG group a partner. With a collective purpose and essence."

This is even as Ezekwesili had explained that they were still waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue the girls. Tweeting from @ Obyezeks she wrote, "Scam. A word that in heaven, some Nigerians must get ready to apologize to God for, seeing that it hardened their hearts to 219 young victims.

"We continue to hold our daily sit-out as always. Only our occasional marches was delayed to enable administration settle in.

DAY434 of our #ChibokGirls. Mr. President @MBuhari the whole world awaits the progress report on your promise to rescue our 219 Girls. #BBOG! Learning from the failure of others is wisdom. Hopefully, this administration and their supporters have learned that you cannot bully @BBOG_Nigeria."

In fact, just recently, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, stirred the hornets nest when he said the girls were not missing, claiming rather that it was a fabricated attempt to punish and removed Jonathan. Speaking in Ado Ekiti during a two-day workshop organised by Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin Women Arise for Change Initiative, he said, “You can’t get what is not missing. The cries over missing girls were just a political strategy. What could Boko Haram have used to carry those girls? However, if truly missing, they should be recovered. One thing I know is that what is not missing you cannot get.”

“It pains me that some of the human rights activists had gone since the advent of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government. They have lost their voices. Where were they when DSS invaded the Ekiti House of Assembly and arrested a lawmaker and locked him up? They were flouting court’s orders at will and victimising opposition. It is better we collectively speak up now or we are consumed."

But some youths under the auspices of NorthEast Youth Peace and Development Empowerment Initiative (NEYPDEI) quickly responded to his Salvo. The president of the group, Alhaji Kyari Abubakar, said it was a surprise that somebody like Fayose who regards himself as a democrat could make such a statement to score a cheap political point. He said, “We are surprised that this statement is coming from someone who regards himself as a democrat, that statement suggest that he has no sympathy for the parents of the abducted girls and the pains they are currently passing through.”

Thousands Rescued, Yet No Chibok Girls In September 2015, malnourished kids were among 139 rescued from Boko Haram. They were rescued in Bitta and Pulka in Borno state.

44

• T H I S D AY THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

FEATURES CHIBOK GIRLS: A GAPING WOUND TWO YEARS AFTER

BBOG group in a face off with the police

In October, 338 hostages were rescued from villages near the Sambisa Forest, a Boko Haram stronghold. In December, 900 hostages were liberated by the Cameroonian government according to the Information Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakari. Also in December, the acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, said the army rescued 210 civilians held captive by the terrorists.

But in January 2016, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, during a meeting with Chibok parents, BBOG and the presidency, said in the last three months the military has liberated more than 3000 people kidnapped by Boko Haram in the North eastern part of the country. He said that the military had the ability to rescue the Chibok girls, but added that “intelligence is delicate and we don’t want to do anything to jeopardise the lives of the girls.” In February 2016, Usman said the NA has rescued 1,890 people who were being held by the Boko Haram insurgents at various locations in the North-east in the past two weeks. He said the rescued persons included 800 Nigerians who crossed over to Banki, Cameroon and were brought back to the country by troops of the 21 Brigade.

Explaining further, he said the troops 121 Task Force rescued 45 persons comprising 17 women and 28 children during a joint operations with Cameroonian forces at Mararraba, Angwan Fada, Dale and Wizha Bokko Timit, Bokko Nasanu and Bokko Hidde up to Ngoshe, adding that 350 others including five Cameroonian girls were rescued in a joint operation by troops of 7 Division Garrison, 112 Battalion, Army Headquarters Support Group and Armed Forces Special Forces at Gajibo, Maula, Gamai, Gamare, Maiwa, Warsale, Tangli, Tushi, Sowa, Hasanari, Changuwa, Malamaja, and Marya in Dikwa and Mafa Local Government Areas.

He added that a similar rescue operation by the troops of 7 Division Garrison, their counterparts of 112 Task Force Battalion, and Armed Forces Special Forces, on February 17, 2016, at Kwaptara, Mijigete, Garin Boka, Mosole, Ngubdori, Ma’asa, Dukje and Gulumba in Dikwa and Bama Local Government Areas resulted in the rescue of 195 Boko Haram’s captives.

“On February 23, 2016, troops of 21 Brigade in conjunction with troops of MNJTF on clearance operations at Kumshe general area, rescued 250 persons, mainly women and children held hostages by Boko Haram terrorists and brought back 800 refugees from Cameroon.

On February 23, 2016, troops of 7 Division rescued 150 persons at Kodo. The troops of the 21 Brigade also intercepted 3,000 Nigerian refugees who were crossing from Wambatche, Liman and Kodo Fata villages in Cameroon into Nigeria," he said.

Also in February, soldiers rescued 195 people held hostage by Boko Haram Takfiri terrorists in Borno , and a range of equipment and livestock seized including two trucks, 180 motorcycles, 750 bicycles and a generator.

In March, Nigerian Army rescued 701 people

Michelle Obama

around Gwoza local council of Borno State held hostage by Boko Haram terrorists, as a result of the joint operation of the Nigerian Army and their Cameroonian counterpart. They were rescued from Ngoshe, Bokko, Bokkotinta, Bokkosatu, Bokkokugile, Chikide, Chirawa and Dale villages all in Gwoza local council.

Still in March, 800 people held captive by the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram were rescued in two separate missions. No fewer than 309 hostages were after a battle in the Kala Blage area in which 22 militants were reportedly killed and afterwards, an additional 520 people were rescued in the village of Kusumma with three Boko Haram fighters killed and one captured.

Also, 114 Task Force Battalion, while on patrol along Bitta-Pridang-Manawashe axis rescued 95 persons suspected to have escaped from Madube and Shuwari general area and similarly, 117 Task Force Battalion also conducted another patrol around Mildo, Vapura, Mildo, Shelmi, Gubla, Dar and Hyambula settlements and rescued 27 persons who escaped from Mayo Ali village.

Although no one was rescued, troops of 81 Battalion and 251 Task Force Battalion of 25 Task Force Brigade, 7 Division destroyed the spiritual power base of Boko Haram located inside Alagarno forest in Borno StateThe army still in March, rescued 63 persons who were in the captivity of the sect during separate operations at Lawin Meleri, Matiri Bulaka and Aljeri villages. In April, the army said it has freed 275 captives during clearing operations in multiple towns in the North-east. The army also killed 15 Boko Haram fighters and a factory used to make Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) was destroyed.

Although the Nigerian army in this dispensation has recorded a huge success in the Boko Haram war, rescuing many people and recapturing almost all territories from the insurgents, however, despite all the efforts, the Chibok girls remain missing.

So, Where Are the Chibok Girls?

For many, the question whether the girls are even alive and whether they were still in Nigeria begs for answers. Last year, an official of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Mr. Raad Zeid al Hussein, had said that the girls may have been slaughtered in Bama. He had premised his verdict on the fact that the girls may have been part of the women who were murdered by the insurgents before they fled from Bama and other towns in Borno State just before the Nigerian military and allied forces from Chad and Niger recovered the territories. According to him, various reports at his department in Geneva showed that "the recent recovery of territories in the North-east brought to light macabre scenes of mass graves and more obvious signs of killings by Boko Haram.

"The use of children by Boko Haram as expendable cannon meat and human bombs could, if confirmed, constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. There are persistent

and credible reports of serious violations by the Nigerian security forces and other countries in their fight against Boko Haram, and called for “complete and fully transparent investigations by the authorities."

But the Federal Government immediately rose up to debunk the rumours. The then Coordinator of National Information Centre (NIC), Mr. Mike Omeri, who debunked the report said all is not lost yet as regard rescuing the girls. He had said, "The search for Chibok girls continues and that is why even with capture of Bama and the rest, security and military have never relented, and until it is concluded, we cannot begins to believe speculation. " However, the President, Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), Dr. Ona Ekhomu, is also of the school of thought that the girls have been given away. In a press statement last year he said, "I’m sure that most of the girls have been given away to terrorist commanders or sold off as wives or as sex slaves by Shekau."

Security Experts Call for Robust Security Measures While the clamour for the rescue of the girls continues, renowned security expert and President, Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), Dr. Ona Ekhomu, called for robust school security measures to be put in place. He had also called for the creation of standards of security to harden educational institutions against terrorist attacks, adding that school authorities and state governments in the North -east should urgently design security master plans for schools in order to safeguard students and teachers from terrorist attacks.

Describing the plight of the Chibok girls as tragic, he said, "I’m sure that most of the girls have been given away to terrorist commanders or sold off as wives or as sex slaves by Shekau but the most important lesson of the Chibok mass abduction was for the authorities to be proactive in the implementation of security measures aimed at protecting students from mass abductions or mass murder.

He said, "Recall that many schools had been successfully attacked by Boko Haram including Bayero University Kano, the University of Maiduguri, Federal Polytechnic Mubi, School of Hygiene Technology in Kano, Government Girls Secondary School Mamudo - Yobe State, Government Secondary School Buni Yadi - Yobe State.

"The Boko Haram sect had previously taken several female hostages from various schools in Yobe and Borno states. The seizure of girls in Chibok was not the first such incident. Thus, safe school initiative is not being focused on protecting school populations, rather the initiative was “British culture-bound” focusing on infrastructure development, emergency relief and rehabilitation of the Chibok girls who may never be found.

"Rather than on preventive, detective or reactive physical security measures that could address the

existential threat to schools in northern Nigeria.

Also, Security experts need to be involved in conducting vulnerability assessments and threat assessment of schools in order to develop workable school security master plans."The plans should include concentric layers of protective measures, smoke bombs to conceal students in their hostels from marauders, electrified hardware to lock-down the school in the event of an invasion by malevolent individuals. The plan should include security awareness training for schools including teachers and students.

"The authorities need to establish a 911 emergency response system for taking calls from persons in distress. Also, there should be professionally manned-emergency calls centers in order to avoid exposing callers to grave risk."

Also speaking on the spread of terrorism and insurgency and its consequences, another security expert, Mr. Patrick Agbambu, the International Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of Security Watch Africa, said the nation needs to seek security expertise and equipment from knowledgeable counties and manufacturers on how to effectively combat the menace of Boko Haram, Al-Shabbab and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

He said the affiliation of some of these groups with ISIS poses greater danger to not only Nigeria but Africa and the entire world, adding that "the last decade has witnessed very fundamental and structural changes in the security threats facing all nations of the world. Attention is gradually shifting from individual criminal activities within communities to cross border crimes such as terrorism and insurgency. "According to a new study by the Global Terrorism index, the number of killing by acts of terrorism increased by 80 per cent in 2014 alone. Of this figure, Islamic State (ISIS) and Boko Haram were between them responsible for 51 per cent of all claimed global killings and 78 per cent of all deaths occurred in Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Kenya, Somalia and Syria.

"Extremism has become the main causes of all the violent killings and clashes the world is facing now. We must as individuals and groups endeavour to shun extreme beliefs. As security personnel, we owe our families, communities and countries the onerous responsibility of re-strategising and re-energising our security apparatus with a view to forestalling further threats to our societies.

"This is the time to recognise that intelligence gathering is central to our safety and that we must urgently become friends with our communities in order to be able to protect them better. As advisers, we must encourage our political leaders to seek alternative solutions outside increased funding of our defence and security budgets."

Although the fate of the remaining 219 girls remains unknown, it yet behooves the Nigerian Government not to fail in rescuing them from captivity despite the two years already spent in captivity.

T H I S D AY THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016

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THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 T H I S D AY

THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

World Bank Set to Provide Egypt with First $1bn of $3bn Loan The World Bank will provide the first $1 billion tranche of a $3 billion loan to Egypt after parliament approves the government’s economic programme, World Bank vice president, Hafez Ghanem, said at a news conference late Tuesday.

Parliament is expected to pass the program in April.

Egypt has been negotiating billions of dollars in aid from various lenders to help revive an economy battered by political upheaval since the 2011 revolt and ease a dollar shortage that has crippled import activity and hampered recovery.

The lender had agreed to provide the first $1 billion in December but is waiting for the government’s economic programme, which outlines the broad strokes of its reform plans, to be passed by parliament.

The government presented a programme to parliament in late March that aimed to reduce the budget deficit while protecting the poor.

The World Bank told

Reuters in December that the first tranche was focused on “10 prior actions for policy and institutional reforms” already implemented. The second and third tranches are linked to additional reforms the government plans. A long-delayed Value Added Tax (VAT) that has yet to be implemented but was included in the government programme was one of the reforms agreed to as part of the first tranche, Ghanem said.

Ghanem said that there would not be specific conditions placed on future tranches but highlighted certain changes the lender would like to see, such as a shift in food subsidy policy away from reduced prices to direct cash transfers for the poor.

Egypt has delayed a number of difficult reforms, from a VAT that would increase government revenues and a civil service law that would trim the country’s public workforce, to an ambitious plan to wean the country off

costly energy subsidies that has since been scaled back.

Egypt’s economy is currently growing at around 4.2 percent with a budget deficit of about 11.5 percent, the prime minister said last month. Saudi Arabia, along with other Gulf oil producers, have pumped billions of dollars, including grants, into Egypt’s flagging economy since the army toppled President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 after mass protests against his rule.

But Egypt has said it would rely less on grants from its neighbours moving forward and would focus instead on attracting foreign investment that could relaunch its dollar starved economy. Last week it signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia to set up a 60 billion Saudi riyal ($16 billion) investment fund among other investment agreements including an economic free-zone to develop Egypt’s Sinai region.

Ceasefire Observers Deploy in Three Yemeni Provinces Local ceasefire monitors arrived at three Yemeni provinces yesterday to consolidate a shaky truce, residents and officials said, ahead of U.N.-sponsored peace talks scheduled to start in Kuwait next week. Over 6,200 people have been killed in a year of fighting between forces loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the Houthis, a conflict pitting the Yemeni allies of Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, against those of Iran.

Local officials said teams of 12 monitors were deployed in Marib province east of the capital Sanaa, in southwestern Taiz province and in Hajjah province in the north to try to stop truce violations and allow humanitarian aid to pass through.

The monitors - officers and tribal figures from among the Houthis and followers of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, along with Hadi’s government would also try to resolve problems and record complaints of violations and send them to a higher committee working under United Nations supervision.

The deployment comes amid fresh reports of violations by both sides of the truce that began at midnight on Sunday.

Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdel-Salam had said local committees would be d e p l o y e d i n

six provinces where fighting had been taking place. Apart from Marib, Hajjah and Taiz, monitors would also be deployed in Shabwa, al-Bayda and Dalea provinces in southern and central Yemen.

Abdel-Salam, in remarks to the Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper published on Wednesday, said the Houthis regard the truce “as a step towards a complete halt to the war” in Yemen. Officials say they see the truce as the best chance for Yemen to end a year of fighting that has drawn in a Saudi-led alliance to fight what they see as Iran’s expansion into the Arabian Peninsula.

Iran supports the Houthis, a political group with a powerful militia that belongs to the Zaydi branch of Shi’ite Islam. Previous ceasefire agreements failed to end fighting that began in March last year after the Houthis advanced on Hadi’s headquarters in the southern port city of Aden, forcing the president and his government to flee to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia and the Houthi group have observed a period of calm along their common border since last month, paving the way for the truce to be reached. U.N.sponsored peace talks are set to begin on April 18 in Kuwait, bringing together the Houthis and the Saudibacked government.

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

States Accessed N13.12bn Loans from Banks, Deposited N17.17bn in 2015 James Emejo in Abuja A total sum of N13.12 billion was advanced as credit to the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2015, according to figures released yesterday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). On the other hand, states’ total deposit in commercial banks including the FCT was valued at N17.17 billion within the same period.

The figures contained in the statistical agency’s ‘Bank Credit and Deposit by States in Nigeria 2010-2015’ which was released yesterday showed Lagos State as top borrower, which accessed N10.12 billion and deposited N8.70 billion last year.

The FCT drew N402.11 million and deposited N2.30 billion within the period in review while Abia State accessed N72.37 million and deposited N243.98 million.

Rivers States was also one of

the top borrowers in 2015 with N658.28 million and had total deposits of N1.06 billion.

Other beneficiaries with credit and deposit balances are Enugu (N116.25 million; N267.02 million), Ogun (N107.80 million; N279.15 million, Oyo (N172.26 million; N388,33 million), Sokoto (N15.31 million; N71.56 million), Delta (N159.98 million; N464.25 million) and Bayelsa (N26.16 million; N70.93 million.

Others are Benue which borrowed (N45.65 million; and saved N90.56 million) within the period in review. Akwa Ibom also borrowed N56.10 million and deposited N214.15 million.

Others are Adamawa (N45.61 million; N78.41 million), Cross River (N121.91 million; N126.43 million), Ekiti (N31.57 million; N64.45 million), Ondo (N86.47 million; N154.15 million), Kaduna (N151.91 million; N270.88 million) and Kano (N185.05 million; N281.28 million).

Imo State also borrowed N71.02

million and deposited N221.15 million in its account.

Edo State accessed N70.09 million and saved N612.98 million while Osun borrowedN52.59 million and saved N154.23 million.

Others are Niger (N52.35; N85.74 million), Kwara (N61.61 million; N124.54 million), Kebbi (N22.43 million; N56.35 million), Kogi (N13.34 million; N61.34 million and Nasarrawa (N30.69 million; N65.99 million).

Gombe State borrowed N18.78 million and deposited N40.39 million in the bank while Jigawa accessed N7.35 million and saved N32.93 million while Katsina borrowed N29.36 million and deposited N105.14 million.

Plateau State borrowed N39.43 million and deposited N123.62 million while Taraba accessed N28.87 million and deposited N43.98 million.

Yobe (N4.09 million; N23.32 million), and Zamfara (N35.87 million; N27.75 million).

W’Bank to Invest $2.5bn in Education Projects for Girls Obinna Chima World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim yesterday announced that the Group would invest $2.5 billion over five years in education projects that directly benefit adolescent girls.

Kim, said empowerment of girls remains central to the group’s development efforts.

The announcement, made at the ‘Let Girls Learn’ event during the on-going World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings, was followed by a call to action from the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, urging key policymakers and influencers from around the world to commit to urgent action in support of adolescent girls.

“I’m very excited to join the

First Lady in announcing this major boost in funding for adolescent girls’ education,” Kim said.

“Empowering and educating adolescent girls is one of the best ways to stop poverty from being passed from generation to generation, and can be transformational for entire societies.

This increased funding will help provide countries, especially in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, with the tools to expand access to quality education so that all adolescent girls can go to school and reach their full potential.”

The US first lady highlighted the power of this investment in adolescent girls, as well as the transformative impact that adolescent girls’ education has

on girls, their families and their countries.

“This isn’t just a breathtaking investment of resources, it’s also a powerful statement of mission – it’s an expression of our belief in the power of education to transform the lives and prospects of millions of girls worldwide – as well as the prospects of their families, communities and countries,” Obama said.

“The evidence is very clear: when we invest in girls’ education, and we embrace women in our workforce, that doesn’t just benefit them, it benefits all of us.” By 2020 the Bank Group expects to invest at least $2.5 billion in education projects targeting adolescent girls (ages 12-17).

BPE, EFCC Strengthen Ties to Curb Financial Crimes James Emejo in Abuja The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have renewed their commitment to strengthen the standards of integrity and transparency in the reforms and privatisation transactions of both the National Council on Privatisation(NCP) and the Bureau. The acting Director General of BPE, Mr. Vincent Onome Akpotaire said the prevalence of financial crimes across the world explained the urgency and necessity for the

relationship between both agencies to be strengthened and engender seamless transactions.

Speaking in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the privatisation agency to the EFCC, Akpotaire, however, commended the efforts of the anti-graft agency in managing issues of financial crimes and pledged the support of the Bureau.

He stressed that the continuity in seamless interface between the two agencies in the course of the Bureau’s transactions had been of immense benefit.

Specifically, he attributed the

success recorded in the power privatisation transaction to its collaboration with the anti-graft agency, whereby high standards of transparency was maintained.

He further sought for the installation of a desk officer from the EFCC in BPE, arguing that such initiative would ensure the EFCC’s oversight of BPE transactions from the inception to the final stage of transactions. He also recommended workshops and inter-agency training programmes between both parties to ensure the agencies are frequently updated with transaction processes.

FCMB Unveils Another Customer Reward Scheme First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited said it is set to enhance the experience of its customers through another reward scheme tagged “FCMB Millionaire Promo Season 3.”

The bank explained that the latest promotion has been designed to provide extra empowerment value to customers of the bank, while encouraging financial inclusion and savings culture.

According to the bank, the new promo followed the success it recorded in the second phase of the “Millionaire Promo” held between August 2015 and January 2016 across the country.

FCMB added that the “Millionaire Promo Season 3” which runs from April to November this year, is targeted at all segments of the society, especially existing and potential

savings account customers of the bank. This, it stated however, excludes salary and domiciliary account holders.

“During the promo, various exciting prizes will be won by qualified customers. While four lucky customers of the bank will, each, win the star prize of N2 million at the grand finale of the promo scheduled for December. 12.

Jim Yong Kim

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, 12 APRIL 2016 The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $38.62 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $37.02 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

49

T H I S D AY • thurSDAY, APrIL 14, 2016

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

13-Apr-16

01 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc.

12-Apr-16

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

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.

3.71

3.86

-3.89%

107,322,774,751.01

2.28

1.63

0.32

14.82%

0.29

03 AIICO Insurance Plc.

0.72

0.75

-4.00%

4,989,747,225.60

0.28

2.60

0.15

6.94%

0.51

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

1.03

1.00

3.00%

10,683,926,641.36

0.21

4.99

0.54

0.00%

0.69

08 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.95

3.95

0.00%

23,233,363,570.25

0.71

5.53

0.78

5.06%

0.89

160.00

160.00

0.00%

2,726,481,184,800.00

10.64

15.04

5.54

5.00%

4.23

10 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

5.20

5.20

0.00%

62,400,000,000.00

0.96

5.41

0.62

9.62%

1.07

11 Diamond Bank Plc

1.25

1.30

-3.85%

28,950,486,210.00

0.92

1.36

0.15

24.00%

0.13

13.90

13.90

0.00%

255,058,761,888.50

1.39

9.98

0.49

4.46%

0.68

13 FBN Holdings Plc

3.40

3.39

0.29%

122,043,995,492.80

2.16

1.58

0.30

29.41%

0.21

14 FCMB Group Plc.

0.90

0.96

-6.25%

17,822,439,702.90

0.24

3.74

0.12

11.11%

0.11

15 Fidelity Bank Plc

1.37

1.35

1.48%

39,678,742,398.04

0.48

2.85

0.27

11.68%

0.22

16 Fidson Healthcare Plc

2.00

1.92

4.17%

3,000,000,000.00

0.50

4.03

0.37

2.50%

0.47

20.00

20.29

-1.43%

52,484,743,740.00

1.84

10.86

0.16

10.00%

0.51

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.

14.83

14.21

4.36%

436,464,387,891.92

3.38

4.39

1.90

11.94%

1.06

21 Guinness Nig Plc

99.99

100.00

-0.01%

150,573,759,918.12

0.78

128.48

3.02

0.00%

3.37

1.39

1.35

2.96%

11,022,974,744.62

0.14

9.84

0.22

11.51%

0.51

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.

75.01

75.01

0.00%

341,663,184,768.10

5.93

12.66

1.28

4.00%

1.94

1.95

2.00

-2.50%

20,475,000,000.00

0.16

12.32

1.24

2.56%

1.18

150.00

161.99

-7.40%

54,089,289,300.00

13.51

11.10

0.84

4.80%

3.52

7.80

8.01

-2.62%

20,665,619,348.40

0.79

9.81

1.28

7.05%

2.92

645.00

675.00

-4.44%

511,263,282,540.00

29.95

21.54

3.38

4.50%

13.45

3.89

3.89

0.00%

6,318,210,937.50

0.33

11.75

0.74

5.14%

1.04

106.99

105.00

1.90%

848,334,504,007.12

5.37

19.93

3.07

3.36%

4.98

4.52

4.26

6.10%

54,396,477,400.88

0.50

9.04

0.10

16.59%

0.34

33 Okomu Oil Palm Plc.

30.04

31.25

-3.87%

28,655,456,400.00

2.76

10.89

2.94

0.33%

2.38

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

310.30

310.30

0.00%

171,692,190,123.90

23.48

13.21

1.52

5.13%

0.61

0.93

0.95

-2.11%

12,908,680,311.30

0.85

1.09

0.09

32.26%

0.09

13.00

13.00

0.00%

130,000,000,000.00

2.04

6.38

1.10

0.77%

1.16

1.56

1.56

0.00%

44,913,052,276.56

0.36

4.36

0.41

5.77%

0.47

160.50

160.50

0.00%

54,493,254,838.50

11.92

13.46

0.26

8.72%

3.35

1.03

1.00

3.00%

39,882,627,347.75

0.05

19.63

0.98

0.00%

0.46

19.40

19.40

0.00%

37,264,769,107.80

2.70

7.19

0.51

5.15%

0.50

3.80

4.00

-5.00%

6,531,249,981.00

1.81

2.10

0.58

18.42%

0.20

28.95

28.95

0.00%

109,526,426,437.50

0.32

91.86

1.85

0.17%

13.69

46 United Bank for Africa Plc

3.15

3.15

0.00%

114,280,507,914.30

1.64

1.92

0.36

19.05%

0.34

47 Unity Bank Plc

0.70

0.70

0.00%

8,182,536,559.40

0.54

1.29

0.13

0.00%

0.10

48 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,691,369,126.00

0.10

5.16

0.94

6.00%

0.45

49 Wema Bank Plc.

0.70

0.70

0.00%

27,002,126,256.70

0.06

11.60

0.59

0.00%

0.59

50 Zenith Bank Plc

11.00

10.90

0.92%

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.

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

7,872,498,439,888.16

TOTAL MARKET CAP

8,712,382,529,955.97

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

90.36%

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators

O5pen 12-Apr-16

NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion)

24,639.48 8.48

24,637.91 8.47

-0.01% -0.01%

101.05 7.87

101.11 7.87

0.06% 0.06%

Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

Close 13-Apr-16

Change %

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers Stock

O5pen Close Change % 12-Apr-16 13-Apr-16

Oando Plc Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. Fidson Healthcare Plc Continental Reinsurance Plc Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc

4.26 14.21 1.92 1.00 1.00

4.52 14.83 2.00 1.03 1.03

6.10% 4.36% 4.17% 3.00% 3.00%

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

O5pen Close Change % 12-Apr-16 13-Apr-16

Mobil Oil Nig Plc. FCMB Group Plc. UACN Property Development Co. Limited Nestle Nigeria Plc. AIICO Insurance Plc.

161.99 0.96 4.00

150.00 0.90 3.80

-7.40% -6.25% -5.00%

675.00 0.75

645.00 0.72

-4.44% -4.00%

Market index decline marginally by 0.01% Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today – Wednesday, April 13, 2016 was bearish as the market closed red due to profit taking. This was further highlighted by negative performances from the NSE Sub sectors; Oil & Gas and Insurance (Save Consumer Goods and Banking). Trading activities decreased in volume as 162.47 million shares worth N1.02 billion in 3,079 deals exchanged hands today. This is a decrease from the 225.29 million shares worth N750.23 million in 3,058 deals carried out on Tuesday. Topping in volume terms was Zenith Bank Plc, Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, while Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed negative with a 0.01% (-1.57) decrease to 24,637.91 from 24,639.48 the previous trading day. Market Capitalization depreciated in tandem to N8.47 trillion from N8.48 trillion of prior trading day. However, the Thisday BGL 50 Index outperform the market with 0.06% increase to close at 101.11 from 101.05 the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N7.872 trillion from N8.868 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 14 stocks gained on the bourse today while 22 stocks declined, leaving 64 stocks unchanged. Oando Plc emerged the toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 6.1% to close at N4.52 per share. It was followed Guaranty Trust Bank Plc with a gain of 4.36% to close at N14.83 per share. Others on the gainers list include; Fidson Healthcare Plc, Continental Reinsurance Plc and Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc, while on the decliners’ list; Mobil Oil Nig Plc led with a loss of 7.4% to close at N150 per share. It was followed by FCMB Group Plc with a loss of 6.25% to close at N0.90 per share. Others on the losers list include; UACN Property Development Co. Limited, Nestle Nigeria Plc and AIICO Insurance 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

50

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

MARKET NEWS

Ecobank Records 68% Decline in Profit After Tax to N21.2 Billion Goddy Egene and Eromosele Abiodun Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) has recorded a dip of 68 per cent in profit after tax (PAT) for the year ended December 31, 2015 in line with its warning of revenue drop for the period. ETI was among the five banks that sent profit warnings to the capital market community

that revenue growth would be lower than expected due to a combination of low oil prices as weaker currencies hampered economic performance across the continent.

The audited results of the bank released yesterday showed that profit before tax (PBT) declined by 53 per cent from N86.4 billion in 2014 to N40.6 billion in 2015.

PAT dipped by 68 per cent from

N65.7 billion to N21.25 billion.

Although the company reported a growth of 11 per cent in operating PBT, huge provisions for impairment charges depressed the bottom line.

Commenting on the performance, Group CEO of ETI, Mr. Ade Ayeyemi said: “Our 2015 results were disappointing. We did a comprehensive

review of our processes and portfolio leading to elevated impairment charges in the fourth quarter. Impairment losses were significantly increased by $265 million to $532 million. This was unacceptable to us, and we have taken drastic steps to address asset quality and strengthen our processes. Also, we were faced with a difficult operating environment due to the slowdown in

economic growth across Africa, as a result of lower commodity prices. These developments affected both households and businesses. Our cost-income ratio was 64.9 per cent, flat compared to prior year.

However, he said the diversified business model of the company is a source of competitive strength. “Our diversified business model is

DAILY STOCK MARKET REPORT T H E

PRICES FOR PREMIUM BOARD SECURITIES

N I G E R I A N

STO C K

a source of competitive strength and stability. In the last few months, management and I, have worked to revise our strategy and operating model around our customers, our products, and our geographical footprint. We have made some management changes and developed a strategic plan aimed at ensuring we generate sustainable long-term performance,” Ayeyemi stated.

E XC H A N G E

Price List (Equities)

FINANCIAL SERVICES S/N 1

BANKING ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

345,361.43

11.00

0.92

341

22,991,596

S/N

PROCESSING SYSTEMS

120

CHAMS PLC

341

22,991,596

121

E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC

BANKING S/N 2

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FBN HOLDINGS PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

122,044.00

3.40

0.29

230

7,137,973

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

230

7,137,973

FINANCIAL SERVICES

571

30,129,569

INDUSTRIAL GOODS S/N 3

BUILDING MATERIALS DANGOTE CEMENT PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

2,726,481.18

160.00

-

31

81,754

31

81,754

BUILDING MATERIALS INDUSTRIAL GOODS PREMIUM BOARD TOTALS PRICES FOR MAIN BOARD SECURITIES

31

81,754

602

30,211,323

Price List (Equities)

AGRICULTURE S/N

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

5

OKOMU OIL PALM PLC.

28,655.46

30.04

-3.87

10

331,600

6

PRESCO PLC

CROP PRODUCTION

35,010.00

35.01

1.18

5

125,680

15

457,280

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1,840.00

0.92

-2.13

27

977,050

CROP PRODUCTION S/N

FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING

FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING S/N 8

LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC.

LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES

27

977,050

AGRICULTURE

42

1,434,330

CONGLOMERATES S/N 9

DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

2,117.83

0.80

-

4

106,300

13

TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC

39,882.63

1.03

3.00

105

17,814,041

14

U A C N PLC.

37,264.77

19.40

-

45

130,263

DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES

154

18,050,604

CONGLOMERATES

154

18,050,604 VOLUME

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE S/N

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES 0

0

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

542.19

0.50

-

1

692

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION S/N

BUILDING STRUCTURE/COMPLETION/OTHER

16

COSTAIN (W A) PLC.

17

G CAPPA PLC

1,807.50

14.46

-

1 2

792

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

56,760.00

43.00

-

2

1,220

2

1,220

TRADES

VOLUME

BUILDING STRUCTURE/COMPLETION/OTHER S/N 18

INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC.

INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION S/N 20

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

6,531.25

3.80

-5.00

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT S/N

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS)

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS) CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE

100

13

533,739

13

533,739

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

17

535,751

CONSUMER GOODS S/N 24

AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

2,386.33

0.50

-

AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS S/N

BEVERAGES--BREWERS/DISTILLERS

25

CHAMPION BREW. PLC.

26

GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC.

27

GUINNESS NIG PLC

28

INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC.

29

JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC.

30

NIGERIAN BREW. PLC.

31

PREMIER BREWERIES PLC

32

BEVERAGES--NON-ALCOHOLIC 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. FOOD PRODUCTS

480,000 480,000

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

24,271.44

3.10

-

7

55,310

253.11

0.93

-

1

10

150,573.76

99.99

-0.01

41

109,479

65,884.99

20.00

-

7

16,010

848.62

1.51

-

1

10

848,334.50

106.99

1.90

2,888.67

2.95

%CHANGE

103

465,015

3

5,110

163

650,944

TRADES

VOLUME

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

94,166.78

147.00

-

11 11

3,761

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

BEVERAGES--NON-ALCOHOLIC S/N

VOLUME

1 1

MARKET CAP(Nm)

BEVERAGES--BREWERS/DISTILLERS S/N

TRADES

3,761

33

DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC

62,400.00

5.20

-

17

174,865

34

FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC.

52,484.74

20.00

-1.43

50

487,869

HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC

11,022.97

1.39

2.96

10

145,000

35 37

N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC.

1,185.03

6.65

-

1

150

38

NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC

20,665.62

7.80

-2.62

36

911,241

40

TIGER BRANDED CONSUMER GOODS PLC

11,400.00

2.28

-2.98

46

1,544,338

42

UNION DICON SALT PLC.

3,075.06

11.25

-

2

40,100

162

3,303,563

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

FOOD PRODUCTS S/N

FOOD PRODUCTS--DIVERSIFIED

43

CADBURY NIGERIA PLC.

44

NESTLE NIGERIA PLC.

27,741.04

14.77

-

15

58,503

511,263.28

645.00

-4.44

84

194,996

99

253,499

FOOD PRODUCTS--DIVERSIFIED S/N 46

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES VITAFOAM NIG PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

5,326.78

5.42

-

1

6,000

1

6,000

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

93,306.21

23.50

-

21

112,727

109,526.43

28.95

-

22

69,090

43

181,817

480

4,879,584

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES S/N

PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

48

P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC.

49

UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC.

PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS CONSUMER GOODS FINANCIAL SERVICES S/N

BANKING

50

ACCESS BANK PLC.

51

DIAMOND BANK PLC

52

ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED

53

FIDELITY BANK PLC

54

GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC.

55

SKYE BANK PLC

56

STERLING BANK PLC.

57

UNION BANK NIG.PLC.

58

UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC

59

UNITY BANK PLC

60

WEMA BANK PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE 3.71

4.21

147

9,779,976

28,950.49

1.25

-3.85

54

3,119,420

255,058.76

13.90

-

75

470,573

107,322.77

39,695.47

1.37

1.48

111

11,425,472

436,464.39

14.83

4.36

279

17,669,138

12,908.68

0.93

-2.11

35

1,881,594

44,913.05

1.56

-

77,396.64

4.57

-4.99

34

574,564

114,280.51

3.15

-0.95

244

12,163,435

8,182.54

0.70

4.29

27,002.13

0.70

-

BANKING S/N

INSURANCE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES

7

14

134,736

2,831,500

17

3,621,519

1,017

63,671,927

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

4,989.75

0.72

-4.00

13

2,295,750

20,475.00

1.95

-2.50

2

250,100

3,000.00

0.50

-

1

14,000

10,683.93

1.03

3.00

13

690,250

7,000.00

0.50

-

1

300,000

642.04

0.50

-

1

186,666

62

AIICO INSURANCE PLC.

63

AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC

64

CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC

65

CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC

67

EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC.

71

INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC

74

LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC.

2,406.13

0.70

-

1

100,000

76

MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC.

4,000.00

0.50

-

1

2,000

77

N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC.

4,013.18

0.76

-5.00

30

12,707,150

PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC.

2,759.15

0.50

-

1

1,000

86

UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC

8,000.00

0.50

-

1

250,000

87

79

WAPIC INSURANCE PLC

6,691.37

0.50

-

1

37

66

16,796,953

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

2,652.50

1.16

-

1

10,000

1

10,000

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

INSURANCE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES S/N 89

MICRO-FINANCE BANKS NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC

MICRO-FINANCE BANKS S/N

MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES S/N

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

95

AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC

96

CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC

98

FCMB GROUP PLC.

100

ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC.

102

STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC

103

UNITED CAPITAL PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

5,220.00

2.61

4.40

48

3,003,849

23,233.36

3.95

-

6

34,349

0.90

4.65

74

8,551,864

17,822.44 2,572.69

0.50

-

1

1,000

130,000.00

13.00

-

11

42,522

9,120.00

1.52

1.33

78

4,356,712

218

15,990,296

1,302

96,469,176

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0 VOLUME

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SERVICES HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS S/N

MEDICAL SUPPLIES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES 0

0

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

3,000.00

2.00

4.17

10

249,073

29,861.04

24.97

-

10

9,854

MEDICAL SUPPLIES S/N

PHARMACEUTICALS

108

FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC

109

GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC.

110

MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC.

111

NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC

112 113

12,600

18

483,650

20

496,250

PROCESSING SYSTEMS S/N

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

122 MASS TELECOMMUNICATION INNOVATIONS NIGERIA PLC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

2,446.80

0.50

-

ICT

TRADES

TRADES

VOLUME

VOLUME

1

1,000,000

1

1,000,000

23

1,496,550

TRADES

VOLUME

INDUSTRIAL GOODS S/N

BUILDING MATERIALS

124

ASHAKA CEM PLC

125

BERGER PAINTS PLC

126

CAP PLC

127

CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC

131

LAFARGE AFRICA PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

43,803.70

19.56

-

9

9,145

2,469.30

8.52

-

11

47,042

26,950.00

38.50

-

9

6,538

8,834.44

7.03

-

10

13,852

341,663.18

75.01

-

72

286,182

132

PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC

0.95

-

1

100

133

PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC

1,152.00

2.88

-

2

23,483

134

PREMIER PAINTS PLC.

1,344.39

10.93

-

0 114

386,342

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

753.27

BUILDING MATERIALS S/N

ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS

135

AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC

2,256.91

2.09

-

136

CUTIX PLC.

1,188.89

1.35

-4.93

ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS S/N

PACKAGING/CONTAINERS

138

BETA GLASS CO PLC.

S/N

TOOLS AND MACHINERY

0

0

8

587,090

8

587,090

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

21,613.79

43.23

-4.99

5

PACKAGING/CONTAINERS MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TOOLS AND MACHINERY INDUSTRIAL GOODS

0

VOLUME 216,415

5

216,415

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

127

1,189,847 VOLUME

NATURAL RESOURCES S/N

CHEMICALS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES 0

0

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0 VOLUME

CHEMICALS S/N

METALS

METALS S/N

MINING SERVICES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES 0

0

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

134.20

0.61

-

0

0

MINING SERVICES S/N

PAPER/FOREST PRODUCTS

146

THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC.

PAPER/FOREST PRODUCTS

0

NATURAL RESOURCES OIL AND GAS

0

0

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

S/N

ENERGY EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

ENERGY EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES S/N

INTEGRATED OIL AND GAS SERVICES

148

OANDO PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

54,396.48

4.52

6.10

151

3,104,710

151

3,104,710

INTEGRATED OIL AND GAS SERVICES

150

PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTORS CONOIL PLC

151

S/N

ETERNA PLC.

152

FORTE OIL PLC.

153 154 155

TOTAL NIGERIA PLC.

0

%CHANGE

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

13,948.44

20.10

-

11

14,582

1,930.13

1.48

-4.52

28

2,750,947

381,926.53

293.23

-

6

MOBIL OIL NIG PLC.

54,089.29

150.00

-7.40

20

24,844

MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC.

11,983.19

47.18

-

5

20,949

EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION

156

SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD

VOLUME

5,305

54,493.25

160.50

-

18

10,853

88

2,827,480

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

174,836.85

310.30

-

PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTORS S/N

TRADES

EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION OIL AND GAS

18

34,060

18

34,060

257

5,966,250 VOLUME

SERVICES S/N

ADVERTISING

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES 0

0

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

ADVERTISING S/N

APPAREL RETAILERS

APPAREL RETAILERS S/N

AUTOMOBILE/AUTO PART RETAILERS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

AUTOMOBILE/AUTO PART RETAILERS S/N

COURIER/FREIGHT/DELIVERY

160

RED STAR EXPRESS PLC HOSPITALITY

S/N

HOTELS/LODGING TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC

S/N

MEDIA/ENTERTAINMENT DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC

0

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

3.80

-

5

49,740

5

49,740

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

34,885.85

4.59

-

1

43,230

1

43,230

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

6,000.00

0.50

-

1

HOTELS/LODGING 167

VOLUME

0 2,240.09

HOSPITALITY 166

0

TRADES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

COURIER/FREIGHT/DELIVERY S/N

0

MEDIA/ENTERTAINMENT

2,000

1

2,000

S/N

PRINTING/PUBLISHING

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

168

ACADEMY PRESS PLC.

405.22

0.67

-

2

3,910

169

LEARN AFRICA PLC

532.30

0.69

-4.17

3

100,000

171

UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC.

2,459.03

5.70

-

2

740

7

104,650 VOLUME

PRINTING/PUBLISHING S/N

ROAD TRANSPORTATION

172

ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

828.85

0.50

-

1

ROAD TRANSPORTATION S/N

SPECIALTY

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

SPECIALTY S/N

TRANSPORT-RELATED SERVICES

175

AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC

176

NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC SUPPORT AND LOGISTICS

178

CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC

VOLUME

0

0

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1,268.00

2.00

-

6

282,560

6,318.21

3.89

-

12 18

331,245

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

5,494.84

1.64

3.80

SUPPORT AND LOGISTICS SERVICES MAIN BOARD TOTALS PRICES FOR ASEM SECURITIES

485,000

TRADES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

TRANSPORT-RELATED SERVICES S/N

485,000

1

4

48,685

272,900

4

272,900

37

1,288,765

2,473

131,745,834

Price List (Equities)

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE S/N

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

0

0

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE

0

0

TRADES

VOLUME

CONSUMER GOODS S/N

FOOD PRODUCTS

180

MCNICHOLS PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

362.34

1.22

-

3 3

41,000

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

30.00

0.60

-

0

FOOD PRODUCTS S/N

PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

181

ROKANA INDUSTRIES PLC.

41,000

0

PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

0

0

CONSUMER GOODS

3

41,000

FINANCIAL SERVICES S/N

MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES

0

0

FINANCIAL SERVICES

0

0

HEALTHCARE S/N

PHARMACEUTICALS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

PHARMACEUTICALS

0

0

HEALTHCARE

0

0

TRADES

VOLUME

0 0

0 0

INDUSTRIAL GOODS S/N

ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIAL GOODS OIL AND GAS S/N 186

PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTORS CAPITAL OIL PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

2,928.77

0.50

-

1

475,000

1

475,000

PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTORS OIL AND GAS

1

475,000

TRADES

VOLUME

SERVICES S/N

FOOD/DRUG RETAILERS AND WHOLESALERS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

0

0

SERVICES

0

0

ASEM TOTALS

4

516,000

3,079

162,473,157

VOLUME

EQUITIES TOTALS

PRICES FOR ETP SECURITIES

Price List (ETP) PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

0.88

-

9

61,100

1

LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF

500.34

8.07

-0.86

1

5

0.66

-

2

42,050

2

NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF)

357.75

2,385.00

0.25

1

45

NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC.

556.71

3.62

-4.99

2

50,300

3

STANBIC IBTC ETF 30

824.18

72.00

-

0

0

PHARMA-DEKO PLC.

444.48

2.05

-

1

22,600

34

434,977

34

434,977

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0 VOLUME

ICT COMPUTER BASED SYSTEMS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

COMPUTER BASED SYSTEMS COMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES 0

0

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

COMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS S/N

2

-

862.40

HEALTHCARE

S/N

-

1,035.90

PHARMACEUTICALS

S/N

%CHANGE

0.50 3.90

FOOD/DRUG RETAILERS AND WHOLESALERS

HEALTHCARE S/N

PRICE

2,348.03 16,380.00

MARKET CAP(Nm)

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

0

0

S/N

4

COMPANY

VETIVA BANKING ETF

5

VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS ETF

6

VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF

7

VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF

MARKET CAP(Nm)

2.14

0.94

1

5

69.35

5.97

-0.50

1

5

1,685.98

11.21

0.27

1

5

82.55

18.84

-0.11

1

5

6

70

6

70

VOLUME

78.24

ETP TOTALS

PRICES FOR DEBT SECURITIES

Price List (BONDS)

S/N

IT SERVICES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

117

COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC

6,741.29

2.67

-

1

200

33

15.10% FGN APR 2017

502,219.20

104.60

0.70

1

118

NCR (NIGERIA) PLC.

1,130.76

10.47

-

1

100

39

15.54% FGN FEB 2020

619,305.60

111.20

-2.37

1

100

2

300

2

200

2

200

IT SERVICES

S/N

COMPANY

BONDS TOTALS

100

ock

51

THURSDAY APRIL 14, 2016 • T H I S D AY

CRIME&PUNISHMENT

Police Arrest 779 Suspects, Recover 33 Cars, 27 Guns in Lagos Smash kidnap syndicate in Enugu, free Ekweremadu’s relation, others

Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu and Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos The police in Lagos have said they have arrested about 779 suspects from different raids for crimes ranging from armed robbery and cultism, as well as raids to criminal hideouts across the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, who made this disclosure yesterday during a parade at the command headquarters at Ikeja, also said the command recovered 27 guns, 64 rounds of various ammunition and 33 different vehicles.

He said among those arrested were 23 suspected armed robbers, two cultists and 754 other persons who were apprehended during raids of criminal hideouts in the past three weeks.

Owoseni also said three suspected armed robbers were killed during gun duels with the police, and

several suspects arrested across Lagos in the last three weeks.

The police boss said out of the 754 persons raided, about 260 persons were released unconditionally after they were found to have legitimate source of livelihood.

Also,theEnuguStatePoliceCommand yesterday smashed a notorious syndicate who had terrorised Enugu metropolis in the past two weeks with specialty in kidnapping and robbing innocent citizens of their valuables.

The syndicate reportedly kidnapped a relation of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Mrs. Jane Ekweremadu, recently.

The gang made up of boys whose ages ranged from 16 and 21 years, was said to have masterminded recent kidnapping cases in Enugu metropolis and other parts of the state.

The first set of two suspects said to be led by Etim Amos, was said

to be responsible for the kidnap of Mr. John Abugu, a lawyer at his residence, Mrs. Jane Ekweremadu at the agric bank junction, Mr. Brooks Okwara at his residence as well as Mrs. Sandra Onu along with her Honda CRV at the New Haven area of the state.

The second set of three suspects led by Nonso Onyebuchi of Obeagu Awgu were said to have kidnapped Elder Chime Edwin, a UK returnee of Obinagu Udi, among others.

The state Commissioner of Police, Elochukwu Nwodibo, told journalists yesterday that Etim

Amos and co were gunned down in a carefully planned operation at a point along Itu- Calabar road Uyo when they tried to escape.

“The gang leader, Etim Amos, who had been posing as a soldier and had an army cap on the dashboard of any car he used to deceive people, was gunned down alongside another gang member, one Otunre Nse. The Honda CRV belonging to Mrs. Sandra Onu with which she was abducted was recovered from them. Also recovered were guns, the handsets of victims, fake army

ID card bearing CPl. Etim Henry Amos,” he said.

According to him, the second group, which had Collins Chime of Obinagu Udi, who happened to be a relation of the victim they kidnappedand ChukwudiAzemeneof UmuodumaAba,AbiaState,kidnapped Chime Edwin on the first week of the month and whisked him away in a Audi car with registration number No. DWK 929 PP which they had earlier robbed from the owner at Umunede, Delta State.

Nwodibo said the command would continue to do all in its

ability to make the state safe for the residents, stressing that though a ransom was paid for the release of the victims, they were made behind the police.

One of the suspects, Collins, a jambite, had told journalists that he actually organised the kidnap of his uncle (Chime Edwin), after a botched attempt to kidnap a woman, who was their target.

He confessed that of the N500,000 they received as ransom to free his uncle, each of them got N100,000, while their ring leader, who is still at large got N200,000.

Sokoto: Hisbah Nabs 55-year-old Man for Allegedly Harbouring Teenage Girls Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto The Hisbah Commission Sokoto State, yesterday nabbed a 55-yearold man for allegedly harbouring teenage girls and women in his residence for immoral acts.

Parading the man before journalists in Sokoto yesterday, the Commandant of the Commission, Adamu Bello Kasarawa, said the suspect took advantage of the teenage girls for pecuniary purposes.

He disclosed that the suspect and the girls were arrested at Emir Yahya area of Sokoto metropolis following a tip off by some residents of the area.

The commandant stated that the suspect would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.

He also said the teenage girls and women would also be reunited

with their respective families.

Kasarawa to this end, appealed to those engaged in using teenage girls for prostitution to refrain from doing so, as any one caught would face the wrath of the law.

“I am appealing to men engaged in such immoral activities to fear God and desist from exploiting teenage girls for their selfish interest, as they will not wish such to happen to their daughters,” he said.

He commended the residents of Emir Yahya area for cooperating with Hisbah which led to the arrest of the suspect.

The commandant called on parents and stakeholders to play their expected roles so as to have a decent Muslim society.

Kasarawa therefore, reaffirmed the commitment of the Hisbah Commission towards combating immorality in the society.

Nigerian Military Kills Four Rustlers, Arrests 17 Others in Zamfara, Katsina

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Nigerian military in continuation of the clearance of all known camps and hideouts of cattle rustlers, armed bandits and other criminals in the north west geo-political region of the country, has killed four rustlers and arrested 17 others.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said the troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army under the auspices of Operation Sharan Daji, have cleared suspected armed bandits camps in Zamfara and Katsina States yesterday.

In Zamfara State, Usman said they raided and destroyed suspected armed bandits camps at Rafe and Ajah forests in Gusau

Local Government Area.

“During the operation, the troops killed four bandits, while some escaped with gunshot wounds. The troops also recovered five AK-47 rifles and 11 AK-47 rifle magazine, 205 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition and 25 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO),” he stated.

In a related development, the DAPR said that the Nigerian troops, following a tip off, carried out a joint operation in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State where they arrested 17 cattle rustlers that escaped from Zamfara State.

Usman implored members of the public especially those in Zamfara and Katsina States to be more vigilant and securityconscious.

TO FACE JUSTICE

L-R: Danhajiya,Amiun Ado(aka Yusha’u Muhammed Yerima Adam), David Ali Michika,Umar Hamza, James Malu Akune with Kazeem Kayode Usman at after they parade by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja....yesterday

Fulani Herdsman Feared Killed in Court Remands Six Alleged Cultists for Culpable Homicide Ondo James Sowole in Akure Barely one week after a member of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and a guard working in Chief Olu Falae’s farm, Mr. AyodeIe Ige, was killed, a Fulani herdsman identified as Dan Bako was yesterday feared killed at Ilara-Mokin in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The incident was disclosed by the head of Fulani herdsmen in the state, Alhaji Alli Dongo , the Chairman of Hausa Community in Akure Kingdom and head Arewa Community in the state, Babangida Sodiq Kusada in an interview with journalists in Akure.

The duo of Hausa/Fulani leader Bako was declared missing after all efforts to trace him proved abortive.

Dongo after a stakeholders meeting that the Commissioner of Police held with representatives of Hausa/Fulani Community and various farmers groups, said their kinsman had been living in Ilara-Mokin for the past seven years and was preparing to relocate to his state when the incident happened.

He said he suspected a reprisal attack. According to Dongo, the

missing man, who may had been killed, was sent by his kinsmen to buy food for them at Igbaro-Oke, the headquarters of Ifedore council area.

Dongo, who spoke through an interpreter, said the missing man left with his motorcycle.

He said a search party was organised to look for him after they waited for hours without seen him. According to him, “Bako motorcycle was seen beside a bush along the road. His herds were also seen in the bush without him. They did not see him or his remains.”

Dongo said four people including the deceased family members have been arrested over the incident.

He however suspected that the herdsman was killed because his cows destroyed someone’s farm in the town.

He appealed to people who have their farm products destroyed by herdsmen to report to the head of Hausa or Fulani community instead of taking laws into their hands. He said they crave for peace among the residents of the state.

Similarly, Kusada said Arewa community in the state would not want war in the state as they are law abiding citizens.

Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

Six members of a secret cult terrorising the people of Lokoja in Kogi State have been remanded at the Federal Prisons, Koton-Karfe, by a Chief Magistrate Court II sitting in Lokoja, for the death of one Ipimeda Enesi, 21, during a fracas over alleged initiation of new members.

The Chief Magistrate, A.S. Husaini, gave the order yesterday on the arraignment of the six accused alleged to be members of a secret cult group, ‘Arrow Baga’ confraternity in Lokoja.

According to the prosecuting police officer, Inspector C.S. Ayabatu, the accused had resorted to violence during a disagreement among them on initiation of new members into the unlawful group.

Ayabatu said the accused and others at large criminally who conspired and armed themselves with offensive weapons, including cutlasses, daggers, axes, committed the offences at about 9 p.m. on March 10, this year.

They were said to have attacked the complainants, Suleiman Wahab, Stephen Enocha, Suleiman Mohammed and one Alhaji Haruna, at UBE Junior Secondary School, Ganaja, and inflicted machete cut

injuries on them.

Ayabatu further alleged that the accused also attacked and inflicted machete cuts on Enesi who was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, where he was confirmed dead.

He said during the onslaught on members of the community by the cult members, one tricycle and a building were razed to ashes.

The accused are Usman Mohammed,20,TenimuMohammed a.k.a. Carpenter, 36, Ali Umoru a.k.a. Dansabe, 25, Tenimu KekeMohammed, a driver; Aliu Yahaya a.k.a BK and Muhammed Isah all from Ganaja village, Lokoja.

They were charged with criminal conspiracy, mischief, membership of an unlawful group, causing grievous hurt and culpable homicide contrary to sections 97(1), 337, 97(b) and 221 of the penal code law.

The prosecution told the court that investigation into the matter was ongoing and asked for another date for mention but objected to granting of bail to the accused, saying the offences were not ordinarily bailable.

In his ruling, Husaini said within the context of the originating process and the First Information Report (FIR), bail was not granted as a matter of course.

THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 • T H I S D AY

52

BACK PAGE

THE VERDICT NIGERIA AND THE FRAGMENTS OF HISTORY

Tafawa Balewa Ambassador Sanu’s account of the First Republic and the military take-over is sketchy but no less profound but he had fond memories of both Balewa and Aguiyi Ironsi.

However, his account of the only time the Prime Minister was angry with him speaks to the challenge of post-colonial leadership in Africa and I want to quote extensively from the book: “I found working with Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa very pleasant. The Prime Minister worked with any officer posted to him without asking what part of Nigeria he came from, but only demanded that you carry out your duties promptly and efficiently.

I remember only one occasion when the Prime Minister was extremely angry with me. It was on the occasion of the first official luncheon for the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ meeting held in Nigeria in 1966. The Heads of State and Prime Ministers were all very conscious of their status and they worried over trifles.

“For example, we had to get their seating arrangement right.

In this regard, we obtained the date of assumption of duty as Prime Minister or Head of State of each one of them from the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. I thought I had done rather well in arranging the seating placements for the luncheon. The Prime Minister of Canada, Hon Lester Pearson, came early to look at the seating plan, almost thirty minutes before the end of the first session and found that he was seated correctly to the right of Balewa who occupied the head of the table. He felt quite happy because he found himself in a vantage position to hold private discussions with the Prime Minister.

“When the morning session broke up, Balewa came to look at the arrangement and I was surprised when the Prime Minister screamed at me, literally accusing me of wanting to destroy his efforts at maintaining the decorum he had managed to ensure at the morning session. ‘Don’t you know that the Prime Minister of Sierra Leone almost fought with the Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Harold Wilson, over the issue of Rhodesia? How can you put them side by side during the luncheon?’ the Prime Minister queried me.

“Balewa was not interested in the pecking order from the Commonwealth Office and insisted that I place the Sierra Leone Prime Minister, Sir Milton Margai, far away from Harold Wilson so as to avoid the continuation of the acrimony of the morning session’s debate. I apologised as profusely as I could. I indicated that I was not allowed inside the conference room so I did

Ironsi not know what transpired during the morning session. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pearson who had come in earlier, now noticing a change in the seating arrangement, said he was no longer hungry and would like to be excused from lunch. It took an hour for Balewa to persuade him to return to the dining room as the seating arrangements had been adjusted.

“It was at the end of the day that I learnt that the discussion on Rhodesia had been very heated.

The Prime Minister of Sierra Leone, Milton Margai, took the lead on the attack on Harold Wilson. He was supported by Milton Obote of Uganda who joined the conference straight from his wedding in Entebbe.

Both of them accused Wilson of taking sides with Ian Smith of Rhodesia by delaying action on all the issues. The attacks were so fierce that Wilson decided to play his own card by bringing in Kamuzu Banda of Malawi to join the Commonwealth meeting, the aim being to put the African Heads of State, particularly from Southern Africa, in their place.

To achieve this, the British Prime Minister sent a transport plane to Blantyre to bring Banda to Lagos. I was sent to the airport about 2am to join the party to receive him.

“As expected, Banda took the earliest opportunity the following morning to lash out at his African colleagues. He asked to know from them what they had achieved since independence. He lavished praise on Ian Smith of Rhodesia, telling them that at least he kept an orderly society and was already laying the foundation for a prosperous future. The other African leaders took on Banda, calling him all sorts of names, including being a stooge of British imperialism. Harold Wilson had his pipe permanently lit with smoke billowing from it while the African members went at one another. Once Banda’s hatchet job was done, he left for Malawi at the end of the debate on Rhodesia.

“The rest of my stay under Prime Minister Balewa was fairly routine. I found he was more liberal than many people thought. Despite the conservative nature of his party and government, he established diplomatic relations with Israel. It is on record that when it was time to appoint his first Ambassador to Cairo, he appointed a Christian, John Mamman Garba, though he was not deployed at the end, because another important appointment opened for him. The point here is that Balewa had a liberal attitude to religion. After the Balewa era, if you were not a Muslim, you could not go to Cairo as our Ambassador…”

Working in the corridor

Gowon of power has its benefits as well as its perils as Sanu also found out. Within months of working with General Ironsi, Sanu found so much favour in the then Head of State who decided to elevate him beyond some of his contemporaries even though the story, as told

by Sanu, did not have a happy ending: “All Heads of State take the opportunity after settling down in office to install their own men as heads of diplomatic missions abroad. As soon as that time came for him, General Ironsi requested the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit a list of officers to head diplomatic missions. When Mr. Francis Nwokedi submitted the list, General Ironsi asked why the name of Sanu was omitted.

The permanent secretary laughed it off. ‘Mr Sanu is still a young man and still has an opportunity in the near future’ he answered.

“General Ironsi was not amused. He gave Nwokedi back the list and said he was not signing it. He told him that when it was time to run a risky mission, they didn’t have any problem sending Sanu. The permanent secretary went back and inserted my name as Ambassador for an African country---I believe Sierra Leone. When he took it back, General Ironsi looked through the list, crossed out a name and put my name down to be the first Ambassador of Nigeria to Brazil. My immediate boss in the Department of International Organisation made a laconic comment that still remains in the file in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr D.C Igwe wrote his objection in the file and added that ‘I assume the Head of State is sending young Olu Sanu to Brazil to learn how to frolic with young ladies on the beaches of Rio-de-Jenairo.’

“General Ironsi stood his ground and the government of Brazil gave me the necessary ‘Agreement’, which is a formal acceptance of a diplomat to their country. This came barely a week before my departure to attend the meeting of the Administrative and Budgetary Question (ACABQ) of the United Nations in New York. I was on my way to the airport for New York when General Ironsi was on radio and television making his famous speech announcing the promulgation of Decree 34, establishing a unitary government.

I almost wept as I listened to the speech because I was certain that the decree would create further problems for Nigeria. I did not return to meet General Ironsi in power…”

With the death of General Ironsi and the assumption to power of General Gowon, Sanu’s name was withdrawn

Buhari as Ambassador to Brazil. “It was undoubtedly the most embarrassing thing to happen to a serving diplomat,” he wrote.

As it would happen, two years later, Sanu got his first ambassadorial posting to Ethiopia and the OAU, at a time of the Nigerian civil war. So, that put him in a situation in which he would interact very closely with General Gowon, his Finance Commissioner, Chief Obafemi Awolowo as well as with the Biafran leader, Colonel Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu and others like Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. One revealing account in Sanu’s book about the civil war was the day the Ethiopian leader at the time, Emperor Haile Selasie read to him the riot act: “’Ambassador’, the emperor started, “what does General Gowon think he is doing? Does he want to kill all the Igbos, starve their children to death? When he finishes with them, who are those left to govern? Young man, go and tell my friend Gowon that I am tired of receiving bad news from Nigeria, I want this war to end.’

“By the time he finished, I was sweating and breathing heavily, a bad state to be in a high altitude like Addis Ababa which is well over three thousand metres above sea level. I knew that the Emperor was being unfair to Nigeria considering the fact that he was also waging a war to keep Ethiopia one…I told the Emperor that Gowon was the most humane among the senior officers in the Nigerian Army and that things could have been far worse if the civil war was being conducted by someone else. He huffed off leaving me paralysed on my seat.

“The emperor’s aide, a Major-General, noticing my discomfiture, laid his hands on my shoulder to calm me. He told me that considering the negative information available to the Emperor from the Biafran side he was not surprised at the treatment I got that cold winter morning. He noted that Addis Ababa was my first ambassadorial posting which could explain why I had taken the discussion with the Emperor so personal. He told me that the older I grew in the Foreign Service, I would realize that an ambassador is the ‘shock absorber’ of his president and his country…”

That message, according to Sanu, would serve him ten years later when, as Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States, General Murtala Muhammed was assassinated.

Walking on the street of Washington on that fateful 13th February 1976, Sanu was confronted by an elderly white woman who pulled out

Obasanjo her umbrella, hit him on the head several times, and started shouting hysterically, “why do you Africans always kill your leaders?” Sanu said he didn’t react because he remembered the lesson he learnt in Addis Ababa a decade earlier that as ambassador, he was a “shock absorber” for Nigeria.

Reading between the lines, one can see very clearly that Sanu’s book is also about what might have been for Nigeria but that is an issue for another day. Incidentally, it was after he retired from the foreign service that Sanu became a visiting lecturer at Ife (where he taught me), essentially to keep a deathbed promise to the man who built the university whose story has hardly ever been told the way Sanu did, even though within just a few words: “…My relationship with Professor Hezekial Oluwasanmi dates back to 1953 when we met at Harvard. Our meeting was accidental. I was strolling along Harvard Yard when I passed by a tall man who suddenly, in a commanding voice, hailed me.

‘Young man, come here,’ he ordered. I walked back to him visibly upset that a graduate could literally be commanded by a fellow ‘student’. I became sober when I got to him because he was a giant of a man, very tall, with a great presence that command respect. He fired a salvo of questions at me. “I presume that you are a Nigerian. Why are you dressed so casually in a New England winter? Did your parents send you here to catch pneumonia? Go back to your room and dress properly.

I should have a talk with you.

I suggest that you join me for a glass of wine before we proceed to lunch.’

“With that admonition, he walked off. I stood frozen to the spot I was. If he was a student, he had me under his spell and if he was a member of the faculty, I could only bow and tremble. He was in fact the most senior African student in the graduate school and was about to complete his Ph.D programme at that time. I joined him for lunch and Oluwasanmi became my mentor and guardian during my entire stay in Harvard.

“During my stay in Ethiopia as Ambassador, I made it a point of duty to see Oluwasanmi whenever I came home on consultation. He was the first to suggest to me that it would be nice if I found time, during one of my occasional visits to Nigeria, to speak to his class. He was then a Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Ibadan. He felt that his students would benefit from a talk on my duties as Ambassador of Nigeria to the Court of Emperor Haile Selassie. He was of the view

that young university students should be encouraged to broaden their world view; to learn a thing or two about Nigeria’s foreign policy. Each time he raised the issue, I just glossed over it and thought nothing much of it.

“Eventually, he became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ife which later became Obafemi Awolowo University. He never stopped reminding me that I should come and spend some time with him at Ife. I was home on leave in 1983 when I was informed that he was in the hospital with a sickness from which he never recovered. I promised him on his sick bed that I would fulfil his desire to share my experience with the University.

This visit to him on his sick bed was a very emotional one for me.

Oluwasanmi was now a ghost of himself and he had two of his daughters with him.

“As I looked at him, I remembered during one of the many lunches we had together in Harvard when one day he asked me out of the blues, ‘should I marry a white woman?’ I was surprised that he would ask me such an intimate question. I knew that he had a white girlfriend, but never thought that their relationship had reached such a state. My reply to him was an emphatic ‘No’. I told him that if he wanted to be useful to his family and to the University, he should not think of it. As I looked at him in the hospital I asked myself whether I had made a mistake. Oluwasanmi took my advice seriously and did not marry his white girlfriend. Instead, he married a West Indian.

“When Oluwasanmi took on the task of building the University of Ife from scratch, the relationship between him and his family became strained.

His wife could not understand why Oluwasanmi devoted all his life towards ‘Project-Ife’, to the detriment of his family. The magnificent Obafemi Awolowo University was the toil and sweat of Hezekiah Oluwasanmi. In later years when I looked at his statue in front of the University Library, I ask myself whether I had the right to offer an advice on such a delicate matter as love and marriage as I did over a glass of Rose wine at Harvard.

My consolation was in walking through the grounds of Ife and remembering that the University will always bear Hezekiah Oluwasanmi’s footprints...”

Having retired to his native Ibadan, there are many regrets in Sanu’s book about what our country has become and the missed opportunities. But one that he obviously takes very personal is the lack of recognition of the role Nigeria, Continued on page 53

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THE VERDICT NIGERIA AND THE FRAGMENTS OF HISTORY and particularly President Ibrahim Babangida, played in the peaceful resolution of the Sudanese crisis. As OAU Chairman, it was a crisis to which General Babangida devoted much efforts and for which he set up the presidential mediatory committee in 1990 headed by Sanu. It is therefore no surprise that the longest chapter in the book is devoted to the Sudanese peace initiative for which Sanu has nothing but affectionate words for Babangida.

In retirement, Sanu has also been learning a lot about the politics of his (and Mrs Ayo Obe’s!) city-village, especially since he was appointed chairman of the Ibadan Elders Forum. That had, in a way, put Sanu in a sort of collision course with the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu whom he described in very unflattering terms. But it was in the process of trying to save former Governor Rasheed Ladoja from being impeached in 2006 that Sanu got his first lesson in Nigerian politics as he recollected: “If the Elders Forum was drawn into the periphery of the murky waters of Ibadan politics, it was because we felt that a High Chief of Ibadan, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, the then Governor of Oyo State was about to be unjustly impeached by the state legislature through a combination of forces both of which we regarded as hostile to the interest of Ibadan.

These forces were spearheaded by

President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Deputy Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala.

“To forestall the impeachment of Ladoja, the Forum decided to visit Otta Farm to plead with President Obasanjo not to allow impeachment to be. Meanwhile, it was unknown to the forum then that the Governor had offended the “Godfather” of Ibadan politics, High Chief Lamidi Adedibu, who had decided that Ladoja was not keeping to the ‘agreed formula’ on the sharing of the governor’s security vote. It was also not known to us that the Governor had committed an offence against President Obasanjo which we were not privy to at the time.

The offence was personal between Obasanjo and Ladoja. The dice was loaded against us even before we proceeded to Otta.

“The delegation to Otta comprised six senior members of the Forum led by my good self. Others in the delegation included Chief Omowale Kuye; Bashorun Kola Daisi; former deputy Governor of Oyo State, late Chief David Abinusawa; Asiwaju of Ibadanland, Chief Bode Amao; and former Secretary to the Government of old Oyo state, Chief Theophilus Akinyele. This high-powered delegation left for Otta farm with very high hopes that we would receive a favourable response. It did not take us long before we discovered that we were not welcome. One of us went to knock on the President’s door, about three to four times, and nobody answered. We thought we needed someone whose knuckles could produce a heavier knock.

Still there was no response. It was obvious that the occupants did not want to answer us.

“President Obasanjo eventually agreed to meet with us. We explained the reason for our coming and pleaded with him in the interest of peace and fairness to let Governor Ladoja complete his term of office having already spent two years as Governor.

President Obasanjo insisted that Ladoja must go and that the impeachment would go ahead as planned. No amount of pleading would make the President change his mind.

“In spite of the failure of our mission, Obasanjo invited us to a sumptuous dinner of pounded yam. It was a dinner most of us would never quickly forget. To accept hospitality from someone who had just humiliated all of us was hard to take. By the time we left Otta farm, grim-faced and literally ashamed of ourselves, it was already 7:00 pm. We had begun to learn the nuances of Ibadan politics…”

As you would expect, a book from an 86-year old man cannot end without reference to people who wronged him and there are such people in Sanu’s book.

But it is also remarkable that there is no feeling of bitterness in his recollections. In fact, one of such persons who rubbed Sanu the wrong way is our current president. Yet, Sanu supported and voted for Buhari last year. Below is an account of what happened between Buhari and Sanu some 38 years ago:

“When I was prematurely retired, I thought it was unjustifiably done and indecently handled. What I did not reveal fully in the early part of this book was that my retirement was done during the first coming of Major General Muhhamadu Buhari. I was not particularly bitter about him because I felt that he had not stayed long enough to know those of us in the Ministry individually or collectively, diligent officers that he retired from the Foreign Service. Buhari acted lamely and rather hastily on the list compiled by our own colleague, Ibrahim Rafindadi, who acted in revenge.

Painful as my retirement was, my main grouse with Buhari was the treatment that I received at his hands on the one occasion that I had direct contact with him.

“I was asked by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when I was Director of International Organisation Department to accompany Buhari on a trip to West Germany when he was Minister of Petroleum in 1978.

He was going to discuss the issue of German interest in importing Nigeria’s crude oil. During the flight, to and fro, the Honourable Minister of Petroleum did not say a word to me even when we sat side by side in the first class compartment of the plane.

“When we got to Germany and went to the Nigerian Ambassador’s residence, my Minister spoke entirely in Hausa throughout with the Ambassador-in-post. He did not speak to me all throughout the trip. I was deeply hurt

and disappointed. Right from the beginning of my career, I have escorted Heads of State, Ministers and top officials from all over the world. I have been Chief of Protocol to two Heads of State, Balewa and Ironsi, so I know about courtesy, warmth, fellowship and engagement.

“This encounter with Buhari remained ingrained in my memory such that when he ran for the presidency, I thought he was not suited for it. So strong were my feelings that I was going to write a strong article during his first attempt to run for the presidency to show that he was not a good material but somehow I held back.

“Time is a great healer and I bear Buhari no malice. My encounter with him was more than 35 years ago and I believe Buhari is now a changed man and Nigeria in decline is in need of disciplined, honest, focused and purposeful leadership to turn it around. I confess that I joined the bandwagon of Buhari’s supporters during the 2015 election. Like Paul who started his Ministry by persecuting the followers of Jesus Christ, I am now an avid supporter of Buhari…”

I find Ambassador Sanu’s book very insightful even though the editing is rather poor, for such an important work. But as I reflected after reading it, I felt struck by the recollection of the argument about Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) at the 1966 Commonwealth Conference in Nigeria hosted by our late Prime Minister, Sir Tafawa

Balewa. I cannot but remember what Ian Smith said in a 2003 edition of ‘Atlantic Monthly’ magazine where the late white supremacist told his interviewer: “You can’t imagine how many people come up to me and say, ‘We didn’t agree with you back then. We thought you were too rigid and inflexible. But now we see you were right. You were so right: they (black Africans) were not fit to govern.’”

Whatever may have been our view of Ian Smith, who died in 2007, he was obviously looking beyond how Robert Mugabe had destroyed Zimbabwe to the mismanagement of other countries within the continent, including, if not especially, Nigeria, the most populous black country in the world.

Therefore, it is in our collective interest to prove Smith wrong and that will only happen if we begin to rebuild both our civil service and public service with a resolve to making going into office about the people, rather than about self and cronies.

How we will do that, I do not know; but it is my hope (more of a prayer, really) that it will happen in my lifetime.

Meanwhile, those interested in Sanu’s book can contact the following numbers: 08033229113; 07037504083; 08063450173 and 08143284461.

It is also available for sale online at www.konga.com/ thebooksellersltd and www. ikasuwa.com.

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THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

NIGERIA FOOTBALL CRISIS UPDATE

NFF Congress to Suspend Giwa, Baribote, Johnson, Others for Misconduct Dalung dumps Giwa

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Extra Ordinary General Assembly (EOGA) of Nigeria football that sat in Abuja yesterday activated Article 37 (1) of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Statutes by mooting suspension for Ambassador Chris Giwa, and five others for bringing Nigeria football and the country to disrepute in clear contravention of NFF statutes and other extant football laws.

This decision was contained in a communiqué issued after the meeting and signed by E.C Chukwuemeka.

The other accused persons are Yahaya Adama, Muazu Suleyman, Sani Fema and Effiong Johnson.

They are to appear before the congress to defend themselves.

Rumson Baribote, Shehu Adamu, Ben Agary and Olajide Fashikun were found guilty by the General Assembly of aiding and abetting the gross misconduct and are to appear and defend themselves before the NFF Committee on Ethics and Fair-play.

Giwa, the founder of Giwa Football Club of Jos, and others were accused of committing infractions such as illegally contracting a law firm based in South Africa in the name of the NFF and refusing to pay for the services up to a point where judgment was given against the NFF by the South Africa court.

The congress determined that their action negates NFF statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FIFA, Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the West African Football Union (WAFU).

The sanctions on Giwa was the tipping point of the NFF power struggle, that climaxed with last week’s order granted by a Jos High Court, annulling the election of Giwa’s main rival, Amaju Pinnick as the validly elected president of NFF. Giwa had on Tuesday insisted that he was the winner of the

disputed election of August 29, 2014 and had sensationally sacked the 36 state FA chairmen and threatened to take over the NFF Glass House yesterday.

However, it turned out to be an empty threat as he did not turn up at the heavily fortified football secretariat.

But the biggest surprise at yesterday’s event was the most unexpected recognition accorded the General Assembly, and by extension Pinnick, by Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung.

Dalung denied receiving any court order from a Jos High Court in relation to the NFF unrest.

The minister, who had a brush with journalists when the latter protested against Dalung’s verbal accusation of corruption against the reporters, claimed that the only court orders concerning the NFF election were issued in 2014.

“As the minister of sports and a lawyer, till date, I have not received any court orders this year. The only orders served on me, were all dated 2014. I have not seen any order dated 2016,’’ Dalung insisted.

The minister noted that though association football law forbade litigations, Giwa’s decision to

Antoine Griezmann celebrating his double that earned Atletico Madrid aggregate 3-2 victory over Barcelona and a ticket to the semi final of the Champions League ...yesterday

Obisia, Aransiola Frustrated Joshua from Representing Nigeria, Says Okorodudu Kunle Adewale It should have been Nigeria and not the United Kingdom that is celebrating the IBF world title won by Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua had his zeal to compete for Team Nigeria at the 2008 Beijing Olympics not been frustrated.

THISDAY can authoritatively report that Joshua who stopped Charles Martin in two rounds at London’s O2 Arena at the weekend to claim the IBF

NPFL: Sunshine Stars Dim Enyimba in Akure Hosts Sunshine Stars beat 10-man Enyimba 2-1 in a rescheduled Nigeria league game yesterday.

The home win has lifted ‘The Akure Gunners’ to 16th place on the table with 11 points from 10 matches.

Isiaka Oladuntoye headed Sunshine in front before Super Eagles defender, Chima Akas, equalised for Enyimba, all in the first half.

The home team then netted the match winner through Okiki Afolabi with an assist by Seun Olulayo on 84 minutes.

Enyimba were reduced to 10 men after Ifeanyi Anaemena got his second booking for a foul on Benjamin Francis. His first caution was in the 27th minute.

The NPFLchampions are due to defend a 3-0 home win at

pursue his grievances in line with Section 41 of Nigerian law, if not regulated, would open the floodgates of confusion arising from decision of aggrieved parties to approach ordinary courts to resolve football disputes.

He scorned Giwa for being in a haste to execute a ‘court order’ without giving the other party the 30-day window permitted to appeal under the Nigerian law.

“You can’t go to court, get judgment and upon that judgment want to deny the other party the right to appeal. Anybody that is panicky is not a sincere person.

If you have subscribed to be a member of the international football family, you have to bind by their rule on football. If you are not interested, then you go out,” Dalung said.

He said that the NFF crisis has effectively discouraged corporate bodies from sponsoring football in the country as no company wanted to invest in a business that thrives in confusion.

Dalung also appealed to Pinnick to narrow the gap with the opposition by bringing them to a table in the interest of Nigeria football.

Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia next week as they aim to advance to the money-spinning group phase of the CAF Champions League.

In Makurdi, a brace by Abdulrahman Bashir and a goal

by Aminu Kadir were enough for Nasarawa United to record only their second win of the Nigeria league season against Giwa in Makurdi yesterday.

Giwa consolation goal was by Aminu Mbai after half an hour.

Nasarawa stay rooted at 19th position with nine points from as many matches, while Giwa is 10th on 14 points.

Six minutes from time, Charles Henlong saw his goal-bound effort crash against the post as Giwa piled on the pressure to rescue the game.

heavyweight title in only his 16th professional fight did everything to compete for Nigeria eight years ago but got frustrated by the national coaches at the time.

He won gold for England at the London 2012 Olympic Games before winning the IBF title.

Los Angeles 1984 Olympian, Jeremiah Okorodudu, revealed to THISDAY yesterday that Joshua who was born in Watford to a Nigerian mother (Obafemi Martins) and a father of Nigerian and Irish descent (James McClean) would have become the first Nigerian boxer to win an Olympic gold medal had he not been allegedly frustrated by Obisia Nwankpa and Samson

Aransiola. Nigeria’s quest for an Olympic gold medal remains a mirage.

“Joshua really wanted to represent Nigeria at the 2008 Olympics but Obisia Nwankpa and Samson Aransiola deprived him of the opportunity. But now Britain is enjoying what Nigeria should be celebrating,” Okorodudu observed yesterday.

Okorodudu said he was not surprised when Joshua said he valued his Olympic medal more than his IBF world title belt.

“Of course, he (Joshua) must appreciate the Olympic gold more than the world title belt considering the shabby way he was treated by Nigeria. Moreover,

it is the dream of every boxer to win an Olympic gold before forging a professional career,” stressed Okorodudu.

But in a swift reaction to Okorodudu’s claim, Nwankpa insisted that he did not frustrate Joshua in his quest to represent Nigeria at the 2008 Olympics.

“His (Joshua) case is not the first. We’ve had similar cases like that before. Most of our athletes that live or were born abroad, anytime they want to represent Nigeria they do not go about it in the right way.

“Moreover, most of them have the belief that by virtue of living abroad they could just walk into the team without

going through the normal selection trials. That is not acceptable,” stressed Nwankpa on why procedure must be followed in selecting athletes to represent Nigeria.

Joshua grew up for much of his early years in Nigeria and returned to the UK to join Kings Langley Secondary School.

Growing up on the Meriden Estate in Garston, Hertfordshire, Joshua was called ‘Femi’ by his friends and former teachers, due to his middle name ‘Oluwafemi’.

He excelled at football and athletics and broke the Year Nine 100m record with a time of 11.6 seconds.

Zenith Bank WBL: First Deepwater, Customs Bounce Back After conceding to a rare defeat to AHIP on Tuesday morning First Deepwater bounced back to winning ways yesterday at the ongoing Zenith Bank Women Basketball League in Asaba. First Deepwater defeated Immigration Basketball Club 44-33 to leave the fourth day of the series in the Delta State capital with smiles.

Custom also defeated Zamfara Babes 70-50 while the IGP Queens crushed FCT Angels 69-39. Coal City Queens lost 28-45 to Benue Princess.

Coach Peter Ahmedu of First Bank Basketball Club who watched most of the games

played yesterday commended the standard of the Second Phase of the Zenith Bank Basketball League, “From proceeding here, I believe that most teams have improved greatly since the first phase in Abuja. The games are closely-fought and we have recorded an upset already with GT 2000 beating Customs.

“In the game involving Dolphins and Customs, the Border Girls gave a good fight despite losing to the defending champions. With developments like this, the competitiveness, which was lacking in the league, is gradually returning,” reasoned

Ahmedu.

The Elephant Girls coach said his team has been able to maintain high standard and win with wide margin because it got to Asaba about two weeks before the league dunked off, which gave his players the opportunity to train and get used to the court, which he termed as substandard.

“With what I have seen here, I am happy that we got Asaba early to acclimatise and get use to the court and the environment.

I am happy that the owners of the team, First Bank PLC have always supported ideas that will put the team in a good position to

excel. I hope our performance will propel us to the title,” he added.

He however blamed the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) for opting for Asaba for the second phase of the women’s league.

“I must chide the NBBF for bring the league to Asaba.

The upright board is made of wood as against fibre, which is approved by FIBA. There are other venues that have fibre uprights where they could have taken this phase of the league to. This is taking us back after we enjoyed tremendous time in Abuja,” reasoned Ahmedu.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

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MISSILE Kojo Williams to Simon Dalung “Giwa cannot be using such a crude system if he has no support from the minister. This is their local politics and they are using it to the detriment of the entire country. The minister cannot tell me he doesn’t know anything about this; we are not fools. Everyone involved with this nonsense must not go scot free if Nigeria is suspended”—Former NFA Chairman, Kojo Williams, on the crisis instigated by Chris Giwa with tacit support from sports minister, Simon Dalung

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Nigeria and the Fragments of History

I

cannot remember the last time I picked the biography of a Nigerian and could not put it down. That was until last week when I was given a copy of “Audacity on the Bound: A Diplomatic Odyssey” by Ambassador Olusola Sanu, a masterpiece that tells the story of our country and continent from the perspective of a diplomat.

Incidentally, when my friend, Fola Mosuro--whose famous family publishing house in Ibadan produced the book—came to my office to hand me a copy, he had no inkling that Sanu actually taught me in my final year at the Department of International Relations in Ife. However, although that was what aroused my initial interest, it was the fascinating story that got me hooked to the riveting 514-page book.

Now, let me say very quickly that I know my readers very well. Today, this is not the kind of intervention they are expecting from me, what with the dizzying events happening around us. I am sure many were expecting me to write on the Panama Papers, especially considering that there is hardly any global scandal that involves illicit money that would not have a Nigerian angle. There are also readers who would want my view on the ruling of the South African Supreme Court that President Jacob Zuma should refund to the treasury the $23 million of public money he spent upgrading his personal house. That came as no surprise really because many of us have long suspected that President Zuma carries the DNA of an average Nigerian public official!

Again, for those who may have forgotten, today marks exactly two years that 276 female students of Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, were carried away into captivity by Boko Haram insurgents. Even though 57 of them escaped, 219 are still unaccounted for. Yet, because we live in a cynical country, there are people who still argue that the whole tragedy is a “hoax”, just as many Nigerians were doubtful, until last week when he was finally buried, that DSP Alamieyeseigha actually died.

Even for those who may not feel the pain of the Chibok parents (17 of the fathers have died in agony in the last two years), they at least feel that of the fuel crisis that has virtually grounded our country and has also become source of an international scandal.

Last Sunday, I understand there was commotion in Paris when the crew of a scheduled Abuja-bound flight said it would have to disembark 40 Nigerian passengers and their luggage to conserve fuel because of scarcity of aviation fuel in our country. Such an emblem of shame only compounded our woes at home as majority of our people now spend their productive hours looking for fuel.

Given the state of our nation, Nigerians have learnt to laugh at our problems with the latest joke reading: “When Mr. Suleiman Hashimu trekked from Lagos to Abuja to celebrate President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory last year, we called him stupid. But now, majority of our people are trekking with their cars parked at fuel stations because, even with their money, they will not find fuel. All hail Mr. Hashimu, a man who leads by example, a man who sees tomorrow.” But the situation of our country is no laughing matter.

On Monday, the Kaduna State Director General on Interfaith Affairs, Alhaji Namadi Musa, made one of those it-can-only-happen-in-Nigeria disclosures

Ambassador Sanu by admitting that he personally conducted a mass burial for 347 corpses, following the clash between the Army and the Shiites last December. According to Musa, one Major led three military trucks loaded with corpses from the Army Depot while another came with five Mercedes Benz trucks also loaded with corpses and he counted the dead bodies as they were being dumped into a single mass grave one after another. And here, we are talking about Nigerian citizens who were not convicted of any offence before they were practically executed.

However, as important as they are, these are the same issues we have been dealing with over the years: Corruption, misplaced priorities, the total collapse of social and physical infrastructure, deployment of maximum force without any restraint by conscience, from those who are paid to protect the people etc. Today, I want to write on something more ennobling which I find in the story of Sanu who, by the way, is 86 and was, at different times, Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States, China, Mexico, Belgium and the European Union, Ethiopia, Australia and New Zealand.

Sanu, the youngest among the first crop of 24 Nigerians recruited into the Foreign Service in 1957/58, indeed has a compelling story because he manned strategic positions at epochal moments in our national history. He was the State Chief of Protocol (SCOP) to Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa in the First Republic, the same position he retained under the first military Head of State, Lt General Aguiyi Ironsi. Sanu was also the Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) during the civil

war while he was in Washington as our ambassador to the United States on 13th February 1976 when General Murtala Muhammed was assassinated.

In Sanu’s book are great anecdotes but it is also very revealing of how much change has been wrought in our world in the last 66 years. For instance, when Sanu arrived United States in 1949 to study, there were about 5,000 Nigerians in the country at the time. Now, they are in millions. But in the first job he got as a student, some of the ”laws” handed to Sanu included that he, as a “Negro”, must never enter the building through the front door and should get used to being addressed as “boy”. Interestingly, today, someone who would be regarded as a “boy” at that period is now the president of that same country! That is how far America has advanced in recent decades yet in Sanu’s story is also the tragedy of our own country that held so much promise at independence but is now grossly mismanaged.

While the account of his early years is fascinating, it is after leaving secondary school in the forties that Sanu’s story becomes more relevant for this intervention. The three people who fired Sanu’s imagination to go to America were Mbonu Ojike, Nwafor Orizu and Kingsley Mbadiwe at a period most Nigerians were going for British education. It was Ojike who eventually facilitated Sanu’s way to Howard University in Washington.

By the time Sanu completed his first degree in Economics, the plan was to return to Nigeria but an Englishman by name Reginald Barnett recommended that he should stay behind to do his postgraduate studies. It was this same man who collected the post graduate forms for Princeton, Yale and Harvard which Sanu filled and was admitted by all the three. Quite naturally, Sanu chose Harvard and when he announced it at the apartment block where he worked as a janitor, he became an instant celebrity. At the instance of his boss, a white American woman, a big banner was also put up on the board with the inscription: “Our janitor goes to Harvard”.

However, it was not everybody that was happy for Sanu. A particular American Senator, who resided within the premises and whose sons could not secure admission to any of the Ivy League universities despite his best efforts, told Sanu: “I am amazed that you have been offered admission to one of America’s prestigious universities. What kind of country are we running that a jungle boy like you can just walk into Harvard?”

However, what was interesting at the time is the

Ambassador’, Emperor Haile Selasie started,“what does General Gowon think he is doing? Does he want to kill all the Igbos, starve their children to death?

When he finishes with them, who are those left to govern?Young man, go and tell my friend Gowon that I am tired of receiving bad news from Nigeria, I want this war to end.’ By the time the Emperor finished, I was sweating and breathing heavily…

quality of education in Nigeria which would reflect when Sanu returned to the country in 1957with two Harvard degrees---MA and MPA (Masters of Arts in Political Science and Masters in Public Administration) to be interviewed for a job in the Western Nigerian Civil Service. This recollection in Sanu’s book about his first encounter with his white boss before he assumed duty says it all about what the University of Ibadan was at the time: “Are you one of the new bright boys coming out of the University of Ibadan?”, the man asked.

To this Sanu replied: “No Sir, I actually just arrived from the United States.”

That, according to Sanu, so angered the man that he retorted: “What have I done to them in Ibadan that they have to send me another graduate from one of those wretched universities in America?”

A few months with the Western Regional Government, a friend brought to Sanu an advertisement in ‘Daily Times’ newspaper calling for applications from qualified young men interested in the Foreign Service. Sanu applied and was interviewed by a man who only asked him questions about his time at Harvard. Just a few minutes after the interview session in September 1958, Sanu was called back and “informed that I had been selected and I should report to the Prime Minister’s Office not later than the following Wednesday.”

With that, Sanu became a member of the second batch of twelve officers recruited for Nigerian Foreign Service. The first set of 12, recruited a year earlier, was dubbed “the twelve apostles”. In this second batch with Sanu were George Dove-Edwin, John Ukegbu, Sam Ifeagwu, Adedokun Haastrup and Isa Wali (the late father of Mrs Fatima Wali-Abdulrrahman and Mrs Maryam Uwais). The six of them were immediately posted to Washington as Liaison officers and operated under the umbrella of the British embassy. It was in the United States that they also received their Diplomatic training, including having to learn French language. Also among this generation of brilliant Foreign Affairs officers were Emeka Anyaoku, Olu Adeniji, Emmanuel Odogwu, Akporode Clark et al.

Sanu’s recollection of the First Republic is vivid because of his position as SCOP, which meant he had to deal with world leaders, including a notorious one from an African country he simply described as “alainitiju” (The Shameless One). This particular president, according to Sanu, was fond of procuring Nigerian women to sleep with anytime he was in the country while he also ferried some of them back home at the expense of his government. This unnamed African president even expected such women to be arranged for him as part of “protocol” to the extent that on one occasion, his desperate SCOP had to confess to Sanu: “My brother, my president does not sleep alone.”

Continued on page 52

My Appreciation!

Following the launch of my personal web portal, olusegunadeniyi.com, last week, I have been receiving a lot of messages of goodwill.

I want all those who have sent mails or text messages that I appreciate them all. And to all my readers, I say thank you!

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