Thursday 23rd April 2016

CBN Opens Discount Window to Boost Liquidity, Naira Strengthens to N282.80/$1 BDCs offer to close gap in FX market

Obinna Chima In a move to avert a liquidity crisis in the interbank FX market, the Central Bank

of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday opened a discount window for banks to meet their short-term dollar demands, THISDAY learnt last night.

Although attempts to confirm this from the CBN proved abortive, it was gathered the move was to help stabilise activities in the

interbank FX market.

Speaking in a phone interview with THISDAY, the Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company

Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, said the decision to create a discount window would be positive for the market.

“You know they (CBN) have

taken out so much funds in the past three days and lack of liquidity will not allow it to Continued on page 6

FG, States Share N305bn as May Allocation Increases by N23bn… Page 10 Thursday 23 June, 2016 Vol 21. No 7728. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

TODAY'S WEATHER

ABUJA 16°C-33°C

MAIDUGURI 15°C-35°C

UT H

& RE A S O

ENUGU 22°C-34°C

N

KANO 11°C-33°C

LAGOS 23C-31°C

PORT HARCOURT 20°C-30°C

FG, Senate Face-off: APC, PDP Clash over ‘Selective’Anti-Graft War Judiciary c’ttee asks AGF to appear before it today Saraki: I know nothing about forgery President writes Senate, seeks Magu’s confirmation Omololu Ogunmade and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The face-off between the National Assembly and the presidency took a turn for the worse yesterday, when senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) exchanged words over the criminal

charges brought against Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu over the alleged forgery of the Senate rules, as well as what the PDP senators termed the “selective” anti-corruption war of the administration.

Continued on page 6

US General: Islamic State Ties Divide Boko Haram Senator Iroegbu with agency report A senior United States of America military General yesterday said the Boko Haram terror group had been fractured internally.

Lieutenant General Thomas Waldhauser, the nominee to lead the US military Africa Command (AFRICOM), disclosed this in Washington

during his nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Waldhauser said the problem in the group resulted from some members splitting from shadowy leader, Abubakar Shekau, over his failure to adhere to guidance from the Iraq and Syria-based Islamic State.

Continued on page 6

BRITS DECIDE TODAY IN HISTORIC BREXIT REFERENDUM

British Prime Minister, David Cameron (right) and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Boris Johnson, who have respectively been leading the remain and leave campaigns. British citizens are expected to vote today in a historic referendum that will decide the future of the European Union (EU)

2

THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016

3

4

THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016

5

6

THURSDAY, june 23, 2016 • T H I S D AY

PAGE SIX FG, SENATE FACE-OFF: APC, PDP CLASH OVER ‘SELECTIVE’ ANTI-GRAFT WAR Reading the riot act to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate PDP caucus accused him of an unnecessary witch-hunt against Saraki and Ekweremadu as well as opposition voices such as the governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, whose account was frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Briefing journalists at the conclusion of a meeting it held after yesterday’s plenary, Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio, flanked by other leaders of the caucus, said henceforth, the PDP caucus would withdraw all support for the executive as it warned the president against continuing along the road of change of leadership in the upper chamber.

“We the PDP senators met in our caucus meeting yesterday 21st June, 2016 and deliberated on the state of the nation, and to examine our position on unwarranted threats to the legislative arm of government, particularly to the Senate leadership by the executive arm as well as the on-going intimidation/persecution of the opposition party, PDP, by the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Arising from the foregoing, the caucus passed the following resolutions: we condemn in totality the orchestrated plot to remove the President of the Senate and his deputy through any illegal means.

“The deployment of state instruments of coercion to intimidate an independent arm of government like the legislature is now a major threat to the survival of our democracy.

“The glaring witch-hunt of perceived opposition elements in the polity is an invitation to anarchy.

“The war against corruption should not be selective, must be fought with sincerity and not the politics that is being played now with the ‘war against corruption’.

“We therefore condemn in strong terms the sentiments displayed in fighting corruption.

For example, the freezing of account of the Ekiti State governor, is clearly a political witch-hunt.

“Since the war against

corruption has devolved into probing campaign funds, it should be extended to all parties, APC inclusive.

“The PDP Senate caucus therefore wishes to warn the executive arm of government to act with caution on matters that have the potency to subvert our democracy.

“The executive must therefore desist from these acts of lawlessness that are only typical in a military dictatorship.

“The caucus therefore wishes to advise the APC-led government to concentrate on the existing economic and security challenges that are threatening our survival as a nation.

“Finally, the PDP caucus wishes to reiterate that we will no longer support the APC government until they cease the belligerent attitude towards PDP members,” the caucus said.

Reacting to the statement by the Senate PDP caucus, the APC yesterday described the allegation of a selective anti-corruption fight levelled against the Muhammadu Buhariadministration as unfounded.

In a statement issued by the National Secretary of the APC, Mai Mala Buni, the ruling party said the PDP and their agents do not have the luxury of dictating how the current administration and anti-corruption agencies carries out their legitimate duties.

“The attention of the National Secretariat of the APC has been drawn to a statement credited to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate caucus stating that the caucus has withdrawn its support for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari over the administration’s hugely successful war against corruption.

“The PDP caucus must be reminded of their primary responsibility of lawmaking and representation of their constituents at the National Assembly. The APC advises the PDP Senate caucus not to allow political shenanigans to becloud the overall national interest.

“The PDP caucus’ allegations of a selective anti-corruption fight and the ‘belligerent’ stance of the current administration are hogwash and baseless.

“If the PDP and its agents have proof of corruption against

anybody, the APC advises that they approach anti-graft agencies constitutionally mandated to handle such cases instead of declaring innocence on newspaper pages and other media outlets.

“For the umpteenth time, the PDP and their agents do not have the luxury of dictating how the current administration and anti-corruption agencies carry out their legitimate duties of investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption, as long as it conforms to the rule of law,” the ruling party said.

APC advised the anticorruption agencies not to be stampeded and blackmailed by this new plot and continue to employ all legitimate avenues in investigating and prosecuting ongoing corruption cases.

“The generality of Nigerians clamour for all looters of public funds to be brought to book.

The APC assures Nigerians that the political will and sincerity of purpose of the current administration to tackle corruption remains resolute,” it said.

However, the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, acting on the mandate of the Senate on Tuesday has summoned the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to appear before it today to explain why the federal government is charging Saraki and Ekweremadu to court over the alleged forgery.

But Saraki in his first official reaction to the allegation of forgery against him, said he knew nothing about how the rules adopted for the inauguration of the Eighth Senate on June 9, 2015 came about.

According to him, the ongoing efforts to drag him before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court for alleged forgery “was just another phase in the orchestrated persecution he has faced since he emerged as Senate President a little over a year ago”.

Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said he was not part of the leadership of the Seventh Senate which he said made

the rules, adding that he was merely a senator-elect like all his colleagues and therefore was not in a position to influence the rules that were to be used in the conduct of the election.

“The police in their investigation were conscious that the incumbent Senate President was not in office prior to June 9, 2015 and that was why in their letters inviting some individuals for their investigation, they only mentioned officers of the Seventh Senate.

“The last of the letters was written to the Clerk of the National Assembly on June 7, 2016 and he was not among those invited.

“Those who decided to smuggle the name of the Senate President into the charge sheet after the fact knew perfectly well that only the leadership of the Seventh Senate were invited for investigation.

“But they needed to implicate him in keeping with their declared vow to ensure that even if their current efforts to nail him through the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) fails, they would find other ways to carry out their vendetta.

“This so-called forgery case is another wanton abuse of the judicial process and making a mockery of the institution of justice. As the Senate earlier stated, the sponsors of this plot are not only gunning for Dr. Saraki, what they have just launched with this latest antics is a grand onslaught on the foremost institution of our democracy.

“The only institutional difference between dictatorship and democracy is the presence of the legislature. Therefore, by seeking to cripple the National Assembly, they have declared a war on our hard-won democracy and aimed for the very jugular of our freedom.

“Let us restate the fact that the senators who initiated the police investigation in the first place had raised the same matter on the floor and were overwhelmingly overruled.

“They also filed a civil suit and were told by the court that neither the judiciary nor the executive can interfere in the internal affairs of the legislative arm.

CBN OPENS DISCOUNT WINDOW TO BOOST LIQUIDITY, NAIRA STRENGTHENS TO N282.80/$1 effectively achieve its objective in the market,” he explained.

The overnight tenor of the Nigeria Interbank Offered Rate (NIBOR) responded to the supply gap in the market yesterday, as it jumped to 68.50 per cent, higher than the 51 per cent on Tuesday.

Also, the open buy back (OBB) rate climbed to 63.33 per cent yesterday, higher than 45 per cent on Tuesday.

But the naira appreciated

by N2.03 to close at N282.80 to a dollar on the third day of trading on the interbank spot market yesterday, 0.71 per cent lower than N284.83 to a dollar on Tuesday.

THISDAY learnt that the CBN intervened again yesterday with an undisclosed amount of dollars to primary dealers at N281, just as it was gathered that inflow to the market was further buoyed by forex sales by some oil companies.

However, data obtained from the FMDQ showed that on the forwards market, the 7-day value

of the naira was N282.04/$1; the 14-day was N286.30 to a dollar; and the 1-month rate of the naira went for N291.70 to a dollar.

Also, the 2-month rate of the naira on the forwards market went for N296.62/$1; 3-month - N301.11/$1; 6-month - N306.74/$1; and one-year rate was quoted at N317/$1.

Meanwhile, seeing the successful taking of the free float of the naira, the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has called on the central bank to allow its members participate in the new FX market structure.

Speaking in a phone interview with THISDAY yesterday, the president of ABCON Mr. Aminu Gwadabe said BDCs has the network, capacity, convenience, potency, and ability to serve the critical retail segment of the economy.

According to him, allowing just banks as primary FX dealers, would not create room for dollar supply to meet the retail needs

of Nigerians that BDCs serve.

“Remember the BDCs are up to 3,000 in Nigeria, with a wide network. If you fly into the country at 2am at the airport, you will not meet any bank that is open for you to do your transaction. If you want to buy $300, the banks may not look your way; that is why you need BDCs. “From 2006 to 2015, the BDCs helped the CBN in converging the official and black market rates because we are the ones that can trickle down the circulation of forex.

“We are real traders, we are not like banks that have idle naira.

It is only when you have idle naira that you have the capacity to speculate or hoard currency,” he explained.

According to him, the role of BDCs in economic growth was not peculiar to Nigeria alone, saying that currency dealers have played tremendous roles in economies such as India, Algeria and others.

“In the United Arab Emirates, the BDCs in Dubai alone provide the foreign currency cash needs of banks. Go to Lebanon, their economy is highly dependent on the activities of BDCs as a result of diaspora remittances and all these things are packaged and rooted through the operations of BDCs, and banks are not even involved.

“In other climes, banks don’t have much to do with foreign exchange. They are either creating deposits or giving out loans. That is their traditional role in the economy.

“Everybody is happy that we now have a single rate and a market determined rate, so there is no more favouritism, but why are they afraid of BDCs that employ over one million people?

“We are comfortable with the new forex policy because we believe it is going to generate liquidity, but we are not comfortable with it as long as it states that we cannot participate in that market,” he pointed out.

“The Senate President recognises the sundry problems bedevilling our nation today - food insecurity, devaluation of the naira, inflation, unemployment, failing national infrastructure, insurgency in the North-eastern part of the country, restiveness in the oil producing areas, and general insecurity, among others - and believes that finding solutions to them should be the priority at this period for every individual in government, not the pursuit of narrow political objectives.

“That is why these needless distractions will do nobody any good. In fact, it will not help in delivering on the promise of bringing positive change to the lives of our people who voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last elections.

“The Senate President does not see what value this current attempt to shut down the Senate by dragging its presiding officers before a court for a phantom allegation of forgery will add to the attempts to solve the problems confronting the nation.

“Dr. Saraki will however explore all legal options necessary to ward off this fresh case of persecution and distraction,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the president yesterday transmitted a letter to the Senate, asking it to confirm the appointment of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

(EFCC) Mr. Ibrahim Magu, as the substantive chairman of the commission.

Buhari, in the letter addressed to Saraki late yesterday, urged the senators to treat the confirmation request with dispatch.

Buhari’s request for Magu’s appointment is coming about eight months after his appointment.

Buhari had on November 9, 2015, removed the former chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, and replaced him with Magu in an acting capacity.

Magu, who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police, was until his appointment, a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption and a former Head of the Economic Governance Unit (EGU) of the anti-graft agency.

He was reportedly recruited into the EFCC by the pioneer chairman of the commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and is believed to be firm and courageous, the qualities which earned him the appointment as the head of the EGU, the unit in charge of investigations of senior public officials.

Magu had reportedly led investigations into high profile corruption cases such as the allegation of money laundering against James Ibori, a former governor of Delta State, who is currently serving a jail term in the United Kingdom.

US GENERAL: ISLAMIC STATE TIES DIVIDE BOKO HARAM According to Reuters/NAN, Waldhauser said the internal division was illustrative of the limits of Islamic State’s influence over Boko Haram so far, in spite of the West African group’s pledge of allegiance to it last year.

“Several months ago, about half of Boko Haram broke off to a separate group because they were not happy with the amount of buy-in, if you will, from Boko Haram into the ISIL brand,” he explained.

He, however, said Shekau had not fallen into line with Islamic State’s instructions, including ignoring calls for Boko Haram to stop using children as suicide bombers.

Waldhauser said: “He’s been told by ISIL to stop doing that, but he has not done so, and that’s one of the reasons why this splinter group has broken off.

“But the Islamic State was trying to reconcile those two groups.”

The military chief said there was no evidence that Boko Haram had so far received significant operational support or financing from Islamic State.

He said the assessment suggested that Boko Haram’s loyalty pledge had so far, mostly been a branding exercise.

Waldhauser acknowledged differing opinions about how much influence Islamic State actually had over Boko Haram, which won global infamy for its 2014 kidnapping of 276 Chibok schoolgirls.

He said: “They certainly have not given them a lot of financial assistance.

“So the point could be that it is perhaps in improvement in tradecraft,

in training and the like.”

Waldauser stated that Shekau’s local focus and voiced concern was about whether a splinter group may act more in concert with Islamic State’s trans-regional ambitions.

“What concerns me is the break-off group of Boko Haram, which wants to be more ISIL-like, and consequently buy into the ISIL-brand of attacking western interests,” he said.

Meanwhile, an army officer in Niger Republic said that a multinational force had begun operations against Boko Haram along the border between the country and Nigeria.

Brigadier General Abdou Sidikou-Issa, the Tactical Chief of Staff for troops based in Niger’s southern zone of Diffa, yesterday in Niamey said troops from Chad and Nigeria were involved in the operation.

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN GSK 1.68 18.21 TRANSCORP 0.16 1.77 NEIMETH 0.10 1.11 CHAMPBREW 0.40 4.44 STERLBANK 0.12 1.63 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN TRANSEXPRESS 0.13 1.30 CCNN 0.55 7.45 LAFARGE 4.39 73.51 DNMEYER 0.04 0.94 CONOIL 0.89 20.96 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦832.00 Volume: 533.317 million shares Value: N 6.789 billion Deals: 4,736 As at yesterday 22/06/16 See details on Page 54

% 10.1 9.9 9.9 9.9 7.9 % 9.1 6.8 4.2 4.1 4.1

T H I S D AY THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016

7

8

THURSDAY, june 23, 2016 • T H I S D AY

PAGE EIGHT

Soldiers Kill Boat Operator in Bayelsa, Military Scraps Operation Pulo Shield New militant group threatens to bomb more oil installations Senator Iroegbu in Abuja, Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa and Idowu Sylvester in Warri Soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta have shot and killed a boat operator in the waterways of Bayelsa State.

THISDAY gathered that the young man, who hailed from Olugbobiri, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, was allegedly cut down in error by the security operatives after mistaking him for a militant.

The unfortunate shooting of the man identified as Ernest is a fallout of the disquiet that has pervaded the Niger Delta creeks as a result of the activities of militants who have attacked oil facilities in the region.

It was learnt that the victim worked with one of the oil service firms in the region before the unfortunate encounter with security operatives.

The troops were reportedly patrolling the waterways in search of militants when they mistook the occupants of the speedboat operated

by Ernest for hoodlums and fired at it.

A source said that the banned 200 horsepower boat engine attracted the troops who attempted flagging down the boat, which was moving from Brass to an undisclosed location.

The occupants of the boat, on noticing the patrol boat and armed uniformed soldiers, however, also mistook them for another band of militants who had in recent times attacked commuters in the creeks.

It was gathered that the mode of operation of the sea robbers is usually to dress in military camouflage, which prompted the occupants of the boat to flee.

“Ernest was coming from

Brass when he noticed a patrol boat. But all the occupants of the boat thought the patrol boat belonged to pirates. They reasoned that pirates have always disguised as soldiers to attack unsuspecting members of the public.

“They ignored all the efforts by the patrol boat to stop them. While they were speeding out of perceived danger, the soldiers released a warning gunshot into the air. But the speedboat kept moving. Out of fear, the occupants jumped into the water and swarmed into the mangroves,” the source disclosed.

He, however, said Ernest was the only one left in the boat when the soldiers fired at it, adding that a bullet hit the boat operator who died on the spot.

He said the soldiers later approached the boat and discovered that the dead driver was harmless.

“They took the remains to a morgue in Yenagoa, the state capital,” the source added.

A human rights activist and state representative, Environmental Rights Action (ERA), Mr. Alagoa Morris, condemned the shooting and killing of the young man.

“One of the worst opponents to contend with is the one who is very scared of you and lacks confidence.

He would not hesitate to kill you at the slightest opportunity.

“The shooting and killing of an innocent, harmless and law-abiding citizen by soldiers in the creeks of Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State, is no exception. It smacks of troops sailing in fear and lacking confidence,” he said.

Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Col. Isa Ado, could not be reached on his phone to comment on the incident.

Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin

The death of the young man came just as the Defence Headquarters announced yesterday the scrapping of Operation Pulo Shield in the Niger Delta and its replacement with Operation Delta Safe.

A statement by the defence spokesman, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, said: “This is in line with the Defence Headquarters' initiative to restructure the Joint Task Force for better service delivery, efficiency and effectiveness in line with the vision and mission of the Chief of Defence Staff to contain the current security challenges in the Niger Delta, especially the protection of critical national assets and provision of security in the area.

“Under this arrangement, the joint operational areas of the new outfit have been delineated into three sectors and five operational bases

covering the entire Niger Delta, Ondo and Akwa Ibom States. The Headquarters of Operation Delta Safe would be in Yenagoa.

“This development, according to Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, becomes expedient in order to inject new tactics and robust operational initiative to tackle the emerging security challenges in the Niger Delta region such as piracy, bunkering, vandalism and other criminalities prevalent in the area.”

Despite the restructuring of JTF’s operations, yet another militant group, the Ultimate Warriors of Niger Delta, yesterday threatened to resume bombings of more oil installations in the Niger Delta if the federal government makes the peaceful change that its seeking impossible.

The group threatened

that the federal government wouldn’t be able to handle the dire consequences of what would happen if it fails to heed its demands.

“The tsunami that would descend in the coming days would be severe for the current government to handle. We bet you this government wouldn’t be able to handle what would happen in the Niger Delta in the days ahead.

“When it gets down, they would say the opposition is behind it but we don’t care. All over the world, militia groups emerge for a reason and we have made our reasons clear and vivid,” the group said in a statement.

In the statement signed by its spokesman, Sibiri Taiowoh, the group berated the federal government for failing to convene a roundtable dialogue that would engender peace as

it promised after declaring a two-week ceasefire.

It maintained that the government was paying lip service to critical issues of national importance.

“No roundtable dialogue has kick started, instead, government officials are quarrelling over critical issue of national importance.

Our patience is running out and we have decided to let the world know our grievances pure and plain again.

“The operations that would follow these plans are strategic and all operations would be codified as our goals have been codified in a one line mission statement,” it added.

The group said for it to embrace the government’s olive branch, the dialogue process must be approached with utmost transparency and sincerity, maintaining that for the past two weeks, the federal government had not shown any sign of sincerity and transparency in the process.

It however distanced itself from calls for the de-freezing of accounts of corrupt politicians or stopping their prosecution, noting that it was none of its business but added that it would vehemently resist selective justice.

The group boasted that it has willing foot soldiers across the six states of the region and had also gone ahead to recruit over 10,000 fighters and agitators from the South-east and Eastern Middle Belt.

It also boasted that it had affiliated itself with an unnamed foreign militant group in a bid to form a formidable alternative to the rampaging Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and defunct Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND).

Bayelsa Federal Hospital Sues 121 Unclaimed Corpses Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa A mild drama played out at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State yesterday, when the court clerk read out a case between the Federal Medical Centre, Ovom in Yenagoa and 121 unclaimed corpses.

Lawyers and those who were in the courtroom were still in shock when Justice Ajiya Nganjiwa sought to douse the jolted occupants of the courtroom.

“Now everybody is afraid because they have mentioned corpses,” the judge joked.

But the lawyer to FMC, Bayelsa, Mr. K. Clement, prayed the court to grant his 14-paragraph application requesting that the hospital should be given the go-ahead to give the unclaimed corpses a mass burial.

After listening to the argument backing the application, the judge concurred, stating that it was “time to allow the

dead rest in peace”.

“The application is hereby granted for all the 121 abandoned corpses to be buried. All agencies and bodies involved must comply with this order,” he said.

The federal hospital had argued that the corpses would get a mass burial if the relatives of the deceased did not collect them.

THISDAY gathered that many of the bodies had been abandoned for over 10 years, thereby blocking

space for fresh corpses.

Dr. Dennis Allagoa, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of FMC, Yenagoa, had earlier explained that the decision, among others, was taken to create space in the mortuary as fresh corpses were being brought in on a daily basis.

He also cited pollution of the health facility as reason for the decision to evacuate the cadavers in the next three weeks.

“We issued a 21-day public notice because we noticed that corpses have

littered the entire mortuary and there was no space to take in new corpses.

“As the decay goes on in the mortuary, the corpses have become a threat to human life because chemical and biochemical effects are on-going.

“So we want to clean up the area so that people can enjoy the benefit of a good site and space to bring in their corpses,” the CMD said.

Dr. Allagoa added that most of the unclaimed corpses were deposited

by security personnel while others were found on the roads and creeks and brought to the morgue.

“A lot of them were corpses that were deposited by the security agents.

Most of them are just bones, legs; they are not actually full body parts.

“People that died on the road, they brought them, from the river they brought them. People that died due to militancy, they brought them in their mass and they kept them here,” Allagoa explained.

9

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

Senate Summons Foreign Affairs Minister, SGF over Lopsided Ambassadorial Nominations Grazing reserves bill passes first reading Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Senate yesterday passed a resolution summoning the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Godfrey Onyema, and the Secretary to the government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, to appear before the Committee on Foreign Affairs to explain the rationale behind the selection of ambassadorial nominees whose list was sent to the Senate a fortnight ago.

Yesterday’s resolution followed an alarm raised by Senator Joshua Dariye (Plateau South), through a point of order that two people from his state who were senior to those nominated were not considered.

Dariye therefore sought the intervention of his colleagues

to establish the criterion for the nomination, noting that doing so would go a long way to calm frayed nerves on the nominations.

Dariye had said: “I cannot ascertain that, but these two people who are the most qualified from their own states have been by-passed in this nomination and their own case is that there is nothing in their service records to show that they have not been superb in the discharge of their duty.

“Two of them in fact are already on level 17 and in making the recommendations, many who are junior to them in experience and status have been elevated above them. Therefore, we want some intervention from the chamber to make sure that correct process is followed so

that those who have served the country meritoriously do not get passed because of whatever might be the internal politics of the ministry.

“So, I will plead on the case of my own constituents who are not even complaining about what is happening compared to other states but in the choice from within our own state and that if rules are going to be made, it should be understood by everybody so that the criteria are well established and are followed. So, I plead that relevant committee and this chamber would take a second look at this.

“We should direct that the minister for foreign affairs and the SGF to appear before the committee on foreign affairs to explain the omissions and irregularities as well as the processes by which some of these names came about.”

Also speaking on the matter, Senator Shehu Sanni (Kaduna Central) said the Committee on Foreign Affairs had received a number of petitions over the perceived lopsided nominations.

According to him, complaints from members of the public go beyond the search for criteria for the nominations to include

the questions of credibility and integrity of some of the nominees.

“I am responding as the Vice Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee. Actually, we have received series of complaints from different states on how skilled are those on the list that were presented to us from the presidency. The complaints are so much to the extent that the credibility and integrity of that list is put to question.

“So, we are working on that complaints and I think those that were not able to forward such issues to us should be able to do that. But in the mean

time, the question we have is that it is either we screen those who are here on that list and then await the second list or we await the second list before we take action on the whole thing,” Sani said.

In his reaction, Senate President Bukola Saraki said he had also received a number of petitions over the list, pointing out that the Senate has the responsibility to ensure that due process was followed in the selection process. He therefore gave the committee one week to carry out its findings and report back to the Senate.

DSS Arrest: CNPP Demands NSA, EFCC Chairman’s Resignation Within Seven Days Says Buhari must repeat Dasuki’s treatment on those indicted Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has demanded the resignation of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Mohammed Babagana Monguno (rtd), and that of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu within seven days following the indictment and subsequent arrest of a member of the Presidential Investigative Committee on Arms Procurement superintended over by the NSA. It said a situation whereby the NSA and EFCC would recover stolen funds from corrupt persons and later turn again to also loot the same money was horrifying, pointing out that based on the indictment, both officials must leave office within seven days or face nationwide protests.

A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by its National Chairman, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, and Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said claiming ignorance of the dirty deals implies that the NSA was slow in finding out what went on under his watch.

It added that it was not possible that Air Commodore Umar Muhammed (rtd) who was arrested by the DSS for alleged fraudulent deals involving top government officials could have acted without Monguno’s involvement.

According to CNPP, “The same offence that the entire

country is crucifying the former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), for has been committed all over again by Monguno as the incumbent, and that Nigerians must not be tolerant of such crime.

It stated: “A situation where the Office of the NSA and the EFCC arrest and recover money from corrupt persons only turn around and steal the recovered amounts was horrifying.

“This is why indicted people are subsequently cleared by the same agencies that indicted them without the benefit of being tried in the law courts and this is no longer acceptable.

The anti-corruption fight does not require lip service at this time that Nigerians are feeling the pains of the damage done by corruption.

“This is why we are demanding that Monguno and the EFCC Chairman, Magu, must resign. Distancing themselves from the fraud uncovered by the DSS was not enough. They must also stop chanting the cliche of corruption is fighting.

“Since the EFCC and ONSA were both mentioned in the report about the arrest of Air Muhammed, the onus is now on Monguno and Magu to do the right thing by standing down to allow for unhindered investigation.”

It however warned that Nigerians and the international community are watching to see that the DSS makes the findings from its investigations public while actions must be taken against those indicted.

MEDIA TOUR

L-R: Director Communications, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji; Managing Director, THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Eniola Bello; Executive Secretary, NEITI, Mr. Waziri Adio; and Outreach Team Leader, NEITI, Mrs. Obiageli Onuorah, during a visit by NEITI management to THISDAY Corporate Head Office, Apapa, Lagos... yesterday DAN UKANA

Buhari Warns State House Staff against Corruption Tobi Soniyi in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with staff working in the Presidential Villa and warned them to shun corrupt activities.

He said as long as he remained the president, the fight against corruption would continue.

The president, who restated his resolve to fight corruption in the country headlong, said whoever is found to be corrupt would be charged to court.

He urged those who might want to try his resolve to ask those who are currently facing corruption charges in courts across the country.

Buhari said: “All fraud must stop. If they don’t believe us, they should try and see those we caught red handed with public funds. This exercise will continue as long as this leadership is here.

“Whoever takes anything that does not belong to him or that he is not entitled to, it will be

documented and the person will be taken to court. This is the only way I think we can bail ourselves out. I am asking you to dedicate yourselves more to your country because I said more than 30 years ago, that there is no other country but Nigeria.” The president said he was determined to rehabilitate the country for the sake of “our children and our grandchildren.”

He said: “I have never in my life, from class monitor to this place, twice in different forms, believed in corruption.

In what we are doing, if we had made mistakes along the lines, the country would have been further backward than this.

“But we don’t touch anybody who did not touch public funds. You should behave yourself. If you don’t have houses in Abuja and the whole of Europe, you will sleep soundly. You and your family will earn respect. But if you shortchange the treasury, you

will be caught and I pity your family because people will be abusing them. People will be calling you big thieves that how did you raise money to build all the houses in Abuja and Europe with your meagre salary.

“I think personal integrity is something to be encouraged. I assure you that I am absolutely dedicated to serve Nigeria. Those who behave themselves will never regret, but those who don’t behave themselves, na their problem.”

Commenting on the state of the nation, Buhari said the economy is in comatose because past administrations refused to save for the raining days even when crude oil sold above $100 per barrel. He lamented that even though several billions of dollars had been invested into the power sector in the last 16 years, there was no appreciable improvement in power.

He said: “You know we have gone through a lot of change over the past year. We met 42

ministries and we found out the economy cannot take it because of the ineptitude in place.

“We have turned ourselves to a mono economy depending only on oil. Most people threw away their farm and solid minerals equipment and rushed to the city to get oil money and enjoy.

“What used to be an average of $100 from 1999 to 2014 went down to 30 dollars. What should concern out and the rest of the Nigerian elite is how we can continue to sustain ourselves in terms of materials and security.

“27 out of the 36 states couldn’t pay salaries. This is a disgrace to Nigeria. It is a disgrace. Up till now, most of the states cannot pay salaries.

What happened to all we have gotten over the years? We look up and down, left, right and centre, what have we saved?

There was nothing because we developed a consumption culture that we were not supposed to develop.“

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 • T H I S D AY

10

NEWS

FG, States Share N305bn as May Allocation Increases by N23bn Era of special bonuses over, Adeosun tells finance ministry workers Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The three tiers of government shared a total of N305.128 billion for the month of May as the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) concluded its plenary in Abuja yesterday.

The increased allocation, which is N23.628 billion higher than the N281.500 billion shared on April was attributable largely to improved collections in mineral and non-mineral receipts.

Of the N305.128 billion shared, the federal government received N187.367 billion while the states and local governments got N95.035 billion and N73.268 billion respectively.

The sum of N18.423 billion is for 13 per cent Derivation to oil and gas producing states.

Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, disclosed that the gross revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) was

N65.116 billion as against N65.259 billion distributed in the preceding month, resulting in a decrease of N0.143 billion.

She stated that the gross statutory revenue of N237.466 billion received for May was higher than the N213.817 billion in April.

Adeosun added that crude oil production and export dropped by about 2.3 million barrels in February due to Force Majeure declared at Forcados Terminal, Shut-in and Shut-down of pipelines at other terminals for repairs.

“As a result, Federation export revenue declined by $57.88 million even though the average price crude oil increased from N$29.02 in January to $32.26 in February, 2016.

“Company Income Tax (CIT) recorded a marginal increase even as the time for companies to file their returns is yet to fall due,” the minister stated.

She also disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) refunded the sum

of N6.330 billion while an exchange gain of N2.546 billion was recorded.

The Excess Crude Account (ECA) balance also stands at $2.261 billion.

Meanwhile. protesting workers continued their siege at the Ministry of Finance headquarters insisting that the minister addressed their demand for an outstanding N1.2 billion ‘Special Overtime Allowance.’

Adeosun who was forced to address the irate workers, said the era of special bonuses was gone, adding that it was practically impossible to approach President Muhammadu Buhari with the workers’ demand.

As the minister spoke about the difficulty in meeting their demand, the workers asked her to raise funds from what they called ‘below-the-line’ source.

The workers have therefore given the minister seven days to address their demand, failure which the protests would resume.

Bill Criminalising Hate Speech Online Passes Second Reading Damilola Oyedele in Abuja A bill seeking to criminalise hate speech online and the social media passed the second reading in the House of Representatives yesterday.

The bill would address publishing online content that is capable of defaming and assassinating the character and reputation of persons who have become victims of massive media onslaught.

Tagged the digital rights and freedom bill, it is intended to safeguard and protect the rights of Internet users, accord Nigerians the right to know how data collected from their participation in online systems will be used, by any organisa-

tion and protect Internet users from infringement in any form.

Sponsor of the bill, Hon. Chukwukemeka Ujam (Enugu PDP) leading the debate, noted that the bill tackles how consent must be secured for collection, use and disclosure of personal data including that of legislators. The bill would stipulate due process to be followed before access on collected personal data can be granted to governmental agencies and others, he added.

“For the first time in the history of Nigeria, and by extension Africa, offenses relating to the ownership of personal data, hate speech online is addressed...in recent times, the online platform has become a

haven for unscrupulous persons to encroach into personal space of law abiding citizens of this great country,” he said.

“The social media has become a platform where everybody can participate as equals in political debates, and where everyone has a voice and audience.

It is leading to personal growth, the right of all citizens to develop their arguments, skills and individuality,” Ujam said.

Codifying online rights in Nigeria will encourage participation and promote innovation in the country through access to cutting edge research from around the world, the lawmaker argued.

Obasanjo: LG Administration Has Been Bastardised, Battered Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday lamented the state of local government administration in the country, saying that the management of the third tier of government had been bastardised and battered.

According to Obasanjo, the situation in the country’s councils is such that they had been bastardised, battered and encroached upon badly,

contrary to the vision and mission of creating the third-tier of government in 1976.

The former president who met with the leadership of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) led by the National President, Ibraheem Khaleel, said there was no exception to the level in apparent neglect the council had been made to suffer in the hands of the states.

He wondered if such could

be allowed by the federal government to them.

“But, I begin to wonder, if they can allow what they are doing to the local governments can be allowed to be done to them.

There is no exception to this bastardisation, battered and encroachment on the local governments the states. Both are suppose to be a tier of government with each having its roles and functions. But, that is not the case anymore.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 • T H I S D AY

11

NEWS

Falana: EFCC Can Prosecute Fayose as Sitting Governor Says he can’t invoke immunity clause to escape investigation Gboyega Akinsanmi Contrary to the diverse legal opinion that faulted the freezing of the bank accounts of the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, a human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, yesterday said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) could investigate and prosecute him as a sitting governor.

Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), consequently cited diverse judicial precedents and legal instruments, which he said justified the decision of the anti-graft commission to investigate and freeze Fayose’s bank accounts.

He faulted Fayose’s reliance on section 308 of the 1999 Constitution to escape criminal investigation in a statement he issued yesterday, noting that immunity clause did not come to play in criminal investigation of a sitting governor or a sitting president.

He explained Fayose’s diverse criminal antecedents ranging from the looting of N1.2 billion from the state’s treasury in 2004 to alleged involvement in the murder of Tunde Omojola and the 2014 Ekiti governorship election rigging.

The human rights lawyer, thus pointed out that the EFCC was currently being investigated in connection “to a coup, which led to the re-election of Fayose” in the Ekiti State governorship held on June 21, 2014.

He explained that in view of the fact that the effect of section 308 of the 1999 Constitution “has been watered down, Fayose cannot invoke the immunity clause to shield himself from investigation.”

Since the offences of fraud, treason and criminal diversion of public funds were allegedly committed in connection with the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State, the senior advocate argued that Fayose, who was a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the material time “is liable to be investigated.

“If he is indicted, Fayose ought to be prosecuted by the EFCC since the immunity of a governor is put in abeyance when the legitimacy of his election is in dispute. In his desperate bid to divert public attention from the ongoing investigation of the criminal diversion of public funds, Fayose has attempted to link me with his indictment by the Nigerian Army and the EFCC. “Notwithstanding that the allegation is completely baseless, I fully support the investigations. I do not need to instigate the anti-graft agencies to enquire into the activities of a serial treasury looter.

“Having admitted his involvement in the coup which occurred in Ekiti State which culminated in his emergence as the Ekiti State governor, Fayose ought to be prosecuted

for treason which arose from the electoral malfeasance.”

In support of his position, Falana observed that the senior lawyers, who had questioned the freezing of Fayose’s account on the grounds that the EFCC did not obtain a court order had not read section 28 of the EFCC Act thoroughly.

The section read: “Where a person is arrested for an offence under this Act, the commission shall immediately trace and attach all the assets and properties of the person acquired as a result of such

economic or financial crime and shall thereafter cause to be obtained an interim attachment order from the court.”

Contingent on the section, Falana noted that the law “permits the EFCC to freeze an account or attach a property of a criminal suspect and proceed thereafter to obtain an ex parte order from the appropriate court.”

Aside, Falana cited different judicial precedents that justified the criminal investigation and prosecution of a sitting

governor or a sitting president in connection to electoral malpractice, noting that immunity clause did not apply.

He cited the decision of Justice Kayode Eso in Obih vs Mbakwe; the judgment of Justice Oguntade in Turaki vs Dalhaltu, the decision of Muri Okunola JCA in Alliance for Democracy vs Peter Ayodele Fayose and another Supreme Court in Chief Gani Fawehinmi vs Inspector General of Police, among others.

In each of these judicial

precedents, the senior advocate pointed out that the courts explained the rationale for suspending the operation of the immunity clause during the hearing of election petitions.

In Fawehinmi vs Inspector General of Police (2002) 23 WRN 1, the Supreme Court held that a person protected under section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, going by its provisions, “can be investigated by the police for an alleged crime or offence is, in my view, beyond dispute.

“To hold otherwise is to create a monstrous situation whose manifestation may not be fully appreciated until illustrated…

The evidence may be useful for impeachment purposes if the House of Assembly may have need of it.

“It may no doubt be used for prosecution of the said incumbent Governor after he has left office. But to do nothing under the pretext that a governor cannot be investigated is a disservice to the society.”

12

THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016

13

14

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

COMMENT

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

HOPE IN A FRACTURED LAND

Nigeria needs entrepreneurial revolution to get it going, argues Taopheek Babayeju

T

he United States of America (USA) is no doubt a great nation but the history of America wouldn’t be complete without the mention of great men like Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Ford, Morgan, and Rockefeller whose entrepreneurial exploits and footprints are still visible to date, many decades after. But as a young boy growing up in the 1980s, on the streets of Lagos I never heard those names.

I heard names like the Abiolas, Ojoras, Okoyas, Dantatas, Indimis, Nwanyanwus, and the rest.

Nigeria is indeed blessed with great minds and entrepreneurs but unfortunately, most Nigerian businesses do not transcend generations. Most of the brands we grew up with are no more, brands like Leventis and Bhojson stores, Bata and Lenards shoes, Adebowale Electronics, Concord group, Okada air, Eleganza coolers, etc.

The Nigerian business environment has no doubt witnessed several revolutions. The banking revolution threw up names like Hakeem Belo-Osagie, Jim Ovia, Tony Elumelu and the rest. I was privileged to be working for the only telecom operator in Nigeria owned by the government when the telecom revolution happened.

Fast forward 15 years after, Nigeria has not been the same, millions of jobs created, businesses and lives improved.

In my young career spanning over one and half decades, I have had the privilege of working for the government and as an entrepreneur I have delivered service to both government and private institutions. I have seen all sorts - corruption, incompetence, and ineptitude in the public sector. And I have consistently held the belief that for Nigeria to move to where it ought to be, amongst the committee of nations, there must be a revolution. How? What type of revolution? I couldn’t answer but I knew something drastic must happen. I have heard and read about several revolutions, political and industrial revolutions. I was a little boy (in primary one) in 1984 when the present president, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) took over the reign of government in a military coup and I have lived to see several military regimes, the June 12, 1993 elections and the final return to civilian rule in 1999.

Just in our most recent history we witnessed the Arab Spring revolution. The world could not and cannot afford a bloody

THERE ARE PRACTICAL WAYS GOVERNMENT CAN CREATE THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESSES TO THRIVE, NAMELY: INCREASE THE EASE OF DOING BUSINESS, ELIMINATE MULTIPLE TAXATIONS IMPEDING SMES, ENCOURAGE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, ENGAGE THE ENTREPRENEURS IN POLICY FORMULATION, REDUCE SIZE AND COST OF GOVERNANCE

revolution or a disintegration of the most populous black nation, but miraculously, against the predictions of a possible break up by 2015, God intervened, change came. There was a “common sense revolution” many thanks to permanent voter card (PVC). So now that we have change, what next?

It is no longer news: the country is broke, oil prices have gone down to an all-time low of about $30 per barrel. We didn’t save when we had excess, we didn’t build infrastructure. Not enough power to drive the industries. No doubt these are tough times which at the same time provide the opportunity to learn and build. For Nigeria to be great again we need to take tough decisions. Entrepreneurship needs to take the front burner.

With about 70% youth population (approximately 80 million) there is an abundance of human resources. We need to create jobs for the growing population of youths. Governments must recognise that it is not a job creator but has the responsibility to create the right environment for entrepreneurial development.

However, there are numerous challenges hindering the growth of entrepreneurship in Nigeria, namely: difficulty in doing business, lack of access to fund, lack of critical infrastructure, insufficient power, insecurity, disconnect between education and market places and corruption.

Recommendations: beyond the rhetoric, there are practical ways government can create the right environment for businesses to thrive, namely: increase the ease of doing business, eliminate multiple taxations impeding SMEs, encourage public-private partnership, engage the entrepreneurs in policy formulation, reduce size and cost of governance, increase capital expenditure ratio in annual budgets, encourage state and local governments to be able to generate internal revenue, develop infrastructure, eliminate corruption and block leakages.

In conclusion, the change that we all desire is not going to come from the government, but from the start-ups, SMEs, entrepreneurs, investors, market men, and women. Entrepreneurs have to think like leaders, and leaders have to adopt the entrepreneurial mindset, then Nigeria will be great again.

Babayeju is the managing director of ICENTRA

WHY HEALTHCARE IS NEGLECTED IN NIGERIA

H

Our healthcare system is not working because leaders and health professionals have alternatives, reckons Obinna Oleribe

ave you ever wondered why healthcare systems and structures are neglected in Nigeria? Health is wealth, and a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. This is not just a saying, but a reality as it takes healthy people to generate wealth. In Nigeria, where agriculture is seen as the next best alternative to oil, only healthy people can engage in meaningful agricultural practices. Mining of solid minerals will also require healthy individuals. Only healthy individuals can go to school, pass their examinations, and contribute to national development. Yes, health is wealth!

But our healthcare systems are not working across the three levels of care. The healthcare workers are not working – and almost always on strike. There are ineffective healthcare administrative systems.

The equipment in our healthcare establishments are obsolete, functional ones are not properly maintained, and procurement of new ones are fraught with politics and corruption. The infrastructure is dilapidated. Moreover, the hospital drug shelves are empty. Thus, in Nigeria, patients are commonly referred from government-owned tertiary hospitals to privately-owned primary facilities for care, surgery, and investigation.

It is therefore not surprising that Nigeria, with a population of over 180 million people, has one of the worst health indices with high deaths rate (12.9 deaths/1,000 population); high infant mortality rate (72.7 deaths/1,000 live births); maternal mortality rate (814 deaths/100,000 live births), and unacceptable low life expectancy at birth (53.02 years).

Malaria and other easily preventable diseases are still killing millions of Nigerians annually. Lassa fever is still ravaging eight states 10 months after the outbreak was discovered killing over 89 persons including healthcare workers. Fake drugs and untested traditional herbal remedies still found in the market and hospital pharmacies are destroying kidneys, livers, and lives of hundreds of thousands.

Hospital-acquired infections remain responsible for the majority of complications following surgeries and invasive procedures in hospitals. Several of the healthcare workers in Nigeria are seeking escape routes in Europe and America where they believe they will be better valued and rewarded. Today, people die from common and easily treatable diseases because of three key factors; (1) absence of services (including emergency services) even in functional

healthcare facilities; (2) delay in receiving care due to financial and or structural factors; and (3) negligence in delivery of healthcare services by healthcare workers resulting mainly from poor healthcare administration and management. But these factors can easily be corrected if the nation desires to. Why is nobody doing anything about them?

Globally, there is a drive towards Universal Health Coverage. This is far from becoming a reality in Nigeria where less than six million people have access to health insurance. The truth is that nobody truly knows the real number of individuals enrolled into this service! The world recently adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with Goal three focusing on health. Nigeria failed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) but has adopted the SDGs, even though she is yet to do a ‘post mortem’ on why she failed to achieve the MDGs. We should recall that the errors of the past, if not corrected, will easily deny the country success in her drive towards SDGs. In 2001, the Abuja declaration demanded a 15% allocation of national resources to health. Till date, less than 5% is achieved at the national level and between 3 – 9% at various states. Many of the comments have blamed this singular factor as the reason the healthcare system is in her present moribund state.

Although the lack of funding has played a significant role in the decadence seen in the healthcare system, I am not sure it is the primary reason. For instance, can anybody actually account for what the current budget allocation to health is being used for? In the next few paragraphs, I will take you through a few other reasons why the healthcare system is where it is in Nigeria. I choose to call this the alternative syndrome.

The first reason is that policy makers have alternatives. They have alternative healthcare services in Europe, America, Asia, and even South Africa.

Since the days of Alhaji Shehu Shagari (and I mean in the late 1970s), political and military leaders have always turned to other nations all over the world for healthcare. They are easily evacuated to these nations (where things work) for minor illnesses like common cold. Our past three presidents – Alhaji Musa Yar’ Adua, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and now, President Muhammadu Buhari all depended on external healthcare services in Europe for their wellbeing. Since they can afford it – from private and public funds – why should they repair the national healthcare systems and make them work? The use of these external healthcare facilities usually extends to

their wives, children and even friends. Following the footsteps of the national leaders, the state governments, ministers, commissioners, national and State Assembly members and all top level public servants prefer to seek healthcare services in these countries rather than make the national healthcare system work. Where there is an alternative, there is never the will to do the right things. If we must get the healthcare system right in Nigeria, we must destroy this alternative. We must legislate against it. This is the true change that we need in Nigeria.

If Europe and America can have functional healthcare systems, why not Nigeria? If we lack the capacity (which is not true), we can import the technology and work towards technology transfer in the next 10 – 20 years. It is amazing that, why salaries of workers are not paid, roads are not maintained, darkness is everywhere, Lassa fever is still killing healthcare workers, malaria is causing unnumbered untimely deaths of children and women, pregnant women are dying at delivery and healthcare workers are going on incessant strikes; the federal government which recently claimed that Nigeria has no money, has enough resources to export people to Europe for healthcare services that could easily be obtained in Nigeria at a fraction of the required cost in Europe.

The second reason is that healthcare workers have alternatives. The majority of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and laboratory scientists working in the public healthcare system have personal and private practices and businesses. To them, the fall of the public healthcare system is their personal and private gains. Strikes are encouraged because they result in patients seeking healthcare in their private facilities and shops. The absence of medications and drugs leads to clients buying products from them.

Sometimes, it is amazing that the hospital workers’ facilities and pharmacies are cited just across the hospital building – making them the place of choice for patients in the absence of functional public health services. Not only this, healthcare workers sometimes are seen selling their own drugs and hospital consumables in public healthcare facilities – even while on duty! With their personal interest at heart, a majority of these professionals sabotage the public healthcare system – ensuring that it never works!

Few years ago, in one of the states of Nigeria, the Commissioner for Health had his private practice in the state. Even when I had an official appointment to see him, I was referred to his clinic. How could

he manage the state healthcare system with his eyes on patient care and at the same time on policy development? How could such a commissioner develop policies that will make the public healthcare systems functional? We need to revise the system and ensure better commitment of healthcare workers to the national healthcare system.

The third reason the system is failing is that patients have alternatives. However, unlike the politicians and rich public servants, the majority of the masses cannot afford the best care seen in Europe and America. So they seek healthcare services from traditional birth attendants, patent medicine vendors, and even roadside drug hawkers. Those who can afford them, turn to herbal medications from Asia and South Africa. The damage these alternative healthcare providers have caused our people is unquantifiable. There is currently a rising prevalence of renal failures (acute and chronic). No one has tried to investigate the cause of this level of renal diseases.

Could it be linked to some of these untested and unresearched medications and supplements?

The final reason I will like to share here is the fact that nobody really cares. Recently, I had a lunch date with a friend in the health industry who I admire so much. We spoke at length on how to improve the national healthcare system. When I raised some suggestions on what could be done, he responded… “do they care?” I am yet to recover fully from this statement – because it is so true. When in 2012 I had issues with my project which if not funded would result in the death of HIV patients in the state, a state officer said to me, “If 1000 people die because of this change, Nigeria will not miss them. We are already too many.” No wonder people are killed daily, and nobody cares. Communities are razed down, and nobody cares. People are kidnapped and used for rituals, and nobody cares. People get missing, and nobody cares. We live in a country where nobody cares as the lives of people (other than themselves) have little or no value.

These must change. We must begin to build a nation based on the principles of equity, justice, and fairness. We must provide healthcare services to all – young and old, rich and poor. We must make quality healthcare services accessible and available to all – irrespective of their locations and their income.

We must begin to be our brothers’ keepers.

Dr Oleribe is the Chief Executive Officer, Excellence & Friends Management Care Centre, Hebron, Abuja

15

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY DAY, JUNE 23, 2016

EDITORIAL HOLDING ALL ELECTIONS IN ONE DAY

S

It has become necessary for INEC and other stakeholders to give it serious attention

hortly after the 2011 general election, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Attahiru Jega came up with the idea of holding all elections in the country on the same day.

In proposing the single-day elections, Jega noted that the existing arrangement of staggered elections was fraught with drawbacks just as it was wasteful in terms of energy, time and money. However, having added a caveat that the single-day elections he was proposing at the time would not take off with the 2015 elections, Jega made his submission a mere academic exercise.

We believe it is time Nigerians started looking at the idea.

Against the background that under the prevailing electoral system it could sometimes take between three and four weeks to conduct the various elections (Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State Houses of Assembly) during which all economic and sometimes even academic activities are usually SINGLE DAY VOTING grounded throughWOULD TAKE CARE OF THE out the country, we WASTE AND ALLEGATIONS consider Jega’s idea a OF MANIPULATION worthwhile proposiUSUALLY ASSOCIATED tion. We believe WITH STAGGERED POLLS that it is something his successor, Professor Mahmood Yakubu should be looking at, especially at a period like this when the country is looking for cost-cutting measures to survive the dwindling revenues from oil sales.

Perhaps the single major complaint against holding all elections in one day is that the ballot paper could be too bulky in the case of Nigeria where there are many political parties taking part in any elections. The argument goes that the illiterate electorate in the rural areas might get confused to the point that they would render their ballot papers invalid. Or that some may vote against their choices if given four different ballot papers at the same

Letters to the Editor

L

time. While there may be merit in this argument, we do not believe it is sufficient enough reason not to try what has been perfected even in smaller West African countries where elections are usually held in one day with many parties competing.

There are also those who argue that since INEC still has difficulties in holding crisis-free elections under the existing staggered formula, there is no assurance that the electoral body would get it right if all elections are held in one day. That may be a legitimate concern. But in lending support to the single-day voting, we have weighed all the negatives that the extant staggered elections present against what the nation stands to gain from the proposed one.

F T H I S DAY

EDITOR IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU DEPUTY EDITORS BOlAJI ADEBIYI, JOSEpH USHIGIAlE 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

irst and foremost, the current system is not cost effective as the nation is almost always shut down for several days whenever elections are held with all the attendant economic implications. There is also the issue of voter-fatigue as the turnout of electorate often declines after the first major poll. Furthermore, and perhaps more fundamental, is the notorious fact that once the presidential or governorship elections are held first and results declared, subsequent elections tend to reflect the so-called bandwagon effect. We therefore endorse single day voting because, as has been evident in countries where it is practiced, it would take care of the waste and allegations of manipulation usually associated with staggered polls.

The main concern here is whether INEC will really get its act together to ensure that all logistics problems such as the late arrival of ballot papers and voting materials to polling centres as currently experienced will be eliminated prior to the introduction of single-day voting. But that does not obviate the fact that it is an idea worth trying. We therefore call on INEC, the National Assembly and other critical stakeholders to give serious consideration to the idea of single-day elections, especially as we move towards 2019.

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.

GAYA: CELEBRATING AN ICON

ast June 16, 2016, Kabir Gaya gained an additional year of a life distinguished by humane principles, refined values and remarkable achievements. Kabir Gaya, a Nigerian politician and senator currently in the 8th National Assembly on behalf of Kano South senatorial district is a man distinguished by several distinctive qualities, including his goodness of character and uncommon political philosophy of value addition. As a political leader, the senator has through his commitment to causes that seek to advance human happiness and his awesome prowess in influencing the context in which developments could be evolved and sustained as vividly demonstrated during his stint as executive governor of Kano State in 1992-1993 and in the Senate where he has been a voice of reckoning, stands him out as a dependable ally of the talakawa. For all that senator Gaya signifies both as a person and a political figure, his birthday remains symbolic.

To be honest, I don’t think birthday is such a big deal for the amiable senator for it is not known exactly when he was in the news over a birthday bash despite his verve and vivacity. In a general sense, birthdays whether hugely celebrated, solemnly marked or ignored give one the picture of a life. As often said, a birthday means a different thing to different people. Birthdays carry several and varied connotations but all are emotionally based. It is reminiscent of the day that one is delivered into a whole new world of wonder and uncertainties, the tides and storms of human existence. However, we regard a birthday, birthdays are important in our lives as it either rekindles the flames of our aspiration, or

refocus our gaze into the deep and wide horizon of life. By and large, a birthday is truly measured on the basis of the impact the life it bears makes in a society.

Senator Gaya’s birthday is a day that bore a life of positive impacts for he is not only a great man but a good man whose dedication to service is exceptionally outstanding. Senator Gaya is one man who in both his personal and public life is relentlessly committed to finding innovative solutions to the most difficult challenges of the day. In congress, Gaya has ever passionately fought for the causes of the people of his Kano South constituents and the vast majority of vulnerable Nigerians. He has sponsored, working on bills that ensured the welfare of Nigerians as enshrined in the All Progressives Congress manifesto and adding voice to a variety of bills which have been enacted into law. In an era of change where prudence and probity are the rule of engagement, he is providing a principled leadership on the works committee which he chairs, using his skills and talents in forging consensus and reaching compromise without sacrificing his core values. Senator Gaya is, indeed, a man of value. In 2009, he supported and was a crucial factor in the motion by the then ANPP, Kano Chapter, to allow the governor at the time, Mallam Shekarau nominate the party’s candidate for the 2011 governorship election.

With legislative interests that chiefly cover agriculture, education and power, the committees on which Senator Gaya has served include gas, local and foreign debts, states and local government, upstream petroleum resources and works, among others. He never missed plenary and is emerging as one of the Nigerian Senate’s

leading lights. He was chief whip.

A recipient of several professional and meritorious awards, including being the most Distinguished Senator of Year 2007, a deserving honour done him by the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the Best Constituency Projects Senator Award, Senator Gaya has attracted an impressive array of direct impact projects to his constituents. These include healthcare centre, boreholes, electrical infrastructure, tube wells and irrigation pumps, etc.

Needless to say, for his wit, effervescence and ambitious focus Gaya must have somehow managed to attract to himself a score of political foes, hence the ironical burning of his home in Kano sometime ago on a frivolous excuse of unfulfilled political promises at a time when the nation was just struggling with the realities of change, a Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency and its inherent phobias and the nation’s legislative body having to deal with a true-to-type budget for the first time ever. It’s such a shame, that incident! A fatalist, the senator, obviously put all that behind him to focus on his primary duty, making laws for the country and maximising social outcomes for the people of Kano South.

During the 2015 electoral campaigns, Gaya had initially signified interest in going into contest as the successor to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of the Kwankwasiyya legend. Quite naturally, had that happened, he would have turned out a square peg in a square hole. Nevertheless, as the senator takes his steps, a rendition of Kano’s finest hour yet beckons.

Comrade Musa Wada, Abuja

16

THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016

17

18

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

Oke: Why Yewa is Disadvantaged in Ogun Dapo Oke is the leader of Ogun West Rebirth, a pressure group agitating for power shift to the Ogun West district in the 2019 governorship contest. Speaking with Femi Ogbonnikan, he reckoned that the current political structure in the state puts the people of Ogun West at a huge disadvantage for the race.

Excerpts:

Y

ou are one of those in the vanguard for power shift to Ogun West senatorial district in 2019. How has the journey been?

The creation of Ogun State in 1976 – we were coming from two provinces – Abeokuta province, which extended up to Badagry, and the Ijebu province, which also extended up to Ikorodu and Epe. And so by the creation, you know, Epe, Badagry and Ikorodu have been cut off from Ogun State and so, we came in through the four administrative divisions.

It was just for administrative convenience. We have the four divisions of Ijebu, Remo, Egba and Egbado, then (now Yewa), and of course, that is the four pillars on which Ogun State stands.

Therefore, you will now understand that Ogun State can be likened to a table with four legs.

Presently, if you look at what has happened in Ogun State, you will see that the table is still standing on three legs. The fourth leg, which is the people of Yewa/Awori, has not been provided and unless that leg is provided, there cannot be equilibrium. And if democracy itself is about equity, it is about equal opportunity, and if democracy is all we are talking about, everybody being the same, then it means, the people of Yewa/Awori must definitely be allowed to actually have a taste from the pot of power in Ogun State.

Let me now tell you, how it has been.

When Ogun State was created in 1976, the first democratic experience that we had was in 1979. Definitely, one out of the four districts must produce the governor. And so, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) was the party then. And so, the slot went to Chief Bisi Onabanjo, who was an Ijebu person. After that, Onabanjo was given another slot in 1983 for the second term,

The first problem is that the political structure was created in such a way that the Yewa/Awori people were put in a disadvantaged position. In the Electoral College, where we had 50 delegates, the Ijebu had 20, the Egba had 20 and the Egbado had 10. How do you think 10 delegates can defeat 20 delegates from a zone in a free and fair contest? And I have told you that all the delegates voted along ethnic lines

initial stage, Arojo also aspired.

And of course, we knew where Arojo was coming from. He was coming from the private sector, like OGD. But by the time Amosun contested and won, and yes, we are talking of Brig-Gen Adetunji Olurin – somebody, who had been in the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC), the highest ruling body in Nigeria. He had gone on international assignments and had actually succeeded and excelled and had been military governor of Oyo State, which is times two the population of Ogun State. Of course, you cannot say such a person is a pushover.

And of course, GNI himself, he is also another investment expert, somebody who has excelled in banking and finance and, then who came to Ogun State and ran the financial profile of Ogun State well. Somebody the governor himself was satisfied with his performance while in office.

You cannot say we don’t have them. In every contest, we have always brought out people that are equal, if not above the ordinary level. They are also people that can flaunt their credentials anywhere in the whole world. They can be anywhere. They can occupy any position in the international realm, not to talk of ruling Ogun State alone.

Oke...current political structure not in favour of Yewa

but the military truncated that. After that, the next democratic dispensation we had was in 1993 during the SDP, the one created by IBB. And at that time, the seat of power shifted to Egba, and we had Akinrogun Olusegun Osoba on the seat then. He was also given another chance but that was also truncated by the military.

But under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1999, Osoba was also given that ticket to complete the Egba tenure of the second term, because technically, whether you spend one day in office or two days in office, it is assumed, that it is a term. Whatever happens there, it is just an irony of fate. I think Osoba wanted to go for another term, and of course, there was a court judgment, which says, he was eligible.

But OGD came in from nowhere through the PDP and, then occupied the seat on the ticket of Remo, because at that time, people felt it was Remo’s turn.

Up to the point OGD occupied the seat it was assumed that if it was for Remo. And it was still assumed we are still rotating the governorship seat on the divisional level.

In 2011, OGD and the PDP made efforts to ensure that the people of Yewa/Awori got the ticket, but unfortunately, the bickering within the party, and of course, the level of crisis in the PDP could not allow that shift of power to materialise. And of course, we had Amosun coming onboard. That is how it has been. So, the coming onboard of Amosun was an alteration of the rotation because it means Egba was coming up for the second term.

Having said that, let me now come back to the issue of senatorial districts and the divisions.

I told you that at the creation of Ogun State, we were operating on the four divisional areas but by the 1999 constitution, the senatorial district came into prominence. And if you now want to look at how the governorship seat has actually moved in Ogun State, you will now realise, that the Ogun East, where Onabanjo and Daniel represented, has taken two terms at the governorship slot, the Ogun Central where

Osoba, and Amosun, the incumbent governor come from has also taken two slots, whereas the people of Ogun West are yet to have a taste. So, my brother that is how it has been.

One thing is to agitate for power shift and another is to have a competent and capable person. Are your kinsmen and women ready to face stiff competition from contestants from the two other senatorial districts?

Yes. This takes us to one of the things, that our brothers from the other Senatorial Districts have been saying and it is very insulting. “Yewa ko l’eyan” (Yewa does not have credible and competent persons), and I want to ask, are you talking of colouration, whether there are blue or green people in Yewa, and it is only red people that can be governor? But let me tell you, if you are talking in terms of quality, the qualities of candidates that we have been presenting are even better than those that have emerged as governors in Ogun State.

Let me start by saying, I have mentioned Jonathan Odebiyi. As at the time Onabanjo emerged, you cannot compare the political credentials of Onabanjo with that of Odebiyi, but because it was in the interest of the party’s leadership, Onabanjo emerged. Don’t forget Onabanjo was chairman, Ijebu Ode local government and a member of the lower chamber of the National Assembly, and in the real sense of it, Odebiyi was two-time Minister and was head of the parliament. When Osoba contested, he contested against Prof Abimbola Olabimtan. Olabimtan was a professor at the University of Lagos.

He was a scholar of great repute, an international scholar, writer and all good things you could say about the man. Are you saying that his credentials were not superb? It was only when Daniel contested that the people of Yewa/Awori didn’t contest. The arrangement then in the party was that OGD should contest and that was why the people of Ogun West didn’t contest, when he was contesting. But let me again mention that at the time, at the

Can you possibly identity why the governorship slot has always eluded the Ogun West district since the creation of the state 40 years ago?

The first problem is that the political structure was created in such a way that the Yewa/ Awori people were put in a disadvantaged position. In the Electoral College, where we had 50 delegates, the Ijebu had 20, the Egba had 20 and the Egbado had 10.

How do you think 10 delegates can defeat 20 delegates from a zone in a free and fair contest?

And I have told you that all the delegates voted along ethnic lines.

The second one is that with the present political structure in Ogun State, Ogun West has 59 wards; Ogun East has 108 wards, that is, Ogun West is 50 per cent of Ogun East, while Ogun Central has 67 wards. Now, consider a situation, that we are to send 10 delegates each and, then multiply Ogun West delegates by 10 that is 590, whereas the delegates from Ogun East would be 1,080. Is that not it, while delegates from Egba would be 670?

Now, tell me, if they are going to contest primaries, since the delegates are going to vote, the candidate from Ogun West is already contesting from the disadvantaged position. That is that. Go and see the criteria for selection of people that go into the delegates thing, then you will find past political office holders too, and go and see how many of our people have been ministers.

But let me tell you that the emergence of governors in Ogun State has not been through the efforts of the people but through the leadership caucus. It was Awolowo that determined, who became the governor of Ogun State in 1979. He was the founder of the party. If Awolowo had been from Egbado, Odebiyi would have been governor. If he had been from Egba, may be, Odunjo would have been the governor. I am not saying Awolowo was tribalistic, but I am telling you that he was also a human being.

Let me again say, that the incumbent governor of Ogun State – we knew how it happened at Bourdillon. He was actually the candidate from the Bourdillon and that was how he got the seat. Because as at that time, Tinubu was the de facto national chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). You will see that in all the emergence of governors in the state, the leadership is number one factor.

19

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

INTERVIEW

Fayose Has Lost the Momentum, Says Osinkolu Dr. Olusegun Osinkolu, a Switzerland Management University-trained politician is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State. In this interview with Olakiitan Victor, he said Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has lost grip of governance in the state. Excerpts:

Y

ou have declared intention for 2019 senatorial contest. Why now when INEC has not opened up the space?

2019 seems long, but by my own nature and being a grassroots politician, I love proper planning. I don’t like jumping into things like other politicians, who never prepared for a seat and when they get there, they start wobbling and fumbling. As you know that INEC has not lifted ban on open campaign, but I have started empowering my people in all the five local governments in Ekiti North senatorial district. I started this journey seven years ago, but I am not particularly happy that our party primary elections had not been fair. This is my third time and I may be lucky this time.

Apart from being a thorough party man, I know all the nooks and crannies of Ekiti. And whoever knows that he is strong and acceptable to the people should come out. The era, where few leaders would just sit somewhere and impose candidates is over. APC is a new party with new ideas and with the mantra of change and new way of doing things. Let the best come out to represent us at the National Assembly and that was why I had declared my intention to represent the good people of Ekiti North senatorial district at the Senate.

What do you think cost you the senatorial ticket in the past?

I have been pursuing this ticket for about eight years and I am yet to know why I have been denied despite my popularity. But one thing has always come to my mind and that was the widespread impression among some leaders that I was not known at home. Some even

2014. His popularity has waned considerably because of his character, anti-people policies and lack of understanding of principles and practice of governance. What I expect is for the APC to do the right thing, which is to present the right candidate and if this is done, I foresee no problem at all.

Do you factor in the interest of the likes of former Governors Kayode Fayemi, Segun Oni and Niyi Adebayo into your ambition?

As much as I agree that these three personalities are our leaders and I believe their opinions and the unity among them really matters, I also want you to know that democracy is about the people. The people made the leaders because they allowed them to be. They didn’t impose themselves as leaders, the people made them and they would listen to whatever the people want. But I want to confirm to you today that there is no division in APC. APC is now one big family and what we expect is for the party to conduct congress, so that all interests can be protected.

Osinkolu

called me foreigner even in my own state.

Some said I am too young at that time and now I am over 50. But in 2019, the people of Ekiti North will decide their own fate. Enough of these intrigues by few leaders, who will sit somewhere and say: ‘This is the position of the party’. We will no longer accept such anti-democratic behaviour.

Are you not afraid of Governor Fayose’s popularity because he has always been the

one winning elections for PDP? I can authoritatively tell you that I will defeat whoever PDP presents even if my brother, Governor Ayodele Fayose is in the saddle, but unfortunately, he will leave by 2018. With the kind of politics I play, even the PDP members will vote for me. They know my antecedents as someone, who doesn’t discriminate or display bitterness based on your political affiliation.

Apart from that, go to the streets of Ekiti today, Fayose no longer enjoys any popularity like in

Ekiti has been in turmoil for some days because of the government/workers’ unrest. How do you feel about this development as a leader?

This is a very disappointing situation. Governor Fayose must own up that he has failed with the way he handled the labour unrest. I have been following events very closely and what I realised is that I saw a governor, who is not ready for peace or dialogue. The governor must be conscious of one thing, which is the fact that there is no excuse in governance. Whether the amount accruing to the state was enough to pay salaries or not, he should find a way to pay workers their wages.

Oyewunmi: Ondo APC Delegates are Not for Sale Since joining the race for Ondo State governorship post on the All Progressives Congress platform, Mr. Boye Oyewunmi, whose campaign has been gathering momentum, spoke on his decision to become governor of the state. Shola Oyeyipo brings the excerpts:

Y

ou opted to join the race to succeed Governor Olusegun Mimiko on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, what is your motivation?

The truth is, I have always been a social democrat in orientation. When I was much younger, about half my age, I was a member of NADECO in the diaspora. I was probably the youngest member then. I was also a member of the late MKO Abiola Presidential Campaign Team way back in 1992 and that was where I cut my political teeth in terms of being interested in development of Nigeria.

It is just that this occasion, I am specific on Ondo State but my look has always been more national and my contribution has always been at that level. I have reached a stage in life, where I honestly believe that in the Nigerian perspective, we try the best of cars but we allow the worst of men to drive us and that I think is a national tragedy. When you have had opportunity to see how other civilised societies are run either by migration or by birth, you understand that life ought not to be as difficult as it is in Nigeria.

I am in the gubernatorial race not because I am looking for a job. I am not a political jobber.

I am driven by a vision to be the difference that is possible. Am I alone in this race? The answer is no. The terrain in Nigeria is such that if you don’t have good people supporting you, if you don’t have conviction, if you are not driven by selfless ambition to be a change agent, you could very easily be discouraged. I intend

Oyewunmi

to be a magnet that brings other like-minded people into governance.

But why did you join the race rather late?

There is a local proverb that says the masquerade that danced first would watch other dance for a longer time. That is number one. Two, leadership for me is not something that is a race in perpetuity. You occupy the space for a period of time, you do your best and you leave. Like I said, I am not just driven by an ambition of wanting to be governor, I have a vision and a vision is always for an appointed time.

This is the appointed time and we believe

so. It is not that we woke up out of a deep slumber and said we want to be this, no. We are not looking for job. Number three, in every race there is always a David. We started about three or four months ago, if we check where we are in the poll now, then you would ask yourself how is it possible for somebody that started three, four months ago and he is a top runner in an election, where people have been spending resources two years before now?

To win the governorship election you must first win the party primary. Do you think you have what it takes to become the APC standard bearer in Ondo State?

One of the beauties of APC as we know it, especially in Ondo State is a level playing field. If we are not in a level playing field, we wouldn’t have any room at all. That has been said, that has been demonstrated and there is nothing the party has done to negate that. When something is a level playing field, it doesn’t matter when you get into the field.

Why is it a level playing field? We have about 43 candidates, very vibrant men and ladies, who want to be governor and when you have a richness of candidates like that, the only way is to allow them go into the field.

The delegates are human beings, who are approachable. They are not commodities to be bought and they are people, whose conscience can be appealed to, whose conscience we have been appealing to. We don’t have any financial resources to acquire delegates because we don’t believe they should be bought. Everybody is showcasing what he can do and we have had cases in this country and in many other countries, where people who have expended the most resources turned up with the least delegates.

What would you say is your unique selling point?

I am bringing freshness to the table because anything fresh has life in it, anything dead is dead. I have never been at this junction before and I am not going to be there again because I am forward thinking. I have the freshness of ideas in understanding what the problem is and proffering solutions, because we are a rich country but one lacking in ideas.

20

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

A Boost for Cassava Production Benjamin Nworie writes that rural farmers in Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State were recently drilled and enlightened on the benefits and needs of the biofortified Vitamin A cassava variety for increased produce

L-R: Ivo LGA Chairman, Chief Ogbonnaya Chukwu, Okorie and Ilona, during the constituency enlightenment workshop...recently

F

or three days, rural farmers in Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State were enlightened on the benefits and needs of biofortified Vitamin A cassava variety in the life and health of the people. The programme also afforded the participant the opportunity of identifying other products from cassava such as cassava chips and others.

The member representing Ohaozara/ Onicha/ Ivo Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Linus Abaa Okorie engaged over 3,500 farmers as part of his campaign promises and purposeful agenda to support and lift them from poverty and want. After the programme, the farmers were empowered with a bag of packed cassava stems with the aim that when it germinates

Considering the urgent need to empower the farmers and a way of boosting the cassava production in his constituency, Okorie assembled his rural farmers to empower them with biofortified cassava stems with the aim of replacing the white cassava specie that is in place

and grows stems, it would be regenerated.

The participants viewed the programme and agenda as apt following Nigeria’s dwindling revenue occasioned by the decline in oil production. This however, underscores the need to revert to agriculture, which has remained the mainstay of the Nigerian people.

Before the discovery and oil boom in Nigeria, agriculture has remained the resource base of the country. Cassava is a major staple food in Nigeria, consumed daily by more than 100 million people. However, while the commonly available white cassava can provide most of the body’s daily energy requirements, it lacks micronutrients, such as vitamin A, that are essential for a healthy and productive life.

Vitamin A deficiency can impair the body’s immunity to infectious diseases and cause eye damage that can lead to blindness and even death. Nearly one in three Nigerian children under five and one-quarter of all pregnant women in the country are vitamin A deficient.

Considering the urgent need to empower the farmers and a way of boosting the cassava production in his constituency, Okorie assembled his rural farmers to empower them with biofortified cassava stems with the aim of replacing the white cassava specie that is in place. The import of this initiative cannot be overemphasised.

In Ebonyi State for instance, with the population of about three million, the people are mainly agrarian, hardworking and sufficient in food production. With Savanna and semi tropical vegetations, humid, sandy and marshy soil, Ebonyi is blessed with moisture land for growing of not only variety of both cash and food crops like yam, cassava, rice but also animal husbandry. Over the years, Ebonyi people have specialised on rice, cassava and yam productions.

As the popular Abakaliki rice hits the global market, it is expected that with the improve cassava stems introduced in the state’s agricultural sector, it may boost the cassava production in the state. At the headquarters in Ivo, Onicha and Ohaozara, the lawmaker also enlightened the rural farmers on the

benefit of Vitamin A biofortified cassava and maize through the support of Harvestplus, the international agency saddled with eradicating the problems of hidden hunger.

To achieve his set objective, Okorie, who is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, hired HarvestPlus, an agricultural group that breed crops for better nutrition, which is being coordinated by the Centre for International Tropical Agriculture and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), to perform the enlightenment and empowerment programme.

HarvestPlus and its partners work in 22 states of Nigeria to promote the availability, adoption, and consumption of vitamin A cassava. The goal is that more than 1.6 million Nigerian farming households will be growing this biofortified crop by 2018.

HarvestPlus also gave them insights of how they could use such groups to attract incentives and do business with their farming.

The Programme’s technical partner and Country Manager of HarvestPlus in Nigeria, Dr. Paul Ilona, who taught the participating farmers throughout the three days in the different venues, told the rural farmers that though the cassava stems he brought came from Oyo State, but that after the programme, the cassava stems would henceforth be sourced from Ebonyi State.

Ilona cited the uses of Moriga tree which he said is powered by Vitamin A to buttress his teaching to the farmers. "Hon. Okorie wants us to leave well and that is why he is doing the programme. Vitamin A is crucial to our living. The important thing is to eat nutritional food,” he stated.

The Harvestplus boss explained the uses of the vitamin A cassava in making chips, biscuits, bread, flour, Fofo, tea, among other derivatives. He noted that use of crude implements for farming will soon be over in Ebonyi State and will be replaced with mechanical farming. “A farmer is a businessman and should be conscious of that,” he said.

Ilona taught them basic techniques of farming and planting the cassava for bumper

harvest such as spaces to give whiling planting, how to sow the stems and maintain it till maturity. He encouraged them to embrace business farming since every farm crop has value added bye products, whether in cassava, maize, rice or palm produce.

The theme was more centered on taking agriculture as a very serious business, the derivatives in cultivating Vitamin A fortified cassava and maize and other benefits thereof.

Not only were the farmers in the three local government local areas educated on the need and how to grow Vitamin A food crops, but the seeds were also handed out to them to begin to grow them from the present rainy season.

They were also taught how to process the Vitamin A cassava into different value added products such as using the cassava to make chips, Moi Moi, custard and even tea.

At the opening ceremony in Ishiagu Civic Centre in Ivo Local Government, Okorie told his people that Vitamin A deficiency can impair the body’s immunity to infectious diseases and cause eye damage that can lead to blindness and even death, adding that nearly one in three Nigerian children under five and one-quarter of all pregnant women in the country are vitamin A deficient.

He stated that most Nigerians do not get enough micronutrients such as vitamin A, zinc, and iron required to lead healthy productive lives from the foods that they eat, noting also that micronutrient deficiencies can lower IQ, cause stunting and blindness in children, lower resistance to disease in both children and adults, and increase risks for both mothers and infants during childbirth.

Okorie said “It is estimated that about one million of the three million child deaths that occur each year as a result of undernutrition are due to hidden hunger. Biofortified crops, which have been bred to have higher amounts of micronutrients, can help provide these needed vitamins and minerals. They can be effective in reducing hidden hunger as part of a strategy that includes dietary diversification, supplementation, and commercial fortification, among others".

21

• T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

FEATURES Not only were the farmers in the three local government local areas educated on the need and how to grow Vitamin A food crops, but the seeds were also handed out to them to begin to grow them from the present rainy season

He stated that the way forward was to ensure that farmers do not suffer the usual glut that has continually resulted from resurgent production of cassava over the years, adding that all participants in the workshops shall also be uploaded unto the Harvestplus e-market platform, which will integrate the participants into an anchor programme of out growers to be supported by funding from single-digit interest rate funds from the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Agriculture (BoA) and related windows.

One of the participants, Mrs. Mary Okonkwo from Amagu-Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area said: “I learnt how to plant cassava and maize. I will do my next planting according the way we have been taught particularly on the method of planting the cassava stem for better growth. There is difference on how we used to plant the cassava and how we have been taught to plant it now. Before we used to plant more than four stems of cassava on one heap but we have been told to space the stems and reduce the number per heap for better yield.

“Also we have been taught how to use the Vitamin A cassava to make flour, chips and all that, we are grateful. I thank Hon Linus Okorie because this is development and a new thing for us. This is something we didn’t known but he brought experts to teach us these modern techniques in farming and doing business with farm produce, we are happy and may God Almighty bless him.”

Another participant, Orji Anyim said: “I learnt many useful things like the process of transforming a farmer to a real farmer and to become rich than remaining every year young.

I’ve learnt some aspects of business like the agro-based mechanism, how to transform the old farming practice to the new farming tactics that can give better living condition.

“We have good soil for the vitamin A cassava and maize but the land tenure system in Igbo land may affect greater production of the crops but we will manage to grow the crops. Hon Linus Okorie is making a landmark in transformation of agriculture in this constituency because there is no other person that went to the National Assembly that has introduced this kind of a thing. He is pacesetter in this direction.”

Chairman of All Aarmers Association in Ebonyi State, Elder Livinus Oko, at the closing ceremony in Otika Town Hall at Onicha-Igboeze said: “This is what we have telling our brethren, that farming will make one independent, financially and otherwise.”

He described the exercise as a very fruitful one and appreciated Okorie’s gesture at the enlightenment and empowerment of farmers in the constituency.

Other participants at the occasion said that they have found a true leader in the lawmaker for his consistent empowerment of the people. One of the farmers recalled that it was not up to three months when Okorie empowered thousands of his constituents with various skills acquisition items.

They also noted that over 70 graduates from the constituency have gotten employment courtesy of the lawmaker, advocating that if the vision of integrating the fortified cassava stems in the area came to fruition, it would be named after the lawmaker.

Okorie inspecting the Vitamin A cassava stems and bye products during the constituency enlightenment workshop

Ilona elightening farmers at Onicha LGA, during the empowerment programme

Okorie (L) with Ilona standing in front of the Vitamin A cassava stems

22

IMAGES

L-R: Members of Arise Women, Comfort Etokowo, Abiola Temitayo Mary; Chief Executive Officer, Arise Women, Mrs. Siju Iluyomade; other members of Arise Women, Ibikunle Oloruntobi, Ozor Ebele; and a patient, Mr. Kasali Abdullahi, during the Arise Women free medical outreach in Festac, Lagos...recently

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

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

L-R: The Zonal Head, Ikeja 2, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mrs. Adejumoke Arije; Regional Director, Lagos, Mrs. Bukola Smith; winner of N1 million at the Lagos regional draw of the “FCMB Millionaire Promo Season 3íí, Mrs. Mistura Ibrahim; the Manager, Otta branch of FCMB, Mrs. Adekemi Sannitops and the Retail Head, Lagos & South-west Region, Funmilola Paseda, during the presentation ceremony of the cheque to the winner in

L-R: Member, Not in My Country Crew, Martins Adun; actress, Efe Mayford-Orhora; Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Garba Abari; Creator and Producer, Not in My Country, Akin Fadeyi; and member, Not in My Country Crew, Idris Kazeem, after an official engagement with the NOA in Abuja...recently

R-L: Vice-President, Brands & Advertising, Airtel Nigeria, Enitan Denloye, while receiving the ëMost Outstanding Customer-Centric Telecoms Brand of the Yearí award from the Chief Executive Officer, Rockcity FM, Dr. Niran Malaolu, at the Marketing Edge 2016 Brands & Advertising Excellence Award & Annual Summit themed ëBrand Building in a Digital Age: Challenges in a Developing Market,í in Lagos... recently

L-R: Plant Manager, Standard Metallurgical Company, Mr Nader Saade; Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ogun State branch, Mr. Wale Adegbite; Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Chief Bimbo Ashiru; and Executive Secretary, MAN, Mr. Olufemi Okonmah, during the seventh quarterly meeting of the association with the state government in Abeokuta...recently

L-R: Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Sola David-Borha; Director-General, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Mounir Gwarzo; and Managing Partner, Olaniwun Ajayi & Co., Professor Koyinsola Ajayi (SAN), at a National Assembly Stakeholders’ Forum in Abuja...recently

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

23

BUSINESSWORLD NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

R A T E S 4.4583 9.1071

A S

NITTY 1 MONTH 2 MONTH 3 MONTH

A T

J U N E 6.9949 7.2368 8.0819

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

1 7 ,

6 MONTH 9 MONTH

9.2061 9.5872 10.5042

2 0 1 6

EXCHANGE RATE N197 / 1 US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Alienware Celebrates 20 Years

Gaming pioneer and subsidiary of Dell, Alienware, has rolled out a new line-up of VR-optimised products at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, as it celebrates its 20th anniversary as a trailblazer in specialty high-performance PC gaming systems.

The products launched at E3 this year include the new Alienware Aurora, a mid-tower desktop with full-scale power and performance. Despite having a smaller footprint than the previous Aurora, it boasts even more dedicated graphics and overclocking potential, including the latest generation NVIDIA GeForce cards, for 4k gaming or even up to 12k gaming as a dual-graphics capable desktop.

Commenting on the company’s milestones and the product unveiling, the Country Manager, Dell Nigeria, Akin Banuso observed that Alienware is targeting gamers looking for the best experiences in PC gaming and virtual reality.

Also introduced in Los Angeles was the Alienware Alpha compact desktop, described as the perfect Windows gaming system for virtually any room. The Alpha’s compact design comes fully upgraded with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 GPU with 4GB of GDDR5 memory. Also configurable with a new AMD Radeon graphics option, the new Alpha boasts better frame rates at higher resolutions and higher settings. The Alienware 13 OLED notebook and the Alienware Area-51 desktop were also launched at the Expo.

SUCCOUR FOR SMALL SCALE BUSINESSES

L-R: Product Specialist, Cloud Services MainOne, Adewale Adeyemi; Chief Executive Officer, Whogohost, Oluwatoba Obaniyi; Enterprise Technology Specialist, Intel Corporation, Oluwatobi Shada and Senior Marketing Manager, MainOne, Tayo Ashiru, at a press conference to announce local cloud hosting services for small scale businesses in Nigeria held in Lagos…recently

Shittu: Telecoms Contributed N1.04trn to GDP in 2015 Stories by Emma Okonji Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu has said that the telecommunications sector contributed N1.04 trillion to the Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2015.

The minister, who disclosed this in Lagos recently during a stakeholders’ conference on corporate governance, said that the sector contributed that much to the GDP because of the liberalisation of the telecoms industry, which he said, opened investment opportunities for both local and foreign compa-

TELECOMS nies, contributing significantly to the country’s GDP. He explained that in contrast to the economy as a whole, which regressed to 0.36 per cent in the first quarter of 2016, the telecoms sector contributed in progressive and real terms, about 8.83 per cent to the GDP in the same period, which he said, represented an increase of 0.5 per cent, relative to the growth in the last quarter of 2015.

According to him, apart from attracting Foreign Direct

Investments (FDIs) in excess of $38 billion and reflating the economy, the telecoms value chain, including formal and informal, continued to create a significant number of job opportunities for the country’s teaming youths. Other positive spin-offs included increasing local content and rising income per capital/per head for employees in the sector, according to the minister.

“As the sector regulator, we are not resting on our oars and basking in the euphoria of our widely-documented successes, because we are committed to

sustaining and building on the formidable structures established over the years for the industry to thrive,” Adebayo said. We desire an industry that will grow bigger, better and be more relevant to successive generations, he added.

However, he said that in recognition of the need to sustain the phenomenal success recorded in the industry, and replicate the lessons learnt in other sectors that had gone through the ‘boom and bust’ Continued on page 24

Two Years After, NCC Moves to Implement Mandatory Telecoms Code The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), on Tuesday, held a forum in Lagos, involving all licensed telecoms operators, where it notified telecoms operators about its plan to introduce and implement the mandatory Code of Corporate Governance for the sector.

A voluntary Code of Corporate Governance was inaugurated in 2014.

The telecoms regulator made it clear that operators had for two years, enjoyed the voluntary Code of Corporate Governance it introduced in 2014, whose rules, he said were not binding on them (operators), adding it was time for it to introduce the mandatory code, whose rules,

ICT he said, would be binding on all licenced telecoms operators, with penalties attached to it for erring operators. NCC therefore called on industry operators to make their inputs, which will be considered for the documentation and release of the final mandatory code.

While stressing the need to develop the mandatory Code of Corporate Governance for the telecoms industry, the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, said the voluntary code that was developed in 2014, consisted of 12 principles, and was developed to protect the interest of investors and stakeholders in the industry, as

well as promote time-valued principles of accountability, responsibility, transparency, integrity and ethical conduct.

He said: “No doubt, the code has expanded the frontiers of accountability in the operation of companies in the sector, but challenges still exist because the code is declaratory in nature and implementation voluntary across the industry, leading to several violations and abuse.

“While compliance with the provisions of the industry code was initially made voluntary for a period of one year, which has since elapsed, the Commission is gradually moving towards a regime of stricter compliance.”

Giving details of the mandatory Code of Corporate

Governance, the Commission Secretary, Felix Adeoye, said two years down the line, NCC is poised at reviewing the effectiveness of the voluntary code, highlighting existing challenges and chat a new course.

He added: “As part of the routine review process, we conducted industry survey to ascertain the level of compliance with the code. We selected for a sample analysis, a total 265 valid licensee companies across 28 licence categories and questionnaires were administered to 106 companies that were successfully identified and engaged.” Adeoye however explained that while some Continued on page 24

Sowho to Speak at Global Summit 2016

Etisalat Nigeria’s Director of Digital Business, Adia Sowho is among eminent personalities that would be speaking at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2016 billed to hold from June 23 through 24 at Silicon Valley, California, United States of America.

Sowho will be speaking on the topic, ‘Entrepreneurship in subSaharan Africa: Infrastructure and the Enabling Environment’ during a session that will be moderated by the CEO, African Technology Foundation, Stephen Ozoigbo.

A carefully chosen group of erudite discussants include Alexandra (Lexi) Novitske, Principal Investment Officer, Singularity Investments, Breanna Zwart, Executive, Access Strategy Team, Google, Ime Archibong, Director, Global Product Partnerships, Facebook and Kevin Connolly, Affordable Access Initiative, Business Development, Microsoft will join Adia Sowho to analyze the technology entrepreneurship ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa and highlight the infrastructure needs, gaps, and opportunities.

Expectations are high that the intellectual group of discussants would present current market solutions that have created an enabling environment for Africa’s digital entrepreneurs to discuss the next wave of market opportunities across leading industries.

Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2016 will be the 7th session in a series previously hosted by the United States and the governments of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Morocco, and Kenya.

Experts, Business Leaders for TechPlus 2016

Leaders in industry, government and other technology thought leaders have been announced as speakers at Nigeria’s largest tech event, TechPlus2016, holding next month in Lagos.

TechPlus 2016, the second edition of the technological conference, is a gathering of everything technology providing a robust tripartite tech experience through its conference, exhibition and gaming structures while serving as a platform for knowledge sharing, networking and marketplace for consumers and businesses, with its dedicated website on www.techplus.ng.

TechPlus 2016 will also promote technology thought leadership where leaders in business and government to exchange ideas and share expert insights on key technology issues shaping and defining the ways we live, work and play.

Managing Director of Connect Marketing Limited, organisers of TechPlus2016, Tunji Adeyinka, announced that this year’s edition of the tech show will significantly improve on the successful pioneering edition held last year in Lagos.

Planning is crucial to growth and must be seen as foundation for business owners, who desire to build enduring brands

Chairman of STB McCann, Sir Steve Omojafor

24

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

SHITTU: TELECOMS CONTRIBUTED N1.04 TO GDP IN 2015

Lagos, Johannesburg Rated High in Ericsson City Index Report

cycle, the Commission in 2012, set up a multi-stakeholder Corporate Governance Working Group (CGWG), with membership drawn from the telecoms industry, the Commission and corporate governance practitioners, to determine the industry corporate governance needs and the best approach to be adopted in addressing them. The group, he said, developed the Code of Corporate Governance for the telecoms industry, which was made voluntary and published in 2014.

Stories by Emma Okonji

TWO YEARS AFTER, NCC MOVES TO IMPLEMENT MANDATORY TELECOMS CODE companies complied with some of the requirements of the voluntary code, many, especially the smaller operators, did not comply at all, a situation, he said, prompted the need for a mandatory code for the industry.

Industry stakeholders present at the forum, commended the initiative of NCC to introduce a mandatory code for the industry, but stressed the need for NCC to harmonise the mandatory code with the existing code of most telecoms operators, as well as that of the planned code for all regulated operators, by the Financial Reporting Code (FRC).

President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola, commended NCC for its insightful regulatory initiative on the planned introduction and implementation of the mandatory Code of Corporate Governance for the telecoms sector, and assured all telecoms operators that are registered with ATCON that the code would strengthen telecoms operations in the country and enhance effective collaboration among its members. According to him, if the code had been introduced in the last ten years, most of its member companies that have gone under, especially the fixed wireless operators, would have remained in business till date.

Group Business Editor

Chika Amanze-Nwachuku 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 (Maritme)

Nigeria and South Africa have been rated high in the Ericsson Networked Society City Index 2016 report, which measured Information Technology (ICT) maturity level in developing smart cities in various countries of the world.

Although the two African countries were not close to the top 20 countries in the ranking order, they were mentioned to have effectively used ICT to drive smart city development in their countries. While Johannesburg was considered as a smart city driven by technology development, Lagos was also considered as a smart city, driven by ICT development.

Both Johannesburg and Lagos were ranked 35 and 40 respectively, among the 41 cities of the world that were covered by the Ericsson Networked Society City Index 2016 report.

Ericsson, however, named Stockholm in Sweden as the top-ranking city in the Networked Society City Index 2016, followed by London, Copenhagen, Singapore and Paris.

The index measures the performance of 41 cities from around the world from two perspectives: sustainable urban development and ICT maturity.

Although starting at a low level, Johannesburg and Lagos are progressing in all ICT dimensions of the index which includes infrastructure, affordability, and usage, the report said.

Stockholm is ranked number one in the sustainable urban development part of the index, closely followed by

Copenhagen, Helsinki and Paris. London ranks top in the ICT part of the index, replacing Stockholm, which now ranks second before Singapore on third place.

Lagos is ranked in a category of better performing cities from an environmental standpoint.

Cities in this category perform well with regard to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and energy usage per capita but experience high levels of pollution.

Cities that have noticeably moved up the Networked Society City Index 2016

ranking, compared with the 2014 index, include Barcelona, Istanbul and Jakarta.

However, Hong Kong, Moscow and Dubai dropped in the ranking. In general, cities with low ICT maturity tend to mature faster than cities with higher ICT maturity, which indicates the presence of a catch-up effect.

Other highlights from the Networked Society City Index 2016 include positive correlation between social and economic development and increasing ICT maturity; and ICT not only being critical

to socioeconomic progress, but can help decouple this progress from an increased environmental footprint in favor of more sustainable development.

According to the report, ICT infrastructure in Johannesburg is developing rapidly, and the municipality is investing in new infrastructure to ensure affordable high-speed broadband throughout the city.

Today, Johannesburg’s relative strength lies in its mobile broadband quality, which is above the index average, the report said.

Although Lagos faces several challenges related to ICT infrastructure, the results for internet usage and electronic payments are better, but still remain well below the index average, the report added.

According to the report, smart city planning will be critical to achieving several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For example, cities will be instrumental for the advancement of climate action, poverty reduction, better health and education, as well as improved social and financial inclusion.

HELPING STARTUPS GET STARTED

L-R: Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Ibukun Awosika; Founder/CEO Nairabet, Akin Alabi; General Manager, Uber, Ebi Atawodi and Deputy Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Gbenga Shobo, at the bank’s Tech Startup in Lagos…recently

FG Enjoined to Deploy Corporate Organisations Urged to Embrace Broadband for Economic Background Screening Recovery Technology experts have called on the federal government to expedite the deployment of broadband capacities across the country, to enhance quick recovery of the nation’s economy, and to position it for global competitiveness.

According to the experts, for the ailing Nigeria’s economy to recover quickly and compete favourably with global economies, efficient deployment of broadband internet connectivity across Nigeria must be accorded priority, as only effective rollout of broadband would drive businesses and enable Nigerians to deliver the best of service at all times.

The Coordinator, Nigeria ICT Impact CEO Forum (NIICF) and Africa Digital Awards (ADA), Mr. Tayo Adewusi, who is one of those calling for fast broadband deployment for Nigeria, made the call in Lagos, while fielding questions from journalists.

He said it was imperative for the federal government, regulators, and industry stakeholders to discuss and map out creative ways to push internet broadband deeper in order to resuscitate the ailing economy.

He said that if Nigeria’s economy would leapfrog the status of being classified as a developing economy, and catch up with the rest of the world, government must consider the implementation of effective and efficient broadband rollout across the country.

“Broadband is an essential tool for empowering people.

Government should create an environment that nurtures the technological and service innovation and trigger positive change in business processes.

This service can be deployed to aid the ailing economy,” Adewusi said.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Phase3 Telecoms, Mr. Stanley Jegede, also stressed the need for government to expedite action on its desire to grow broadband penetration from its present 10 per cent penetration level to 30 per cent penetration level by 2018, as promised in its National Broadband Plan (2013-2018).

He explained that attaining 30 per cent broadband penetration would do the country a lot of good, since broadband is the key enabler of economic recovery and transformation of any nation

The role of background screening in eradicating fraud and criminal tendencies in corporate organisations is the key, the Managing Director of Background Check International (BCI), Mr. Kola Olugbodi, has said.

Olugbodi, who stated this in a chat with journalists recently, asserted that it is high time corporate organisations embraced thorough background screening to eliminate fraudulent acts that may affect their business negatively.

The expert, who bemoaned the increasing rates of fraudulent activities in organisation, said that efforts aimed at riding Nigeria of all forms of corruption will become more effective when background check on both private and public functionaries before assuming office is entrenched.

He advised both private and public sectors to stop trivialising the importance of due diligence on the background check of prospective employees or functionary, saying morally bankrupt people can be checked from getting to position of trust through diligent background check before appointment, especially, when it has been established that more than

seventy percent of fraud in organisations are perpetrated by staff members.

According to him, prospective employees will do everything possible to conceal their dark past which might include propensity for fraud and other anti-society vices, saying that it is the duty of smart employer to dig out such areas through some level of background check on such individuals.

He pointed out that many corporate organisation have burnt their fingers arising from negligence and lackadaisical attitude to background check, stating that the deed would have been done before they realise the repercussion of such disposition.

“Negligence hiring does not only result in fraud. It may also result in bodily injuries arising from assault from a co-worker who is pruned to violence, a tendency such staff would have carefully concealed away during job interview but which some level of background check would have exposed. And in most cases, injured staff institute legal action which the company end up being joined with the co-worker who unleash the violence”, BCI boss explained.

Explaining further, Olugbodi

said: “Background check has capacity to protect the good image a corporate organisation has labored over the years to build as it help to shut out prospective employee whose activities may the inimical to the goodwill of the company. People need to know that beyond fraud, there are other collateral damages a company could suffer that would negatively affect the accomplishment of corporate goals and missions of a corporate organisation.”

He stated that background check helps organisations reduce staff turnover as the morally and professionally employees are employed ab initio.

He disclosed that BCI was set up to help Nigeria comply with best international practices that is capable of drawing foreign investment based on perception of less fraud index.

And BCI has taken it upon itself to entrench the culture of background check in the country in all ramifications, particularly being a pioneer in this sector of business in Nigeria. Olugbodi called on government to devise appropriate strategies that would entrench holistic embrace of background check by all Nigerians.

25

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Boosting Technology Innovation with Smarter Chipsets As global innovations in technology devices continue to grow, Huawei Consumer Business Group has consistently reduced the size of its chipset to make technology products less bulky and user friendly, writes Emma Okonji A chipset is a set of electronic components in an integrated circuit that manages the data flow between the processor, memory and peripherals.

It is usually found on the motherboard. Chipsets are usually designed to work with a specific family of microprocessors, and it is the main driver of technology devices globally.

Having perfectly understood the importance of chipset in technology innovations, the Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG), has continually reduced the size of its chipset, in order to produce devices that are portable and user friendly in today’s technology world where the demand for sizable devices is on the increase.

Speaking on the need for a reduced chipset in the production line of technology devices, during a media tour to Huawei facilities in Shenzhen, China recently, Huawei’s Director, Global Product Marketing, CBG, Mr. Clement Wong, said users of technology devices globally were becoming more tech savvy and are increasingly demanding for portable and smarter devices.

As the world’s largest telecom device manufacturer and the world’s third largest smartphone manufacturer, Huawei has launched telematics products with enhanced stability and reliability, through its smarter chipset, by taking advantages of its end-to-end platforms.

Huawei’s intelligent chips The Huawei chips that are developed in-house, which drive connectivity and the Internet of Things (IoT), is the engine for the company’s intelligent devices.

Managing Director, Devices, Huawei Nigeria, Leo Jianghui said: “We will continue to significantly reduce the size of our chipset to consistently improve its reliability, optimise its performance and realise end to end security, so that the devices can provide consumers with lasting and stable service. More than 60 partners have already teamed up with us to drive this vision forward.”

According to him, “with these experiences, we are confident we will be able to accelerate our development of innovative cutting edge technologies and experience in the field of mobile communication, as well as continue to develop deep insights into our understanding of smartphones, wearables and other smart devices.”

He reiterated that Nigeria remains a key focus market for Huawei. He declared: “We will compete vigorously for the hearts and minds of Nigerian consumers as well as market share across key product categories and premium product segments. We will continue to make investments in our channel partners, our people, marketing, incentives, and sales staff training, with a keen focus towards building our long term competitiveness and eventually winning the Nigerian market.”

Beaming technology searchlight on Africa As advancement in technology innovation continues globally, technology innovators are targeting new markets, especially emerging markets to display their technology skills and products. One of such markets is the African market, with focus on Nigeria because of its large population of youths that are technology savvy.

Huawei, which has made a giant stride in technology innovation in recent times, is one of such innovators targeting the African market.

Addressing select journalists from sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria inclusive, during a recent facility tour to its headquarters in Shenzhen, China, the Global Public Relations Director, Consumer Business Group (CBG), Huawei Technologies, Ada Xu, made it clear that Africa remained a target market hub for technology innovations, especially in the area of mobile phone devices, because of its teaming population, as well as the African zeal to grow with global technology

Samples of chipset technology

development.

She said Huawei, as a big technology innovator, was interested in the African market based on its population size, adding that the company would do everything possible to capture the African market.

According to her, the company is leaving no stone unturned in its zeal to capture the United States’ market, having being ranked as the world’s largest telecom device manufacturer and the world’s third largest smartphone manufacturer.

With 27 years of experience in the communications industry, and having played a leading role in developing 4G and 5G technologies, the company said the African market remained a huge hub for the penetration of its technology innovative products and solutions.

Currently Huawei owns 25 per cent of global fourth generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) patents, and has become one of the major standard-setters of 5G-network technology. It is estimated that by 2018, Huawei’s total investment in 5G technologies and fundamental research

We will continue to significantly reduce the size of our chipset to consistently improve its reliability, optimise its performance and realise end to end security, so that the devices can provide consumers with lasting and stable service

will exceed $600 million.

Marketing Director, sub-Saharan Africa, Huawei Technologies, Hawa Hyath said: “We have seen that the African market is growing fast and we have decided to continue in the production and sales of all categories of our mobile phones, including the low-end, middleend and high-end phones, that will meet the demand of the emerging market.”

She said the company would continue to invest in research and development in the African market, having set aside 10 per cent of its revenue for research and development.

Affordable mobile devices for Africans Having considered Africa as a place to explore technology innovations, most mobile device manufacturers are developing devices that will not only boost technology development on the African continent, but would also empower the communication skills of the African people.

Huawei, for instance, developed and launched its G.Power smart phone and the GR3 and GR5 phones, specifically for the African market.

According to Huawei, the responses from the African market, since the launch of the low-end and mid-range smartphones, have been encouraging.

Following the successful launch of its ‘10 minutes to charge’ Huawei G.Power smartphone in Nigeria, the technology company launched additional two affordable mid-range devices, the Huawei GR3 and Huawei GR5. These smartphones are 4G supported with a sleek metal finishing, and unique features that will cater to a wide range of customers’ preferences in Africa. The Huawei GR3 features an ultra slim design that is comfortable for single handed use, with a 160 degree wide viewing angle screen, and a choice from three high-end metal colour options, including titanium gray, silver and champagne gold. The Huawei GR3’s 5 inch display is the ultimate in visual experience, paired with a 13 megapixel rear camera and a 5 mega pixel front camera for amazing panoramic selfies. The Huawei GR3 is made with aerospace grade material and a solid octa core processor with two GigaBytes of random access memory (RAM) and support for up to 128 GigaBytes of Micro SD Card storage.

On the other hand, the Huawei GR5 comes

with the new second generation fingerprint identification technology that’s more comfortable, accurate, and natural to use, whilst allowing users to perform simple functions like clear notifications, answer phone calls, or take pictures; even with sweaty hands.

The Huawei GR5 has, no doubt, become popular among photography enthusiasts and tech lovers as its camera comes with an independent metering function, and can adjust highlights and shadows in photos automatically. Users are able to take selfies in 10- level beauty mode, panoramic selfie and a refocus mode.

The G.Power smartphone comes with 4,000m AH, and the Huawei G.Power are designed to suit the lifestyle for the young and vibrant, as well as professionals on the move.

“At Huawei, we are constantly thinking of ways to improve our consumer’s experience with our devices and we are very happy with what we have been able to achieve. A testament to remarkable craftsmanship, the Huawei GR3 and GR5 continue Huawei’s tradition of premium mobile devices that have set the industry standard for elegance and performance,” the company said.

Aside low-end and mid-range smartphones, Huawei has also come up with its high-end smartphones for the African market.

Speaking on its Mate and P series of high-end mobile smartphones, Wong said the company launched its Mate 8 smartphones in January this year, which was followed with another mobile device in April this year- the P9.

The P9 mobile is an improvement on the P6, P7, and P8 series. The P9 comes with two cameras of 14megapixels each and pixel sensors that create more light and better picture images.

Wong, however, explained that the size of megapixels in camera phone, does not determine the quality of image that is produced, explaining that Huawei has carefully designed its camera phones to produce better quality pictures that will always leave delightful memories on the minds of consumers.

As technology devices are becoming smaller in size but increasing in capacities, Huawei Consumer Business Group said it would continue to come up with innovative products that would boost user experience in its target African markets.

26

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Subscribers’ Quest for Telecoms Promos Consumers’ quest for telecoms products and services that are rewarding and beneficial, while still maintaining improved service quality, no doubt must have prompted Globacom to introduce the Glo Hamma promo that is transforming the lives of subscribers, writes Emma Okonji

Winners of N5 million and N100,000 in Glo promo for Lagos

When Globacom announced its plan to reward both existing and potential Globacom subscribers with N125 million in cash prizes in its consumer loyalty scheme and promo, called the Glo Hamma Promo, last month, not many believed that the telecoms company will spend such amount on promo.

Doubts are, however, beginning to turn into reality as Globacom continues to reward winners of the promo on a weekly basis.

The consumer reward scheme, which will run for 100 days, was launched in Lagos in May this year.

Giving details of the promo, Globacom’s Coordinator, Enterprise Sales, Mr. Folu Aderibigbe said five subscribers would win N5 million each, making a total of N25 million. The N5 million winners will emerge every 20 days.

In addition to the N5 million jackpot prize, there is also N100,000 cash to be won by 1,000 other lucky subscribers. He disclosed that 10 subscribers will each win N100,000 cash every day for 100 days, making a total of 1,000 winners and a total of N100 million.

Winners emerge Glo subscribers, who emerged winners in the on-going Glo Hamma Millions promo were recently presented with their prizes by the company across the country.

It was jubilation galore as the visibly elated winners, accompanied by their relations and friends, stormed designated Gloworld shops in Abuja, Benin, Enugu, Port Harcourt and Lagos to collect their cheques from Globacom officials.

In Port Harcourt and Enugu, the prize presentation ceremony, which took place on Aba Road and Okpara Avenue offices of Globacom respectively, was like a carnival as 19 winners and well-wishers trooped to the venues to collect their prizes.

Also in Abuja, 63 subscribers, who won N100, 000 each, were at the Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2 office of Globacom to collect their cheques, while in Benin, the Mission Road Gloworld received 24 winners who came to collect their prizes amidst pomp and pageantry.

However, Lagos produced the first jackpot winner as the story of Oyo State-born transporter, Hammed Olatunde, changed for good. The 22 year-old became the first Glo subscriber

to win the N5 million jackpot prize in the Hamma Millions Promo, thus transforming to an instant millionaire, courtesy of Globacom.

Over 40 other winners, who won N100, 000 each, also picked their prizes.

The joy of winners The winners, including Mrs. Juliana Ukachi, winner of N100, 000, who came to the event with her eight month old baby, were filled with joy, as they danced heartily around the Mike Adenuga Towers auditorium where they received their cheques. Jackpot winner, Olatunde was particularly dramatic as he danced with Glo ambassadors, Flavour and Korede Bello who joined in the celebration.

A very emotional Olatunde later thanked Globacom for making him a multi-millionaire

The consumer reward scheme, which will run for 100 days, was launched in Lagos in May this year.

Five subscribers will win N5 million each, making a total of N25 million. The N5 million winners will emerge every 20 days.

In addition to the N5 million jackpot prize, there is also N100,000 cash to be won by 1,000 other lucky subscribers

overnight.

In Abuja, Jeremiah Chia, upon receiving his cheque, stated that he had not yet decided what he will do with his prize money.

“This is the best gift I have ever had. I saw it on TV and I decided to try it, and here I am, N100, 000 richer. I am so happy and grateful to Globacom.

Another winner, Shagari Fwangchen, said: “ I am so happy to receive my cheque of N100,000.

I will use the money to improve my provision business. I pray to God to increase Glo.” In Benin, one of the winners, who spoke after collecting his N100,000 cheque, is Christopher Ekhato. He said said: “I am so grateful, I didn’t think I would win but I just kept on playing and it has paid off.”

On his part, Omatseye Tuasor, another winner in Benin enthused, “this is nothing but the grace of God. Thank you very much Globacom for making my day”.

Chisom Levi, who received his N100,000 cheque in Port Harcourt said: “When I got the call telling me that I won N100,000, I thought it was a scam, but right now, I believe it and I am going to tell all my friends about the promo and encourage them to play. I will also continue to play because my target is the N5 million prize”.

Aldo, Bernard Ekwevugbe, one of the winners, declared Globacom as “the best company ever, I can’t believe this money is mine.”

Similarly, Patience Chukwu, who collected her cheque in Enugu said: “It is still like a dream. I can’t believe this is happening to me.”

Tobenna Echewodo in his reaction said: “This is so amazing, everyone around me must hear about it.”

Ignatius David, another winner from Port Harcourt who joined the Glo network in 2009, said he had never won in any promo before.

“When I was called that I won N100,000, I told all my friends and asked them to participate in the on-going Glo Hamma Million promo.

One of my friends called me to say that he would like to play the promo and I told him it is real,” David added.

Abiola Olaide said: “Beyond the prize of N100,000 that I won, the Glo Hamma Millions Promo gives me the opportunity to refresh my brain on football and I want to let everyone know that this promo is genuine and I appreciate

Globacom for being truthful about it”.

At Globacom Headquarters in Lagos, the winner of the jackpot, Olatunde, received his N5 million cheque at a colourful ceremony attended by the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Suraju Adekunbi; Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun Sanni; Acting Managing Director of Bank of Industry, Mr. Waheed Olugunju, Lagos State Coordinator of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr. Fidelis Ajibogun and the Zonal Coordinator, Lagos Office, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Ikechukwu Aninweke.

Olatunde said: “I thank God for making me a multimillionaire overnight,” On what he will do with the prize money, he said: “I will invest part of this money in my poultry business and also use part of it to purchase a truck.”

Promo details Speaking about the promo, Aderibigbe said the reward scheme was developed because Globacom appreciated the customers as the focal point of its operations and that a total of 1,005 winners would emerge at the end of the promo.

“We are aware of the economic challenges faced by many now, and we are constantly looking for ways to positively impact the lives of our subscribers and help ease the difficult times,” he explained.

“We are committed to changing the lives of our people for good and to rewarding our loyal subscribers across the country. Glo Hamma Millions Promo is therefore designed to achieve this purpose,” he said.

“To win in the on-going Glo Hamma Millions Promo, customers are required to text ‘GLO’ to 555 and answer a football trivia question.

Within minutes of texting, subscribers will receive a particular question. A fresh question shows up each time the code is sent. After each text, N100 will be deducted from the subscribers’ account,” Aderibigbe explained, adding that draws are being done daily to determine the winners.

He called on prepaid subscribers on the Glo network to seize the opportunity to text as many times as possible to increase their chances of winning the fantastic prizes being offered by Globacom in the promo.

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

27

BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Adeoti: Nigeria Must Turn to ICT to Diversify the Economy Managing Director/CEO, Africa Operations, Inlaks Nigeria, Femi Adeoti, spoke with technology journalists on the growth potential of the information and communications technology sector and its impact on economic transformation. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: What in your views, are the potential for ICT growth in Nigeria?

The potential for ICT growth in Nigeria are massive. As a quick example, the introduction of the mobile phone has opened up other sectors of our economy, job and business opportunities, among others. Yet, it is believed that the penetration is only at about 29 per cent of the total country’s population, which is estimated to be about 170 million.

in 28 countries. This might be the trend Nigeria needs to adopt.

What are the steps that Inlaks is taking to ensure that more Nigerians have access to ATMs? As an organisation, we have continued to be flexible to our various customers. We have employed both the capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) methods among other things, knowing and understanding the challenges of the times and the need to evolve. Our ability to innovate, adapt and be customer focused has enabled us to deploy ATMs in excess of 4,000 units in the space of about three years, thus, making us presently the fastest growing ATM brand in the Nigerian market.

How has ICT contributed to social development and economic transformation in Nigeria?

The former Minister of Communications and Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, put the ICT sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP in 2014 at $50 billion, which is about 8.34 per cent. According to International Data Corporation (IDC), ICT growth was a strong driver of GDP growth in 2015 for Nigeria.

Currently, ICT firms are realising the need to be more involved through Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR). This has been heavily backed up by the actions taken through different initiatives and programmes by the ICT firms to give back to the society.

How can the Nigerian government leverage on the telecoms industry and ICT strengths to diversify the economy in the areas of nonoil revenues, such as agriculture, health and insurance?

We need to encourage well-established global companies to set up assembly plants in Nigeria.

The encouragement could be in the form of favourable tax concessions and also through providing an enabling environment. With this, more jobs will be created and this will also aid in faster technological transfer.

Nigeria is still behind in the global mobile money revolution. Why is the country finding it difficult to reach the large number of people through ICT? The challenges inhibiting the Nigerian mobile money revolution are many and varied. These include lack proper education, heightened risks due to instances of fraud and other challenges to the economy.

Your company is rated as a notable ICT and infrastructure solutions provider in the country with an ATM installed base of 4,000, how will you rate Nigeria’s acceptance of ICT solutions to its diverse challenges?

The world has become a global village, with technology being a major driver. Nigerians are always fascinated by technological trends, which is quite cheering. I therefore believe that technology will play a major role in how fast Nigeria and by extension Africa, is able to bridge the developmental gap with the more advanced nations.

However, the fast rate of technological adoption is currently being witnessed only in major cities while the rural areas, with a larger population of Nigerians, hardly feels the impact of technology because of the challenging state of the infrastructure in those areas.

Why did the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) select Inlaks to deploy a core banking solution (T24) to major banks in West Africa such as the Central Banks of the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea , Côte d ‘Voire and the rest?

This project was conceived and implemented in order for the West African region to build a common infrastructure for a single currency regime as agreed by the Heads of States of the sub-Region.

These monetary policies are meant to help with macro-economic integration and other economic developments of the sub-region.

Adeoti

This includes a standard payment platform, tools for the measurement of economic growth, aggregate productivity, cross-country output, convergence and other initiatives that enable inter-trade and investments.

We were therefore responsible for the core banking implementation in six central banks in the West African region, Nigeria inclusive.

You also deployed a core banking solution (T24) for the Microfinance and rural Banks in Ghana. What was the project about?

The project was a World Bank sponsored initiative to bring all the rural banks into a common payment platform.

With this, adoption of regulations and common reporting became easier. In addition, the rural banks benefited from automation and better financial inclusion for the majority of the low income earners. The next phase of the project is to introduce payments platforms such as ATMs, points of sales, Internet banking, etc to the rural and Microfinance Banks. The project was coordinated by the Apex Bank of Ghana and about 140 rural banks with 700 branches were involved.

You seem to be growing in the area of electronic business. What is Inlaks doing differently to drive this growth?

We keep investing in the right resources in terms of technological skills as well as functional skills. This is in addition to a constant review of our strategy due to the rapid change in our industry.

In the midst of pushing for full mobile money adoption and a cashless system, do you not think the rising cases of cyber- crime could be a cog in the wheel to achieving this?

The increasing cases of cyber-crime is a cause for worry today. However, it should not define or limit the push for the adoption of mobile money.

The financial community needs to continue to invest in security solutions both for stationary data and data in transit.

In addition, service providers and customers need to understand that security is not a once and for all investment as hackers would continue to find new methods of compromising

the networks and the internet.

Why do you think the huge market for ATMs still remain untapped?

Of every 10 Nigerian adults, chances are that only about three have bank accounts. This was the outcome of a recent survey by the Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA) organisation, which showed that about 80 per cent of Nigerians do not have bank accounts with any financial institution. This leads to some financial exclusion and lack of access to key channels.

According to the survey, 85 per cent of the unbanked populations are females and 86 per cent of them are among the rural population.

Besides, many in these categories lack information about banks, just as most of them cannot read or write, and therefore prefer dealing with cash. This is the obvious reason for the huge untapped market.

Inlaks recently inaugurated its new Technical Resource Centre in Enugu, in addition to the current one in Lagos. You also have plans to complete the one in Abuja by early 2017. What is the driving force behind these initiatives?

The increased investment in our Technical Resource Centres is our response to the sharp growth in our Hyosung ATMs deployment, projected to grow to 5,000 units by the end of this year. It is also due to increased request from various customers for us to support their third party, non-Hyosung ATMs for which we have capabilities. We therefore needed to scale up our support infrastructure to be able to cope with these demands.

The time taken to restore service in case of downtime and service failure in Nigeria could be frustrating. This also could result in major losses for businesses. What is Inlaks’ advice to the Nigerian business community to overcome this challenge?

Organisations should invest in the deployment of systems that are fault tolerant, which also have self-healing capabilities. In addition, there should be some investment in some disaster recovery infrastructure.

It seems your company is only servicing the banking sector. Are there plans to penetrate the telecoms, oil and gas and other financial institutions in Nigeria?

Inlaks is also servicing these other sectors, though the initial focus at the early stage of our business many years ago was the financial sector. As How will you advise banks to take advantage part of our five years goals, we have accelerated of this untapped market? our corporate strategy on diversification into Awareness, awareness and more awareness the other sectors of the economy competitively. must be created by the banks. From the initial As a result of this new strategic initiative, we introduction of ATMs till date, the acceptability are creating new products and solutions for the has continued to increase massively. The Nigerian new markets in telecommunications, oil and Inter-Bank Settlement System’s big data fact sheet gas, government and manufacturing. on ATM operations puts the total transaction value in naira from January to March 2015 at Your company also deploys solar energy systems, N937.96 billion. This is despite that fact that about what is your advice considering the power 80 per cent of the population are believed to challenge in the country? be unbanked. The opportunities are therefore With the persistent power challenge in Nigeria, massive and highly untapped. one way to turn this around is to consider alternative sources of generating electricity that How can the unbanked Nigerians be reached? is environmentally friendly, in compliance with This is achievable through mobile or branchless global initiatives that could be easily managed. banking, which is the delivery of financial services One of the most effective ways through which outside conventional bank branches through Nigeria could therefore bridge the power mobile phones and non-bank retail agents. generation gap is through solar energy and Mobile banking has developed as a service other non-fossil sources, which we have been that allows the “unbanked” to access financial deploying to some of our clients in Nigeria. services with their mobile devices.

I see lots of opportunities in the off-grid solar At present, there are 30 million mobile money systems for deployment in remote areas where users worldwide. According to the Global 2012 reliable, commercially produced electric power Global Mobile Money Adoption Survey, there is not readily available in the country today. are more mobile money accounts than regular This is the perfect residential solar power system bank accounts in Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania, being proposed by Inlaks for the home owners and Uganda, and there more mobile money who want to enjoy some level of independence agent outlets than conventional bank branches from the public power supply.

28

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD FirstBank, MainOne Collaborate to Boost Startup Business Stories by Emma Okonji West Africa’s connectivity and data centre solutions company, MainOne, in collaboration with FirstBank of Nigeria, is promoting technology startups initiatives that will support talented Nigerians in creating software applications that will address immediate and long term needs of Nigerians.

MainOne provided free connectivity capacities to the recently organised tech startup conference hosted by FirstBank of Nigeria.

The conference, with the theme: “Let’s Talk Tech”, was targeted at delivering value to young technology entrepreneurs and MainOne had to design, install and manage the advanced Wi-Fi and distributed antenna system networks at the event venue, providing 155Mbps free data capacity throughout the facility and for dedicated livestreaming of the event.

Attendees at the event leveraged MainOne’s unlimited access to the internet during

the event and took advantage of the opportunity to freely browse the internet, conduct free downloads of documents and music, and conduct Skype calls via Wi-Fi-enabled laptops and mobile phones. The organisers of the event also used the unlimited capacity to provide livestreaming to thousands of participants not physically present at the event. The major operating systems used were Windows 7, Windows Vista, Nokia/Symbian, Windows XP, Mac OS X and Android OS. Data was also downloaded from a multitude of devices including iPhones and iPads, Blackberry devices, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Android phones.

Speaking during the event, MainOne’s Chief Financial Officer, Babatunde Dada revealed that the company’s support for the tech start-up community was predicated on its belief that start-ups are the engine of economic growth and the foundation for the industrialisation process of any nation desiring rapid development.

E-BUSINESS

Communication Minister Says FG on Course to Commercialise ICT for Youth Empowerment Ademola Babalola in Ibadan The intention of the federal government to engage millions of Nigerian youths in gainful employment, is on course, Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu has said.

Shittu, stated this on Tuesday at the University of Ibadan, where he spoke at the youth empowerment programmes where over 100 Nigerian Computer graduates were trained to be web designers and employers of labour by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

The minister said that work is at advanced stage towards establishing innovation hubs across the six geo political zones of Nigeria to incubate,

mentor and commercialise ICT related ideas and innovations and Ibadan is one of such centres.

Part of such moves, he said informed why NITDA has embarked on the training of unemployed graduates in the country, to equip them with skills needed to provide web design services to clients on a continuous basis.

The training, which is aimed at developing youth and helping them realise their full potential in IT and be self- reliant, was formally launched at the University of Ibadan IT Resource Center.

Shittu who was represented by the acting Director General of NITDA, Dr. Vincent Olatunji said: “Recent statistics from the NBS shows that 19:7 per cent

of the labour force and 71 per cent of students who graduate from tertiary education do not find work. This may virtually be the cause of the various vices we experience from among the youth and it is in the light of this that the federal government in a bid to address the challenge is approaching the employment generation issues headlong.

“Nigeria faces a number of challenges that can be tackled with innovative, well educated, patriotic and optimistic citizens, who have the courage and inquisitivesness to think in new ways. With youth comes energy, innovation and optimism if given the opportunity; unfortunately, the youth in the country encounter a lot of hardship

in the society.

“Empowerment programmes such as this would allow the youths to exercise their inquisitivesness and bring innovation to bear on solutions to man’s challenges”.

Earlier, in his welcome address, NITDA boss said the agency in a bid to tackle unemployment in the country embarked on the training.

“The programmes by the NITDA is not only to assist in the training of the critical mass of professionals in the information technology space but also generate the needed employment opportunities provided by the fact of information technology being an enabler of economic growth and development.”

Phone Dealers Seek Local Content in Mobile Device Market The Phone and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDA), the largest trading group in the Lagos Computer Village, has said it will encourage the growth of local content in the mobile device market in the country, just as it is planning to launch its online store.

The group said this at the weekend when it completed its transition programme with the election of new national executives.

“We will push for more local content in the mobile devices market in the country. Before the expiration of our tenure, we will ensure that we have our local brands to compete with the existing international brands,” the re-elected president of the association, Godfrey Nwosu said in his acceptance speech.

The president and secretary of the association, Nwosu and Obinna Otozie were re-elected unopposed just as most positions were not contested as contenders stepped down at the last minute.

The election, which was observed by security operatives and other trade associations in the Computer Village, was the third in the history of PAPDA. The new executives will lead the body for three years.

Head, Transition Committee of PAPDA, Mr. Ohachusim Sunday, commended the contestants and members of the association for keeping the peace during the polls. He urged other trade associations to take a cue from PAPDA in the management of transition programme.

Nwosu thanked members of the electoral committee for overseeing a credible election.

“I am aware that several hours and dedication was devoted to ensure we had a rancor-free election”. While appreciating the conduct of members during the

election process, he requested the members to support the vision and leadership of the group,” Nwosu said.

Reviewing the performance of the immediate past executives, he said: “The executives in the past three years, have invested mainly in building a strong foundation for a dynamic and progressive association. We have proved that our primary objective is to protect the business interest of our members and develop a good working relationship with relevant government agencies and the regulatory bodies such as Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and other critical stakeholders.”

Commenting on members’ welfare, Nwosu disclosed that the association had arranged a favourable credit support scheme from some financial institutions.

Through this, he said, PAPDA members can have access to overdraft to finance their businesses. Under his leadership, the organisation has established healthcare delivery scheme to provide affordable medicare for members.

“We have done very well to protect our members from any form of intimidation. We have shown to our members and Nigerians that we have a law in Nigeria, as we have sought redress through legal means for our collective interest. We have commenced plans to establish PAPDA cooperative, where thrift savings and borrowing will be encouraged.

I will lead our association to affiliation with other professional bodies where our members will take advantage of seminars and conferences geared towards self-improvement which will in return grow our different businesses,” he said.

FOR CAREER COUNSELING

L-R: Director, Regulatory and CSR, Etisalat Nigeria, Ikenna Ikeme; Senior Project Officer, Leadership Empowerment and Resource Network (LEARN), Tonne Saheed and Deputy Director, Education District 3, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Ojikutu Mustafa, at the Lagos edition of 2016 Career Counseling programme organised by Etisalat Nigeria in partnership with LEARN in Epe. Lagos...recently

E-Leverage Chats Growth Path Smile Commends NCC for Clinching African Regulator Award for IT Entrepreneurs A youth empowerment-centric forum tagged Entrepreneurship Leverage (E-Leverage) has identified critical factors key to building a successful Information Technology (IT) businesses in Nigeria.

The forum organised by Simeon’s Pivot Resources, was attended by stakeholders across public and private sector, including software developers, technology consultants, hardware engineers, tech business analysts, enterprise architect and young IT entrepreneurs.

With the theme: ‘Leverage Solutions for Information Technology Sector’, speakers at the forum held at the Afe Babalola Auditorium, University of Lagos recently, explored what they considered ‘winning’ strategies for growing young IT businesses into becoming major players that will further contribute to the growth in the ICT industry.

Representative of Ministry of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu at the forum, Ms. Ibiye Member, said the government was working towards develop-

ing public-private partnerships to expand ICT infrastructure, needed by young IT entrepreneurs to ride on. Member said the forum would bridge the gap between technology and business, create a platform to inspire, mentor, build leadership skills and develop a sense of collaboration as winning strategies among stakeholders in the technology world. Managing Director, Precise Financial System, Mr. Yele Okeremi, who used his company as an anchor point to educate young entrepreneurs on how to grow their businesses, emphasised the importance of ‘leverage’ and ‘perception’ and collaborations as ways to accelerating business goals and dreams.

According to him, “The equation for success does not lies in hardwork; it lies in leverage.

The word ‘Leverage’ has become very important to business. So, the solution for greatness in business will not come by following conventional methods, which give conventional results; but from new innovative thinking.”

Smile Telecoms Holdings Limited has congratulated the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Dnabatta and the entire staff of the commission for winning the African Regulator of the year ward 2015 in Ghana and Belgium. In a letter signed by its Chief Executive Officer, Irene Charnley, the operator also commended the leadership of the NCC’s chief, which according the firm, would continue to win more accolades and laurels for the nation.

“We recognise this ward as a testimony to the hard work, innovation and leadership of the NCC in driving the growth of telecommunications and, in particular, broadband in Nigeria under your able stewardship,” the letter noted.

According to the letter said: “available statistics and evidence from our own operations in Nigeria, convinces us that under your leadership, the NCC will continue to win accolades and that indeed, Nigeria and Africa will benefit from the innovative interventions

the commission continues to introduce”.

“It is our expectation that this award will spur the NCC on to become even more innovative in its efforts to ensure that Nigeria meets the targets it set for itself in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan,” the letter further noted.

The commission carted away the award at African Information Technology and Telecoms Awards (AITTA) recently in Ghana, and less than 14 days later, it added the European Award for Best Practices 2016 to its collection in Belgium. The European award ceremony, which held in Brussels, Belgium was hosted by the European Society for Quality Research (ESQR), an affiliate of the European Union (EU).

No fewer than 63 countries participated in the award ceremony out of which the NCC won the European Award for Best Practices 2016. The award which is the Gold category is in recognition of its outstanding commitment, support and results in quality management strategies.

9 T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

29

BUSINESSWORLD

ICT-SQUARE

Protecting Your Email Account

MICHAEL MICHAEL OKEKE OKEKE

Leading research cooperation, the Radicati Group, Inc., a technology market research firm based in California, USA, estimates that over 205 billion emails were sent in 2015 worldwide.

Imagine the staggering figure.

Email is one of the core means of communication of the 21st century, states another report. It is reliable, effective and messages are delivered instantaneously.

Another research revealed that over 4.1 billion people have email addresses worldwide as at 2015 and this figure was expected to grow this year. Having a secure email account is a must, Its security is important as we will like to put an adequate security measure in our houses or other places of interest. It is tough to get people to pay attention and be serious about their online identity. An Email account is the first and primary component of your online identity and yet it’s the one that is left unguarded the most. Email accounts might be virtual but once hacked, the consequences and damages are very real.

We will discuss a few tips that can help secure an email account of webmail services.

Don’t use a simple password or what people can easily guess or regular everyday words or words related to the account name or pet names because these can easily be hack or guess. Webmail service provider will tell you this when setting up your password but that has never made people any wiser.

Even hackers feel insulted when they come across passwords like “sweetlove123”,“pass@123” and the like. Google is the best when it comes to putting real effort into securing your email account proactively. You can use special characters, numbers, upper and lower case alphabets of almost any length. My Gmail password is between 60 to 80 characters long and my general rule of thumb is to have a password that only the NSA can hack.

Setup SMS Alerts Go to your account settings and add your mobile number to receive SMS alerts. Once that’s set up, Google will send you the

password reset code whenever somebody tries to reset your password. Alternatively, if you are a smartphone user, you can rely on these SMS alerts and disable password recovery via email altogether. Email accounts are always vulnerable to a hacker from a remote place but your mobile phone is not. Yahoo provides the same feature free too. Livemail has a similar feature Avoid Webmail Still not sure about the safety and security of your email account online? It is totally understandable and I suggest you to take it off the Internet. I mean, partially.

Get hold of an ISP and get a POP or IMAP account set up for your email address forgoing the webmail set up. Then use desktop email clients like Outlook or Thunderbird to pull your mails. It will make you feel dated, but is reliable and works effectively too.

Did we miss an important tip or got a better suggestion? Share it with the rest of community in the comments section.

Other helpful tips Password Dos and Don’ts Here are a few tips for creating strong passwords. Take a moment to review these, and consider strengthening some of your passwords if they fall short.

-Create unique passwords that that use a combination of words, numbers, symbols, and both upper- and lower-case letters.

-Do not use your network username as your password.

-Don’t use easily guessed passwords, such as “password” or “user.”

-Do not choose passwords based upon details that may not be as confidential as you’d expect, such as your birth date, your Social Security or phone number, or names of family members.

-Do not use words that can be found in the dictionary.

Password-cracking tools freely available online often come with dictionary lists that will try thousands of common names and passwords. If you must use

dictionary words, try adding a numeral to them, as well as punctuation at the beginning or end of the word (or both!).

-Avoid using simple adjacent keyboard combinations: For example, “qwerty” and “asdzxc”and“123456”are horrible passwords and that are trivial to crack.

-Some of the easiest-toremember passwords aren’t words at all but collections of words that form a phrase or sentence, perhaps the opening sentence to your favourite novel, or the opening line to a good joke. Complexity is nice, but the length is key. It used

to be the case that picking an alphanumeric password that was 8-10 characters in length was a pretty good practice. These days, it’s increasingly affordable to build extremely powerful and fast password cracking tools that can try tens of millions of possible password combinations per second. Just remember that each character you add to a password or passphrase makes it an order of magnitude harder to attack via brute-force methods.

-Avoid using the same password at multiple Web sites.

It’s generally safe to re-use the same password at sites that do not store sensitive information

about you (like a news Web site) provided you don’t use this same password at sites that are sensitive.

-Never use the password you’ve picked for your email account at any online site: If you do, and an e-commerce site you are registered at gets hacked, there’s a good chance someone will be reading your e-mail soon.

-Whatever you do, don’t store your list of passwords on your computer in plain text. My views on the advisability of keeping a written list of your passwords have evolved over time. I tend to agree with noted security

experts Bruce Schneier, when he advises users not to worry about writing down passwords.

Just make sure you don’t store the information in plain sight.

The most secure method for remembering your passwords is to create a list of every Web site for which you have a password and next to each one write your login name and a clue that has meaning only for you. If you forget your password, most Web sites will email it to you (assuming you can remember which email address you signed up with).

Michael.okeke@thisdaylive.com

THISWEEK ON GADGETS AIR2 FLOATING BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS Basic Printer Maintenance InkJet or LaseJet The floating levitating speaker is a milestone in innovation design and music.

Never before has there been such a futuristic effort put into a commercial product.

Levitation has always had a mystical connotation. This is why this product is such a breakthrough. Imagine someone walking into your living room and seeing a speaker floating in mid-Air

playing music.

I would be blown away if I never had contact with such technology. In order to get the most out of the conversation piece I highly suggest you wait for them to try to figure it out. Most people will think that the ball is floating over in air. Other people will think that it is an illusion.

The good thing about this is that this is a microcosm of an anti-gravity device.

Imagine the macrocosm being a functional aircraft that harnesses magnetic

energy to levitate in the air.

We would not be so far behind

the scope of alien technology.

The quality of music that the

levitating speaker plays has been reviewed by many audiophiles

and given the highest markings for such a small device.

The device in focus today is the Air2 Bluetooth floating speakers, the Air2 is made up of a metallic base and a speaker unit with like magnetic charges, making the speaker unit levitate thanks to the power of magnetic repulsion. It even spins around!

It’s a cool trick, and while the audio quality won’t blow you away, it’s pretty fun to look at. A built-in microphone allows you to use the Air2 as a speakerphone, too.

Michael.okeke@thisdaylive.com

30

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

ADVERTISING

Evaluating the Impact of Digital Marketing on Consumption Despite the debate that often trails digital marketing, experts who assembled recently to look at brand positioning in the digital age, differed on whether business owners in developing nations are adequately connecting with consumers via the platform. Raheem Akingbolu reports It was a moment of truth and appraisal recently in Lagos when top marketing professionals and experts in digital marketing and public relations came together to weigh the impact of digital marketing on consumers and brands.

Issues were raised, examples were provided and questions were answered. At the end, all the speakers admitted that digital marketing has come to stay but there was also a view that the hype is more than its result.

The occasion was at the Marketing Edge Brands and Advertising Excellence Award & Annual Summit 2016, with the theme; “Brand Positioning in a Digital Age: Challenges in a Developing Market.”

In his remark at the event, the Managing Partner, Market Space, Mr. George Thorpe, decried the inability of corporate companies as well as Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to adequately connect with their consumers in transacting their businesses using digital marketing.

He stressed that the world is going digitalised especially as more new technologies are unfolding on a daily bases adding that there is an exponential growth in the adoption of mobile devices with access to the internet, as about 85million GSM subscribers use the internet from their mobile devices in Nigeria.

To him, there is a marginal growth of consumers in the digital space compare to the previous years but added that many organisations were grappling with the difficulties of meeting the consumers’ demand in a digital market.

“In Nigeria today, the larger more established corporate organizations are struggling with the challenges of restricting their marketing organizations to fully capitalise on today’s opportunities. The vast majority of SMEs have yet to connect with the potential benefits of digital marketing that comes with greater brand equity, increases sales, better customer awareness all at a drastically lower cost,” Thorpe said.

According to the Market Space boss, both corporate organizations and SMEs have failed to commit adequate resources in their personnel, training, developing new content, tracking and follow through in engaging consumers in a digital space, affirming that engaging consumers directly was falling sharply for many organisations in the digital marketing world in Nigeria.

He pointed out that the migration from the traditional market to a digital one has led to the proliferation of digital marketing agencies stressing that the market space was also bedeviled with a myriad of problems not limited to market research, strategy focus, planning and execution of discipline of marketing theory and practice.

“Digital marketing is the use of digital channels-corporate websites, online communities, internet search and display advertising, mobile technologies, online videos and social media such as Facebook, Twitter to reach consumers and build stronger relationships.

But most companies have failed to adequately do profiting transactions in a digital space” Mr. Thorpe stressed.

He brought humour to the discussion when he said digital phenomenon is upon Nigerians like a ton of bricks driven by an exponential growth in the adoption of mobile devices.

Market understanding The Managing Partner at Brandzone Consulting, Chizor Malize, who is known to have contributed to the success of many brands in Nigeria, made a robust case for brands to join the digital bandwagon. She noted that the youth market in Nigeria was a great force in the market space, arguing that brands that desire to win their loyalty must discover their favourite platform of engagement.

In her presentation, the charismatic brand

Ajayi

expert admonished that any serious brand manager must be abreast of trends among consumers. “Brands need to know that a lot of young people are moving away from facebook and instagram and going over to snapchat. If they don’t know this they will then be concentrating their marketing effort on the wrong channels and will not get expected outcomes,” The expert also added that with digital marketing, brands can achieve more in a shorter time than they would without digital marketing.

She stated that technology has made a lot of things possible as it has made the ability to reach more people possible and given voice to the voiceless.

Like Malize, the CEO of Neukleos, a digital marketing agency, Bukola Akingbade, said with technology, competition is no more within a particular environment but global. She gave example of Uber competing with locals in taxi business. She went further to give a more graphic representation of how the digital space has now created bigger possibilities for brands by helping them to reach wider and more diverse audience in a much faster time.

The digital expert noted that with digital marketing local brands can now compete on the global stage without the rigour of opening physical offices around the world and big international brands like Uber can also be accessible to consumers in Nigeria with little or no cost. Akingbade on this basis concluded that Nigerian brand owners who desire growth must inevitably leverage technology to achieve their goals.

Another top player in the digital marketing space in Nigeria and co-founder of Red Media, Mr. Chude Jideonwo emphasised the need for brands to pay attention to the streets because that is where trends in the market place are inspired. “The mass market is not influenced by those who have Phd or live in Lekki, but by the streets. That is why brands must study and pay close attention to the streets. Power has changed hands from company executives to people on the streets” he said.

To further explain this, he pointed out how a street slang by musician Olamide “leave dirt for LASTMA” became so popular that it inspired one of Sterling Bank’s campaigns.

Thorpe

Between digital and traditional marketing If there is any area of agreement among the speakers while the session lasted, it was the evaluation of whether digital revolution is a threat to traditional marketing or not. From the Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria, Seni Adetu, to Thorpe and Jidenwo, the submissions were the same; digital and traditional are complementary tools in marketing.

Adetu said that core principles of marketing will not change because of the emergence of digital marketing, adding that the core principles required for marketing include ability to generate deep consumer insights, ability to develop scalable ideas that may be executed brilliantly and ability to anticipate future trends.

The marketing expert also told marketers not to make the mistake of considering Nigeria as one country of people in their marketing approach as there are different lifestyles and religion that distinguish people.

For business owners to excel in today’s market, Adetu advised them to study the parts of fish which give it its power. He said the eyes are for insight and research; the tail gives it power which indicates brand management, new strategies and innovation. The fins are for balance, which is for ATL and BTL purposes.

Despite his achievement in the area of digital, Jideonwo was also fast to tell his audience and stakeholders in the marketing industry not to get too excited about the internet or overrate it because there are still millions of young people, especially in Northern Nigeria that are not on the internet. According to him, to reach this group of people, the traditional media remains the primary source of information. To this end, brands that desire to engage them can only do so through traditional media like TV, radio, and newspapers.

“For this reason, traditional media is still very key and inevitable for brands that want optimum returns on their investments. Some people do not know that Galaxy TV is still the most watch television channel in Nigeria and not Hiptv or SoundCity,” he said.

Also speaking during the question and answer session, Thorpe warned that for all the frenzy about the digital marketing media, it still lacks

an empirical evidence to prove its performance.

That according to him is the primary weakness of the digital marketing and that is where traditional media still has an edge.

Earlier, the Publisher of Marketing Edge, John Ajayi had explained that the summit is aimed at initiating conversations that are germane to the growth and development of the industry.

He said this year’s topic was a reflection of the objective reality in the market as well as a testimony to the dynamics of the times.

“Indeed, brand owners and service providers operating within the gamut of integrated marketing communications have been facing challenges resulting from offerings of the new dawn” Consequently, the times and its challenges call for a deep introspection and prompt proactive efforts. It is a time to rethink, retool and restrategise to be able to take advantage of the opportunities available in the unfolding world, Ajayi said. He also noted that the 2016 edition of the awards have been expanded to include new categories that celebrate young practitioners, stating that the decision was taken to encourage productive competition in the creative industry.

Peak of event What appeared to be the climax of the event was when the 87 year old Mr. Ted Mukoro was announced to be honoured as the Nigeria’s advertising titan. Mukoro, a foremost copy writer is renowned for his well scripted ‘shine shine bobo’ which was used to change the fortune of Star Larger beer.

On hand to present the award to Mukoro was the chairman of the occasion, Sir Steve Omojafor. The chairman, who is the CEO of STB-McCann Group, had in a short tribute, praised Mukoro for his impact and outstanding legacies in the advertising profession. He evoked emotions when he recalled with nostalgia how Mukoro mentored him and took him through the rudiments of copywriting.

In all, the award had 44 categories. Some of the winners of the night were; SO&U Managing Director, Mr. Udeme Ufot, Channel Television boss, John Momoh, Chizor Malize, MTN, Noah’s Ark, Chivita, Red Media, Peak Milk, and Star larger.

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

31

BUSINESSWORLD

CONSUMER

Oduntan: Rising Demand for Local Chicken Will Boost Poultry Production Managing Director of Natnund Foods Limited and National President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, in this interview, reasons that if government can provide basic infrastructure and control the smuggling of imported chicken into the market, local poultry farmers will increase their poultry output. Raheem Akingbolu presents the excerpts: Can you please give the estimate of the worth of Nigeria poultry industry and the production capacity Nigerians should expect, to do away with importation of chickens?

Before going into what the industry worth, let me first state that poultry business is capital intensive and is a long term business. From our records, we have been able to established that the whole industry is worth about N600 billion.

As the president of the Poultry Association Nigeria, we provide industry statistics at our annual summit which summarise our business volumes and contribution to the economy.

Let me lay the idea of the figures involved in one million tons of chicken to give the public a better understanding of our activities. One million tons of chicken is one thousand million kilogram, which is one billion kilogrammes.

Each kilogramme of chicken right now is sold at about N700. So in effect, the value of one billion chickens is N700 billion for Nigeria. It is probably closer to trillion than N700 billion; that is just for the frozen chicken, we have not spoken about other areas. What distinguishes the poultry industry from others is that to produce one million tons of chicken, you will need to feed two million tons of birds which will require about one million tons of maize; that is for the broiler. The layers would consume over one hundred million tons. Our consumption of maize as a country is about three million tons. Meanwhile our total production of maize in Nigeria is about nine million tons. So, we consume about 30% of the maize produced in this country as an industry.

The estimate I have just given is for maize.

Statistic has it that an average farming family in Nigeria produce two tons per acre and they farm twoacres. It means a family produces four tons of maize. If that’s the case and we are consuming two to three million tons, that means we need a million families to produce maize for the poultry industry.

In many ways, this will help the country solve problem of unemployment because there would be division of labour in the process of transporting till its last point of usage in the farm. This is possible because of the number of value chain the industry affects in the country while the process is on. People will work in feed mill, drivers are involved and many other ad hoc staff.

What is the value of your own business and what is your target The answer to the second part of the question is that we are targeting 10% of the total production over the next five years. Regarding the first part, we are a private company and by law, we are not oblige to divulge our figures in the public but all I can say is that our investment is in billions of naira and our turn over is also in several billions of naira. Let me give you a simple example, we have a farm here in Awe which we call BC 10. It is where we have the commercial layers. On the day we were moving into that property in 2007, I said to myself; here sit 100million Naira. It has a capacity for 40,000 layers. At the point of lay at that time, each one was valued at N1, 000 layers. The house and the cages at that time had cost us about N60million.

How long will it take for Nigeria to meet its need locally?

If we are given the necessary support of funding, raw materials and basic infrastructural support, this industry will be able to meet the poultry need of Nigeria within two years. I added infrastructure deliberately because of what we incur financially everyday to power our production. For those who are familiar with

Oduntan

Ibadan – Oyo – Ilorin roads, where our farms are scattered, the roads are abysmally poor. We thank God, the road from Ibadan to Oyo was fixed about two years ago but unfortunately, the quality of the construction was poor and is already deteriorating again. The Oyo to Ilorin end of it which was awarded during Obasanjo’s first tenure is still uncompleted as I speak.

What informed your decision to go into farming?

This company is a consequence of the bankruptcy of a French Group call Amo Sanders. By 2002, Amo Sanders, which was then owned by a French multinational, was tired of Nigeria and they decided to sell these companies. I had the opportunity to be there at the time and we bought what was left of it. We started as Amo Byng Nigeria Limited in 2003. At that time, things were very though. When people say things are tough now, I smile because if you have been a farmer, you would know that it is all in circles; it would be very tough and gradually ease out. By the grace of God we have built over those years to become one of the leaders in the poultry value chain. Amo Byng Nigeria Limited is a producer of feed and concentrates for poultry, fish and cattle.

We have three factories and we are currently building a fourth. The three factories are in Awe, Oyo State, Jos and Aba. And we are currently building our biggest factory in Owerri. We have distributors around each of these factories and they now have sub-distributors. That’s how we are able to distribute our products to the nooks and crannies of this country. Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Limited is the second company that produces day-old chicks and also distributes around the country. It also sells point of Lay; this is for those who don’t want to buy day-old chicks, but are ready to buy birds old enough to lay eggs. We package eggs for supermarkets and hotels. Our sister company natnundO foods also sell frozen chickens.

The third company in the group is into local manufacturing of veterinary pharmaceuticals.

We produce series of antibiotics and vitamins in this country, and also provide laboratory services to farmers and importers of animal health products. We produce equipment that helps farmers to develop. Right now we have different projects across the country. Where we sit down with prospective farmers and guide them through the process.

Despite all the challenges, what are the motivating factors?

We are here because we want to show that with a little bit of patience and support, Nigeria can be self sufficient in the production of chicken. natnudO for example, is willing and able to spearhead this drive. We are a Nigerian company, we have all our investment here and we are totally committed to the industry. I have done poultry for 25 years and we have nowhere else to run to. We are willing to help Nigeria in her strive to self sufficiently in agriculture.

We are here because we want to show that with a little bit of patience and support, Nigeria can be self sufficient in the production of chicken. And natnudO is willing and able to spearhead this drive. We are a Nigerian company, we have all our investment here, and we are totally committed to the industry. I have done poultry for 25 years and we have nowhere else to run to. We are willing to help Nigeria on its part to self sufficiently in agriculture.

Stakeholders in the Nigeria project have many things to gain by supporting local production by a Nigerian company.

Brazil is a ready example of a country that has met the need of local demand and exportation. If we look at the map of the world, you would see that South America and Africa must have been joined together at one point or the other. So you can replicate the kind of weather we have here to what they have. If Brazil in the space of 20 years can become the largest exporter of chicken in the world; generating billions of dollars for the country in revenue, why can’t we at least satisfy our local demand? We are committed to make this happen, but we need stakeholders’ support.

If Nigerians are able to increase their consumption of local chicken, I believe poultry farmers would be able to increase their businesses three or four folds. As at today, about 1.2 million tons of chicken is smuggled into this country every year. Meanwhile Nigeria total local production is about a quarter of that; about three hundred thousand. So imagine what would happen if we increase our output to five hundred thousand.

That means we would all have to double our current production. From anywhere we chose to look at it, there’s still a lot of room for growth in this business.

How has it been running the company and what did you do to get it to where it is?

Like I have pointed out, this country is a difficult one to run business. I have travelled around the world on this business to see what happens elsewhere. Agriculture is not easy. It requires consistency and commitment. The company was moribund when we took over and we are Nigerians in Nigeria. We saw the potential. I was a young man then. I didn’t dwell more on the negatives; I focused more on the positives.

In the end, the reason why I went to study veterinary medicine still prevailed. In this country we can generate jobs and bring prosperity from nothing. That was how we started. We started very small. It amazes me now when I receive phone calls from bankers. I have shed tears in a bank before. It was so bad that a banker called me and said “you have a proposal in Agric, it would not fly because the very day you brought that proposal, someone simply put it in the bottom of the drawer.”

I give this background to explain the fact that we have both the challenges of the banks and infrastructure in the industry. In Awe and environs, a lot of power lines you see there were built by Amo Farms. Also, almost all the roads here were built by us. I have paid 36% as bank interest on the business before, which made it look as if for years, we worked entirely for the banks. I was happy doing it because we were trying to build something.

Though the banks didn’t support us initially, when they realised that we are here to stay and committed to what we are doing, gradually, they started to run towards us. Our team then out-worked our competition both day and night. That was the kind of passion and energy we brought into the equation at that time. As for profitability, I can say that we are hundred times bigger than what we were at the beginning. Agriculture is usually a low margin business but by the grace of God, we are not complaining. We still believe we have not even scratched the surface, because we are not competing against ourselves in Nigeria.

For the chicken business, we are competing against influx, smuggled poison from different parts of the world that our people are eating.

I have always insisted that if we are able to increase our consumption of local chicken, we would increase our business three or four folds. Let me again lay some statistics. We believe that about 1.2 million tons of chicken is smuggled into this country ever year. Our total local production is about a quarter of that; about three hundred thousand. So imagine what would happen if we increase our output to five hundred thousand. That means we would all have to double our current production. So there’s still a lot of room for growth in this business.

What measures are in place to encourage new prospects in poultry?

We are trying to create a scenario where different categories of people will get involved in the poultry business. We have introduced the natnuPreneur Scheme, through which we intend to provide inputs, trainings and market for poultry farmers. The initiative is currently being taken to major cities to awake farmers and revives moribund poultry farms. We want to empower them from the production end to the selling end. It will help them grow their businesses faster. We have a pilot programme of 250 farmers now and about to expand to 1500 farmers nationwide. The other part on seller end is that we want to empower young and new entrepreneurs into selling poultry products. What they need is basic investment of about three to five thousand Naira. The major idea is to bring the moribund farms back to functioning.

32

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

iSON Restates Commitment to Revolutionising Call Center in Africa Stories by Raheem Akingbolu Emerging leader in IT and ITes in Africa, iSON Group, has indicated its commitment to redefine the Africa continent in the area of provision of quality call centers across the countries. To achieve this, the company is driving its strong presence with its establishment of call centers all over Africa.

With a presence in 29 countries spanning 4 continents; Africa, ASEAN and the Middle East, the group is being positioned as a market leader in this part of the world.

The company is consist of three operating companies, iSON BPO which provides outsourcing services specifically in customer service experience management, iSON Technologies the systems integrator arm and iSON Innovation and Investment (i3), which is a recent initiative launched by the Group to drive consumer internet business in Africa.

In Africa alone, the organisation operates in 25 countries with over 10,000 employees operating in its call centers including Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, South Sudan, Liberia, Uganda and Tanzania, with plans to build more facilities in the coming years.

Considering the global awakening to more cost effective solutions, Business Process Outsourcing, with specific regard to call center management, has become a cost effective solution to most customer centric organisations.

Among other benefits, the beneficial of the services of call center provider will have a ready-made platform for employment generation for the

rising number of employable youths, with basic IT training to steer them onto a gainful career path.

Speaking on the company’s approach to growth, chairman and founder of iSON, Mr. Ramesh Awtaney, said the group is simply responding to the law of demand and supply but in such a way that ‘supply’ in turn organically grows macro economies rapidly in all its host communities.

“This of course has a ripple effect on not just providing a much needed service to our clients and engendering youth development and capacity but also building and sustaining our communities while encouraging urban to semi urban job shift,” he stated.

As of 2016, it is believed that Nigeria accounts for over half the call center staff working for iSON across Africa. As a result of the rigorous training the company offers its staff, observers believe that they are highly valuable in other verticals they migrate to, thus reinforcing iSON as a strong platform for capacity engagement and building.

According to a recent statement issued by the company, its services a growing list of market leaders in their various niches.

Some of the areasectors include; banking, insurance, financial services (BFSI), telecom, and hospitality. Others are; retail, government, health care and the fast moving consumer goods sector.

“The company offers its teeming customers all over the world various services such as analytics, customer experience management, voice process solution and CRM process solution,” the statement stated.

CONSUMER

FrieslandCampina WAMCO Unveils Peak 456 Ugo Aliogo and Joan Madubugwu One of the Nigeria’s foremost dairy product companies FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc has launched Peak 456.

Speaking during the unveiling ceremony in Lagos recently, the Marketing Director, Mr. Tarang Gupta, stated that peak 456 is one of the initiatives of the FrieslandCampina in line with the company’s desire to provide high quality dairy nutrition to Nigerians.

He also noted that children are the future of the nation and therefore, there is need to fuel their growth optimum nutrition.

According to him, the newly launched milk is specially formulated for children between the ages of 4-6years, “with key nutrients crucial for brain development while ensuring their nutritional needs for growth are adequately met.”

Gupta further stated that peak 456 is fortified with DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, which is major structural

fat found in the brain and retina of the eyes, stressing that DHA influences a child developmental milestone such as motor skills, speech, learning, thinking and visual development.

“It also provides essential vitamins, minerals, protein and carbohydrate to meet the nutritional requirements of those vital years after a child’s third birthday”, he said.

He added: “The years from age 4 to 6 are often termed early childhood. This is a period of rapid skeletal and

muscular development, as well as continuing brain growth.

Studies have revealed that 90percent of brain growth occurs during the first five years of life and this is a critical period when adequate nutrition is particularly important.

Research also shows that under nutrition early in life, impairs physical and brain development in a child in a reduced capacity to learn poorer performance in school and a lifetime of lost earning potential.”

GLO PRIZE PRESENTATION

R-L: Deputy Inspector General of Police, (DIG), Mamman Tsafe; Globacom Business Director, Northwest, Kazeem Kaka; presenting a cheque of N500,000 to Corporal Abiodun Mudashiru, a winner in the Police Cooperative CUG Promo, powered by Globacom. With them is the newly decorated Police AIG, Dorothy Dongna’an, at the force headquarters in Abuja...recently

BigandBoldCommunications Participants at Goldberg Forum Consumers Applaud Peak Milk Identify Fuji as Original Music Ramadan Messages Marks First Anniversary Big and Bold Communications Limited, an integrated and interactive marketing communications outfit based in Lagos, has celebrated its first anniversary with a string of blue chip accounts and unveiling of its new office space on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking at the unveiling, the Chief Brand Strategist of the agency ‘Jide Adeyemi, said: “It’s been an exciting and eventful first year for us. We’ve achieved more than we set to achieve from the start. Having worked in a number of top tier agencies and some multinationals, we set ourselves very high standards believing that if we don’t hit them, we’ll at least get very close. Surprisingly, we have outperformed our expectations.”

“We are proud to be able to achieve such positive results in our first year and of course this motivates us to pursue our vision with renewed vigor. We want to be the go-to agency for young Nigerians who are not scared to challenge status quo to establish innovative solutions to everyday marketing challenges faced by organisations. We want to help our clients create an emotional bond between their

brands and the consumer. Of course our fun, relaxed work environment and culture of no 9-5 but when we open our eyes to when we close it will support their aspirations.”

Big and Bold made a big statement of intent to the marketing industry last year when it clinched the Alcatel Onetouch (now Alcatel) marketing account and helped re-launch the brand into the Nigerian markets. Since then, the agency has managed advertising, Go-To-Market Strategy, Retail campaign, activations, Public Relations, Digital Marketing and Training for clients like Alcatel, d.Light, General Electric, Boff and Company Insurance Brokers, Lenovo, Huawei, Glitz and Fero.

Speaking on his company’s operations, the company’s executive director, Ranti Agunloye, said: “We came into the industry at a very challenging period for businesses in Nigeria.

The economic downturn and the resultant foreign exchange challenges meant that we had to a lot of jobs with little or no profit as a slight change government policy can disrupt planning and strategic direction for our clients and us.

Brand

Participants at the maiden edition of the Fuji Roundtable, powered by Goldberg Lager Beer, from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, have described Fuji music as the only Nigerian music brand that is devoid of foreign contamination.

They therefore identified the genre of music as a unifying factor for Yorubas living in the western part of Nigeria and beyond. As a result, they agreed that the music deserves due attention and concerted efforts towards taking it to the next level.

The participants, who converged in Lagos recently at the event held at the corporate headquarters of Nigerian Breweries, include: Sikiru Ayinde Agboola (a.k.a SK Sensation), Chairman, National Project Committee of the Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria; Akogun Gani Balogun, cousin to the late Fuji Legend, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister; Olasoju Adebayo, Genaral Manager, K1 De Ultimate Band; and Olawale Obadeyi, a Fuji analyst.

They unanimously agreed

that Fuji music has, over the years, contributed to the socio-cultural development of Yorubas in the region and beyond.

In his keynote address, Olawale Obadeyi, traced the origin of this genre of music to the period when Were, the local brand of music was in vogue among the Muslim faithful.

He acknowledged that the music has grown astronomically over the years featuring different artistes who have contributed in different dimensions to its development.

He said the innovations brought into Fuji by those artistes have deepened ties across boundaries in the region. “Each Fuji artiste, evidently, is pushing the limits of creativity.

The horizon of Fuji music has been astoundingly widened”, he stated.

Obadeyi noted that Goldberg had appropriated Fuji music as a veritable platform through which cultural values could be used to validate the essence of Yorubas living in the region and beyond.

Hundreds of consumers, especially Muslims have expressed satisfaction with the on-going Peak Milk Ramadan campaign titled, “Nourish Your Body With Peak” aimed at supporting the Muslim community on the nutritional requirements needed to stay fit throughout the holy month of Ramadan in order to achieve a spiritually robust and successful fasting period.

It will be recalled that Peak Milk, Nigeria’s Numero Uno dairy brand embarked on a massive media campaign to reinforce and remind Nigerians on the need for regular milk consumption as it facilitates healthy and strong body growth/maintenance during the holy month of Ramadan.

Investigations at most of the markets revealed that most of the consumers were of the opinion that the campaign was coming at the right time when Muslims needed a product that would nourish their bodies during the Ramadan period.

Areas where the campaign penetrated include; Garki, Wuse and Gwagwalada markets in Abuja, Maraba, Keffi and New Karu markets in Nassarawa state, Singar and SabonGari markets in Kano, Gombe main

market, Terminus market in Jos, Mubi market in Yola, Central market in Bauchi, New market and Makera market in Kontangora, Okene market in Lokoja, Old market, Gusau, Achi Chia market, Sokoto old market, Sokoto, Central market, Kaduna as well as SabonGari, Zaria. The campaign has been running on major radio stations to prepare the Muslim community in Nigeria for the month prior to the commencement of the Ramadan.

One of the Muslim faithfuls, AlhajiYahayaSule said that he was delighted to take part in the campaign promotion stressing that he and his family have been breaking their fast with Peak Milk since the fasting period kicked off.

AlhajiSule added that the nutritional value of Peak Milk was quite resonating as the brand helps his family to stay fit and healthy throughout the holy month, and achieve a spiritually robust and successful fast. A major retailer in Kano, Mrs. Fatima Musa when contacted noted that Peak Milk was doing a great job for Nigerians and the Muslim community with its Ramadan Peak campaign efforts.

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

33

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Downsizing the Nigerian Civil Service: Issues and Prospects Tunji Olaopa The Nigerian society is presently undergoing a serious turmoil occasioned by several economic variables, national and global. At the global level, the price of oil has forced so many oil-producing states into deep economic recession. At the local level, Nigeria’s mono-cultural economy has been one of the worst hit in terms of its capacity to absorb the fluctuations of the global economy. This economic weakness is severely aggravated by the internal shockwaves of the Buhari anticorruption agenda, and its effects on public service management and performance.

On the one hand, several private sector organisations, especially the banks, have been forced to retrench thousands of their workers because of their inability to sustain their overheads within the context of economic troubles. On the other hand, several states in Nigeria have not been able to pay wages, and hence have triggered industrial action from the trade unions due to the threat of downsizing.

Downsizing is a terrible word in the lexicon of trade unions all over the world. It is a word which carries so much emotional burden. As a commentator bluntly puts it, whether we use “re-engineering,” or “rightsizing,” or “restructuring,” or even “downsizing,” it is essentially firing. And this translates into sending people with enormous family, economic and social responsibilities away from their means of livelihood. Thus, downsizing, in spite of its benign appearance, is often a sorrowful experience for those cut off from a regular source of income. In Nigeria, the downsizing of the public service is a very precarious business.

This is because it is biggest employer of labour.

And such downsizing exercise has a way of convulsing the economy.

Take, as a historically critical instance, the 1975 retrenchment exercise in the Nigerian Civil Service. By the time the Murtala/Obasanjo administration came into office, it was obvious that the principle of representation that guided the Nigerianization Policy had already failed.

The consequence was a bloated civil service that was anything but efficient.

The purge was very brutal. From the civil service to the judiciary and even the universities, the official claim was that corrupt, ageing and unproductive officials and personnel were those involved in the massive retrenchment. Of course, the negative side of that uncritical exercise left an indelibly terrible impact on the civil service.

Apart from the damage to the morale of the civil servants, the purge taught those in service a simple but dangerous lesson: the only security in the service is to be “smart” while you still have your job! In the final analysis, insecurity in terms of tenure wrecked the objective of efficiency that was the ultimate goal of the downsizing effort. As my doctoral dissertation thirty years later would reveal, the civil service did not adequately recover from the wrong signal sent to those in government business.

Like the Udoji Reform of 1974, it does not appear as if the government has learnt from what happened in 1975. In other words, we have failed to scrutinise the significant objectives, methodology and consequences of the purge. When we fail to learn the appropriate lesson from a problem, we continue to feel its pains. We have now come full cycle again to the stark reality of a bloated public service workforce—too many people doing nothing, too many doing too little, and too few people doing too much—and the necessity of downsizing.

According to James Surowiecki, “Downsizing itself is an inevitable part of any creatively destructive economy.” Creative destruction, according to Joseph Schumpeter, is an innovative process of restructuring by which new products eventually and consistently replace old one.

A creatively destructive economy, therefore, is one that overcomes economic fluctuations and achieves productivity growth through structural readjustment that pumps fresh capacities into the economy and public service through a sustained and competitive wage structure.

This is what we call restructuring or downsizing, and its first major operation is

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige

retrenchment. Preston Townley gives three reason why restructuring is necessary: “There are three forces driving restructuring: first, the need to react to excess capacity; second, the need to lift profitability in the teeth of recession; and third, the availability of more competitive wage rates in the global labor pool.”

I have been in the civil service long enough to understand both the necessity of downsizing, and I am equally Nigerian enough to know the pain of retrenchment. The Nigerian economy is such that it lacks the capacity to absorb skills and capacities. The unemployment rate in Nigeria is so high because the economy is glutted by employable and unemployable graduates and persons who could not find something, anything, to do. I find in Alexander Pope, the English poet, a graphic illustration of the helplessness of an average Nigerian graduate: Grief tears his heart, and drives him to and fro In all the raging impotence of woe.

Grief comes from that insulting inertia that confronts one’s dreams and aspirations with pure impotence. From this pathetic condition, we can then extrapolate the horror and shame that attend retrenchment, as well as the determined effort to resist it. It is particularly terrible in the case of civil servants because most do not have any other skills set apart from their administrative competences.

And most have gone way beyond the vibrant age bracket that the few jobs in the labour market require. So, the internal strategy becomes a sit-tight syndrome, or worse still, a corrupt tendency that ensures that the civil service is ransacked in all manners to sustain the civil servants’ lifestyles. So, we arrive at a sort of dilemma: downsizing, especially in the case of Nigeria is urgent; but retrenchment constitutes acute human suffering for those to be laid off.

We should say, straightaway, that this is a false dilemma. What is required is a combination of perspectives that creatively combine demographic statistics with human resource best practices. In the first place, the public service is made up of

several sets of workers that are not supposed to be there—the aged, those who have reached the mandatory retirement age and those who lack the requisite skills and competences urgently needed for higher productivity.

These sets of workers are filling the spaces that ought to be filled by others who can do the work of democratic service delivery. Ordinarily, the public service is often perceived as a place for indolence; “government work is not what you do conscientiously”! To counter this perception, government must therefore embark on a recruitment drive, through a rigorously reforming and professionalised Federal and State Civil Service Commissions, to make the public service a destination of choice for the noble and the best among the youths that roam the Nigerian streets with amazing skills and competence sets that can transform the productivity profile of Nigeria.

Demographically, Nigeria is at the height of her youth bulge, the young people whose age falls within the working class bracket. This human capital can be tapped effectively not only when the FCSC and SCSC put in place an active and enticing recruitment package, but also when the civil service itself creatively rethink its downsizing strategies in a way that will make it easy for the concerned and retire-able civil servants to consider it as a worthwhile option.

The first thing to do is to put in place a retirement and post-retirement packages that will be juicy enough to compel civil servants to look towards retirement without fear or shame.

In this connection, the Federal Government can begin a process of performance-managing the States and the entire national economy, through a nation-wide productivity movement (the dimensions to this I sure will take up in some other contributions).

This would entail at the basic level, entering into a pact with States to bankroll (in concert with the development partners) the severance package of retirees in States as part of a medium-term national public sector business

remodelling and reengineering of Nigeria’s public administration system.

This should be implemented within the framework of a robust but carefully and systematically rolled out public service reform plan that is seen to be insulated from the politicisation that make a mess of past efforts. The reform principle here is very simple: We can’t eat omelette (institute national productivity) without cracking egg (inflicting some surgical pain even with anaesthesia).

While a retirement package will consist, partly, of the prompt payment of gratuity and pension in a manner that respect the years that the retirees have spent serving the Fatherland, a post-retirement package will address the twin issues of career opportunity and employability.

Long before they even approach their retirement age, regular trainings, out-of-service opportunities ought to be a permanent feature for civil servants in a way that prepare them psychologically for life outside of the public service. Such trainings provide the civil servants with viable and sustainable exit strategies, especially in the forms of alternative skills and competence that would eventually replace administrative skills and provide the retirees with means of livelihood outside of service.

Nigeria and the states that make it up are at a crossroads now in terms of cost of governance, productivity and the challenge of freeing up spaces, via downsizing, to inject new skills and competences that translate into efficiency.

While downsizing is a necessity, it requires a firm humaneness grounded on the humanity and dignity of those to be retrenched, and a labour union that thinks of Nigeria’s greater future beyond what the remedial solution that perpetual stagnation, adversarial militancy and blind defence of the status quo inspired Aluta will achieve.

Olaopa is the Executive Vice Chairman, Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP), Ibadan

34

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Female Genital Mutilation: Another Hindrance to Devt Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is an age-long traditional practice in Nigeria which people have continued to indulge in. Studies have revealed that the practice is unhealthy and a violation of human rights. Ugo Aliogo examines efforts made to eradicate the practice

N

gozi Edet is a woman in her late thirties and a strong advocate of women rights. She decided to fight for the cause because of a very gruesome experience she faced in infancy. One month after her birth she was circumcised in a very painful ordeal which created bitter memories.

Edet is not the only woman who has gone through this excruciating experience. More girls are still being circumcised in many parts of Nigeria and Africa, despite concerted efforts by women right groups and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to fully eradicate this harmful practice.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as defined by the World Health Organisations (WHO) involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

It is also sometimes referred to as female genital cutting or female circumcision. There are no health benefits to FGM and it is recognised internationally as a human rights violation.

Divergent Views Two schools of thoughts exist concerning the issue. The first school of thought argues that when FGM is carried out on a girl, it will help reduce the chances of promiscuity in the individual; thereby giving her a sense of discipline and self-control amongst the male folks. Proponents of this school of thought contend that the tradition of female circumcision originated from their forebears; therefore it is not erroneous and should not be jettisoned on the altar of Western culture.

The other school of thought contends that the practice is crude, excruciating and a violation of human rights. The proponents however argue that it is not beneficial to the individual concerned because there are no health benefits, therefore the practice should be totally eradicated. Members of this school of thought have constantly been on the forefront to stop the practice through campaigns, rallies, and enlightenment workshops.

Vital Discourse At a recent forum on FGM organised by the wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, in conjunction with Action Health Incorporated (AHI) and United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), the issue of female circumcision was once again brought to the front-burner.

This time the discourse was aimed at empowering stakeholders and the public with relevant information about the practice, examining efforts made by various groups, NGOs, and wives of the state governors (Imo, Ekiti, and Osun) in eradicating the practice and the way forward.

Executive Concern Speaking at the forum, the Governor of Oyo state, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, said the administration is highly committed to tackling the issue, noting that the state would not hesitate to bring the full force of the law to bear on anyone found guilty of any acts of mutilation, harmful traditional practice or act of violence.

Ajimobi stressed that the elimination of FGM is a specific target under Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adding that his government would ensure that all the requisite laws and policies are put in place and enforced in order to achieve this goal.

He explained that the FGM was outlawed by the United Nations in 2012, and by the virtue of the Violence Against Persons Act 2015 signed into law during the last administration, it has become a punishable offence in the country along with other harmful traditional practices.

“There is an existing legal structure to lend credence to this call for the elimination of FGM in Nigeria,” he added.

Ajimobi added: “According to a UN report,

Can these innocent girls escape genital mutilation and cutting?

Nigeria has the highest number of FGM cases in the world. This accounts for about a quarter of the 125 million cases identified worldwide.

It is sad to note that Oyo state is one of the five states with the highest number of FGM cases. This indeed calls for sober reflection on our part.

“Let me state here that even though the legal framework has been put in place to fight this menace, we must now support it with deliberate action by seriously advocating for a culture shift. Community leaders have a role to play in bringing this issue to its knees.

“We must also take note that while advocating for a culture shift, the advocates of this gruesome act must also have a rethink and a mind reset in order for the laws passed to become effective. They must have a change in attitude stemming from a personal conviction of the incalculable harm that is done to victims of these acts of mutilation.”

Also speaking, the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, stated that the society is faced with the horrific effects of what was once regarded as cultural pride, adding that the forum was an opportunity to chart the way forward on how to stem this evil tide and achieve zero level of FGM in the state.

She explained that the issue has become very vital due to the frightening statistics which showed that in spite of the campaigns over the years to end the practice, “Oyo state ranks third among states in Nigeria that have the highest prevalence of this evil phenomenon behind Osun, Ekiti and ahead of Ebonyi, Imo and Lagos.” In order to generate an accelerated state, community response and in furtherance of one of the specific targets of Goal 5 of the SDGs, which is to end the practice by 2030, she stressed that her office, “in collaboration with the Access to Basic (medical) Care Foundation (ABC), AHI, the UNFPA, relevant state Ministries, Parastatals and stakeholders including traditional rulers, have taken the fight against FGM in the State and the forum will enable them develop a blueprint follow in achieving this objective.”

In her address, Ekiti state’s First Lady, Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose, noted that according to available date, 32 per cent of urban women in Nigeria are circumcised, compared with the 19 per cent of rural women, adding that there are also urban-rural differences in the proportion of women who had cutting with the flesh removed (65 and 60 per cent respectively).

She further stated that more women in the

Southern zones (South-west, South-south and South-east zones) are more circumcised than those in the northern zones, stressing that Osun has the highest prevalence of the circumcised women (77 per cent) followed by Ebonyi (74 per cent) while the South-west geopolitical zone of which Ekiti is grouped under, accounts for 56.9 per cent of the prevalence rate in Nigeria.

Ekiti state government has keyed into the national policy on FGM/C adopted by the federal Ministry of Health in 2002 by enacting the female Circumcision (Prohibition) law 2002 that criminalised the practice in section 3 and prescribes penalties against the practice.

UNFPA Contribution The Assistant Representative of the UNFPA, Mr. Osaretin Adonri, said Nigeria has the third highest number of women who have undergone FGM/C worldwide (after Egypt and Ethiopia)

adding that if significant progress towards the eradication of FGM/C is achieved in Oyo state, the impact would be felt nationwide and globally.

He stressed that adoption of a consensus of the UN General Assembly resolution on intensifying global efforts for the elimination of FGM in December 2012, is a testimony of the commitment by all countries to end this harmful practice.

Adonri added: “The 2nd phase of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme to end FGM/C commenced in 2015, and it is aimed at advocating for the legislative and policy change towards FGM/C, supporting grassroots campaigns that can change the social norms towards FGM/C as well as conduct studies to understand the nature, types of social norms and the effects of social motivation of families and communities on the FGM in six representative states (Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, Imo and Lagos).”

RANDOM THOTS

Best Lessons Only

While Nigerians, both old and young, are clamouring for sincere, committed leadership and practice of true democracy through love for the expectant electorate, no one could have expected the huge negative fallout from a recent visit by some national legislators in the country to the United States for an international leadership programme for visitors.

Although a common phrase is that whatever happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas, a US diplomatic letter has sought to unravel what the peoples’ representatives did (or did not do) during the April leadership programme in Cleveland, Ohio, with allegations of sexual misconduct against the pristine legislators; a supposedly common practice among the powerful and privileged here in Nigeria.

Although the Speaker of the lower House of Parliament has asserted that his members are innocent until proven guilty, the fact is that the damage has already been done, and the US is threatening to deny Nigeria such vital leadership experience in the future.

If only those concerned legislators had come back with best lessons in leadership tips for the rest of the National Assembly, they would be gallant heroes today and not accused villains with bad lessons. Just wondering…

Abimbola Akosile

35

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

DEvELOpmENT/ISSUESINBOx

Can the NSCDC fill in the gap in policing?

Is Nigeria Now Ripe for State Police?

The Inspector General of Police recently disclosed that the current 317,000 personnel in the Nigeria Police Force are inadequate to protect around 170 million citizens. Although the Federal Government wants to employ 10,000 new officers out of the 300,000 persons undergoing verification and training (911,000 applied in April), there has been clamour for State Police forces, with a subsisting federal force, as being practised in the USA. To help curb nationwide crimes and ensure quality protection of lives and properties, is Nigeria now ripe for State Police or just a bigger federal force, or a combination of both? What do you think?

Abimbola Akosile

THE FEEDBACK

* Yes, but the Police must be under the control of the Attorney-General’s office.

- Mr. Feyisetan Akeeb Kareem, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State

Yes, it is ripe:

8

No, it isn’t ripe:

5

Others:

5

* No, it’s not. The antecedents of our leadership at all levels in relation to the use of the Police show that State Police will be grossly abused.

The current Federal Police is already abused by those who statutorily have no authority over them; it will be tantamount to official brigandage if State Police is created.

- Mr. Utibe Uko, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

Radical tip:

Elevate NSCDC!

Total no of respondents:

18

Male:

13

Female:

5

Highest location:

Lagos (7)

* Nigeria is more than ripe for state police In those days, we grew to see ‘Yandoka’ that is state police in Hausa and there was peace because you are dealing with the environment well known to you and majority of the people.

Crime was well policed and there was nothing like extortion or corruption. The centre should have few of them for their services and leave states to have the greatest number, if we are to enjoy peace.

- Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna

differences and extremism, tribalism, corruption, negative ambitions e.t.c leave a lot to be desired.

We need unity, patriotism, truth or honesty and network to genuinely make it work. We have more to gain than not from state policing.

- Ms. Saiki Ometere Tina, Gboko, Benue State

* Nigeria is not in any way ripe for State Police.

Much more, the abuse of office will be worse than what is obtainable with the Federal Police.

- Miss Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos

* I reckon Nigeria is 55 per cent ready for state police, meaning we shouldn’t implement now.

I suggest we do a trail run with the NSCDC, the civil defence corps. Let us have armed civil defence officers controlled by states. Monitor them closely for three years before we decide on state police.

- Mr. E. Iheanyi Chukwudi, B.A.R. Associates, Apo, Abuja

* Yes, I believe Nigeria is ripe for a state police system, however, its adoption may not be unilateral or at once. States that are ready and willing to go this path should be allowed to head the path to protect their citizens and economy. We have to put an end to this idea of uniform growth in the country because of our peculiarities. We’ve very unique security situations/challenges which have eluded the capacity of our present national police.

- Mr. Carl Chineme Okafor, Journalist, Abuja

* Our issues with security threat and abuse of power and human rights will be the order of the day. Going by the mentality of the average Nigerian Police, innocent citizens are being arrested and jailed without any offence committed.

We are bound to have an escalated number of innocent citizens in jail especially if you are in the opposition. Governors will go after their opposition contestant during election.

- Mr. Kelvin M. Udoh, Lagos

* Considering the security challenges we are confronted with at local and state level, I believe the time is now, though the nation is over-ripe for it.

- Mrs. Mary Ayeni Tehinse, Lagos

* For me, once the country is restructured into three or six regions, it will certainly take care of police; thereby reducing insecurity in the land.

- Mr. Okechukwu Ikonne, Ogbor, Oke-Ovoro, Mbaise, Imo State

* State police with the spate of violence and corruption, sabotage and selfishness will likely make its actualisation complex or unachievable.

Our porous borders, unemployment, religious

* Yes, Nigeria is now ripe for state police because our security changes make it obvious that decentralising power of defence will afford other tiers of government full participation,

unity, honesty and patriotism. Power belongs to the people, no half measures and security is a collective responsibility as it affects all and sundry. It will address unemployment and curb crime too. USA is doing it successfully.

- Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos * Nigeria as presently structured is not ripe for state police. Most of the states cannot pay their workers’ salary, so they will not be able to finance 36 ‘state police’ if established. The states/regions will only be able to fund their police if Nigeria is restructured into fewer, larger, economically viable federating units with fiscal federalism.

- Dr. Durojaiye Pirisola, Alberta, Canada * I believe the issue of state police is captured under the call for restructuring, which is decentralising power from the centre and delegating more to the States and Local Governments.

Nigeria is ripe for state police, which should be supervised by the federal force to avoid misuse of power or becoming a tool to be used by the Governor.

- Mr. Nwokolo Osita, On-line Commentator, Jabi, Abuja * With our character of thinking and doing things, Nigeria is not ripe for state police, because the system on ground is very bad, period. What Nigeria Police need are state-of-art arms to fight crimes and regular training to be battle-ready for all crimes and other related offences. Those calling for state police should have a rethink, instead of advising government to equip the Nigeria Police to do well.

- Mrs. Ijeoma Nnorom, Lagos State * Nigeria is not ripe for state police because of sentiments in every area of Nigerians’ lives.

- Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State * Nigeria’s developmental level socially, economically, culturally e.t.c. obviously suggests the urgent need to implement state police, especially in the light of our current spate of unfortunate security challenges.

Waiting endlessly for evasive justice from the central government is why jungle justice is easy among the masses. State police like division of labour in advanced nations will tackle issues before they escalate.

- Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos

* Nigeria has spent a lot of money on conferences, to find solutions on how to go about it, like the National Conference in 2014. Let us implement the resolutions of the event, for peace to reign. Nigerians are tired of Niger Delta Avengers, Boko Haram, kidnappers, herdsmen, no employment, no food, and farmers cannot even go to till their farms due to fear.

Implementing such resolutions will ease the present tension.

- Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna * I think Nigeria is ripe for state police, as long as the governors do not turn them into ethnic militias and private armies. However, not police personnel in a proposed state have to come from that state, to provide balance and ensure professionalism in crime-fighting. Even the USA is still working on that.

- Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State

Next Week: To Develop Nigeria, is the Current Pain Worthwhile?

Despite assurances by the current ruling administration, an overwhelming majority of Nigerians are suffering untold hardship in the areas of expensive power supply, prohibitive cost of foodstuffs, higher costs of fuel, and rising unemployment. Although some argue that government is on the right development track in the corruption fight and ensuring security, others believe the current pain is due to failed promises. To you, is this pain worthwhile? Will long-suffering citizens still get to enjoy the promised positive development? please make your response direct, short and simple, and state your full name, title, organisation, and location.

Responses should be sent between today (June 23 & monday, June 27) 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, June 30

36

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Furniture-making, a self-employment initiative

ABIMBOLA AKOSILE

CSO Committee Commends FG Move Towards Transparency in Recovery of Corruptly Acquired Assets Seeks greater disclosure of actual looters Abimbola Akosile The Civil Society (CSO) Advisory Committee for the European Union (EU) funded project, ‘Support to Anti-Corruption in Nigeria’, has commended the Federal Government’s efforts aimed at ensuring transparency in the recovery and management of corruptly acquired assets.

The Committee has however, called for more detailed information to be released regarding the process, in a bid to ensure greater transparency and public confidence and support; in a detailed release signed by the committee chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraj.

In a statement in Abuja at the end of their sixth meeting, the group of civil society organisations (CSOs) constituting the Advisory Committee to the project, which is being partly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), welcomed the initial steps taken by the federal government to announce the amounts and values of properties so far recovered, but insisted on further disclosure by the federal government of the names of those from whom they were recovered.

In their view, the disclosure of the names of those from whom the assets were recovered would go a long way in discouraging further acts of corruption and the looting of public funds and other resources in future.

The CSOs stressed that unless

there for was full disclosure and total transparency in all aspects of the recovery and management of the stolen assets, the federal government could not hope to win complete public trust and the confidence of the international community and partners in the process.

They restated their call, first made in March 2016, for the inclusion of CSOs in an institutional transparency framework, which should be ongoing, such that citizens and members of the public would be adequately informed at all times about how much had been recovered, where the assets are held, the institutions and agencies that have control over such assets as well as the procedures for their disposal.

The CSOs condemned the ongoing and apparently widespread secret and irregular recruitment of personnel in public institutions, citing recent exposures of such practices in the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS).

The Committee members noted that while they were not opposed to policies and practices that would create jobs for Nigerians given the high level of unemployment in the country, opportunities for employment must be availed to all Nigerians and recruitment in public institutions must be open, transparent and follow the due process. They therefore called on the federal government to take strong and urgent measures to check the secret and irregular recruitment exercises in various

public institutions.

The CSOs welcomed the commitment made by Nigeria to combat corruption as contained in its Country Statement issued at the London Anti-Corruption Summit held on May 12, 2016, in the United Kingdom, including the pledge to establish a public central registry of company beneficial ownership information, the promise to work towards the full implementation of the principles of the Open Contracting Data Standards in public procurement processes and activities; the plan to join the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and implement the Open Data Charter; and the undertaking to enhance company disclosures on payments to government for the sale of oil, gas and minerals to complement ongoing work within the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

The Committee applauded other pledges made by President Muhammadu Buhari at the summit, including the commitment to institute various measures to punish the corrupt and support victims who have suffered from corruption; to strengthen Nigeria’s assets recovery laws; to develop internationally acceptable guidelines for the transparent and accountable management of returned stolen assets; and to drive out the culture of corruption wherever it exists, including by promoting integrity in public institutions.

The CSOs pledged to monitor to the implementation of these

commitments, saying they were prepared to offer their assistance and expertise to the federal government whenever necessary or required in furtherance of the objective of ridding the country of corruption.

Stakeholders present at the meeting, which was held in

Abuja on June 8, included, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Centre for Social Justice (CENSOJ), ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), Publish What You Pay (PWYP), and Integrity.

Institutional members

represented included the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), the European Union (EU), United Nations Office for Drug and Crimes (UNODC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Experts Advocate Tax Remittance to Boost Revenue Blessing Abah Payment of tax in a country has been described as a major and reliable source of steady income and availability of domestic revenues, with government and other concerned authorities urged to embrace this initiative.

According to experts and stakeholders, with the tax revenue generated through full payments and elimination of tax avoidance and tax evasion,, government could settle public services such as education, health, security, infrastructure and pay salaries.

The calls formed the crux of a recent movie screening of ‘The Price we Pay’, an event organised by ActionAid, which took place at Silverbird Cinemas, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Director Harold Crooks blew the lid off the world of corporate malfeasance with the incendiary film about the dark history and present day reality of big-business tax avoidance, which has seen multinationals

depriving government of trillions of dollar in tax revenues by harbouring profit in offshore havens.

According to the experts, tax havens, originally created by London bankers in the 50s, has today put over half the world’s stock of money beyond the reach of public treasuries.

“Nigeria is a large economy but corruption, tax havens, crime rate and poverty remain contentious issues as part of the price we pay. However, many governments have given away their tax right to bring development to multinational corporations, companies and others in the form of corporate tax incentives in order to attract investment in the country. Without inadequate tax payment, countries are dependent”, they noted.

To Mr. Tunde Aremu of ActionAid, “Corruption has eaten deep into the system and Nigeria which is among the ten fastest growing economy in the world has a high degree of poverty. Part of the price we

pay is the 10 million children who are out of school and the high rate of crime and indecency in the country.

Innocent Nwabodo suggested that making the system open and talking about tax to the people is the best way to highlight the importance of tax as a viable source of revenue in Nigeria.

Aremu said, “People say corruption is not avoidable which makes corruption a problem to tackle, but it goes beyond that. Illicit financial flow is also there and corruption accounts for just 3 per cent of the financial flow in Africa.

Other criminal activities like drugs, trafficking and kidnap account for 43 per cent, while tax avoidance is 65 per cent.

ActionAid is a global movement of people working together to achieve greater human rights for all and defeat poverty and believe people in poverty have the power within them to create change for themselves, families, and communities.

37

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“It is important to strike a balance between the need to provide financial services and products to the over 30 million financially excluded adults in the country as a way of reducing poverty and simultaneously ensure the preservation of the environment. Hence, the financial services sector needs to be strategic in its allocation of resources” - PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN IN COUNCIL, CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF BANKERS OF NIGERIA, PROF. SEGUN AJIBOLA, SPEAKING IN LAGOS

PINE Commences Monitoring, Assessment of Rehabilitation Projects Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

UNWantsLandResourcesRestoredtoCombatDesertification Abimbola Akosile The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, has disclosed that nearly 800 million people are chronically undernourished as a direct consequence of land degradation, declining soil, fertility, unsustainable water use, drought and bio-diversity loss, requiring long-term solutions to help communities increase resilience to climate change.

In his message to mark the recent World Day to Combat Desertification, whose theme this year is ‘Protect Earth. Restore land. Engage people’, the Secretary-General said, “The livelihoods and well-being of hundreds of millions of people are at stake.”

“Over the next 25 years, land degradation could reduce global food productivity by as much as 12 per cent, leading to a 30 per cent increase in world food prices,” he added.

Ranking among the greatest environmental challenges of our time, desertification is a phenomenon that refers to the persistent degradation of dry-land ecosystems by human activities – including unsustainable farming, mining, over-grazing and clear -cutting of land – and by climate change.

The Day – which is observed annually on June 17 – is intended to promote public awareness of the issues of desertification and drought, and the implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in those countries experiencing serious drought and/ or desertification.

Many children can no longer go to school because they are forced to look for water.

To escape the heat, they begin their search at night usually coming home the next day in the afternoon.

In his message, the Secretary-General emphasised that more than 50 per cent of agricultural land is moderately or severely degraded, with 12 million hectares lost to production each year.

“Desertification, land degradation, drought

Desertification is also a problem in Nigeria

and climate change are interconnected. As a result of land degradation and climate change, the severity and frequency of droughts have been increasing, along with floods and extreme temperatures,” he said.

Ban emphasised that without a long-term solution, desertification and land degradation will not only affect food supply but lead to increased migration and threaten the stability of many nations and regions.

“This is why world leaders made land degradation neutrality one of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

That means rehabilitating at least 12 million hectares of degraded land a year,” he said.

One important approach towards achieving that goal is sustainable, climate-smart agriculture, Ban said. To him, that will help communities build resilience to climate change, while also supporting mitigation by taking carbon from the atmosphere and putting it back in the soil.

SOURCE: UN/PHOTO

“The transition to sustainable agriculture will also alleviate poverty and generate employment, especially among the world’s poorest. By 2050, it could create some 200 million jobs across the entire food production system,” the UN chief said.

“On this Day, I urge cooperation among all actors to help achieve land degradation neutrality as part of a broader effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build a future of dignity and opportunity for all,” he added.

In another message to mark the Day, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, underscored that desertification is a threat to both arid and non-arid regions, where land over-exploitation, including intensive farming, forest exploitation for fuel and timber and overgrazing have turned fertile soils into sterile land.

The Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE) as part of its strategic intervention has commenced monitoring/media assessment of contracts awarded for the rehabilitation and building of schools and Police formations destroyed by insurgents in the region.

The intervention is aimed at supporting the affected areas destroyed by insurgency towards fast-tracking socio-economic development under its short term measures.

The Initiative, put in place by the Federal Government to alleviate the sufferings of people affected by insurgency is one of the major intervention programmes which were launched in Maiduguri two years ago by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Monitoring and Assessment Team led by the Communication Officer of PINE, Mr. Seyi Odutayo has already visited Yobe and Bauchi states where the projects were located and expressed happiness with the level of work.

Odutayo who spoke with THISDAY in an interview shortly after his team inspected the ongoing project at the Government Girls’ Secondary School(GGSS), Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi state said about 17 projects have been inspected in Yobe state and one in Bauchi, while 31 were being executed in Adamawa state.

According to him, “Assessment in Yobe revealed that about 17 projects were awarded, 10 Police stations rehabilitated in Damaturu, Potiskum and one in Yakasuri”.

He added that “the first phase of this Monitoring/Media Assessment of PINE projects in the Northeast is taking place at Yobe, Adamawa and Bauchi and this intervention is aimed at supporting the region in a short term for the economic development.”

Odutayo appealed to other national and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and philanthropists to assist the initiative to re-develop the region that was devastated by the Boko Haram insurgents.

At the GGSS, Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi state, the team commended the contractor for a quality job. A total of 36 classrooms, administrative block and toilets are being built in the school, with over 90 per cent level of completion.

Some of the teachers and students interviewed on the rehabilitation process expressed gratitude to the federal government for embarking on the projects in the North-east, but however appealed “to President Muhammadu Buhari to also help us rehabilitate our hostel which is in a very deplorable condition at the moment.”

PINE is the presidential intervention designed to provide emergency assistance and mobilise targeted resources to jumpstart the economy of the North-east states of Nigeria, while strategically positioning the region for long-term prosperity.

Also in continuation of its Accelerated Relief Programme (ARP) which aims at bringing succour to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by the Boko Haram crises, PINE donated relief materials including food and non-food items to IDPs who fled to villages in Kirfi and Alkaleri local government areas of Bauchi state.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UN MILLENNIUM CAMPAIGN / UN SDG ACTION CAMPAIGN

38

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Bedridden Spinal Cord Patient Cries out for Help As Onah Onyebuchi battles through 16 years of spinal cord injury, Martins Ifijeh calls on the public to heed his cry for help

W

hile many Nigerian youths in their 30s are already raising their children and meeting other life’s obligations, Onah Onyebuchi, a 36-year-old man has been sitting in one spot for the past 16 years due to spinal cord injury. His body is fixated as his nerves and other sensory organs are no longer responding to stimulus the way they should. All he does everyday is hope someone comes around to assist in washing off his faeces and urine, and help in wearing him cleaner clothes and then hope one day life will smile on him and he’ll walk again.

His trouble started July 5th 1999 while in SS1 in Ovoko Boys Secondary School in Okpaligbo-ogu community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. He had gone that faithful sunny afternoon to tap palm wine somewhere in his neighborhood in order to make money by selling it off to buyers due to the excruciating poverty in his family and his determination to finance his own education nevertheless, but he lost his balance on top of the palm tree and fell to the ground horribly, injuring his spinal cord. Since then his limbs and back are not the only casualty, his hopes and aspirations have also been severed.

Going down memory lane and giving an account of how it all happened, Onah told THISDAY that while he was growing up, his family was very poor, feeding or clothing was a big problem not to talk of going to school, but quite early in his life, he told himself he was going to be a medical doctor who would bail his family out of the darkness they were living in, hence his determination to look for means to pay his school fees and enroll for the secondary school leaving certificate when he gets to SS 2.

“Even at a tender age, I was involved in tapping palm wine which I sell off to put food on the table of my parents, as well as finance my education. It was in the process of my struggle to acquire that education and make my parents happy that this problem occurred and shattered my dreams and vision. I was in SSS1 then, at Ovoko Boys Secondary School. It was during the famous 1999 nationwide strike by secondary school teachers, barely a month-plus into when former President Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn-in as the country’s Commander-in-Chief,’’ he narrated to THISDAY. Onah, after the unfortunate incident, continued to watch his peers grow into the men and women they once talked about while in secondary school. But for him, nothing had moved ever since then, not his limps not to talk of career and aspirations in life. Everyday turned into another day of lamentation on what has befallen him. He daily imagined how many lives he would have saved as a medical doctor if not for the injury.

Even though he often felt like jumping out of his customised chair to push through life’s struggle, his body would not let him. His limitations were too mechanical for him, to the point that he would need an assistance before he could put off his clothes and wear cleaner ones.

“As my condition is presently, I cannot do anything without an assistance. To dress and undress is a big problem. I cannot take my bath without someone assisting me. This is not the life I planned for myself. I feel pity for everyone around me because at a tender age, I was like the light in the house. Everyone thought I was brilliant and focused. Little did I know I will turn out to be a burden on them,” he narrated.

To compound his woes, his parents who used to assist him in doing everything since the tragic accident can no longer do it. He lost his father three years ago, while his aged mother no longer has the strength to help

Wheelchair has become Onah’s companion

him through feeding, defecating, bathing, among others.

“My pain grows every time I remember that without my mother I am as good as dead. At this point, I should be the one helping her by lifting her to her chair or giving her my hand to hold as support while walking, but the reverse is the case. Even in her weakness, she still try to raise me up, put me in bed, feed and bathe me. I don’t know how much longer she can continue with this because she is growing older and weaker by the day,”

Unlike some persons whose long sufferings due to sickness must have led them to resign to fate, Onah is always on the internet looking for solutions to his problems.

He is in touch with social media and still feels he must not be left behind since he’ll have to bounce back to life anytime fate smiles on him

Onah is optimistic he can still walk again

Onah explained.

All through this trying period, Onah didn’t leave everything to providence, he believed he could still walk again and be the man he once dreamed of. His parents had taken him to various healthcare facilities, as well as traditional homes. Until recently, they continued to move from one hospital to the other, praying hope and luck shines on him. He believed one day he will walk again, sit for secondary school leaving certificate exams, write jamb and study medicine, even if at age 50.

According to him, he was admitted at the University of Nsukka Teaching Hospital (UNTH) under the consultancy of Dr. Onwuasoigwe, “but my admission was shortlived due to inability of my relations to foot the medical bills. We were first asked to do a scan but my people could not afford it, so the hospital discharged me since I couldn’t foot the bills.”

As someone determined to find a solution to his problem even though it has held him for more than a decade and half, Onah, two years ago, visited the Primus International Hospital in Abuja where he was told he could perfectly walk again with all his limbs and spinal cord functioning at optimal capacity.

But like several other hospitals visited, he was told it would cost him N5m. “I know on my own I won’t be able to get this money even if am given 100 years to look for it,” he said. His hope was dashed again as he left Abuja.

“We tried several other places until we landed in the home of a traditional bonesetter who promised to take a relatively smaller amount than what the hospitals were charging.

But that was even my biggest undoing; at the bonesetter’s home, I developed serious complications in my spine and limbs, making the situation even more worst,” he added.

Onah, despite his condition, spoke to THISDAY with confidence about life and the fact that he could walk again. The illness that has held him back for approximately 5,640 days has not broken him mentally. He

has not resigned to fate or believed he will never walk again or make it in life, or still be the light his family once wished he’ll be.

Unlike some persons whose long sufferings due to sickness must have led them to resign to fate, Onah is always on the internet looking for solutions to his problems. He is in touch with social media and still feels he must not be left behind since he’ll have to bounce back to life anytime fate smiles on him.

He believes with the support of well meaning Nigerians, government, stakeholders, hospitals and philanthropic organisations, he can still walk again and live the life of his dream.

For those who would like to be that shinning light for him through sponsorship of his treatment or other supports geared towards putting Onah back on his feet, he can be reached on 07082066071 and 09025083957.

While Onah’s story is heartbreaking and depicts pity that should spur Nigeria and Nigerians to save him from the pain, the story is one which should not be told by the media before Onah gets a solution to his problem. If it were in United States and United Kingdom, Onah would not wait for 16 years before the National Health Scheme foot the bill. He won’t have to suffer 16 years all because he is poor and unable to access healthcare. He won’t have to solicit for N5m to be able to walk again.

Onah is not the only one going through this mystery, millions of poor Nigerians are suffering from one form of health challenge or the other because healthcare in Nigeria is still done through out-of-pocket. In fact, Onah is lucky to still be beaming with hope, several others have died of neglect and inability to afford healthcare.

When will Nigeria, which prides itself as the giant of Africa and the biggest economy in the continent spare Nigerians, especially the poor ones from paying for healthcare? Giving healthcare to Nigerians is part of delivering democracy dividends, and we hope one day the dividends of democracy will be enjoyed by all, especially when it relates to healthcare.

39

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

NEWS

“150,000 Children are Born with Sickle Cell Disease in Nigeria” Stories by Martins Ifijeh The National Director of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria, Dr. Annette Akinsete has revealed that about 150,000 children are born with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) yearly in the country, representing the highest number of persons born with it across the globe.

Dr. Akinsete, who said many of these children do not grow

into adulthood, especially in Nigeria where awareness and management of the disease is slow, noted that Nigeria must be in the forefront of finding a cure for it since the country has the highest burden of the disease in the world.

Speaking at the Sickle Cell Rural Outreach programme held in Ijede, Ikorodu, recently, she said gone were the days when SCD was a death sentence.

“With proper information, the disease can be managed successfully, while the victim lead a normal life.” She said this was part of why the Foundation was moving from community to community educating the public, especially in rural areas where various myths exist and awareness was low. She said contrary to beliefs in some areas that the disease was caused by witchcraft or ogbanje, that it

was of genetic origin, which through counselling may be prevented, as the genotype of both parents plays the role on whether their child will have the disease or not. She called on the government to come up with newborn screening policy where SCD can be detected early in children. “This is done in the United Kingdom and the United States, and it has greatly helped in reducing number of

crisis or death arising from the disease. She also thanked Multichoice Nigeria for being a solid backbone in creating awareness on the disease, as well as supporting the Foundation to achieve its aim.

On his part, the Managing Director of Multichoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, said with over 40 million Nigerians healthy carriers of the sickle cell gene, and with over 150,000 children

dying from the scourge, it represents by far the largest burden of disorder anywhere in the world, and most of these children often die in childhood due to ignorance and lack of access to proper diagnosis and care.

“Hence, Multichoice is committed to using its broadcast platforms; DSTV and Gotv to create awareness on this health burden.

‘NHEA will Help Reduce Medical Tourism in Nigeria’ The organisers of the Nigeria Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA) have stated that the recognition of excellence in the health sector will help curb medical tourism in the country, as organisations and stakeholders in the sector continue to strive for benchmarks attracting recognition.

Speaking at the selection phase from the over 1600 nominated health organisations, non-core health facilities and personalities, the former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Lagos State and a member of the NHEA Advisory Board, Dr. Femi Olugbile, said it was high time excellence was domesticated in the country so that Nigerians can know which health facilities or organisations should be approached for a particular health issue or the other.

“This award will spur a lot of people and healthcare providers to improve on their services, which in turn will translate into better healthcare for the country,” adding that, “this

is just part of the drive to measure excellence. There are other drives which involve accreditation and so on,” he added.

According to the Chairman of the Advisory Board of NHEA, Dr. Anthony Omolola, the selection committee will be thorough in identifying the organisations and persons who have done very well in the health sector and then encourage them to do more through the recognition.

“We will thrive to recognise those who have contributed immensely to the health and wellbeing of Nigerians.

Although there is no perfect healthcare anywhere, we try to recognise those moving towards perfection.

He noted that the award, which is hailed as the Oscar of Nigeria’s health sector had a total of 1,673 nominations from over 80 organisations and individuals from all the 36 states of Nigeria, adding that the number has been pruned down by diligent and painstaking selection process.

NAFDAC Gives Deadline to Supermarket Operators on Adherence to Global Listing Scheme The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has tasked supermarket operators to adhere strictly to all the provisions of the global listing scheme of supermarket items.

Communicating this at a stakeholder forum d by NAFDAC for supermarket operators in Lagos, the Ag Director General, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, said by 31st of December 2016, all provisions of the global listing scheme would be fully enforced by NAFDAC. The need to accommodate the supermarket operators, fast food chains, embassies and international organisation that have peculiar and large number of products led to the introduction of the global listing scheme in 2003.

According to her, the general rules for the global listing are; “ items to be listed shall include conventional cosmetics, packaged and processed food products, an applicant shall have an established supermarket, an already registered items shall not be considered for listing, quantity of each item to be imported shall not exceed 2500 cartons per product per annum,” adding, she said

supermarket operators can only retail the imported items once listed and distributed within their supermarket chain only.

“Supermarket operators shall register two products per 100 items imported.

The importation of products banned by the Federal Government of Nigeria shall not be allowed (Items on the import prohibition list of the Federal Republic of Nigeria).

Mandatorily fortified food items shall not be allowed for example salt, flour except they have been fortified to the levels prescribed in the food grade (table or cooking), salt regulations and the food fortification with vitamin A regulations, amongst others,” she explained.

The Ag DG stated that in three months, another meeting will be convened to access the performance and compliance level and review the achievement of the December 2016 deadline to the common interest of all.

Oni enjoined supermarket operators to patronise made in Nigeria products as this will help create job and boost the economy of the country in line with the Federal Government change mantra.

From 2nd left: Director Advocacy, PharmAccess Foundation, Dr. Kwasi Boahene; Commissioner for Health, Kwara State, Mr. Abolaji Alege; Director, Hygeia Community Healthcare, Dr. Peju Adewusi and Director General, Kwara State Hospital Management Bureau, Mrs. Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter, while receiving the Financial Times/International Finance Corporation Transformational Business Award for the Kwara State Health Insurance Program in London recently. Flanking them on both sides are officials of FT/IFC.

900 Families Benefit from Elano Health Insurance Scheme Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt 400 families are set to join existing 500 families from the host communities of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, enjoying the health insurance scheme of Elano Investments Limited.

The Chairman of Elano Investments Limited, Chief Gomba Okanje, disclosed this in Port Harcourt after the resolution of the crisis of confidence between the management

board of the company and some aggrieved stakeholders of the host communities. He said having effectively delivered on the pilot scheme of the health insurance scheme, Elano was moving on to the second phase involving 400 families.

“We started with a pilot scheme of 500 families at six members per family. The second batch is now ready,” he said.

The former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, had given the board a clean bill of health after investigations

he commissioned found out that the board had not been in breach of its obligation to its stakeholders.

Elano is a community-based company mandated to manage the dividends accruing to the host communities of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited.

The communities are Akpakpan, Njuru, Agbonchia, Okerewa, Aleto, Akpajo and Elelenwo.

Its mandate also includes investing in infrastructure, social amenities, healthcare, education and profitable ventures to fulfill

the objectives of setting up the company.

Following the amicable resolution of the crisis by the former IGP, the Elano Board Chairman appealed to the aggrieved stakeholders to join hands with the company to develop the communities.

Okanje said contrary to the impression put out by some of the aggrieved stakeholders, the board of Elano was working in harmony with all the communities and had not been hijacked by anyone.

UNFPA,Cross River to Conduct Organisation Launches LifeBlood Nigeria to Address Blood Shortage VVF Surgeries Bassey Inyang in Calabar The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has announced that it has concluded to conduct surgeries on women living with the Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) in Cross River State, at no cost.

The UNFPA Gender Advisor in Nigeria, Ifiat Serha, who disclosed this in Calabar, while speaking with THISDAY recently, said the body would be working in conjunction with the state government to ensure the success of the project designed to repair women’s damaged reproductive organs, adding that the entire process, which is surgical in nature, would be conducted at the General Hospital, Calabar, from June 26 to July 1, this year. She said the repair would be done free for women that would present themselves for the medical exercise.

Serha said UNFPA and the Cross River State Government

were expecting women who are living with VVF to come to the General Hospital in the state capital and be attended to by a team of surgeons who have been assembled to effect the repair. She stated that the UNFPA has engaged the services of some experts who are specialists in the handling of VVF and other forms of fistula. “We believe in a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.” According to medical experts, fistula is a hole between the vagina and rectum or bladder that is caused by prolonged obstructed labour.

She also spoke on issues concerning the rights of the child and violence against women. Serha said that people should encourage government to implement the Child Rights Law and the Law to Prohibit Girl-Child Marriages and Female Circumcision or Genital Mutilation.

Rebecca Ejifoma Determined to address the current gap in the quantity of blood being supplied, the amount and quantity the nation needs, High Life Church has launched LifeBlood Nigeria.

LifeBlood’s research shows Nigeria collects only 38 per cent of the required amount of blood each year.

The official launch followed this year’s edition of the World Blood Donor Day celebrated on June 14, 2016, in Lagos by the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Modupe Olaiya.

In her key note address, Olaiya, said that blood transfusion was an essential component of healthcare.

“To achieve safe and adequate supply of blood, donation must be voluntary and must also be regular. In line with World

HealthOrganisation (WHO) recommendations, all blood donations must come from voluntary donors and should be screened for infections prior to use,” she said.

Olaiya, who was represented

by Dr. Samuel Alor, outlined some of the enduring challenges in blood transfusion in Nigeria to include: sub-optimal recruitment and retention of voluntary; non-remunerated blood donors due to wrong cultural belief and lack of awareness surrounding the issue, as well as the dependence on family replacement and commercial blood donors.

She further affirmed that in an attempt to tackle these issues, the Lagos State government established the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC) in June 2004 to regulate and co-ordinate blood transfusion services in the state under the supervision of the Lagos State Ministry of Health.

40

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

HEALTH MATTERS

HEALTH

By Goke T. Akinrogunde

goketakinrogunde@gmail.com

S

07037677348

Health Hazards with Computer Usage

izable number of people stayed glue to their computers for hours daily; this makes them prone to several health problems related to using computer. These hazards are however avoidable if appropriate

working on the computer.

Backache Chairs that do not provide support for the lower back, or lumbar, can cause back pain.

If there is no lumbar support, back muscles experience fatigue because they must do more work to keep the body in an upright position. An unsuitable chair also adds to poor posture, such as slouching, and this puts pressure on the spine.

Chairs that are adjustable allows the user to move the seat pan up and down, the arm rests in and out and the seat back forward and back should be use. Chairs should be adjusted so the feet can be placed squarely on the ground or a footrest.

safety measures and health precautions are put in place while working on the system.

The health hazards associated with computer use are grouped in two forms: (1) Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD’S) These involve harms done to the individuals from the actual use of the computers.

(2) Electromagnetic Hazards: these are harms done to the individual from electricity and the computers electromagnetic fields.

Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs) Not unexpectedly, working on a computer for long periods of time can cause inflammation of tendons, nerve sheaths and ligaments and damage to soft tissues. Depending on an individual’s sensitivity to the repeated movements of keyboarding, the cumulative effect can be disabling. Resulting conditions are called cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs).

Common types of forearm and wrist CTDs from computer use are carpal tunnel syndrome, tenosynovitis (these affect the hands’ tendons, causing painful swellings on the palms) epicondylitis (elbow joint’s pain), and tendonitis (painful swelling of the affected tendons in the body).

If one experiences pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in muscles or movement of arms, hands, and fingers, it could be a sign or symptom of one of the computer-related disorders.

Back, Neck and Shoulder Problems Pain and stiffness at the back, neck and shoulder can occur from improper placement of the computer monitor, mouse or document one is working from. If these items are not placed correctly, the muscles of your neck and shoulders are constantly working to keep the head and arms in an awkward position.

Problem can also arise from phone use while typing on the keyboard can also contribute to neck and shoulder pain from cradling the phone to the ear.

Ergonomics Health problems associated with computer use are avoidable, when the use of ergo-

Vision Commonly, those who use computers for prolonged periods of time complain of eyestrain, eye fatigue, eye irritation and blurred vision.

Correcting these problems can be resolved with a visit to the doctor or an optician.

Health hazards associated with computer usage are avoidable

nomic principles is adopted. Ergonomics is about fitting the machine to the comfort of the user, rather than expecting the user to accommodate themselves to uncomfortable equipment, postures, and work organization.

The following measures outline the principle of ergonomics in the use of computers for the optimum health and safety of the users.

Neutral wrist position Position of the wrist must be neutral, or straight.

In order to achieve a neutral position, the keyboard needs to be placed so the arms bend at approximately a 90-degree angle.

Any bending of the wrist puts pressure on the tendons and nerves at the same time they are being required to work. By bending the wrist, you are narrowing the space available for your tendons and nerves.

Avoid resting the wrist or forearm on a hard

surface while keying: this is called contact stress and must be avoided. However, if you feel you really want a wrist rest, make sure that it is well padded. Replace it when it begins to lose its cushioning.

Do not wear a wrist brace unless a physician prescribes it since braces also constrict nerves and tendons in the moving hand and wrist.

Risks for back, neck and shoulder problems The line of vision should hit the top of the monitor, the mouse should be next to the keyboard at the same height, and a document holder should be used to make sure paperwork is at the same distance, angle and height as the monitor.

The computer equipment should be arranged in a straight line so as to avoid twisting ones back.

To reduce telephone related muscle stress, use the speaker function or headset while

Helpful Hints: • To reduce glare, tilt the screen down slightly so that overhead lighting does not hit the screen. Place monitors at right angles to windows so glare does not hit the screen or the user’s eyes. Use blinds or curtains for controlling sunlight glare. Reduce room lighting to half-normal office levels and use task lighting for paper work and other tasks.

Try these methods before relying on glare screens, as they are dust collectors and require continuous cleaning.

• If there is flicker, or small and illegible characters, make sure the computer is operating properly and that the screen and characters are big enough to read comfortably. Prolonged, intense viewing of the monitor can also cause flickering sensations.

• Take breaks by looking away from the screen for ten seconds; make phone calls or do other work and give your eyes a rest.

• Dryness and irritation are also common complaints. Keep computers and desk areas clean to keep dust levels down and help reduce eye irritation. Don’t forget to blink when working at a computer. Eyes need lubrication and with computer work, especially in a dry workplace, blinking is especially important, as is drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Wearing contact lenses can aggravate the problem.

One-on-One My Cholesterol Blood Level is High - What do I do?

Recently I went for pre-employment medicals, which included chest x-ray, blood tests and clinical evaluation by a doctor; at the end of the exercise, I was told that my cholesterol blood level is very much on the high side.

Unfortunately, the impression I got from the doctor who broke the news to me is that I am in a pretty bad state of health going by the cholesterol result. On the contrary, I feel very healthy and I consider myself well preserved – I don’t take alcohol nor smoke, neither do I womanise.

Kindly enlighten me on what could have gone wrong with me. I am seriously worried.

Thanks for your anticipated prompt response.

John John, I share in your worries but I should quickly add that the situation does not appear to me as irredeemable. High blood cholesterol is real common and it is now seen as a modern day epidemic.High blood cholesterol, also called

hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipidemia, is a very common condition in which the level of total cholesterol in the blood is higher than normal.

Cholesterol is a naturally occurring waxy, fat-like substance that is present in the blood and in the body’s cells. It is both made by the body itself and is also brought into the body through eating certain foods such as animal meats, which contains various levels of cholesterol.

Cholesterol is comprised primarily of three components, HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. These components of cholesterol are a necessary element in the proper functioning of the body. When the HDL, LDL, and triglycerides are present in the right levels and balance in the body, cholesterol functions to protect health, including cardiovascular health.

However, when the total cholesterol levels become too high, and the levels and balance of HDL, LDL, and triglycerides in the body are not normal, it can result in the buildup of plaque on the walls of the arteries and increase

the risk for developing cardiovascular diseases.

These include atherosclerosis, heart disease, blood clots, hypertension, myocardial infarction and stroke. There generally are no symptoms of high cholesterol until complications develop..

Making a diagnosis of high cholesterol includes completing a complete medical evaluation and history and physical examination. Diagnostic testing includes a blood test that measures cholesterol levels. Cholesterol testing primarily measures the total amount of cholesterol and the three components of cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides. However, blood cholesterol levels are only one aspect that can help determine a person’s total risk for developing cardiovascular disease. A comprehensive evaluation from a licensed health care professional includes compiling and analyzing many factors that impact cardiovascular disease risk. These include lifestyle, family history, personal history, dietary habits, weight, blood pressure, stress levels, and smoking/drinking habits. Other tests, including blood tests, EKG,

and imaging tests, such as heart scans, are also evaluated to assess risk and if any complications of high cholesterol have developed.

It is very possible that a diagnosis of high cholesterol can be missed or delayed because there are generally no symptoms as it appears in your own case High cholesterol can be successfully treated with an individualized treatment plan that best fits the individual case of high cholesterol and a person’s life style. Treatment generally involves regular medical monitoring and cholesterol testing and lifestyle cum dietary changes. Treatment may also include medication for some people who are unable to normalize their cholesterol levels through diet and lifestyle changes. Going from the aforementioned, my candid advice to you is to elect to see a physician, if possible a specialist metabolic physician, who is trained to specially handle cases like yours.

I reiterate: your case is very much redeemable.

Best wishes.

41

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

HEALTH

‘Our Aim is to Stop Nigerians from Studying Medicine Abroad’ The National Universities Commission recently gave the nod to the Nigerian Turkish Nile University to commence a School of Medicine. In a chat with Martins Ifijeh,the Dean of the College of Medicine, Professor Melih Erkan, emphasised on the need to have a medical school that can meet global standards The National Universities Commission recently granted your university accreditation to commence the Faculty of Medicine. How was the process and what was the extra effort that was put in place by the management towards ensuring the success of the exercise?

It was indeed a very tasking process for us as a university because of the premium we placed on quality. The emphasis has been to produce world-class graduates that would compete anywhere in the world. And this much we have been doing since inception. As at today, the university has produced three sets of graduates.

And we are proud of this feat. Consequently, the management decided to make some substantial investment in establishing a Medical Faculty which by the grace of God was recently accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC). I must confess that getting accredited wasn’t as easy as it sounds; the process was very meticulous and tedious. As you might be aware, the NUC won’t just wake and give accreditation to commence a Medical Faculty.

So we ensured that we recruited the very best in the medical profession both in Nigeria and all around the world.

In terms of facilities, we ensured that the faculty was equipped with modern medical equipment that can be found in the best school anywhere in the world. We have very hightech laboratories like anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and microbiology. For us, it is a mission that is geared towards churning out a distinct set of medical personnel that would serve the country immensely.

When will admission of students commence?

The Faculty of Medicine will start by the end of September and lectures will commence by the first week of October.

Admission period or process has started. There will be a special discount for those that will be admitted before the end of August. I and my colleagues are working round the clock to ensure that everything is in place for the smooth take-off of the faculty. For a start, we are beginning with 55 students in medicine, biochemistry and microbiology and 5 per cent of all the students will be on full scholarship.

Won’t 55 for a start be too small a number?

No, it is not. Remember I mentioned the emphasis is on quality. That has been our policy right from the word go. The management of the university places so much emphasis on that because we want to our graduates to be well-rounded. We don’t want to give certificates to people who can’t defend it. No, the Nigerian Turkish Nile University won’t do that. So we looked at our equipment and the fact that

we want students to learn in a conducive environment. We want a situation where it will be one student to one microscope.

But with time, we will increase the number of intakes.

You talked about the quality of the staffing for the faculty, Can you shed more light?

Our aim is to maintain the highest quality in terms of education, lecturing and much more. If you look at our sister organisation, the Nigerian Turkish Nizamiye Hospital, you’ll see technology there, we have very qualified professors and other academic staff that we painstakingly recruited from Nigeria and Turkey to man the various departments. Our aim is to stop Nigerians from studying medicine abroad.

What will make this faculty stand out from other medical faculties in the country when it becomes functional?

The use of technology in solving 21st-century medical problems. The university will be starting three new programmes in September; they include microbiology, biochemistry, and medicine.

What we have been doing in the last few months is to recruit globally faculty membership that will be able to teach in the Faculty of Medicine and Natural and Applied Sciences.

In the most College of Medicine in Nigeria, the most course that medical student takes comes from the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences; the biological sciences, biochemistry, and microbiology. We had NUC verification exercise about a month ago, we had a very high percentage approval, authorising the university to start a medical school, a biochemistry, and biological departments.

What about the admission requirement?

We are following Nigerian rules and regulations as per JAMB and NUC requirements Would there be any form of internal examination?

We don’t have any such plan.

We are complying fully with the set of rules and regulations regarding admission of students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

You talked about the theory and practical aspects, in terms of getting hands-on experience, how do you intend to go about accomplishing that?

We are going to use our sister organisation, the Nigerian Turkish Nizamiye Hospital as the teaching hospital, we also have MOU with federal government hospitals, this will expose our students to a very high-quality operations in the Turkish Hospital and they will also learn local signals and problems for the local area hospitals.

Is there anything like exchange programmes in place?

Absolutely, if you look around here, you’ll see people from Kenya, Cameroun, Turkey and Ghana, this is a more or less an international university. We have what we called exchange programme where students from Nigeria can go to Turkey and spend one or two semester and students from Turkey can as well come to Nigeria and spent a semester or two, this is part of the package students

Prof. Erkan

get when they come here.

Is there a provision for community outreach in the medical faculty?

Absolutely, as part of the educational training here at the Nigerian Turkish Nile University, students are required to perform community services.

We recently signed an MoU with some Federal Medical Centres and federal universities where our students can go and be exposed to a broader array of medical conditions, then bring that knowledge to

Nigerian Turkish University College of Medicine where they can use state-of-the-art technology to diagnose these conditions.

In 10 years from now, where do you see this faculty and in extension the university?

We’re working for the future of Nigeria. In the next ten years, we are going to be one of the best universities in Africa, especially in theoretical and practical education.

REWARDING DEDICATION

L-R: Director of Finance, Federal Medical Centre, Ebutte Metta, Dr. Adewale Oyerinde; Director of Clinical Services, FMC, Ebutte Metta, Dr. Temitope Asero; one of the award beneficiaries, Mrs. Augusta Agboso; Medical Director, FMC, Ebutte Metta, Dr. Yewande Jinadu and the Head of Admin, FMC, Ebutte Metta, Mr. Henry Etim at the Long Term Service Award presentation for staff above 15 years in service at the FMC, Ebutte Metta ...recently

Women Foundation of Nigeria Kwara State Health Insurance Makes Case for Alzheimer Patients Programme Wins FT/IFC Transformational Business Awards Martins Ifijeh The Financial Times and the International Finance Corporation has presented to the Kwara State Health Insurance Programme (KSHIP) the 2016 FT/IFC Transformational Business Award for Achievement in Sustainable Development: Maternal and Infant Health, in London, recently.

The awards which attracted 155 entries from recognised 219 stakeholders, involving projects in 92 countries, is a ground-breaking, long-term private sector solutions to key development issues.

In the words of the FT/IFC judges, the programme is “filling a tremendous systemic need for access to quality healthcare for women and children by forging partnerships with government, foundations, the private sector and the healthcare community.” Accepting the award, the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, noted that KSHIP has had a remarkable impact on the lives of low-income families in very remote areas of the state.

“The award is a key international commendation of our ongoing efforts in steadily and surely improving access to affordable and qualitative healthcare in Kwara State.

Such results are a great motivation for us to find a long-term, sustainable health financing solution so that this programme can be expanded to benefit people across the state,” he explained. According to him, KSHIP has shown an impressive rise in women giving birth in hospital, including women who were not in the health insurance programme, adding that hospital deliveries rose from 50 per cent in 2009 to 70 per cent in 2013, an increase which he said can be attributed to the program.

More than 76 per cent of the 115,000 enrollees are women and children. Since 2007, the programme has recorded, more than 900,000 patient visits. World Bank data show that, since the start of the programme, Kwara has become the second-best performing Nigerian state in maternal and child care.

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Chairman and convener, Women Foundation of Nigeria (WFN), Iyom Josephine Anenih, has called for social support for caregivers attending to patients suffering from Alzheimer diseases, saying the burden of care giving takes a huge toll on the health and well being of caregivers.

Mrs Anenih, a former PDP Women Leader and former Minister of Women Affairs, who canvassed for various advocacy groups to be set up to seek for government intervention and allocation of resources to assist sufferers and caregivers, said it has become imperative to create awareness on Alzheimer’s diseases that was fast ravaging the young and old in the country.

“Alzheimer’s disease is a form a dementia among other dementias like Parkinson’s disease and Lewey Body Dementia.

It affects speech of the sufferer, such that the patient may find it difficult to remember common words. Ordinary forgetfulness

which is termed ‘senior moments’ is quite different from Alzheimer’s .” Anenih said.

While speaking recently at a one day stakeholders roundtable organised by WFN in Benin City, with the theme, “The End of Alzheimer’s Starts with me”, said the aim of the roundtable meeting was to create awareness on the dreaded disease, which she noted affects both the young and the old.

“Before now Alzheimer’s was diagnosed as Senile dementia and it was thought that it affected only old people, therefore a disease for old people. It has now been found that Alzheimer’s does not discriminate as it can affect people as young as thirty years old.

It has been worthy of note that ‘any body who has a brain is at risk for Alzheimer’s dementia’.”

Expressing concern for early diagnosis of the disease, Anenih said there are warning signs which should never be ignored, adding that Alzheimer’s treatment will work better in the early stages when detected early.

42

THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 T H I S D AY

43

THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

British, EU Referendum Holds Today British EU referendum holds today as Prime Minister David Cameron and his euroskeptic opponents made final push for votes yesterday.

The vote, which echoes the rise of populism elsewhere in Europe and the United States, will shape the future of Europe. A victory for “out” could unleash turmoil on financial markets.

“It’s very close; nobody knows what’s going to happen,”Cameron told Financial Times, with opinion polls showing the rival camps neck and neck. European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker warned there would be no further renegotiation whatever the result on Thursday, after EU leaders reached a deal on a new settlement for Britain in February. French President Francois Hollande said a vote to leave would carry a“very serious” risk of ending British access to the EU’s prized single market.

The referendum will take place a week after the murder of ardently pro-EU lawmaker Jo Cox shocked the country, raising questions about the tone of an increasingly bitter campaign. Much

of the heated debate has boiled down to two issues: the economy and immigration.

The City of London financial center, the International Monetary Fund and the majority of British business leaders back Cameron and his Remain camp’s stance that to leave the EU would plunge Britain into recession, costing jobs and raising prices. Supporters of a socalled Brexit have struck a chord with many voters by saying Britain would regain control of immigration if it cut itself loose from a bloc they see as domineering and out of touch.

In what has become an ugly and personal fight, both camps have been accused of using unfounded assertions and scare tactics. Remain campaigners accuse their opponents of resorting to the politics of hate; the Leave camp say their rivals have run a “project fear” to scare voters about the economic risks.

Both sides hit the road and the airwaves to appeal to the large number of undecided voters who will be decisive, along with the level of turnout.“It’s our last chance to sort this out and take back control,”

said former London mayor Boris Johnson, the main leader of the Leave campaign and favorite with bookmakers to replace Cameron in the event of Brexit.

“If we don’t vote to leave tomorrow we will remain locked in the back of the car, driven in an uncertain direction frankly to a place we don’t want to go and perhaps by a driver who doesn’t speak the very best of English,”he said. He was flying around Britain in a helicopter to spread the Brexit message, making an unashamed play to British patriotism by declaring Thursday could be Britain’s “independence day”.

The leader of the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP), Nigel Farage, also played the nationalist card in an address to supporters in London.“They (the EU) have an anthem, they are building an army, they have already got their own police force, and of course they have got a flag,”Farage said.“At the end of the day tomorrow when people vote they must make a decision - which flag is theirs? and I want us to live under British passports and under the British flag.”

‘North Korean Missile Test, Threat to Global Community’ Japan has warned that the North Korean missiles tests pose“a serious threat” to global community after the country carried out new tests in defiance of international sanctions. North Korea launched two missiles within hours of each other, with one flying about 400km (250 miles) and reaching an altitude of 1,000km.

A confirmed successful test would mark a step forward for North Korea after four failed launches in recent months.

South Korea, the US and Nato have also expressed alarm over the latest tests.

Both launches are believed to have been intermediate-range Musudan missiles, whose range of about 3,000km is enough to hit South Korea, Japan and the US territory of Guam in the Western Pacific A suspected first launch failed, South Korean officials said, travelling about 150km before landing in the sea.

But the second showed what

Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani called“some capability”.

“I believe the missiles are a serious threat to our country,” he said.

North Korea, which is developing nuclear weapons, is banned by UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology.

In January it conducted its fourth nuclear test, claiming it as its first use of a hydrogen bomb. Shortly after that it launched a satellite, widely seen as a test of long-range missile technology. This is at least the fifth test of the Musudan medium-range missile in the past few months and while most have ended in failure, one of the latest pair fired does seem to have travelled at a high trajectory for some 400km.

The Musudan appears to be based on the technology of an old Russian Soviet-era submarine launched missile. It is carried on a wheeled launcher and was first seen in parades back in 2003, though it was never test-fired until April of this year. Experts believe the

weapon is intended to be able to strike US bases on Guam, but North Korea’s ultimate goal is to be able to threaten the continental United States.

North Korea’s progress is mixed and erratic. But it is clearly determined and its missile and associated nuclear weapons programme means that its rocket tests are being carefully watched

by Washington.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said Seoul and the US were “carrying out an in-depth analysis”of the second missile, and did not say whether they considered it a success. Several analysts were less cautious though. Jeffrey Lewis, of the California-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies, tweeted: “That’s a successful test folks.” North Korea is thought to have dozens of Musudans but has never conducted a full-distance test.

The four other missiles tested in the past two months either exploded mid-air or crashed.

Experts Urge Follow-up Probe to Mexican Students’ Massacre ndependent investigators who probed the disappearance and apparent massacre of 43 Mexican students in 2014 called onTuesday for a robust follow-up to resolve the high-profile case and establish the truth. Claudia Paz y Paz and Carlos Martin Beristain served on a five-member panel that accused the government of President Enrique Pena Nieto in April of undermining their inquiry.

They were in Geneva to meet U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein who has voiced dismay at a lack of progress in resolving the“emblematic”case of 43 trainee teachers from Ayotzinapa

who disappeared in the southwestern city of Iguala.

“We made many recommendations to deepen the investigation, mainly related to drug trafficking of heroin as a possible motive.The prosecution has not fully addressed this hypothesis,” Paz y Paz, a former attorney-general of Guatemala, told Reuters. Mexico’s military has been accused on multiple occasions of extrajudicial killings and torture during a decade-long war against the brutal drug cartels.

“It is up to the state’s willingness to investigate what actually happened,”Paz y Paz said.“We expect a strong follow-up mechanism.”The government says that

corrupt police handed the 43 students over to drug gang henchmen in late 2014, who then incinerated them at a garbage dump in the southwestern state of Guerrero.

Theexpertsreportsaidthatthegovernment’s fire theory is scientifically impossible.

The remains of just one student has been identified from a charred bone fragment.“We alsoaskedthegovernment and judiciary to investigate the actions and conduct of the head of the criminal investigation unit,Tomas Zeron, because he was present at the crime scene a day before. It has been documented,”Paz y Paz said, referring to the river where the bone fragment was found.

44

T H I S D AY •THURSAY, JUNE 23, 2016

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

RMAFC, FIRS to Assist States Raise Revenue Okon Bassey in Uyo Concerned about the economic status of states, two federal agencies - the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) have moved in to assist states on how to raise their revenue During a separate visit to the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Finance, Akan Okon, both agencies stressed that the federal government was worried about the dwelling economy situations, which has taken a hard toll on finances of federal and state governments .

The leader of the FIRS delegation, Mr. Innocent Ohagwu told the Akwa Ibom State Finance Commissioner that the team was in the state to see how to work hand in hand with the state governments to step-up revenue generation in view of

the present economic situation in Nigeria.

Ohagwu called for constructive partnership that would yield mutual benefits for both parties especially in the achievement of revenue targets, while also praying for a comprehensive audit assessment that would aid the remittance of taxes due to the federal government.

Also, a team from the RMAFC said the visit was to familiarise themselves with the State Ministry of Finance and to also synergies to create ideas that could bolster fiscal efficiency, as well as effectiveness in revenue mobilisation.

RMAFC State Coordinator in the state, Mr. Welanye Damni commended the finance commissioner and his team for taking the financial sector to a higher level through the initiation of reforms, and expressed hope that with their support, RMAFC

will function optimally in the State.

While receiving the federal government agencies, Okon said the state government was ready to strengthen collaboration with the FIRS) with the view to expanding tax net for enhanced revenue generation .

According to him, there was need for exchange of relevant information that would aid the capturing of every individuals and organisations required by law to remit taxes to government.

He said public cooperation is one of the cardinal frameworks that will define the future of tax administration in Nigeria declaring that the state government has taken steps to put in place a robust tax compliance mechanism as part of its effort to diversify the economy from oil.

For Okon, the critical area was to fashion out ways to secure

Lagos Pledges Partnership with PTAD Obinna Chima The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has received a pledge of partnership from the Lagos State government to provide logistics support for the verification of Lagos state pensioners with federal establishments.

The partnership is to facilitate the payment of benefits and entitlements of retirees in the state.

This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Civil Service Pensions Office, Mrs. O.A Balogun, during a visit to the acting Director General/ Executive Secretary of PTAD at the agency’s head office in Abuja yesterday.

A statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications, PTAD, quoted Balogun to have

conveyed the state government’s commitment to providing logistic support to enable PTAD conduct the verification of all pensioners with federal share in the state.

While presenting a nominal roll of Lagos state pensioners with federal share to the management of PTAD, Balogun noted that “conducting the verification exercise will enable PTAD resolve issues of non-payment and short payment to pensioners, and the reconciliation of any outstanding obligation on the part of the Federal government.”

According to her, “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is fully committed to ensuring that pensioners in Lagos state are paid their full entitlements.”

This, she said was evidenced by the payment of about N14 billion to pensioners since his

government assumed office just over a year ago, at a time when other states are struggling to pay salaries.

In his response, the acting DG/ Executive Secretary of PTAD, expressed delight at the offer of support from the Lagos state government which he said would “go long way in making PTAD’s work easier.”

“Pension administration in Nigeria would have registered greater success if all state governments were willing to support and collaborate with PTAD as the Lagos state government is offering to do,” he said.

With this development, the next phase of PTAD’s nationwide verification of civil service pensioners will commence in Lagos on a date to be jointly agreed.

Stanbic IBTC Emerges Best Subcustodian in Nigeria Eromosele Abiodun Stanbic IBTC has been named the “Best Sub-custodian” in Nigeria for 2016 by Global Finance magazine.

The London-based Global Finance magazine, organisers of the awards, announced that for the 2016 awards, it expanded the scope of the survey to include sectors such as Depositary Receipt Banks, Securities Lenders, Prime Brokers, Collateral Managers and Trust Services Providers.

The latest win makes it the sixth time in a row Stanbic IBTC Bank will be adjudged the best in the country, in recognition of its leadership in the sector.

Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Yinka Sanni, stated that winning the award again this year, particularly with the current financial challenges, is a testament to the bank’s strong management, systems and innovative solutions, and its leadership of Nigeria’s custody sector.

“We are delighted to be recognized for the sixth time as the best provider of custody services in Nigeria. It is a demonstra-

tion of our strength in terms of our management, systems and solutions. This award will energize us to continue to provide unparalleled services to our customers as we raise the bar in the provision of investor services,” Sanni said. “The need for excellent custody services in Nigeria remains strong, driven by the impetus in cross-border investment activities, and we are well positioned to provide such services,” Sanni added.

The yearly award, instituted 14 years ago, recognizes the pivotal role sub-custodians play in business and investment activities via the safekeeping of clients’ assets, such as bonds, stocks and treasury bills.

Winners are selected by Global Finance magazine’s editors and reporters, with input from expert sources, from among institutions that reliably provide the best custody services in local markets, regions and to global custodians.

The criteria used, according to Global Finance, included technology platforms, competitive pricing, customer relations, smooth handling of exception items, quality of service,

post-settlement operations, business continuity plans and knowledge of local regulations and practices.

“Global investors and institutions want to work with firms that are the safest and have the most in-depth knowledge of local markets and regulatory regimes. With these awards, we evaluate those providers that do the best job of securities servicing in increasingly complex global markets,” Global Finance Editor, Andrea Fiano, said in a release to announce the winners.

Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Nominees, Akeem Oyewale, said the organisation will not rest on its oars in delivering value to customers as well as prospects. He added that Stanbic IBTC Nominees, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC which holds custodial assets on behalf of clients of Stanbic IBTC Bank will continue to leverage the expertise, technology and experience of the Standard Bank Group, to which Stanbic IBTC belongs, to deliver sustainable shareholder value by serving the needs of its clientele.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

MARCH 2016 Broad Money (M2)

20,470,436.00

-- Narrow Money (M1)

9,040,817.68

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,441,365.03

---- Demand Deposits

7,599,452.65

-- Quasi Money

11,429,618.32

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,551,714.27

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

14,918,721.73 22,664,815.74

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC) ---- Credit to Government (Net)

3,782,578.01

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

4,991,246.39

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-1,208,668.38

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

18,882,237.7

--Other Assets Net

-7,746,094.02

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,758,634.07

--Currency in Circulation

1,811,090.48

--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 21, JUNE 2016 The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $46.02 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $46.24 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Minas (Indonesia), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

45

T H I S D AY • thurSDAY, june 23, 2016

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

22-June-16 21-June-16

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators

01 Dangote Cement Plc

194.25

185.00

5.00%

3,310,118,563,421.25

10.64

17.39

6.41

4.32%

4.89

02 Nigerian Breweries Plc

143.80

142.49

0.92%

1,140,204,707,694.40

5.37

26.54

4.09

2.53%

6.63

03 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

23.20

22.05

5.22%

682,803,357,996.80

3.38

6.53

2.83

8.03%

1.57

832.00

816.00

1.96%

659,490,001,664.00

29.95

27.25

4.28

3.55%

17.02

05 Zenith Bank Plc

17.32

16.69

3.77%

543,787,272,373.52

3.37

4.96

1.21

10.78%

0.88

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers

06 Lafarge Africa Plc.

73.51

77.90

-5.64%

334,830,832,053.10

5.93

13.14

1.33

3.85%

2.01

Stock

07 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

16.65

16.65

0.00%

305,520,027,729.75

1.39

11.96

0.59

3.72%

0.82

08 Forte Oil Plc.

200.05

200.05

0.00%

260,561,344,655.15

4.45

44.97

2.09

1.72%

5.63

09 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd

348.97

350.00

-0.29%

193,088,699,927.61

23.48

14.90

1.71

4.55%

0.69

10 United Bank for Africa Plc

5.02

4.98

0.80%

182,123,222,136.44

1.64

3.03

0.57

12.05%

0.54

11 Access Bank Plc

6.20

6.10

1.64%

179,353,424,112.20

2.28

2.68

0.52

9.02%

0.48

16.35

16.05

1.87%

163,500,000,000.00

2.04

7.88

1.36

0.62%

1.43

13 Guinness Nig Plc

106.45

104.00

2.36%

160,301,797,612.60

0.78

133.63

3.14

0.00%

3.50

14 FBN Holdings Plc

4.34

4.31

0.70%

155,785,570,717.28

0.42

10.21

0.31

3.48%

0.27

32.10

32.10

0.00%

121,443,809,625.00

0.32

101.85

2.05

0.16%

15.17

140.00

138.00

1.45%

89,682,650,820.00

11.12

12.41

1.13

1.59%

3.68

7.08

7.17

-1.26%

85,205,101,769.52

0.50

14.34

0.15

10.46%

0.55

21.11

21.11

0.00%

83,816,770,419.95

1.10

19.24

1.16

6.16%

1.99

19 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

6.89

6.99

-1.43%

82,680,000,000.00

0.96

7.27

0.83

7.15%

1.44

20 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc

1.77

1.61

9.94%

68,536,165,442.25

0.05

30.69

1.53

0.00%

0.71

19.99

19.99

0.00%

65,852,043,107.20

0.64

31.28

3.56

1.25%

5.47

22 Total Nigeria Plc

180.00

179.30

0.39%

61,113,930,660.00

11.92

15.04

0.29

7.81%

3.75

23 Mobil Oil Nig Plc.

169.00

169.50

-0.29%

60,940,599,278.00

13.51

12.54

0.95

4.25%

3.98

24 Flour Mills Nig. Plc.

22.90

22.50

1.78%

60,095,031,582.30

1.84

12.22

0.18

8.89%

0.58

25 Julius Berger Nig. Plc.

42.10

42.10

0.00%

55,572,000,000.00

1.85

22.77

0.42

3.56%

2.29

26 Diamond Bank Plc

2.23

2.27

-1.76%

51,647,667,398.64

0.24

9.29

0.24

0.00%

0.24

27 Sterling Bank Plc

1.63

1.51

7.95%

46,928,381,545.38

0.36

4.22

0.39

5.96%

0.45

28 Fidelity Bank Plc

1.39

1.36

2.21%

40,257,994,111.88

0.48

2.83

0.27

11.76%

0.21

29 U A C N Plc.

19.50

19.50

0.00%

37,456,855,546.50

2.70

7.22

0.51

5.13%

0.51

30 Presco Plc

35.70

35.70

0.00%

35,700,000,000.00

3.28

10.89

3.14

0.28%

1.59

1.78

1.66

7.23%

35,248,825,190.18

0.24

6.91

0.22

6.02%

0.20

18.00

18.00

0.00%

33,807,636,720.00

3.21

5.61

1.00

7.22%

3.27

0.83

0.84

-1.19%

32,016,806,847.23

0.06

13.92

0.71

0.00%

0.70

30.00

30.00

0.00%

28,617,300,000.00

2.76

10.88

2.94

0.33%

2.37

2.52

2.42

4.13%

26,460,000,000.00

0.16

15.29

1.53

2.07%

1.46

36.12

36.12

0.00%

25,284,000,000.00

2.49

14.53

3.58

3.18%

16.63

37 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

4.00

3.92

2.04%

23,527,456,780.00

0.71

5.49

0.77

3.57%

0.88

38 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc.

18.21

16.53

10.16%

21,776,910,846.48

0.81

20.48

0.65

1.81%

1.50

39 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc

8.02

7.92

1.26%

21,248,495,791.56

0.79

9.97

1.30

6.94%

2.96

40 Skye Bank Plc

1.13

1.12

0.89%

15,684,740,593.30

0.85

1.31

0.11

26.79%

0.11

41 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

1.92

1.83

4.92%

15,225,979,503.36

0.14

12.95

0.30

8.74%

0.68

42 Unity Bank Plc

1.16

1.12

3.57%

13,559,632,012.72

0.54

2.06

0.21

0.00%

0.15

43 Continental Reinsurance Plc

1.10

1.14

-3.51%

11,410,018,743.20

0.21

5.52

0.60

10.53%

0.76

44 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

7.45

8.00

-6.88%

9,362,249,356.70

0.96

8.37

0.77

1.25%

0.99

45 UACN Property Development Co. Limited

4.50

4.50

0.00%

7,734,374,977.50

1.81

2.49

0.69

15.56%

0.23

46 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc

4.25

4.22

0.71%

6,902,929,687.50

0.33

12.74

0.81

4.74%

1.12

47 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,691,369,126.00

0.10

5.16

0.94

6.00%

0.45

48 Resort Savings & Loans Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

5,664,866,202.00

4.68

0.11

0.02

0.00%

1.89

49 AIICO Insurance Plc

0.80

0.80

0.00%

5,544,163,584.00

0.28

2.89

0.17

6.25%

0.57

50 Fidson Healthcare Plc

1.94

1.90

2.11%

2,910,000,000.00

0.50

3.83

0.35

2.63%

0.45

04 Nestle Nigeria Plc

12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc

15 Unilever Nigeria Plc. 16 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc 17 Oando Plc 18 P Z Cussons Nigeria Plc

21 International Breweries Plc.

31 FCMB Group Plc 32 Cadbury Nigeria Plc 33 Wema Bank Plc. 34 Okomu Oil Palm Plc 35 Mansard Insurance Plc 36 Cap Plc

TOTAL TOTAL MARKET CAP % OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

9,667,075,579,362.45 10,347,382,929,877.10 93.43%

NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion) Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

O5pen Close Change % 21-June-16 22-June-16 29,422.71 10.11

30,127.82 10.35

2.40% 2.40%

121.05 9.43

124.16 9.67

2.56% 2.56%

O5pen Close Change % 21-June-16 22-June-16

Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc. Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc Sterling Bank Plc FCMB Group Plc Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

16.53

18.21

10.16%

1.61

1.77

9.94%

1.51 1.66 22.05

1.63 1.78 23.20

7.95% 7.23% 5.22%

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

O5pen Close Change % 21-June-16 22-June-16

Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc Lafarge Africa Plc. Continental Reinsurance Plc Diamond Bank Plc Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

8.00 77.90 1.14 2.27 6.99

7.45 73.51 1.10 2.23 6.89

-6.88% -5.64% -3.51% -1.76% -1.43%

Index crosses 30,000 marks amidst bargain hunting Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today – Wednesday, June 22, 2016 ended on a bullish note as the stock market closed green zone due to renewed optimism. This was further highlighted by positive performances from all NSE Sub sectors: Banking, Insurance, Consumer Goods and Oil & Gas. Furthermore, trading activities increased in volume as 541.87 million shares worth N7.93 billion in 5,727 deals exchanged hands today.

This is an increase from the 533.32 million shares worth N6.79 billion in 5,736 deals carried out on Tuesday. Topping in volume terms was Access Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc while Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Nigerian Breweries Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed positive with a 2.40% (+705.11) increase to close at 30,127.82 from 29,422.71 the previous trading day. Market Capitalization appreciated in tandem to N10.35 trillion from N10.11 trillion of prior trading day. Similarly, the Thisday BGL 50 Index followed suit with an greater growth of 2.56% to close at 124.16 from 121.05 recorded the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N9.67 trillion from N9.43 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 31 stocks gained on the bourse today while 10 stocks declined, 62 leaving stocks unchanged. Again, GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Nig. Plc emerged the toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 10.16% to close at N18.21 per share. It was followed

by Transcorp Plc with a gain of 9.94% to close at N1.77 per share. Others on the gainers list include: Sterling Bank Plc, FCMB Group Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc while on the decliners’ list; CCNN Plc led with a loss of 6.88% to close at N7.45 per share. It was followed by Lafarge Africa Plc with a loss of 5.64% to close at N1.83 per share. Others on the losers list include; Continental Reinsurance Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc.

REQUIRED DISCLOSURE This report has been prepared by BGL Plc. BGL Plc does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should use this report as one of many other factors in making their investment decisions.

For more details go to www.thisdaylive.com

46

T H I S D AY •THURSAY, JUNE 23, 2016

MARKET NEWS

Union Dicon Salt Takes Over $100m Alape Staple Crop Processing Zone Goddy Egene and Eromosele Abiodun The future looks rosy for shareholders of Union Dicon Salt Plc as the company has become the core investor in the $100 million Alape Staple Crop Processing Zone (SCPZ) in Kogi State. Union Dicon Salt replaces Cargill, a United States based agro-industrial giant.

Already the chief executives of

Union Dicon Salt have held a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh in Abuja.

According to statement from Union Dicon Salt, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had approved the take-over.Speaking after a meeting with Union Dicon Salt officials, Ogbeh said: “I am glad to see that a Nigerian company is taking over

this very important project, and is championing the indigenous development of agribusiness. We are not going to engage in policy somersault. We are carrying on with the great idea of SCPZ and we are adding even greater ideas.

We are carrying on as we now produce what we call the green alternative: that alternative being agriculture, since oil and gas are unstable sources of income.”

Chuka Mordi and Bex

Nwawudu of Union Dicon Salt Plc, who met with the minister, thanked him for his support in taking over the Alape project valued at $100 million. With this, Union Dicon will be cultivating Cassava on 30,000 hectares of land in Alape, Kogi State.

Speaking on the development, Mordi said: “It is a remarkable opportunity to develop the agribusiness space in Nigeria from a fully

indigenous perspective. Union Dicon is listed in the Nigerian Stock Exchange, and it is a wholly Nigerian company. We are grateful for the support given by the Minister, and the Agriculture Ministry, after careful consideration of our proposal.

Their detailed understanding and focus on new capital investment, import substitution and job creation really impressed us and allows Union Dicon Plc to

move forward confidently in a willing and positive partnership.”

Speaking in the same vein, Nwawudu said: “The outcome of the meeting would accelerate the progress on the Kogi State project in the next few months. We are ready to move very quickly to site.” We thank the minister for ensuring policy continuity as a priority and the need to ensure local content.”

DAILY STOCK MARKET REPORT T H E

N I G E R I A N

STO C K

E XC H A N G E

T H I S D AY THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016

47

48

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Adio: NEITI Has Recorded Significant Success in 12 Years FG needs political will to implement audit reports Ejiofor Alike The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr. Waziri Adio, has stated that the agency has recorded tremendous progress since it was established, stressing that the country requires a political will to implement the various audit reports and recommendations of the organisation.

Speaking yesterday when he visited the Corporate Head Office of THISDAY in Lagos, Adio argued that though the agency had not attained perfection, it had published audit reports to enable the Nigerian people ask questions on the management of their natural resources.

Adio noted that what the country requires is the political will to implement the reports, adding that nothing will be achieved when audit reports and recommendations are presented to a government that is not interested in making a change.

He revealed that having conducted six audits in the oil and gas sector and four in solid minerals sector, NEITI has given Nigerians empirical data to hold government to account and solicited the cooperation of the media and the civil-society to ensure that everybody understands the issues in the agency’s reports.

“If you flash back to 2004, there was nothing to work with - no data to work with.

You could only work with assumptions and companies because there was no empirical data done by an independent body that will tell you that this is the volume of oil lifted; this is the amount of money made; and this is money that was not remitted that should be remitted. So, a lot has happened in the last 12 years. At least, we have data to work with. We argue not on the basis that we got perfection but that at least, people can now ask questions using the reports by NEITI. People can use NEITI reports to ask questions. That is

number one. secondly is that if you have noticed, a number of things have also changed overtime. Maybe, they have not changed as we want them but I don’t want to believe that we are exactly where we were in 2004 in terms of evidence that the citizens can use. Yes, I will agree with you that maybe, we need to engage more with citizens; may be; we need to engage more with policy makers to bring about the change, he explained.

Adio further revealed that based on past recommendations of the NEITI reports, the money that could not be accounted for from the sale of oil resources has reduced to less than $500,000 from the excess of $300 million recorded in the first NEITI auditwhich he described it as a great improvement.

According to him, even gas flaring has reduced, while the level of cooperation the agency receives from the oil and gas companies has improved tremendously.

He identified the recent unbundling of the NNPC, the reform in the corporation, the removal of petrol subsidy and the introduction of Treasury Single Account (TSA) as some of the recommendations of NEITI in its previous reports.

“There are two ways you can change the world. One way is through a revolution – people go to the streets or somebody overthrows the present order and introduces a new order. The other way of changing the world is by increment – you make one progress, you build on it; you make another progress, you build on it. In the last 12 years, a lot have happened in terms of people being more aware of what is going on and not relying only on NNPC to tell you what is going on. secondly, from issues we have been talking overtime, there are certain things that are wrong in the way we manage our resources. Some of them are aggregating together to the extent that now, we are seeing some changes. Also

CAN Files Appeal, Stay of Execution on Hijab Ruling Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Osun State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday filed a stay of execution on the June 3 judgment of an Osogbo High Court allowing Muslim students in all public schools in the state to wear hijab.

This was disclosed in Osogbo by the state CAN Chairman, Rev. Elisha Ogundiya, during a solidarity visit to the state CAN headquarters by South-west leaders of association.

CAN representatives from Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo States stormed the state, expressing their support for

the state Christians on the issue of controversial hijab judgment delivered by Justice Saka Oyejide Falolo and their readiness to fight against any form of Islamisation agenda

by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

In his address, the Secretary of the South-west CAN who spoke on behalf of the association’s Zonal Chairman, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, Rev. Alfred Aro, warned that any attempt by Muslim students to wear hijab to schools after the appeal has been filed would mean that CAN too would ensure that all forms of garments are worn to schools in the state.

some money that would not have been recovered is being recovered. But has NEITI failed? The answer is no.

“If I push it back to you: the mission of THISDAY is democracy, free enterprise and social justice. THISDAY has been in existence since 1995. Have all those things been achieved? The answer is no. But does that mean that THISDAY has failed? Not so!

What I am trying to say is that the work of changing the society is always workin-progress. The only thing is that if you notice that you are not making progress- if you

are retrogressing, you should be worried. But what I am trying to say is that a lot of progress has been made,” Adio added.

Adio recalled that even in the last general elections, the issue of implementing NEITI reports was a campaign issue, adding that if there was no NEITI, nobody would have talked about NEITI reports.

He insisted that the country must have the political will to implement the reports, adding that the report will not be relevant when the government in power is not interested in change.

“We need to have the political will. If you have a government for example, NNPC divested 55 per cent of its assets to its upstream subsidiary – the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) but the assets were not properly valued.

They were valued at $1.8 billion and they paid only $100 million and the rest of the money was not paid and they were benefitting from it. So, if you raise such issue with a government that is interested in keeping it that way - if you have a government that

is not interested in change- in making things work, then you are just wasting your time writing reports. So, what we need to do is to get the buy-in of the government,” Adio said. He argued that the citizens should be on top of these issues and not regard them as NEITI issues because they border on the welfare of the people.

According to him, the agency is increasing the level of its engagement with the executive, legislature, media and civil society to sensitise everybody on the issues raised in the audit reports.

TOWARDS A BETTER HEALTHCARE

L-R: Executive Secretary, PMG-MAN, Dr. Obi Peter Adigwe; MD, Jawa Pharmaceuticals, Mr. V. Verghese; President, West African Pharma Manufacturers, Mr. OkeyAkpa; , Former President of Ghana, Mr. John Kufour; and Essential Medicines Officer, West African Health Organisation, Mrs. Sybil Ossei-Agyeman-Yeboah, during the 10th WAPMA conference in Accra, Ghana...recently

FG Suspends Sack of Resident Doctors, Negotiations Continue Urges striking health workers to return to work Paul Obi in Abuja The federal government yesterday suspended the sack of members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) pending the conclusion of the ongoing negotiations on the matter. This was part of the resolutions reached at the mediatory meeting initiated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, between the federal government delegation and leaders of NARD. The Minister of Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, was quoted to have suspended the sack as part of the decision taken at the mediatory meeting with NARD. According to Adewole, “We will do everything humanly possible to implement all the decisions arrived at in this meeting including the fact the circular sacking Resident doctors

be ignored by all the parties concerned.” At the meeting, it was reported that the “Ministry of Health was to come up with list of those entitle to skipping and the amount and when they will pay them in one week.

Forty two institutions that have not been implementing skipping should be asked to commence implementation immediately.

“Committee of Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) to meet in one week and implement skipping

by June and any CMD that is unable to pay should appear at the next meeting on July 14. The judgment of the Industrial Court must be executed.

“That by first week of July, guidelines on Residency Training will be made available.”

Part of the resolutions also include “entry point for House Officers should be from Commess 9 step 4. Or 1 step 1. It should be implemented immediately

by the CMD. They should also start implementing pensions immediately Resident Doctors Association to make available records of all those sacked unfaily to the ministry of Health. Minister of Health should issue circular to CMDs to review the issue of those sacked unfairly without recourse to the earlier circular detailing the template to be followed. Circular to be send out on June 22, 2016, by the minister to all health institutions and Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) running the Residency programme.”

The issue of FMC Owerri, Imo State, was also revisited, as NARD “appealed to minister to take a second look at it since doctors did not declare strike abinitio.”

The government also yesterday appealed to members of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) to return to work as there was no need to embark on the strike

given that negotiations were still ongoing.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, in a statement argued that the decision by JOHESU to strike did not followed all procedural channels before such could be taken.

He said: “The attention of the federal government has been drawn to the activities of JOHESU under the Federal Ministry of Health who has declared a seven-day warning strike effective today, June 22nd, 2016.

“The federal government wishes to state unambiguously that the so called warning strike is ill advised and in bad faith more so as the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has since waded into the matter and is in fact, in negotiation with the Ministry of Health and the affected Health unions.

THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 • T H I S D AY

49

NEWSEXTRA

Edo Govt: Okowa Recruiting Thugs to Destabilise Edo Polls Oshiomhole already jittery about election, says Delta gov

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Few days after the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State elected their standard bearers for the September 10 governorship election, the state government yesterday alleged that it had uncovered plans by the PDP and the Delta State Government to recruit thugs from the state to register as voters in communities sharing borders with Edo State during the continuous voters registration exercise.

The accusation which was contained in a statement signed by Kassim Afegbua, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, said though the government had

earlier taken the information with levity when it received it a few days ago, it however, had on good authority that indeed the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, was involved in the sinister move to send political thugs to the fringe villages between the two states to fraudulently register as eligible voters with the intention to use them to cause untold mayhem before and during the election, on September 10.

The statement said: “According to information at our disposal, 40 political thugs have been dispatched to each of these border villages with the sole aim of registering them as voters before engaging their services to perpetrate violence during the September 10 election.

Senate C’ttee Clears Jimoh Ibrahim of Alleged Diversion of Aviation Funds Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Joint Senate Committee on Aviation and Anti-corruption yesterday cleared the Chairman of NICON Group of Companies, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, of the allegation of diversion of N35 billion of the N500 billion aviation intervention fund released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the defunct Air Nigeria.

Appearing before the committee in the National Assembly yesterday, Ibrahim said his moribund airline, like others, never received a dime from the aviation fund. He said he took over Virgin Nigeria including an outstanding debt of $250 million which he said was offset through all assets from his groups of companies.

According to him, NICON group, to which Air Nigeria belonged, had approached United Bank for Africa (UBA) which was also Virgin Nigeria’s banker to secure a loan of N35.5 billion which the bank obtained from the Bank of Industry (BoI).

Ibrahim further explained that the airline secured another $40 million loan from the Afrexim Bank, which he said had been fully paid back, adding that he ran the airline for only two years before it was grounded by the regulatory agencies.

Ibrahim further disclosed that he bought the airline from UBA Capital, an arm of the UBA and sold back the airline to the agency with all its assets and liabilities.

He further explained that the defunct Virgin Nigeria was owned by two categories of people which he grouped into Category A and Category B. According to him, category A comprised the original owner, Richard Branson, whom he said had all the powers while category B consisted of a

group of Nigerian investors who owned 49 per cent of the shares.

He said Branson offered the shares to investors at $1 per one as he listed institutional investors in the company in Nigeria to include Wema Securities, adding that with the agreement of all, his group of companies bought the airline 100 per cent.

Ibrahim further explained that following a meeting held on the indebtedness of Virgin Nigeria prior to its acquisition, he sought a loan through its banker from UBA which the bank took from the intervention fund as he insisted that he never had access to the intervention fund neither did he apply to CBN, the custodian of the fund for it.

He described as unwarranted an allegation that he obtained N35 billion from BoI, saying it was not his business to bother where UBA obtained loan for his airline.

“If UBA borrowed from BoI, how does that concern Air Nigeria? Virgin Nigeria didn’t apply to BoI. It gave fund and UBA and UBA gave loans to Air Nigeria,” he said.

Responding, UBA reminded Ibrahim how Air Nigeria wrote an application for N41.5 billion loan in 2010, explaining that the bank was only able to secure N35.5 billion from BoI, whose repayment he said was extended for a period of 15 years with the intention to free the fund for the airline’s meaningful use.

The bank however, claimed that there was no cause for alarm as the N35 billion it secured from the intervention fund through BoI was not a bad loan because it is being serviced. But it was slammed by the committee which said its interest was not the loan being serviced but rather banks’ decision to rob the aviation sector of access to the fund.

“We wish to place the security agencies on notice of this untoward intention of the Delta State Government with their Edo PDP collaborators to cause a breach of security in Edo State.

“The fact that our people are generally known to be peaceloving should not be misconstrued as a sign of weakness, it is just to make the point that we believe wholesomely that democracy is a game of contestation of ideas and not one of contestation with guns and bullets.

“We have put our people on notice to keep an eagle eye on their environment and resist any infiltration or attempt to undermine the peace and security of the state”.

But in a swift reaction, Okowa dismissed the allegation by the Edo State Government, describing it as baseless and indicative of loss of confidence of the APCled government to woo voters based on the track records of its achievement.

In a statement issued by his

Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, Okowa stated that it was preposterous for the Edo State Government to expect that Deltans would leave their constituencies and embark on a wild goose chase of registering to vote in Edo State.

He noted that Edo State government had also betrayed its ignorance of the workings of the Permanent Voter’s Card which makes multiple registration impossible and asked the APC in the state to restrict itself to issues rather than resort to name- calling.

The governor also restated his support for the state gubernatorial candidate, Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu.

“Okowa is too refined to engage in such clandestine activities to the extent of decimating his own support base by encouraging his constituents to register in another state. What becomes the fate of Delta political stakeholders who would rely on the votes of those people in subsequent elections? he queried.

“This is laughable and is gradually becoming a character of the APC in Edo State to believe that it can scare opponents through smear campaign. Governor Okowa declared publicly that he would support the PDP candidate both morally and logistically to win the September 10, 2016 governorship election in Edo State and no amount of brow beating would stop him.”

The statement recalled Oshiomhole’s outburst, some weeks ago, against the South-south PDP governors for pledging their support for the PDP in Edo State and wondered when it became an offence to declare support for members of one’s party.

“Oshiomhole boasted that he could win election against Okowa in Delta State. Why is the Edo State APC getting fidgety for a mere declaration of support to the PDP candidate by Okowa.”

The Delta State governor called on the security agencies to intensify its surveillance on all the electoral processes to ensure

that those who cry the wolves where there is none do not find a chink to rig the polls.

Also, the PDP in Edo State has described the accusation as irresponsible, unsubstantiated and wild allegation against the gentle, peace loving and very educated Delta State governor, Okowa, regarding the continuous voter registration exercise that would begin.

In a statement signed by the party Publicity Secretary, Chris Nekhiare, noted that it is common knowledge in Edo State that APC as personified by Governor Adams Oshiomhole is the party of violence and thuggery.

According to him, “Even within their party, they use guns and all sort of weapons to settle political scores. Whenever Governor Adams is up to something sinister, he employs diversionary tactics. Edo people will not fall for his deceit and lies as they are prepared to vote his party out in the September election.

REWARD FOR HARD WORK

Mr. Joel Anthony being decorated with his new rank as an inspector by Ita Salong (second right), and Dr. Emeka Umeorji (left), in Umuahia...yesterday. With them is the Special Adviser to the Abia State Governor on Housing and Property Development, Mr. Michael Ibe Nwoke (right)

Troops Intercepts Families of Boko Haram Terrorists Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Nigerian military has intercepted families of the Boko Haram terrorists escaping the onslaught and clearance operations in Sambisa forest towards the northern part of Borno State This is coming as the troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), has launched Operation Gama Aiki, aimed at stopping the relocation of the terrorists towards the northern part of the state as well as flushing them out from the Lake Chad basin area bordering Chad and Niger Republic.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said that the troops of 81 Battalion and 251 Task

Force Battalion deployed at an Observation Post, had in the early hours of Wednesday, sighted a group of persons approaching its Check Point at Liwanti village along DamboaBulabulin road, Borno State.

On arrival, Usman said, they were received and treated humanely based on International Humanitarian Laws and Rules of Engagement.

He however, said that on preliminary investigation, it was discovered that the 69 of them were indeed family members of Boko Haram terrorists escaping from Sambisa.

“Out of that number, seven of them are men, 18 women, seven grown up boys and 37 children,” he stated.

“At the initial state of interrogation, they claimed to

have escaped from Boko Haram terrorists captivity at Ngwalimari village in Sambisa forest general area. But further interrogation revealed otherwise,” he noted.

Usman said that the troops recovered 15 bicycles, five Dane Guns and other personal effects from them.

He also said that further and thorough investigation is ongoing to ascertain other information from them.

In a related development, the Chief Military Public Information Officer, MNJTF, Col. Muhammad Dole, has stated the “firepower of Operation Lafiya Dole/Crackdown, has caused massive movement of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) escaping from Sambisa Forest towards Northern Borno state border with Niger Republic and

Lake Chad Islands”.

According to Dole, the MNJTF in a concerted effort to keep up with its mandate, launched Operation Gama Aiki to clear all remnants of BHT in its general Area of Responsibility (AOR).

He stressed that the operation is aimed at ensuring that the terrorists are prevented from establishing another sanctuaries and hideouts in the Lake Chad region.

He revealed that Operation Gama Aiki involved the MNJTF troops and National Air and ground forces from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroun and Niger Republics.

He said: “Since the launch of the Op GAMA AIKI, appreciable operational successes are being recorded in the frontlines.

50

THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 • T H I S D AY

CRIME&PUNISHMENT

In Brief 33 Kidnappers Arrested Gunmen Kill One, Kidnap Foreigners, Two Inside Mosque in Kogi Three Others in Cross River Two victims paid N1.5m ransom

Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja A crack team of police detectives from Abuja has arrested 33 kidnappers in a mosque at OdoApe along Obajana-Kabba road in Kogi State, while holding a meeting for their next operation.

THISDAY gathered that the kidnappers drawn from all the axis of Obajana road were exposed by ‘one of them’ who happens to be a police detective planted in the group.

According to a source, the police detective was the one who allegedly summoned an emergency meeting of all the kidnappers on the highway to discuss how to tackle the issue of Police breathing down their necks.

The meeting was to hold

immediately after prayers on Friday. However, the crack team from Abuja was called in during prayers after two of the three doors of the mosque had been shut.

All suspected kidnappers were identified and handcuffed and taken to Abuja. Even the ones who shot and killed people during their operations were also identified by the undercover police officer.

The Special Adviser on Security to Kogi State Governor, Commodore Jerry Omodara (rtd), who confirmed the arrest to journalists yesterday said all the 33 suspects were taken to Abuja for further interrogation, stressing that the state government was committed to the crack down of crime in the state.

He mentioned that the effort of the Police crack detective team from Abuja was yielding good result, pointing out that the state government will do every thing possible to protect lives and property in the state.

Meanwhile, Mr. John Orenibi and Mr. Salman Idris that were kidnapped along Lokoja- Okene road last week Saturday have been released by the kidnappers after paying N1.5 million as ransom.

Orenibi, while speaking with THISDAY yesterday, said he and three other persons namely Salman Idris, Mr. Kolade Fagbemi and Mr. Idowu Omole were on their way from Abuja to Ogidi to attend the Ogidi Day last Saturday when they came across some six masked men heavily armed with dangerous weapons before Mark

Farms.

He noted that the suspected kidnappers had already robbed passengers in a Siena bus parked by the road side, adding that immediately they saw them coming in a Hilux van the kidnappers flagged them down.

According to Orenibi, the incident took place some few kilometres from a police check point, noting that the kidnappers shot Idowu Omole on his hand and head but survived, while Kolade Fagbemi ran into the bush and then escaped.

He said the kidnappers then marched him and Mr. Salman Idris into the bush and they were made to trek for four hours before they got to their hide out closer to Fulani settlement.

PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE

Catholic Bishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan (right), presenting an award to Sheikh Ahmed Lemu for his contributions to peace in Nigeria, at the fifth UFUK Dialogue and Peace Awards ceremony in Abuja...recently

Court Bars Journalists, Parents as Ese Oruru Begins Evidence in Private Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa Journalists as well as the parents of Ese, Rose and Charles Oruru, were yesterday barred from the court room as the Justice Njiya Ngajiwa-led Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, began taking evidence from the minor in private.

Justice Ngajiwa had earlier yesterday morning “stood down’’ the case for about four hours to allow him dispose of all other matters for the day before acceding to the prosecution’s plea for the teenager’s evidence to be extracted in camera.

At the time of filing this report, Ese who was brought to the court and was heavily shielded from journalists, was still being grilled by lawyers to Yinusa Dahiru, his alleged abductor, who reportedly impregnated her.

Only lawyers representing Dahiru, who is facing a five-

count charge in case No FHC/ YNG/17c/2016, between the Inspector General of Police (IG) versus Yinusa Dahiru and the legal team representing the federal government were allowed inside the chambers.

Dahiru, a Kano indigene is being accused of abduction, inducing Miss Oruru, aged 14, by the use of deception and coercion, illicit intercourse, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge.

While the IG was represented

by Mr. Kenneth Dika, Deme Pamosoo and Joy Wokpe of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, a nongovernmental organisation, stood in for Miss Ese. The defendant, Dahiru, also known as yellow, was represented

by Mr. Kayode Olaosebikan, Abdul Mohammed and Oyebiyi Towo.

Before the private session,

Dahiru, who was jokingly asked how he was feeling after he heard that Ese had given birth, insisted that Ese was his wife. “I don’t want to talk, but she’s my wife,’’ he told journalists, before he was kept shut by the prison officials who accompanied him to the court.

Parents of the alleged victim, Charles and rose, who were obviously agitated that they were not allowed into the chambers, waited outside the court premises, while their daughter’s evidence was being taken.

Ese recently gave birth to a baby girl and is still in the protective custody of the Bayelsa State Police Command, which has taken responsibility for her upkeep in collaboration with the state government.

But a source who was privy to the goings-on during the private session told THISDAY that Ese was asked questions relating to

her alleged abduction and journey to Kano.

“She told the court that she didn’t know how she got to Kano.

That she only woke up to find herself in Kano,’’ the source said.

It was also learnt that the judge acceded to the request of the defence team to vary the conditions for Dahiru’s bail.

The defendant had been in prison custody over his inability to meet the bail conditions of a level 12 civil servant, a traditional ruler from Bayelsa axis and a surety of N3million.

While the judge reduced the conditions to a level nine civil servant, he also reportedly granted the prayer of the defendant to allow a Hausa traditional ruler from any community to stand surety.

Justice Nganjiwa eventually adjourned the case to July 1 for further hearing.

Three foreign nationals were kidnapped at about 7a.m. yesterday while they were being conveyed to work at the United Cement Company Limited (UNICEM) factory in Mfamosing, Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State. Apart from the foreign nationals, two other workers said to be Nigerians were also kidnapped. However, it is strongly suspected that another foreign national, a white man, escaped the kidnappers drag-net during the incident.

However, the driver of the bus that was conveying the foreign nationals; all white skinned persons, and other staff of Unicem, an arm of Lafarge Group, was shot and killed during the incident. The identity of the driver, believed to be a Nigeria could not be established by THISDAY as at press time. The incident occurred at Akansoko community in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, near Calabar after the kidnappers waylaid the bus carrying them to the Unicem factory. A staff of the company who pleaded not to be mentioned gave an account of his experience about the attack by the gunmen. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, who commented on the incident said three foreign nationals believed to be expatriates and two Nigerians were kidnapped. Ozi-Obeh said the police have stepped into the matter and were on the trail of the kidnappers.

EFCC Arraigns Judge, One Other for Obtaining N58.5m under False Pretence The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Gombe State Zone has arraigned Hon. Suleiman Elkana, an Area Court judge in Adamawa State and another person before Justice Balkisu Aliyu of Federal High Court, Yola, Adamawa State on three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining the sum of N58,550,555 by false pretence. The person arraigned with Sulaiman Elkana, the Chairman of Justice Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Limited Adamawa State, is Solomon Philip the Secretary of the co-operative. The complainant, Israel C. Nwagbo of Coscharis Motors, had alleged that he entered into contract with the Justice Multi-purpose Co-operative Society for the supply of 1,846 units of TVC motorcycles for its members with the payment to be made from monthly deductions from the members but the accused persons diverted the said amount for their personal use. The count two of the charge read that, Elkana, Solomon Maken and Amina Musa now deceased, sometime in September 2010 in Yola, Adamawa State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did obtain by false pretense 446 units of TVC motorcycles valued at N57,980,000.00 from Coscharis Motors under the false pretence that the said TVC motorcycles would be disbursed to members of the co-operative society, which you knew to be false, thereby, committing an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 1 (1) ( a) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 respectively. The two accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charges was read to them.

Abducted Priest Found Dead Near Council Secretariat

The abducted Catholic Priest and Vicar General of Otukpo Diocese, Rev. Fr. John Adenyi, has been found dead by the police in a bush few kilometres away from the Ogbadigbo Local Government Area Secretariat in Otukpa. The Vicar General was abducted on April 24 by unknown persons along Otukpo-Enugu road while returning to Otukpo, his base, after a church service in Otukpa area of Ogbadibo Local Government Area. The state Governor, Samuel Ortom, disclosed this during the town-hall meeting he held with Igede people yesterday at the College of Education Oju, auditorium as part of his ongoing stakeholders’ meeting.

Ortom said the cleric’s skeleton was discovered last Tuesday in Otukpa, three kilometres away from the road, adding that he had directed the police and medical personnel to collect the skeleton for post-mortem. Paying respect to the dead priest, the governor asked the people to observe one minute silence for the repose of the soul of Adeyi, as he vowed that the abductors and killers of the Reverend must be brought to book. The families of the Catholic priest had paid the N2million ransom agreed by the suspected kidnappers three days after he was kidnapped only for the suspects to switch off contacts. The state governor had announced N5million reward for information about the discovery of the priest.

THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 • T H I S D AY

51

NEWSEXTRA

PDP Dismisses Sheriff’s Threat as Mere Distraction Adopts Ize-Iyamu as candidate Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as unnecessary distraction the threat by the ousted National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, to organise a rival governorship primaries for Edo State.

Sheriff and his loyalists had declared last Monday’s Edo State governorship primaries as illegal and a contraption of

an illegal care-taker committee, urging members nationwide, especially in Edo State, to disregard it.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) signed by Sheriff and the former PDP National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, they urged the commission not to give legitimacy to what happened in the state, saying the party would conduct a proper primary in the state.

Magu Assures Cameroun of Support in Asset Recovery Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has expressed the readiness of the commission to assist the Government of Cameroun in the area of asset tracking and recovery.

Magu gave this assurance yesterday when he received a five-man delegation from Cameroun in his office in Abuja.

“The commission will be willing to exchange ideas and experiences with your country in necessary areas as you may desire. I wish to also thank you for your interest in the activities of the commission,’’ he said.

Earlier, the leader of the Camerounian delegation, Mr.

Aseh Joseph Malegho, stated that the success story of the commission had travelled far and wide through different media.

Malegho said: “Your actions are laudable. We commend you and the President of Nigeria, Mohammadu Buhari, for your efforts in ridding Nigeria of corruption. ‘‘Your anti-graft war has endeared you to us; that is why we have come to identify with your commission.’’

He also appealed to the EFCC boss to share his experience in the areas of asset tracing, freezing and recovery as well as how the recovered assets were being ploughed back into the country’s economy.

However, the Secretary of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ben Obi, has said the PDP governorship primaries in the state have met all the requirements needed for the exercise, including having a representation by INEC. Obi, who spoke to THISDAY through telephone in response to the latest challenge posed by Sheriff and his group, said PDP members and Nigerians across the country who watched the primary election beamed live on television can all attest to the transparent nature of the process.

Regarding the issue of legitimacy, Obi said the PDP caretaker committee presently enjoys the support and loyalty of all the organs of the party, including all the state chapters of the party, adding that there no way Sheriff could carry out his threat and conduct congresses and primary election in Edo State without dealing with the state branch of the party which incidentally took part in the

conduct of the governorship primary.

“I think you all saw how peaceful our governorship primaries in the state were and how the INEC officials were handed over the results. You also saw the INEC staff clearly displaying the results.

“I want you to know that the leadership of the PDP is not distracted by the mucky water of politics; we have decided to remain focused being a political party with a lot of experience.

Not when all the organs of the party are working with you and then you want to succumb to unnecessary distraction.

“Let Sheriff go and conduct his own congresses and primaries, at least to do that, he must deal with the leadership of the party in the state. You must also produce your own candidate. The state has a party structure that is not factionalised.

He knows these facts, so the issue he is raising is quite elementary.

“As far as I am concerned, what Sheriff and his co-travellers are doing is nothing but a mere distraction that should be ignored,” he said.

Meanwhile, PDP yesterday issued a statement congratulating its gubernatorial standard-bearer for the forthcoming Edo State governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, describing the primary election as free, fair and credible.

In a statement signed by a member of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Prince DayoAdeyeye, the party described the exercise as “victory for those who cherish freedom of choice depicting the democratic culture of the PDP. “It is indeed a triumph of a popular candidate and victory for democracy.”

PDP further stated that: “The outcome of the election in the state which is one of the best elections so far in Nigeria, has proved to the opposition in the state that the PDP

is united house built on the principle of delivering power to the people and the sustenance of our democracy at all levels irrespective of our various differences.

“The leadership of the party under the chairmanship of Senator Ahmed Makarfi has commended the Electoral Committee led by Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, and all the leaders and members of the party in Edo State, especially, the delegates and other aspirants who participated in the poll and assured them of the support of the national leadership to bring positive change to the people of the state through the forthcoming election.”

Finally, the PDP has charged its members in Edo State to close ranks and put behind them any diversionary politics relating to the primaries and work together for the overall success of the party on September 10, 2016, governorship election.

Witness: Aircraft Not the Cause of Synagogue Building Collapse Akinwale Akintunde A former Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, yesterday told an ikeja High Court that available evidence showed that the aircrafts which flew over the six-storey guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) did not caused its collapsed as claimed by the church.

Ayinde, said this at the continuation of the ongoing trial of Trustees of SCOAN and the two engineers involved in the construction of the collapsed guesthouse, which led to the death of 116 persons, mostly South Africans on September 12, 2014.

The SCOAN Trustees, the two engineers, Messrs Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun and their companies, Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company and Jandy Trust Limited were last month arraigned before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo on 111-count charge for their involvement in the collapsed building.

The 111-count charge preferred against the defendants by the Lagos State Government borders on criminal negligence, manslaughter and failure to

obtain building permit.

Ayinde, the second prosecution witness while being led in evidence by Mrs. Idowu Alakija, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) said during his visit to the collapsed site with with Governor Fashola alongside two General Managers of the agencies under his Ministry, the General Overseer of the church gave them a CCTV recording of an aircraft hovering over the building shortly before it’s collapse.

“My office wrote to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) seeking advice on the CCTV recording we received.

“We got the flight corridor and coordinates as well as a report from the NCAA which showed that the distance between the aircraft and the top of the building is between 137 and 288 meters.

“We found that the aircraft were not flying directly over the building”, Ayinde said.

According to the former commissioner, the least distance from the top of the building to the nearest aircraft was 137 meters which is the equivalent of four Nitel buildings placed on top of each other.

The witness also explained that evidence was collected from the site during his visit with Fashola.

PENSION MATTERS

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Civil Service Pensions Office, Mrs. O. A. Balogun(left), presenting the nominal roll of the state pensioners with federal share to the Pension Transactional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) team in Lagos...yesterday

Ihejirika Debunks Reported Arrest by DSS Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Azubuike Ihejirika, (rtd.), has debunked his purported arrest by the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

THISDAY authoritatively confirmed that Ihejirika was not apprehended nor invited by the DSS as was reported in some online medium.

A very reliable source close to the former army chief denied the report saying that Ihejirika was in the country and at home “relaxing”.

An online medium had claimed that the former COAS was arrested late last night at

hi residence in Maitama, Abuja, in connection with the arms purchase scandal for which several former military and political chiefs are currently undergoing investigation or trial, among them the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

This was however debunked as a complete hoax by a confidant of the former army chief who expressed shock at the report.

“I am really amazed at the length people are determined to go to tarnish the image of the former army chief. As I am speaking to you, the chief who just returned from his village is in his house.

“What I don’t understand is how and why they orchestrated these

fables and for what purpose.

I think the intention of these people is to draw the attention of the federal government to the fact that Ihejirika has not been arrested,” the source said.

According to the source, “What people don’t know is that this government would not have wasted time in arresting Ihejirika from the word go if he was guilty all this while.”

Another source who also spoke to THISDAY on the development debunked the allegations peddled against Ihejirika.

The very senior military officer, noted that this is the umpteenth time, propaganda and falsehood are being peddled against Ihejirika without any iota of truth.

The officer noted that if left for

the way some media and forces feeding them the false information, the former COAS would have been dead by now.

“Remember that this is not the first of such numerous false arrests, if not EFCC today, it’s arms procurement tomorrow, the army the next and now DSS. You should also remember the frivolous allegation by the Australian Steve Davies,” the source noted.

According to the source, what people against Ihejirika could not come to bear “is how come some of the other service chiefs has been indicted and yet he is free. It baffles them to say the least and they are not relenting..”.

52

thurSDAY, june 23, 2016 • T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS Dalung Reveals State Burial Plans for Keshi

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Duro Ikhazuagbe At last, late former Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, is to be given a state burial befitting an icon who brought many laurels to Nigeria.

The late ex-international who died on June 8 after winning Africa’s highest football honour twice as both player and coach, is being proposed for burial in his ancestral home of Illah, in Delta State, in the weekend of July 27- 29.

In a tentative burial plan, a night of tributes is to hold in Abuja while lying-in-state, church service and novelty football match in Benin City are to precede the final interment in Illah, his home town.

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, gave the hint when the children of the late coach called to officially inform and thank the federal government for the support given to the family since Keshi’s demise.

Already, the minister is proposing a 20-man national committee for a state burial that will comprise family members, the Nigeria Football Federation, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, stakeholders including coaches, administrators, ex footballers, the media and representatives of Delta and Edo states.

Military and para-military bodies including the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and football supporters club are not going to be left out of the planning.

Dalung commiserated with the children who lost both parents within six months and urged them to be strong in the Lord.

“Coach Stephen Keshi will be remembered for his uncommon charisma, unrivaled leadership qualities and ability to command respect from players, peers and football enthusiasts.

He was a national hero and would be given a befitting burial.

In fact, Keshi belonged to the government and he will be buried by the federal government.

“This committee will ensure a hitch-free burial and liaise between the government and the family to ensure that the best funeral is given to our hero,” revealed the minister in his comforting words to Keshi’s children.

Dalung also revealed that a memo which will suggest ways of immortalising both Keshi and Coach Amodu Shaibu is to be presented at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.

Meanwhile, Keshi’s children have praised the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Nigeria Football Federation, the governments of Edo and Delta states, and the global football community, since the demise of the legend.

A letter signed by Jennifer Keshi and addressed to the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, read: “The children of the late Stephen Keshi, Jennifer, Stephanie, Sophie, Stephen Olufemi Keshi and Stephen Keshi Jr, would like at this time to express our thanks and appreciation to the people of Nigeria, Africa, the Football community all over the world,

NBBF Petitions FIBA over Visa Denial by Spanish Embassy The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has formally written basketball’s world governing body, FIBA, asking it to investigate the sad and embarrassing denial of visas to the national Under-17 Women’s Basketball team for the FIBA U-17 Championship in Spain.

The federation had to take this step because the Spanish Consul in Lagos did not only deny Nigeria its hard earned opportunity to play in the FIBA Women’s Under-17 Championship and caused the country a huge embarrassment, but also caused the players and staff of the NBBF serious emotional stress.

According to NBBF Board Member and Head of Media Unit, Patrick Omorodion, “the federation is pained because it took serious steps in filing the visa application which included writing all Nigerian authorities like the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons(NAPTIP).

“While the Customs and

Immigration acknowledged the NBBF letter and pledged their support in seeing the smooth passage of the team to the championship, NAPTIP never replied,” observed the NBBF spokesman.

He insisted that “every document for the visa application requested from the NBBF concerning the team, including affidavits of consent sworn to by the players’ parents for them to represent the country were all endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and presented to the Spanish Embassy in Lagos and despite all these, the applications were turned down without any reason till now.”

The NBBF, apart from requesting FIBA to investigate this matter to unravel the reason for the visa denial, is also seeking legal advice on possibly filing for compensation against the Spanish Consul for causing Nigeria local and international embarrassment as well as causing the NBBF, players and the team officials emotional and financial losses.

most especially the Nigeria Football Federation, Edo and Delta state governments, our relative, friends and well-wishers who have surrounded us with their love and care in this period of bereavement.

Mikel

“We are deeply touched by the numerous calls, visits, prayers, words of encouragement and the show of willingness to be a part of the burial arrangements. Your acts of kindness and generosity have made our burden bearable.

Ighalo

Thank you from the depths of our hearts.

“Our late dad was not only a wonderful husband to a wonderful wife, he was a soccer icon. Our mother who passed on to glory few months ago,

together they were the most precious people we ever had.

Their parenting and love for us knew no bound. They protected us and shielded us and prepared us for life,” recalled the children in the letter to the NFF.

Akpeyi

Rio 2016: Siasia Picks Ighalo, Mikel, Akpeyi as Overage Players Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Nigeria’s Dream Team VI Coach, Samson Siasia, has finally penned down Odion Ighalo, John Mikel Obi and goal keeper Daniel Akpeyi as the three overage players for the football event at the Olympic Games that hold in Rio, in August.

THISDAY checks at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) revealed last night that Siasia settled for the players because of established history of long ties among other pressing exigencies.

Godfrey Oboabona, who was also one of Siasia ‘s prime targets for the overage picks, ultimately did not make the final cut because

his Turkish club, Çaykur Rizespor insisted he would not be released for the Olympic football event.

In addition, THISDAY also learnt that Siasia’s failure to land Oboabona, has prompted the coach to approach Kenneth Omeruo, who also plays in Turkey for Kasımpaa, as one of the players to battle for the final team list.

The central defender is expected to provide some steel for the Nigerian rear guard at Rio where they will confront Colombia, Japan and Sweden in the group stage.

Omeruo, whose appearances for the senior team have bogged by injuries, is eligible to make the team as he still within the Under-23 age limit.

The Dream Team VI will camp in USA from where they will travel to Mexico City for a friendly match with the Mexico Under-23 team on July 2. They will later play two additional warm up matches, first against the US team in Atlanta on July 16, and later against Honduras on July 27.

Though Siasia plans to travel with 21 foreign-based and six home-based players on the tour, it was gathered he is yet to get firm guarantee from the two out-field over age players that they will be part of the US training camp.

Doubts surround the availability of Ighalo, who plays for Watford as the camping period will clash

with the resumption of the English Premier League pre-season ahead of the start of the campaign in August after a long end of the season holiday.

The Mikel situation is also dicey as he may consider skipping the US camp altogether in order to convince new Chelsea coach Antonio Conte that he is still a key player that the Italian can count on at Stamford Bridge.

NFF sources revealed last night that though Mikel has been cleared by Chelsea’s Technical Director Mike Emenalo to join the Nigerian Olympic team, he is still waiting for the final word from Conte before departing to America.

NPFL: LMC Fines MFM FC N2m for FansViolence Ordered to play three home games behind closed doors MFM FC of Lagos has been fined N2million and ordered to play three games behind closed doors following the crowd incidence that occurred during their Match Day 23 fixture against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) at the Agege Stadium last Sunday.

The club was also ordered to identify and report the supporters who committed the act to relevant security agencies for prosecution within seven days failure of which it stands to be fined N25, 000 for each day until the culprits are apprehended and charged to court.

The League Management Company (LMC) also in a separate letter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Referees Appointment Committee of the NFF requested that Referee Alaba Abiodun from Ogun State be withdrawn from further officiating of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matches pending investigations into his handling of the match.

These are the decisions reached by the LMC after reviewing evidence from the Match Commissioner and Referee’s

report and video and photo materials.

Following the findings, the LMC issued a Summary Jurisdiction notice which charged MFM for breach of Rules B13.18 and C1.

The notice signed by the LMC Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar read, “You are in breach of Rule B13.18 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League, in that on Sunday, 19th June 2016, during your Match Day 23 fixture: MFM FC vs. Shooting Stars FC, your

supporters threw objects towards and encroached on to the field of play.

For breach of Rule B13.18, the club was fined N1, 000, 000 for the throwing of objects and encroachment on the field of play and for breach of Rule C1, another fine of N1, 000, 000 for acts capable of bringing the game to disrepute.

MFM however has 48 hours to accept the decisions or elect to be dealt with by a Commission and must communicate in writing, its acceptance or decision to appear before a Commission.

53

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

England to Face Iceland

THURSDAYSPORTS

Croatia awaits Portugal Having failed to hit top form in Group B, England will take on one of the neutrals’ favourites, Iceland whose last-minute winner secured runners-up spot in Group F for a last 16 match on Saturday.

Roy Hodgson’s men were unable to secure top spot in Group B thanks to draws with Russia and Slovakia and looked all set to be punished with a tie against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the knockout stages.

But a late winner for Iceland against Austria on Wednesday lifted the tiny nation to second in Group F and lined up a game against the Three Lions, having drawn their first two matches against Portugal and Hungary.

The tie will take place in Nice on June 27 and will see the winner progress to a quarterfinal match in Saint-Denis on July 3 - with hosts France one of the potential opponents.

In another development a Clasico clash between Ivan Rakitic and Cristiano Ronaldo is just one of the attractions of the second-round match, as the Seleccao scraped through with a thrilling draw Portugal were forced to save their campaign no less than three

times against Hungary, before Ronaldo’s double finally assured the draw necessary to progress.

A defeat would have meant early elimination for the Seleccao but a 3-3 draw sees them qualify as one of the bestplaced teams in third.

Opposite them in Lens on June 25 will be dangerous Croatia, who gave a warning of their talent with a 2-1 win against Spain. It was the first time since 2004 that La Furia Roja had tasted defeat at a European Championship, with Nikola Kalinic and Ivan Perisic overturning Alvaro Morata’s opener.

The game also promises a clash of Clasico rivals for Ivan Rakitic and Ronaldo, respectively of Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The winner will advance into a quarter-final game in Marseille on June 30 against either Switzerland or Poland.

Group A Team France Switzerland Albania Romania

P 3 3 3 3

W 2 1 1 0

D 1 2 0 1

L 0 0 2 2

GF 4 2 1 2

GA 1 1 3 4

GD 3 1 -2 -2

Pts 7 5 3 1

Group B Team Wales England Slovakia Russia

P 3 3 3 3

W 2 1 1 0

D 0 2 1 1

L 1 0 1 2

GF 6 3 3 2

GA 3 2 3 6

GD 3 1 0 -4

Pts 6 5 4 1

Group C Team Germany Poland N’Ireland Ukraine

P 3 3 3 3

W 2 2 1 0

D 1 1 0 0

L 0 0 2 3

GF 3 2 2 0

GA 0 0 2 5

GD 3 2 0 -5

Pts 7 7 3 0

Group D Team Croatia Spain Turkey Czech

P 3 3 3 3

W 2 2 1 0

D 1 0 0 1

L 0 1 2 2

GF 5 5 2 2

GA 3 2 4 5

GD 2 3 -2 -3

Pts 7 6 3 1

Group E Team Italy Belgium R’Ireland Sweden

P 3 3 3 3

W 2 2 1 0

D 0 0 1 1

L 1 1 1 2

GF 3 4 2 1

GA 1 2 4 3

GD 2 2 -2 -2

Pts 6 6 4 1

Group F Team Hungary Iceland Portugal Austria

P 3 3 3 3

W 1 1 0 0

D 2 2 3 1

L 0 0 0 2

GF 6 4 4 1

GA 4 3 4 4

GD 2 1 0 -3

Pts 5 5 3 1

SECOND ROUND FIXTURES Saturday, 25 June 2016 Switzerland Vs Poland Wales Vs N’Ireland Croatia Vs Portugal Sunday, 26 June 2016 France Vs R’Ireland Germany Vs Slovakia Hungary Vs Belgium Monday, 27 June 2016 Italy Vs Spain England Vs Iceland

Cristiano Ronaldo (third left) and teammates celebrating Portugal’s qualification for the last-16 round of the Euro2016… yesterday

FIFA Alter World Cup Africa Seeding FIFA has altered the seeding for the 2018 World Cup Africa group draw in Cairo on Friday with Egypt, Guinea and Cameroun promoted and Tunisia, Nigeria and Mali demoted.

Egypt is now among the top seeds and Guinea and Cameroun are second seeds ahead of a draw that will split 20 nations into five groups with the winners qualifying for the finals in Russia.

Tunisia drop from first to second seeds and Nigeria and Mali from second to third seeds for the most eagerly anticipated off-field event in African football this year.

FIFA has not explained why they changed the seedings.

Algeria, Cameroun, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria are seeking third consecutive World Cup appearances.

Group qualifying starts this October, continues in November and there will be four rounds between August

DSTV Final 8:

Customs, Gombe Bulls Record Wins Nigeria Customs and Gombe Bulls yesterday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, recorded win in the ongoing DSTV Final 8 basketball.

In the first game, Nigeria Customs got the better of Niger Potters 57-51 in a keenly contested game, in spite of the Potters leading the first quarter.

In the second encounter, Gombe Bulls never hide their intention as they took the lead from the first to the fourth quarter to outscore Oluyole Warriors, 73-61.

Hostilities continue tomorrow at the same venue.

and November 2017.

Eighteen of the nations in the draw are among the top 20 in the rankings with Gabon and Libya the exceptions.

SEEDING Pot 1: Algeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal, Egypt Pot 2: Tunisia, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Cameroun

Pot 3: Congo Brazzaville, Nigeria, Morocco, Mali, South Africa Pot 4: Uganda, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Gabon, Libya.

54

THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2016

55

Thursday, June 23, 2016

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Mutah Nkeki to Federal Government

“As a member of BBOG, standing here for over two years and also as an indigene of Chibok, I am disappointed in the government of Nigeria. We celebrated the coming of the government. We thought the government will wipe our tears. We were happy with the way the president spoke when he addressed the nation as he came into power but now our hope is dashed”--Nkeki on the 800th day of the Chibok Girls abduction

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

The ‘Testimony’ of Brother Cyprian “Come and join me in singing Halleluyah, Jehovah Jireh has done me well…come and join me in singing Halleluyah, Jehovah Jireh has done me well…” ith members of his family and well wishers in tow, the congregation in a frenzy and the choir bleating out the song he had specifically requested, there was no doubt that Brother Cyprian was a very happy man as he jumped up and down while dancing to the altar. Of course, many people in the Church, who had been given a sneak preview of the “testimony” that led to the thanksgiving, had also concluded the “miracle” could only have come from God. Given the microphone to speak for two minutes, Brother Cyprian shouted: “Praiseeeeeeeeeee the Looooooooooooord!”

“Halleluyah!” the congregation chorused again and again as Brother Cyprian repeated the chant. And then, he spoke: “I don’t know how many of you have ever come face-to-face with death before but I prophesy to the life of everyone in this church that just as it happened in my case, whoever wants to take your life will replace you.”

There was a thunderous shout of “Amen!” from the congregation before Brother Cyprian continued: “To cut a long story short; last week in Kaduna, in the course of my work, I wrestled with a man who was holding a gun in his hands and was more powerful than me. But as we fought, the gun exploded with a loud bang and the man who was fighting me took the bullet and died. Can there be anything more miraculous than that?”

“No!”, shouted the congregation as the choir belted another song which Brother Cyprian had also requested ahead of his testimony: “We are serving a God of miracle, I know, yes, I know; we are serving a God of miracle, I know, yes, I know…” ================================= If Emeka Okeke Cyprian who led the gang that killed Col. Samaila Inusa, the late Chief Instructor at the Nigeria Army School of Infantry in Jaji, Kaduna State, had not been caught, that is the kind of “testimony” he probably would have given, considering the way he has been telling his stories. But fortunately, he is now in detention awaiting trial for murder along with four other accomplices.

Apparently because they feel proud about the investigation that led to the arrest of the suspects, the Police authorities have allowed journalists free access to the detained members of the gang (Chijioke Ugwuanyi, Abdulahi Adamu, Ibrahim Kabiru, Ebere Precious and Emeka Okeke Cyprian) that allegedly abducted and later killed Col. Inusa in Kaduna. And in all his interviews, Cyprian, who admitted to personally shooting the Colonel, never forgot to mention God, in a narrative that portrays him almost as a victim who survived by some divine intervention.

So “generous” in spirit was Cyprian that he even admitted lecturing the man he was

W

Aregbesola dispossessing of his property that he (the late Colonel) was too big to agonise over a car since he could always buy another one if he stayed alive. But things did not exactly go the way Cyprian planned it. “I told the man to lie down in the bush. He asked for water, but when I was about to give him the water, he dived at my gun and tried to remove the magazine. I was shocked. He gave me a head butt and beat me so much. But I held tightly to the rifle and we struggled on the floor. I don’t know what he touched but the trigger could not fire. If not for God, the man would have killed me. Luckily for me, the trigger fired and I shot the man. I didn’t know that the man was an army officer at the time. He was very strong,” said Cyprian.

From that account, it is easy to see the way Nigerians have so made God in their own image that they would use His name to justify and rationalize anything, including the most heinous of crimes. And because of that, it is also easy to understand the rot within our society in virtually all sectors. But before I come to the real essence of my intervention, it is noteworthy that the confession of the suspects has helped to dispel two theories.

First, it is now clear that those who jumped to the dangerous conclusion that the Colonel was killed by the Shiites in “retaliation” for what the military did to their leader and members last December in Zaria were way off the mark. Second, the account of Cyprian shows clearly that our military officers are very courageous, contrary to the image painted of them as a result of the mismanagement of the Boko Haram insurgency.

It is even all the more remarkable that the revelation came at a period another Colonel in the Nigerian Army, Charles Nengite, beat 380 other postgraduate students to the top position at the United States War College (USAWC), Carlisle, Pennsylvania--a performance adjudged the best by any foreigner in the last 38 years.

In his own case, the late Colonel Inusa did not struggle with the criminals before he was led away apparently to protect his wife who was allowed to disembark from

the vehicle. But once on neutral ground, he fought and his death looked somehow accidental because he did not know there was still a bullet left inside the gun panel, according to the account of Cyprian in one of his interviews. Therefore, a combination of Nengite’s brilliance and Inusa’s bravery indicate that we still have a respectable military institution.

However, we must come back to the subtext of Cyprian’s narrative which is about how religion has become not only a tool for manipulation but also for exploitation in our country today. That explains why, when I see a public official (whether Christian or Muslim) making noise about his/her faith in the conduct of government business, I am always very suspicious of such people. But the politicians I fear the most are those who would mix religion with policies because they are dangerous to the health of our society.

It is within this context that I want to place my column of last week. Incidentally, because I was slightly indisposed between Monday and Wednesday, I had to cancel my editorial meeting and initially decided I was not going to write. But when I eventually did, I highlighted, in a lighter mood, some of the issues in the public domain without much elaboration. One of those issues I touched is the crisis of Hijab as part of uniform for Muslim female students in Osun State public schools. Although I dismissed the issue in just four paragraphs, that was enough to earn me a call from Governor

Rauf Aregbesola who spent more than 15 minutes expressing his displeasure on how I was “unfair” to him in my summation.

In explaining the history of Hijab which he said has nothing to do with the state government and predated his coming to office, Aregbesola said: “A Judge, who happens to be a Christian, ruled against wearing Hijab in Lagos public schools and the media applauded the judgment. The Muslim group that lost did not take the law into their own hands, they went on appeal while the state government moved in to get a political solution. But now here is the problem: Another Judge, who happens to be a Muslim, delivers a judgment in Osun affirming the use of Hijab and rather than those who lost to go on appeal while we try and find a solution through dialogue, as it was done in Lagos, all hell was let loose with the media accusing me of what I didn’t do. Is that fair?”

According to Aregbesola, at no time did he introduce Hijab wearing into Osun schools.

“Segun, let me tell you something that you may find interesting: I have one wife and she hardly wears Hijab; the same with my daughter. So if I cannot enforce wearing Hijab in my own home, how would I enforce such policy in a whole state?” asked the Governor who reminded me that I had, on three different occasions, taken jibes at him in my column (I remember only two) on his governance style in Osun State...

NOTE: This piece continues in the online edition on www.thisdayliive.com

800 Days Without Chibok Girls

W

hen on Wednesday, 30th April, 2014, Waziri Adio (current NEITI Executive Secretary) and I left THISDAY editorial Board meeting to join some public-spirited Nigerians to march in the rains over the abduction of the Chibok Girls, we never imagined we would still be on this same issue more than two years after. Unfortunately, yesterday marked exactly 800 days that the girls have been in captivity and despite the Change of government in Abuja, nothing really has changed regarding the fate of those girls.

Yesterday at the Unity Fountain, I joined the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) coalition to mark the day with Mrs Oby Ezekwesili reading a statement she co-signed with Mrs Aisha Yesufu where they raised salient questions. In her remark at the session, Mrs Edith Yassin reminded those present that many people, including those with whom they started BBOG, had moved on. It was very telling indeed that only 26 members were present yesterday.

However, it was Mrs. Aisha Yesufu who has never failed to show up at the Unity Fountain come rain come shine, who spoke in a manner that roused those present. “We

have stayed here for more than two years and only one of our girls has been found yet it seems as if the world has moved on. One can conclude that the Nigerian authorities have definitely moved on. But we cannot move on for as long as those girls remain in captivity”, Mrs Yesufu said before she added: “I am sure if it was one of those elite schools in Abuja that was attacked by Boko Haram with the children carried away, the Nigerian government would have moved with all its might to rescue them. But because the Chibok girls come from poor parents, even though they are hardworking Nigerians, we have failed them in their time of distress.”

Notwithstanding the solemnity of the occasion, if there was one thing I took away from yesterday’s session of the BBOG in Abuja, it is that until the Nigerian authorities can successfully account for each of those remaining 218 Chibok girls, the tragedy will remain an open sore for our country. But we must nonetheless thank God for the tenacity of the BBOG members who keep sacrificing their time and energy on a very noble cause.

They remind us every day that Nigerians are neither lacking in humanity and compassion nor is our country as divided as we are often made to believe.

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com