Friday 5th August 2016

Despite FX Scarcity, Naira Plunging to $400/$, Pilgrims to Get Dollars at N197 Obinna Chima Despite the shortage of foreign exchange in the country and continuing slide of the naira on the parallel market, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday announced the federal government’s

approval of N197 to the dollar for intending pilgrims travelling for the 2016 hajj in Saudi Arabia.

The naira shed N10 yesterday to close at N400 to the dollar, compared to N390 to the dollar from the previous day.

The naira also fell on the interbank market closing at N315.06 to the dollar, lower than N311.03 to the dollar from the previous day.

The central bank, in a circular addressed to all authorised dealers and the general public, said each

intending pilgrims would be entitled to purchase a minimum of $750 and maximum of $1,000 as Pilgrim Travelling Allowance (PTA).

“No commission shall be charged by the banks for the sale of PTA to the intending pilgrims. The CBN shall sell

the PTA to the designated banks in Lagos and Abuja and the accounts of the respective banks shall be debited as soon as the funds are disbursed.

“Each designated bank is required to sell to the CBN the unutilised funds not later than two weeks from the date

of the last inward flight to Nigeria from Jedda, while the account of the bank shall be credited promptly,” it said in the circular.

Commenting on the naira pressure on the parallel market Continued on page 8

Aisha Buhari’s Pricey Croc Hermes Bag Causes Social Media Storm ...

Page 9

Friday 5 August, 2016 Vol 21. No 7770. Price: N250

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NSA Accuses Indorama, Notore of Sabotaging National Security

Another firm blacklisted, licence withdrawn for diverting 9,000kg of explosives Five security officials, others arrested Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, has accused two of the country’s foremost fertilizer manufacturers – Notore Petrochemical and Indorama Eleme Petrochemical – of sabotaging national security and the economy by being

conduits through which insurgents, especially Boko Haram terrorists and Niger Delta militants, obtain explosive materials in order to wreck havoc across the country.

This is just as the Nigerian security and intelligence Continued on page 8

US Declares Borno, Adamawa, Rivers, Imo, 16 Other States Unsafe

Zacheaus Somorin with agency report

The United States government, in its latest travel advisory to its citizens living in Nigeria, has listed 20 of Nigeria’s 36 states as unsafe and advised them to stay away from them.

Among the 20, it cited Borno, Adamawa and Yobe as complete no-go areas as

“the ability of the US Mission to provide assistance to US citizens” in those states remains severely limited.

The travel warning published on Wednesday on the website of the U.S. Department of State, replaced an earlier one of last February, reported Afrique News Continued on page 8

Buhari Solicits Support of Ogoni for Clean-up Exercise... Page 10

LEADWAY SENDS OFF ITS DIRECTORS

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Leadway Assurance Company Limited, Mr. Oye Hassan-Odukle; Managing Partner, Olaniwon Ajayi LP, Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi (SAN); Chairman, Seplat Petroleum Plc, Dr. A.B.C Orjiako; and Chairman, First Pension Custodian Nig. Ltd., Mallam Umar Yahaya, at a send off dinner held in Lagos on Wednesday for Yahaya, Orjiako and Ajayi, who have retired as directors of Leadway Assurance mubo peters

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MTN Posts First-Ever Loss After NCC Fine Visafone begins test-run of 4G LTE internet service

Emma Okonji with agency report South Africa’s MTN Group has reported its first-ever per-share loss as a public company, after Africa’s biggest mobile-phone operator agreed to settle a record fine in Nigeria and was hurt by weaker earnings in South Africa.

According to Bloomberg, the loss will be between 2.85 rand and 3.15 rand per share in the six months through June, the Johannesburg-based company said in a statement yesterday.

The so-called headline figure, which excludes one-time items, will be a loss of between 2.55 rand and 2.85 rand per share.

The biggest contributor to the decline was MTN’s agreement to pay a record N330 billion ($1 billion) fine in Nigeria, the

company’s largest market. The penalty was levied in October after MTN missed a deadline to disconnect unregistered subscribers, and the subsequent loss of customers further hurt operations in the country.

“MTN pushed the value of the entire fine onto the income statement,” Byron Lotter, a money manager at Vestact Ltd., which holds MTN stock, said by phone. “This is a once-off and expectations are that they will recover in the next year.”

The shares fell as much as 4.3 percent in early trading in Johannesburg, the most since June 27, and recovered to trade 0.1 percent higher at 132.70 rand as of 10:24 a.m. local time.

The stock lost as much as a third of its value after the fine was levied in October and is still 30 percent below its level when

the penalty was announced.

The South African business, the company’s no. 2 market, is expected to report a decline in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin for the halfyear period, MTN said.

Losses from mobile-phone towers and digital businesses also contributed to the firsthalf performance, as did the foreign-exchange impact of weaker operating currencies against the US dollar.

Turning around the Nigeria business will be a top priority for incoming Chief Executive Officer Rob Shuter, who will join the company from Vodafone Group Plc by July 1, 2017.

“MTN still has a lot to do and it will be all about implementation,” Lotter said.

“That’s up to management.

Vestact is very excited about the company’s new management team.”

On the local front, MTN Nigeria’s subsidiary, Visafone, yesterday announced that it had begun the test-run of its 4G LTE (fourth generation long term evolution) internet technology service for smartphone users.

The launch of the 4G LTE service by the merged entity of MTN and Visafone is expected to rollout superior high-speed internet service in major cities, empowering Nigerians with the latest mobile broadband technology.

It is also expected to drive broadband penetration in the country from the current 10 per cent to the targeted 30 per cent by 2018, in line with the federal government’s plan.

According to MTN Nigeria

executive, Amina Oyagbola, “The company is determined to deepen broadband penetration in the country. Our recent licence acquisition further demonstrates our faith in the future of Nigeria.

“We believe in supporting the positive transformation of Nigeria and we have demonstrated this belief through the level of our investment since 2001, which currently stands at approximately $16 billion.”

Speaking to the specifics of the test-run and subsequent launch, General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Richard Iweanoge, disclosed that the 4G LTE technology would be launched with the sole objective of providing Nigerians with the best, fastest and most competitive ICT services for all stakeholders.

“We are pleased to set the pace once again as we break new boundaries with this test run, which will be available for now for our Visafone customers, who are provisioned on the 800Mhz band.

“When we roll-out fully, especially with our 2.6Ghz spectrum, the launch will help to enhance customer experience for our over 60 million subscribers, while ensuring greater coverage, access, affordability and ultimately a smart lifestyle for everyone,” Iweanoge said.

In order to be fully prepared for the 4G LTE rollout, MTN bought the 800MHz spectrum from the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), and later bid for the 2.6GHz spectrum licence in February this year, emerging winner of six slots of the 2.6GHz spectrum.

annual production is being exported at the detriment of our national economy”.

According to him, this has resulted in a spike in the price of urea-based fertilizer in Nigeria with obvious implications on food security in the country.

“In view of the foregoing, I wish to categorically state that government will continue to adhere to the rule of law.

However, it must be noted that the rule of law is not akin to anarchy.

“Accordingly, this office will not hesitate to close and withdraw the operating license of any company that exports products without first meeting local consumption.

“This office and the Ministry (of Agriculture) will work to put in place measures to access production and determine exportable quantity by the respective companies.

“Please note that the well being of this country is the collective responsibility of all,” he said.

In the a related development, Monguno disclosed that ONSA has investigated the incessant bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta and discovered that commercial explosives and accessories were used for the attacks.

He said that the resultant investigation and detailed audit of the records of explosives

magazines and quarries in the region revealed “the diversion of about 9,000kg of high explosives (Nitro-glycerine) and 16,420 pieces of detonators for illegal use between 2015 and 2016”.

He revealed that the actors, including the store man of a major explosives distribution company in Nigeria, an accomplice and five security operatives had been arrested and handed over to the appropriate authorities.

However, he did not divulge the name of the explosives distribution firm.

“Right now, investigations are being conducted and I can assure you that they are deeply culpable and necessary action will be taken on the conclusion of these investigations,” he said.

The NSA however assured Nigerians that the administration was committed to the well being, safety and security of the Nigerian citizenry and urged the public and business community to go about their businesses in accordance to laid down rules of law.

“Let me also reiterate that any individual or company that operates outside the confines of legitimacy or illegality will have itself to blame and we also want to add that the government of the day will not listen to any influence peddler in the society on behalf of any company that decides to sabotage national

security,” he warned.

Shortly after Monguno’s meeting with the representatives of Indorama and Notore, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development blacklisted and withdrew the licence of the Nigerian Development and Construction Company (NDCC), an importer and vendor of explosives in Koko, Delta State, for allegedly diverting the explosive devices.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who gave the blacklisting order said the company’s business premises should immediately be sealed off, in addition to the withdrawal of its explosive distribution licence.

The action by the government followed the outcome of investigations by the ONSA, which revealed that the company was involved in the illegal diversion of about 9,000 kilogramme of Nitro-glycerine explosives and 16,420 pieces of electrical detonators from its magazines between 2015 and 2016.

A statement from the minister’s office warned manufacturers, importers, sellers and end users of explosives in the country to desist from unprofessional activities, including the sale, procurement, storage and use of explosives in line with the provisions of the Explosives Act of 1964, the Explosives Regulations of 1967 and other extant policy directives.

NSA ACCUSES INDORAMA, NOTORE OF SABOTAGING NATIONAL SECURITY agencies have made a major breakthrough in tracking the source of explosives used by the Niger Delta militants to blow up oil pipelines and facilities with the arrest of several suspects, including five security personnel.

Monguno made this startling revelation yesterday when he met with representatives of local manufacturers of fertilizer.

Monguno warned that the federal government would no longer tolerate a situation whereby the security and economy of the country are threatened by the “unpatriotic” actions of the fertilizer companies, warning that his office will shut them down should the alleged acts of sabotage continue.

The visibly angry NSA, who did not entertain any explanation from the companies, also read the riot act to any company or individual engaged in economic, business or commercial activities linked to dissident groups operating within and outside the country.

He said: “I must say at this point that the goodwill shown by the government of this country should not be taken for granted. The fact that we are in a difficult and complicated situation in terms of our economy and security, does not mean that companies and individuals with vested interests

should take the goodwill of this country for granted.

“The president came to power with a specific mandate, which is clear to all Nigerians and indeed the international community. We will view with very serious consequences whatever any company does to fall out of line and behave in a manner that will bring to its knees the economy of this country and indeed the security of this country.

“Like I said we will not hesitate and it is an action that will be taken with immediate effect. It is also important for us to also know that the local farmers are suffering in all communities all over the country.”

Monguno also revealed that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the entire intelligence community had discovered that the improvised explosive devices (EIDs) deployed by terrorists for their bombing campaigns were developed mainly from certain grades of fertilizer with particular reference to some nitrate based types including urea nitrate (synthesized from urea).

He explained that it was the discovery that the indiscriminate importation of urea nitrate by all and sundry, resulting in lack of control and ease in its availability to the terrorists,

militants and other mischievous elements for use to perpetuate acts of violence that necessitated the licensing of only the two companies (Indorama and Notore) by the federal government to operate in the country.

He also noted that ONSA and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development facilitated the necessary importation of raw materials and also secured distribution networks, which was “aimed at solving the national security problem, on the one hand, by easing control of the items, and on the other hand, boosting the economy by encouraging local production”.

Against this backdrop, Monguno said that the cumulative annual production of the two companies was estimated at 2.05 million metric tonnes, while Nigeria’s estimated consumption rate is 1.1 million metric tonnes, which is 53 percent of production and “opportunity to cumulatively export about 47 percent of their production”.

Monguno, however, noted that ONSA “has observed with total dismay some unpatriotic acts and abuse of the goodwill of government”, saying that “reports of activities of these companies have indicated that about 71 percent of the 2.05 million tonnes cumulative

DESPITE FX SCARCITY, NAIRA PLUNGING TO $400/$, PILGRIMS TO GET DOLLARS AT N197 yesterday, the President, Association of Bureau de Change (BDC) Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, expressed optimism that the naira would rebound once banks

that are agents to approved international money transfer operators start to sell foreign currencies accruing from remittances to licensed BDCs. “Banks started selling FX to BDCs today (Thursday) and

hopefully we expect to see an increase in dollar liquidity for BDCs. This is expected to impact positively on activities of BDCs and help correct what we are seeing on the parallel market,” Gwadabe

said in a phone interview yesterday.

The CBN gave the directive for banks to sell FX from remittances to BDCs last month.

However, it remains

uncertain how much foreign remittances will ease the pressure on the parallel market in the face of the subsisting CBN ban on 41 items from accessing FX from the interbank market.

The U.S. State Department noted that kidnappings remained a security concern throughout Nigeria, as criminal elements across the country orchestrated kidnappings for ransom; Islamic extremists, operating predominantly in the North, also have been known to conduct kidnappings.

It said: “Separatist groups have staged demonstrations in Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, and Rivers States, some of which have turned violent.

“Militant groups have

destroyed oil production infrastructure in Bayelsa and Delta states.

“U.S. citizens are advised to avoid the areas of these states where these incidents have occurred.

“Attacks by pirates off the coast of Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea have increased substantially in recent years.

“Armed gangs have boarded both commercial and private vessels to rob travellers.

“The Nigerian Navy has limited capacity to respond to criminal acts at sea.”

US DECLARES BORNO, ADAMAWA, RIVERS, IMO, 16 OTHER STATES UNSAFE yesterday.

In addition to the three frontline states, the State Department also “recommends against all but essential travel to the following states due to the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks: Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

“The Department of State also warns against travel in the Gulf of Guinea, because of the threat of piracy,” the advisory

published online added.

It said based on safety and security risk assessments, the embassy maintains restrictions for travel by US officials to the states listed above.

Officials must also apply for advance clearance by the US mission for any travel to those states.

The statement also urged vigilance around government security facilities; churches, mosques, other places of worship; locations where large crowds may gather such as hotels, clubs, bars, restaurants,

markets, shopping malls; and other areas frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

It added: “Security measures in Nigeria remain heightened due to threats posed by extremist groups, and U.S. citizens may encounter police and military checkpoints, additional security, and possible road blocks throughout the country.

“Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been displaced as a result of violence in the north.”

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN CUTIX 0.14 1.66 TOTAL 16.60 222.60 MOBIL 8.10 170.10 STANBIC 0.55 13.80 VITAFOAM 0.10 2.90 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN AIICO 0.05 0.67 INTERBREW 0.96 18.38 CONTINENTAL 0.05 0.97 TRANSCORP 1.26 1.20 DIAMONDBANK 007 1.51 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦N820.00 Volume: 155.777 million shares Value: N1.526 billion Deals: 3,320 As at yesterday 04/08/16 See details on Page 48

% 9.2 8.1 5.0 4.1 3.5 % 6.9 4.9 4.9 4.7 4.4

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T H S D AY • FR DAY AUGUST 5 2016

Aisha Buhari’s Pricey Croc Hermes Bag Causes Social Media Storm Ch eme e Ezeob Ab ack crocod e sk n Hermes B rk n handbag o ed by he w e o he pres den Mrs A sha Buhar has caused a soc a med a s orm as N ger ans yes erday ook o d eren soc a med a p a orms o express he r m xed ee ngs Mrs Buhar was spo ed w h he 35cm Porosus Crocod e bag wh ch s es ma ed o cos anywhere be ween $50000 and $300000 a he a rpor n Wash ng on D C when she arr ved he Un ed S a es Wednesday or some engagemen s A Hermes H ma ayan Crocod e B rk n bag was auc oned or $432 000 recen y The news wh ch was broken by an on ne med a The S gna wee ng rom @ hes gna ng se he Tw er sphere ab aze w h he d scovery The wee read “A sha Buhar spo ed n he US w h a Hermes Go d Bag wor h $105 000 N40 950 000 a $1 o N390 “Fur her checks by S gna on Thursday revea ed ha he exac p nk vers on o A sha Buhar s Hermes handbag was auc oned n 2015 or $222 912 N86 935 680 a a Chr s e s auc on n Hong Kong ” G ven he econom c recess on he coun ry s curren y ac ng he news o Mrs Buhar o ng he Crocod e Go d Hardware bag prov ded odder or con roversy Wh e mos on soc a med a expressed ou rage a he cos o he bag here were o hers who suppor ed her or be ng s y sh wh e hey were hose who c a med he bag m gh no be he rea vers on O course some reca ed ha Mrs Buhar has a ways had as e or expens ve h ngs a ud ng o he expens ve Car er Ba gno re Fo e 18 cara wh e go d es ma ed o have cos abou N15 75 m on $50 000 wh ch she wore a her husband s naugura on n May 2015 Accord ng o one Nene “Do you hones y be eve ha anyone ha can send he r k ds abroad or co ege can a ord a $70K bag?

How much do you h nk co ege cos s?

“My paren s sen a he r k ds abroad bu hey sure as he don have $70k or a bag Tha s a eas wo years u on ” A so Ten sa d “There are d eren ypes o B rk n bags The regu ar ea her ones are abou $10K bu he croc vers on our firs ady s cry ng s much more expens ve ” Twee ng one N cho as Ibekwe sa d “A sha Buhar has no broken any aw Bu s mora y reprehens b e and d sgus ng or he pres den s w e o o a B rk n n a recess on ” Baba On sa d “I he bag A sha Buhar s carry ng s wor h N20m we w have o ask ques ons “How can Mrs A sha Buhar a ord a handbag o N20m see ng hey borrowed

Two-Minute Briefing NEWS Buhari Solicits Support of Ogoni for

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NEWS

FRIDAY AUGUST

Buhari Solic its Support of Ogoni for Clean-up Ex ercise Email davidso

Niger Delta Avengers: We are Not Intimidated

by Arepo Air Raids Idowu in Warri

from page 50

CONGRATULATION S, I WISH YOU

comprom s ng he comm men o IS “In he message Shekau re ers o Boko Haram under s prev ous name bu w h some ISIS propaganda e emen s as he wan ed o reassure s o d comba an s and base w hou deny ng h s comm men o s eader Abu Bakr a Bagdad ” he sa d Specu a on over he a e — and a eged d sappearance — o Shekau has been r e n recen mon hs he was as seen n a YouTube v deo n March ook ng weak and say ng “For me he end has come ” He became Boko Haram eader a er N ger an secur y orces k ed he group s ound ng ch e Mohammed Yusu n 2009 spark ng an nsurgency ha has e 20 000 peop e dead and orced 2 6 m on peop e o flee he r homes Bu he group has become rac ured under h s eadersh p exper s o d AFP a er he Barnaw n erv ew was re eased “Boko Haram has os s pres ge and become d ficu o con ro under Shekau Today Boko Haram s d v ded n o severa e groups ” S P erre sa d And a N ger an secur y ana ys sa d he be eved Shekau was s a ve bu ha IS may be seek ng o c ean up Boko Haram s repu a on among had s s by ous ng a eader seen as d sorgan sed and unre ab e Boko Haram has been pegged back by an aggress ve figh back rom he N ger an m ary s nce anuary 2014 os ng err ory and s capac y o moun conven ona a acks

WELL

AMCON’s Loss Widens in 2015 on

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POLITICS

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Group Politic s Editor Olawa le Olaleye Email

PERSON

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ALITY F OCUS

M mo y o F uy

Although last Ibadan, was week’s event by a Yoru solel counter-coup, y dedicated to the galla ba think-tank held at the Universit west region it also served as an oppo nt Yoruba army general y of to kille rtunity for top embrace. Sho harp on the essential chan notch leaders d in the 1966 la Oyeyipo ges that the writes region and the of the Southnation must

WEEKENDFILE Proudly Nigerian

knew ha Boko Haram was d v ded on a s ra eg c po n o v ew now he r d v s ons are pub c ” he sa d Shekau s aud o message was re eased a er IS on Tuesday pub shed an n erv ew w h She kh Abu Musab a Barnaw n s A Naba on ne week y magaz ne n wh ch he was n roduced as Boko Haram s new eader In he n erv ew Barnaw a ks abou he h s ory o had n h s reg on bu makes no c ear re erence o Shekau S nce March 2015 Barnaw has appeared n severa v deos d s r bu ed by Boko Haram c a m ng respons b y or success ve a acks earn ng h m he repu a on o group spokesman exper s say Bu n h s message Shekau akes a m a Barnaw d sm ss ng h m as an nfide who condones v ng n an un Is am c soc e y w hou wag ng had And n a ac acknow edgemen ha h s own pos on as eader may have been usurped he speaks o be ng r cked by some o h s o owers “They dece ved me ” he sa d “And now I find myse be ng orced o o ow ano her charac er who prac ces d sbe e ” he says n a message wh ch becomes ncreas ng y more an ma ed as he speaks S P erre sa d he message sugges ed Shekau was ry ng o re a n h s base o suppor w h n Boko Haram w hou

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“That is so unprofession The Niger Delta al; don’t think they has dismissed Avengers (NDA) with thosecan intimidate the NDA the scarp jet bombers,” in the last one military exploits said. it week boundary riverine in Arepo, a The militant group community maintained between Lagos and Ogun States, that no amount of jet and challenged the military to show deployed would deter bombers the public the it from “so-called militants” liberating its people killed during ongoing struggle. through the the air A statement by strikes.

It declared: “They can deploy Mudoch Agbinibo,its spokesman, fourth generation said jet bombers, but it would that not be intimidated will not stop us from fighting with its “scrap by the military for our people.” jet bombers.”

The militant group, The militant group challenged claimed responsibili which has the military to share ty for attacks on oil facilities the militants killed with the public in in the so-called broke its silence the Niger Delta, strikes, adding: activities in the after a lull in its they won’t “We are very sure oil rich region, share the images warning the of Nigerian military militants killed because that it was not none was killed except intimidated by exploits in the its children.” innocent women and Arepo air raids Lagos and Ogun in The group maintained States.

According to its call the statement for the restructuring of the titled: ‘We are country, noting that not the militant group Intimidated,’ beyond the struggle has gone the NDA. was playing war said the military “What President Muhamma bunkering campsgames on illegal country we are saying is the du Buhari should be restructured inauguration of and showed videos of it the Governing (left), in a handshake with the The call for restructuring . President, exploits, which Chairman of the Mallam Abba Kyari Council and Board of Trustees maintained were of Nigeria it has gone Board of Trustees (middle) beyond the NDA. unprofessional. at the State House of Ogoni Clean-up, “The Nigeria military The only group of in Abuja....yesterday.

Mr. persons against is playing restructuring With them is the Wale Edun, after the some war games the Chief of Staff to bunkering campson some illegal the militant is the PresidentialVilla,” the group said.

Godwin Omoigui videos of how and showing It urged The Asset the bombardm they carried out to listen the federal government Management Corporation to the voice ent. to acquire the bad instead of ignoring of its citizens yesterday of Nigeria (AMCON) AMCON was loans. posted a 2015 them. set up in 2010 impacted debt repayment loss of to N304.35 billion absorb bad . ($982million), wider On the banking activity by 2023, loans as part CORRIGENDUM than last year’s of resolving when its debt started building side, NPLs had to the loss of a In our report financial N275.49 central bank up again. Nigeria’s billion, after crisis in Africa’s titled: ‘Oloyede matures. it wrote-dow biggest economy. main rating agency, Agusto Rectitude,’ published He said the decision n the Pays the Ultimate value of collateral & Co, expects to acquire recovered from Ismail said N1.26 trillion in our Friday, Price for its purchase we inadverten in non- cent NPLs to jump to 12.5 per NPLs would be that July performing loans tly of bad loans. of of governmen the total of that of Justice used the image of Laura29, 2016 edition, (NPLs) loans The Executive t and the central Alakija instead Olamide Oloyede.

Director, Aminu a total of N3.7 trillion hadout of from the central this year, up bank.

Ismail said Ismail, told Reuters bank’s target been level The error is of five per cent that the 2015 settled. received interestAMCON had regretted. loss was at the end Ismail said NPL looking to acquirefrom buyers -Editor paid on also partly due to interest ratios jumped of last year. to 93 per cent a N3.8 trillion Ismail of its total bad lender Keystone nationalised bond due to the central loans buying said AMCON stopped in 2015, up from bank which it Sterling Bank Bank after rival NPLs two years 57 per cent used year earlier, dropped out. ago and as the weak economya was now focused He said the on recoveries corporation will to enable it make an announcem to wind-dow n its sale process ent on the within four-week.

It was indeed a captivating and well rehashed story of theYoruba race and how the South- west region must capitalise on its potential to bring about the much needed change in Nigeria when prominent discussants converged on the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.. Page 17

“She had a e and a bus ness be ore she became he firs ady and more so mos o hese ems are g ed o hem “So wha s he b g dea w h her carry ng a Hermes B rk n she wore a Car er wa ch on he day o swear ng n and even be ore she became he firs ady and ha was a b g dea or N ger ans “Ord nary N ger an c zens go or summer ho days abroad w h he r am y n h s gh economy so hey can a ord such uxury hen why no ” Tak ng he p y rou e one C ara acobs sa d “A sha Buhar has he or g na Hermes bag and I don even have he ake… S ghs ” A press me mum was he word rom he usua y ac ve camp o he firs ady

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genuine partnership s. As President Muhamma result, it will “Even more so, du Buhari require patiencea yesterday called we prevent the and understand the project. ing of the key recontamination of the Ogoniland in on people of stakeholder polluted sites in Ogoniland Rivers State s as we “Since the time day to day basis ensure the security to “It is our collectivemove forward. of flag-off, as Shell SPDC While thanking .” of the persons responsibilit JV involves constant involved in the the appointees considerable effort has Edun, said the to ensure that implementation and revision been within expended the project remainsy for accepting the responsibili the clean-up of on course, was to handle job of the board the ty, he mechanism to create a robust urged them of as we face any funds provided Buhari stated their land.

JV, so to for the clean up for implement of high expectations the challenges commitme to give their utmost the project in ing to see the that extent you have funds as well nt to and the current inauguration this during the conflict the long term.

NNPC element raised and to ensueas other highest standard ensuring the of in the Niger Delta.

“The Governing of the funds JV as the governmen Council and the the Governing that the “The are available Council and and accountabiof transparency Board of t side.” whenever it Trustees, which (BoT) of the Board of Trustees expected clean-up exercise is The is needed. important task.” lity in “this inaugurated are being inauguratioconstitution Trust Fund to go on for and the Hydrocarb for today jointly form “Our role is to The inauguratio on Pollution decades. The first five two essential part an board and n of the governing at make sure that Remediation years of the governance will n every instance BoT of the $1billion address came exactly five years Project fund came which will implement (HYPREP) measures emergency response to the day the framework. there is a project and stage, once on the heels UNEP and remediation that is identified “In addition to conflicting responses of and ready the United Nations the report of the subsequent while report submitted an extensive to be Environmental and administrati the management sources years on (UNEP) on Ogoniland of governmen on the according to world implemented restore the ecosystems will look to assessment its environmental on structure, other systems and controls t’s part . best of Ogoniland the funding, He asked “The governance in the Delta. . are being put as the IOCs of our job is to make surepractices, for Buhari recalled in place said funding framework that the understanding patience and we lay that the devoted to ensure that the funds they were awaiting is today, report was governance structure a proper working there. We would be affected by the of the people consultation following extensive for this Project inaugurated the administra with the contributor by are used by pollution. s, will for the fund tion of President only for the intended the Nigerian At the inauguratio and providers for sustainabilit form the bedrock Olusegun purpose.” government. of the funds s n which took y for Managing place at the presidential The Minister just to make sure “Together we years to come. said did Obasanjo, which he Developmen Director of Shell of Environme that no matter villa, Abuja, Amina Mohamme nt, the president t Company of transform what will be able to problemsnot only document the said it was a Nigeria, d, who is also constraints we will always the Osagie Okunbor, is today a tragic that existed, huge tale of project that required find away to provide told State House the chairman of the but also corresponde desolation contained funds so that a thorough planning and nt that the counterpart council, said the projectgoverning clean up is one of restorationand destruction to how they recommendations on the not held up by the funding would might not and opportunity can be fully take off in the community involvement of for the lack come another six months, of funds by so-called in the short term addressed both coming generations .

He said: “The from the JVC. as more work processes,” and in the long The inauguratio he said. .

“The expertise bulk of the had to be done funding is going and technology term. articulating in months after the n came two exist to Members of make this a reality. In He said: “Five by the SPDC to be contributed that wouldpolicies and strategies council the governing ceremony to groundbreaking end, this years JV the project ensure the smooth include the Minister project is yet to properly on, the the SPDC JV, and for clarity, running cleaning process. kick-start the “gold standard” will serve as the Environme of has Shell, Total, of the take off. It Agip for the clean-up would appear to have experienced and NNPC, so would run for cleanup which Minister nt as the Chairman; The federal governmen of similar pollution we would decades, adding of National Planning, be contributin in other parts a series of false starts, while that with t has of the resolved that Udoma Udoma; g the bulk of Niger local communiti the and over this project all now in place, “the Minister of funding for the the counterpart at large.” Delta, and the world suffer from the es continue to we expectthe five year period that to cleanwill not want for resources Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Niger drawn from clean-up will be Usani; Minister of State up the Niger He said: has existed long problem, which go into this to last before we the the phase of Company (JVC) Joint Venture through “I use this opportunity, She said government Delta.” before the Report.

Ibe Kachikwu; for Petroleum, restoration you, to call upon “This - Shell.

National Security monitoring and evaluation the local describedall adds to the picture to ensure that the funds based He said: “Indeed, communities especially on the project Adviser, Babagana Monguno, work programme on a project of in the UNEP Report our youth, this magnitude Managing Director who will be the that we approve would be handled mostly as are readily requires direct beneficiaries ‘a landscape characterise of the Niger the media and

by Delta Developme planning, scientific extensive of this available. d nt Commissio “The bulk of analysis, ensuringeffort, to work with us in lack of trust, paralysis and by a organisations the civil society (NDDC), community n the funding blame.’ for proper feedback involvement, Nsima the “I am pleased is on performanc and and persons security of the projects to note that going to come from the Director SPDC, Ekere; Managing e and accountabili while SPDC implementing ty. among others. Osagie Okunbor, The BoT them. since it has been five years JV which has as a 55 per cent members which include 12 the UNEP partner ship Representa would taken only two Report, it has you have with the NNPC, so a year while the meet twice Stakeholder tives of Ogoni this administra months since is in there.to infer that government governing s on the council 13 member tion flagged include But the whole Pyagbara L council will meet off of the running process times four and two egborsi, Ben Naneen a year, the ministe our business on alternatives. a r said.

Chairman of the BoT, Olawale Sylvester Cont’d

POLITICS A Metaphoric Memory of Fajuyi

N27m or e ec on orm ” However on he s de o Mrs Buhar were many o hers who sa d he ssue wasn abou he bag bu abou he oppos on w s ng o he r avour A Tw er user den fied as O ayem sa d “The g s s no ha A sha Buhar can rave o Amer ca aga n s now abou ha she s carry ng a Hermes bag You w a be okay” Kayode ason a so wee ng n her avour sa d “You Wa ers can e A sha Buhar bough he bag when do ar was N199 per do ar” A so concurr ng one Mary sa d “N ger ans shou d us e her be ord nary peop e carry des gners she s he pres den s w e o he Federa Repub c o N ger a

5, 2016 • T H

Davidson Iriekpe

sdaylive.com,

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

Last week, them the military forces Lastweek tary joined o nedforces with other security agencies and invaded the creeks of Ikorodu, a crime infested area of Lagos.The operation, backed by the police, navy and air force fighter jets, was mainly targeted at Arepo and Ibafo ma n ytargetedatArepoand bafo in Ogun State... Page 15 I

Mrs Buhar w th her Hermes B rk n crocod e sk n bag

News Editor

n.iriekpen@thi

Shell to provide counterpart fund ing

Clean-up Exercise President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday called on people of Ogoniland in Rivers State to ensure the security of the persons involved in the implementation of thecleanup oftheirland.

Page 10

EDITORIAL The Siege on Ikorodu

Shekau’s Audio Fuels Talk of Split in Boko Haram Boko Haram s e us ve eader Abubakar Shekau fina y broke h s s ence yes erday o ns s he was “s around” o ow ng repor s ha Is am c S a e had rep aced h m bu h s message ue ed a k o a sp w h n he had s group For mon hs specu a on has been r e over he a e o Shekau who has ed he N ger a based Is am s group s nce 2009 bu has no been heard rom s nce March Bu yes erday o ow ng a repor sugges ng he had been rep aced Shekau accord ng o AFP re eased an aud o message ns s ng he was s very much a ve and n charge o he group wh ch as year had p edged a eg ance o he Is am c S a e had s s “Peop e shou d know we are s around We w never cause any d scord among he peop e we w ve by he Koran ” Shekau sa d n a 10 m nu e aud o message “Th s s our s and and we rema n n our capac y as ama a u Ah ssunnah L dda awa Wa had ” he sa d us ng he Is am c name or Boko Haram H s vo ce was recogn sed by an AFP ourna s am ar w h prev ous messages he has pos ed on he soc a med a I was a so confirmed as Shekau s vo ce

by Ber n based had s exper Yan S P erre o he Modern Secur y Consu ng Group Mosecon who sa d h s message had a d bare d v s ons w h n he group “The person who pos ed on he n erne s a very re ab e source ” he o d AFP “We

STARTERS

WEEKEND

Your 2015 edition of the St. EveWest EveWest Your2015ed t onoftheSt African Show was successful. How Afr canShowwassuccessfu would you assess last year's show by side the objectives you and sside debys detheob ect vesyouand your team had hoped to achieve?

First, I want to thank God for standing by us and assisting us in seeing our vision come to reality.

Page 27 PROUDLY NIGERIAN

FILE

BUSINESS Foreign Airlines Lost N6.4bn to

Naira Devaluation The Country Manager of British BUSINESSW ORLD Airways, Kola Olayinka has disclosed that foreign airlines op- erating in Nigeria lost N6.4billion in the N157.6 billion ($800) of their revenues trapped in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) when the Naira was Foreign Airlines Lo devalued from N197 to N280 by to Naira Devaluatiostn N6.4bn the apex regulator. Page 19 T H I S D AY

NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

OPEN SKY

• FRIDAY, AUGUST

5, 2016

R A T E S

4.5833% 15.2916%

NIBOR

3-MONTH

6-MONTH

A S

17.6379% 19.7737%

NITTY

A T

1-MONTH 2-MONTH 3-MONTH

19

Group Busine

J U L Y

15.5180% 16.0890% 16.2215%

ss Email chika.a Editor Chika Amanz e-Nwa manzenwach ukwu@thisday chuku live.co 0803329415m 7

2 9 ,

6-MONTH 9-MONTH 12-MONTH

2 0 1 6

18.4206% 19.66375% 20.0408%

EXCHANGE RATE NN321.16/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes

Medview

Medview AirlineTakes Delive ry it for the first has taken delivery of of B747-400 time on its schedule a B747-400 with 400 passenge and operated rs on board. flight from London- Gatwick The airline said the operation approval of was made possible switch from the British Civil Aviation B767-300ER Authorities with the capacity aircraft to B747-40 with the 0 The with Medview the Murtala Airline livery463 passenger Muhamm touched down An elated Med-View ed Internatio nal airport Airline Managing arrived Monday.

Muneer Bankole Lagos-London said the aircraft would Director/CEO, Alhaji be used to consolida pointing out route operations as well te on the front that the opening up the as the Hajj operation burner. s, transatlantic He said a B777-20 route was 0 would join with the airline the fleet this week to coincide Alhaji Bankole 10th Anniversary of its B767-300ER said three jumbo jets foray into Hajj operation - B777-200 , B747-400 s. which begin would be devoted to and the 2016 Hajj next week. operations,

AFRICA

L-R: Organiser Airlines, Henok Accra Weizo, Mr. Ikechi Uko; Teferra, and in Accra, Ghana…

Vice Chairman, Coordinator, East Africa Skyway Aviation recently Tourism Handling CompanyPlatform (EATP), Carmen Limited (SAHCOL) Nibigira; , Mr. Chike OgeahChief Executive Office, Asky at the 2016 Accra Wezo held

Arik Bags W’ African

Arik Air has Airline of the won an award bestowed Year as West African on Airline of the Accra recently.it at the Ghana Aviation Awards 2016 Year The special held in recognition Awards Events award, according Arik Air because Director, Richard Abbey to Ghana Aviation Jnr, was conferred and commitm of its achievement in on airline business The airline ent to safety. leadership said the impressiv Movenpick e award ceremon Ambassador cream of aviation Hotel, y personalities Accra was a gatheringheld at of excellenc in West Africa of the e in the industry. and a celebratio The West African n Airline for Arik Air’s of Chinedu Eze eight years the Year Award is a crowning the region, which of operation glory in Ghana and in January 2008. began with the inaugurat the rest of The Country AVIATI ON Manager ion Arik of Air flights Central downturn operates of British Airways, Kola to Accra African cities, and scarcity Olayinka namely Accrafrom Lagos to 10 West Monrovia (Liberia), dollar are bringing of the disclosed that and (Ghana), Cotonou foreign airlines has and for every uncertainties eroded their finances Freetown d’Ivoire), Banjlul in the erating in Nigeria $1million op- airlines and led (Gambia), Dakar(Sierra Leone), Abidjan(Benin), the have Nigerian economy and to their adjustme lost N80millio Luanda in the N157.6 lost N6.4billion nts in affected every (Angola) (Senegal) (Cote to survive, n.

Olayinka business while some order African carrier and Libreville (Gabon). , Douala (Cameroo done in Nigeria their revenues billion ($800) of Wednesda made this known of the n), on entire and in the airlines were forced Accra where to create a hub at Kotoka The airline is the first Central Bank trapped in the Round y during the Aviation economy.

Nigerian market. out of the of Nigeria (CBN) Table (ART) within a few flights from Lagos and International Airport, “Dollar scarcity when the Naira Breakfast “Some of is was devalued Meeting in Lagos. to other Westminutes of each other Abuja arrive into Accra from N197 He explained about uncertainties bringing not survive. the airlines could and then depart that the fares African cities to N280 by to all businesses. $800m the apex regulator. from Accra onwards of readjustm There were a lot international Nigerians pay for that was non-stop.

UnionCalls destinations The BA needed to be in our banks by flying ents. BA readjusted Country Manager increased because have were transferred.

Britain’s RMT forStrikeover explained that We Atlantic Boeing B777, Virgin selling for N197, NorthSeaDisput the total amount is exchanged for more naira went moved to Airbus when it over proposedunion said on Wednesd of money trapped up to N285. dollars, but A330, e For every $I in a bid to readjust in CBN before passengers still pay maintenance cuts and changes ay that industrial action million, we the devaluatio the seat capacity. The to the same lost N80 million,” workers on fare in dollar n was $800 would go ahead. he said.

Shell’s North working conditions for denomination. million not changed. fare $1,000 was 42 Sea oil and gas He said that “Following Olayinka said platforms the economic not increased The airlines have a continuin g failure by with any solutions and the trapping the devaluation the fare, the the dollar Wood of airlines funds in talks...the Group to come scheduled next phase to up of industria Continued in a statemen start in the morning l action on page 20 goes ahead,” Group oil and t on its website. Last the month, around RMT said gas maintena cuts and tougher nce workers T H I S D AY 400 Wood • FRIDAY, AUGUST “Despite strenuouworking condition protested against pay s.

5, 2016 s efforts by the company Eromosele our negotiato Abiodun rs in talks progress that we have so far been with unable to make addresse Acting MARIT IME General Secretar s the concerns Featur sufficient Following the esworkforc of the Editor y Mick Cash Wood Group they exceed Charles Ajunw shipping chargesflurry of illegal what said. e,” RMT said in aEmail the happens in statemen in developed by the decision charle a and developin their countries, prices for shipmentcontracted t, that they s.ajunw Head of Nigeria’s stressing were disappoin s, a a@this Dave Stewart, of the workers. tion which has joined g nations, Nigeria terminal that surcharge delegation ted daylive .com according situa- to the forum s and makes the Global said, “We have CEO of Wood Group’s pers’ Forum Ship- shipping handling charges management to them the Nigerian and a Director with eastern region urged the unions (GSF) by with of to Shippers’ shipping lines seek the total (NSC), intervention us with business to show willingnes and terminal costs Council operators of safeguards a clear objective of the owners unpredictable for accountAzuka Ogo, gave Organisation the World Trade negativelyin various countries reaching a s to reengage employment of goods. an (WTO) of the various resolution now and in affecting internationare Welsh Nations Conferen and United trade. that the future”. opportunities for our al ing, “Our said during the meet- the Council to check efforts by employee Shell it was and Developm ce on Trade said also disappoin s, both in terminal campaign will operators and The Secretary ent (UNCTAD ted with the a separate statemen and Wood Group the extent expose in shipping lines to end the General t that result and ) Mr. Chris of Nigeria from trend. to continue Welsh in his of GSF, make it an issuesurcharging and unapprov discussions. urged the unions introducing The forum remarks said in future trading ed charges. agreemen UNCTAD, reasons that both ing the illegal charges are Ogo said the which is a principal caus- to end ts. We are determine a sense of terminal organ of the frustratio d these United Nations anger among members n and visibility practices and restore tors and shipping lines operaGeneral Assembly in Nigeria to shipping took the Council .

However, rates and confidence trade, investmen dealing with Forum Welsh said to court result of its decision to shippers.” as a Participants opment issues t, and devel- impositiointends to end the to stop some of the charges. stated that the times, and WTO, n of such surcharge most compel internatio the illegal charges can on Arguing that “The reality cannot the Shipping lines and terminal nal shipping a shippers by 2020 throughs be substantiated Line series of actions by the service Agency Charges, airlines are is that foreign operators to stop illegal SLAC which providing 90 which will providers. is one of the expose the charges in countries percent of the charges in contest scale Some where they of the practice and injustice African West and Central does not relate the country capacity in operate. for passenge to any service, to world trade At a meeting countries who Ogor said travelling overseas; bodies. rs attended some of the the conferenc Sri-Linka, South in Colombo, local airlines are illegal e include Nigeria, charges were The concerns Asia, members Ghana responsible of the forum 10 percent. providing only on the charges of the shippers They and Republic of Benin. the diversion of for gave sad accounts cargoes meant in Asia-Euro industry is The aviation were of trade routes for Nigeria collapsing,” to neighbou were that most pe the Shippers’ represented by countries Gbenga Olowo” ring councils in times countries . their .

Why Niger ians pay highe r airfares

CITYSTRIGNS NAFAAS’ Week of Festivities

CITYSTRING S

Nigeria, Oth Illegal Ship ers Seek WTO, UNC ping Charges TAD Interven tions on

NAFAAS’ W eek of Festiv ities

It was all enliv ened atmosphe students of re at the Ekeh the uan campus MadubuogwuFine and Applied Arts of the Univ Department who was there ersity of Beni observed , reports that n, as the event was their NAFAAS week.

Joan a remarkab le one

In university campuses all over, the second semester of every session is usually inundated with activities rang- ing from academic to nonacademic to religious to sociocultural and sporting. Page 42

Continued

Students dancing

I

during the NAFAAS

President of Aviation RoundTable (ART)

Gbenga Olowo

Week

n university campuses second semester all over, the with colourful usually inundated of every session clothes. This is is always done ing from academicwith activities rang- Sunday night which marks the week as Monday usually to non-acad to religious publicity. As the beginning of proper emic draws starts the NAFAAS to socio-cult the eventful closer, sporting. Admitted ural and week week done with seminar and exhibition creation as there is high level awarenes the departme ly, one of by the students. of artworks they embarked on indoor students through s person and outdoor look up to. ntal week which most such is system used called for the A lecturer or resource like the ludo games, the blasts, students Some students a exhibition seminar opens skipping competiti whot and chess.games are informedto announce upcoming year week, call it the . This is where while others activity, works up the Mr. Also, traditionally on was not week. tag it departmefinal week. During some Hot of left out. The ntal are organised the blast, dance the NAFAAS to see, of students are showcase of the art was won Beans competition In the Departme for the criticise competitions d for

by Wale, a and then the 400 level Metal males nt of Fine this exhibitionand possibly buy them. people major while week Arts, it is called activities of the Design During for , people can the NAFAAS and Applied and are announced. At the the works. being an acronym the females Miss Indomie competiti this time, shout out rent week. NAFAAS The exhibition take pictures of music avenue on for National the air. level student. was won by Victory, of Fine and session where each Association Applied Arts a 100 student is is also an better ideas On Tuesday, In the University Students. exposed to between the there was an interesting exhibition and life. Each art work State, the NAFAASof Benin (UNIBEN hall is a master 200 level match in ), Edo week a remarkab As a tradition piece of its the class. The 100 level class and the 100 le one for the has always been level own. that has been class won by 1. The prepared starting from Arts students Fine 4 goals to followed of the University and Applied by the school jean carnival was disrupted NAFAAS week,the maiden edition are bound by 4 . The students It’s really securities despite of the the activities the executives week as it’s this student 4 body. NAFAAS are fixed by turnout of students. the massive fun fondly and and committee called handling of I can’t is set out to Wednesday set up for the the NAFAAS was the ever create rooms by the students help but join Colour carnival. for the them always anticipated This year’s and opportun week. them and This day because it was NAFAAS weekcelebration is unique and creativityto showcase their artistic ities enjoy the beauty not only the is very special as the and skills clocks of theme 10 their sportsman during the colour student years. The art Applied Arts for NAFAAS of the Fine carnival, because it usual in Department week is Hueformis it is backed feels great. of sociability ship in sports and their the participated by m and from event. On this day, that during award/di FRIDAY sense think Joy Everywhe this year’s tag “Happine AUGUST 5, Monday to even students other departme this year’s carnivI nner nights.

2016 • T H I re”. ss, and the days because Friday are given as lecture This year’s NAFAAS S D AY whole schoolnts participated fully al will be much week was exceptiona felt it that Thespians fun-filled. week. Startingof the activities involved free more very day.

On in the intere from the first lly of Theatre as well as Maccsans hold because Monday, the seminar the last day, (Departments sting unlike day down Art and Mass real didn’t the resource unavoidably Communication) that One thing that fun activities are lined to of last person was had participated. up. greets Ekehuan year that the email:foreigndesk came too late absent and the informati UNIBEN Monday Jacky a 200 campus of ruined level student on municatio @thisdaylive.com morning The students for a change to be week, is the of Mass Comalmost everytrain n, shares his effected. change in the of the NAFAAS feeling to THISDAY “We’re were amazinglexhibited their works sculptural pieces environment. hing. which Monday.one; I’ve been The But, despite around campus . studio. Later, y displayed at the with them the rain, it Actually are dressed drawing since there was still fun was competitio for the matches I’m one of the the first n between officials they’ve been the 400 level football the week.

200 level class playing I class witnessed in and for last year and the won by 3goals which the 400 level this year I’m colour carnival class to 1. Later participating in the evening, it,” he said. in Donald Trump’s When asked what he felt campaign was White House was exactly about the carnival what Trump after he angered in turmoil was were doing. Trump and Ryan primary challenger Party leaders senior Republican running has had a Paul Nehlen, by aide said there soldier’s family criticizing a dead of Army dispute with the parents appeared to be trying to ignore the and refusing Captain Humayun snub from Trump. tion on Capitolwas deep frustra- calling back the re-election to since they Hill that Trump Trump took the stage Khan speaker said he An aide to the keeps House of Representatcampaign of week’s engaging in would at last time ian character” an “authoritar- Along Democratic “petty ives Speaker to meet Trump not have The aide and a threat with Paul Ryan.

National Convention. said congressio spats.” democracy. to on Muslims,his proposed ban later this week, when Khizr Khan, nal offices that support On Tuesday, Trump his plans In better news Trump denied his wife, Ghazala, standing with to be campaignin is expected two support to for Trump, included building a wall have sets of talkingTrump got his campaign g in Wisconsin, by his side, cited both Ryan along points on and the RNC the Mexican border Monday from Senator John and who was the sacrifice of their son, Ryan’s home state. jointly to keep out raised $80 million the campaign illegal immigrants The aide did coming primaryMcCain in their in 2004, killed by a car bomb and renegotiating million) (£60 not indicate about the Khan situation have not heard back at critics contests, hitting proposal and criticized Trump’s whether anyone had but bid in for his White House trade agreements. requested in July, the campaign a get-togeth to combat terrorism Opinion polls the campaign anything from on Wednesda leadership who the Republican temporaril er of Trump have said Clinton

by Ryan, about Trump’s and Ryan y banning benefiting from shown but when to task for his have taken him from Muslims comments than the $90 y. That was less after a boost entering the her party’s million Clinton United States. whether they might asked dispute with insistent public The dissent . convention Many meet to campaign the over the Trump raised along with the national last week. The RealClearP soldier, a Muslimparents of the including Republican leaders, patch things up, the Democrat also aide took olitics average Reuters, “The Ryan and McCain, ic told Late U.S. Army of recent captain killed on Tuesday, other turns. month, but Party the same polls speaker has criticized Trump’s have national in the Iraq war. it was a substantial put her subsequent schedule – can’t back a full man, a prominent Meg Whit- bump Republican National attacks from past months. points ahead 4.5 percentage Republican Chairman Reince Committee longtimeon the parents. Even previous commitments out of fundraiser and of Trump, at A former chief percent in 46.5 (congressi ally the Priebus reality TV Chris Christie, of Hewlett Packard executive Trump furious over the onal) district.” was star, Detroit to 42 percent. The the has won support failure to endorse Republican New Jersey A Republica Enterprise Economic Club, (HPE.N: Ryan, who n congressio said it was inappropria governor, par- candidate is the most where nal Clinton’s Quote), endorsed ticularly from white blue-collar senior s usually appear elected Republican te to attack workers White House to , and over the Khans. bid, by the who feel neglected give major economic addresses, Trump’s feud Trump’s feud political establishm said Trump with the Khan with the Khans family, two Republican would speak was the final ent. the club at straw for Republican sources congressma on Monday. said. “He feels n Adam Kinzinger, Republican sourcelike a fool,” a former a Air Force pilot familiar with the situation and war veteran. said Kinzinger, who Iraq The RNC did of Priebus. held off had a request for not respond to CNN supporting Trump, told on Wednesday comment about Priebus. Another : “I just don’t see how I get Republican to Donald Trump source said anymore.” members, whoTrump’s family Trump, who made his cominfluential role have played an ments about were aware in his campaign, an interview Ryan and McCain in that an interventio with The Washington was needed n Post, shrugged to off the on track. One get Trump back “There idea being floated is great unity backlash. was to have a in my campaign, senior adviser with Trump travel before. perhaps greater than ever to help him stay I want to thank message. on for your everyone tremendous support.

More than Beat any other major Crooked H!” he wrote figure in the Republican early on Wednesday on Twitter establish- Democratic , referring ment, Priebus rival, Hillary to his Trump into the worked to bring Clinton.

Campaign party’s fold despite the New York Manafort told manager Paul businessm Fox status as an an’s outsider. Trump, campaign was moving News the who had never in a positive direction, for public office,previously run control. with Trump himself in “The beat campaign 16 rivals good to become is in very shape. presidential the Republican are moving We are organised. We nominee for forward,” Manafort Nov. 8 election. the said.

Ahead of In Daytona, Florida, last month’s Republican Trump said the news media’s Party coverage of him the RNC chairmanConvention, was dishonest. “We’re R-L. President rally the fractured sought to well Muhamm despite the fact doing quite Silveri; and Ambassa adu Buhari; Italian Trump. Priebus party behind a totally that Minister of dor Raffaele false narrative,” we get Foreign Affairs Trump’s string feels burned by supporters Trombetta; he told during an audience and Internatio of self-inflicte wounds and d campaign at a rally. At another nal Cooperat at the State his House in Abuja...ye ion, Mr. Paola Gentiloni basic decorum refusal to observe Jacksonvilleevent in Florida, in sterday Godwin , Trump pointed his support. by giving Ryan a group out The United Omoigui of families, known States and Israel But in what as Star families, appeared to have who have lost Gold closed many of an effort to loved the remaining closed many of the soothe ruffled be ones in war, calling remaining them “incredible gaps in negotiations gaps. We ings, Trump’s feel- people.”

He didn’t mention multibillion-dollar over a new to reach hope soon to be able The current pact, signed running mate, vice presidential spat in 2007 House and due to expire final the military aid with package for the Khans. was prepared senior official agreement,” the Israel in on Wednesday Mike Pence, said Washingto to let Israel Trump’s always around $30 billion2018, gave keep the arrangemen told Reuters he endorsed Ryan unruly campaign Middle East ally, and n’s top the talks concluded after military as “a strong conservativ in foreign five has the two the financing. years of the new t for the first e leader” days.been mired in disorder in recent sides hope to reach and was doing official declined . However, MOU U.S. a deal On negotiators so Monday soon, a senior with Trump’s to elaborate , Trump fired blessing. are believed would be gradually phased but it to have stuck Brookover, a Ed WednesdaU.S. official said on or provide a precise timetable out in the second five senior to a previous completing for of $3.5 y.

The Indiana years, as a liaison between adviser hired offer joint negotiations. billion to Jacob Nagel, U.S.-Israeli militaryexcept for News that it governor told Fox and the campaign Raising hopes nually for Israel $3.7 billion anacting head the RNC. projects. takes time to for Israel’s Another removal of a key sticking national security build relationships sticking point of MOU, substantiallunder the new Ryan, who is in politics and has favoured to win wrapped up three days council, signalled at point, Israel had $4 y less than the been Washington’s that next week billion a desire to the start of closed- that end door in his race it might accept of the talks sought but year Netanyahu has to a provision allowing Israel against over discussions in Washingto still a sizeable spend the Obama n a new 10-year A key disagreeme increase. annually around $400 million defence pact, administration’s demand including a from U.S. military that over Washingto nt has been meeting with funds, until military fuels. the package on national security U.S. n’s insistence now ending adviser Susan spent partly on Israeli on also haggled The two sides have a special Rice. arms, will eventually be Turkish police over U.S. funding has allowed arrangement that for Israeli spent entirely detained Drawn-out Israel to spend U.S.-made weapons, missile suspected on percent aid negotiation 26.3 members of 20 said. President Tayyip of its U.S. have underscore Obama’s aides defence. according s to U.S. sources.

Islamic State want to secure its own military defence aid on a new militant groupthe said Islamic State Erdogan has friction between d continuing deal industries militants the southern before It in would mark rather ends, his presidency than on American U.S. President the former Soviet from city seeing it as a major concession yesterday, the of Adana early behind Union were Barack Obama and Israeli an important Israeli officials products. part of Prime right-wing by Netanyahu. The news agency private Dogan main an attack on Istanbul’s Minister Benjamin Netanyahu provision, which argue that the critics his legacy. Republican Israeli airport reported. It accuse him is given to no has had a fraught leader, who other anti-terror police, said 45 people. in June which killed over last year’s U.S.-led of not being country receiving attentive relationshi a helicopter, stagedsupported by detained Dozens have been deal with Iran, Israel’s nuclear with Obama, U.S. security, enough to Israel’s arch-foe. would has decided p military assistance, was The United over the simultaneous raids on 22 addresses it to maintain States and needed strongly which the White House be best Islamic State attack.

Israel’s “qualitativ in the city denies. after a tip-off controls an have also been at odds Israel memorandum to forge a new military area of e that of understand edge” against Netanyahu angered over (MOU) cells were planningIslamic State border, Syria along the Turkish the Palestinians. hostile House neighbours with him rather the White east of Adana.

However, with such as Iran, attacks. in than that The suspects, The of Adana is and gested February when he sugObama due hoping for better terms its removal near the Incirlik city to leave office the agreement from the would senior local figureswho included Base, in January, both next U.S. president, Air sides where U.S. personnel according to the loss of thousands of mean for the next president. could wait in the group, have appeared were taken Israeli on both defence jobs.

But officials are increasingly officials on both sides. to Adana police stationed and which sides say headquarters The is used for determined to come to an But a congressio missions ISD for questionin T H air a deal now to Netanyahu seeks agree- to sign White House has pledged AY •FRIDAY ment to enshrine in the fight nal source g, it Islamic avoid uncertaintie AUGUST against 5, to a new MOU briefed by the surroundin State. s that would 2016 Israel over the U.S. assistance “constitute istration said Obama admin- whether g the next president, the largest “We’ve made next decade.

Israel had signalled Democrat single its willingnes progress and pledge of military assistance or Republican Hillary Clinton s to phase out to any country Donald Trump, the and also in U.S. history.” provision. The Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper establishmto give Israel’s defence said the White ent the ability to plan ahead.

INTERNATIONAL Fury in Republican Party overTrump’s Snub of House Speaker DonaldTrump’sWhite House campaign was in turmoil was after he angered senior Republican Party leaders by criticizing a dead soldier’s family and refusing to back the re-election campaign of House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan. Page 44

SPORTS The Zero Hour of Rio 2016

around the campus

on page 20

INTERNATIO NAL

Fury in Republi Snub of House can Party over Trump’s Speaker

STRENGTHENING DIPLOMATIC TIES

US, Israel Clos e Gaps in Defe nce Aid Talk s

Turkey Detai ns 20 Suspe cted Islamic State Members

Olympic Games is Here!

Finally, the zero hour to the official Opening Ceremony of the 31st Olympic Games is here.With an estimated 900 million people around the world expected to watch the show on Friday night in Brazil (but early hours of tomorrow in Nigeria), every other thing in global sport can wait. Page 53

FRIDAYSPOR TS

The Zero Hour of Brazilians set to put

53

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

Rio 2016 Olymp ic Games is He re! display

the best of thei r culture on

Finally, the zero hour to official Opening the Ceremony of have reportedly made the 31st Olympic Games is to drown out booing withplans here. With an music if the loud country’s interim million peopleestimated 900 President world expected around the jeered , Michel Temer, is in the stadium. show on Friday to watch the Temer will formally (but early hoursnight in Brazil the declare Olympic of tomorrow in Nigeria), but because Games open, every other in global sport the Brazilian thing governme nt The world’s can wait. the organisersis so unpopular fear he will who have been best athletes heckled, be as George Osborne this four-yearly preparing for was at the London sports spectacle Paralymp are set to show 2012 ics are made of. the stuff they The president 12,000 athletes, admitted yesterday that Team Nigeria’s including might he knows he 85-man that be booed. To counter contingent, the stadium will march into haveembarrassment, organizers behind their little samba bands, own music planned that loud or sound effects countries’ flags. waving their be played will as Of course, speaking, so soon as he finishes that off the showthe venue to flag not heard by theany jeers are other place cannot be any people billions of expected to watch Maracana than the iconic television. it on de Janeiro, Stadium in Rio is only His short declaration the pride of 14 words long.

Brazilian people. the After the Brazilians Football that ceremony the speech, the proper will a different levelhave taken to on roll with the Brazil’s until recently when their affair with football love to flounder,fortunes began showcase also gets prominently will feature showing d, with one post the floor lit up of what the in every aspect green with public will seeglobal viewing and and white pitch markings a diamond-like at this opening fiesta. structure The Rio Mayor, that evokes Eduardo Paes the pattern According to carried the Olympic of a the organizers football. of the show, supermod torch on its first to the sound Opening Ceremony el Gisele Fernando few laps of the Bundchen will of a Brazilian Director, city centre yesterday Meirelles, reported bossa nova jazz classic Brazil, its music, skills to the put her acting shines Girl The and contributio conquests ‘mugged’ intest when she is of Brazila spotlight on the best up From Ipanema, she is held n to the world, ‘chronological’ piece, by an actor an elaborate during the three-hour scene that is telling and robbed, using a cast of 300 profession the tale of the presentation according to arrival of Brazil’s will grow to become dancers and - but doesn’t reflection on a brutally honest away internet posts.

5,000 volunteersal many different inhabitants a forest shy life of 12,000 A The show . the years, However, Rio de Janeiro. country’sfrom describing the place chase will then takes over Olympic trees in Deodoro Director Leonardo around social problems call for peace, will reveal a Caetano Park, according see as ‘sign in what many either. stadium as the 78,000-seater through before moving Then, Globo. insisted. to police officers in the host of the moment’ highest as Gisele , the world’s to Brazil’s jungles On the night, race the indigenou catch the assailant The spectacle paid supermod the with organisers of country Brazil, one will also before. s tribes to its will use 2,000 light ceremony feature British opening ceremony During the of Brazil’s most el and guns, 3,000 show, music, cities and the colonisers kilos of actress famous stars, struts ending up down a catwalk dance and 3D projection - projectorsfireworks and 109 Dench, who will readJudi in its will trace poem alongside to create its a the history s the main part of the slums for magic.

They will also Brazilian of ceremony. be performing film and TV But it will not be a an important role, planting Montenegro. star Fernanda It is thought a sapling in the a totem which theme will revolve around global problems .

…Protest Mar Torch Arrival ins Olympic Brazil Begins Football Rio Gold Chas

e with Win again st China

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games Chaotic scenes began on Wednesd in marred the arrival of the with a women’s ay night firstthe world, secured the what win of the tourname proving himself in Rio de Olympic torch fearedOlympic organiser football match nt “Yes definitely,on the track. But Wednesday Janeiro late on what might happen afters a sparseplayed in front of when Nilla Fischer bundled in a second-ha Olympic has been a have not learnedI think they I’ll for me the shape I’m in, Hundreds ofevening. lf goal relatively crowd. Sweden Stadium goalkeepi say I’m in demonstrators peaceful and sometim over the much better ng mistake.after a years that the won 1-0 angry at the shape, so I think spectacular es against South Africa American Rivals high cost the more I willmore you talk, definitely 9.6 seconds hosting the torch relay. in the opener, before of On Tuesday Games protested want to .” host nation ‘Full Wrath’ of Usainto Feel you,” Bolt and riot police Brazil beat at Bolt’s told Reutersbeat Bolt Usain Bolt China used tar gas three protesters least and pepper on 100 is world record for the is promising Wednesday.

Plenty of empty 3-0. were arrested by 9.58 seconds. to let American seats “It’s one of the crowd. spray to disperse the the police be seen sprinter in the 60,000 could Justin Gatlin in those things, 9.79 in clinching He ran town of Niteroi, venue Images on “feel his full but I’m looking forward world champion his third news websites the bay from Rio across kick-off, although more at wrath” as he zones should be exciting to it, last showed ships title in on an will the torch relay during arrived before Brazil’s fans unpreced year in Beijing. ented treble-treb policeman at least one feel my full and they game. of there.

The As for his football The appearin gold le wrath as police used fire a projectile g to Bolt said he preferred 200, pepper has started two tournament Janeiro medals at the Rio de always.” and coach Glen directly at spray and part of the Olympics Bolt, who a protester Mills had been relay Friday’s openingdays before had to be . returned Bolt was given . abandoned. ceremony The Olympic because of a a medical action in the 200 metres to the work they pleased with Brazil exemptio packed torch had is last arrived of in Rio de been doing in the grip at on the bend month’s More than 11,000schedule. officials n by Jamaican Janeiro by a deep recession after some meeting in Diamond League in London, to compete after a three-mo boat political London, said and will compete in athletes Rio Games at when he ran“rust” Brazilian cities. nth tour of protests crisis, and further edition of he the first after he pulledthe felt he was 19.89.

“We’ve are expected to be heldthe Olympic Games hamstring during the Olympica ahead of the in better shape of work been doing a lot The mayor ahead opening race in South America. trials and Gatlin his programm Paes, carriedof Rio, Eduardo openingof the Olympic of everythinsince I’ve been here, wasted There are 42 g has been Olympic sport opportunity in trying little 13 – the 100 e on August well, its first few the torch on Organise ceremony today. discipline metres I’ve been feeling going under the 29-year-ol to get he was s, with laps through rs said that the city centre. for last year’s – than and I have great more over the course 306 events d’s skin. champion than a million Gatlin no world I’m But images ships happy with problem so remain unsold. tickets of competition. of 19 days Olympic said the six-time “I’m feeling in Beijing. showed crowdstaken later gold medallist I’m making,” the progress Football is had much of people including that will be the only sport pass’been given ‘a medical confident now,” he more “It was just he said. staged at venues to compete added. having “I’m rust with childrenmany families across the country. said on Wednesda and Bolt with much more comfortab not run the for me, out to watch who had come le over a year where I’m 200 Sweden, ranked y that had only served pretty much, in “I never try at. running awaythe torch relay to fuel his desire sixth to shut now I’ve familiarize but to in predict fear from the American times, the police up by know because you never back with the work,d myself action.

The police told and it’s what will just happen. and about going out there local media that a group executing.” of people refused to leave one lane the road open Olaide “Fijaborn” of as had been for the torch Fijabi, national light welterweight his fight with Christmas and blocked agreed earlier boxing aimed at putting was title. champion, the street one place.

That is explained why has fear in he stopped future opponents. into his ambition,” hemy immediate a professiona They said Tombraye said.

“I knocked they had l. But GOtv came, “Tornado” Fijabi also thanked intervene Christmas, him out as offering to a warning sponsors remuneraconsiderably better and organisers chaos and to contain the to my future GOtv Boxinghis opponent at opponent clear the road.

Night, saying of GOtv Boxing encourage tion and offering s. I hope they The BBC’s first round. Night 8, in the the their interventio got message that n glad I tookment to boxers. I am Brazil says Wyre Davies in I am not that has rescued boxing.

Fijabi, whose type that this is exactly the of opportunity,” guy to go messing “A person like explosive combination me would said Fijabi, a two-time of punches around with. This warning never have gone ended ‘Christma to every boxer professional of the N1million cash winner is if not s’ dream prize for in my category an upset in the best boxer for 58 seconds, of on the African con at the eve Night. I w GOtv Boxing sa

GOtv Boxing Nigh t 8: Fijabi Reve als Target, Prais es Sponsors

10

FRIDAY AUGUST 5, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

Buhari Solicits Support of Ogoni for Clean-up Exercise Shell to provide counterpart funding

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

genuine partnerships. As a result, it will require patience President Muhammadu Buhari and understanding of the key yesterday called on people of stakeholders as we move forward.

“It is our collective responsibility Ogoniland in Rivers State to ensure the security of the persons to ensure that the project remains involved in the implementation of on course, as we face the challenges of high expectations and the current the clean-up of their land.

Buhari stated this during the conflict in the Niger Delta.

“The clean-up exercise is inauguration of the Governing Council and the Board of Trustees expected to go on for two (BoT) of the Trust Fund for decades. The first five years the Hydrocarbon Pollution will address emergency response Remediation Project (HYPREP) measures and remediation while which will implement the report of the subsequent years will look to the United Nations Environmental restore the ecosystems in the Delta.

“The governance framework (UNEP) on Ogoniland.

He asked for patience and we lay today, following extensive understanding of the people consultations, will form the bedrock for sustainability for years to come. affected by the pollution.

“Together we will be able to At the inauguration which took place at the presidential villa, Abuja, transform what is today a tragic the president said it was a huge tale of desolation and destruction to project that required a thorough one of restoration and opportunity planning and the involvement of for the coming generations.

“The expertise and technology the community.

The inauguration came two exist to make this a reality. In the months after the groundbreaking end, this project will serve as the ceremony to kick-start the “gold standard” for the clean-up of similar pollution in other parts cleaning process.

The federal government has of the Niger Delta, and the world resolved that the counterpart at large.”

He said: “I use this opportunity, funding for the clean-up will be drawn from the Joint Venture through you, to call upon the local communities especially our youth, Company (JVC) - Shell.

He said: “Indeed, a project of who will be the direct beneficiaries this magnitude requires extensive of this effort, to work with us in planning, scientific analysis, ensuring the security of the projects community involvement, and and persons implementing them.

Niger Delta Avengers: We are Not Intimidated by Arepo Air Raids Sylvester Idowu in Warri The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has dismissed the military exploits in the last one week in Arepo, a boundary riverine community between Lagos and Ogun States, and challenged the military to show the public the “so-called militants” killed during the air strikes.

A statement by its spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, said it would not be intimidated by the military with its “scrap jet bombers.”

The militant group, which has claimed responsibility for attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta, broke its silence after a lull in its activities in the oil rich region, warning the Nigerian military that it was not intimidated by its exploits in the Arepo air raids in Lagos and Ogun States.

According to the statement titled: ‘We are not Intimidated,’ the militant group said the military was playing war games on illegal bunkering camps and showed videos of it exploits, which it maintained were unprofessional.

“The Nigeria military is playing some war games on some illegal bunkering camps and showing videos of how they carried out the bombardment.

“That is so unprofessional; don’t think they can intimidate the NDA with those scarp jet bombers,” it said.

The militant group maintained that no amount of jet bombers deployed would deter it from liberating its people through the ongoing struggle.

It declared: “They can deploy fourth generation jet bombers, but that will not stop us from fighting for our people.”

The militant group challenged the military to share with the public the militants killed in the so-called strikes, adding: “We are very sure they won’t share the images of militants killed because none was killed except innocent women and children.”

The group maintained its call for the restructuring of the country, noting that the struggle has gone beyond the NDA. “What we are saying is the country should be restructured.

The call for restructuring of Nigeria has gone beyond the NDA. The only group of persons against the restructuring is the PresidentialVilla,” the militant group said.

It urged the federal government to listen to the voice of its citizens instead of ignoring them.

CORRIGENDUM In our report titled: ‘Oloyede Pays the Ultimate Price for Rectitude,’ published in our Friday, July 29, 2016 edition, we inadvertently used the image of Laura Alakija instead of that of Justice Olamide Oloyede. The error is regretted.

-Editor

“Even more so, we prevent the recontamination of the polluted sites in Ogoniland.”

While thanking the appointees for accepting the responsibility, he urged them to give their utmost commitment to ensuring the highest standard of transparency and accountability in “this important task.”

The inauguration came exactly five years to the day the UNEP submitted an extensive report on its environmental assessment of Ogoniland.

Buhari recalled that the report was inaugurated by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, which he said did not only document the problems that existed, but also contained recommendations on how they can be addressed both in the short term and in the long term.

He said: “Five years on, the project is yet to properly take off. It would appear to have experienced a series of false starts, while the local communities continue to suffer from the problem, which has existed long before the Report.

“This all adds to the picture described in the UNEP Report as ‘a landscape characterised by a lack of trust, paralysis and blame.’

“I am pleased to note that while it has been five years since the UNEP Report, it has taken only two months since this administration flagged off

the project.

“Since the time of flag-off, considerable effort has been expended to create a robust mechanism for implementing the project in the long term.

“The Governing Council and Board of Trustees, which are being inaugurated today jointly form an essential part of the governance framework.

“In addition to the management and administration structure, other systems and controls are being put in place to ensure that the funds devoted for this Project are used only for the intended purpose.”

Managing Director of Shell Development Company of Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, told State House correspondent that the counterpart funding would come from the JVC. He said: “The bulk of the funding is going to be contributed by the SPDC JV and for clarity, the SPDC JV, has Shell, Total, Agip and NNPC, so we would be contributing the bulk of this and over the five year period that we expect this to last before we go into the phase of restoration to ensure that the funds based on work programme that we approve are readily available.

“The bulk of the funding is going to come from the SPDC JV which has as a 55 per cent partner ship with the NNPC, so you have to infer that government is in there. But the whole process of the running our business on a

day to day basis as Shell SPDC JV involves constant and revision within the JV, so to that extent you have to see the NNPC element of the JV as the government side.”

The constitution and inauguration of the governing board and BoT of the $1billion fund came on the heels of conflicting responses on the sources of government’s part of the funding, as the IOCs said they were awaiting a proper governance structure for the fund by the Nigerian government.

The Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, who is also the chairman of the governing council, said the project might not fully take off in another six months, as more work had to be done in articulating policies and strategies that would ensure the smooth running of the cleanup which would run for decades, adding that with all now in place, “the project will not want for resources to clean up the Niger Delta.”

She said government monitoring and evaluation on the project would be handled mostly by the media and the civil society organisations for proper feedback on performance and accountability.

The BoT which include 12 members would meet twice a year while the 13 member governing council will meet four times a year, the minister said.

Chairman of the BoT, Olawale

Edun, said the job of the board was to handle any funds provided for the clean up as well as other funds raised and to ensue that the funds are available whenever it is needed.

“Our role is to make sure that at every instance and stage, once there is a project that is identified and ready to be implemented according to world best practices, our job is to make sure that the funding is there. We would be working with the contributors and providers of the funds just to make sure that no matter the constraints we will always find away to provide funds so that the clean up is not held up by lack of funds by so-called processes,” he said.

Members of the governing council include the Minister of Environment as the Chairman; Minister of National Planning, Udoma Udoma; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani; Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nsima Ekere; Managing Director SPDC, Osagie Okunbor, among others.

Representatives of Ogoni Stakeholders on the council include Pyagbara Legborsi, Ben Naneen and two alternatives.

Cont’d from page 50

CONGRATULATIONS, I WISH YOU WELL

President Muhammadu Buhari (left), in a handshake with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ogoni Clean-up, Mr. Wale Edun, after the inauguration of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees at the State House in Abuja....yesterday. With them is the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari (middle) Godwin Omoigui

AMCON’s Loss Widens in 2015 on Asset Write-downs The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) yesterday posted a 2015 loss of N304.35 billion ($982million), wider than last year’s loss of N275.49 billion, after it wrote-down the value of collateral recovered from its purchase of bad loans.

The Executive Director, Aminu Ismail, told Reuters that the 2015 loss was also partly due to interest paid on a N3.8 trillion bond due to the central bank which it used

to acquire the bad loans.

AMCON was set up in 2010 to absorb bad loans as part of resolving a financial crisis in Africa’s biggest economy.

Ismail said N1.26 trillion in nonperforming loans (NPLs) out of a total of N3.7 trillion had been settled.

Ismail said NPL ratios jumped to 93 per cent of its total bad loans in 2015, up from 57 per cent a year earlier, as the weak economy

impacted debt repayment.

On the banking side, NPLs had started building up again. Nigeria’s main rating agency, Agusto & Co, expects NPLs to jump to 12.5 per cent of total loans this year, up from the central bank’s target level of five per cent at the end of last year.

Ismail said AMCON stopped buying NPLs two years ago and was now focused on recoveries to enable it to wind-down its

activity by 2023, when its debt to the central bank matures.

He said the decision to acquire NPLs would be that of the government and the central bank.

Ismail said AMCON had received interest from buyers looking to acquire nationalised lender Keystone Bank after rival Sterling Bank dropped out.

He said the corporation will make an announcement on the sale process within four-week.

FRIDAY AUGUST 5, 2016 • T H I S D AY

11

NEWS

Jonathan to Broker Peace in PDP Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has acceded to the plea of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to wade into the leadership crisis rocking the party with the aim of resolving it.

Jonathan told a delegation of the party’s BoT lead by its Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, that the disagreement can be resolved amicably, adding that he has already started talking to the individuals involved in the matter.

“I have been talking to individuals but not in a way that is exposed to the media but I believe I should do more. It is regretably that we have conflicting court orders on this issue.

“Unfortunately, we have challenges but I think you should not be discouraged. This should not be beyond us as I believe that collectively, we can resolve it. Any sincere PDP member

should know that PDP is bigger than any individual. Members have sacrificed their interest for the party,” he said.

While commending Jibrin for the regular briefings on the affairs of the party, Jonathan also thanked members of the PDP BoT for taken upon themselves to ensure that the party did not disintegrate.

A member of the BoT and one of the aspirants for the PDP’s chairmanship position, Prof.

Tunde Adeniran, said Jonathan had expressed confidence that the crisis would be resolved.

Adeniran who spoke with journalists shortly after an hour of discussion with Jonathan in his private residence in Maitama, Abuja, described the former president as a loyal party person that believes in the PDP. “It is part of those things when you commit to the consolidation of democracy in the country. He is in support of peace returning to the PDP family.

South African Airways Passengers in Abuja Stranded for Days Chinedu Eze Passengers of South African Airways scheduled to travel to Johannesburg from Abuja have been stranded for four days due to the inability of the airline to airlift them.

Although technical hitches of the operating aircraft was cited as the cause of the failure of the airline to lift the passengers the first day but the travellers were surprised that after days of waiting, there was no sign they would eventually travel.

THISDAY learnt that the passengers were lodged at Sheraton Abuja Hotel pending when the airline would bring another aircraft to airlift them or put the aircraft in order.

THISDAY also learnt that the operating aircraft picked an object while taxing after landing to airlift the passengers as scheduled, so it has to be grounded.

Confirming the incident, the National President of the Nigeria Travel Agencies, NANTA, Mr. Bankole Bernard, stated that the poor state of Abuja runway damaged the South African aircraft.

He urged the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to rehabilitate the runway before a major incident or accident would happen.

But FAAN’s sources said rehabilitation work is expected to start at the airport after the contractor has finalised agreement with the agency.

THISDAY however gathered that the passengers have rejected the pleas by the airline to airlift them to Lagos where they would join the LagosJohannesburg flight.

An airport official said the problem was exacerbated by the shortage of aviation fuel in Abuja.

“All leaders of the party have been meeting the BoT which has just held it meeting yesterday and we are interacting and the party is moving forward. I am very optimistic that crisis will be resolved. PDP is a family and we will resolve the crisis. The convention will go on. You will witness the resolutions,” he said.

Another leader of the party, Chief Bode George, also spoke on the outcome of the discussions with Jonathan, saying that the former president had accepted to assist in brokering peace among the aggrieved parties.

“The meeting was perfect. I feel completely elated. When we were in power for 16 years all these crisis would have been resolved by the Villa. Now there is no Villa, it looks like a community where there is no headship. Suddenly the spirit of discussion and camaraderie that evolves gave me this personal happiness. In our party, whoever is president, is always the leader of the party.

“Now, until another presidential candidate emerges, Jonathan remains the leader of the party.

Of course he has been busy touring Africa, Europe and America.

“We are at a point where we cannot afford to allow the party to go under. And this is the most appropriate time as BoT to come to him to say we want you to intervene. It was a very warm meeting and very encouraging.

George assured party members that before the PDP convention, all those pundits and arm chair writers will bury their swords as every stakeholder would have reunited under one leadership. “It is of interest for Nigeria to have a credible opposition that will put a check on the ruling party in how they do things and to question whether the things they are doing is right or not. To that extent, a strong opposition is very important.

On whether Jonathan has agreed to broker peace, George said: “Absolutely he has not only accepted to assist in making peace but has given his word on resolving the crisis and to also make out time to attend our meetings. As you know he is a life time member of BoT having being a former president. So when people see

the big masquerade they will be more careful.”

Earlier, Walid told Jonathan that the BoT decided to pay him courtesy call in recognition of his position as former president and to interface and inform him of the state of our party today.

“PDP is undergoing a lot of difficulties and challenges, it is important that we give you briefing.

You are aware of the resignation of Anenih as BoT chairman, followed by the appointment of Bello. The members elected him as chairman.

The party held a convention in Port Harcourt and appointed a seven-man caretaker committee, headed by Ahmed Makarfi.

“The caretaker committee was given 90 days to organise convention. Fixed convention on August 17 after clearance from INEC. Preparation is in top gear.

But it is sad to note that the party is faced with court cases. About 15 court cases. We abide by provisions of the party’s constitution. We have realised that we need reconciliations.

Some committees have been set up to pursue reconciliation among party men.

“That is why we appeal to the former president that he aid the party to the reconciliation. It is your intervention that is very important for a way forward for the party,” he said.

Walid who came with some representatives from various zones of BoT, told the former president that they have great respect for him despite the fact that he has not been appearing in the activities of the party. We have visited Ciroma.

“We have embarked on programme of visit to our founding fathers, we have visited National Assembly. We are satisfied with the level of cooperation between PDP and other members in the National Assembly and they have played the opposition role very well. They have dwelt on policy of issues not on personalities.

Despite all that is happening, PDP is alive, anybody who wants to destroy PDP will not succeed,” he said.

Other members who were at the meeting with Jonathan were Abba Gana, Ahmadu Ali, Inna Ciroma, and Tunde Adeniran.

TIME TO AVERTTHE DANGER

L-R: Managing Director of Buildwell Plants & Equipment Industries Limited, Mr. Georges Mohanna; Minister of Power,Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola;FederalControllerofWorks,Mr.GodwinEke,duringtheminister’sinspectionofthefailedportionofthe Apapa-Ijora BridgeinLagos....yesterday

Again, Bello Floors Faleke, Wada as Appeal Court Upholds His Election Faleke vows to appeal judgment Let’s bury the hatchet, governor tells his opponents Tobi Soniyi inAbuja and Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja The Court of Appeal, Abuja division has upheld the election Mr. Yahaya Bello, as the elected governor of Kogi State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by Chief James Abiodun Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives who ran alongside the late Abubakar Audu as deputy governorship candidate under the All Progressives Congress (APC) for lacking in merit.

While the judgment of the court in the appeal by Faleke was unanimous, a justice dessented in the judgment on the appeal by the PDP governorship candidate, Wada.

In the lead judgment delivered

by Justice Jummai Hanatu-Sankey, the court held that Bello was properly nominated by his party, the APC in compliance with section 33 of the Electoral Act 2010 following the death of Prince Abubakar Audu who was the initial candidate of the party at the poll.

The appellate court held that the issue raised by Faleke in his petition challenging the nomination of Bello as successor to Audu during the supplementary election of December 6, 2015 was an internal affair of the party and which was resolved by the party through the substitution.

Justice Sankey said the petition of Faleke was fallacious and ought not to have been entertained in court in the first instance because of the failure of Faleke to join the APC as a defendant in the matter having been the party that carried out the substitution complained against by Faleke.

The court said the failure of Faleke to join APC in his petition was fatal to his case and that the case could not stand in the face of the law having not joined the party which carried out the substitution.

The appellate court also said that Faleke who was nominated as running mate to Audu after the primary election of the APC for candidate’s nomination had

been concluded, could not turn around to claim to be the candidate of the party or deemed to have been elected as Kogi State Governor since he did not participate in the primaries as required by law.

The court further said the claim of Faleke that the people of Kogi State voted for Audu and himself had no place in law because Section 122 of the Constitution stated clearly that it was a political party that could canvas for votes and be voted for, adding that in the instant case, it was APC that was voted for by the people and that it was the candidate sponsored by the party that could claim the votes.

Justice Sankey held that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was right in calling for substitution of the late Audu since doing so was allowed under section 33 of the Electoral Act 2010.

Meanwhile, in another judgment, the court in a majority decision of four justices to one held that former governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada lacked the locus standi to

complain against the nomination of Bello as candidate of the APC in a supplementary election of December 2015 on the grounds that he was not a member of the APC and did not participate in the APC primary election.

The court said section 33 of the Electoral Act permitted the APC to make the substitution of Bello following the death of Audu.

But in a dissenting judgment, a member of the panel, Justice Ita George Mbaba, disagreed with the declaration of Bello as the duly elected governor of Kogi State.

He held that INEC violated Section 141 of the Electoral Act in declaring Bello as the elected governor of Kogi State.

Justice Mbaba held that section 141 of the Electoral Act prescribed that no person should be declared a governor unless such a person had participated in all the stages of the election.

In the instant case, Justice Mbaba said apart from participating in the primary election, there was no evidence that Bello participated in

all other stages of the election before his purported declaration by INEC as a governor.

He therefore voided the certificate of return issued to Bello by INEC and also set aside the tribunal judgment which declared Bello as Kogi State governor.

In his reaction, Faleke said he had instructed his lawyers to proceed to the Supreme Court to appeal the verdict, describing it as political judgment.

In a statement issued by his Director Media, Hon. Duro Meseko, Faleke stated that he disagreed with the judgment, hence his decision to express his constitutional right by challenging it at the Supreme Court.

According to the statement, “This judgment as you all can see is a political judgment and cannot stand the test of time.

“We strongly condemn the judgment and believe that the Supreme Court that is the custodian of Nigeria constitution and the court of the people would do justice to our case.”

Meanwhile, Governor Bello has appeal to both Wada and Faleke to bury the hatchet in order for the state to move forward.

Bello who made the plea in Lokoja, the state capital while reacting the Court of Appeal judgment said it was time to allow what “Allah has already destined.”

He particularly reminded Faleke to be mindful of the fact that the two of them belong to the same political family, saying late Alhaji Abubakar Audu will not be happy in his grave as the duo rock the boat of the state.

The governor pleaded with Faleke to come forward and join hands with him to take the state to the promised land, adding that he should come up with whatever ideas he has for the state for implementation.

Bello described the court judgment as not only a victory for him, but a victory for Faleke and the APC.

12

FRIDAY AUGUST 5, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

UK Court Convicts Top Nigerian Trafficker, Jails Her 22 Years for Forced Prostitution The United Kingdom’s Isleworth Crown Court yesterday sentenced a Nigerian woman, Franca Asemota, to 22 years in jail after she was found guilty of attempting to traffic Nigerian girls through Heathrow Airport to work as sex workers in brothels across Europe.

Asemota, 38, was found guilty on Wednesday of a 12-count charge that included conspiracy to traffic

persons for sexual exploitation, trafficking persons outside of the UK for sexual exploitation, and assisting unlawful immigration.

She was part of a criminal network that trafficked girls, boys and women from Nigeria to Europe using threats to guarantee their compliance.

Asemota, who was identified as a trafficking suspect in 2012,

BPE Sidelined in Re-negotiation on Ajaokuta James Emejo in Abuja The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) was not part of the new agreement which recently reverted the ownership of the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Complex to the federal government, THISDAY has learnt.

The federal government had last Monday signed a renegotiated management concession agreement with Global Steel Holdings Ltd, an Indian firm for the Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO), Itakpe.

Among other things, the agreement effectively returns the steel company under government control while a management contract was renewed with Global Fleet.

The truce came following years of legal tussle over the ownership of the company.

Nevertheless, the new deal is expected to commence the process of getting a new investor with proven technical and financial capacity to manage the company.

However, the BPE, which is the privatisation agency of the federal government was said to have been kept in the dark while negotiations which led to

the company’s eventual takeover lasted four years.

THISDAY investigations revealed there’s discontent among the privatisation agency top officials, who were unhappy for being sidelined especially where the bureau’s competence mattered.

A top official who under condition of anonymity, told THISDAY yesterday that these are some of the wrong steps taken by previous administrations, whereby government went into technical negotiations with foreign firms without the input of relevant local authorities only for such agreements to flop eventually.

The source said the BPE does not currently know the extent of the agreement or the terms involved because it had been kept in the dark right from the beginning.

It remains unclear why the government chose to sidelined the agency through out the negotiation.

Experts believe the resuscitation of the company is long overdue, given its potential for huge economic growth and massive employment generation especially for the teeming unemployed youths in Kogi State and Nigerians generally.

Shettima Gives N1m for Education of Children of Deceased Pilot Correspondent Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, yesterday supported the education of the children of the deceased correspondent of the Nigerian Pilot Newspaper, Mr. Ben Aidokanya, with N1million.

Aidokanya, the Borno State correspondent of the Nigerian Pilot died last Tuesday after a protracted illness.

The governor, who sent a delegation led by his Special Assistant on Communications and Strategy, Mallam Isa Gusau, to pay a condolence visit on the family of the deceased, also volunteered to provide an ambulance to convey the journalist’s corpse to his hometown, Effeye Ipole village of

Ugboju district in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State for funeral rites.

Shettima equally promised to provide the needed logistics to get the deceased’ the friends especially professional colleagues to Effeye Ipole to pay their final respect.

The governor’s delegation which was received at the Maiduguri residence of the late journalists by the President, Idoma Community Association in the state, Mr. John Akogwu, presented a letter of condolence signed by the governor’s spokesman to the bereaved family.

The corpse of the deceased is expected to leave Maiduguri for his hometown today where it will be finally committed to mother’s earth on Saturday.

according to Premium Times, fled from Italy to Nigeria when some of her co-conspirators were arrested

by Immigration Enforcement investigators.

She spent time in Europe before the National Crime Agency (NCA) tracked her down to Nigeria.

In an operation co-ordinated by the NCA, she was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Benin City in March 2015.

Once her identity was confirmed, Asemota was extradited back to the UK in January this year.

After a four-week trial, the Isleworth Crown Court found her guilty of conspiracy to traffic for sexual exploitation and assisting unlawful immigration.

The head of the Immigration Enforcement Crime Team, David Fairclough, described Asemota as the “lynchpin of a trafficking ring which targeted vulnerable young women in Nigeria, promising them a brighter future working in Europe.”

Fairclough said it however

became clear soon that what she claimed to be doing was far different, as the victims, some who were as young as 13, were told they would be sold into prostitution.

“Asemota travelled with the girls in order to threaten them and keep them in line. Trafficking is a despicable crime, as this case shows. We work closely with our law enforcement colleagues internationally to identify the criminal gangs responsible and put them before the courts,” Fairclough said.

The head of the NCA’s UK Human Trafficking Centre, Martin French, said: “Franca Asemota and her criminal network took advantage of these vulnerable young women in some of the worst ways possible. They promised them a better life but in reality treated them as nothing more than a commodity to be sold into slavery.

“Asemota thought she could evade arrest by fleeing Europe and hiding in Nigeria. But the NCA’s partnerships give us global reach and mean international borders

are no barrier to justice.

“This conviction is the result of many years of dogged investigation and co-operation between the NCA, Immigration Enforcement and our law enforcement colleagues both at home and overseas.”

Asemota’s gang targeted teenage girls in remote Nigerian villages, some of whom had never left their home area before, deceiving them that educational work awaited them in Europe.

“The girls would stay with her before leaving, and in interviews with specialist officers from the NCA’s Vulnerable Persons Team many of the girls told how they referred to her as Auntie Franca.

“Asemota travelled with the girls on flights from Lagos, Nigeria, to Heathrow, between August 2011 and May 2012, with the intention of reaching France. They remained airside during the transit at Heathrow so were not subject to Border Force passport checks.

“However, the trafficking attempts were prevented when French authorities identified

the girl’s false documents on arrival in France. When they were then returned to the UK, Border Force officers carried out further investigations and the case was quickly referred to Immigration Enforcement criminal investigations.”

Five of Asemota’s victims gave evidence against her during the trial. One of them was rescued from prostitution in Montpellier, France, during a joint operation

by Immigration Enforcement and the NCA. The cases were part of Operation Hudson, an Immigration Enforcement-led investigation targeting a number organised crime groups suspected of trafficking young women, via London, for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

Two other persons were convicted in 2013 as part of Operation Hudson. Odosa Usiobaifu, of Enfield, London, and David Osawaru, of Benin City, were sentenced to 14 years and nine years respectively.

I WANT TO GOVERN MY STATE

L-R: People Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Chief Jimoh Ibrahim, receiving the governorship expression of interest form from PDP interim Chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff in Abuja...yesterday Enock Reuben

Orubebe Denies Wrong Doing, Says Contract for East-west Road Awarded by Ekaette Tobi Soniyi inAbuja A former Minister for Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, has described as absurd the allegation that he diverted N1.9billion meant for the compensation of people whose land were taken for the dualisation of the East-West Road in the Niger Delta.

Reacting to the filing of charges against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Orubebe who spoke in Abuja, said the contract for the construction of the road was awarded by his predecessor in office, Chief Ufot Ekatte.

He said payment for the contract was also done by Ekaette.

He described the charges as a psycophancy filed by people who wanted to deceive the president that they were going after Orubebe even when he had done nothing wrong.

He said any issue about the award of the contract and the payment for the East-West Road dualisation project should be directed to Ekaette and not him.

Orubebe, who said he was yet-to-be served with the charge, said payment for the project were made by his predecessor, Ufot Ekaete, who incidentally is from Eket, where the project was to be executed.

The ex-minister said he was interrogated on the issue last year by the ICPC and that when he clarified the issues to them, officials of the commission told him he had no case to answer.

“Ekaete was the Minister for Niger-Delta Affairs when the East-West Road dualisation project started.

The road was initially meant to pass through the community somewhere around Eket, but Ekaete expressed his preference for the by-pass to pass behind the community to aid development and expansion of the community.

“The N1.9billion, which they said Orubebe diverted, was paid under Ekaete as the Minister of Niger-Delta. I did not make any payment. Ekaete paid the money to the construction company. I did not

know when they paid the money.

“While some people agreed with the suggestion by Ekeate that the road should pass behind the community, others disagreed. I met the problem when I became the Minister of Niger-Delta.

“I wrote the governor then, Governor Godswill Akpabio and we held meetings with the members of the community who disagreed on whether or not the by-pass should pass behind the Eket community or inside it.

“I only read the story about the charge in the newspapers. They have not served me. I am still waiting to be served.

“I have nothing to hide. The other time, they took me before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for the land that government gave to me.

I submitted myself for trial. Trial has been concluded, we are only waiting for judgment, which has been postponed twice.

“When you have served your country diligently, people should not be concerned about how to destroy you.

“If I have committed an offence, I am ready to pay for it. The first case that started was in relation to the land that was given to every minister while I was in government.

“I was the only minister that went to sleep in the creeks, talking to militants, that brought about amnesty, and oil production rose for 700,000 barrels to 2.6million barrels per day.

“I have made sacrifices. I served this country for six years and four months. I was taken to court for the land that government gave to me, which I did not buy with my money. Trial has finished in that case, we are only waiting for judgment, and now, they have brought another one. They should leave me alone,” Orubebe said.

The ICPC, in the five-count charge filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), accused Orubebe, Oludare Lawrence Alaba, Ephraim Towelde Zaki and Gitto Construction of allegedly diverting close to N2 billion meant for the dualisation of Section IV of the East-West Road.

FRIDAY AUGUST 5, 2016 • T H I S D AY

13

NEWS

Budget Scandal: APC Embarrassed, Bars All Parties from Public Statements Abdulmumin: C’tee chairmen moved money into MDA budgets Maduabum denies sharing $25,000 to lawmakers Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the federal government are being thoroughly embarrassed by the budget padding scandal raging in the House of Representatives, with the public face off between the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and the erstwhile Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumin, THISDAY has learnt.

The party, in its bid to manage the crises, has therefore barred all parties involved, from making any public statement on the matter to any media channel.

The House has been embroiled in crises following the removal of Abdulmumin by Dogara, over mismanagement of the 2016 budget.

Abdulmumin, employing a scorched earth policy after his ouster, accused Dogara, Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun, Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor of allocating N40 billion to themselves out of the N100 billion appropriated for the National Assembly, and making “senseless’ insertions into the 2016 budget.”

He also petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigeria Police, demanding the arrest and prosecution of the speaker, three principal officers, and 11 committee chairmen for corruption and abuse of office.

Sources told THISDAY that the party is unhappy that the anti-corruption image it has been trying hard to project, has been shattered with the warring factions

airing dirty laundry.

“Its like they have been trying to outdo each other on who can make the most malicious allegations,” an APC chieftain said.

The chieftain, who asked not to be named, added that the party executive has seemingly stood aloof in the crises, with President Muhammadu Buhari worried that the party cannot shake off the stereotype of politicians as being corrupt and self serving.

“Yes, the Senate President is standing trial for a corruption case, but it is for a matter before he joined the party. Yes, we have been accuse doc secret recruitments and such, but nothing has been as serious as this. The parties in the conflict making direct allegations of corruption at each other,” the chieftain said.

“The president is really concerned that Nigerians regard the APC as being for change, but these allegations and counterallegations have messed things up for us. Also it is necessary for the party to present a united front, and not be fighting among ourselves,” he said.

He added that the party is exploring the possibility of resolving the crises using its internal mechanisms.

“We have written formally to the Speaker, and Jibrin, to stop talking to the media, whether social media or mainstream. At the meeting on Tuesday, we had appealed to them to stop talking to the press, but they continued.

Now we have written to them formally, to disregard the directive would be to disobey the party and there are consequences for that,” he added.

The letter, THISDAY gathered, was sent to Dogara and Abdulmumin yesterday and

signed by Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu.

“The party is looking into all the issues raised by both parties, and are looking towards finding a possible solution,” he told THISDAY. Meanwhile, Abdulmumin in his petition to the EFCC, had accused the 11 committee chairmen of moving massive amounts of money into the budgets of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) which they oversight.

A copy of the petition prepared by his lawyers and obtained by THISDAY, accused the Chairman of the Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Herma Hembe, of ‘living above his means’ and being ‘adept at misappropriation.’

Others listed in the petition are Chairman, Committee on Basic Education, Hon. Zakari Mohammed and Chairman, Committee on Health Services, Hon. Chike Okafor, Chairman Committee on Power, Hon. Dan

Asuquo, Chairman, Committee on Interior, Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba, Chairman, Committee on Police Affairs, Hon. Haliru Jika, Chairman, Committee on House Services, Hon. Babanle Ila and Chairman, Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Uzoma Nkem Abonta.

“We humbly petition your office to invetsigate, arrest and prosecute the persons involved in corrupt and fraudulent practices at the House of Representatives.

We shall be failing in our duties and responsibilities as patriotic citizens if we do not expose corruption, even if it is at the highest levels,” it read.

Some of the Chairmen including Mohammed and Jagaba, had denied any wrong doing and expressed openness to any investigations.

Meanwhile, Abdulmumin on his twitter handle early yesterday, urged Nigerians to disregard a circulated WhatsApp chat screenshot featuring him and the publisher of online medium, Sahara Reporters, where he had

instructed the medium to pass of his, Abdulmumuni’s writings, as those of Dogara.

The chat also portrayed the lawmaker as admitting he helped Hon. Aminu Jaji (Chairman, Committee on National Intelligence) increase the budget of the Department of State Services (DSS) from N5 billion to N10 billion, and would therefore be protected.

This, he allegedly, said in response to enquiries from the medium on whether the publication of documents, would not affect him.

“As you are aware, the party and indeed the government have not been happy over recent developments in the House of Representatives over the issue of the 2016 budget. We found it embarrassing to have to deal with another new phenomenon you tagged ‘budget padding’.

“However, I write to thank you for your cooperation in honouring our intervention and your readiness to afford the party the chance to handle the House

budget padding crisis.

“Arising from the series of meetings we held with you over the subject matter, the National Working Committee had decided to request you to henceforth avoid issuing public statement on this matter. This however includes statements through the social media or other means of transmitting an opinion on the matter to the public, as the party is now looking into it towards finding possible solution.”

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Speaker, Hon. C.I.D Maduabum, has refuted the allegations that he was involved in the distribution of $25,000 each to lawmakers to induce them to sign a register for a vote-of-confidence on Dogara.

Abdulmumin had in a series of tweets on Wednesday alleged that Maduabum, along with the Chairman of the Committee on Basic Education, Mohammed and his Interior counterpart, Jagaba, were in charge of the distribution.

Cont’d from page 50

State Govt Not Responsible for LG Wages, Says Oshiomhole Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has excused the state government for the failure of local government authorities to pay their workers, explaining that he meets the monthly wage obligation to the state workers and that local government workers must be paid by their respective local governments and not by the state government.

The governor who spoke when he received the leadership of the National Union of Local Government Workers ( ULGE), led by its National President, Khaleel Ibrahim, said: “I want to say it clearly that Edo State Government does not have the responsibility of paying the salaries of local governments. I am not, and I will not collect taxes from people to pay local government workers. I don’t know what they do in other states, but in Edo State, we respect the full autonomy of local governments and this autonomy goes with responsibility.

I challenge your union leaders to

EDITORS’ CONFERENCE

show any evidence to the contrary.

He explained that under the previous administration, the L-R: Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; Rivers State Governor, revenue of local governments Nyesom Ezenwo Wike; former Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, at the 12th All Nigeria Editors Conference in Port Harcourt.... was being spent on their behalf yesterday by the state government, where they even bought second-hand tractors at an inflated price and distributed to local governments and deducted the money from council funds, without any eye Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja are among the founding members worthwhile and fruitful. The Francis Ikonomwan from Edo, Dr. brow or voices raised. and pioneer state chairmen of the revolutionary victory at the polls Iheanacho from Abia, Dr. Mike N Oshiomhole also pointed out that Some founding members and defunct CPC, the only political party in April 2015 was the culmination Wielaghi from Rivers and Mr. M. A Oderinde from Oyo, among others. just last week, the traditional rulers pioneer state chairmen of the founded, established and owned of that struggle.

The communique made available “The meeting of the Legacy in Esan land said the best the then defunct Congress for Progressive purposely for the actualisation of Forum was convened to to THISDAY read in part; “We, government did for them was to Change (CPC) have joined forces to the Buhari Presidency. give them a loan of N500,000 to demand that they be carried along “As field commanders in the 16 retrospectively congratulate President the undersigned are among the buy cars at that time which they by the President Muhammadu year-old struggle for justice, sanity, Muhammadu Buhari for the victory. following members and original deducted from local governments Buhari-led administration. accountability, transparent, sense The beautiful performance of Mr. stakeholders of the movement of and the union leaders did not Apparently seeking the of direction and genuine unity President so far is invigorating and Buhari for President which dated raise a voice. president’s patronage, the former in Nigeria, we were the direct highly encouraging . It is indeed this back to year 2002, originating from According to him: “What party men urged him to remember targets of and suffered from all performance that made it compelling the defunct All People’s Party (APP) have I done since I came in, that they were part of the struggle forms of PDP brutalisation and for us to convene the meeting in order which converted to All Nigeria first I discovered that during the that culminated in his revolutionary repression from the beginning to the to acknowledge and appreciate as a People’s Party (ANPP) and later tenure of my predecessors, local victory at the polls in April 2015. end of their mis-rule, particularly forum of original stakeholders and metamorphosed to Congress for governments in Edo State had a In a communiqué issued after a during general election when the founding members of the Buhari Progressive Change (CPC) and finally merged with some other opposition tradition of collecting a percentage closed-door meeting in Abuja by 26 prevention of rigging through the Project.”

Some of the defunct CPC political parties to form the present of their money and paying to the state chairmen of the defunct CPC, protection of votes was always our chairmen at the meeting include: ruling party of the central government previous government before they they called on Buhari to “remember main pre-occupation. got their allocation, I said no, this the goose that laid the golden egg “We are however, happy to note Hon. Ahamad Dan Zago from of Nigeria and in most states of the government will not touch local in the scheme of things. that our suffering in the struggle Kano, Sebastian Akpan from Akwa federation, the All Progressives government money.

“Specifically, we the undersigned was not in vain or wasted but Ibom, Oko Agha Chris from Ebonyi, Congress (APC).”

Defunct CPC Chairmen Angry with Buhari

14

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016

COMMENT

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

THE PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMANSHIP RACE

C

Oseghale Erahodu commends the party in its resolve to electing a people-oriented leader

ontrary to the death wish offensive deployed by the ruling (All Progressives Congress (APC) against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recent developments in the PDP point clearly towards a revitalisation of the party driven by a redefinition of its political profile.

Even the most pessimistic pundit must concede that the tempo and temperature of the battle for the soul of the PDP that pitched Ali Modu Sheriff against Ahmed Makarfi highlights the rise of Africa’s largest party rather than its fall.

The eerie irony of the PDP’s defiant profile is that the ruling APC’s pathetic squandering of electoral popularity is providing the impetus for Nigerians to earnestly yearn for a repositioned PDP renaissance.

Believe it!

Arguably, the most potent force of redefinition and repositioning of the dynamics of PDP politics is the wave of shifts and slides of party command and control generated from within the party itself as marvellously manifested in the Ali Modu Sheriff- Makarfi skirmishes.

The strategic impact of that episode has dealt a heavy blow on the presumed pre-eminence of PDP governors in determining which way the party goes. It was a blow long expected but stoutly deflected by the governors until the inevitable alienation of majority of members finally swept them out of dominance and relevance, owing among others, to poor judgment in their choice of Ali Modu Sheriff as national chairman.

Today’s scenario of a new PDP devoid of the arrogance of power brandished by governors and their legion of collaborators is the best thing to have happened to the party because it has effectively restored the more legitimate leverage of the hitherto powerless members and followers. Most significantly, we now have the best opportunity to restore the elective sovereignty of delegates in the choice of candidates of the party which was the greatest casualty in the monopolistic manipulation of power by past governors of the party. It has since been confirmed that the erosion of internal party democracy which eventually crippled the PDP began with the subjugation of the process of emergence of delegates to the whims and caprices of state governors. The remarkable resolve of the credible leaders of the party to stay the course in charting a new people-oriented direction for rebuilding the PDP has also strategically snubbed the judicial junketing approach to management of democratic party politics that once frustrated the popular will of party members. In particular, the decision to jettison the decadent duelling among northern party leaders over the remnants of party chairmanship tenure by fast forwarding the southern ticket has adequately liberated the full potential of credible, people- oriented leadership capacity to the obvious advantage of the party’s rejuvenation agenda.

In this context the exciting emergence of High Chief Raymond Dokpesi as a leading contender for the national chairmanship of the party is symbolic of the much needed redefinition of the political profile and character of the new PDP. For the first time in a long time we are having a credible contestant for the chairmanship of the PDP who is not fronting for one clandestine clique or the other but is proudly and confidently counting on his rich political track record and entrepreneurial excellence.

Chief Dokpesi has a unique record of always making himself and his highly influential national and international media organisation,

TODAY’S SCENARIO OF A NEW PDP DEVOID OF THE ARROGANCE OF POWER BRANDISHED

BY GOVERNORS AND THEIR LEGION OF COLLABORATORS IS THE BEST THING TO HAVE HAPPENED TO THE PARTY BECAUSE IT HAS EFFECTIVELY RESTORED THE MORE LEGITIMATE LEVERAGE OF THE HITHERTO POWERLESS MEMBERS AND FOLLOWERS

DAAR Communications available for the advancement of the cause of the PDP especially in times of need to the extent that he endeared himself to the mass membership of the party. Across Nigeria, Chief Dokpesi’s liberal management of his media empire empowered thousands of political activists, including PDP members at all levels, to speak out and contribute positively to the growth of the democratic process. It is indeed doubtful if there is any politician anywhere in Nigeria who can be compared with High Chief Dokpesi in terms of qualitative promotion of democratic culture through mass media and liberal accessibility.

Even more remarkable about High Chief Dokpesi’s political career is the fact that he has always felt comfortable playing the supportive role, empowering others and generally facilitating the political progress of the PDP and its members. He has campaigned valiantly even at great risk to his life in his home constituency just to ensure that the PDP retains its dominance. He has frequently offered his personal facilities to host crucial meetings of the party requiring neutral grounds.

Yet the High Chief has not joined the tempting tendency to demand personal dividends for party contribution by seeking powerful offices in the party or ruling government or bull-dozing his way around as several other PDP leaders have done with reckless abandon.

Now that he has expressed interest in being the national chairman of the new PDP by setting the pace and carrying his campaign train through the southern states in a record one week and started his consultations with delegates and party men and women in the northern states, it is obvious the name of the game has changed.

High Chief Dokpesi is actually returning to his familiar territory where long time ago, he earned a reputation as a detribalised nationalist who feels at home and gives his best wherever he finds himself. Taken together, the political career of Chief Dokpesi has earned him all the credentials required to lead the way in the national assignment of redefining PDP and restoring the democratic aspirations of Nigerians currently marooned under the failed government of the APC. He is indeed a man of the people fit to lead Africa’s largest political party to a befitting rebirth.

Furthermore, it must be noted that in the history of elections into national offices of the PDP, this is the very first time ever an aspirant to the office of national chairman would embark on a nationwide tour of all 36 states of the federation and Abuja to meet with party men and women, leaders and delegates in their constituencies, mingle with and listen to their problems, worries and expectations. Little wonder therefore that he has raised the bar of electioneering in the manner he has been received everywhere he has been to with resounding applause and endorsements.

This unprecedented move and the accolades bestowed upon him has set in a paradigm shift in the consciousness of party members and their expectations of leaders seeking political party offices.

Indeed more than anything else, this is hardly about the person of Dokpesi and other contenders but more about what he represents - people oriented politics anchored upon time tested principles of internal democracy as opposed the anointing and selection process by a few.

Erahodu wrote from Abuja

THE OMENS LOOK GOOD

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The South-east senatorial district in Rivers State expresses confidence in the PDP, writes Simeon Nwakaudu

he Rivers South-East Senatorial District rally in Bori, headquarters of the Ogoni Ethnic Nationality, proved to be the highpoint of the peoples’ demonstration of love and support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The rally proved beyond reasonable doubt that those who postponed the rerun elections were misled by the Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC) as the people of the district from the eight local government areas gathered in peace to make their political statement. They used the performance of Governor Nyesom Wike as a yardstick for endorsing all the candidates of the PDP. It further proved that the state has only one political party, the PDP. The celebratory processions round Bori town by thousands of PDP supporters brought to the fore why the APC leaders are afraid of elections. No matter the manipulation from the frighthened APC leaders and their candidates, the people of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District passed a message. That they are with the PDP. Speaker after Speakers declared their support for the PDP, insisting that for the first time in recent history of the district, a government has developed the district in a way that has changed the fortune of the area. Just close to the venue of the rally the bulldozers were working hard on the Sakpenwa -Bori Road. Also, nearby is the rehabilitation of the Birabi Memorial Grammar School. These are clear testimonials of PDP’s

commitment to the people of the district.

Former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Mr.Tele Ikuru noted that the performance of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has made it difficult for any other political party to make an inroad in the district. He said there was nothing good that would come out of the Rivers APC, saying that the people of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District would always vote the PDP. “I told you that they are liars, they are cheats and nothing good will come out of them. Today, you are seeing things for yourself. That is why we should remain with the PDP “, declared the former Deputy Governor.

PDP Candidate for Gokana/Khana Federal Constituency, Hon. Dum Dekor said that the people of Rivers South-East Senatorial District have made a loud statement by their mass turnout for the rally despite the postponement of the rerun elections.

He advised INEC to as a matter of urgency conduct the rerun elections so that the people of the district will be adequately represented at the national and state assemblies.

Former acting National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, berated the APC led federal government for entrenching an era of inconclusive elections. He said the action was tantamount to corruption as the nation’s resources were wasted on unending elections. The Chairman, PDP, Rivers State Chapter, Mr. Felix Obuah, expressed boundless joy and satisfaction over the

huge and enthusiastic participation by the people of the Rivers South-East Senatorial district in the Thursday, July 28, 2016, rally of the party in Bori.

Obuah particularly commended the peoples of Ogoni, Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro and Oyigbo that make up that senatorial district as well as other residents and business operators in the area who defied the heavy downpour to demonstrate their unwavering acceptance and support for the PDP and the Governor Wike-led government in Rivers State. The PDP chairman said the people of the area have further demonstrated and reassured him, Governor Wike and the party leadership that they did not need to entertain any doubt about the resolute position of the people to vote for the candidates of the PDP whenever INEC decided to hold the elections.

Leader of the PDP in Rivers State and Rivers State Governor Wike said the show of support by the people of the district indicated that the people were appreciative of his development projects in the area. Governor Wike has assured that he would never play politics with the development of the Ogoni ethnic nationality, hence he is executing critical projects in the area. The governor stated that PDP will continue to win all elections in the state because of the performance of his administration and the goodwill the party enjoys amongst the people. Wike maintained that the main opposition party in the state cannot campaign because her leaders squandered the resources of the state for eight years without

executing pro-people projects.

He said: “The Ogoni people know I am committed to their development. I have never lied to them. Whatever promise I made, I have taken steps to fulfill. This I have done despite the financial constraints. “When they were receiving N20 billion monthly, they promised to execute projects in Ogoni land, but they failed the people.

Today, we are receiving about N4billion monthly and we are executing the key projects we promised the Ogoni people “.

He said those who spent four years at the National Assembly without attracting any development project to Ogoniland, should shelve their ambition as they lack what it takes to develop the area. The governor called on INEC to take necessary steps to conduct the outstanding rerun elections in the state, saying that the endless wait is not good for development.

He charged PDP supporters to be peaceful during the electioneering process in line with the peace accord signed in Abuja, but added that all PDP supporters must remain vigilant. The governor urged INEC to work towards credible polls and avoid a situation where the elections are manipulated to favour the opposition party.

With the mass support enjoyed by the PDP in this Senatorial District, it is clear that all her candidates will emerge victorious whenever the rerun elections are conducted.

Nwakaudu is Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016

EDITORIAL THE SIEGE ON IKORODU Security agencies need the cooperation of the people to tame the criminals Last week, the military joined forces with other security agencies and invaded the creeks of Ikorodu, a crime infested area of Lagos. The operation, backed by the police, navy and air force fighter jets, was mainly targeted at Arepo and Ibafo in Ogun State, two other areas notorious for violent crimes, particularly pipeline vandalism. Indeed, for five days, Arepo, said to be the base of many of the hardened criminals, came under intense bombardment. “The Nigerian military and policemen from Lagos and Ogun commands are part of the operation,” said Dolapo Badmos, Lagos State police spokesperson.

“We are sweeping through the waterways where we share boundaries to end the activities of criminals. It is a continuous exercise.”

The military offensive was not unexpected. For several months now, some riverine and border communities of Lagos and Ogun States have been grabbing the headlines for the wrong reasons. Only recently, about 20 persons were reportedly killed after a gang of criminals invaded some villages in Imushin, a border community between Lagos and Ogun States.

WE URGE THE PEOPLE It is noteworthy TO FEED THE SECURITY that Ikorodu, a AGENCIES WITH sprawling Lagos subINTELLIGENCE THAT urb, has for several COULD LEAD TO THE months been under ARREST OF CRIMINALS IN the vice-grip of all THEIR MIDST manner of crimes – from armed robbery, rape, cult wars to pipeline vandalism.

Communities like Isawo and Majidun have become notorious for illegal oil bunkering while the industrial estate of Odogunyan was turned the headquarters of bank robberies and violent cult wars. On a Sunday morning two weeks ago, Pastor Kayode Bajomo of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, was kidnapped from his church in the Lagos suburb. His whereabouts remains unknown with his captors reportedly asking

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DOGARA IS A GOOD MAN

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have been watching with keen interest the allegations levelled against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and 10 other principal officers, on budget padding by the former Chairman, Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, and arrived at the conclusion that Jibrin was a on a mission of vengeance. It was designed to paint the Speaker black so as to justify his (Jibrin) reasons of being sacked as the chairman, Committee on Appropriation. To say the least, Jibrin deserved no praise for keeping such information to himself.

If the allegations were true, why wait until he was sacked before releasing it for public consumption?

Was it not the same Jibrin that his colleagues accused of appropriating to his constituency projects running into billions? So why is he the one now crying foul? It is said that those who go to equity should endeavour to be clean. Well, many will still not be surprised because as Chairman, Committee on Appropriation, he was accused of high headedness, and of hiding facts from his colleagues that were in the same committee. With regard to the issue at stake I can wager that the allegations were fabricated, meant to satisfy the ego of his paymasters. In order to

for N100 million as ransom.

In the past the communities had initiated efforts to impose order through a band of vigilantes. But they made little or no impression. Last Friday, the Lagos State Government’s monthly interactive session themed: “Securing our Communities,” devoted special attention to Ikorodu. “Lagos State Government has established a Rapid Response Squad Marine Police and is now working with the naval authority to ensure that the creeks are taken care of,” said Kehinde Bamigbetan, Special Adviser to the Governor on Communities and Communication. “Monitoring and surveillance of these areas has increased and Lagos State is contributing its own quota to ensure that both the marine police and naval authority are able to respond to the challenges facing our creeks.”

For many people living in these communities, they have little or no faith in such assurance of security and safety. Given the scale of the problem, many frustrated inhabitants are fleeing in droves while others are putting up their property for sale. What’s more, the criminals are extending the cancer of violence to other areas within the Lagos suburb.

In the last few weeks, places like Igando, a community in Alimosho Local Government Area that abuts the creeks, and Iba in Ojo Local Government Area, have come under intense attacks by the marauding criminals, thus increasing the misery of the people. A fortnight ago, Oba Goriola Oseni, the Oniba of Ibaland, was kidnapped right inside his palace in a commando-like style and ferried into the creeks. His whereabouts is yet to be established as the criminals are asking for a N500 million in ransom payment.

However, as Bamigbetan emphasised last week, information gathering is an integral part of securing the environment “as it is the fuel on which both offensive and defensive operations are based”. We urge the people to feed the security agencies with intelligence that could lead to the arrest of criminals in their midst. Given the scale of the problem, we also

paint the speaker black, he went ahead to submit petitions to the ant-graft agency and also made a press statement calling for the arrest and removal of Dogara without allowing the agency to carry out their investigations in order to ascertain the facts before prosecution. All these make the whole issue looks suspicious.

Even though, he has created ground for public assault on the speaker and the 10 principal officers and to destabilise the activities of the National Assembly, one does not need to be told who Yakubu Dogara is: a man of humility with good track records in all his endeavours. Judging right from the time he was Committee Chairman of Nigerian Customs in the 6th Assembly to that of Chairman, House Services in the 7th Assembly, his name did not feature in any shady deals. The speaker is a trail-blazer who demonstrated leadership in the composition of committee chairmen that would run the affairs of the House. So Jibrin’s efforts to corner constituency projects to the tune of N4.3billion which was thwarted by the speaker triggered his anger to draw a battle line. Unfortunately, this would not work because the speaker has a track record of honesty and transparency.

Eric Ujebor, Abuja

OGUN FREE HEALTH ACCESS CARD

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t looked like the ATM card at a distance. I drew closer to some of the pregnant women and officials of the Ogun State Ministry of Health in order to assess it. Indeed, it was like the ATM or National Identity Card. The biometrics of the beneficiaries was captured in the cards. The poor pregnant women at the event caressed them and offered gratitude to the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, for a new lease of life.

From that day, Monday, July 11, 2016, when the Araya Scale-up (Community Based Health Insurance Scheme) was launched at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, the card qualifies them to visit any of the designated Health Care Providers in their respective local councils and access free health care without paying a dime.

The free health treatment covers all manner of local endemic diseases that contend with the health of pregnant women, mothers and their children.

Ante natal and post natal services are assured. They will equally not have to worry about payment for diagnostic tests as this is also covered by the scheme.

This is the first of such scheme in the history of Ogun State. With the Ogun Araya Access Card, according to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Tunde Ipaye, the pregnant women who belong to the lower 25 per cent of the population, living on less than two dollars a day and their children under the age of five,

have access to free health services without any form of payment.

This is not a scheme in the pipeline. Many pregnant women in Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South Local Government Areas are already enjoying the free health facilities, including free drugs.

This social insurance scheme, once again, highlights the welfarist policy of the Ibikunle Amosun-led administration in Ogun State. As the governor often says, we are here because of these people. From July till the end of the year 2016, over 20,000 pregnant women and their Under-five children will go to any four designated Health Care Providers (private and public) in their respective local councils with their Araya Access Cards and get free health services anytime, any day, 24/7!

And to underscore his commitment to the free health scheme, the governor has already released in advance funds for this scheme till the end of 2016.

The leadership of the National Health Insurance Scheme and Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, were so impressed by this innovation and practical commitment demonstrated by the state government that they pledged to collaborate with the current administration. And if they make good their promise, as we expect them to do, the 20,000 number should double by the end of 2016.

Soyombo Opeyemi, Abeokuta

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FRIDAY AUGUST 5, 2016 T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY FOCUS

A Metaphoric Memory of Fajuyi Although last week’s event by a Yoruba think-tank held at the University of Ibadan, was solely dedicated to the gallant Yoruba army general killed in the 1966 counter-coup, it also served as an opportunity for top notch leaders of the Southwest region to harp on the essential changes that the region and the nation must embrace. Shola Oyeyipo writes It was indeed a captivating and well rehashed story of the Yoruba race and how the Southwest region must capitalise on its potential to bring about the much needed change in Nigeria when prominent discussants converged on the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Oyo State to extol the rare loyalty displayed by late General Adekunle Fajuyi, which a majority of the speakers considered inherent in Yoruba people towards togetherness and unity of the country.

The story of the late Fauyi, who was killed in the 1966, counter-coup is not lost on many Nigerians. So, even as it was retold with effect of immediacy, the event smacked of a people, who are becoming more united to push for a common front. This, they also reckoned, could be an instructive poser for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the President Muhammadu Buhari leadership in the near future. The Yoruba are becoming more resolute in the clamour for the restructuring of Nigeria.

Before the event, there had been signs that some Yoruba leaders were prepared to drop their party affiliations and come together in the interest of the region to clamour for a better deal for the Yoruba nation. That much, one of the stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, said recently in an interview when he said he was prepared to work with anyone in the interest of the Yoruba nation.

Similarly, a former Lagos State governor and one of the national leaders of APC, Senator Bola Tinubu recently closed rank with former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, in what was seen as part of an arrangement to make the South-west more formidable politically.

And lately, there have many pointers to such reconciliation across the region.

The Ibadan event, however, attracted notable as Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, General Alani Akinrinade (rtd), Pastor Tunde Bakare, Mrs. Tokunbo Awolowo, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Prof. Niyi Osundare, Yinka Odumakin, General Femi Olutoye, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Mr. Dele Alake, a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State.

Other are Dr. Amos Akingba, Mr. Tunji Olaopa, Mr. Moshood Erubami, deputy governor Ogun, Prof. Banji Akintoye, former Speaker, Oyo State House Assembly, Ashimiyu Alarape, the representative of the Ooni of Ife, HRM Adeyeye Ogunwusi and other notable leaders drawn from the academia, religious leaders, traditional leaders and civil society groups.

The keynote speaker, a renowned poet and literary critic, Professor Niyi Osundare, in an extensive and thought-provoking lecture titled: ‘Fajuyi and the Politics of Remembrance’, said Nigeria was suffering from Hero Deficit Complex (HDC), translating that the country is “a land with a missing ace in its grid of values”.

He wondered: “Why is this gallant soldier (Fajuyi) hardly ever remembered save in his ethnic base? What does this say about Nigeria’s imperfect union, the character of her values, the nature of her memory, the politics of her remembrance?

“What a forgetful, ungrateful nation had done to the remembrance of his exceptional gallantry and inspiring integrity. You know a country by the kind of people it remembers.

Remembrance is an enabling companion of memory; and also its handmaiden. So, there goes Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, the soldier-leader for whom valour was a prime virtue, brave in battle, brave beyond it; paragon and parable. It

Fajuyi...died for a cause

was Nigeria’s truly first attempt at the proverbial handshake across the Niger – with his own life.

But so far, Nigeria has shunned that handshake, forcing that generous, idealistic hand to coil back to its startled pocket.”

According to him, that Fajuyi is not celebrated as a national icon is simply because the country is yet to attain nationhood. “Were Nigeria a country with a solvent memory bank and a faculty of active remembrance, Adekunle Fajuyi would have his statue in prominent public spaces all over the country, and the story of his gallantry told and retold from generation to generation.

“For when those mutineers assailed the Government House in Ibadan on the night of July 29, 1966, and demanded the head of his guest, General Aguiyi-Ironsi, Nigeria’s head of state, Fajuyi, in the true spirit ofOmoluabism, refused to betray his Commander-in-Chief who was also his guest. He stood his ground. He barred the exit of honour from his household with his own body, with his own life.”

What a forgetful, ungrateful nation had done to the remembrance of his exceptional gallantry and inspiring integrity.

You know a country by the kind of people it remembers. Remembrance is an enabling companion of memory; and also its handmaiden. So, there goes Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, the soldier-leader for whom valour was a prime virtue, brave in battle, brave beyond it; paragon and parable

He said while Fajuyi could have opted to trade the security of his guest for his own safety and possibly some plum position in the new government that was sure to emerge from the coup, a development that would have triggered a development with far-reaching personal, ethnic, national repercussions and ultimately change the course of Nigerian history and its ethno-regional complexion as we know them today, he stood his ground.

He expressed disdain for the state of affairs in Nigeria, where ethnic difference is so inherent whereas the likes of Fajuyi had paid the price with their lives without considering ethnic segregation, stressing that “No country can ever achieve nationhood when its component parts are as incorrigibly heterogeneous and so mutually antagonistic as Nigeria now is and has always been. This is why those who blissfully aver that ‘Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable’ should quickly reconsider the dangerously complacent certitude in their avowal.

“If the house has not fallen according to Karl Maeier’s apocalyptic prognostication, it is simply because Nigeria has been extraordinarily lucky. The Avenging Angels of the Niger Delta, the resurgent Biafra agitators, the increasingly violent clashes between nomadic herdsmen and native populations, and other ethno-regional and religious eruptions in different parts of Nigeria are all pointers to the cracks in the walls of the house that Lugard built for the glory of the British Empire.

“The component parts have never met on any genuinely democratic platform to negotiate the terms of their co-existence. We cannot afford not to do something about this imperfect union. To refuse to re-structure is to prepare to de-structure,” he stated.

He, however, warned that Nigerians must “scrutinize” the connotations of restructuring as currently being depicted because he considers it more a “mantra, a miracle code, and sound bite in the mouths of political opportunists, and some vengeful incantation in the arsenal of those temporarily out of power.”

To Osundare, the Yoruba strand of the national question narrative deserves a thorough, hardnosed, and visionary appraisal. He said “Those who call for a relative autonomy that would allow Nigeria’s federating units appreciable room to develop their own way have their

fingers right on top of the problem”, adding that “but we need to find a way of doing this without allowing it to degenerate into a goodwe vs bad-they; civilised-we vs primitive-they; advanced-we vs backward-they”.

Alluding to Osundare’s averment that Fajuyi ought to be a rallying point in the search for a common national identity, foremost preacher and running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2011 presidential election, Pastor Tunde Bakare said any Northerner or whoever is against the call for restructuring Nigeria are working against the positions of Nigerian heroes.

“Any anti-restructuring position taken by the North would bring to the courts of historical opinion the sincerity of the motives of the perpetrators of the countercoup that led to the death of Adekunle Fajuyi. The elders of the North who, today, are opposed to the call to restructure Nigeria have deviated from the ideals of the founding fathers of Northern Nigeria – the likes of the Sardauna, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Tafawa Balewa – leaders of our nation, who were forerunners of Fajuyi in the Nigerian hall of martyrdom.

“Lest we forget, these great Nigerian leaders from the North made it clear in the series of constitutional conferences that heralded Nigeria’s independence that true federalism with regional autonomy were the only condition under which they would exist within a Nigerian nation.

“Need we remind those in opposition to restructuring today that one of the main grouses of Nigerians of northern extraction within the army and civil society after the first coup was the abrogation of the federal system by the Aguiyi-Ironsi led government? This, without doubt, was the main reason the northern leaders and the counter-coupists, who took the lives of Aguiyi-Ironsi and Fajuyi demanded a reversal of the unification decree and a return to the federal system of government. Consequently, to oppose restructuring now, fifty years after, is to confirm the words of Aesop, that “the injury we do and the one we suffer are not weighed in the same scales.”

“In case it is not clearly understood by the antagonists of restructuring, whether they be from the North or the South, let me make it clear that the call for restructuring is a demand for true federalism; a demand for federating units that can truly self-administer like the regions in the days of our Founding Fathers; a demand for the prosperity of the constituent parts that make up the whole. It is therefore inconsistent with the interest of the North or the South for the current pseudo-federal structure to persist,” he said.

The Ondo State Governor, Mr. Olusegun Mimiko also harped on the urgent need for Yoruba, whom he said have played significant roles in charting the course for Nigeria to begin to genuinely x-ray what options is presented to the country.

“We cannot overemphasis the need to teach our younger generation our history so that they know where we are coming from. Yoruba always provided the platform for change and where action is needed too, we take action.

The 1964-1965 coup, operation wet e, the 1966 countercoup, 1983, the June 12 resistance, the doctrine of necessity evolved to resolve the constitutional crisis that followed late president Yar’ Adua’s death, occupy Nigeria, the change that transformed Agbada to bow tie overnight is Yoruba effort. Would we have taken those steps if we did the political economics of what we did?” he asked.

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016

POLITICS

PERSPECTIVE

What Donald Trump Would Not Do The world will be better and saner with Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump as president of the United States, reckons Femi Fani-Kayode

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our months ago, I wrote an essay titled: “Mr. Trump and Islam”. In that contribution, I argued that Donald Trump, the American entrepreneur and billionaire presidential candidate, was unstoppable. I said he would win the nomination as standard bearer for the Republican Party and then, against all odds, go on to win the November presidential election against Hillary Clinton.

The first has happened and, even though many in our country would disagree with me, the second is likely to happen as well. In my view, the world needs Donald Trump and consequently, I am with him all the way. During the coming election debates, he should do the Nigerian people a favour and ask Hillary Clinton one question. That question is as follows: Why did she and President Barack Obama refuse to designate Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation until late 2014?

This was after they had slaughtered over 100,000 innocent Nigerians in the space of 4 years. If the victims had been Americans, would they have taken so long to designate them as terrorists? Is Nigerian blood not red and do Nigerian lives not matter?

Donald Trump would never have made such a mistake or tolerated such evil. If he had been the POTUS for the last seven years and not Barack Obama, Boko Haram would have been designated a terrorist organisation five years ago.

If he had been the POTUS for the last seven years, there would have been no ISIS today and Al Qaeda would have been history long ago. If he had been the POTUS for the last seven years, there would be no war in Syria today; Ghadaffi would still be alive and Libya would still have been at peace.

If he had been POTUS for the last seven years, the American Ambassador and four others in Benghazi would not have been murdered, the Muslim Brotherhood would never have won an election in Egypt and Iraq and Afghanistan would be in better shape today.

If he had been POTUS for the last seven years, Al-Shabab would have been destroyed, Somalia would have been less dangerous, Israel would be safer and Iran would not have been handed a “sweet” nuclear arms deal on a silver plate.

Hillary Clinton was the Secretary of State of America, when all of these things happened or were initiated. She, therefore, has to bear as much responsibility for them as Barack Obama does.

Unlike Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, when it comes to foreign policy, Donald Trump is incapable of tolerating and accepting evil from those, who espouse terrorism and the cold-blooded murder of women and children as a way of life.

That is the difference between him and them. He knows what to do to the Islamist terrorists and he will support any foreign government that will take a hardline against those that slaughter the innocents in the name of their god. He will crush those that wish to establish a new world caliphate in which non-Muslims and moderate Muslims are slaughtered or turned into slaves.

Unlike Barack Obama he will not pamper the terrorists, encourage them in some parts and treat them with kid’s gloves.

Instead, he will wage a hard, full-scale, relentless and comprehensive war against them. He will, like Russia’s Vladimir Putin, see it as a battle of the forces of light against the citadels of darkness.

He will view it as an end-time war between the sons and daughters of God and the emissaries and agents of Satan.He will decimate the ranks of the Philistines, the Amalekites, the Midianites and all the other vultures, vampires and blood-thirsty

It is time that we had someone in the White House, who is not fettered by political correctness and who has the strength of character and political will to do what has to be done to rid the world of evil.

That man is Donald Trump and despite what others may think, I believe that he will make a damn good President

Trump...why he’d make a better president

barbarians in our midst.

He will not support a Nigerian government that has a clear-cut religious and ethnic agenda, that seeks to shame and dehumanise Christians and that is attempting to restrict the spread of the gospel of Christ. He will not pamper and encourage a government that goes out of its way to persecute and destroy all those that it perceives as a threat and that it considers to be its enemies.

He will not encourage a government that destroys the morale of the people, reduces their standard of living, destroys the economy and squanders its resources.

He will not prop up an administration that joins an all-Muslim international military coalition even though the majority of the population it governs is Christians.

He will not stand by a government, whose army murdered one thousand Shiite Muslims, bulldosed their homes and desecrated their graves simply because they blocked a VIP from using a road.

He will not support a president, who is incapable of reaching out to those that refused to vote for him even in the name of peace and national unity.

He will not encourage a government that wages a selective, vindictive and nonsensical “war against corruption” in which the enemies of state are locked up indefinitely and the friends of the president and his ruling party are above the law and untouchable.

He will not support a government that wages a so-called “war against corruption” in which only the president’s perceived enemies are targeted and which is not based on any cogent evidence of any wrongdoing but rather on coercion, intimidation, extortion, threats, sensational lies, media witch-hunts, ridiculous and unsubstantiated allegations and heinous

disinformation.

He will not support a government that refuses to protect its own people from the barbarians and terrorists known as the Fulani herdsmen and which has made no arrests after thousands of non-Fulanis have been murdered and raped by those same terrorists over the last one year.

He will not support a government that sat by silently and allowed genocide to take place in Agatu and who encouraged the state-sponsored murder of many young, defenceless and innocent IPOB protesters in the south-east.

He will not support a government that calls in Blackwater mercenaries from Saudi Arabia to wage war against his own people and is hell bent on using his army to crush the militants and good people of the Niger Delta area. He will not cheer for a government that violates court orders, breaches the constitutional and human rights of its own citizens and tries to intimidate the Judiciary.

He will not stand by a government that tries to humiliate and muzzle the National Assembly by destroying the Senate President and discrediting that hallowed chamber. He will not support a government that locks up its political enemies and, despite court orders and public outrage, throws away the keys.

He will not support a government and a political party that is surreptitiously trying to push a National Grazing Reserve Bill through the legislature in an attempt to grab southern and Middle Belt lands. It is for all these reasons and much more that I am an ardent fan and supporter of Donald Trump. America needs him and so does the rest of the world.

It is time that we had someone in the White House, who is not fettered by political correctness and who has the

strength of character and political will to do what has to be done to rid the world of evil. That man is Donald Trump and despite what others may think, I believe that he will make a damn good President.

Permit me to end this contribution with an aside: On 29th July, 2016 CNN reported that “the Nigerian government is preparing troops for a crackdown in the Niger Delta if peace talks fail”. This is sad and ominous. As United States Senator Ted Cruz once said “the light of truth is stronger than the terror of darkness”.

It follows that the biggest mistake that the Buhari administration can possibly make is to attempt to “crack down” on the Niger Delta and kill innocent civilians.

If this ever happens, for whatever reason, it will set off a chain of events that will lead to the end of Nigeria as we know it.

Nigeria will disintegrate before Buhari’s very eyes if any more innocent blood is shed and if the towns, creeks and villages of the oil-producing states are shelled and reduced to rubble.

Sadly, the slaughter has already started with the reported bombing and killing of over one hundred people by the Nigerian Armed Forces in the creeks of Lagos, Ondo and Ogun States on the fringes of Yorubaland, all in the name of fighting the Ijaw militants.

The question is this: were those that were murdered and whose villages were subjected to what the Nigerian media has described as “massive aerial bombing” innocent Yorubas and Ijaws or were they war-mongering and pipeline-vandalising militants.

The answer to that question remains to be seen but whatever it is, one thing remains clear: the cries of marginalisation and the cause of the people of the Niger Delta, and indeed that of the Igbo people of the eastern region, is rooted in truth and is manifestly just. Their struggles and aspirations are legitimate and reasonable.

Self-determination is a right. It is a concept and principle that is universally accepted and that has the backing of international law. You do not threaten to bomb those that seek to exercise that right: you treat them with respect, decency and decorum and you attempt to persuade them to stay.

This is a point that is lost on President Buhari and those around him. The bottom-line is this: the Niger Delta Avengers are not Boko Haram, taking them on in the field of battle would be a monumental error. Violence begets nothing but violence and peaceful dialogue is the only way to appease a people that have been maligned, cheated and wounded. A word is enough for the wise.

-Fani-Kayode is a former Minister of Aviation

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BUSINESSWORLD NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

R A T E S NIBOR

4.5833% 15.2916%

3-MONTH 6-MONTH

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17.6379% 19.7737%

A T

NITTY 1-MONTH 2-MONTH 3-MONTH

Group Business Editor Chika Amanze-Nwachuku

Email chika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com 08033294157

J U L Y 15.5180% 16.0890% 16.2215%

2 9 ,

6-MONTH 9-MONTH 12-MONTH

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EXCHANGE RATE NN321.16/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Medview Takes Delivery of B747-400

Medview Airline has taken delivery of a B747-400 and operated it for the first time on its schedule flight from London- Gatwick with 400 passengers on board.

The airline said the operation was made possible with the approval of the British Civil Aviation Authorities with the switch from B767-300ER to B747-400 The 463 passenger capacity aircraft with Medview Airline livery touched down the Murtala Muhammed International airport arrived Monday.

An elated Med-View Airline Managing Director/CEO, Alhaji Muneer Bankole said the aircraft would be used to consolidate Lagos-London route operations as well as the Hajj operations, pointing out that the opening up the transatlantic route was on the front burner.

He said a B777-200 would join the fleet this week to coincide with the airline 10th Anniversary of its foray into Hajj operations.

Alhaji Bankole said three jumbo jets - B777-200, B747-400 and B767-300ER would be devoted to the 2016 Hajj operations, which begin next week.

Arik Bags W’African Airline of the Year

OPEN SKY AFRICA

L-R: Organiser Accra Weizo, Mr. Ikechi Uko; Coordinator, East Africa Tourism Platform (EATP), Carmen Nibigira; Chief Executive Office, Asky Airlines, Henok Teferra, and Vice Chairman, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), Mr. Chike Ogeah at the 2016 Accra Wezo held in Accra, Ghana… recently

Foreign Airlines Lost N6.4bn to Naira Devaluation Why Nigerians pay higher airfares

Chinedu Eze The Country Manager of British Airways, Kola Olayinka has disclosed that foreign airlines operating in Nigeria lost N6.4billion in the N157.6 billion ($800) of their revenues trapped in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) when the Naira was devalued from N197 to N280 by the apex regulator.

The BA Country Manager explained that the total amount of money trapped in CBN before the devaluation was $800 million

AVIATION and for every $1million the airlines lost N80million.

Olayinka made this known on Wednesday during the Aviation Round Table (ART) Breakfast Meeting in Lagos. He explained that the fares Nigerians pay for international destinations have increased because more naira is exchanged for dollars, but passengers still pay the same fare in dollar denomination.

He said that the economic

downturn and scarcity of the dollar are bringing uncertainties in the Nigerian economy and have affected every business done in Nigeria and in the entire economy.

“Dollar scarcity is bringing about uncertainties to all businesses. $800m was in our banks that needed to be transferred. We were selling for N197, when it went up to N285. For every $I million, we lost N80 million,” he said.

Olayinka said the devaluation and the trapping of airlines funds

eroded their finances and led to their adjustments in order to survive, while some of the airlines were forced out of the Nigerian market.

“Some of the airlines could not survive. There were a lot of readjustments. BA readjusted by flying Boeing B777, Virgin Atlantic moved to Airbus A330, in a bid to readjust the seat capacity. The fare $1,000 was not changed. The airlines have not increased the fare, the dollar Continued on page 20

Nigeria, Others Seek WTO, UNCTAD Interventions on Illegal Shipping Charges Eromosele Abiodun Following the flurry of illegal shipping charges in developed and developing nations, Nigeria has joined the Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) to seek the intervention of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to end the trend.

The forum reasons that both UNCTAD, which is a principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment, and development issues and WTO, can compel international shipping lines and terminal operators to stop illegal charges in countries where they operate.

At a meeting in Colombo, Sri-Linka, South Asia, members of the forum gave sad accounts of

MARITIME what happens in their countries, stressing that surcharges and terminal handling charges by shipping lines and terminal operators in various countries are negatively affecting international trade.

The Secretary General of GSF, Mr. Chris Welsh in his remarks said the illegal charges are causing a sense of frustration and anger among members.

However, Welsh said the Forum intends to end the imposition of such surcharges on shippers by 2020 through a series of actions which will expose the scale and injustice of the practice to world trade bodies.

The concerns of the shippers on the charges in Asia-Europe trade routes were that most times

they exceed the contracted prices for shipments, a situation which according to them makes management of total shipping costs unpredictable for the owners of goods.

Welsh said during the meeting, “Our campaign will expose the extent of surcharging and make it an issue in future trading agreements. We are determined to end these practices and restore visibility to shipping rates and confidence to shippers.”

Participants stated that most times, the illegal charges cannot be substantiated by the service providers.

Some West and Central African countries who attended the conference include Nigeria, Ghana and Republic of Benin.

They were represented by the Shippers’ councils in their countries.

Head of Nigeria’s delegation to the forum and a Director with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Azuka Ogo, gave an account of the various efforts by the Council to check terminal operators and shipping lines in Nigeria from introducing unapproved charges.

Ogo said the terminal operators and shipping lines in Nigeria took the Council to court as a result of its decision to stop some of the charges.

Arguing that the Shipping Line Agency Charges, SLAC which is one of the charges in contest does not relate to any service, Ogor said some of the illegal charges were responsible for the diversion of cargoes meant for Nigeria to neighbouring countries.

Continued on page 20

Arik Air has won an award as West African Airline of the Year bestowed on it at the Ghana Aviation Awards 2016 held in Accra recently.

The special recognition award, according to Ghana Aviation Awards Events Director, Richard Abbey Jnr, was conferred on Arik Air because of its achievement in airline business leadership and commitment to safety.

The airline said the impressive award ceremony held at Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Accra was a gathering of the cream of aviation personalities in West Africa and a celebration of excellence in the industry.

The West African Airline of the Year Award is a crowning glory for Arik Air’s eight years of operation in Ghana and the rest of the region, which began with the inauguration of flights to Accra in January 2008. Arik Air operates from Lagos to 10 West and Central African cities, namely Accra (Ghana), Cotonou (Benin), Monrovia (Liberia), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire), Banjlul (Gambia), Dakar (Senegal), Douala (Cameroon), Luanda (Angola) and Libreville (Gabon). The airline is the first African carrier to create a hub at Kotoka International Airport, Accra where flights from Lagos and Abuja arrive into Accra within a few minutes of each other and then depart onwards to other West African cities from Accra non-stop.

UnionCallsforStrikeoverNorthSeaDispute

Britain’s RMT union said on Wednesday that industrial action over proposed cuts and changes to working conditions for maintenance workers on Shell’s North Sea oil and gas platforms would go ahead.

“Following a continuing failure by the Wood Group to come up with any solutions in talks...the next phase of industrial action scheduled to start in the morning goes ahead,” the RMT said in a statement on its website. Last month, around 400 Wood Group oil and gas maintenance workers protested against pay cuts and tougher working conditions.

“Despite strenuous efforts by our negotiators in talks with the company we have so far been unable to make sufficient progress that addresses the concerns of the workforce,” RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said.

Wood Group said in a statement, that they were disappointed by the decision of the workers.

Dave Stewart, CEO of Wood Group’s eastern region business said, “We have urged the unions to show willingness to reengage with us with a clear objective of reaching a resolution that safeguards employment opportunities for our employees, both now and in the future”. Shell said in a separate statement that it was also disappointed with the result and urged the unions and Wood Group to continue discussions.

“The reality is that foreign airlines are providing 90 percent of the capacity in the country for passengers travelling overseas; local airlines are providing only 10 percent. The aviation industry is collapsing,” Gbenga Olowo” President of Aviation RoundTable (ART)

Gbenga Olowo

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BUSINESSWORLD FOREIGN AIRLINES LOST N6.4BN TO NAIRA DEVALUATION did. Bring 10 more airlines they will fill up with passengers, that is our strength and we should be proud of ourselves as Nigerians.”

But he frowned on the exploitative fares charged Nigerians saying, while Nigeria has high passenger traffic, Nigerians still pay more to travel.

“They need to fill up the aircraft at the right price. We need to compete effectively and friendly. We need to compete in a way that we are not hurting the consumers. It is not in our interest to earn excess monies that sits with the CBN and is going nowhere, what is the point of doing the business? There is multiple unemployment, some agencies and airlines have rationalised. If we sent people away, there will be no job and the multiplier effect, if we start bringing in less people, what will happen to hotels, taxi drivers, and immigration?

Government will also be losing monies.

NIGERIA, OTHERS SEEK WTO, UNCTAD INTERVENTIONS ON ILLEGAL SHIPPING CHARGES

She said that in addition, the service providers have also joined other top Nigerian government officials in the court action.

She told the meeting that Nigeria had recently in an effort to bring about efficiency in the ports system launched the Standard Operating Standards, SOPs, involving every agency of government and all providers and consumers of shipping services. She also disclosed that Nigeria equally launched the Port Service Support Portal (PSSP) to check corruption and other unwholesome practices by service providers at the nations’ ports, explaining that the PSSP is portal where any agency or shipper/individual can send their complaints to be addressed by the Nigerian Shippers Council.

The President of Shippers Association Lagos State (SALS), Rev. Jonathan Nicol told the Forum that his members were very much worried because of the activities of the providers of shipping services in Nigeria.

NEWS

NCC Resolves Dispute over Sealing of 47 Base Stations in Ogun Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator has intervened in the dispute between Ogun State government and telecommunications operators in the state, which had resulted in the sealing of 47 base stations belonging to some telecoms operators in the state.

The outstanding issues, which had kept the base stations under lock and key in the state for some months, have been successfully resolve by the NCC. Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, who made the disclosure after a closed door meeting with the state governor, Mr. Ibikunle Amosun recently in Abeokuta, noted that the development would positively impact on the access to telecommunication services in the state.

“We have also succeeded in resolving a contentious matter leading to sealing of 47 base transceiver stations otherwise known as base stations in Ogun State. These are going to be unsealed immediately.

And this would enhance the challenge we have of providing telecom access in the state,” Danbatta said.

Danbatta expressed satisfaction with the assurances given by the governor in tackling the concerns of multiple taxation and right

of way, which are among the non-technical factors conspiring to degrade quality of telecommunication services in the country.

“The assurances given by the governor is to ensure adherence to resolution of the National Economic Council on multiple taxation.

We have heard him. Something is going to happen.

There’s lot of excitement for infrastructure deployment in Ogun State,” he said.

Danbatta urged the governor to enlist his colleagues’ supports to ensure adherence to the provisions of NEC’s resolution, which takes care of the concerns of multiple taxation and Right of Way, among others.

“Indeed, Your Excellency,

the resolution of the NEC of March 21, 2013 properly addressed the problems of multiple taxation, levies and charges on ICT infrastructure with a view to providing a lasting solution. Incidentally, these resolutions are largely honoured more in the breach than in their observance hence the precarious situation has not changed,” he explained.

Responding, Amosun commended Danbatta for what he described as his giant strides, since assuming the leadership of the commission.

The governor also stressed the significance of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for the development of the country, saying that his administration will key

INTRODUCING DATA SECURITY SOLUTION

L-R: Chief Information Security Officer, MainOne, Chidinma Iwe; Chief Executive Officer, MainOne, Funke Opeke; Director of Sales, Africa, Radware, Tomer Erez and Connectivity Product Manager, MainOne, Gbenga Akano, during the launch of MainOne-Radware Managed Security Protection Service solution in Lagos… recently

Shittu: Why FG Cancelled NITDA Recruitment Exercise Dele Ogbodo and Maryann Abin in Abuja The Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, on Wednesday justified federal government’s decision to cancel the last recruitment of 368 unemployed Nigerians carried out at the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

A statement signed by the Special Assistant (SA)

to the minister on Media, Mr. Victor Oluwadamilare in Abuja, explained that the recruitment lacked merit as it did not follow due process.

Shittu said: “Contrary to insinuations in some circles, the minister did not cancel the exercise because only one candidate from Oyo State was offered employment but because it was conducted in “The recruitment process

was stopped after realising that it did not follow laid down procedure and that approvals were not obtained, while most of those employed don’t have the requisite skills to adequately bridge the manpower gap at the agency.

“The employment process did not follow due process because employment letters were issued to the applicants even before the

interview exercise and the issuance of Certificate of Compliance by the Federal Character Commission (FCC), coupled with the disregard of Ministry of Communications directive that the recruitment exercise be put on hold.”

The minister, who absolved himself from the exercise said that he could not be held liable for the non-absorption of the 368 candidates issued letters of appointment from

the inconclusive recruitment exercise.

According to him, the agency suspended the process due to the non-adherence to the guidelines for recruitment in the public service which stipulates the following: “Mandatory composition of Senior Staff Committee / Junior Staff Committee, Advertisement in 2 or more national dailies. Declare establishment positions.”

Group Business Editor

Take Advantage of Multiple Opportunities in Mining Sector, Financial Institutions Urged

Maritime Editor

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

Chika Amanze-Nwachuku John Iwori

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Crusoe Osagie

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (Maritime)

A former Managing Director, Nigerian Mining Corporation, Amb. Dr. Biodun Olorunfemi has called on banks and insurance companies across the country to take advantage of the multiple opportunities that abound in the mining sector.

He noted that for investments in mining, and if due diligence is carried out, a win-win situation awaits both the lender and borrower.

Speaking exclusively to THISDAY in an interview in Abuja, Olorunfemi said: “To a very large extent, funding

has been one of the major problems of the Nigerian mining sector.”

According to him, the decision of government to fund explorations is a good step in the right direction, stressing that It is time both private and public sector all come together to discuss the crucial role of public and private finance institutions in funding mining activities in the country.

He said: “Every State in the country can boast of high quality mineral assets that exist in commercial quantities.

The sector has huge returns on investment for as many

organisations, I think the 2016 edition of the International Mining Investment Conference and Exhibition of Nigeria (IMICON 2016) will point the way forward for us as a country and people.

Furthermore, he said that it will be wise to consider creating a portfolio for mining finance in the loans and credit operations of banks and lending houses. He added that, the sector has the capacity to create millions of jobs for the citizens of the country if investors have the correct attitude towards it.

According to him, having committed more than 40

years of service in the sector, I have seen that mining is very profitable, but technical. “For this reason, Investors must also take advantage of rare opportunities of knowing about the technicalities of the sector”, he stresses.

The former Nigerian Ambassador to Namibia explained further that, the determination of government should be promptly complemented by the organised private sector by investments that will rejuvenate the economy and lead to significant in GDP. According to him, state government should take advantage of investment

opportunities which will be offered by IMICON as it would enable states develop their respective mining sectors toward becoming selfsustaining in terms of revenue generation.

“The Buhari administration has already made commitment to the development of the mining sector, by promising to fund minerals exploration.

So, I urged banks and other financial institutions in the formulation of policies that will sustainably address the problem of unemployment and thereby building a mineral developed economy for the country,” he said.

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BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

As Airlines Grapple with Economic Downturn More foreign airlines are contemplating leaving Nigeria because the economic meltdown is affecting their operations. Chinedu Eze looks at the dilemma of these airlines and how Nigerian travellers are being ripped off under the prevailing climate

BA Aircraft

The first time international airlines got wind of what the future held for them in Nigeria was when they were unable to repatriate their funds in late 2015. A major European carrier country manager miffed about the situation, which had not happened in Nigeria for so many years, hinted that the airline might stop its service to Nigeria.

That was the first impulsive action aimed at arm twisting government to release the funds; but many of them knew that Nigeria, over the years had remained their most lucrative route in Africa and whatever economic challenges they are facing now is transient.

But airlines live on their daily revenues.

As the money is generated, they pay for fuel, renew their leases, pay their crew and their charges. So every route that does not justify the service in terms of revenues might be closed.

But many of the airlines knew that Nigeria has a peculiar case.

In 2014, during Air Finance Conference in Johannesburg, many of the European major carriers that attended the event confirmed that their operations in Nigeria were the most profitable; from British Airways to KLM, Lufthansa to Air France and that remains a motivating factor why the aforementioned airlines are still operating the popular Lagos and Abuja routes to their hubs in Asia, Europe, US and other destinations.

Trapped Funds The low price of crude oil in the international market lowered the income of most countries that depend on the commodity as major source of foreign exchange. This also affected Nigeria, as her case has been exacerbated by the destruction of its oil pipelines by militants, a development that has lowered its daily production from 2.2 million barrels per day (mbpd) to about 1.4mbpd.

Not being able to earn enough dollars to exchange for the revenues earned in Nigeria by the airlines, the Nigerian government had to keep the money put at $600 million as at early June and which has risen to $800 by end of July.

The airlines’ inability to repatriate their funds injured their finances and it was on the strength of this gloomy picture that prompted Iberia to leave Nigeria. The Spanish national carrier wound down its operations on May 12, 2016.

The airline explained that it pulled out of Nigeria following protracted passenger drought since late last year. Also in May, 2016, the US United Airlines also left Nigeria.

Load Factor Yes, industry experts project the passenger traffic for international destinations to be down by about 40 percent occasioned by the slowing economy, but Nigerians still travel and despite the reduction in passenger traffic, foreign airlines

Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika

are still recording high load factor and generating huge revenue from Nigeria.

Now, the foreign airlines have increased their fares to offset the shortfall incurred in the trapped fund and it is predicted that by the end of this year, an Economy Class ticket for six hours ticket might cost as high as N800, 000. 00. These exorbitant fares, experts believe would further reduce the passenger traffic but airlines would maximise gains from the few that travel.

Travel expert, Ikechi Uko explained how the economic downturn is eroding air transport market and consequently shrinking the nation’s economy further.

“Actually the economy grows by the velocity of the distribution of money, goods, services and things like that. So a robust economy depends on these distributions. So when distribution is stopped it actually shrinks the economy. The biggest things the Romans did were actually to create trade routes. Every time you are conquered or occupied, the occupier or the conqueror is actually opening up a new market for his goods.

So movement, transportation, travel have always been the means of growth for an economy. So for those of us in the travel business, this is bad because the less people travel a lot of businesses won’t grow,” Ikechi said.

THISDAY investigations also revealed that foreign airlines officially would say they accept Naira for payment for tickets, but they actually insist that passengers buy ticket in foreign currencies in order to avert their revenues being trapped again. For example, there was a report recently by a passenger who bought ticket on the US carrier but the ticket was later returned because it was paid for in Naira, but when accosted the airline denied it and said it sells tickets in the local currency. The act prompted the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to issue a statement directing foreign airlines to accept payment in the local currency.

So far, it is domestic carriers that operate international routes, Arik Air and Medview that collect payment for tickets in the local currency.

Foreign Carriers Rip-off Industry observers say that Nigerians are at the mercy of foreign airlines because indigenous carriers don’t have capacity so they can’t resist the high fares until Nigerian airlines are able to compete effectively. They noted that government must have to take that up as a challenge to build national airlines that would be able to grow and effectively compete with foreign airlines.

Uko also observed: “You can’t eat your cake and have it. You can’t make an omelet without breaking an egg. So we have to decide what is strategically important for us. If it is about money, a private airline will take a decision that suits it best not basically what is good for the

passenger, the passenger is not its issue. For example, why is United pulling out of Nigeria?

Why is Emirates pulling out one flight? Simple logic, the Nigerian government “stole” money from them, I am putting the stole in quote. You trapped their money, $600m (now $800 million) for six months; at the end of the six months you devalue the money by 40 percent and give it back to them, so they have actually lost $240 million worth of money. So what did they do?

“They have to get the money back because it is money they legitimately earned. So you have actually robbed them of 40 percent of their income. So what did the banks do? The banks will sack staff and cut cost, airline will not sack staff, what the airline will do is reducing its cost and it increases its income. So what did Emirates do, remove one flight and increase the price of ticket on the other one to pay for the $240 million they have lost. So who pays it? The Nigerian government actually took the money from the Nigerian public because the Nigerian public is going to refund that money to the foreign airlines. So now the government is rich, they have $240m worth of naira they have taken from the airlines. The airlines are going to get the money back from the public.

So in such a situation how do you now want private Nigerian carriers to make money even when foreign airlines that are big are taking such economic decisions?

“The private Nigerian carriers will only pull out their aircraft, keep it somewhere, they can’t afford to play the same games. So if the government is interested in helping its people do trade and do tourism, the government has to intervene one way or another. But now we don’t have a national carrier so what are you going to do? If Arik pulls out of Accra, Aero stops flying, Medview stops flying only AWA will fly.

Is it in the interest of Nigeria that only foreign airlines serve us? So government cannot say it will not show interest in aviation,” Ikechi said.

Profitability Foreign airlines operating in Nigerian have always maintained airfares that are higher than any other country in West and Central Africa.

They make sure that Nigerian pay higher for their tickets and many of them record high load factor from season to season.

Before the economic downturn concerned Nigerians had condemned the attitude of foreign airlines to make sure that the fares they charge Nigerians are higher than any other country in the region and the fares are even higher in the business and economy class, where they make the kill from Nigerians who have a predilection for business class, not only for necessary comfort but for show of class. Except perhaps South Africa, foreign airlines record the highest load factor in their business class from the Nigerian

routes in Africa.

The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) recently condemned the attitude of international airlines to charge higher fares in Nigeria when compared to other countries in Africa and said it did not understand the great disparity in fares between what the airlines offer to the Nigerian market and what they offer elsewhere in the world.

“The disparity in fares is alarming and we wonder why Nigeria should be singled out for this rip-off. We see no reason why a flight ticket from Accra, Ghana to Europe or USA on some airlines would be cheaper than from Lagos to the same destinations on the same airline. For instance, a first class ticket to Las Vegas from Lagos is N1.8 million more than a first class ticket to the same destination from Accra! Nigerian travellers are now developing Ghanaian economy. These travel agencies are making huge sales from the Nigerian travellers while most of our Nigerian agencies are folding up,” NANTA said.

Hope Rising for Nigerian Carriers Since the slowing of Nigerian economy, which triggered off other negative indices, Nigerian carriers that operate international destinations have increased their passenger traffic.

Arik Air for example, has increased its load factor in the Lagos-New York route. An insider told THISDAY that since United Airlines exited from Nigeria the absence of about 1750 seats a weak left by United is being shared by Arik, Delta, European and Middle East carriers to the US. The Arik source said since United left its flights have been on conservatively 90 percent load factor to New York Medview on Monday issued a statement and said that it recorded over 95 percent load factor on its Lagos-London flight with its leased Boeing 747-400 and recorded about 400 passengers on a Lagos to London flight.

Industry observers are of the view that if government could empower Nigerian carrier to build capacity and they effectively compete with foreign airlines, the high fares charged on international routes would have come down. They recalled that during the time of the defunct Nigeria Airways, it was the national carrier that was setting the fares to London and New York before it stopped flying to New York and that it was Nigeria Airways that drove out the then American airliner, Pan Am out of Lagos with competitive fares.

Such could be enacted again if the Nigerian government chose to end the exploitation of Nigerians by foreign carriers. It could empower local carriers, build capacity, create jobs and expand associated business. That is what Nigeria needs at this time.

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BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

Abdullahi: Solution to Aviation Fuel Scarcity is Local Refining Director of Consumer Protection Directorate, Adamu Abdullahi says the scarcity of aviation fuel would continue until the government begins to refine the product locally.

He spoke to Chinedu Eze. Excerpts: From your own experience, what is the reaction of the passengers over this protracted aviation fuel scarcity, known as Jet A1?

Okay, let me talk from my own personal experience. Yesterday I had Dana Air booking by 6:30 pm to Lagos from Abuja. As at 2:00 pm the flight was moved from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. I was at the airport by 6:00 pm, waiting for my flight. Around 7:00 pm I got another message from the public speaker system at the airport that the flight had been moved to 9:00 pm. So I didn’t have a choice, I had to wait because I knew it was beyond the power of the airline.

What is happening is that there is aviation fuel shortage in the country. Since government decided to deregulate the importation of fuel, it also affected the importation of Jet A1 and therefore the product is scarce. We don’t refine it locally. Kaduna and Warri refineries used to refine Jet A1 in this country and they don’t do so anymore. Now we depend solely on importation.

So for oil markers to go to the black market and buy dollar at N380 per dollar, it is very, very expensive and by the time you bring your product to the country it is no longer economically viable. As you know, aviation fuel constitutes about 70 to 75 per cent of cost of the ticket you buy. So by the time the cost of aviation is added to the ticket we are in trouble. So airlines are doing business at a very, very expensive rate because their major cost of operation, which is aviation fuel has gone up by over 150 percent.

So if you buy aviation fuel at N200 per litre to operate. It is too expensive. So what we are experiencing now is that marketers are not willing to go ahead and import fuel at that price. We are already paying about 50 percent more on our ticket prices. By the time it gets worse that we would pay N50, 000 for one-hour flight in Nigeria that is when we are going to really experience difficulties.

What we are saying is that passengers have to really calm down and understand what the airlines are facing, in the same manner that we went to filling stations and queued for upward of 24 hours to get fuel. That is what is happening in the aviation industry today. It is beyond the power of the airline, it is beyond the power of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) so people have to understand.

And even in the regulations, it says that once the airline can prove that the delay or cancellation of flight was beyond their own control then all their obligations would not apply. So even the refreshment, the hotel accommodations they are supposed to give do not apply here because this is force majure. So NCAA has come out with a position that passengers have to understand what the airlines are going through and exercise a lot of restraint because what is happening is beyond the power of the airlines.

Let me also talk about the issue of fuel supply to the airlines. All airlines have agreement with their marketers. They may request for fuel for one week after which they reconcile with the marketers and then pay. But when the supplier does not have the product, the airline it serves will now start running around for the marketer that will supply it fuel. That supplier will have to satisfy their own customers first before they supply the later. In that situation, it becomes a waiting game. The supplier will tell you, you will get fuel in the next one hour, they may call you and alert you of further delay and you continue to wait. This is allowed in aviation. It is when the fuel does not come that the airline cancels flight. When the product does not come there is really nothing the airline can do. The passenger has to go home and come back tomorrow for the flight. The passengers have to exercise restraint because these are trying times for the country.

NCAA initially directed the airlines to inform passengers not to come for flights

What we are saying is that passengers have to really calm down and understand what the airlines are facing, in the same manner that we went to filling stations and queued for upward of 24 hours to get fuel. That is what is happening in the aviation industry today. It is beyond the power of the airline, it is beyond the power of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) so people have to understand

Is there any plan that in the nearest future the refineries would start refining the product locally because that is the only solution?

Government said before the end of the year Jet A1 will be refined locally. We have the capacity for local refining of the product.

If we are able to do it in our country it will be better and it will cost less. As I told you earlier, 70 percent of the cost of airline operation is fuel and once the price of fuel comes down the cost of tickets will come down and all of us will be happier for it.

Abdullahi

when they know that they won’t source aviation for such flights?

We buy our tickets online and buy them in advance because we know it is cheaper. If we buy our tickets one month, one week before our trip the airline would not know that they would be fuel scarcity by the time we would be travelling. So you have booked your ticket two weeks in advance, one week in advance and then there is no fuel. Now, how can you hold the airline responsible?

But if you as passenger arrives the airport late before your flight you will have to pay a surcharge. If you are the one who does not come to the airport on time you are charged, so how come that when the airline fails no one charges the airline? However, it does not work like that as I told you earlier. Everything in aviation works on plans. There is nothing an airline can do when it cannot take fuel to operate its flights.

There was indication that passengers billed to travel would become frustrated and angry and some of them would get into fighting with airline officials. Did you witness that when you were at the airport?

Not really because I had to step in to interface with the people. There was a politician from Niger Republic that led members of Representatives of that country to Nigeria and whose flight

was delayed, from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm. She was travelling from Abuja to Kano from where she would connect flight to Niger. At 7:00 pm there was announcement that the flight had been delayed for another two hours. That means that she would travel to Kano and arrive there about 12 mid-night.

Later there was another announcement that the aircraft that was billed for the flight would arrive 9:35 pm. I calculated that the best that could happen was that they would Abuja to Kano about 10 pm in the night, arrive Kano around 11 pm and then she was going to continue her journey. There was no way she would leave Kano by that time to Niger, so we had to intervene. I went to the Azman official whose flight she bought the ticket, and explained to him about her predicament.

Although you cannot hold the airline liable in this situation but all the same, the airline official decided to provide her accommodation for the night in Kano. The following morning she left for Niger.

What we really encourage airlines to do and what they do overseas is for them to treat their customers well so that they will have loyal customers, so that they would not fly any other airline apart from yours. If an airline has loyal customers its operations will boom because they will trust in the airline and believe it is a good airline.

How is the fuel scarcity and poor flight operations affecting the economy of the country?

We are coming out with a statement in NCAA to persuade passengers to understand this situation that is beyond airlines’ control.

Air transport plays major role in the economy of this country. Most business transactions depend on aviation. That as top businessman you are travelling to Port Harcourt, to Abuja, to Lagos is dependent on air transport because the roads are not there. So everybody depends on air transport to take to wherever he wants to go and do business. So the fact that flights are being delayed, flights are being cancelled means that we are going to have issues. We do have issues. People should plan ahead.

Book your flights in advance. You are billed to go to Abuja Monday, do not wait to go on Monday; travel on Friday to ensure that you meet your appointment.

This is a passing phase. It won’t last forever. Government knows what is going on.

Government is aware and it is working hard to relief people of this suffering. So people should exercise restraint and understand that this will come to pass. There have been such issues like power failure, scarcity of petrol and others but those things are coming back; like now I have electricity in my house. So things are getting better and they will continue to improve in the nearest future.

So by banging on the counters of the airlines, by holding the airline staff to ransom do not solve the problem because such actions will not make the airline to fly. Airlines cannot put water in the aircraft to fly it; the fuel is not just there, so passengers should understand with the airlines and I am hopeful things will get better in the nearest future.

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BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

AIR WATCH

Experts, Labour Express Divergent Views over Airport Concession Some aviation industry experts have backed federal government’s plan to concession airport facilities to private sector for effective management and further development.

Labour unions in the aviation industry had opposed the planned concession, alleging that government has not provided the right framework for the programme.

Government hinged its decision to concession the airports to the fact that it can no longer fund the development of airport infrastructure due to its lean resources and the present economic downturn.

But commenting, Managing Director of Medview Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole said the concession of the airport was very necessary in order to have rapid development in infrastructure development and eliminate hindrances encountered by airlines as they grapple with obsolete facilities at the airports.

The labour unions also pointed out ‘that the workers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) are not being carried along in the planned airport concession.

The unions also said that concession may not be a guaranty to the development of airport infrastructure and argue that if FAAN were left alone without interferences it would build and manage befitting airports for the county.

Industry analyst and the author of the “Nigerian Aviation Fact Book, Mike Chikeka said it has become impossible for government to continue to fund

airport development, noting that airport facilities would become obsolete and possibly jeopardise safety if the prrivate sector is not allowed to rescue the sector.

“I am troubled with the state of our airports. Our airports, which are the first point of call to foreigners into Nigeria have become a national embarrassment. Nigerians are not immune to this national show of shame as they are received on arrival with a certain ambiance that leaves nothing to be desired.

This has been the situation in the last three decades of our national existence,” Chikeka said.

He said that a study conducted by “The Guide to Sleeping in Airports” named three of Nigeria’s international airports as the worst in Africa.

The airports are Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos (10th worst) Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, (7th worst) Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt (6th worst).

“We have also established a fact that government has continued to struggle with ensuring the operational viability of these airports rather than both operational and profitability of same. In the end, it is almost unattainable for government to run a profitable airport.

Sadly, too, government funding continues to shrink year after year and we cannot wait for a complete collapse of our system before something is done,” he said.

Chikeka said the infrastructures in most airports in the country have become not just

unserviceable but completely obsolete compared to what is obtainable in most countries of the world “It is not uncommon to see airline staff bashed and abused verbally and sometimes physically because passengers bags are shortlanded. A quick trace to the reasons sometimes is that conveyor belts did not drop some bags and in other to avoid delays they will have to depart the flight without the complete number of bags.

“It is a common sight to see people dripping of sweat at departure and arrival points due to unserviceable air conditioning system. And this has been the situation in the last 20 years,” he also said.

Chikeka remarked that when any government business or parastatal attains a certain level of constant inefficiency and losses and the level of wastefulness has gone beyond acceptable standards, safety and efficiency being the bedrock of the aviation business is compromised and return on investment is negative “because no rightthinking Minister or President will continue to expose that business or country to such an adverse situation. Concessions essentially ensure that government becomes the regulator of standards and not the provider of services and regulator of standards at the same time. It is obvious that if public servants refuse to justify and provide the required service to attain the level of development, safety and efficiency needed to move this sector forward would be compromised.”

Aviation Stakeholders Berate FG over Failure to Establish MRO in Nigeria Industry stakeholders on Wednesday berated the federal government for what they described as “wrong-headed policies, lack of vision and self-centredness”, which they said have been responsible for the retrogression of the aviation industry over the years.

The stakeholders including airline operators, airport managers, analysts, pilots, engineers and others accused government of being responsible for nonestablishment of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility anywhere in the country.

They noted that the lack of MRO facility in the country is a major setback which is partly responsible for the high demand of foreign exchange in the industry, lack of developed technical manpower and the inability for Nigeria to carry out C-checks and D-checks (aircraft maintenance) locally.

Specifically, the Chief Executive Officer of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Capt Jari Williams said ferrying aircraft overseas for mandatory maintenance encourages capital flight and berated government for its lack of policy that would encourage local establishment

of such facility in the country.

Williams noted that for any organisation to establish a viable MRO in the country, the federal government must give the initiator subvention, tax waivers, pioneer status and Free Trade Zone (FTZ).

He stated this while speaking on the topic titled, “First Class Maintenance Facility MRO for Nigeria: How Viable” at Aviation Round Table Safety Initiative quarter three breakfast meeting held in Lagos on Wednesday.

The BASL CEO recalled that when he was the Managing Director of Akwa Ibom International Airport (AKIA), he tried for six years to attract investors to develop and put on stream the Uyo Airport MRO but there was no favourable policy that would provide traction for investors to put their money into the facility.

He remarked that a new idea or project might not succeed if the initiator does not belong to a particular group, stressing that this should not be if the aviation industry must move forward.

He hinted that Aero Contractors would have established an MRO because of the experience

gathered over the years for providing services in the oil and gas industry.

Williams said government’s complacence could discourage any investment in the country and noted that lack of commitment by government to the MRO facility in Uyo is one of the reasons why the project has remained uncompleted.

He added that while the Uyo MRO was under construction, a survey was carried on the number of Boeing airplanes in West Africa sub-region and it was discovered that the area has a lot of 737 aircraft.

The Akwa Ibom government he said invested huge amount of money in Uyo MRO but regretted that despite the investment and efforts made, the facility has not been completed.

According to him, “Government has no MRO policy, even the Federal Ministry of Aviation will come, inspect the facility and nothing happens and the Uyo MRO is there wasting away” The BASL boss argued that for MRO to be in place in Nigeria, the federal government, the state where the facility is located and airlines must buy

FAAN’s Looming Strike

Abuja Airport

A

pprehension is the word to describe the temperament of an average worker of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) whenever the issue of concession comes up.

Although government had muted the idea several times that it would concession the airports because owing to lack of resources to sustain the 22 airports it built under the management of FAAN, but it had not taken any bold step, except the concession of the domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, known as MMA2, which became operational in 2007.

Before the Late Umar Musa Yar’adua took over as the President of Nigeria, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja had been concession. Not satisfied with the concession arrangement and failure for the company that won the concession to take over at stipulated period, government nullified it.

But now, it seems the government is committed to the concession and has said it would first concession the first four airport terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt. However, the workers’ apprehension stems from the fear that government may not follow laid down rules to ease them out and compensate them adequately.

They always cite the experience of workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL) who waited for their payment and pension until many of them died. But this time, the workers have vowed they would not suffer the same fate or instead buy the airport facilities themselves.

THISDAY spoke to a top official of the FAAN branch of Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN), who criticised the planned concession and said instead government should operate a Public, Private Partnership (PPP) whereby the investor would bring his funds, his technical team and work with skilled FAAN personnel in an arrangement where FAAN would remain intact and more money generated as government would not have any input in the new system.

On how the workers of FAAN would be settled, the official said that the workers who would be willing to leave should be paid off; because it would not be everybody that would be willing to work in the new system. Then government would look at FAAN workers’ pension and negotiate it along other labour issues with the workers.

“The pension liability of FAAN is about N1.2 billion. I hope government would be able to provide the money that would be needed to settle the workers. Like what they did to the Power Holding Company

of Nigeria, a proper arrangement will be done and what those that will be laid off should be determined and agreed on. So that who would want to work with the new investor or whom the new investor would want to work with can continue, while others will leave.

“But I don’t understand the concession plan because what will work better is PPP. FAAN will run the airports effectively without government. It is government that will impose incompetent people and insist they continue to occupy their offices even when they are not good. We have very good hands in FAAN that can turn these airports around without government interferences,” he said.

The complaint over the years is that the workforce in FAAN and other aviation agencies is over-bloated. Obviously an investor running a concession would prefer leaner personnel largely made of highly skilled workers. So obviously many workers would lose their jobs and if the lay off is done as expected they would be well compensated and many would invest their monies into business ventures instead of looking for another white collar job.

“If I am well compensated I will say a pretty goodbye to FAAN and invest my money into business. But we must get our money. I don’t trust government. These days they rarely keep their promises and the workers will not take any of that from them. If they want to privatise or concession let them do so but also remember that airport security is critical and can only be effectively handled by government agency,” another source told THISDAY. Although many people believe the concession plan is a thing its time has come, but government beyond wishes might not drive it to reality. Although recently government set up a committee to see to its implementation but many are of the view that the process would still witness delays as government is yet to implement the necessary frameworks need for full implementation of the concession policy.

Also, there are fears that government will face legal battle in the plan to concession the Abuja airport because it did not follow the rules when it nullified the concession done at the airport in 2006, as the company involved took government to court.

While workers of FAAN are apprehensive about whether their interest would be protected, many of them believe concession is a needful thing that should be done. Many of such workers have garnered experience and training that would prepare them to join the next owners of the airport facilities after concession.

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MARITIME

Nedelcovychand: African Govts Must Create Enabling Environment for Maritime, Manufacturing Sectors Dr. Mima Nedelcovychand is the President and CEO of the Initiative for Global Development, a Washington D.C.-based network of African and global business leaders committed to advancing inclusive growth through investment on the African continent.

He told Eromosele Abiodun what African governments need to do to grow sectors that create more jobs Initiative for Global Development (IGD) has been existing now for over 10 years and many people in Africa do not know anything about IGD. Can you tell us about your organisation?

The Initiative for Global Development (IGD) is a Washington DC-based network of African and global business leaders who are committed to advancing inclusive growth through business investment on the African continent. IGD’s Frontier Leaders are CEOs and senior executives from sector-leading companies operating on the African continent. Our unparalleled network of global companies includes Microsoft Incorporated, Dangote Industries Limited, Afrexim Bank, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), SeedCo, Illovo, Visa, General Electric, Construction Kaiser and Pearson, among others.

As part of the effort to help Africa out of its economic problems the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was enacted a few years ago, can you tell us how Africa has failed to take advantage of AGOA and what opportunity still exist for the continent?

The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act or AGOA was enacted in 2000 to expand US trade and investment with eligible African countries to fuel economic growth and promote greater economic integration into the global economy. The US-Africa trade law was renewed in 2015. There has been some significant progress in expanding trade relations between AGOA-eligible countries and the US. The business environment in Africa has evolved dramatically from when the law was first passed in 2000 compared to 2015. Today, the Sub-Saharan Africa region has some of the world’s fastest growing economies. African born and bred companies are increasingly export-ready, taking advantage of AGOA and operating in the world-class space. However, much more needs to be done. At the end of the day, you can sign and enact trade agreements, but if you don’t have the concentration of African businesses that have the capacity to produce products and goods competitively for the US market, you really cannot maximise AGOA’s potential.

So, the next phase of AGOA should focus on supporting African businesses to enhance their trade capacity to move beyond their local markets and operate on a global scale.

I believe that African governments must do their part to help create an enabling business environment and infrastructure for African businesses to be able to produce cost-efficiently and thrive to succeed in the global marketplace.

You are a non for profit organisation that engages and harnesses the power of the

The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act or AGOA was enacted in 2000 to expand US trade and investment with eligible African countries to fuel economic growth and promote greater economic integration into the global economy

Nedelcovychand

private sector to create sustainable growth and alleviate poverty in Africa. Tell us some of you achievements in this regard.

Through our Frontier 100 Forums, we bring together CEOs and senior executives from the African continent, US, Europe and Asia to catalyse greater business investment and impact on the continent. At our forums, our members make connections, share best practices and hammer out action agendas.

IGD is proud of the fact that we created a task force of CEOs and senior executives, developers, lenders, investors, equipment manufacturers, and regulatory experts to seriously tackle addressing Africa’s power needs in a timely way. Power Purchase Agreements or PPAs were identified by our Task Force as one of the key areas where power generation projects could be accelerated.

So, the Task Force created a standardised PPA tailored to meet the needs of individual

African governments, so that both transaction costs and project development time could be reduced. The standardised PPA will eventually lead to a greater number of bankable power projects in Africa. Contributing to the launch of Rockefeller Foundation’s YieldWise initiative, a global initiative to reduce PostHarvest Loss (PHL) was another achievement of IGD. Across Africa, almost half of all food waste and losses occurs at the early stages of the food value chain. IGD partnered the Rockefeller Foundation to bring the collective business voice of Africa’s private sector to the PHL issue. By leveraging our influential network of sector-leading African companies, we gathered market perspectives and identified market-driven solutions on post-harvest loss in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria. Our on-going contributions to bring the African private sector voice to the YieldWise initiative will help to reduce crop loss and boost incomes of African

farmers. IGD was also pleased to release in July an impact assessment report, “Pioneering New Operating Models and Measurement Techniques for Private Sector-Led Development: Assessing Impact in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.”

The report is the culmination of a yearlong comprehensive organisational assessment of the activities of Chevron-supported nongovernmental organisations, the Nigeria-based Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) and its US-based strategic partner the Niger Delta Partnership Initiative Foundation (NDPI). Overall, the report showed that the organisations that have “moved the needle” in laying the groundwork for greater development in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria are those that are interwoven in the fiber of the society, and rely heavily on the “diffusion of innovation.” The report also CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

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BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

NEDELCOVYCHAND: AFRICAN GOVTS MUST CREATE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR MARITIME, MANUFACTURING SECTORS highlighted how the private sector can play a crucial role in helping to drive sustainable change and economic opportunity.

maritime sector alone can generate N4 trillion annually but private investors hardly put their money there due to government control.

What do you think can be done differently?

Investors will not invest if they cannot get a proper return. Infrastructure investments in the maritime sector are sizeable and will require long-term assurances for concessions and other PPP mechanisms. Nigerian officials should learn from successful experiences elsewhere in Africa and the world and apply them to the Nigerian context. Ports without efficient evacuation of goods via roads and railroads are non-starters. I would look at improving the inland connection of Nigerian ports through road and rail links, including inland dry ports. One could start by taking a look at the legal framework of the Nigerian rail system which is still state owned and see how to open it to private investment or PPP structures.

There may be some things you wish your organisation was able to achieve for Africa since you started that you have not been able to. What are those things and why do you think you failed?

IGD and our frontier leaders understand that expanding access to power takes time. We’d like to speed up the process, especially as it relates to boosting Africa’s industrialisation efforts and diversifying economies, but realize that it takes time. In the U.S, we were encouraged by the signing of the electrify Africa Act, a framework to help millions of people gain access to reliable electricity in African countries.

Our Spring Frontier 100 Forum addressed how the continent might move beyond a commodity-based economy and identified private sector-led solutions to enhance the value chain for industrialisation and stimulate value-addition to Africa’s natural resources. We are not where we want to be, in terms of giving more people access to power and increasing industrialisation effort, but we are moving forward in a positive direction. We would also like to see government officials consult more closely with the private sector, align common interests, and display greater political will in improving the overall enabling environment for business growth.

Tell us some of the plans IGD have to drive private sector investment in Africa in the years ahead.

We are excited about launching a new campaign, “Africa Investment Rising” at our Fall Frontier 100 Forum in early October. By leveraging multimedia, this communications and advocacy campaign will amplify the voice of Africa’s private sector leaders, encouraging greater investment in Africa, and creating a better business environment for inclusive growth.

Negative perceptions about Africa continue to create a significant barrier to potential international engagement and partnerships.

To help confront these misperceptions, the campaign strives to shift the negative narrative on Africa to show impactful stories of business and investment opportunities, a growing and rapidly urbanizing African consumer class and successful business ventures through multimedia storytelling and strategic traditional and social media outreach.

In your profile you said you bring together CEOs and senior executives from leading African and global companies through your Frontier Leader Network to catalyse greater business investment and impact on the continent. Tell us about this.

We exclusively recruit CEOs and senior executives with the authority to set business strategy and designate necessary resources to invest capital in scaling their businesses to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth that benefits whole societies.

What can African governments do to assist your organisation achieve its aims going forward?

The IGD Frontier Leader Network works in close partnership with African governments and multi-lateral institutions through platforms provided by our forums, task forces and other convening activities. We provide a space for Africa’s private sector, governments, multilateral organisation and others to find common ground and identify long-term solutions to some of the business challenges that are preventing the companies from thriving and achieving inclusive growth.

IGD envision an Africa with thriving, impactful businesses that create inclusive growth and where business leaders are a positive force in shaping Africa’s future. Is this vision realisable?

Yes, absolutely. Our Frontier Leaders are already on the forefront in shaping Africa’s future. Our Frontier Leaders in Nigeria include the Dangote Group, Chevron Nigeria, Construction Kaiser, Africa Finance Corporation, Main One Cable Company Limited, Atlantic Imperial Limited, Saroafrica International, Computer Warehouse Group, Wilbahi Group, for example, areleading the way in creating jobs and opportunities in Nigeria.

How and what are the steps you have put in place to ensure this happens?

Through our forums and advisory services, IGD provides tools for businesses to maximise economic and social impact for inclusive growth. Our Advisory team of experts work with companies to develop a tailored impact measurement strategy which reflects their needs and priorities. After assessing a company’s operations, our advisory team provides strategic insight and innovative solutions to address some of Africa’s most complex challenges.

It is generally believed that lasting poverty reduction will only be achieved with significant private investment to spur growth and create economic opportunity.

How has the private sector failed in this regard?

Collectively, the private sector, African governments, donor governments and other stakeholders all play a role in achieving greater private investment in Africa. We all depend on each other for private investment to flourish. Companies need solid infrastructure to manufacture and move goods. We need a strong business environment and supportive policies. Private investors want to know that they are investing in a stable country. A lot of factors need to be in place in order to spur growth and economic opportunity. The more we can align interests between the private

Nedelcovychand

and public sector, the more the private sector can invest directly and propose Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as required.

To create employment in Africa, there must be massive investment in sectors that create the most jobs like transportation, maritime and manufacturing. What can be done to spur investment in these sectors?

Long term private sector investments, such as are required for large infrastructure projects, are substantial in amounts and require assur-

Through our forums and advisory services, IGD provides tools for businesses to maximise economic and social impact for inclusive growth. Our Advisory team of experts work with companies to develop a tailored impact measurement strategy which reflects their needs and priorities

ances that the concessions and agreements with governments will stick across political administrations. It is all about political stability, established rule of law, sanctity of contracts and risk mitigation where such are missing.

The ability of governments to understand the complexities of PPP arrangements is critical.

As for stimulating the manufacturing sector, provision of infrastructure to make manufacturing competitive is essential. You simply cannot industrialise and manufacture without electricity. Governments must also assure true common markets, with free-flowing goods and services within that common market, allowing industry and trade to scale and thus be competitive both in the region, as well as to export outside the region.

IGD’s mission has evolved to focus on engaging global business leaders in an effort to foster greater strategic investment in Africa. Can you say you have been successful with this?

Yes we are as we engage business leaders throughout the continent, as well as well as those outside the continent, to take a good hard look at the investment opportunities on the continent. Our mission continues to be dynamic and evolves and recalibrates with the ever-changing global economy. But our core mission of strengthening the private sector for inclusive growth through business investment has remained steadfast since our founding in 2003, and will be highlighted going forward through our “Africa Investment Rising” Campaign we are about to launch.

In Nigeria, experts have said that the

What message do you have for investors globally who are reluctant to invest in Africa?

Africa is still the place for tremendous investment opportunities. You must invest for the long-term. Urbanisation and spending power can be turned into opportunities. And, more than ever, many African countries are experiencing increased political stability and rule of law.

Where do you see your organisation in the next 10 years?

In the next 10 years, I see IGD continuing to thrive and engage our Frontier Leader Network in driving innovation and growth.

We are excited about what lies ahead.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us what you do for IGD? My name is Dr. Mima S. Nedelcovychand, I have served as President and CEO of the IGD since 2014. At IGD, I am responsible for the day-to-day management and execution of the long-term vision and plans for the organisation. I bring more than four decades of experience in global trade and investment to the position, specialising in privatisations, trade facilitation, project development, project finance, and public-private partnerships in Africa. From 1989 to 1993, I was as the U.S. Executive Director to the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, where I was instrumental in formulating the bank’s “private sector initiative”, the African Business Roundtable and the African Export-Import Bank. The last 20 years until I took on the IGD position, I was Partner and Chairman of Schaffer Global, a leading agro-business developer, and I am very bullish on the agro-industrial sector in Africa.

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PERSPECTIVE

New Lift for Airlines in Nigeria Evarest Nnaji positsthatNigerianairlinesmustoperateinlinewithinternationalstandards to remain in business I have debated this matter with economists and business developers over the years, but I believe it’s now time to put it out to the public, if not for anything, at least so that we all know where we stand. Aviation has proven to be a sector without-which-not in the global and borderless world economy; where companies are headquartered and controlled in one city while its activities can be alive and across the length and breadth of the world. But the decision makers of those organizations are often required to appear physically in those countries where their businesses are scattered, for various negotiations and big decisions. Air travel hence becomes a dependable ally to accomplish such trips saving time and achieving more results within the shortest possible time. In our country, big time business people as well as government officials will continue to rely on air travel to meet up with their travel needs to remain on top of their games.

But nothing in the Nigeria historical development has challenged the nation like the inadequacy of reliable air travel platform. The nation’s government has experimented with National airlines and consequently ran out of gas as things hit the dead ends, leaving commentators with the expression “defunct Nigerian Airways” etc. High net worth individual investors, even those with commendable successes in other business endeavors, have had their fingers burnt investing in aviation in Nigeria. We have had nice, but failed, attempts that can frightens even the most redoubtable investor when he or she examines the credential of any good Nigerian pilot or engineer who can boast of over 30 years of experience in the Nigeria aviation industry.

Such airman credentials would impress you to know that he or she had worked for airlines such as Okada Air; Oriental Air; Kabo Air, ADC Airlines; EAS Airlines as well as Albarka Air. Others are Nicon Airways; Nigeria Airways; Air Nigeria; Sosoliso and the rest of them. Realistically and essentially, such reminding raises a red flag as it leaves you wondering what the jinx that not even one of those nice airlines is still flying.

A critical examination of the goings in the Nigeria financial institutions will also reveal that no commercial bank in Nigeria granted facility to any airline investor in Nigeria over the past five years; and nothing shows they will anytime soon.

Somebody would at this point be asking me “then why are you professional aviators still there and not find something else to do with your lives”. The answer is “passion.”

The truth is that the mind boggling gloom in our industry rests squarely in just one place “ticket pricing”.

To understand this, one has to critically examine the pricing of other products and services adhering strictly to international standards while at the same time doing well in Nigeria. A deep look at those products and services imported from developed countries into our society which sustains international standards, and then compare the pricing attached to them by percentage difference, in comparison to pricing attached to air ticket in Nigeria, you will then begin to appreciate the challenges and predicament of Nigeria scheduled passenger aviation.

For instance, to survive in Nigeria, international hotel brands adhering strictly to standards price between 150% to 200% costs of their home country room rate. If you ever require insurance cover in which an international insurance organization is needed to share risk of cover in Nigeria, the premium is always up above 150% of values paid in the developed countries.

Again, cost of financing, when you able to find international lending interest rate as low as 3%, by the time you get through with local guaranteeing applications, goes

Nnaji

up above 9%, just to be modest, because the interest rate could nudge up into double digits. That is above 300% increase for Nigeria application on international finance. This is just to mention but a few, I can go on and on.

Let’s not forget that aviation is still more a challenging endeavor than those few sampled above. Aviation is one field of endeavor where you can never be able to domestic anything beyond hiring crew members that will eventually and inevitably be traveling overseas to carry out their proficiency and recurrent trainings nonetheless. Therefore, any attempt at pricing aviation services like an agricultural products will remain counterproductive.

Furthermore, when you compare ticket pricing with the rest of the world, it floods to our minds why things are gloomy in the industry here in our society. In Europe, for instance, it costs €240, on the average, to fly from Munich to Hamburg which is the equivalent flight time from Lagos to Calabar or Kaduna which costs about N28,000, one-way economy-class ticket. In the U.S, it costs average of $300 to fly the same equivalent flight time from Houston to Oklahoma.

Moving forward, in Europe, it costs average of €200 to fly from Stuttgart to

Hamburg, the equivalent flight time of Lagos to Abuja which costs average of N25,000, while a corresponding U.S route flight time of New Orleans to Houston will cost you an average of $220. When you compare many other routes around the world and do the maths, it appears that Nigeria airlines ticket fare has stayed around 50% of their contemporaries elsewhere in the world.

Some of my colleagues have argued that some smaller airlines in some smaller countries have done well, but priced slightly lower than the developed world.

My take on that is to look carefully at the ease-of-doing-business and aviation policy thrust and stability which may be acting as mitigating factors in such smaller countries.

At this point, I must state clearly that my point here is not to opine that Nigerian traveling public can afford to pay over N60,000 to fly an economy-class from Lagos to Calabar or Kaduna, or N45,000 for Lagos to Abuja or Port Harcourt.

Because if that happens, the few Nigerians that can afford to pay for a room at Hilton Transcorp Abuja are just about the multitude that will be able to fly our airlines.

Mine is to call it as I see it, to bring home the truth. Remember, the above two routes sample costs are just converting the exact

route price at central bank rate and at their 100% value. If we drive them up to 150% “Doing Business in Nigeria” factor, you will have N90,000 and N67,000 respectively for the two group sample routes economyclass costs.

Again, somebody would be saying at this point, “if that is the case, why can’t you guys speak up?” Great! Those with audible voices erroneously continue to think they will gain market advantage if others fall off the cliff, and thereby maintain selfish posture of “those who cannot stand the heat should get out of the kitchen”, but in the end they too get out of the kitchen.

I believe that some day, not long from now, government and stakeholders will seat and look things straight in the face to fashion a way forward which will guarantee that our society remains relevant in the global world economy, of which aviation in one of the main basic fundamentals.

-Nnaji, is Managing Director/CEO, OAS Helicopters Maryland Heliport Mobile +234 8034632546 Email managingdirector@oashelicopters.com and evarestnnaji@ yahoo.com Web: www.oas-helicopters.com

WEEKEND WEEKLY PULLOUT

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

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

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016

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A line of models showcasing the works of House of Marie

A model showcasing a design of Ikwo Ndiomu's Latreia Designs

Proudly Nigerian The 2015 edition of the St. Eve West African Show held in Lagos, and fashion enthusiasts had a thrilling experience. In this interview with Peter Uzoho, originator of the show, Evelyn Okere, speaks about what to expect from her team this year Your 2015 edition of the St. Eve West African Show was successful. How would you assess last year's show side by side the objectives you and your team had hoped to achieve?

First, I want to thank God for standing by us and assisting us in seeing our vision come to reality. Last year, we focused on the strengths of the participating fashion designers and we wanted to really project their creativity so that the world would know them and see their designs. Even though we learn each day and every fashion show we organise makes us better than the previous year; we still thank God that last year's event was a huge success and we would learn from our mistakes and do something greater and better than what we achieved last year.

What were some of the things you could have done better, and what should the public be expecting at the next edition?

Like I said before, we can work towards getting better with time. For this year, we want an event promoted beyond Lagos or even Nigeria. We want to embrace fashion designers from far and wide. We want to also bring in creative rookie designers who have never graced the fashion runway before. We want to use our platform as an avenue to bring out and share their creativity. We also want to go bigger than a Lagos crowd, we want to set targets that are beyond anyone's imagination. We want to take Nigerian fashion to a different level.

Creative Director of the St Eve West African Fashion Show, Evelyn Okere appears as colourful as her Rose Di Omimi designs

Can you tell us those that participated in the two-day fashion show last year?

It was a full house last year. The event, which trended on Twitter with the hash tag #FashionIsArt, commenced on Saturday 28th November with an open exhibition with

different indigenous fashion crafts persons displaying their products for sale and various guests going away with bags, jewelleries, crafts, clothes, and other fashion accessories.

The fashion show proper took place on Sunday 29th November. The first show of the

night witnessed the collections of YAGEE, My Beautiful Africa, Gravido Fashions, Prolific Couture, Kola Kuddus, and Mistics.

Dozzy Couture kicked off the second show, which also saw the designs from Victor Bassi, Araewa Fashion, Grace’s Hat, Kadol and JPKouture grace the runway. Ikwo Ndiomu’s Latreia Design and Matiluko Modupe’s Rare Gems Fashion completed the runway schedule for the second show.

The third show commenced soon with Funmilola Omokunga’s Lola Buttons, Obiekwe Anderlyn’s Glam Expression, Emeotu Egwolo’s Ewy’s Place, Simiat Ogunshina’s House of Marthys, and Rudavson Fashion owned by Pat Ofuya drawing out rounds of applause from the audience with the colourful and creative collections.

Anyone in the audience who thought he/ she had seen the best of African Fashion had a change of mind by the time the final show got underway. Laxmi Hathiramani of Miss Lax thrilled with her fashionable bags. Rose Di Omimi Fashion, the fashion label of my humble self, the Organiser of the St. Eve West African Show, took away the breathe of the enthralled guests with beautiful African prints.

Joan Ibuzo’s House of Marie and Toye Odufuye’s John Caulcrick then followed with their charming collections. The show was fittingly brought to a rousing close by the captivating pieces of Modela Couture and also London-based designer, Ade Bakare.

There were also musical performances by some artistes like Aramide and T-Banks who

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Matiluko Modupe and her Rare Gems brought down the roof with her kid models at the event

Toye Odufuye, the brain behind John Caulcrick, taking applause from the audience with his runway collections on stand-by

Pat Ofuya of Rudavson Fashion takes a walk of honour after showcasing her 2016 collections

Grace Moore of Graces Hat, bowing to a round of applause

Laxmi Hathiramani with some of the bags that make Miss Lax a household name in fashion

Obiekwe Anderlyn, creator of Glam Expression, taking a bow

Martha Ogunshina (R) of House of Marthys networking with a staff of Heritage Bank, one of the sponsors of the St Eve West African Fashion Show

A cross section of the audience

thrilled the audience intermittently during the show.

What should Nigeria, nay the world, expect this year from the St. Eve West African Fashion Show?

Basically a projection of the Nigerian fashion creativity in the angle of designs, combination

of style, fabrics, and a touch of perfection with each piece. We want to do so much for the average fashion designer and help them sell themselves to the whole world. We want to show the world that we believe in the fashion industry which is growing in Nigeria.

A project of this magnitude needs govern-

ment and private sector participation. What are you doing in this regard?

We are trying so hard to make our dreams come true and hopefully the government as well as the private sector will key into our dream and throw their weight behind us. I must confess that last year we were gladly supported by Heritage Bank and Grand Oak

International, the makers of Calypso and St. Lauren Red Grape. Brand Partners for this fashion also included; Mercedes Benz, Bliss Hair, Glam’s Make-Up, FingerKings, Le Paris Hotel, Tudor House, Eko Hotel and Suites, Carliza Hotel Ltd, The BlowFish Hotel, Luxury Spa Supplies, Daviva, Beauty Secret, and Aquadana Water.

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AGSOBA 8591 Set Lifts School with N13m Project Having the mindset that government alone should not be saddled with developmental responsibility, a group of old students of Abeokuta Grammar School specifically the set that got admitted in 1985 and graduated in 1991, has earmarked about N13 million for the development of the school.

Coming under the aegis of Abeokuta Grammar School Old Boys Association (AGSOBA) 8591, the set, which coincidentally is marking its 25th anniversary of graduating from the school, said it decided on its action by giving back to the alma mater, which was the basis of success, which its members have recorded so far in their endeavours.

President of the set, Mr. Oludare Olateju who led some of the members to the school’s 108 anniversary celebration in Abeokuta, Ogun State last week, noted that the set’s focus now is the renovation and equipping of the school’s Home Economics block after which attention will be shifted to other projects. He believes that if all sets could emulate them, the school will be restored to its past glory.

The project, according to him, will gulp over N13 million.

“Since we left school, the spirit of Abeokuta Grammar School has always been with us everywhere we go. Even in our university days, we had those of us coming together but because of

L-R: President, AGSOBA)8591 set, Mr. Oludare Olateju; flanked with members: Mr. Adewale Ademoye; Best Teacher for the Year, Mr. Ayo Odegogbola (represented); Engr. Kunle Ogunmefun, Mr. Samuel Osuji, Mr. Shodipo Shodunke; Principal, Junior School, Mr. Faronbi Olurotimi; Principal, Senior School, Mr. Olusegun Obadimu; and Dr. Jamiu Owodeyi, the school’s 108th anniversary, in Abeokuta, Ogun State

our situation then, we were not earning money, there was very little we could do, but in the last 3-4 years, we have come together to organise ourselves and we run via committees. So we have the welfare committee, the investment committee, the social committee, the mentoring committee, mobilisation and publicity committee, and for each of these committees, we have chairmen (the cell leaders), we have different projects that will take care of the present day students, members of our sets, and the school as an institution,” Olateju said.

According to him, the second phase

of the Home Economics project includes procurement of about 30 computers in one wing of the hall.

“We have a member who is an IT expert based in Switzerland. He has been able to secure some of these from the Switzerland government and when the time comes we will bring them in.

We have engineers among us that have given their talents, time and resources to put infrastructure in place for all of these. So, if you look back, if we have about 10 active young sets doing one thing or the other,” he said.

Also, Dr. Jamiu Owodeyi, Chairman

Niger State to Re-acquire Ladi Kwali Pottery Centre Suleja Laleye Dipo In Minna The Niger State Government has completed arrangement to re-acquire the Ladi Kwali Pottery Centre in Suleja Local Government Area of the state.

The pottery centre was sold to a former member of the National Assembly by the state government some 16 years ago at N6m.

THISDAY learnt from sources close to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture that the government has already opened negotiations with the buyer “and very soon an agreement will be reached on the re-acquisition of the centre.”

It was however gathered that while government was prepared to offer not more than N10m for the centre the former lawmaker was said to be demanding for N35m.

THISDAY further gathered that govern-

ment was reluctant in meeting the bill of the former lawmaker because since the centre was bought no additional infrastructure or development had been carried out on the project.

“We cannot pay N35m for the business that was bought for N6m, the buyer has not added any value to the centre, we shall however negotiate with him so that we can reach an amicable settlement,” the source said.

However, THISDAY learnt that government had decided to acquire the centre “in the public interest” if the negotiation broke down.

The plan of the government according to the top ministry source is to hand over the centre to a foreign developer who would upgrade it and turn it not only to a tourism destination and also put it in position to generate employment for the people of Suleja and environs.

“In this era where most of the states are crying about shortage of funds to administer their states we cannot allow such a huge goldmine to continue to lie fallow”, the top ministry official said.

When contacted the Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa confirmed the government plan and said “we shall do everything within the law to ensure we reacquire the centre.”

Vatsa also confirmed that an investor from Britain had shown interest in the project but said “we cannot give the details until after everything has been fine-tuned.”

The Ladi Kwali Pottery centre was named after Hajia Ladi Kwali because of the fame she brought to the country as a result of her expertise in pottery making.

She was also given a national honour by the administration of former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida

African Church Cathedral Salem Kick Starts First Harvest Adedayo Adejobi Last Sunday, the African Church Cathedral Salem, Yaba, Lagos, bustled with interesting activities as the church members from far and wide converged in a colourful ceremony to commemorate their first community/ cultural harvest.

For this century year old church, the occasion was significant because that was the first time the church would be having a combined harvest nationwide. Until last Sunday, the churches had their harvest separately but this time, it was decided that all the African Church Cathedral Salem should have a combined harvest and to introduce culture into it.

In his message, the Provost and Archdeaconry Chairman of the church, The Ven. Moses Sunday Makanjuola stated that promoting culture is also a good way of teaching and inculcating moral values in the society and that religion cannot be separated from culture. “So everyone came together in their various cultures to worship God and celebrate his goodness to them.”

He also emphasised the need for all Nigerians to turn to God for solutions for

Members of African Church Cathedral Salem Yaba during the event

all the challenges we are facing as a nation.

Speaking on the anti-preaching bill aimed at curbing religion extremism in Kaduna, Makanjuola said it was not a way of curbing anything but rather it is a persecution against the Christendom. He said persecution is not new to Christendom because Jesus Christ was also persecuted and he had foretold that his disciples will also be persecuted and for this, the Christians will always prevail just like Jesus did. According to him, “Persecution will only move us forward.”

The grand patron of the church Bashorun P.A. Sholola also added that the need for godliness and contentment are very vital to achieving the desired peace in our nation.

Also speaking on the deviation of preaching salvation to prosperity, as it is in many churches, Bode Shobola the Cathedral People’s Warden said it is the reason there are many problems now. “People need to be taught values of life not placing all attention on money. Salvation is the most important and this is what the church should know and teach its members.”

Ynaija.Com Launches #Yonthehour YNaija.com, the newspaper for young Nigerians, has launched its innovative hourly news broadcast via video, #YOnTheHour. Anchored weekdays by 'your girl for the news' Adenike Adebayo, #YOnTheHour airs the news summary every hour for YNaija’s jet-set audiences who consume news on the go.

Detailing all the important news for the day, #YOnTheHour airs Ynaija.Com’s #Yonthehour anchor, simultaneously on Adenike Adebayo YNaija’s Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube pages - @YNaijaOnline on Instagram and @YNaija everywhere else. It’s news just like you want it!

Y!/YNaija.com is a network of premium media brands – Y! TV, Y! Magazine, YNaija.com, Teen Y!, TeenYNaija.com, Y! 2015, YNaija2015.com – committed to an evolving generation of Africans. Established in 2011, with a vision to provoke thought, inspire action and stimulate growth; it has become the leading media platform for young Africans with reach across West, East and Southern Africa, influencing policy, opinion and leading on issues across sectors with a focus on governance, culture and technology.

Red Media Africa (www.redmediaafrica.com) is the PR and Empowerment Marketing division under the parent brand, RED. It focuses on using inspiration, empowerment and action to help brands and organisations connect with their audiences, enhance their bottom-lines and lead in their industries. It has six major practice areas: corporate practice, technology practice, SME practice, governance practice, faith practice and the international practice - with work for brands across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. RED owns the continent's largest portfolio of youth media brands.

Its Content Division holds brands across TV, radio, online and events including Y! Magazine, YNaija.com, Rubbin' Minds, #YTech100 and The RED Summit. It also anchors a development firm, The Future Project, which projects include Africa's leading youth platform, The Future Awards Africa, HowCanIGetInvolved.com and Aiki.ng, which is run in conjunction with Microsoft.

UNILAG Students Agog at EIL Campus Edition Ugo Aliogo The students of University of Lagos have applauded the convener of Excellence in Life (EIL) Campus, Dr. Femi Paul and Chief Executive Officer of the Olakunle Soriyan Company, Olakunle Soriyan, after a mind-blowing session at the debut of Excellence In Life, in the University campus.

The event which held at the Afe Babalola Hall, University of Lagos, recently was aimed at instilling the culture of excellence in the youths, thereby ensuring a greater future for Nigeria.

Addressing the students, Dean of Students Affairs, University of Lagos, Prof. Tunde Babawale, said there was need for the youths to imbibe the culture of excellence in their daily lives, for them to excel as they are the leaders of tomorrow.

Babawale said the EIL Campus is one of the programmes that UNILAG is proud to be associated with. “When you do things excellently, you also associate yourself with excellence. And that is why we fully support the programme, Excellence In Life Campus brought by Dr. Femi Paul. With the kind of support that we have through EIL Campus, I am sure you are the generation that will make things better,” he said.

Paul stated that the EIL Campus edition is taking a step in the right direction to inspire youths to have a change of culture, adding that it is a periodic workshop aimed at eradicating mediocrity from the society, “transforming mindset and optimising potential. The EIL Campus will take place in as many universities as within the country.”

The students expressed great delight at the life-changing experience for them as they unanimously voted the EIL Campus as one of the most impactful events that they have ever attended, while urging the organisers to take the programme to all universities in Nigeria.

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Heineken Announces ‘City Shapers’

Bolanle Austen-Peters

Theo Lawson

Kenneth Gyang

In its ongoing attempt to enhance the cities of the world, Heineken, the world’s leading international premium beer, brings the third edition of its Cities campaign to Nigeria. This year’s campaign tagged ‘Shape your City’ is aimed at transforming great cities while broadening the imagination of the new generation city dwellers, inspiring them to contribute their quota to improving their cities.

To achieve the #ShapeYourCity campaign, Heineken Nigeria partners with City Shapers, individuals known for using their skills in creating one-of-kind experiences to make their cities more enjoyable for dwellers. They are urban visionaries who have by small actions of their own, contributed to shaping cities across Nigeria.

The selected City Shapers include: Bolanle Austen-Peters, Founder of Nigeria’s foremost cultural hub, Terra Kulture; Theo Lawson, Architect of the acclaimed Freedom Park and Kalakuta Museum; and Kenneth Gyang, Director of award winning films Confusion Na Wa and Blood & Henna.

“Globally, Heineken is committed to making great cities even greater and we are glad to include Nigeria in this movement.” said Ngozi Nkwoji, Senior Brand Manager, Heineken Nigeria.

“This year’s theme of shaping cities is focused on encouraging people to contribute to their city as Heineken believes that the smallest of gestures have the potential to bring about

unexpected transformation to our Nigerian cities.”

As part of the campaign, Heineken has also launched a series of limited Heineken City Edition bottles and cans, each bearing the name of renowned cities across the globe including 10 Nigerian cities namely Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Enugu, Benin, Warri, Kaduna, Aba and Onitsha. The brand is reaching out to city dwellers across Nigeria to share their ideas for improving great cities.

At the end of the campaign, the winning ideas will be executed by Heineken Nigeria while engaging City Shapers and other passionate urban explorers across the country to help make the project a reality.

Fidson Supports Breastfeeding as Cornerstone to Healthy Growth Fidson Healthcare Plc has thrown its weight behind breastfeeding as the best source of nourishment for infants and young children, which is the cornerstone for a child’s healthy growth as well as a country’s development.

The leading pharmaceutical company called on Nigerian women to embrace breastfeeding of their babies to avoid diseases and infections to the child’s health. The advice came on the heel of the company’s concern for the health and well-being of the Nigerian mother and child, in commemoration of the world breastfeeding week which commenced on the 1st of August, 2016.

World Health Organisation’s report tied the increasing child mortality rate to lack of adequate breastfeeding. WHO’s report estimated that 3.1 million child deaths annually or 45 per cent of all child deaths are caused by under nutrition and that over 800 000 children's lives could be saved every year among children under 5, if all children 0–23 months were optimally breastfed.

The Marketing Manager, Fidson, Mr. Friday Enaholo said breast milk is an essential source of energy and nutrients for children aged 6 to 23 months as it can provide more than half of a child’s energy needs between the ages of 6 and 12 months, and one third of energy needs between 12 and 24 months. He stressed that breast milk is also a critical source of nourishment during illness, and reduces child mortality.

He also noted that supporting breastfeeding is one of the viable health investments any country’s government can make, especially in preventing child mortality, improving maternal and child health.

Mother Breastfeeding her child

He therefore advised all concerned to support breastfeeding, especially for working mothers.

“The World Breastfeeding Week is intended to draw attention to and raise awareness of this natural responsibility of a mother. There is the need to drum support for the working class mother who is nursing a baby; and to call on employers and policy makers to spare a thought for the hard-working, lactating mother when developing labour related policies that have to do with the workplace. A happy mother is a productive employee,” he said.

Enaholo believes in the bond that exists between mother and child while breastfeeding. He noted that breastfeeding is a natural interaction between mother and baby, without any need for a special week to raise awareness for it.

“However, urbanisation, globalisation, work-life imbalance, fear of breast sagging, etc. have reduced the frequency and duration of breastfeeding. Normally, mothers derive joy from suckling their babies and their commitment to this noble duty is high.”

He advised breastfeeding mothers to cultivate the habit of frequently taking clean water to increase the flow of breast milk.

He also advised the consumption of natural foods, to increase the quality and quantity of breast milk, as well as intake of nutritional supplements, like Cestra Pre-natal® which contains all the micronutrients, vitamins and other requirements in the right types, quantity and combinations for optimal growth and wellbeing of mother and child.

He said Cestra Pre-natal®, from the stable of Fidson Healthcare Plc provides needed energy to the mother and adequate micronutrients to the child in the first few years of life. Cestra Pre Natal® is purposefully formulated to prepare women for pregnancy and promotes health, growth and development of the baby.

It provides the special nutritional requirements of the woman and the baby throughout the pregnancy and after delivery. It supports the immune system, energy levels, and vitality during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Fidson’s support of the WHO campaign on breastfeeding is a demonstration of the company’s concern for the health and wellbeing of every Nigerian mother and child. This is in line with its corporate brand proposition of adding value to life, as expressed in its slogan.

Rotary Club of Ikeja Gets First Female President Peace Obi The investiture of the first female president, Rotarian Olaitan Ojuroye of the Rotary Club of Ikeja, District 9110 Nigeria has been scheduled to hold on Sunday, August 7, 2016 at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Mobolaji-Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, Lagos .

According to the Chairman, Investiture Planning Committee, Rotarian Goke Olayinka, the induction of Board of Directors for the 2016/2017 Rotary Year will also hold along the investiture of the club’s first female president.

Describing the event as being monumental, the Chairman, Investiture Planning Committee, Rotarian Goke Olayinka said the new president doubles as both the first female president and the 50th president of the Club.

According to Olayinka “The entire Rotary family is excited about this event. This is because the investiture is remarkable in the history of Rotary Club of Ikeja, District 9110. Rotarian Ojuroye will be our first female president and also the 50th President of the District.

“We also celebrate the fact that touching lives runs in her blood. Her father was actually a Rotarian past president. Her younger brother was also a past president of the Club,” he said.

Among the dignitaries that will grace the occasion is the Chairman, Standard Chartered Bank Limited, Sir Festus Oluremi Omotoso who is the guest speaker, while other special guests of honour include Mrs. OlufunkeIyabo Osibodu, Managing Director, Benin Electricity Distribution Plc., Mother of the Day and HRM. Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, Karunwi III,

Oranmiyan Osile of Oke-Ona, Egba, Royal Father of the Day. Restating the Club’s commitment to keeping its promise to continuously offer humanitarian services and advance goodwill around the world, Olayinka noted that the Club has donated gift and relief materials worth millions of naira to some special Nigerians. And that supporting and empowering the less privileged has always been the focus of the Club.

Giving the beneficiaries of the Club’s gesture to include the Nigerian Airforce Officers Wives’ Association (NAFOWA), six artisans and one disabled person, said they were empowered with various empowerment tools which included, sewing machines, shoe making/maintenance equipment and grinding machines.

Driving Change in Nigeria … A budding female entrepreneur

Driving Change in Nigeria Mary Ekah Leaving school at the age of seven after losing her parents, Roshida (not real name) was taken in by her aunt and uncle. She is one of many girls in Nigeria forced to abandon her studies due to economic challenges and poverty. Roshida is now a successful entrepreneur living in Lagos, who has managed to make a significant change in her life and is helping other women in her community who face similar challenges.

A determined individual, Roshida was introduced to the Accelerating Savings and Strengthening Entrepreneurship Training and Skills (ASSETS) programme which is funded

by MasterCard and implemented by leading global organisation, Mercy Corps. Taking the opportunity to learn as much as she could from the initiative, Roshida chose to pursue beadwork in line with her passion of making others feel and look good.

“I chose bead making because I really love fashion. I love to dress people well and that is why I chose the makeover, the cosmetology aspects of it and if I can dress people and sell my beads at the same time, it goes hand in hand,” she explains.

Entrepreneurship is the lifeblood of the economy, and in Africa women are turning to this as a solution to secure a better future for themselves and their families. In Nigeria, MasterCard and Mercy Corps have partnered to ensure young girls and women receive the necessary financial literacy and entrepreneurship training required to start their own business. The programme has resulted in many stories of inspiration, and we look at one such story of a young woman determined to change her circumstances.

By enrolling in the programme, these young women are automatically registered for a National eID (NeID) card, which recognises them as citizens. The NeID card is not only a form of identification; it also enables electronic payments, which offer access to a wide range of financial tools and services.

To date, over 6000 girls from across Mercy Corps programmes have been registered for the multi-functional eID. “Without saving, I would have not been able to start my bead business. I am saving because in emergencies when people come to me and ask for a design, then I have the beads for it. So this money helps me to go to the market and get whatever I need to make my pieces. When I see people wearing my beads, I feel proud of myself because I am the one who did it,” Roshida said further.

With aspirations of opening her own future shop and achieving her childhood dream of owning a house and car, Roshida is on the path to achieving this and is empowering others on her journey. “I have trained five people, whenever I am working, I call them to come and see so that they can learn and one day start their own business,” she noted.

Mercy Corps is a leading global organisation powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, it partners to put bold solutions into action—helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

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eraveonline@gmail.com

D’Banj Becomes MTN’s Brand Ambassador Popular musician, Dbanj has left his multi million Naira endorsement deal with Globadom as he becomes MTN brand ambassador.

Sources say his new deal with MTN is a further step in helping distributing entertainment products better, monetising and monitoring music content and catalogues, and experimenting with markets within African.

Dbanj has confirmed his reasons for signing with MTN when he posted a picture on his Instagram page and wrote, "A partnership with MTN and DKM, to launch a platform of visible hope for the creative industry where creative contents will be found, housed, financed, nurtured, published, marketed, distributed, and sold with trackable monitoring by content owners without leaving their comfort zones. Supported by Bank of Industry."

Erave however leant that his multi million Naira endorsement deal with Globacom has expired and he was not willing to renew it. He was first signed by the company in 2009. He was later dropped as an ambassador and got signed again. The news now is that Dbanj has moved on to MTN.

d'banj

BLACKFACE Popular Reggae and dancehall artiste, Ahmedu Augustine Obiabo known by his stage name Blackface Naija or simply Blackface recently dropped his fifth studio album titled “The Defender”.

The album consists of 20 tracks featuring Azadus, Yung6ix and Marvelous Benjy. The ex Plantashun Boyz member is hopefully back into the industry after his departure about five years ago.

Popular Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh announced that she just signed and sealed a new endorsement deal with Nature Essence USA. The award-winning actress announced the news via her Instagram page. She wrote, "Signed and sealed ... #NATUREESSENCEUSA #AMBASSADORALERT #MULTIMILLIONCONTRACT #GOD #YOLO".

DAVIDO Popular Nigerian act, Davido has confirmed that he has completed work on his EP which will be released

by September under Sony Music Entertainment. He revealed the news via his Snapchat account expressing his happiness and joy.

The completed EP features international acts like Tinashe, Young Thug and Trey Songs. Sony Music will also be handling publishing and distribution of every work by the singer. It will be handled by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, a music publishing company presently co-owned by Sony Music Entertainment and the estate of Michael Jackson.

Tiwa-Savage

MMMY Unveils New Artistes A new record label, MMMY Music has unveiled its new artistes recently signed onto the label. The new acts are Raybayqer, Baddaman Derrek (D) and Kellyfresh.

Raybayqer is Lagos breed R & B singer from Oyo State and she started her musical career at the age of 10.

Badaman Derrek is an Afrobeat and dancehall singer from Owerri who began his musical career began during his days at the higher institution. The last but not the least act, Kellyfresh who hails from Imo State is a versatile German-based contemporary rapper and singer.

Speaking at the unveiling of the artistes, the CEO, Chijioke Mbaeyi also known as Baron Chymoni, said the label specialises in a wide variety of talent representations in music all over the world. “The vision of the label is to become highly reputable and a largely successful entertainment company that is well respected locally and internationally as a frontrunner in entertainment industry. MMMY Music will deliver world class music that transcends boundaries bridging the gap worldwide. We will occupy a sizable space in all kind of music gadgets/appliances in every household, club and the almighty street. One of our Label’s mottos is win the hearts

www.eraveng.com

TONTO DIKEH

Tiwa Savage Signs International Management Deal Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Entertainment Company has officially signed Nigeria's female sensation, Tiwa Savage and she is now label mates with renowned entertainers like Dj Khaled, Big Sean, Meek Mill, Rihanna, and others.

The news was broken via Roc nation’s official Instagram page and shared with the photo of the singer signing the contract as they welcomed the popular artiste to the Roc Nation entertainment company.

Roc Nation is an American entertainment company founded by rapper Jay-Z in 2008. It is a full service entertainment company inclusive of artistes and athletes management, label, publishing, touring, film/TV and new ventures.

Accompanying the signing, Tiwa Savage’s new music video with Wizkid has been released exclusively on Tidal.

Tiwa Savage label boss in Nigeria, Don Jazzy has also congratulated her on the new signing hilariously via his Instagram page. He wrote: “Lol see as I nearly sit down for ground. I no want make that illuminati ram head for the wall catch me. Congrats to the First Lady of Mavin on Rocnation management deal once again @ tiwasavage. More success coming our way in GOD’S name. Amen".

@eraveng

FUNKE AKINDELE

MMMY artise, Raybayqer performing on stage

of your people locally, and then take Africa to the world.”

The label has started releasing the songs of the new artistes signed on the label.

Kellypresh has released his official single titled Anu-Ntanta, produced by Tyrone, mixed and mastered by Indomix. The

other two acts, Baddaman Derrek and Raybayqer have also released their first official singles on the label. The label had also worked with Music Directors like Paul Gambit and Eddie Madphat for the shooting of musical videos of the artistes.

Nigerian actress, Funke Akindele has announced the release of her popular comedy series, Jenifa’s Diary on DVD and also urged her fans not to buy pirated versions of the film, they should rather embrace the original ones to have value for their money.

“Scene One productions Ltd, the producer of jenifa’s diary TV series, is proud to announce the DVD release of the multi award winning TV comedy series, Jenifa’s diary season 1&2. Starring Funke Akindele, Bervely Osu, Alex Ekubo, Wunmi obe, Ali Nuhu, with cameo appearances from Waje, Banky w, BASH Comedian and more. Original copies of the TV series (Season 1&2 ) are also at supermarkets and all DVD stores nationwide.”

Jenifa’s Diary is a 2008 Nigerian comedy-drama that depicts the hilarious and amazing adventures of Suliat, A.K.A Jenifa. Jenifa is loud, over-bearing, very opinionated, and an interesting character to watch.

35/XTRA

05.08.2016

‘Senator T.A. Orji Has Touched the Lives of His People’ Mr. Don Norman Obinna, Media Adviser to the immediate past Governor of Abia State and Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial district at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji, in this interview with Peter Uzoho highlights the achievements of Senator Orji in the past one year with their contemporaries from other states and in the world as well. Senator Orji has also shown his media friendliness with the donation of five sets of office furniture to Radio Nigeria (Pacesetter FM), Umuahia, for the refurbishment of some of their offices gutted by fire. So over all, he has provided avenue for financial liberation of his people.

Senator T.A. Orji has been in the Senate for over one year now. How is he finding his new job as a lawmaker?

Well, the job of legislation is not the job for rabble-rousers or garrulous people; it is the job of the witty. Senator Orji no doubt proved his leadership prowess during his two terms in office as the executive Governor of Abia State between 2007 – 2015. His eight years were eventful as he left legacy projects behind for posterity. So having set that unprecedented record, the issue of transition was not difficult because he has a blue print of the objective he wants to accomplish as well as time frame for its accomplishment. That was why he set the ball rolling immediately he was elected the Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial district by sponsoring eight bills as part of his legislative oversights and at the same time ensuring the wellbeing of his constituents with mouth-watering empowerments to ensure their financial freedom in just 365 days at the Red chamber of the National Assembly.

What are the eight bills he sponsored in less than one year?

It sounds unbelievable, isn’t it? That is the hallmark of an astute and sturdy leader. These bills we are talking about are not just mere bills rather they are bills when enacted will have positive impact on the Nigerians. We have the Food Security Bill, 2015 (2nd Reading), the objective is to compel government to provide quality food as part of its primary responsibilities.

The establishment of a Food Security Agency will enable vulnerable and marginalised groups like children, pregnant women and lactating mothers have access to quality food. Also of paramount importance is a provision in the Bill which seeks to establish a Food Security Agency that will implement the blueprint on food security mapping system. The bill when enacted seeks to empower the proposed Food Security Agency to collaborate with the Ministries of Finance, Disaster Management, Planning and National Security to actualise its mandate and strengthen their capacity in food emergencies.

So when enacted, the Food Security Bill will ensure a healthy society, and a robust population because it will certainly reduce drastically and/or eliminate completely the menace of malnourishment, morbidity, neo-natal mortality, high rate of child and maternal mortality which Nigeria is the second largest contributor with the loss of about 2, 300 under-five-year-olds and 145 women of childbearing age every single day according to the current UNICEF record.

In other words, about 8.395 million and 52, 925 annual infants and maternal mortality will be prevented. We have the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council Act Cap N 117 2004 Repeal and Reenactment Bill (1st Reading), with the objective to further encourage, promote and co-ordinate investment in the Nigerian economy; National Planning Process Bill 2015, SB.73 (1st Reading); and Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act CAP PD3 LFN 2004 (Amendment), Bill 2015 (SB – 11 9) (2nd Reading). Others are the Nigerian Biodiversity Bill 2015 (SB 79), (1st Reading); Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Alteration), Portfolio Designation Bill 2015 (1st Reading), Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), Bill 2015 (SB 78), (1st Reading); and a bill for an Act to Establish a Centre for Diseases Control and other Related Matters (1st Reading).

What about the controversial Bill for Institute of Chartered Politicians?

The imaginary bill was blown out of proportion by detractors and selfish individuals who have been rattled by Senator Orji’s unprecedented achievements in the National Assembly. Senator

Obinna

Orji did at no time sponsor the so called “Bill for Institute of Chartered Politicians” as circulated by mischief makers. It was only a sarcastic proposition he made while contributing to a debate on an Act to Establish the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants of Nigeria (CIMAN), sponsored by Senator Barnabas Gemade representing Benue North East. Those who know Senator Orji well are very much aware of his comicality and his suggestion for the said bill was not just an exception.

Are there plans to attract Federal projects to his constituency as well as plans to tackle the ecological challenges in that area?

We are not talking about plans anymore, it is no longer a question of if but when because as we speak, through the persuasive demands of Senator Orji at the National Assembly, the Federal Government through the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), has requested for expression of interest for constituency service for the maintenance/repairs of critical failed road sections, along Umuahia-Ariam, Ikot-Epkene road in his constituency; Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State. We also have the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs invitation for prequalification and direct tendering for works, goods and expression of interest for consultancy services for the 2016 capital projects for the design and supervision of Mbom-Ameke-Olokoro-Umuikea roads, 7up/Umuola-Nkwo Elechi Ohuhu road5km and the consultancy services for training and empowerment in agriculture and other value chain in Abia State. These are verifiable facts because they were published on THISDAY newspaper edition of Monday, June 13, 2016.

So hopefully after the rainy season, works will begin on these roads to ameliorate the transportation hardship of our people.

How has his representation so far transformed the lives of his constituents in this past one year?

I will say his representation has affected his people in several unimaginable ways because apart from these legislative oversights which are his primary responsibilities, Senator Orji has also touched the lives of his people evenly. As we speak, he introduced an annual scholarship scheme designed to produce 240 graduates in four years. 60 indigent students; 10 from each of the six LGAs that make up his constituency will annually benefit from this scheme. The scheme has produced its first 60 beneficiaries last year and the second batch of another 60 beneficiaries will come up sometime this year. Senator Orji has also restored the limbs of some physically challenged persons in his constituency with the donation of 20 wheel chairs; ensure also their financial freedom with the donation to the indigent entrepreneurs vocational equipment such 25 sewing machines, 25 grinding machines, 25 2.5KVA generating sets, five tricycles, and two 18-seater buses. And in furtherance of his Food Security Bill, Senator Orji also provided 100 liquid fertilisers for farmers to ensure robust farm produce. We were told by a representative of the Abia State Ministry of Agriculture during the presentation that if properly utilised, the fertilisers are capable of enriching 200 hectares of farmland. So you know what that means to agriculture in Abia State. It is also worthy of mentioning that another set of 250 bags of fertilisers have been purchased by our amiable Senator to be distributed to farmers in his constituency. They will soon be distributed to farmers. Again we also have other projects which are intended to develop our pupils and youths to ensure that they compete effectively

Apart from the well publicised legacy projects, what other achievements would you say were Senator Orji’s greatest that endeared him to the people as governor of Abia State?

Of course security was one of them; remember the era of the contrived kidnapping which apart from the security threat it constituted also to a large extent crippled the buoyant Abia State economy. You have to appreciate Senator Orji’s ingenuity in tackling as well as exterminating the menace of abduction with the application of scientific methods despite the fact that this happened when kidnapping was alien to us. Another is the elimination of idolatry which held sway in Abia State prior to his emergence. It was a known fact that qualified Abia youths were debarred from political appointments and participations with this anachronistic ideology and of course the effect was the abysmal underdevelopment which Abia State suffered before its liberation in 2010.

Then the most recent one which earned him the enviable title of Opuruiche 1 (Unique One) of Igboland was his insistence that an Ukwa Ngwa man will be supported to become the governor of Abia State in recognition of the Abia Charter of Equity against fierce opposition by some people whose motive was to stoke up the polity and made mess of the unity which Senator Orji laboured to achieve in the state.

These three achievements no doubt were what endeared him to the masses and to a large extent the reason he was elected en masse by his people to represent them at the National Assembly. That decision has proven to be a smart one as this last one year has proven.

What else should the people of Abia Central Senatorial district be expecting from Senator Orji in the coming years?

Well, Senator Orji believes so much in the “Right Base Approach to Development”; a political ideology which sees the people as the right bearers and government, the duty bearers. In other words, Senator Orji believes that the people are rationale and as such should be consulted in decision making and in provision delivering. Apart from the fact that we have organised some handful of radio interactions where people called his attention to some pressing issues. Senator Orji has also concluded plans to organise a town hall meeting where he will meet with his constituents to discuss and see ways their lives can be further improve upon. He also has some programmes on the pipeline designed to eliminate idleness among our youths. That means that we are going to see some vocational and empowerment programmes which will create wealth for our people and ensure the sustenance of his philosophy which is to make possible an egalitarian society permeate with wealth creators.

All he is asking for is the continuous support of the people, of course he has shown that he understands their feelings with the donation of 600 bags of rice to the widows, elderly and the less-privileged in his constituency – 100 bags each – to the six LGAs that make up his constituency as well as helping the women of Umuamainta complete their hall. No one would have done the business of representation better than Senator Orji and that is the reason he is revered in Abia.

36/XTRA

05.08.2016

Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru: A Great Patriot Bows Out Peter Uzoho and Godbless Eduviere, who covered the burial programmes organised in Lagos in honour of late Olorogun Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, report that people from all walks of life poured encomiums on the departed patriot It was a moment of outpouring of emotion and showering of encomiums at the evening of tribute organised by the family of late Olorogun Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, on Wednesday, 27 July, 2016 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event themed: ‘Lord be thou exalted’ marked the commencement of a weeklong activity for the burial of the late Senator.

The occasion saw large number of the high and mighty, members of the political class, the academia, the business moguls, associates, staff, clients, families, friends and relatives of late Senator Ibru converge to pay their last respect to an accomplished patriot.

Born on December 7, 1935, to the family of late Chief Peter Epete Ibru and late Chief Mrs. Janet Omotogor Ibru at Agbarha-Otor, in the Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, the second of seven children, late Senator Ibru obtained his education at Yaba Methodist School, and later Igbobi College, where he was Head Boy in 1955. He won the Elder Dempster Lines Scholarship to travel to the United Kingdom.

After his secondary school education at Igbobi College, Ibru proceeded to the Nottingham School of Architecture in England where he qualified as an architect in 1962.

While as a student in Nottingham, he was elected the first Black President of the British Council with responsibility for Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire. As a result, he was presented to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace, in 1960.

Shortly after his qualification as an architect in 1962, he worked briefly with the Jewish Agency SOCHNUT, on various projects relating to farm settlements, ‘Kibbutzim and Moshavim’ and prefabricated buildings in Jerusalem and Haifa.

He later enrolled at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology for post-graduate studies and qualified with an MSc (Arch) in 1963. Ibru returned to Nigeria at the end of that year and took up an appointment with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Education as the first Resident Lecturer, in Architecture, at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.

He was elected member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) in 1969, registered by the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), in 1971, and confirmed Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Architects in 1995. In 1997 he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Law (LL.D), by the Delta State University, and a Fellowship of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Olorogun Felix Ibru’s business life was indeed, an extraordinary one.

He established an architectural firm, Roye Ibru Associates, which, in 1971, went into partnership with Alan Vaughan-Richards and Associates to establish the firm of Ibru Vaughan-Richards and Associates (Planning Partnership). As one of the two principal partners of the firm, Chief Ibru was involved in the design and supervision of more than 40 projects across the country.

They include: University of Lagos Sports Centre, Oguta Lake Resort, The Diette-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt; Office extension for Elf Nig. Ltd. Victoria Island, Lagos; Lagos University Master Plan; New Layout Market, Port Harcourt; Mile 3 Diobu Market, Port Harcourt; Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja,Lagos; University of Benin sports centre; University of Benin Master plan; Faculty of Science buildings, University of Benin and the Ogun State Polytechnic Master plan.

The scion of one of Africa’s most prominent business families, Olorogun Felix Ibru was a wealth creator and consummate businessman much sought-after, locally and internationally. In 1971, under the auspices of the United Nations, he was invited to Tokyo, Japan, as a member of a panel on foreign investment. In 1974, he delivered a lecture at the Harvard Business School, in the United States on Multinationals, titled "Emerging Role of the African Entrepreneur in

Late Ibru

the Economy and its Relationship with Multinational Corporations: Competition, Partnership, Cooperation and Absorption".

As a statesman and a patriot in the mould of the pioneer nationalists, Olorogun Felix Ibru waded into the murky waters of Nigerian politics.

His political activities began in 1983, when he unsuccessfully contested for a seat in the Nigerian Senate under the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), headed by Chief late Obafemi Awolowo, his political mentor. Though he lost out, he subsequently won elections into the Constituent Assembly in 1988. In 1991, he contested and won the election to become the first civilian Executive Governor of Delta State and in 2003, achieved his dream of becoming the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District.

However, on assumption of office as the first Executive Governor of Delta State, he paid all the debts of his predecessors without bias.

As an architect, he developed a twenty-year development plan for the city of Warri, Asaba and Ughelli. Although the Third Republic was short lived, his honesty, transparency, dedication to duty, patriotism and good governance were made visible.

For all the numerous achievements of the late senator, people from all walks life in varying expressions poured their hearts out in honour and in recognition of the departed icon.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa described late Senator as “a determine champion of progressive values and an afflicting voice for tolerance, inquisitiveness, fairness, dignity and opportunity. His absolute disposition and gentleness at all times are treasurable attributes that stood him apart from most men of noble birth and great achievers.

“As we commence the process of sending His Excellency, Olorogun Ovuodoroye Senator Felix Ibru home, he would surely be remembered for the remarkable life he lived. His lifetime sets a purpose of positively transforming the lives of many Urhobo, Deltans and indeed Nigeria,” Okowa added.

Former Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan said there was a lot to say about the departed Senator.

“As President-General of Urhobo Progressive Union, which he became while I was Governor, he took that position very seriously because for him, the unity of the Urhobo people was uppermost. He used that position to bring unity not just to the Urhobo people, but to Deltans.

I hope that in his death, the Urhobos can reflect on what was uppermost in the mind of Senator Ibru and ensure that peace reigns, ensure that the Urhobo people become united and ensure that Delta State is united for the Urhobos, being the largest ethnic group, to use that position to mobilise other ethnic group

for a very united Delta State, and that is the only way we can remember Senator Ibru,” Uduaghan said.

For former Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, in Delta State, Barrister Mary Agbajoh, “Olorogun towered above many others, his pace-setting acumen and respect for excellence, competence and due process in his private life, business and public service, left worthy imprints in the hearts of our people and everyone who was privileged to come in contact with him.

“Like every Ibru, Olorogun was iconic and was held in very high esteem by our leaders and people world over, for his deep wisdom and positive contributions to Nigeria’s development and humanity in general,” she noted.

“Enumerating his enterprising and commercial feats would be overkill because late Olorogun qualifies as a Hall of Famer, if we have such in Nigeria, by virtue of his contributions to the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria.

“As a patriot and political icon who midwifed and led Delta State in her embryonic stage, he nurtured the modern-day Delta State into what it is today as our first Executive Governor. As a statesman, he spent most of his public life in the service of the common man. I can recall Olorogun’s numerous giant strides as Governor and Senator as well as his passionate commitment and meritorious services to a greater Urhobo nation. As the President General of Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU), he was passionate and committed to a greater and more united Urhobo. A passion he lived and died for.

“Olorogun Senator Ibru set a shining example of the kind of unconditional love required to reverse a worse situation to an excellent one.

He was a fantastic friend, and as a passionate golfer, I remember he always impressed it on me to think before taking a stand on any issue and be ready to stand tall in any situation or challenges that may come my way. In times of Need, Olorogun was always there, and was always willing to help even when you didn't ask.

“Personally, I am not here to mourn Olorogun's passage, though very painful, but to celebrate the impressive years of an illustrious Urhobo son, a loving father, loyal friend, a detribalized Nigerian, an astute entrepreneur and politician, and of course, one of Africa’s great statesmen,” Agbajoh added.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu described him as a statesman, a perfect gentleman and a man of inestimable pedigree.

“He was my friend and mentor. He would be remembered for the great strides he achieved in his postion. He was a lawmaker of uncommon wisdom and a one-time Chairman of the Senate Committee on Establishment.

“In the fifth Senate, he always calmed frayed nerves and would appeal for senators to calm down and this earned him the name ‘Mr Calm down” Ekweremadu said.

The former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku described Senator Ibru as a gentleman. He said he had a very striking humility, adding “The usual pomposity with which Nigerians are known abroad and at home was lacking in Felix Ibru.

He was a nice man I enjoyed keeping company with. You would hear salient and wise words from him. The late Senator was what I would describe as gentle; the word gentle doesn’t come easily because in our society where you have many who masquerade as gentle but in reality are not. Ibru was a genuine gentle man.” former Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi narrated the good relationship he had with late Ibru right from their boyhood days at Igbobi College till his departure, saying his company with Ibru made him learn good virtues. “I came to thank the senator for protecting me at Igbobi.

I came to thank him for making me learn good virtues. I learnt from him that you don’t use your position to oppress anybody,” Akinyemi said.

On Thursday, July 28, the ceremony continued with a service of songs at the Anglican Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral, in GRA, Ikeja. High profile personalities, members of the Golfers Association of Nigeria, people of Agbara-otor community, among others, graced the occasion.

Ven. Goke Agara, in his message titled ‘Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his’, urged people not to be afraid of death, noting that there’s hope for the righteous that are dead. Citing the book of Philippians 1:21 which reads “There’s great gain in the death of the righteous”; he advised that the “living should live a right and exemplary life as late Olorogun Felix Ibru so that our last end can be like Christ.”

Appreciating God for the life of late Ibru, Reverend Sister Jacinta Oshukoya said “ late Olorogun Senator Felix Ibru was an extraordinary great man and we adore his fatherly posture.

He was very humble, friendly and I know that he did a lot for God while he was alive and I also know that God helped him.”

The first son of the late senator, Dr. Paul Aidodo Ibru, described his late father as a man of unity, a man having God-giving wisdom and one who loved to build. “My dad said he loved building things that would last, things that would make a difference, and things that have impact on the future generations. He was someone who loved building for future generations.”

A commendation service was also held on Friday, July 29 at the same venue where Rev. Abel Olu Ajibola in his message entitled ‘Death, the inescapable appointment’ which he drew from the book of Ecclesiastics 3:1-2, admonished the living to live their lives according to the word of God warning that after death there is judgement. “There’s a reward for everything in life whether good or bad. If one is living and his life is not contributing meaningfully, then you have not done well.

The type of death Ibru has tasted is general and everybody would one day die that death.”

Ajibola noted that the large turn-out of people to the occasions right from the evening tribute to the commendation service showed that the late Ibru really impacted so many lives while he was alive, saying that it had pleased God that he joined him as one of the saints.

The Igbobi College Old Boys Association (ICOBA), dedicated a tribute song to Ibru which they titled, ‘Teach Me The Torch’, a song the presented with high sense of respect and honour to their beloved former Head Boy and president.

One of the first employees of late Ibru, Mr. Joseph Obere who spoke to THISDAY about his relationship with his late boss, said “I first met him the day I was employed. That was August 1956. Senator Ibru has been a nice person and was the one who helped me to secure a land to build my house. In fact, the time I saw him last, we took photograph together during Oscar Ibru’s mother’s service of songs, sometime this year. Senator Ibru was a very humble man and his time during his time in politics; he never portrayed himself as high officer or as a Senator.

He didn’t flaunt his muscles. I will really miss his friendliness and amazing nature,” Obere said.

Advising Ibru’s children, he said “They should emulate their father’s humility and thoroughness, because as an architect he did a lot for the Ibru organization.”

Meanwhile, as the ceremony shifted to Delta State, to continue the burial rites, on Tuesday, July 2, at 11a.m, he was taken to the Delta State Government House, Asaba, where his body was laid- in- state, followed by tributes and presentation of funeral orations.

At 4:00p.m same Tuesday, his remains was taken to the White House, Ughelli, Delta State, there was service of songs, lying-in-state and Christian wake keep.

On Wednesday, August 3 2016, the remains of late Senator Ibru was lowered to the grave at his family’s compound, at Agbartha-otor.

37/ENTREPRENUER

05.08.2016

‘Why We Need a Tested Solution Provider in Ondo’ Mrs. Laurentia Laraba Mallam, former Minister of Environment, in this interview with Mary Ekah describes Engr. Tunji Light Ariyomo, one of the APC gubernatorial aspirants in Ondo State as a tested solution provider who is needed in the state As a former boss, how would you describe Engr. Tunji Ariyomo and what specific experiences can you share about him?

A leader must be able to identify authentic talents. Within my first five minutes of ever meeting Tunji Ariyomi, I knew I had a very different aide with me – somebody who could see the bigger picture. He had originally come to the ministry to pitch a technology product but I told my S. A. Political, Hon. Jonathan Asake, he should recruit him unto my team. While working for me, Tunji initiated the ministry’s environmental intervention scheme targeting outright malaria elimination. I assigned him to lead the project. He led the development of a comprehensive guide and a seven-year pre-elimination master plan for the country that the President openly acknowledged as detailed and fantastic. On October 13, 2014 when the ministry made a presentation to Mr. President at the Villa, the president was so impressed and did say at the presentation that he didn’t know that there were civil engineers that knowledgeable about public health. That shows I wasn’t the only one who spotted something.

In fact, I recommended him to the President to lead the national implementation without any reservation. He was my Special Adviser on Flood, Erosion Control and Coastal Zone Management. He is a brilliant engineer that belongs in a rare class of excellence. I can boldly affirm that Engr. Ariyomo is a highly cerebral mind that has creative solutions to most national challenges. Even at the level of being a tested solution provider, he still stands out. He stands out in the sense that you immediately see his capacity to translate such solutions into reality.

That was what I discovered when I carried out a background check on him. It is a rare quality to concurrently possess the ability to envision and implement.

as the Zika virus and any other future deadly surprises. The strategy is to embrace vector control as a holistic preventive measure across tiers of government, rather than fixation with solely medical intervention, which has turned our country to some huge malaria ‘market’.

Under my leadership, what the Ministry of Environment did was to properly articulate a national framework for this as a national environmental intervention initiative and initiated a request for a seven-year pre-elimination period. Harmonisation had been concluded with the Ministry of Health before I left office.

The framework advocated by the Environment Ministry would be cost effective, sustainable, environment-friendly and all encompassing.

All the required paper works and technical documentations should be available in the ministry.

Laurentia Laraba Mallam

bono. He never collected a kobo from the ministry throughout and he never complained for one single day. It is not unusual for people to pester ministers for contracts, but not Tunji.

Never. He was focused - always wanting to solve one national problem or the other using very creative means. That was his passion.

He was like somebody on a mission. If many more people maintain his kind of attitude in the service of Nigeria, we would have less number of problems. And he was super-efficient.

I remember when the ministry was having problem accessing presidential approval over the matching grant for the NEWMAP project.

He was my secret weapon that I assigned to Are there other attributes you found endear- fix the problem with the Permanent Secretary Mrs. Fatima Mede, because he is technically ing that could inspire others?

Selflessness. Altruism. While working for sound. As a consequence of that intervention, me, Tunji served the federal government pro Mr. President gave the approval. That was

how I solved that problem and preserved over N22 billion in promised development partners’ commitment to our country. On such other attributes as integrity, character and proven capability to deliver under intense or difficult schedule, Tunji is in an extraordinary class of his own.

Do you have any advice for the government?

If the federal government implements that Malaria elimination scheme as we conceived it under the NICoM programme, it would gradually reduce malaria related deaths currently estimated by the World Health Organisation at over 200,000 per annum. Eventually, it would get to a stage we would eliminate Malaria altogether just by suppressing the population of its vector. The NICoM national framework is also critical to abate the threats posed by deadly diseases such

Ariyomo is contesting the governorship of Ondo State; do you have any words for the people of Ondo State?

If I had an idea he would run for the governorship, I would have convinced him to run under PDP. I do not know who PDP is fielding. Anyway, the people will know better.

If not for platform difference, I should rightly be in Ondo State knocking on the doors of the elders there with my eyewitness account that they have an extraordinary son whose service could change their history. Anybody above 60 years old should be concerned primarily about what the future of this country would be or look like for generations yet unborn.

The survival of future generations depends on ensuring that our best hands are saddled with leadership responsibilities today, especially those with excellent leadership qualities. It is not a common thing to have someone like Tunji who knows what to do and how to get it done and whose personal history reflects having successfully done what others would usually fail at. So I can only pray for him and hope that his people would be able to do the right thing.

BR Connect Unveils Plans for 2016 Edition Mary Ekah In its usual tradition to stir up innate potentials in youths, Breach Repairers is once again holding its annual event tagged, ‘BR Connect’, an occasion which aims to raise a generation of Nigerian youths that are purpose-driven, socially responsible with integrity and resolve to bring about desired leadership change in their spheres of influence.

The programme began in 2009 with 167 youths and about 13 adults at Hermitage Resort in Ibeju-Lekki and was then a Bible class meeting plus some talent hunt competition with beach soccer at intervals. But today, the event has grown over the years with other inclusions like debate, dance drama, skill acquisition aspects involving professional bodies but not changing it central message – ‘Purity, Purpose And Productivity Always Begets Royalty’.

This is in the hope to position participants to explore and discover their innate potentials and prompt them deep enough to desire to assert these positive influences among their circle of friends.

According to the Chief Executive Officer, Breach Repairers, Mr. Nduka Chuks, this year’s edition which begins on Monday, August 8, 206 in Lagos, will include teachings from experienced facilitators such as Dr. Isaac Fayomi (Lecturer, Covenant University/ CEO IGNITE and DISCOVERY), Dr. Mrs. Delight Olise(Proprietress, Covenant Child Academy), Victor Diali (CEO – MOTIVO

BR Connect participants with facilitators and organisers recently in Lagos

Centre for Leadership), Laja Shoniran (CEO, Financial Literacy for All), Ada Obaje (CEO Lenpriss International, School of Etiquette, Lekki), Gerald Chukwuma (CEO GAZIBA Group), Jodee Dance Group, Nwando’s Signature, Professional Web Designers from Swift Networks and others. We have also made

room for games and excursion (including media exposure).

This year’s event being the seventh edition, Chuks revealed will feature debate and essay writing competitions and a dance drama competition as well. “The debate competition is named after our mentor,

Dr. D.K. Olukoya (G.O. of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, MFM) and the dance competition after our father in the Lord, Pastor, Wale Adefarasin, General Overseer of Guiding Light Assembly, (GLA), Ikoyi. Both have championed the course of this organisation with huge supports (spiritually and financially) since inception to the glory of God. Both fathers have contributed greatly to youth developments issues and are worthy leaders to be followed,” he noted.

Speaking further Ckuks said, “The common challenge with young people is always ‘Peer Group Influences’ that introduces vices but we seek to mold character patterns that will make them become ‘The Pressure’ championing opinions and giving orientation towards positive values that will stir up a generation of leaders that will champion our dream of a better and greater Nigeria. We equip them and push them out as enforcers of the new Nigeria of our dreams.”

This year’s edition of the campaign supported by Covenant Child Academy, Etisalat, Beloxxi Biscuits, Yomi Casual, May and Baker (Mimee Noodles), Swift Networks, Nwando’s Signature, Olams, SIAO, Guiding Light Assembly, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) and others, Chuks said have been extended to parents, the clergy, teachers, school owners and other concerned adults with our organization of Parenting Conferences.

38/COLLAGE

05.08.2016

The Outgoing School Assistant Manager of Agidingbi Primary School, Ikeja Lagos/Celebrant, Princess Modupeola Yetunde Afuye (middle); flanked by her Children, Olajumoke, Lanrewaju (left) and Oluwakayode(right), during her Pulling Out Service Reception held in Lagos...recently DAN UKANA

L - R: Managing Director, Africa Oil & Gas Council, Drake Lawhead; presenting the Sustainability and Responsibility Award to Director, Government Affairs, Seven Energy, Chidi Chukwueke, at the 2016 African Assembly of the Oil and Gas Council in London recently.

L-R Representative of Lagos State Governor, Hon Adebimpe Akinsola; Senator Gbenga Ashafa and Commissioner for Arts and Culture, Lagos State, Folarin Coker, during the official launch of One Lagos Brand in Lagos recently

.L-R: Archbishop Emeritus of Ibadan Diocese, Archbishop Felix Alaba Job; Archbishop of Benin City, Bishop Augustine akubeze; Archbishop of Jos, Ignatus Kaigama; Celebrant , Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos Diocese, His Eminence Anthony cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, Archbishop of Lagos, Archbishop Adewale Martins, Bishop of Abeokuta diocese, Bishop Peter Adetoyinbo with Other Priests,during the 80th birthday/Priestly ordination golden Jubilee thanksgiving mass of His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie in Lagos recently

President, Rotary Club of Omole Golden, Mrs. Titi Sunmonu (3rd left); flanked by immediate past Presidents of the club, district governor and chartered Chairmen, after her installation, in Lagos......recently

L-R: Award-winning Talk Show Host /Journalist, Funmilola Iyanda; Creative Director, BAP Productions, Bolanle Austen-Peters; Minister for Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed; and the Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr. Waheed A. Olagunju, at the Wàkáá: The Musical event sponsored by Mixta Africa, which held at the Shaw Theatre, London recently.

39/THISLIFE

05.08.2016

'My Encounter with God' Over 10 years ago, Remigius Christian Echewodo had gone into the operating room for a surgical operation on an ailment purported to be appendicitis but while the doctors and nurses that operated on him were at work, he had a baffling encounter that brought about a complete turnaround in his life. Echewodo tells Mary Ekah about his puzzling encounter and how it has brought liberty to many souls

Echewodo and Wife, Uju

You would be celebrating 10th year anniversary soon. Can you tell how it all started?

I was called to set free those who are into captivity. I have been into this ministry for over 12 years. The Lord through a divine incident called me in January 2004 but my ministry, GOD's Firmament Covenant Ministry (GFCM) based in Festac, Lagos, started in 2006, two years after my encounter with the Lord in 2004.

And right now I am fully into the ministry of setting the captive free. While I was in Abuja, where I lived for nine years and learned a trade, I started business soon after I concluded my apprenticeship in 2006 but soon after, it packed up and things became so tough with me. Consequently, I had to start moving from one prayer house to another. And when I go to these prayer houses, what they usually told me was that my problem was that God wanted me to serve Him. And being a Catholic to the core then, I found it very difficult to accept such but it got to a point that everything around me was in crumble. I had to run away from Abuja to the village where I stayed for a year. Along the line, I had a problem on the left hand side of my lower abdomen, which resulted in me going for an operation. Eventually, I went for operation at a hospital called Eziefuna Hospital then in Egbeada, Owerri, Imo State. Before the operation in the theatre, the doctor injected me with a drug to make me sleep but the first injection did not work, so he gave me a higher dosage and I became unconscious. At that point, I saw a large number of angels surround me while the nurses and doctors were operating on me. In that trance, my spirit flew out my body and I found myself in a green field with a mighty angel with a sword who introduced himself to me as my Guardian Angel. At that same moment, I moved to a place that looks like the land of the dead where I saw so many of my people who had died. I even saw a late sister, Vitaline Onukaji too and also a particular mad man in my village, called Aloo, whom I became very close with just before he died.

I moved like a wave through this particular place and then got to another realm, which I noticed was like Heaven with the cloud covering me. At first I could not understand where I was because I still remembered I went into the theatre for an operation. But I saw a

light, which was golden, dazzling and shone like a sun. It was not harmful but could not be beheld with ordinary eyes. Inside the light was a being that called my name repeatedly in a way my mother used to call me. The being introduced Himself as the Ancient of Days and that He had called me from birth to serve Him and also to go and set His people free from captivity. He said I was an angel who existed in heaven before He sent me on earth. He said that instead of carrying out the errand He sent me, I went to earth and mingled with men like an ordinary man. I was on this trance for almost 10 hours and unconscious in the hospital theatre, till He finally released me.

So what happened after that strange experience? Were you eventually convinced to work for God? No, I wasn’t. I was still concerned about getting money and going back to Abuja to start my business over again. And so after the operation, I felt I was fit to go back to business but first I had to come to Lagos to meet some of my brothers who had promised to raise money for me to go back to Abuja and continue with my business. So while I waited for them, I stayed in Lagos for three months shuttling from one relative house to another between Mafoluku and Bariga to ensure I fed because there was hardship everywhere then.

Meanwhile, there was a church I used to attend where I was given a nine-day fasting and prayer but I was reluctant to do it remembering that I had gone on a six-month non-stop fasting and prayer before then and yet my problem was not solved. But somehow a spirit came to me while I was asleep and encouraged me to do the nine-day fasting and the next day, I had a conviction in me that I needed to embark on the prayer and fasting. So after five days of embarking on this fasting, I went to another church along with my brother Nwabueze and other relatives and while prayers were going on in the church auditorium, I wanted to say my prayers in my normal language but I realised that my tongue was changing to a language I never understood. I stopped and tried to speak my normal way and to say my words one after the other but something was overpowering me and using my tongue to say something else. I

then alerted Nwabueze who was sitting next to me about what I was experiencing and he said it was speaking in tongues. I have never spoken in tongues before then, so I didn’t know what it was. And so at that moment I was trying to suppress the power that was controlling me but it threw me up and I landed on the floor and it was like I was battling with a force that was overpowering me. That was how God arrested me on August 1, 2004. And since then, I have gone to nothing less than 300 villages around Nigeria to carry out family liberation and set families free from captivity.

At what age did you have your first encounter?

I was born in April 1973, so I was a little above 30 years of age in 2004 when I had the encounter.

What is your educational background like?

I have a school certificate for now but I see myself going back to school for further education soon. But with this ministry as it were, I find myself choked up with the service for humanity ever since I started it but I will not hold that as an excuse to go back to school, even though having time for myself now is absolutely difficult.

How do you run your ministry?

The ministry is not a church. I started first with a seven days midnight programme and only recently did we start Thursdays business meeting, and counseling, which is a weekly programme. We do not run Sunday service because we are not a church. I go around worshipping in other churches on Sundays.

Here, we simply pray and bless people.

Are there plans to make this ministry a full-fledged church in future?

No, it can’t be a church. God did not tell me that. It is an interdenominational ministry. And for now, it is only night vigils and Thursday programme. I don’t hold any programme on Sundays; every one that attends our programme is entitled to go for service at his/her church on Sundays.

It has been 10 years since you accepted to serve God after a long struggle. So how

has the experience been so for? Have there been challenges?

The challenge I faced at the initial stage was carrying the Holy Bible. Although I was a Catholic to the core, there was this feeling that came with carrying of a big Bible, thinking people will begin to make a mockery of me calling me “born again”. As Catholic, carrying Bible was not in vogue, I carried bulletin when going to church or at most I carried the pocketsize blue Gideon Bible. So at the initial stage, I was battling with what my friends will say of me when they see that I was now a man of God carrying a big Bible around. And again when I told them about my encounters, they will retort: “look at him. Any person that his business closes down will usually say God called him.”

Even when I told one of my uncles about my encounter and the need for me to answer God’s call, he said to me: ‘Remigius when last did you take malaria drug?’ I knew what that meant.

He was like saying ‘Remigius you are losing it.’ And so I was so jittery at first. But at the back of my mind, I always had a reflection of my encounter, even thought it made me look as if I was going mental. But I was able to overcome all the challenges by the strength I got from that weird encounter. That encounter was enough to convince me that I was called despite all the mockeries.

Apart from the nervousness you felt at the beginning, what were the major challenges after you got in fully and how were you able to cope having to give up that youthful exuberance to serve God? My upbringing helped me a lot. I grew up with this fear of God that made me hardly have relationships with ladies right from secondary school. So having close relationships with ladies irritates me then. And even when I force myself to, may be got involved with a woman sexually, I usually ended up with some kind of repercussion and I became so conscious of this as I grew up. And because of this, I didn’t really have a problem in coping as a youth dedicating myself to serve God. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

40/OPINION

05.08.2016

LEKANFATODU HEADS-UP

I

Email lekantodun@yahoo.com

Tel 07058069255

Of the Maritime Day and Related Matters

t is no surprise that some agencies of governments, turning away from the easy-money-generating, unproductivityinspiring and corruption-replete oil activities, are beginning to search for solutions to the underdevelopment that has come to define their sectors.

A recent photograph showing the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Dakuku Peterside and the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Mr. Kitack Lim, during a visit by the Nigerian officials to the headquarters of IMO in London, is very indicative of these fundamental pursuits.

In fact, it is quite disturbing that a critical government agency like NIMASA with all the wherewithal and capacity to cushion the devastating impact of the current federal revenue shortfall and economic downturn through massive income generation for government adorns the label of incompetence and brazen corruption as seen in recent times.

Though the appointment of Dakuku as the new honcho of the nation’s maritime regulatory agency has been described by many industry stakeholders as fitting and thoughtful, his navigation of the agency’s checkered past and ability to position it on the path of glory certainly is a better validation of the stakeholders’ assertion.

Of course, it is clearly not going to be a regular swim in a pool for the new head of the maritime agency.

Presumably, he is fully aware that he has just been put in the middle of a big sea with a lot of people, especially industry players who are equally concerned about the greatness of Nigeria, looking up to him for direction that will guarantee safety in the sector, and lead to a desirable destination of profitability,

Dakuku Peterside

creativity, advancement and benefits for all.

Expectedly, there are also individuals who are ambivalent about his navigational skills behind the wheel of the accountability and reputation-challenged behemoth like the NIMASA. As it were, only a sustained demonstration of commitment in addressing many of these difficulties in ways that are proven and easily comprehensible by the wider public can calm the nerves of the ambivalent ones. And that is very much awaited.

After all the famous American civil rights activists and reformer, Martin Luther King Jr. once said that “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

And this measure of fortitude should be gleaned through every turn and corner that the new management at the maritime agency takes.

For an average observer, the strategic visit to the IMO headquarters can only mean one thing: a conventional courtesy call.Whereas further digs have shown that, through the

call at IMO, the Nigerian maritime industry is effectively re-working its firm position of authority and recognition on the global platform of maritime actions and endeavours. Bringing the visit to public knowledge, particularly the understanding of the players in the sector will help in stimulating interest and re-building operators’ and investors’ confidence in the dawn of a new era in the Nigerian maritime industry.

And indeed, of particular concern to the operators and potential investors are Nigeria’s compliance to IMO’s instruments to implement and maintain the highest standards in areas of maritime safety, prevention of marine pollution, shipping navigation and trade, general global best practices and response to domestic/territorial safety issues.

Therefore, as Nigeria inches to re-aligning its maritime industry’s framework to the overall objectives of the foremost international body on maritime affairs, the maritime day of 2016 offers a fantastic opportunity for the country to churn out the mileage so far covered under this new administration while highlighting its vision for the future.

The world Maritime Day is a globally recognised day set out for the celebration of the international maritime industry’s contribution towards the world’s economy, especially in shipping. The day is always marked on the last week of September. And the 2016 celebration has been set for 29th September 2016.

The theme for this year, as prepared by IMO, is “Shipping: Indispensable to the world”.

And on the strength of this persuasive title the secretary general of the world’s maritime organisation, Kitack Lim, has spoken to all its member-states, including Nigeria, about the need to double up efforts by “developing maritime trade, improving port infrastructure

and efficiency, and promoting seafaring as a career – especially within the developing world. IMO's work makes a strong contribution in all of these areas.”

Currently, Nigeria has over 2,600 cadets who have benefited from training under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) but with little or no actual on-the-job experience. And those said to have qualified as seafarers have not acquired any sea time training which makes them unsuitable for real professional services on the sea.

This is obviously an aspect where NIMASA needs to deploy its problem-solving method with a view to tapping from the potential of the individuals who have been trained through the government’s institution and are eager to put their expertise to work and to create value in the sector. Otherwise the country will just continue to expend resources on nothing, and further lay the ground for mediocrity in the critical maritime sector.

Understandably, Dakuku has reiterated his resolution to addressing the matter with all his know-how. He has also talked about his determination to review the agency’s maritime security strategy to enhance its capacity to combat piracy and illegal activities on Nigerian waters. To achieve this, he said he would be collaborating with the top security agencies.

Hopefully, these planned actions will be well articulated soon, and the approaches to be taken for its achievement will be brought to the knowledge of all stakeholders and the general public. Those should dominate discussions as Nigeria takes part in the celebration of the Maritime Day come September.

And just as Kitack Lim of IMO said, “This is a message that needs, and deserves, a wider audience”, and trustingly, Nigeria will not be left out of the viable and forward-looking direction.

Beer Weathering The Storm Upon Economic Crisis Odimegwu Onwumere

A

t a symposium held on Thursday, 30th June, 2016, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, moderate beer consumption, beer and nutrition, beer and youth culture amidst other related topics took the centre stage.

“In Nigeria, people drink mainly in groups outside the home, rather than at home, therefore on-trade accounts for the bulk of alcoholic drinks sales in the country. Beer is mostly consumed through pubs and bars, although the introduction of cans has helped to increase off-trade share,” reported Euromonitor, May 2016, before the event.

Not minding the security challenges in the country and the economic meltdown, beer manufacturers have not tottered in Nigeria.

Research showed that 11 litres of beer are consumed per head of Nigerians and this is expanding the beer market at $2.7 billion (about N537.4 billion), therefore expansion of the market is also looming.

“All the big global brewers are in Nigeria and they don’t just bring in products made in other markets; they have set up shops here. They have invested in facilities and market infrastructure,” Corporate Relations Director and Company Secretary to the board of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, told journalists.

Despite economic challenges that Nigeria is facing, Nigerians were rated to be drinking more bear, Heineken first quarter report showed in April 20 2016.

“Although the economy has witnessed bad times of late, the beer market, estimated at $2.7 billion, remains relatively resilient.

“Experts say that if properly harnessed, the sub-sector can drive industrialszation,” Chikodi Okereocha, a Nigerian journalist reported on February 22, 2016.

Media accounts in May, last year, the GTI Research Lead Analyst, Mr. Chuks Anyanwu, said, “One of the most important and underappreciated changes in Nigeria is the growing size and strength of its consuming class.

“The success of companies in the brewery industry hinge largely on the existence of large markets, nonetheless, Nigeria’s rapidly expanding population provides a perfect platform for companies in this industry to flourish.”

The Heineken report said that Across Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe, natural fused beer volume growth of 4.6 per cent was determined by increase in Nigeria and Ethiopia.

“Elsewhere in the region, volume was challenging and remains weak, with both affordability and lower tourism continuing to impact performance.

“Excluding Nigeria, volume would have been down organically for the region. In Nigeria, volume was flattered by an easy

comparative given the election in the same period last year; cycling the forthcoming quarters will be more difficult,” Heineken report said.

Investigations, however, revealed that alcoholic drinks that included beer performed fairly well in Nigeria in 2015 due to economic crisis but was scrawny during 2014.

Against the Heineken Report of 2016, beer had not done very well in the country in the last 10 years, an executive report said in 2015.

The recession in the country which government once denied when many companies were pulling out of the country due to foreign exchange scarcity, moderately affected beer.

Conversely, among alcoholic drinks in Nigeria, products by Nigerian Breweries Plc dominate.

There are regions in the country where some beer products do not reach but that is certainly not the products of Nigerian Breweries Plc. The Nigerian Breweries has the capacity to play a drive into the Nigeria's economy especially now that the country is seeking ways for its economic diversification programme.

The company was confirmed to boast of the leading power and exposure, with an estimation of eight breweries situated diagonally in the country with a predictable yearly aptitude of 13.5 million hectoliters (mn hl).

Okereocha said, “Having evolved from purely bottling activities to a diversified industry involved in the production of canned drinks and the use of tetra pack, the sector accounted for 35.9 per cent of the growth in the industrial sector, which grew in 2014 by 6.41 per cent as against 0.87 per cent in 2013.”

It’s believed that the industry has about 50, 000 distribution channels in the country which comprise wholesalers, hotels and clubs

with indirectly 586,000 jobs to boast about.

“The company’s operations also have a value added impact of N243b on Nigeria’s economy, which represents 0.65 per cent of the nation’s GDP. The beer industry is also a significant driver of tax revenues. In 2011 alone, N87 billion was paid directly and indirectly as taxes by Nigerian Breweries.

This represented 4.02 per cent of Nigeria’s non-oil revenue,” said the source.

Aside the business impartation of beer to the economy, authorities said that it has some health benefits. Perhaps, this formed the behaviour at social gathering, where drinking of beer has become a culture that has spurred question when beer gained the culture status.

Professionals said that there are health benefits of beer when taken in modicum quantity. For instance, they said that a cold glass of beer (not all-night drinking sprees) helps proof the soluble fibre content, “which acts as a natural laxative and lowers cholesterol level.”

In some opinion, they have said that beer suppresses the appetite for food; in moderation, beer cuts cholesterol levels and prevents over eating.

They have also said that beer is full of B vitamins from the yeast; with unfiltered beer having high B3, B6 and folic acid (B9), which aids in colon cancer prevention.

They said that other benefits of moderate consumption of beer include lower risk of type 2 diabetes, is good for bone density, it can reduce the risk of heart disease, it has anti-microbial properties, helps manage blood pressure amongst others.

Odimegwu Onwumere is award-winning journalist based in Rivers State. Email: odimegwu@ journalist.com

41

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

NIMASA Boss Pledges Full Implementation of Cabotage Act Eromosele Abiodun The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has stated that he will ensure that the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act 2003, also known as the Cabotage Act, is fully implemented.

Peterside stated this when he received the leadership of the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association led by the National President, Matthew Alalade at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos.

In a statement made available by the agency’s Deputy Director, Public Relations, Hajia Lami Tumaka, Peterside said proper

regulation of the Cabotage Act was instrumental to the development of the maritime sector.

He stated that Nigerians must always be encouraged to be key players in the sector ad that the issue of abuse of waivers would be checked.

According to him, “We have not realised the full potential of the Cabotage Act but we have moved a step ahead. Just to be sure that we are committed to the full implementation of the Cabotage Act, issues relating to waiver abuse are currently being dealt with accordingly.”

Dakuku also said that the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) would only be disbursed to people that would put it into the use for which it

is intended adding applicants must have the requisite criteria as beneficiaries.

“We will rigorously screen the applicants of the CVFF in order to ensure that the funds are disbursed to people who would use it for the purposes the funds are meant for, “he added.

The NIMASA boss also stated that the agency is currently screening maritime institutions across the country and would only accredit the ones that can provide the maritime training required in line with global best practices.

Peterside, however, noted that NIMASA is not in a position to recognise any Merchant Navy Association as that function falls under the purview of

the National Assembly.

Earlier, the association, which decried the abuse of waivers in the implementation of the Cabotage Act, also requested the agency to find ways of reviewing the Act to pave the way for indigenous operators to be more involved in coastal and inland trade in Nigeria.

The association also sought greater collaboration with NIMASA especially in the areas of maritime regulatory decision making and human capacity building for the growth and development of the industry.

In a bid to woo shipping companies to Nigeria and increase revenue for the federal government, Peterside had recently assured the international shipping community and

stakeholders of the country’s determination to eliminate piracy and criminality within her territorial waters.

Peterside stated this while addressing multilateral and development agencies on the sidelines of the on-going IMO/MOWCA sponsored integrated sub regional coast Guard function network in Brussels, Belgium.

Also, he noted that Nigeria is working with both local and international counter piracy partners to eliminate criminality on her waterways.

According to Peterside, “We have a close working relationship with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) in order to foster an integrated approach

to dealing with the menace. We have also increased surveillance and have deployed world class maritime domain awareness assets in conjunction with the Nigeria Navy and the Nigeria Ports Authority to monitor our maritime environment.”

The NIMASA boss said that in addition, the country has deployed Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force as well as other naval assets to patrol and monitor the country’s waterways.

He observed that as a signatory to all IMO instruments and regulations relating to maritime security, Nigeria is committed to their compliance in order to eliminate piracy and criminality on the high seas.

Rwand Air to Offer Nigerian Passengers Generous Baggage Allowance Chinedu Eze East African carrier, Rwand Air has offered a new incentive to Nigerian passengers with generous bag allowance as it plans to connect flight services between Lagos and its hub in Kigali into Far Eastern routes including Mumbai in India and Guangzhou in China.

This was disclosed by the airline’s Country Manager, Ms. Ibiyemi Odusi at the weekend.

Odusi said part of the reasons why the airline decided to operate into these routes was to bridge the services of other airlines operating on the routes because Nigerian travellers need more airlines on those routes, adding that the airline would deploy a bigger aircraft on the routes to give passengers value for their money.

“We are planning to launch two new routes for the Nigerian market, they are Mumbai and Guangzhou in China .We did our marketing research and discovered that Nigeria has a need for more carriers into the Far Eastern routes, and as a strong player on our current routes, we thought there is a great need to satisfy our passengers.

“By September, Rwand Air is taking delivery of an Airbus A330, with a flat bed in business class, fee onboard WIFI, mobile network, world-class inflight entertainment, which will serve these new routes. By December we take delivery of another Airbus to further service the routes to complement our Nigerian routes. As an airline, we feel the need to empathise with our customers by giving

them quality aircraft as travel time increases on routes. We are also improving safety with the training of our personnel,” she said.

The Country Manager said the airline has pursued an ambitious fleet growth programme with eight aircraft in service in the four years of its existence, disclosing that before the end of the year, the number of aircraft on the fleet of Rwand Air would have increased to 10 brand new equipment.

Odusi promised that the airline would offer Nigerian passengers, generous baggage allowance on the new routes, it has introduced with a bigger aircraft that would give them enough space for their baggage in addition to offering competitive fares to attract passengers interested in medical tourism in India.

“There is a huge gap in flight services for Nigerians interested in flying into Mumbai and Guangzhou. The number of airlines flying into these routes is not enough. That is why Rwand Air is tapping into this opportunity to further add value for our passengers.

“We are driven by the core values of safety, on time departure and excellent customer services,” she said.

Odusi also spoke of plans by the airline to expend flights into more African destinations, including Khartoum in Sudan, Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire and Cotonou Benin Republic and other African cities, adding that the implementation of single skies for Africa would deepen the air transport market in the continent.

CAPACITY BUILDING

L-R: Channel Sales Lead / Alliances, West Africa, Netapp, Uzo Atugbokoh; Solutions Architect, Data Centre, Weco Systems, Temitope Oladeji; Systems Engineer, West Africa, NetApp, Akintomide Ogunjobi; and IT Services Manager, UAC Nigeria, Michael Opaleke, at the Weco- NetApp next generation Data Center business transformation workshop in Lagos … recently

Sifax Blames FG’s Policies for Decline in General CargoVolume Eromosele Abiodun The Managing Director of Sifax Group, John Jenkins has decried the activities of companies in the group in the first half of the year, saying they were adversely affected by the economic policies of the federal government, particularly the challenge of sourcing foreign exchange.

Consequently, he said Sifax Group recorded significant decline across its various business units during the period.

Speaking at the mid-year press briefing of the group in Lagos, Jenkins said that Ports and Cargo Handling Services Limited, which is one of the subsidiaries of the group, recorded 10 per cent drop in container throughput and 50

per cent drop in the volume of general cargo cargoes handled at the facility when compared with the numbers of 2015.

Jenkins said Sifax Haulage and Logistics Limited recorded approximately 20 per cent decline in volume in the first half of the year, despite signing new business deals with some new clients. He, however, noted that Sifax Offdock, its inland container depot subsidiary with three terminals in Okota, Trinity and Ijora, Lagos, recorded 54.11 per cent increase for received containers while deliveries improved by 50.23 per cent.

The Sifax boss attributed the decline in activities to the challenges of sourcing foreign exchange being experienced by

importers, bad port access roads and poor electricity supply.

According to him, “Electricity is a challenge; we solely rely on diesel to power all our heavy equipment and generators for 24 hours operations. This has greatly increased the cost of doing business and drastically reduced our profit margin. The access roads to the ports are in a deplorable state and this has created a source of worry to stakeholders in the industry.”

In his speech, Managing Director of Ports & Cargo at Sifax, Mallam Muhammed Bulangu promised that despite the decrease in profit, the terminal remains committed to rendering quality services to its customers.

He said: “As the flagship of

the group, if we sneeze, the other subsidiaries will catch cold. We don’t have issues with our clients or any complains. The throughput and revenue has dropped, we are not doing optimally, but what we are doing is trying to ensure that we render the best services possible to our clients by reducing the turnaround time of vessels and ensuring that we encourage customers to clear their cargoes when they arrive without delay.”

Bulangu appealed to the federal government to fix the Tin Can Island Port access road. He noted that the road was built 40 years ago and government has since refused to carry out any maintenance work on it.

gas industry in the country.

Are disclosed that the training facility is equipped with many simulators to meet the needs of various kinds of manpower in the maritime industry. These include tug boat simulator, offshore supply vessel simula-

tor, GMDSS simulator, engine room simulator and liquid cargo handling simulator.

According to Are, HTTC provides mandatory and nonmandatory training that complies with international and local standards and regulations such as

the International Convention of Training, Certification and Watch Keeping for Seafarers (STCW) 1995 as amended, Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) requirements.

Maritime Training Facility Opens in Lagos A modern maritime training facility has berthed in Lagos with a promise to address the capital flight associated with overseas training of manpower required for the maritime industry over the years. Called Hudson Trident Training Centre (HTTC) and

situated in Lekki, the facility has state-of-the-art maritime training equipment to meet the requisite needs of maritime practitioners in line with the requirements of the global maritime watchdog, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Speaking at the open day event to mark the formal unveiling of the facility in Lagos, the Managing Director of HTTC, Mr. Lai Are said the firm is a Nigerian registered company providing specialist services to the maritime and oil and

42

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016

CITYSTRINGS

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

NAFAAS’ Week of Festivities It was all enlivened atmosphere at the Ekehuan campus of the University of Benin, as students of the Fine and Applied Arts Department observed their NAFAAS week. Joan Madubuogwu who was there, reports that the event was a remarkable one

Students dancing around the campus during the NAFAAS Week

I

n university campuses all over, the second semester of every session is usually inundated with activities ranging from academic to non-academic to religious to socio-cultural and sporting. Admittedly, one of such is the departmental week which most students look up to. Some students call it the final year week, while others tag it departmental week.

In the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, it is called the NAFAAS week. NAFAAS being an acronym for National Association of Fine and Applied Arts Students.

In the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State, the NAFAAS week has always been a remarkable one for the Fine and Applied Arts students of the University. The students are bound by this student body. NAFAAS week as it’s fondly called by the students is set out to create rooms and opportunities for the them to showcase their artistic skills and creativity during the colour carnival, their sportsmanship in sports and their sense of sociability during award/dinner nights.

Monday to Friday are given as lecture free days because of the activities involved in the week. Starting from the first day down to the last day, real fun activities are lined up.

One thing that greets Ekehuan campus of UNIBEN Monday morning of the NAFAAS week, is the change in the environment. The sculptural pieces around campus are dressed

with colourful clothes. This is always done Sunday night which marks the beginning of the week as publicity. As the eventful week draws closer, there is high level awareness creation as students through the blasts, a system used to announce upcoming activity, are informed traditionally of the NAFAAS week. During the blast, dance competitions are organised and then the activities of the week are announced. At this time, music and shout out rent the air.

It’s really fun and I can’t help but join them and enjoy the beauty of art because it feels great. I think this year’s carnival will be much more interesting unlike that of last year that the rain ruined almost everything.

But, despite the rain, it was still fun

Monday usually starts the NAFAAS week proper with seminar and exhibition of artworks done by the students. A lecturer or resource person called for the seminar opens up the exhibition. This is where some of the art works of students are showcased for people to see, criticise and possibly buy them. During this exhibition, people can take pictures of the works. The exhibition session is also an avenue where each student is exposed to better ideas and life. Each art work in the exhibition hall is a master piece of its own.

As a tradition that has been followed starting from the maiden edition of the NAFAAS week, the activities are fixed by the executives and committee set up for the handling of the NAFAAS week.

This year’s celebration is unique as the NAFAAS week clocks 10 years. The usual theme for NAFAAS week is Hueformism and it is backed by this year’s tag “Happiness, Joy Everywhere”.

This year’s NAFAAS week was exceptionally fun-filled. On Monday, the seminar didn’t hold because the resource person was unavoidably absent and the information came too late for a change to be effected.

The students exhibited their works which were amazingly displayed at the drawing studio. Later, there was the first football competition between the 400 level class and 200 level class in which the 400 level class won by 3goals to 1. Later in the evening,

they embarked on indoor and outdoor games like the ludo games, whot and chess. Also, skipping competition was not left out. The Mr. Hot Beans competition for the males was won by Wale, a 400 level Metal Design major while the Miss Indomie competition for the females was won by Victory, a 100 level student.

On Tuesday, there was an interesting match between the 200 level class and the 100 level class. The 100 level class won by 4 goals to 1. The prepared jean carnival was disrupted by the school securities despite the massive turnout of students.

Wednesday was the ever always anticipated Colour carnival. This day is very special because it was not only the student of the Fine and Applied Arts Department that participated in the event. On this day, even students from other departments participated fully and the whole school felt it that very day.

Thespians as well as Maccsans (Departments of Theatre Art and Mass Communication) had participated.

Jacky a 200 level student of Mass Communication, shares his feeling to THISDAY. “We’re one; I’ve been with them since Monday. Actually I’m one of the officials for the matches they’ve been playing for the week. I witnessed the colour carnival last year and this year I’m participating in it,” he said.

When asked what he felt about the carnival

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016

CITYSTRINGS

Students having fun

Students hanging out with friends

A decorated sculpture

Another set of students having fun during the NAFAAS Week

There was cultural night; students were out on their different cultural attires showcasing the beauty of their place of origin

Students dancing around the campus during the NAFAAS Week Another decorated sculpture

and what his expectations were, he said “It’s really fun and I can’t help but join them and enjoy the beauty of art because it feels great.

I think this year’s carnival will be much more interesting unlike that of last year that the rain ruined almost everything. But, despite the rain, it was still fun. Seeing the way they are going, the carnival is promising

and I believe it will be fun all the way,” Jacky said.

“This event creates room for freedom too.

My body art portrays what I love doing.

I love football that’s why my costume is a jersey and my body art is painted 13,” he added.

Thursday was not left out as the students had their track event competition in different categories, ranging from 100km to 400km to relay race.

100km for the males was won by Godstime, a 100 level student, while the 200km was won by Odiah, 400 level textiles major. Also, the 400km was won by Usiwoma Textiles major. 100,200,400kms females were won

by Galami, a 200 level student.

The relay race was won by the 200 level class for the females and the 100 level class won that of the males.

Later in the afternoon, the final football competition was held between the 100 level

class and the 400 level class which ended with a 1-1 draw. The 100 level class emerged winner with a total score of 4 points and 5goals while the 400 level had 4 points and 4goals.

The 200 level females won their competition through an automatic work over.

Later in the evening, the students went to Kada Plaza Cinema for a film show and the movie shown was titled ‘Nice Guy’.

Friday was the novelty football match between the students and lecturers of the department. The student’s staff adviser, Mr. El-Drag, was the referee for the match. The match which was full of fun and excitement saw lecturers emerge winners having whipped their opponents 6 goals to 4.

Later in the evening, there was cultural night; students were out on their different cultural attires showcasing the beauty of their place of origin.

Sunday night was the Award/Dinner night held at Kada Plaza which was a means of encouraging the students and also awarding the graduating students for their efforts during their four years of hard work in the department and also a form of sentforth to them.

44

FRIDAY AUGUST 5, 2016 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Fury in Republican Party over Trump’s Snub of House Speaker Donald Trump’s White House campaign was in turmoil was after he angered senior Republican Party leaders by criticizing a dead soldier’s family and refusing to back the re-election campaign of House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan.

On Tuesday, Trump denied support to both Ryan and Senator John McCain in their coming primary contests, hitting back at critics in the Republican leadership who have taken him to task for his insistent public dispute with the parents of the soldier, a Muslim U.S. Army captain killed in the Iraq war.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus was furious over the failure to endorse Ryan, who is the most senior elected Republican, and over Trump’s feud with the Khan family, two Republican sources said. “He feels like a fool,” a Republican source familiar with the situation said of Priebus.

The RNC did not respond to a request for comment about Priebus. Another Republican source said Trump’s family members, who have played an influential role in his campaign, were aware that an intervention was needed to get Trump back on track. One idea being floated was to have a senior adviser travel with Trump to help him stay on message.

More than any other major figure in the Republican establishment, Priebus worked to bring Trump into the party’s fold despite the New York businessman’s status as an outsider. Trump, who had never previously run for public office, beat 16 rivals to become the Republican presidential nominee for the Nov. 8 election.

Ahead of last month’s Republican Party Convention, the RNC chairman sought to rally the fractured party behind Trump. Priebus feels burned by Trump’s string of self-inflicted wounds and his refusal to observe basic decorum by giving Ryan his support.

But in what appeared to be an effort to soothe ruffled feelings, Trump’s vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, said on Wednesday he endorsed Ryan as “a strong conservative leader” and was doing so with Trump’s blessing.

The Indiana governor told Fox News that it takes time to build relationships in politics and that

was exactly what Trump and Ryan were doing. Trump has had a running dispute with the parents of Army Captain Humayun Khan since they took the stage at last week’s Democratic National Convention. Khizr Khan, with his wife, Ghazala, standing by his side, cited the sacrifice of their son, who was killed by a car bomb in 2004, and criticized Trump’s proposal to combat terrorism by temporarily banning Muslims from entering the United States.

Many Republican leaders, including Ryan and McCain, have criticized Trump’s subsequent attacks on the parents. Even longtime ally Chris Christie, the Republican New Jersey governor, said it was inappropriate to attack the Khans.

Trump’s feud with the Khans was the final straw for Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, a former Air Force pilot and Iraq war veteran. Kinzinger, who had held off supporting Trump, told CNN on Wednesday: “I just don’t see how I get to Donald Trump anymore.”

Trump, who made his comments about Ryan and McCain in an interview with The Washington Post, shrugged off the backlash.

“There is great unity in my campaign, perhaps greater than ever before. I want to thank everyone for your tremendous support. Beat Crooked H!” he wrote on Twitter early on Wednesday, referring to his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

Campaign manager Paul Manafort told Fox News the campaign was moving in a positive direction, with Trump himself in control. “The campaign is in very good shape. We are organised. We are moving forward,” Manafort said.

In Daytona, Florida, Trump said the news media’s coverage of him was dishonest. “We’re doing quite well despite the fact that we get a totally false narrative,” he told supporters at a rally. At another campaign event in Florida, in Jacksonville, Trump pointed out a group of families, known as Gold Star families, who have lost loved ones in war, calling them “incredible people.” He didn’t mention the spat with the Khans.

Trump’s always unruly campaign has been mired in disorder in recent days. On Monday, Trump fired Ed Brookover, a senior adviser hired as a liaison between the campaign and the RNC. Ryan, who is favoured to win next week in his race against

Turkey Detains 20 Suspected Islamic State Members

Turkish police detained 20 suspected members of the Islamic State militant group in the southern city of Adana early yesterday, the private Dogan news agency reported. It said anti-terror police, supported by a helicopter, staged simultaneous raids on 22 addresses in the city after a tip-off that Islamic State cells were planning attacks.

The suspects, who included senior local figures in the group, were taken to Adana police headquarters for questioning, it

said. President Tayyip Erdogan has said Islamic State militants from the former Soviet Union were behind an attack on Istanbul’s main airport in June which killed 45 people. Dozens have been detained over the attack.

Islamic State controls an area of Syria along the Turkish border, east of Adana. The city of Adana is near the Incirlik Air Base, where U.S. personnel are stationed and which is used for air missions in the fight against Islamic State.

primary challenger Paul Nehlen, appeared to be trying to ignore the snub from Trump. An aide to the speaker said he would not have time to meet Trump later this week, when Trump is expected to be campaigning in Wisconsin, Ryan’s home state.

The aide did not indicate whether anyone had requested a get-together of Trump and Ryan, but when asked whether they might meet to patch things up, the aide told Reuters, “The speaker has a full schedule – can’t back out of previous commitments in the (congressional) district.”

A Republican congressional

aide said there was deep frustration on Capitol Hill that Trump keeps engaging in “petty spats.”

The aide said congressional offices that support Trump got two sets of talking points on Monday from the campaign about the Khan situation but have not heard anything from the campaign about Trump’s Ryan comments.

The dissent over the Trump campaign also took other turns.

Late on Tuesday, Meg Whitman, a prominent Republican fundraiser and chief executive of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE.N: Quote), endorsed Clinton’s White House bid,

calling Trump an “authoritarian character” and a threat to democracy.

In better news for Trump, his campaign and the RNC jointly raised $80 million (£60 million) for his White House bid in July, the campaign said on Wednesday. That was less than the $90 million Clinton raised along with the national Democratic Party the same month, but it was a substantial bump from past months.

A former reality TV star, Trump has won support particularly from white blue-collar workers who feel neglected by the political establishment.

Along with his proposed ban on Muslims, his plans have included building a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants and renegotiating trade agreements.

Opinion polls have shown Clinton benefiting from a boost after her party’s convention last week. The RealClearPolitics average of recent national polls put her 4.5 percentage points ahead of Trump, at 46.5 percent to 42 percent. The Detroit Economic Club, where candidates usually appear to give major economic addresses, said Trump would speak at the club on Monday.

STRENGTHENING DIPLOMATIC TIES

R-L. President Muhammadu Buhari; Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Paola Gentiloni Silveri; and Ambassador Raffaele Trombetta; during an audience at the State House in Abuja...yesterday Godwin Omoigui

US, Israel Close Gaps in Defence Aid Talks The United States and Israel have closed many of the remaining gaps in negotiations over a new multibillion-dollar military aid package for Washington’s top Middle East ally, and the two sides hope to reach a deal soon, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday.

Jacob Nagel, acting head of Israel’s national security council, wrapped up three days of closeddoor discussions in Washington over a new 10-year defence pact, including a meeting with U.S. national security adviser Susan Rice.

Drawn-out aid negotiations have underscored continuing friction between U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over last year’s U.S.-led nuclear deal with Iran, Israel’s arch-foe.

The United States and Israel have also been at odds over the Palestinians.

However, with Obama due to leave office in January, both sides have appeared increasingly determined to come to an agreement to enshrine U.S. assistance to Israel over the next decade.

“We’ve made progress and

closed many of the remaining gaps. We hope soon to be able to reach final agreement,” the senior official told Reuters after the talks concluded. However, the official declined to elaborate or provide a precise timetable for completing negotiations.

Raising hopes for removal of a key sticking point, Israel had signalled at the start of the talks that it might accept the Obama administration’s demand that U.S. military funds, until now spent partly on Israeli arms, will eventually be spent entirely on U.S.-made weapons, according to U.S. sources.

It would mark a major concession by Netanyahu. The right-wing Israeli leader, who has had a fraught relationship with Obama, has decided it would be best to forge a new memorandum of understand (MOU) with him rather than hoping for better terms from the next U.S. president, according to officials on both sides.

The White House has pledged to sign a new MOU that would “constitute the largest single pledge of military assistance to any country in U.S. history.”

The current pact, signed in 2007 and due to expire in 2018, gave Israel around $30 billion in foreign military financing.

U.S. negotiators are believed to have stuck to a previous offer of $3.5 billion to $3.7 billion annually for Israel under the new MOU, substantially less than the $4 billion a year Netanyahu has sought but still a sizeable increase.

A key disagreement has been over Washington’s insistence on ending a special arrangement that has allowed Israel to spend 26.3 percent of its U.S. defence aid on its own military industries rather than on American products.

Israeli officials argue that the provision, which is given to no other country receiving U.S. military assistance, was needed to maintain Israel’s “qualitative military edge” against hostile neighbours such as Iran, and that its removal would mean the loss of thousands of Israeli defence jobs.

But a congressional source briefed by the Obama administration said Israel had signalled its willingness to phase out the provision. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said the White

House was prepared to let Israel keep the arrangement for the first five years of the new MOU but it would be gradually phased out in the second five years, except for joint U.S.-Israeli military projects.

Another sticking point has been Washington’s desire to end a provision allowing Israel to spend around $400 million annually from the package on military fuels. The two sides have also haggled over U.S. funding for Israeli missile defence.

Obama’s aides want to secure a new deal before his presidency ends, seeing it as an important part of his legacy. Republican critics accuse him of not being attentive enough to Israel’s security, which the White House strongly denies.

Netanyahu angered the White House in February when he suggested the agreement could wait for the next president. But officials on both sides say Netanyahu seeks a deal now to avoid uncertainties surrounding the next president, whether Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump, and also to give Israel’s defence establishment the ability to plan ahead.

45

FRIDAY AUGUST 5, 2016 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

South Africa: ANC Takes Early Lead in Election South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) was leading its rivals early yesterday as vote counting proceeded in local government elections that could see it lose control of key cities for the first time since coming to power.

The party, which toppled white apartheid rule after the country’s first democratic elections in 1994, is up against its stiffest electoral challenge to date against the backdrop of high unemployment, a stagnant economy and controversies surrounding President Jacob Zuma.

With a quarter of the votes in so far, the ANC held a 50 percent lead, against 34 percent for the Democratic Alliance (DA) and 6 percent for the Economic Freedom Fighters, which is participating in only its second election.

The ANC and DA were neckand-neck at 43 percent each in Tshwane municipality, home to the capital Pretoria, although only 15 percent of the votes had been counted. The DA led with 61 percent versus 30 percent for the ANC in Nelson Mandela Bay, with a fifth of the votes in.

Opinion polls see a close race in Nelson Mandela Bay, named after the anti-apartheid champion and South Africa’s first black president, as well as in Pretoria and South Africa’s economic hub, Johannesburg.

A significant loss of support for

the ruling party, which led South Africa’s decades-long struggle against oppressive white minority rule, would be a blow ahead of the next major test - the 2019 national elections. The ANC won an overall 62 percent of the vote in the last municipal elections in 2011, while the DA garnered 24 percent.

Final results for this year’s election are expected by Friday. The DA is expected to maintain control of Cape Town, the only big city not run by the ANC. It is an historically white-dominated movement hoping to expand support under its new black leader Mmusi Maimane.

“I voted DA because I’m sick of the rotten, corrupt ANC,” said Simpiwe, an unemployed 55-year-old surrounded by shacks in a rundown Nelson Mandela Bay township on the southeast coast, after casting his ballot on Wednesday.

Many South Africans who queued up to vote said they were worried about Zuma’s performance and the state of Africa’s most industrialised economy, where one in four in the labour force is unemployed.

Senzo Makhubela, a 32-year-old security guard, said the ANC needed to build more houses and do more to develop areas like Diepsloot, the shantytown where

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he lives north of Johannesburg. But he was sticking with the ruling party for now, despite the travails of its leader. “Zuma doesn’t make decisions alone so the ANC is not Zuma alone, it’s a collective,” he said.

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

MTEF 2017-2019: FG Targets Public Private Sector Partnership Ugo Aliogo The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma has disclosed the federal government’s resolve to partner the private sector to achieve the goals of the 2017-2019 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy (MTEF).

This, according to him, would also help stimulate investment in the economy.

Udoma who said this yesterday in Lagos at the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on the 2017-2019 MTEF stated that the fiscal policy strategy provides the broad framework for annual budget planning and fiscal management over a 3-year period, while serving as a critical public financial management reform tools.

He also noted that the MTEF is line with the aspirations of the present administration as articulated in the 2016-2020 medium term development plan, and consistent with the government’s fiscal strategies to reposition the economy on the path of sustainable inclusive growth and development.

Udoma stressed that the engagement with the private sector was also in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, but more in recognition of the role of the sector’s position

as a key driver of economic growth. He pointed out that the federal and state governments will strive to create the enabling environment and ample opportunities for the sector.

“Government intends to engage the private sector to explain our policies and establish what other bottlenecks we need to remove to stimulate investment in Nigeria. We are committed to reviving the economy,” he noted.

The minister further stated that in order to achieve development that the country aspires, massive private sector investment was required.

“At this challenging time of the economy, it is important that we get as much contributions from the public as possible.

Therefore, this is an opportunity for get the private sector to work with us as partners in order to develop the economy,” he said.

He urged the private sector to partner with the government to tell the Nigeria story in a positive light in order to attract the much needed foreign direct investments into the country.

Udoma added: “The budget has to be premised on the medium framework plan, so we first have fiscal strategy paper that is the basics on which the medium term plan will be developed. We will play our role by providing the

enabling environment, we will remove any bottlenecks that are holding us back, we will try and improve the efficiency in services and delivery.

“Broadening the tax net implies getting more people who are subject to tax to pay.

We want more and more people who are subject to tax and generate profit to pay tax. We have no intentions of increasing the tax rate. This exercise is only for the medium term frame work; there will be another exercise in which we are looking at the overall long term plan.”

The Director-General National Budget Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, noted that despite the challenges in the economy, Nigerians have remained optimistic that the administration can turn things around with the collaborative efforts.

He added that the meeting with the private sector was meaningful due to the suggestions raised, adding that the administration was focusing not only on agriculture, but also on the local creative industries which will encourage made in Nigeria goods.

“We have a mandate to get the budget to the national assembly by October. This is one step in that process, where we listen to suggestions from the private sector and get feedback,” he added.

Ecobank Nigeria Launches Consumer Campaign Ecobank Nigeria has launched ‘Move on Up,’ a new fullyintegrated consumer advertising campaign.

The bank explained that ‘Move on Up’ was centered on it’s drive to ensure that consumers have accessible and convenient digital banking solutions across the country.

Ecobank Nigeria is a subsidiary of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), which is currently present in 36 African countries. Ecobank Nigeria currently operates a consolidated online, real time branch network in over 450 locations across the country.

Speaking at the event, Ecobank Nigeria’s Managing Director, Charles Kie expressed delight over the launch of the campaign, saying Ecobank Nigeria had grown consistently

over the years to become a wellrecognised corporate brand in the Nigerian banking industry.

“Our mission is to ensure that our customers have access to world-class, convenient, accessible and reliable banking solutions in Nigeria. This new campaign demonstrates how we are fulfilling that mission,” he added.

Ecobank Nigeria’s Deputy Managing Director, Tony Okpanachi said the new campaign showcases the range of banking solutions and the many ways Ecobank helps consumers every day.

“Move on Up’ rests on three pillars. The first is digital convenience. Customers want the convenience of banking, from being able to pay with an Ecobank card to making financial transactions on their

mobile phones, over the internet, at automated teller machines and at different points of sale.

“The second pillar is relevance.

Ecobank creates personal banking solutions that are relevant to its customers, such as a range of accounts packaged together as bundles.

“The final pillar is choice. This comes via the accessibility of wide-ranging products and services, thanks to Ecobank’s leading Pan-African platform,” he said.

Ecobank Group’s Head of Marketing, Ama Okyere, who led the development and production of Move on Up, said, “This fully-integrated consumer advertising campaign demonstrates Ecobank’s relevance in our consumer’s life. We are pleased to roll it out in Nigeria, a key market for Ecobank.”

Again, Emefiele Donates to IDPs The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Godwin Emefiele has again donated 600 bags of made-in-Nigeria rice to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno State.

According to a statement yesterday, the CBN governor, while presenting the food items, was full of empathy for the displaced persons, particularly those in the camps.

He urged relevant government agencies and humanitarian organisations not to relent in their efforts at nipping in the bud humanitarian crisis.

Emefiele used the opportunity to call on the good people of Nigeria to rally round the government (both the federal and the affected states) in restoring

peace and resettling all displaced compatriots within the shortest possible time in order to avert further crisis.

He recalled with nostalgia the economic potential and the natural endowments of that part of the country, adding that it is “well known for its contributions to the economy of Nigeria in the area of agriculture, especially livestock, fish, hide and skin and even gum Arabic to the economy of the country.” And that “sadly, all these have been put on hold as a result of the insurgency.”

In a glowing tribute to those responsible for the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the area, Emefiele said the “hard work of our gallant soldiers,

the determination of the federal government and the indefatigable efforts of the government and people of Borno, who crave for true peace would not be in vain if economic activities are quickly restored in order to address the socio-economic challenges confronting the area as a result the insurgency.

While receiving the food items, the State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shetima, thanked the CBN Governor for the gift. He added that the good people of Borno would ever remain grateful for the kind gesture.

He noted that it was the second time in less than three months that Emefiele sent food items to the internally displaced people in Borno State.

Udo Udoma

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

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

22,664,815.74

---- 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)

18,882,237.73

--Other Assets Net

-7,746,094.02

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,758,634.07

--Currency in Circulation

1,811,090.48

--Banks Reserves

3,947,543.59 • 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

N13.1141

N13.5095

ARM Discovery Fund

N288.9978

N297.7112

ARM Ethical Fund

N22.6462

N23.3290

ARM Money Market Fund

13.1161 (Yield % ) • Monetary Policy Rate - 13%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 3 AUGUST 2016 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $38.43 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $38.29 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), Rabi Light (Gabon), Minas (Indonesia), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

47

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY AUGUST 5, 2016

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

4-Aug-16

3-Aug-16

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators

Open 3-Aug-16

NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion)

27,687.80 9.51

27,751.34 9.53

0.23 0.23

114.66 8.93

114.95 8.95

0.25 0.25

01 Dangote Cement Plc

183.00

183.00

0.00%

3,118,412,855,115.00

9.56

19.14

5.76

4.37%

4.58

02 Nigerian Breweries Plc

135.00

132.55

1.85%

1,070,428,619,880.00

4.50

30.03

3.57

2.67%

6.57

03 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

23.88

24.06

-0.75%

702,816,559,869.12

3.38

7.07

2.36

7.41%

1.62

820.00

820.00

0.00%

649,978,126,640.00

19.41

42.25

3.92

3.54%

18.48

05 Zenith Bank Plc

16.35

16.45

-0.61%

513,332,673,401.10

3.33

4.91

1.23

11.01%

0.83

06 Lafarge Africa Plc

51.60

51.00

1.18%

235,032,933,396.00

-6.71

-7.69

1.06

5.81%

1.68

07 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

12.30

12.30

0.00%

225,699,479,944.50

0.23

53.54

0.42

5.04%

0.38

166.82

167.22

-0.24%

217,279,897,602.46

4.22

39.53

1.47

2.07%

5.07

09 United Bank for Africa Plc

4.61

4.54

1.54%

167,248,616,344.42

1.64

2.80

0.53

13.02%

0.50

10 Access Bank Plc

5.60

5.60

0.00%

161,996,641,133.60

2.48

2.26

0.48

9.82%

0.42

11 Presco Plc

38.85

38.85

0.00%

154,253,033,198.25

0.86

44.96

2.18

3.35%

3.59

12 Guinness Nig Plc

95.00

93.99

1.07%

143,059,377,860.00

3.70

25.69

1.27

0.00%

3.22

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

04 Nestle Nigeria Plc

08 Forte Oil Plc.

13 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd

255.36

255.36

0.00%

141,293,321,527.68 -14.43

-17.70

1.51

6.23%

0.38

14 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc

13.80

13.25

4.15%

138,000,000,000.00

2.04

6.78

1.17

0.72%

1.23

15 Unilever Nigeria Plc

35.00

35.00

0.00%

132,415,368,750.00

0.46

75.69

2.17

0.14%

14.87

3.33

3.30

0.91%

119,531,324,997.36

0.30

10.92

0.24

4.50%

0.20

126.35

126.35

0.00%

80,938,592,365.05

11.12

11.36

1.04

1.74%

3.37

6.65

6.65

0.00%

79,800,000,000.00

1.05

6.33

0.66

7.52%

1.34

222.60

206.00

8.06%

75,577,560,916.20

31.13

7.15

0.31

6.29%

3.58

5.54

5.56

-0.36%

66,671,788,672.76

-3.46

-1.60

0.36

13.54%

0.48

48.39

48.39

0.00%

63,874,800,000.00

0.24

199.88

0.62

3.10%

2.85

170.10

162.00

5.00%

61,337,254,066.20

17.69

9.62

0.74

4.23%

3.57

23 International Breweries Plc

18.38

19.34

-4.96%

60,548,301,766.40

0.17

105.36

2.43

1.36%

4.91

24 Flour Mills Nig. Plc

20.00

20.43

-2.10%

52,484,743,740.00

6.81

2.94

0.14

10.00%

0.52

1.20

1.26

-4.76%

46,465,196,910.00

-0.37

-3.22

1.03

0.00%

0.61

20.00

20.00

0.00%

38,417,287,740.00

2.44

8.20

0.53

5.00%

0.52

27 Sterling Bank Plc

1.28

1.28

0.00%

36,851,735,201.28

0.31

4.15

0.35

7.03%

0.44

28 Diamond Bank Plc

1.51

1.58

-4.43%

34,972,187,341.68

0.11

13.68

0.17

0.00%

0.15

29 Okomu Oil Palm Plc

35.00

35.00

0.00%

33,386,850,000.00

4.60

7.62

2.72

0.29%

2.15

30 Fidelity Bank Plc

1.08

1.07

0.93%

31,279,592,547.36

0.39

2.77

0.22

14.81%

0.17

31 Wema Bank Plc

0.72

0.75

-4.00%

27,773,615,578.32

0.06

11.93

0.61

0.00%

0.60

32 Cadbury Nigeria Plc

13.90

13.90

0.00%

26,107,008,356.00

3.21

4.33

0.78

9.35%

2.52

33 Cap Plc

37.00

37.00

0.00%

25,900,000,000.00

2.49

14.89

3.67

3.11%

17.04

34 FCMB Group Plc

1.28

1.29

-0.78%

25,347,469,799.68

0.61

2.09

0.16

7.81%

0.14

35 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.99

3.99

0.00%

23,468,638,138.05

0.76

5.25

0.70

3.51%

0.84

36 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc

18.50

18.50

0.00%

22,123,715,028.00

-2.54

-7.28

0.76

1.62%

2.42

37 Mansard Insurance Plc

2.05

2.00

2.50%

21,525,000,000.00

0.27

7.55

1.12

2.44%

1.02

38 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc

8.00

8.00

0.00%

21,195,507,024.00

0.89

9.03

1.17

6.88%

3.07

39 PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc

19.55

19.00

2.89%

19,550,000,000.00

4.14

4.72

1.47

0.51%

0.59

40 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

1.52

1.52

0.00%

12,053,900,440.16

-0.40

-3.76

0.25

10.53%

0.73

41 Unity Bank Plc

0.99

1.01

-1.98%

11,572,444,562.58

0.54

1.82

0.18

0.00%

0.13

42 Continental Reinsurance Plc

0.97

1.02

-4.90%

10,061,561,982.64

0.33

2.95

0.49

12.37%

0.52

43 Skye Bank Plc

0.69

0.70

-1.43%

9,577,407,972.90

-2.93

-0.24

0.06

43.48%

0.09

44 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

6.32

6.32

0.00%

7,942,203,481.12

0.96

6.61

0.61

1.58%

0.78

45 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,691,369,126.00

0.10

5.16

0.94

6.00%

0.45

46 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc

4.00

4.00

0.00%

6,496,875,000.00

0.15

25.94

0.81

5.00%

1.05

47 UACN Property Development Co. Limited

3.55

3.55

0.00%

6,101,562,482.25

-0.05

-68.09

1.81

19.72%

0.17

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

0.67

0.72

-6.94%

4,643,237,001.60

0.28

2.42

0.14

7.46%

0.48

50 Fidson Healthcare Plc

1.95

1.99

-2.01%

2,925,000,000.00

0.31

6.36

0.43

2.56%

0.46

16 FBN Holdings Plc 17 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc 18 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc 19 Total Nigeria Plc 20 Oando Plc 21 Julius Berger Nig. Plc 22 Mobil Oil Nig Plc

25 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc 26 U A C N Plc

TOTAL

8,950,106,103,101.72

TOTAL MARKET CAP

9,531,179,789,232.83

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

93.90%

Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

Close 4-Aug-16

Change %

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers Stock

Open 3-Aug-16

Total Nigeria Plc Mobil Oil Nig Plc Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc Mansard Insurance Plc

206.00 162.00 13.25 19.00 2.00

Open 3-Aug-16

AIICO Insurance Plc International Breweries Plc Continental Reinsurance Plc Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc Diamond Bank Plc

Close Change 4-Aug-16 % 222.60 170.10 13.80 19.55 2.05

8.06 5.00 4.15 2.89 2.50

Close Change 4-Aug-16 %

0.72 19.34 1.02 1.26

0.67 18.38 0.97 1.20

-6.94 -4.96 -4.90 -4.76

1.58

1.51

-4.43

NSE ASI moves northward as 0.23% gain ends a 5-day losing streak Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today – Thursday, August 4, 2016 closed on a positive note as the stock market closed green, in spite of investors’ carefulness towards risk and profit positioning. This was further highlighted by positive performances from the NSE sub-sectors: Consumer Goods and Oil & Gas (Save Banking and Insurance). Trading activities decreased in volume as 155.78 million shares worth N1.53 billion in 3,320 deals exchanged hands today. This is a decrease from the 301.15 million shares worth N2.34 billion in 3,681 deals exchanged on Tuesday.

Topping in volume terms was Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc while Lafarge Africa Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed positive with a 0.23% (+63.54) increase to close at 27,751.34 from 27,687.80 the previous trading day. Market Capitalization depreciated in tandem to N9.53 trillion from N9.51 trillion of prior trading day. Similarly, the Thisday BGL 50 Index also followed suit with an increase of 0.23% to close at 114.95 from 115.66 recorded at the end of the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N8.95 trillion from N8.93 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 14 stocks gained on the bourse today while 17 stocks declined, 67 leaving stocks unchanged. Total Nigeria Plc emerged the day’s toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 8.06% to close at N222.60 per share. It was followed by Mobil Oil Nig Plc with a gain of 5.00% to close at N170.10 per share. Others on the gainers list include: Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc and AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, while on the decliners’ list; AIICO Insurance Plc led with a loss of 6.94% to close at N0.67 per share. It was followed by International Breweries Plc with a loss of 4.96% to close at N18.38 per share. Others on the losers list include: Continental Reinsurance Plc, Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc and Diamond Bank 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 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016

MARKET NEWS

Cordros Money Market Fund Opens for Subscription as Market Rebounds Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie Investors now have the opportunity to invest in the Cordros Money Market Fund (CMMF) being floated by Cordros Asset Management Limited as the initial public offer (IPO) of the CMMF has opened for subscription.

The fund, which is an open

ended mutual fund, offering N1 billion (10 million units at N100 per unit of the Fund). The minimum subscription amount in the fund is N10,000..

The fund’s investment objective is to provide capital preservation and regular income to unit holders by investing in high-quality money market instruments recognised by the Securities & Exchange

T H E

Commission (SEC).

According to the acting Managing Director of Cordros Asset Management Limited, the fund seeks to provide safety, liquidity, diversification, and competitive returns.

“This is in line with the company’s strategy to create array of products suitable for the underserved retail segment of the economy. The fund is

N I G E R I A N

targeted at the retail investors and that the main objective is to provide capital preservation, regular income, liquidity and capital appreciation,” she said.

Also explaining the benefits of the fund, Group Managing Director, Cordros Capital Limited, Mr. Wale Agbeyangi said the CMMF offers investors the service of professional fund managers with expertise to

STO C K

avoid the common mistakes of the amateur investor.

According to him, the fund parades seasoned professional advisers led by Vetiva Capital Management Limited as the Issuing House, STL Trustees Ltd as the Trustee, African Prudential Registrars Ltd as Registrars to the Fund, Babalakin & Co as Solicitor to the Trustees, UBA Plc Global Investor Services as

E XC H A N G E

the Custodian , Access Bank Plc as the Receiving Bank and TAC Professional Services as the Reporting Accountant.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian equities market witnessed rebound yesterday after five days of bearish trend. The rebound followed bargain hunting in the shares of Total Nigeria Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, and Nigerian Breweries Plc among others.

FRIDAY AUGUST 5, 2016 • T H I S D AY

49

NEWS

Lai Mohammed: TSA Averted Nigeria’s Collapse Wike: Media must end conspiratorial silence against oppression of Rivers Uduaghan urges FG to involve governors in fight against militancy Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said the judicious management of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the unrelenting war on corruption is why the country has not collapsed.

Mohammed made this statement yesterday at the All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) 2016 in Port Harcourt, where he listed the economic challenges and the efforts to steer the country to safety.

He said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is applying prudent management in the use of scares resources made possible by the anti-corruption fight, TSA and elimination of ghost workers.

The minister predicted that the increasing emphasis on agriculture would soon reduce the nation’s ‘scandalously’ high dependence on food importation, adding that the country is facing the consequences occasioned by the fall in the price of crude oil and the failure to save for the rainy day as well as not investing in infrastructure.

Mohammed said: ‘’Nigeria has nothing to rely on to cushion the effects of the lost earnings.

“Many other oil producing countries and fellow OPEC members are better because they saved for the rainy day. Saudi Arabia with about one fifth of Nigeria’s population, has about 600 billion dollars (which is 23 times what Nigeria has in foreign reserves) in foreign reserves.

United Arab Emirates, with

less than 10 million population has 75 billion dollars in foreign reserves. Qatar, with 2.4 million people has 36 billion dollars in foreign reserves. Even Angola, with just 24 million people, has about 25 billion dollars in foreign reserves. ‘’Here in Nigeria, with oil sold consistently for over 100 dollars a barrel for many years, we simply failed to save for the rainy day with a population of over 170 million, which has just 26 billion dollars in foreign reserves.

“To compound this, the fall in the price of crude oil is having a ripple effect-the scarcity of foreign exchange resulting from the oil price crash, meaning that industries are struggling to get foreign exchange to import raw materials and machinery. With falling imports, the Customs Service, which is another source of revenue, is collecting fewer duties.

“Taxation is also affected, as industries with no forex to import can neither employ more people nor produce more goods.

Then, Nigeria has to fight an existential battle to root out Boko Haram in the North-east region,’’ he said.

The minister lauded the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) for supporting the deliberate efforts to tackle the multifarious challenges facing the country, particularly in the area of the economy, saying NGE in particular and the media in general owe it a duty to keep Nigerians well informed of situation by becoming the ‘Champions of Change’. ‘’Permit me to commend

the Nigerian Guild of Editors for the well-thought-out theme for this 2016 conference which is ‘Economic Diversification: Agriculture as an option for a prosperous Nigeria’.

“As you are all aware, agriculture is one of the sectors we have identified in our economic diversification programme aimed at moving the country away from a mono-product, oil-based economy under our ‘Change Mantra’,” he stated.

Mohammed said government was making genuine efforts to turn things around through massive investment in infrastructure ie roads, railways, power, saying all the efforts are aimed to create jobs and put money in the pockets of Nigerians.

Meanwhile, Mohammed called on Nigerian editors and the media in general to champion the efforts of the federal government to diversify the economy to agriculture.

Mohammed commended the editors for being part of the efforts of government to tackle the various challenges facing the country, especially in the area of the economy.

He expressed satisfaction with the theme of the conference, adding that “Agriculture is one of the sectors we have identified in our economic diversification programme, aimed at moving the country away from a mono-

product, oil-based economy, under our Change Mantra.”

On his party, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, while declaring the conference open, accused the editors of maintaining a conspiratorial silence while the people of the state are denied legitimate representation at the National Assembly because of the illegal quest to save the dwindling political relevance of an individual.

The governor said the time has come for editors to put an end to deliberate negative reportage of events in the state for factual development-based reporting to be enthroned.

Wike said: “The 8th National Assembly is well into the second year of its 4-year tenure without any Rivers State representative in the Senate, and only a fraction in the House of Representatives.

Yet, the press is maintaining conspiratorial silence over the continuing repression and deliberate denial of the State’s constitutional right to full and effective representation at the National Assembly. The question is: can Rivers State legitimately be bound by legislation or resolutions from the 8th National Assembly passed without our representation and input?”

The governor added: “I would like to leave you with some thoughts about the values we share – thoughts about our

democracy, good governance and public accountability. As the watchdog and guardians of the public interest, no other profession can give us the opportunity to know the truth about our country, about our leaders, about the state of our democracy, about ourselves, and about governments than journalists. Your profession enables and empowers you to prod and probe; to speak truth to power, to expose injustice, to speak on behalf of the voiceless and to hold leaders accountable.

“Thus, the statement is true that if you all commit yourselves to the highest standards of your profession, you can be the most powerful force for deepening Nigeria’s democracy, for human rights, for justice, for shaping public policy, for fighting corruption, for free, fair and credible elections, and for efficient service delivery.”

Former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, enjoined the federal government to include governors in the Niger Delta region in the engagement process of resolving militancy and challenges of under development in the region.

Uduaghan while delivering the keynote address, said the amnesty program could not achieve the desired peace in the region because governors then

were not part of the engagement process.

“The amnesty did not achieve what it was to achieve because the governors were not involved.

The states should be involved.

The biggest threat in the Niger Delta is that our land is seriously polluted especially water. In those days you could see the sand under the water. We used it to wash our teeth. But it is not so anymore,” he lamented.

While appealing to the Niger Delta Avengers to cease hostilities in the region, Uduaghan encouraged the Federal government to apply the carrot and stick approach in its effort to curb militancy in the Niger Delta region.

His words: “Niger Delta Avengers, are bursting our pipelines for whatever reasons, anger. Nigerian is looking at it as something just affecting only the economy. Dealing with the Niger delta challenge should be a carrot and stick approach; engagement and force where necessary. Engagements should be deepened. The governors should be part of it.

“I want to appeal to our brothers in the Niger Delta Avengers that what they are doing is not just damaging the economy but the water. I appeal to them to stop it. The media should also help appeal to them to stop it.”

CBN Governor Donates Rice to Borno IDPs Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, yesterday donated 600 bags of rice to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno State.

This is the second time in the space of three months that Emefiele is extending this gesture to IDPs in the troubled state.

According to him, the relief food items were a personal donation from his personal savings to vulnerable displaced persons who are in dire needs.

Presenting the rice at the Government House, Maiduguri, the Maiduguri Branch Comptroller of CBN, Alhaji Ishaku Ibrahim, called on Nigerians to rally round the federal government and insurgency-affected states to restore peace in the North-east.

Reading the speech of the governor, he said: “Today, my family and I return to this land hitherto renowned as the ‘Home of Peace’ to make a personal donation of an additional 600 bags of rice, from my personal savings, to our vulnerable brothers and sisters in the IDPs’ camps.

“I am particularly glad to address you this morning in an atmosphere of peace brought about

by the hard work of our gallant soldiers, the determination of the federal government and efforts of government and people of Borno State, who crave for an enduring peace.”

He said: “We are happy about the huge successes that have been recorded in the area of security; but one is deeply concerned about reports of malnourishment emanating from the camps for IDPs.” He said it was high time to diversify the nation’s economy; insisting that “it is our fervent prayer and hope that in no distant time, this past glory will be restored; more especially now that the CBN is striving hard, in collaboration with fiscal authorities to diversify the Nigerian economy.”

In his response, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State thanked the CBN governor for the donation.

He said: “We remain liberally indebted for Emefiele’s widow’s mite to our displaced persons in camps. Branch comptroller of CBN, Ibahim, we are grateful for your support to IDPs.” He equally thanked Emefiele for selling the CBN quarters in the state to the Borno State government, assuring that the payments for the residential quarters would be made to the central bank this month.

CONGRATULATIONS FORTHE WORK

Managing Director, Atlantic Shrimpers Limited, Mr. Kamlesh Kabra (left) , receiving an award from the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, at the 14th fellowship and award ceremony of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) in Abuja...recently

Dangote: Obajana-Kabba Road to Gulp N11bn Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja The president of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has said the construction of Obajana-Kabba road will gulp the sum of N11 billion.

He disclosed this yesterday during a courtesy visit to the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in Lokoja.

Dangote said he was determined to embark on the construction of the road once all the details are concluded.

He also expressed support for the state government in diversifying the economy of the state, adding that he was ready to be a partner in terms of development of the state.

According to him, Dangote Group was more determined than ever to come to the aid of the state by diversifying the economy through massive agricultural development, job creation and building of road which has become more important now in the life of the state and the country.

Pointing out that the company

has been dragged into mining, Dangote noted that $160million had been sank into coal mining in Ankpa and building of the road which N5.2 billion has been made available, noting that his company was ready to commence the operation within the next 30 days.

Earlier, Governor Bello reiterated the support of the state to ensure that Dangote succeeds as number one corporate individual to be appreciated in area of support.

He said Dangote had shown commitment to cooperate with the government on security, investments in mining and agriculture and to step up corporate social responsibility.

“We will ensure that the government gives all the necessary support to Dangote for his success as it concerns Kogi and the citizens of the state in corporate social responsibility because the challenges we face are enormous but we have no choice than to succeed,” he added.

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NEWSEXTRA

Jimoh Ibrahim, Jegede Join Ondo Governorship Race Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Business mogul, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, yesterday obtained the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) expression of interest form from the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Court to Rule on Otti’s Application to Join Appeal on Abia Governorship Tussle Tobi Soniyi in Abuja The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal will today deliver a ruling on an application by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti, seeking to join as an interested party in the appeal challenging the judgment of a Federal High Court which removed Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as governor of the state.

Otti, a former Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank Plc, had through his counsel, Mr. Patrick Ikweto, SAN applied to be joined in the legal tussle between the incumbent governor Ikpeazu and another PDP member, Samson Udechukwu Ogah, on the grounds that he had vested interest in the governorship tussle.

He had contested and lost to Ikpeazu at the last governorship election and also lost the petition he filed to challenge the declaration of Ikpeazu as the duly elected governor of Abia State.

At the trial before the Federal High Court, Otti had applied to be joined but his request was turned down by Justice Okon Abang on the ground that the matter before him was between two members of the PDP and that Otti had no interest to protect there prompting him to approach the Court of Appeal to ventilate his grievances.

At the hearing of the application

yesterday, his counsel, Ikweato, urged the appellate court to allow him join in the legal tussle on the grounds that as a governorship candidate, he would be affected by the final outcome of the legal tussle.

But Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) who stood for Ikpeazu and Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), who represented Ogah, vehemently opposed the application of Otti to be made a party.

The two senior lawyers argued that the matter before the Federal High Court and now before the Court of Appeal was an affair between two members of the PDP struggling for nomination and that Otti, being a non-member of PDP had no interest to protect.

They urged the appellate court to refuse the application.

Ikpeazu had filed an appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court which ousted him from office on the ground that he submitted falsified documents to secure PDP nomination in the 2015 governorship election.

The governor claimed that the Federal High Court erred in law by not evaluating the evidence before him and not giving him fair hearing in the alleged falsified documents before arriving at its unjust and unwarranted conclusion that he should be removed from office.

The substantive matter has been adjourned till August 9.

NCC Says Internet Users Remained at 92m in June The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said internet users on Nigeria’s telecommunications networks have reduced to 92,281,921, as at June 2016.

The commission made this known in its monthly Internet Subscriber Data which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

A breakdown of the data showed that internet users on both the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), and the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks reduced by 81,415.

It further said 92,363,336 subscribers surfed the internet in May, but that only 92,281,921 did in June.

The data showed that out of the 92,281,921 internet users in June, 92,181,178 were on the GSM networks, while 100,743 users were on the CDMA. Of the 92,181,178 internet users on the GSM networks in the month under review, the document showed that MTN Nigeria had 32,974,177 customers browsing on its network.

It stated that MTN suffered a decrease of 134,609 internet subscribers in June, after it recorded 33,108,786 users in the month of

May. According to the report, Globacom had 26,628,065 customers surfing the net in June, showing an increase of 272,674 from its May’s record of 26,355,391.

It also said Airtel Nigeria network recorded a rise of users with 17,325,423 internet users in the month of June as against 17,280,089 customers in May. The records, therefore, showed that Airtel Nigeria network users increased by 45,334 in the month of June.

The data also showed that Etisalat had 15,253,513 internet users in June, as against the 15,508,024 in May, recording a decrease of 254,511 users in the month under review.

It also revealed that the CDMA operators (Multi-Links and Visafone), had a joint total of 100,743 internet users on their networks in June.

It showed that the only surviving two CDMAnetworks in the country listed a decrease of 10,303 internet subscribers in the month under review, from the 111,046 users they recorded in May. Visafone had 100,739 customers surfing the internet in June, showing a reduction of 10,303 users from its May record of 111,042.

Multi-Links had four internet users in the month of June, same as in May 2016.

to contest the governorship seat of his state, Ondo.

Speaking with journalists shortly after picking the form, Ibrahim said he would run an innovative administration and would work to defray the salary arrears of workers in the state within 100 days.

Jimoh said he would better the lots of the people of the state by ensuring prompt payment of their salaries which he stressed have largelybeen unpaid by the current administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

He claimed that within the period Mimiko ruled the state, he has collected well over N100 billion from the federation account but has only succeeded in expending N44 billion, wondering what he used the rest of the allocation to do.

The businessman described the governors who owe workers salary

as people lacking in innovation and initiative, adding that Ondo State has over 10 solid minerals which he would tap to develop the state.

The entrepreneur who owns a chain of companies in the country, claimed he has over 8,000 workers in his employment.

He assured Sheriff that when he visits Ondo State after PDP would have won the governorship elections, the state would have assumed a better look.

Speaking on the leadership crisis rocking the PDP and why he opted to join ranks with Sheriff, Ibrahim said Senator Ahmed Makarfi has no locus in law to claim the chairmanship of the party.

According to Ibrahim, it is only Sheriff that is known in law having taken over from Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu who resigned as national chairman before the expiration of

his tenure.

Also, the immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, Eyitayo Olayinka Jegede (SAN), has obtained his expression of interest and nomination form to participate in the November 26 governorship election under the platform of the PDP. Jegede, who resigned on July 22 to contest for the top job in Ondo State, obtained the forms at the state PDP secretariat in Akure amid fanfare and solidarity by former colleagues in the state executive council, party leaders, well-wishers, family members and supporters in their hundreds across the 18 council areas of Ondo State.

Speaking after picking the two forms, Jegede said he was overwhelmed with the massive show of love and support by

the people of Ondo State which transcend religious, ethnic and party affiliations.

He promised to justify the confidence reposed in him by offering good governance which will consolidate and improve upon the achievements of the Mimiko administration.

He reiterated his position that he is contesting to become the next governor of Ondo State in order to harness the state’s enormous natural resources to buoy its economic fortunes and enhance the living standards of the people.

Jegede disclosed that in compliance with the relevant guidelines, he would soon submit his forms to the party leadership.

He added that he has intensified preparations for the party primaries holding on August 22 by consulting and mobilising the delegates.

PENSION ADMINISTRATORS

L-R: Edith Daniels of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc; Managing Director, Zenith Pension Custodians (ZPC), Agboola Oladotun; Chief Compliance Officer, Trustfund Pensions Plc, Mrs. Rachel Osa Obi; Odutola Oluwatoyin of Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc; and Damien Anokwuru of Energy Commission of Nigeria, at the Trustfund-ZPC 2016 Employers’ Forum in Abuja... yesterday

BUHARI SOLICITS SUPPORT OF OGONI FOR CLEAN-UP EXERCISE Members of the BoT include Wale Edun as Chairman, the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister of State for Environment Ibrahim Jibril; Minister of State Petroleum. Representatives of IOCs include Osagie Okunbor, Insula Massimo and Alexis Bobk.

The Ogoni stakeholders, other communities in the Niger Delta, NGOs as well as the UNEP are also represented on the board. A legal adviser would be appointed by the governing council in due course.

Meanwhile, Edu who spoke on

behalf of others, thanked President Buhari and FEC members for giving them the opportunity to play their part in driving this area of the nation forward.

He said they would work towards the restoration of the health, livelihoods and the future hopes of the Ogoni people, adding that they look forward to the people’s continued support for the laudable project.

“We are all, to varying degrees, conversant with the genesis of the Fund? and have been

reminded today of the bitter-sweet experience of oil production in Ogoni land in particular, and the Niger Delta in general. Suffice to say, the environment and health of the people not to talk to the social-economic conditions and prospects, have suffered great damage.

“With our appointments today, the BoT has the opportunity, to work as a team and in conjunction with other, stakeholders, to intervene positively and decisively within the context

of the recommendations of the 2011 UNEP report on the Environmental assessment of Ogoni land. It is a rare privilege and opportunity that we intend to embrace with boldness, initiative, and determination. We recognise the immense responsibility of managing the significant funds contributed both now and in the future for the clean-up of Ogoni land and intend to do so in an effective and transparent manner to the benefit of the key stakeholders,” Edu said.

BUDGET SCANDAL: APC EMBARRASSED, BARS ALL PARTIES FROM PUBLIC STATEMENTS Maduabum in a statement said the allegation existed in Abdulmumin’s imagination, saying that was desperately clutching at every straw in his deception of the public.

The statement reads in full: “The disgraced Abdulmumin has once again accused me of being involved in coordinating the distribution of $25,000 to various members in the House zonal caucuses in order to support Yakubu.

“It is true that he loves mentioning my name, but is he so unintelligent not to notice a pattern. Abonta disagrees with

him on national television, he immediately adds his name in a petition to EFCC; Jagaba grants an interview against him, he adds his name in the charge sheet which he carries about. The Appropriations Committee members disown him, he immediately alleges inducement of $20,000; the whole House rises against him, then immediately everyone is given $25,000 each.

“Can he not see that no one needs to be induced when he is on a one man riot squad to denigrate all members of the House and pull down the institution of the National Assembly?

“Once again, let me re-state that Yakubu did not give me or anyone any money to give to any member of the House.

This charge, as usual, exists in the demented and diseased imagination of the drowning Abdulmumin who is desperately grasping at every straw in his deception, campaign of calumny, demagoguery and propaganda which he has unleashed on innocent public officers whose sole offence is that they fatally misjudged Abdulmumin’s instability of character and unsuitability to hold public office?

“Let me again remind him that

Dogara is a God-fearing man, a charismatic leader, a progressive democrat, an incorruptible Nigerian, that cannot be dented by his tissue of lies, fables and penchant for fictional accusations and idiocy. What Abdulmumin is saying is that billions of naira is being shared to members to pursue an inconsequential fellow? What an absurdity from a celebrated con man and pathological liar?

“I wish to state that since this attack is on my personal integrity, I reserve the right to defend myself with all the arsenal at my disposal within the ambit of the law.”

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CRIME&PUNISHMENT UN Blames Arms Proliferation in West Africa on Archaic Laws Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) yesterday blamed the proliferation of illicit arms in West Africa on archaic laws currently being used by the countries in the region to tackle arms and ammunition trafficking.

It added that the various legal systems and national laws in different African countries tend to inhibit regional progress in illicit trafficking.

The UNREC Director, Ms. Olatokunbo Ige, made this known in Abuja at the Experts Meeting on ‘Improving Cross-Border Sub-Regional Co-operation in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) under Existing Regional and Sub-regional Instruments’.

She noted that the issue of diversion and illicit transfers of weapons to non-state actors, including armed groups, terrorists

and networks of criminals, remain a major challenge in the fight against their illegal and abusive use, stressing that the transfers are not specific to any given territory and are not limited by states borders.

According to Ige, “Despite global framework implemented by several policy and legal binding instruments at the global and regional levels regulating the control of small and light weapons, the Sahel continues to be confronted with the destabilising effects of the widespread proliferation and availability of arms and ammunition from within the region and beyond. This negative phenomenon weighs heavily on the security of populations in the region.”

She stressed that the UN has therefore followed a coherent and holistic approach to counter the menace in a terrorism context, with a project entitled ‘Implementation

of UN Security Council Resolution 2174 (2014) by the capacities of States in Africa to prevent the acquisition of arms and ammunition by terrorists or terrorists groups.”

The UN director emphasised that since Boko Haram insurgents are increasingly operating beyond the Nigerian borders, the project would be piloted in Boko Haram affected countries of the Lake Chad Basin-Cameroun, Nigeria, Chad and Niger.

Ige explained that despite the fact that judicial and legal cooperation at the national and international levels is a topic which is not often addressed and analysed by practitioners and experts working in the arms control sector, she revealed that it was an important part of this comprehensive approach.

Ige said it related to the unresolved question of how to bring perpetrators, often operating in cross-border and cross-region scenarios to justice and how to

prevent further illicit transactions through knowledge exchange as well as precedent setting. “In many African countries, trafficking is currently dealt with under several archaic laws; Customs and Excise Acts, Firearms Acts and State security Acts,” she stated.

In her remarks, ECOWAS Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs. Halima Ahmed, said the regional body had advanced in the establishment and strengtheningofNationalCommissions on SALW, their ammunition and other related materials.

She regretted that “except for Nigeria, all the member states have functional NationalCommissionsonSmallArms,” while urging the country to do same.

On his part, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Dr. Daniel Cavegn, said the availability of SALW fuels the cultures of violence and undermines the security and stability of states and the entered region.

In Brief Robbers Storm Warri Govt House Annex, Kill Driver

Unknown gunmen yesterday stormed Government House Annex in Warri, Delta State, killing a driver in an attempt to dispossess him of a huge amount money withdrawn from a bank as logistics for government officials holding a meeting in the complex. The dare-devil armed robbers, THISDAY gathered, had laid ambush for the driver and two officials who had gone to the bank to withdraw the money meant for members of a special security outfit established by Delta State Government. It was gathered that the incident occurred at about noon in Warri. An eyewitness account said the driver and some staff of Government House, Annex had gone to the bank to withdraw money for logistics needed for the Delta State Waterways Security meeting holding at the annex. It was further gathered that the robbers laid wait for the vehicle conveying the cash at the entrance of the premises of the annex by the Edjeba Expressway. According to the account, the robbers blocked the vehicle as it was about to enter but the driver managed to brush aside the blockade and escaped. He was however unlucky as the robbers shot at him fatally while trying to escape. THISDAY learnt that the wounded driver was said to have driven the car with the money safely into Government House before he was rushed to the hospital. But he died on the way while riot policemen on guard at the annex gave the robbers a hot chase but could not apprehend them. The Divisional Police Officer, “B” Division, Anietie Eyoh, confirmed the incident. He said his men had arrested a suspect and was investigating his link with the incident while a crack team was on the trail of other robbers.

Ogun Police Parade Five Armed Robbery Suspects

MEN OF GOD

L-R: Director, Social Communication, Monsignor Gabriel Osu; Archbishop of Lagos Metropolitan, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins; and Chancellor, Lagos Archdiocese, Monsignor Anthony Obanla, during a press briefing on the fourth year Enthronment anniversary of Most Rev Adewale as the Achbishop of Lagos Metropolitan at Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos.... Lagos Kolawole Alli

Fayose’s Associate Gets N500m Bail Alex Enumah in Abuja The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has granted bail in the sum of N500m to Abiodun Agbele, an associate of Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, who is currently standing trial in an allegation of money laundering to the tune of N4.6 billion.

Trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a ruling he delivered yesterday, on the bail application said the prosecution failed to show reasonable cause why the defendant should not be granted bail.

The judge, who stated that he was not convinced that the prosecution has made sufficient case why the bail application should not be granted, rejected the claim of the prosecution led by Jonson Ojogbane that the defendant will jump bail if granted.

According to Justice Dimgba, the prosecution failed to show that the defendant, if granted bail, would interfere with the course of justice or destroy evidence, a condition for which he said bail can be denied.

Justice Dimgba who held that an accused is presumed innocent until proven otherwise, stated that

the purpose of bail is to provide an accused person the best atmosphere to prepare for his trial.

Parts of the bail conditions are that the defendant shall produce two sureties in the sum of N250m each, with proof of property ownership either in Abuja or Lagos. The sureties can be private businessmen or professionals and where they are civil servants, they should not hold a position less than Director.

The defendant shall also deposit his internationalpassportwiththecourtand canonlytraveloutsidethecountryupon receipt of permission of the court.

The judge added that the registrar of the court must verify the documents presented and call on the EFCC when necessary.

Justice Dimgba also ordered an accelerated hearing of the case and that the defendant remained in prison custody until the bail conditions are met.

Agbele and three others were arraigned on an eleven-count charge bordering on money laundering by the EFCC to the tune of N4.6 billion allegedly transferred from the Office of the National Security Adviser by Col. Sambo Dasuki.

The other defendants are; Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd, De Privateer Ltd

and Spotless Investment Ltd. Before his arraignment on August 3, 2016, Agbele has been in the custody of the EFCC since June 27, 2016. Following his not guilty plea, when the charges were read to him, his counsel, Mike Ozekhome, filed an application asking the court to admit him on bail.

Ozekhome, in an eight paragraph affidavit supported by three exhibits deposed to by one Harrison Obi, urged the court to admit his client to bail on self recognition.

He argued that the prosecution in his counter affidavit failed to raise any legal issue worth addressing at all, other than bare assertion that the applicant is a flight risk that will jump bail if granted.

While noting that the prosecution have not laid any shred of evidence to support their allegations that the defendant is a flight risk, he said, the onus is on them to show that if granted bail the defendant will abscond.

The defence counsel also supported his argument with an earlier judgment by the court in which the court held that it was not enough for prosecution to make wild allegations without concrete

evidence to support its case, adding that the offence is bailable.

While informing that the applicant was granted administrative bail by the EFCC, Ozekhome added that the applicant was arrested by the EFCC right in his house and his international passport has been with the commission and was even used as a condition for his administrative bail. He therefore urged the court to grant the bail application of his client.

However, objecting to the application, counsel to the EFCC, Jonson Ojogbane, urged the court to refuse the bail application on the ground that if granted bail, the defendant will jump bail. He said the applicant is a flight risk and had perfected plans to flee from the country before he was arrested.

According to him, the applicant, in conjunction with a former Minister of Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, said to be at large colluded to move and aid the escape of Olalekan Ogunseye, a principal suspect in the case out of the country and if released on bail he will flee from the jurisdiction of the court.

Ogun State Police Command yesterday paraded five out of the six gun men who attacked the residents of Ogijo, Ogun State. According to the police command, the suspects, said to be members of the Aiye confraternity, killed four persons during the attack, including a 16-year-old boy. The cultists were Oluwatosin Mosaku, Tunde Adeleye, Olajuwon Jose, Sunday Ajayi and Sharafa Oladipo. Jose was said to have fired the shot that killed the 16-year-old boy while Ajayi snatched the rifle. However, Acting State Police Command Spokesman, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi, who paraded the suspects before journalists at the Police Command, said the suspects were arrested by officers from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) at their hideout near Ogijo on Wednesday.He disclosed that their investigations revealed that some of the suspects have criminal records, disclosing that one of them snatched a rifle from a police man, three years ago. Meanwhile, the police also paraded three armed robbers who specialise in cars and tricycles snatching. They were Damilola Daramola, Tunji Makinde and Jimoh Wasiu. Oyeyemi, therefore explained that the police got wind of the incident at Ogijo and quickly alerted their men in the area which resulted in the arrest. He said the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Iliyasu, had warned criminals in the state to relocate, saying the state would not be a comfort zone for any criminal.

NAFDAC Arraigns Two Alleged Fake Drug Dealers

A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday remanded in prison custody two alleged fake drug dealers. The suspects, Monday Enuma and Ikechukwu Adibe, were arraigned on a four and five-count charge respectively by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba. They pleaded not guilty, when the charges were read to them. In view of their plea, NAFDAC prosecuting counsel, Umar Shamaki, moved an application for their remand. Justice Dimgba, as a result, ordered that the two accused persons be remanded in prison custody, pending the hearing of bail application. According to the charge, while Enuma was arrested at 15, Club Road, in Sabon Gari area of Kaduna State, Adibe on his part, was arrested at 82, Atiken Road, Sabon Gari, Kano State.

They were arrested for selling fake Augmentin, Syrum, Alabukun, Septrin and Ampiclox. The offence according to the charge signed by Samson Philip Maken from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, is contrary to section 1 (a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drug And Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, Cap C34, LFN 2004 Act and punishable under section 3(1) of the same Act. One of the counts in the charge against Enuma read: “That Monday Enuma, on or about July, 17, 2016, within the jurisdiction of this court did sell unregistered drug to wit: Augmentin Syrup, Alabukun, Septrin and Ampiclox and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (a) of the Counterfeit And Fake Drug And Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, Cap C34, LFN 2004 Act and punishable under section 3(1) of the same Act. The case has been fixed for August 5, 2016 to argue the bail applications.

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FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

The Zero Hour of Rio 2016 Olympic Games is Here!

Brazilians set to put the best of their culture on display

Finally, the zero hour to the official Opening Ceremony of the 31st Olympic Games is here. With an estimated 900 million people around the world expected to watch the show on Friday night in Brazil (but early hours of tomorrow in Nigeria), every other thing in global sport can wait.

The world’s best athletes who have been preparing for this four-yearly sports spectacle are set to show the stuff they are made of.

12,000 athletes, including Team Nigeria’s 85-man contingent, will march into the stadium behind their own little samba bands, waving their countries’ flags.

Of course, the venue to flag off the show cannot be any other place than the iconic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the pride of the Brazilian people. Football that the Brazilians have taken to a different level until recently when their fortunes began to flounder, will feature prominently in every aspect of what the global viewing public will see at this opening fiesta.

According to the organizers of the show, supermodel Gisele Bundchen will put her acting skills to the test when she is ‘mugged’ in an elaborate scene that is a brutally honest reflection on life Rio de Janeiro.

However, in what many see as ‘sign of the moment’ in the host country Brazil, organisers of opening ceremony

have reportedly made plans to drown out booing with loud music if the country’s interim President, Michel Temer, is jeered in the stadium.

Temer will formally declare the Olympic Games open, but because the Brazilian government is so unpopular the organisers fear he will be heckled, as George Osborne was at the London 2012 Paralympics The president admitted yesterday that he knows he might be booed. To counter that embarrassment, organizers have planned that loud music or sound effects will be played as soon as he finishes speaking, so that any jeers are not heard by the billions of people expected to watch it on television. His short declaration is only 14 words long.

After the speech, the ceremony proper will roll on with the Brazil’s love affair with football also gets showcased, with one post showing the floor lit up with green and white pitch markings and a diamond-like structure that evokes the pattern of a football.

Opening Ceremony Director, Fernando Meirelles, reported shines a spotlight on the best of Brazil during the three-hour presentation - but doesn’t shy away from describing the country’s social problems either.

Then, as Gisele , the world’s highest paid supermodel and one of Brazil’s most famous stars, struts down a catwalk

The Rio Mayor, Eduardo Paes carried the Olympic torch on its first few laps of the city centre yesterday to the sound of a Brazilian bossa nova jazz classic The Girl From Ipanema, she is held up by an actor and robbed, according to internet posts.

A chase will then takes place around the 78,000-seater stadium as police officers race to catch the assailant before.

During the show, music, dance and 3D projections will trace the history of

Brazil, its music, conquests and contribution to the world, using a cast of 300 professional dancers and 5,000 volunteers.

The show will reveal a call for peace, before moving through Brazil’s jungles with the indigenous tribes to its cities and the colonisers ending up in its slums for the main part of the ceremony.

But it will not be a

‘chronological’ piece, telling the tale of the arrival of Brazil’s many different inhabitants over the years, Director Leonardo Caetano insisted.

On the night, the ceremony will use 2,000 light guns, 3,000 kilos of fireworks and 109 projectors to create its magic.

They will also be performing an important role, planting a sapling in a totem which

will grow to become a forest of 12,000 trees in Deodoro Olympic Park, according to Globo.

The spectacle will also feature British actress Judi Dench, who will read a poem alongside Brazilian film and TV star Fernanda Montenegro. It is thought the theme will revolve around global problems.

…Protest Mars Olympic Brazil Begins Football Gold Chase with Win against China Torch Arrival in Rio Chaotic scenes marred the arrival of the Olympic torch in Rio de Janeiro late on Wednesday evening.

Hundreds of demonstrators angry at the high cost of hosting the Games protested and riot police used tar gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.

Images on news websites showed at least one policeman appearing to fire a projectile directly at a protester.

The Olympic torch arrived in Rio de Janeiro by boat after a three-month tour of Brazilian cities.

The mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes, carried the torch on its first few laps through the city centre.

But images taken later showed crowds of people including many families with children who had come out to watch the torch relay running away in fear from the police action.

The police told local media that a group of people refused to leave one lane of the road open for the torch as had been agreed earlier and blocked the street in one place.

They said they had to intervene to contain the chaos and clear the road.

The BBC’s Wyre Davies in Brazil says that this is exactly

what Olympic organisers feared might happen after what has been a relatively peaceful and sometimes spectacular torch relay.

On Tuesday at least three protesters were arrested by the police in the town of Niteroi, across the bay from Rio during the torch relay there.

The police used pepper spray and part of the relay had to be abandoned.

Brazil is in the grip of a deep recession and political crisis, and further protests are expected ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony today.

Organisers said that more than a million tickets remain unsold.

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games began on Wednesday night with a women’s football match played in front of a sparse Olympic Stadium crowd. Sweden won 1-0 against South Africa in the opener, before host nation Brazil beat China 3-0.

Plenty of empty seats could be seen in the 60,000 venue at kick-off, although more fans arrived before Brazil’s game.

The football tournament has started two days before Friday’s opening ceremony because of a packed schedule.

More than 11,000 athletes will compete in the first edition of the Olympic Games to be held in South America.

There are 42 Olympic sport disciplines, with 306 events over the course of 19 days of competition.

Football is the only sport that will be staged at venues across the country.

Sweden, ranked sixth

in the world, secured the first win of the tournament when Nilla Fischer bundled in a second-half goal after a goalkeeping mistake.

American Rivals to Feel ‘Full Wrath’ of Usain Bolt Usain Bolt is promising to let American sprinter Justin Gatlin “feel his full wrath” as he zones in on an unprecedented treble-treble of gold medals at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Bolt was given a medical exemption by Jamaican officials to compete at the Rio Games after he pulled a hamstring during the Olympic trials and Gatlin wasted little opportunity in trying to get under the 29-year-old’s skin.

Gatlin said the six-time Olympic gold medallist had been given ‘a medical pass’ to compete and Bolt said on Wednesday that had only served to fuel his desire to shut the American up by

proving himself on the track.

“Yes definitely, I think they have not learned over the years that the more you talk, the more I will want to beat you,” Bolt told Reuters on Wednesday.

“It’s one of those things, but I’m looking forward to it, should be exciting and they will feel my full wrath as always.”

Bolt, who returned to action in the 200 metres at last month’s Diamond League meeting in London, said he felt he was in better shape ahead of the opening race of his programme on August 13 – the 100 metres – than he was for last year’s world championships in Beijing.

“I’m feeling much more confident now,” he added.

“I’m much more comfortable with where I’m at.

“I never try to predict times, because you never know what will happen.

But for me the shape I’m in, I’ll say I’m in much better shape, so I think 9.6 seconds definitely.”

Bolt’s world record for the 100 is 9.58 seconds. He ran 9.79 in clinching his third world championships title last year in Beijing.

As for his preferred 200, Bolt said he and coach Glen Mills had been pleased with the work they had been doing on the bend after some “rust” in London, when he ran 19.89.

“We’ve been doing a lot of work since I’ve been here, everything has been going well, I’ve been feeling great and I have no problem so I’m happy with the progress I’m making,” he said.

“It was just rust for me, having not run the 200 in over a year pretty much, but now I’ve familiarized myself back with the work, and it’s just about going out there and executing.”

GOtv Boxing Night 8: Fijabi Reveals Target, Praises Sponsors Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi, national light welterweight boxing champion, has explained why he stopped Tombraye “Tornado” Christmas, his opponent at GOtv Boxing Night 8, in the first round.

Fijabi, whose explosive combination of punches ended ‘Christmas’ dream of an upset in 58 seconds, said

his fight with Christmas was aimed at putting fear into his future opponents.

“I knocked him out as a warning to my future opponents. I hope they got the message that I am not that type of guy to go messing around with. This warning is to every boxer in my category on the African continent, as I am gunning for the African

title. That is my immediate ambition,” he said.

Fijabi also thanked sponsors and organisers of GOtv Boxing Night, saying their intervention has rescued boxing.

“A person like me would never have gone professional if not for GOtv Boxing Night. I wanted to remain an amateur because there was nothing to aspire to as

a professional. But GOtv came, offering considerably better remuneration and offering encouragement to boxers. I am glad I took the opportunity,” said Fijabi, a two-time winner of the N1million cash prize for the best boxer at the event.

He called on other corporate organisations to emulate GOtv by getting involved in the promotion of boxing.

54

FRIDAY AUGUST 5, 2016 T H I S D AY

55

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

The Mind A Dr. Ja`far Sheikh Idris AlJumuah

discussion on the basic qualities of a healthy mind and what it will enable a person to do as described in the Qur’an.

Mind and reason are an essential part of Islamic thought and legislation. One could not exist without the other. What exactly do we refer to when we talk about the mind? There are two kinds of reasoning by the mind that have been identified.

The first is intuitive reasoning that includes: the capacity to comprehend, make rational conclusions, form speech and behave sensibly.

The second kind of reasoning is acquired from our environment, such as the things we have been taught or become familiarized with.

I shall discuss intuitive reasoning for it is what Allah has granted to all, and it is what makes us accountable for our behavior. One who does not possess a mind or has lost his mind cannot be fully responsible for what he does.

Often, a person will have a good mind, and then choose not to use it or restrain it from thinking logically when it comes to matters of religion and faith. He will end up being one of the unfaithful and will be held accountable for his ignorance in religion. “And it is not for any soul to believe, except by the leave of Allah, and He lays abomination on those who have no understanding.”

[10:100]. It is no wonder that the punishment of those who do not believe is equivalent to that of those who do not understand. “Whoever Allah wishes to guide, He expands his chest to Islam, and whoever He wishes to leave astray, He makes his chest narrow and constricted as if he were climbing up to the sky. So Allah lays abomination on those who do not believe.” [6:125]. These two verses point out that one cannot possibly purify his heart unless he puts his mind to work, allowing faith and security into his heart.

The Qur’an refers to the mind in different ways depending on the nature of the task being dealt with: 1. The mind is able to understand and process speech. “Do you (Muslims) expect that they (Jews) will be believers, while some of them used to listen to the revelation of Allah (Torah), then intentionally tamper with it, while they understood it and knew it was the Truth?” [2:75]. “We have revealed it an Arabic Qur’an, that you may understand.” [12:2] The reason the Qur’an was revealed in Arabic was so that the minds of the people upon whom it was descended would be able to grasp it and appreciate its meanings.

2. The mind is able to project coherent and non-conflicting thoughts. “O people of earlier scripture! Why do you argue about Ibrahim, when the Torah and Injeel were not revealed until after him? Do you not have minds?” [3:65]. Those who claim that Ibrahim was a Jew or a Christian are contradicting themselves, since both Judaism and Christianity came long after the time of Ibrahim.

The surah of al-Anaam, verse 91, also refers to the Jews contradicting themselves: “And they did not attach the proper esteem to Allah when they said, ‘Allah has not revealed anything to any human.’ Say, ‘Who then sent down the Book which Moses brought as a light and as a guidance to people, which you divided into fragments, part of which you show to the people, and most of which you hide from them, and you were taught knowledge which neither you nor your fathers had possessed! Say, ‘It is Allah,’ then leave them to churn in their vain discourses.”

The verse points that the Jews cannot claim to believe in the prophecy of Moses, and in the Torah, then go on to say that Allah did not reveal anything to any humans, because those are contradicting thoughts.

3. The mind is able to understand proof and evidence of truth. “He has set for you an analogy from your lives: Have you, among that which your right hands possess, partners in what We have bestowed on you sharing with you equally, and you fear them as you fear each other? Thus we make clear the signs for people who understand.” [6:28] “Say, ‘If Allah had pleased, I would not have recited the Qur’an to you, nor would you have had any knowledge of it, indeed, I have already lived among you for a lifetime before it, do you not understand?” [10:16].

4. Actions must correspond to words. “Do you enjoin the performance of good deeds on the people and neglect it yourselves, while you read the Scriptures, do you not have any sense?” [2:44]. This verse is reprimanding the people, not for encouraging others to adhere to the way of Allah, for that is always a virtue. The verse, however, is pointing out the contradiction of the people who are giving good advice but not taking it themselves.

In any case, how the giver of good advice behaves does not reduce the value of the advice, such as a smoker or an alcoholic warning his children against the harms of those behaviors. It is far better than encouraging them to take on such harmful habits and better than not giving them any useful advice at all. Still, it does not make much sense to recognize the value of behaving in a certain way, and encourage others to do so, while acting in an opposing manner. For this reason, the good Prophet in the Surah of Hood, verse 88 said, “He said, ‘O my people, just consider, if I stand upon clear proof from my Lord, and He has provided me with sustenance good and pure, and I do not wish to dispute with you about that which I forbid you to do. I only desire to reform you as far as I am able. My success in that rests only with Allah, and in Him I put my trust and to Him I turn.”

5. The mind enables the person to make intelligent choices about what is good for him and what is harmful and should be rejected. “And the worldly life is no more but play and diversion, surely the last abode is better for those who are pious, then will you not understand?” [6:32]. “Surely We have revealed to you a Book in which is a message for you, will you then not understand?” [21:10].

6. People of mind are able to give up immediate, short-lived benefits in favor of eventually gaining more valuable, eternal joy. “Whatever you have been given of things, they are only the worldly possessions of this life and its glitter, but that which is with Allah is better and everlasting.

Have you then no sense?” [28:10]. In other verses, there is no direct mention of sense, but it can be inferred that sensible people will be able to choose to wait for what is further away, yet more meaningful. For example, “O you who believe, what is amiss with you, that when it is said to you, ‘March forth in the cause of Allah (to fight)’, you cling excessively to the earth. Are you content with the life of this world, rather than the Hereafter? Yet joy on this world, compared to the Hereafter, is but little.” [9:38].

7. People of mind are able to learn valuable lessons from the events of life. In the Surah of al-Ankabut verse 35 tells us that the remains of the town of the people of Loot remained in order to remind people and teach them that rejecting the teachings of Allah and committing atrocities will always have regrettable consequences. “And we have left a clear sign of it for people who possess minds.” This is also referred to in verse 40 of Surah al-Furqan, “And surely they must have passed by the town that was rained on by an evil rain, did they not see it? But they were hoping not to be raised again (from the graves).”

8. The mind enables us to learn from the lessons of history. “And We have not sent before you any but men from among the people of the towns. We revealed to them. Have they not traveled in the land, have they not seen how was the end of those before them? And the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allah. Do you not then understand?” [12:109].

9. The mind enables us to understand and appreciate the signs of the Creator, while here on earth. “Surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth, in the disparity of the night and the day, in the ships that course in the sea with that which benefits people, in the water that Allah sends down from the sky, reviving with it the earth after it was barren, in His spreading in it all kinds of living things, in the changing of the winds and of the subjected clouds between the earth, indeed are Signs for people who have understanding.” [2:164].

“For you, Allah subjected the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, and the stars are in subjection to His command. Surely in this are signs for people who understand.” [16:12].

10. Sensible people will know to treat others with respect, particularly in their dealings with the prophets. The Surah of al-Hujurat refers to people who harassed the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam: “Surely those who call out to you from behind the chambers, most of them do not possess minds.”

The qualities of the mind discussed are fairly indisputable and it is accepted by most people that a person who lacks these qualities will be seen as unreasonable or lacking in various ways.

Thus the Qur’an has reminded us that certain behaviors are inconsistent with an intelligent and sound mind.

We must remember also that there are many verses of the Qur’an that do not specifically mention the mind; but indicate that thoughtful and reasonable people will be able to follow the way of Allah - making good use of their God-given gift: the mind.

Friday, August 5, 2016

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MISSILE Jibrin to His Traducers “I will continue to cooperate with the party. But I stand by the allegations against Speaker Dogara and his corrupt gang of 12. We shall continue this struggle. There is no going back” – Embattled former chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumuni replying to allegations that he was being sponsored by external forces to destabilise the House and effect a change in the leadership.

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

WhatisTrueFederalism?

“Initiate action to amend our Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench true Federalism and the Federal spirit”-APC MANIFESTO

A

s indicated, the quote above originated from the APC manifesto. I extracted it for a number of reasons. First is the specificity, clarity and equivocal statement of its commitment to the restructuring of Nigeria agenda. Second is to highlight the centrality of the party to any political agenda in contemporary Nigeria; and that its support or lack of it is consequential to the realization of the agenda. The predominance of the party is indicated in the fact that it is the platform from which the incumbent President, majority of state governors; and majority of the National Assembly and state legislative arms members were elected.

Still there are categories of Nigerians who express confusion at what the restructuring agenda basically entails. There is the category of those who are genuinely ignorant and suffer short attention span; there is the other category which feigns misunderstanding and deliberately conflates its meaning and import; and then there is another one which presumes to debunk the agenda from the standpoint of superior knowledge and understanding.

The most frequently cited and disputed component is the identification of the objective of restructuring as ‘true federalism’. In essence, the disputation should amount to little more than an academic exercise. If the good faith of all parties concerned is guaranteed, there should be no compelling reason why the protagonists of the actualisation of federalism would not concede to the removal of the qualification of true from true federalism-if that is the condition for the attainment of national consensus on the issue.

If you take away true, we are still left with the substance-federalism. Not a bad bargain, don’t you think? Not if we are historically conscious-so we are not condemned to relive its bitter lesson.

You will recall the story of the Aburi Accord where on arrival in Lagos two different versions of the Accord suddenly emerged. Needless to reiterate the fact that failure to reconcile the two versions led directly to the civil war. Old habits die hard and so it came to be that forty nine years later this precedence resurrected in the materialization of several editions of the 2016 National budget.

More importantly, the topmost standard bearers of the APC, President Mohammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo now appear to have a Presidential version and interpretation of restructuring different from what was conspicuously written into their Party manifesto. In blatant departure from the Party position and the first intimation of his irritation with the subject, the President (and leader of the Party) foreclosed further engagement on the issue by demonising it as an aspiration that is at odds with the unity of Nigeria. He went down memory lane to invoke the symbolism of the civil war narrative (of unity vs disunity) as the equivalence of the contemporary debate on federalism. In an unaccustomed display of mirth, he dramatized the occasion with the recall of the triumphal civil war slogan and acronym of the surname of the civil war leader-Go on with one Nigeria, Gowon.

In solidarity, the Vice-President (and Law Professor) seconded his principal’s motion and claimed that his view on restructuring was still evolving. He then commenced his journey of discovery by setting up restructuring as the trivia of ‘giving more money to the states at the expense of the federal government’. Subsequently, the journey graduated to the recommendation of economic

diversification as the more appropriate kernel of restructuring. Yet, Osinbajo is a meritorious professor of constitutional law and the germane question is how would he grade a student who gave the same views (as his) as tantamount to restructuring? As the vice president superfluously grapples with the concept of federalism, he stands liable to the charge of aiming to reinvent the wheel. In this quest, he needs go no further than the manifesto of his Party. It is against this background of the tendency of Nigeria leaders to suffer convenient memory lapse that scepticism becomes a critical political virtue, that the observance of caution is the better part of valour.

Those who have qualms with the true federalism nomenclature argue (correctly), that conceptually, ‘true federalism’ is a misnomer-to the extent that it does not conform to the descriptive vocabulary of the broad spectrum of scholarship on federalism.

And that any characterisation of federalism that falls outside the demarcation of centralised and decentralised federalism is, to this effect, null and void. But we can only go so far and no further.

True federalism presupposes the existence of false federalism and vice versa and this is precisely the point-that it is false to identify what we are practising in Nigeria as federalism, it is false federalism. The logic and authenticity of true federalism specifically derives its meaning from the Nigeria context where we wrongly and falsely identify the reality of quasi-unitary practise as

federalism.

This peculiar behaviour is uniquely Nigerian and it is consistent with the Nigerian culture of saying and professing one thing and doing another. So if what we practise in Nigeria is not federalism and we insist on calling it federalism then it is correct to call it by its proper name and that is false federalism. It is this false identification that gives validity to the notion of true federalism. As in the tradition of dialectical materialism, every tendency presupposes its contradiction and to every thesis there is the antithesis. Federalism, like any other concept cannot be open-ended and indeterminate. Given the experience of its political history, Nigerians should be able to identify federalism when they see one.

The 1966 termination of the extant federalism of the first republic gave rise to a series of events that eventually culminated in the present trivialisation and caricature of federalism-consisting of thirty six nominal and dependent states which are inevitably subservient to a patronising and hegemonic central government. As the regions and states (the supposed coordinate and constituent units) were being broken into bits and pieces and increasingly weakened, the central government was correspondingly getting magnified and empowered.

NOTE: This piece is concluded in the online edition at www.thisdayonline.com

ENCOURAGING IMPUNITY YOU SAID YOU GOT INFO THAT YOUR ENEMIES AND DETRACTORS HAVE PETITIONED THE EFCC ALLEGING THAT YOU SCAMMED THE FEDERAL GOVT OF N1.5BN……!

BABA, I STOLE THE MONEY, I WON’T LIE TO YOU! WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME TO PREVENT EFCC FROM INVITING ME FOR A CHAT?

Reality Check from General Alani Akinrinade “First, the APC must be told, in no uncertain terms that it is fraudulent. They led us down the garden path, lying to us about what is in the end of the tunnel. What was in the end of the tunnel was restructuring and each one of them, the party chairman, the president, his vice, and in that order, are all talking from the other side of their mouths now. In other words, they lied to us in 2015 before the election. My message to them is, they should embark on a very major exercise now to restructure the country, otherwise, how do they propose to settle the crisis in the South-South because it is becoming embarrassing. A man whose land you went to tap resources and then he couldn’t farm or fish, because you bastardised his farmland and you then send back to him stipends from what you took away from his land, such a man can never be happy”.

“Is the APC thinking that the matter of religion, ethnicity and other crises across the country are just going to go away? Even the late Sardauna of Sokoto said so, that we are a disparate people and we must recognise that fact and use it to our advantage. Nobody is going to build Nigeria the way APC is going about it. I’m not too sure how many people sing our National Anthem again because they don’t

even believe in it. There is nothing like unity in this country. Unity can only exist when we all understand one another and there are some mutual relationships. If I know you are always cheating me by giving 44 local councils to Kano and giving Lagos 20, which is not in the same parameter with Kano in terms of population, production and name it, how can I be happy”?

“However rickety Nigeria has become, if there is a wholesome reconstruction and reengineering of the system, it can work. That was the major reason the Southwest went along with the APC and Buhari, as the presidential candidate in 2015….to tell us that he didn’t read the recommendations and that it is best for the archives and that, in fact, restructuring is unnecessary and according to his vice, what we needed is diversification and whatsoever, I remain baffled. They were just saying we would diversify into agriculture and solid minerals, as if the items will come from heaven.. If the APC fails to do something in that direction, I’m not talking about the 2014 conference report alone, but all others preceding it that have similar recommendations to restructure this country, then President Buhari may forget it and I’m saying he is likely to be the last president of this country. It is as bad as that”.

I’M AFRAID, YOU WILL BE INVITED! AND THEY WILL PILE CHARGES ON YOU - REAL AND IMAGINED - AND CROWN IT WITH A MEDIA BLITZ! BUT TO PREVAIL, YOU WILL HAVE TO OFFER A SACRIFICE!

OKAY BABA, WHAT ANIMAL SHOULD I BRING FOR THE SACRIFICE?

NO, ....NOT A RITUAL SLAUGHTER OF AN ANIMAL! THE SACRIFICE WILL BE IN FORM OF A FORFEITURE OF TWO-THIRDS OF THE MONEY TO THE EFCC AND THE FEDERAL GOVT! YOU’LL BE ALLOWED TO KEEP A THIRD!

BABA, THAT’S NOT FAIR! WHY SHOULD THEY KEEP TWO-THIRDS OF MY MONEY?!

05-08-16

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