Thursday 11TH August 2016

Hillary Clinton’s Emails Reveal Ties to Gilbert Chagoury Zacheaus Somorin with agency report Newly released emails from Hillary Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state have revealed that LebaneseNigerian billionaire Mr. Gilbert

Chagoury used his relationship with the Clinton Foundation set up by her husband former President Bill Clinton to seek for favours from the US State Department.

Chagoury is a close friend of the former US president

and a top donor to the Clinton Foundation. He has appeared near the top of the Foundation’s donor list as a $1 million to $5 million contributor, according to foundation documents. He also pledged $1 billion to

the Clinton Global Initiative.

According to a 2010 investigation by PBS Frontline, Chagoury was convicted in Switzerland in 2000 for laundering money from Nigeria, but agreed to a plea deal and repaid $66 million

to the Nigerian government.

The revelation has raised questions about the nature of the State Department’s relationship with the Clinton Foundation, when she was secretary of state.

CNN reported yesterday

that Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, released 296 pages of emails from the Democratic presidential nominee, including 44 that Judicial Watch says Continued on page 6

Nigeria Qualifies for Next Round Despite Columbia Loss...

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S’Africa Overtakes Nigeria as Africa’s Biggest Economy Obinna Chima with agency report In dollar terms, South Africa is once again the biggest economy on the African continent, a position it reclaimed from Nigeria.

This was attributed to the appreciation of the rand, South Africa’s currency, and the devaluation of the Nigerian naira following the introduction of a flexible foreign exchange regime.

Using the Gross Domestic

Product (GDP) at the end of 2015 published by the International Monetary Fund, Bloomberg reported that the size of South Africa’s economy was $301 billion at the rand’s current exchange rate, while Nigeria’s GDP was put at $296

billion.

Bloomberg noted that the rand has gained more than 16 per cent against the US currency since the start of 2016, while in contrast, Nigeria’s naira has lost more than a third of its value.

In afternoon trade yesterday, the rand firmed by more than a per cent against the dollar, to R13.29.

Despite the switch, Nigeria and South Africa both face the risk of recession, having contracted in the first quarter

of the year, according to Bloomberg.

Nigeria’s economy shrank by 0.4 per cent, while South Africa’s GDP contracted by 0.2 per cent.

Continued on page 6

Supremacy Battle Between Presidency, N'Assembly Stalls Legislation on PIB Ghana beats Nigeria to passage of key oil industry law Inclusion of host community fund critical to ending N’Delta militancy Baru pledges to continue with Kachikwu’s reforms at NNPC

Omololu Ogunmade and Chineme Okafor in Abuja The needless struggle for supremacy led by the executive arm of government is the bane behind the current stalemate on the legislation and passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) by the National Assembly, THISDAY has learnt.

The National Assembly recently commenced legislation on the bill but the move did not go down well with the executive, which saw it as an attempt by the National Assembly to take the shine off the presidency.

Against this backdrop, the executive which failed to formally present a newly

drafted PIB to the National Assembly, has deployed moves to frustrate the legislature from considering the bill originated by the legislature.

Instead, the executive ordered the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to prepare a new bill which has been in the works at the legal department of the state-run oil corporation for the past four months.

Following the failure of the Seventh Senate to pass PIB and the attendant criticism that arose from this, the Eighth National Assembly declared its preparedness to pass the bill this time. Hence, it repeatedly appealed to the Continued on page 6

Oshiomhole, Ex-PDP Govs Clash over BALA USMAN MAKES THE ROUNDS River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade (left), and the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Ms. Hadiza Bala Economy, Naira Devaluation… Page10 Cross Usman, when she paid a courtesy call on the governor after inspecting the facilities at the Calabar seaport… yesterday

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PAGE SIX SUPREMACY BATTLE BETWEEN PRESIDENCY, N'ASSEMBLY STALLS LEGISLATION ON PIB executive to send a new bill for its consideration.

But following the perceived complacency on the part of the executive, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, declared that the National Assembly would no longer wait for the executive.

Consequently, both houses of the National Assembly assembled a group of experts and came up with a new bill, which it re-christened Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).

The new bill, among others, seeks to unbundle NNPC and expunged the host community fund, which was opposed by a section of the country in the Seventh National Assembly.

Proponents of the host community fund had in the previous bill made it mandatory for oil companies to pay 10 per cent royalty to oil producing communities as compensation for land degradation, water pollution and other hazards associated with oil exploration in various communities.

However, at a roundtable conference organised by the National Assembly on March 21, 2016, Senate President Bukola Saraki, echoed Dogara when he said the National Assembly would kick start legislation on the bill the following week.

Indeed, two weeks after, the bill scaled the first reading in the Senate and on April 26, Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Senator Tayo Alasoadura,

presented the bill for second reading, but the process was stalled following a protest from Senator Kabir Marafa (Zamfara Central), an ally of President Muhammadu Buhari.

While opposing the presentation of the bill, Marafa raised Order 76 in the Senate Standing Rules, contending that the PIB was an executive bill, and wondered what gave Alasoadura the temerity to convert an executive bill into a private member’s bill.

“I come under Order 76, which reads: ‘There shall be three classes of bills, namely, executive bills, members’ bills and private bills.’ As far as I can remember, the PIB was an executive bill, submitted to this chamber as an executive bill. It was submitted wholly as one bill to be considered equally and thoroughly.

“To my greatest surprise, the presenter here is telling us that he has separated the bill into parts and pieces to be considered and I don’t know where he drew that authority from because the executive has already submitted one bill and not in parts and pieces.

“So I want to suggest that the presenter brings the bill as presented by the executive arm of government,” Marafa protested.

The debate to read the bill for a second time was also impeded by another point of order raised by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who argued that copies of the bill were not circulated to all senators ahead of the debate, as is the norm.

These points of

order, coupled with the observation that Alasoadura failed to attach the financial implication of the bill, forced Saraki who presided over the session, to rule that the debate be stood down till the following day.

He also asked Alasoadura to ensure that the financial compendium was attached to the bill.

“We observed that the financial compendium is not there... So please ensure that the bill that has been distributed is brought and we will now put it before the next debate,” Saraki said.

But since then, the bill has not returned to the floor of the Senate for further consideration.

THISDAY checks revealed that the Senate has been handicapped from spearheading further proceedings on the bill since April because of feelers from the executive that the presidency was not happy about the initiative and legislation on it by the National Assembly.

A reliable source who confided in THISDAY disclosed that the executive was displeased that the National Assembly would get the credit for the bill’s passage if it was allowed to proceed with the legislation.

THISDAY also learnt that further legislation on the PIGB was stalled by the warning by Senator James Manager (Delta South) that the removal of the host community fund from the new bill could further aggravate the crisis in the Niger Delta.

The region has in recent months been gripped with tension triggered by the Niger Delta Avengers

and other shadowy militia groups that have been blowing up oil installations, leading to a drop in oil and gas production.

However, analyst have counselled that the host community fund must be reinstated in the bill before the National Assembly as one of the measures that could be used to end the militancy in the oil-rich region.

They also argued that the last National Assembly had amended the section in the legislation that deals with the host community fund to include all communities that have oil and gas installations (including pipelines and depots) within and outside the Niger Delta, and wondered why it was expunged by the current legislature.

The stalemate over the passage of the bill is now considered a major embarrassment for Nigeria in view of the landmark passage of a similar bill

by Ghana’s parliament last week. Ghana christened its own bill the Petroleum Production and Exploration Bill.

The current stalemate is particularly described as “extremely disgraceful” by some concerned Senators, because Nigeria, reputed as the tenth largest oil producer in the world and the largest in Africa, has not been able to pass a new legislative framework for the oil and gas sector since 2007 when the first draft of the PIB was submitted to the National Assembly by the Umaru Yar’Adua administration.

Neighbouring Ghana, on the other hand, only started producing and exporting

oil in commercial quantities less than five years ago.

The current disputed bill before the National Assembly, among other provisions, seeks to unbundle the NNPC into two commercial entities limited by shares. The entities are: the National Petroleum Company and National Assets Management Company.

It also seeks to corporatise the oil joint venture assets into incorporated joint ventures (IJVs) that will enable the entities to seek funding for their operations from the financial markets.

This is expected to free the federal government from its cash call obligations, enabling it to redeploy the freed up funds in other critical sectors of the economy.

The continuing uncertainty over the fate of the oil industry legislation, notwithstanding, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru yesterday promised to continue with the reform initiatives started by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and further grow the fortunes of NNPC. Baru also said the ongoing reforms in NNPC had become inevitable owing to the existing business realities which the state oil company must adapt to grow its profitability.

He stated that under him, NNPC will focus on a 12-point agenda, which includes security of oil installations, the new business models, joint venture cash calls, production and reserve growth, growth of the

Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), gas development, oil and gas infrastructure, and refinery upgrade and expansion.

A statement from the Group General Manager Public Affairs of the corporation, Mallam Garuba Deen Muhammad in Abuja, said Baru spoke on his plan for NNPC at a town hall meeting with staff of the corporation.

According to him, “NNPC is today in transition for positive reform – a transition to autonomy, profitability and growth.

This transition is not only inevitable but imperative in the light of current business realities and the onus is on NNPC to deliver on its statutory mandate.”

He added: “We have a collective responsibility to ensure the success of this ongoing reforms in NNPC. The task of doing so begins with you and me, by changing our attitude, particularly the way we work and do business.”

Baru encouraged staff to embrace a mindset that emphasises diligence, commitment and sacrifice, adding that it was not going to be business as usual.

He said in line with the mission statement of NNPC as an integrated oil and gas company engaged in adding value to Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources for the benefit of Nigerians, he would drive the 12-point agenda to actualisation.

“In the race to change the fortunes of our dear corporation for the better, I cannot do it all alone.

Therefore we are all in this together,” he informed his audience.

The prolonged investigations into her use of a private email server while at the State Department has fuelled public distrust of her and plagued her presidential bid.

But the Justice Department declined to press charges against Clinton for her handling

of classified information related to the server earlier this year, with FBI Director James Comey saying while she was "extremely careless," it was his judgment that "no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case."

In a 2009 email, Band directs Abedin and Mills to put Chagoury, a Lebanese-

Nigerian billionaire and Clinton Foundation donor, in contact with the State Department's "substance person" on Lebanon.

"We need Gilbert Chagoury to speak to the substance person re Lebanon," Band wrote.

"As you know, he's a key guy there and to us and is loved in Lebanon. Very imp."

"It's jeff feltman," Abedin

than the N395 on Tuesday.

The Central Bank of Nigeria intervened in the interbank forex market on Tuesday to help support the naira after it hit an all-time low of N350 to the dollar in thin trading on that day, traders had said.

The naira has been under pressure since the central bank floated the currency in June to allow it trade freely on the interbank market. The currency has been hit by a plunge in oil prices, Nigeria’s economic mainstay, which caused foreign investors to flee bond and equities markets.

The central bank last month told international money transfer operators to pay dollar proceeds from customer transfers into local commercial banks in naira, while selling the dollars themselves to bureau de change (BDC) outlets.

On Tuesday the central bank pegged the dollar

transactions which banks can carry out with BDCs at $30,000 per week and set a margin for banks to sell dollar to currency outlets at not more than 1.5 per cent over the rate at which they bought.

The CBN hopes the move will help narrow the gulf between the official and black market rates and boost dollar liquidity, traders said.

The central bank set a margin of two per cent over the rate at which BDCs sourced dollars from banks as resale premium to customers and pegged BDC disbursement at $5,000 per transaction to cover travel allowance, medical bills and school fees.

The naira hit N400 against the dollar on the black market last week, weakened partly by dollar demand from individuals travelling abroad for their summer holidays, Reuters reported.

HILLARY CLINTON’S EMAILS REVEAL TIES TO GILBERT CHAGOURY were not previously handed over to the State Department

by Clinton.

The emails, many of which are heavily redacted, raise questions about the Clinton Foundation's influence on the State Department and its relations during her tenure.

In one instance, top Clinton Foundation

official Doug Band lobbied Clinton aides for a job for someone else in the State Department. In the email, Band tells Hillary Clinton's former aides at the department -- Cheryl Mills and Huma Abedin -- that it is "important to take care of (redacted)."

Band is reassured by Abedin that "Personnel has been

sending him options."

The emails were obtained by the group through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch against the State Department in 2015.

The Trump campaign seized at the new batch of emails, citing them as evidence of Clinton being corrupt.

S’AFRICA OVERTAKES NIGERIA AS AFRICA’S BIGGEST ECONOMY Nigeria has suffered amid low oil prices, while South Africa is sensitive to shifts in the commodity cycle.

“More than the growth outlook, in the short term the ranking of these economies is likely to be determined by exchange rate movements,” an economist at Exotix Partners LLP, Alan Cameron said.

He said although Nigeria was unlikely to be unseated as Africa’s largest economy in the long run, “the momentum that took it there in the first place is now long gone”.

Also, the Head of Research, SCM Capital Limited, Mr. Sewa Wusu, told THISDAY that the challenge of naira devaluation has caused a lot of economic challenges to the country, particularly with respect to the GDP. “This should give policy makers the drive to rectify the forex challenges. Of

course they have done their best by introducing a flexible exchange rate, but the issue is beyond that. The issue currently is about our forex earning potential.

“But I think the government is up to the challenge. I think we need a quick fix on the economy.

That would help to support the naira and strengthen the currency,” Wusu added.

But the CEO, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Johnson Chukwu, said the priority of the government should be to restore economic growth, saying that if growth is not restored, the naira would continue to depreciate.

“When the economy begins to grow, the currency would adjust appropriately. So the focus of the government should be on whatever it intends to do to restore growth. We are heading into a recession

and we should take steps to avoid depression.

“If growth is restored, eventually the economy would grow. There is no magic we can do for the naira to regain strength unless we restore growth,” Chukwu said in a phone interview with THISDAY. The South African Reserve Bank forecasts zero growth for 2016, while unemployment still remains above 26 per cent. In July, South Africa stepped past Egypt as the continents’ second largest economy in dollar terms, having dropped behind the North African country earlier in the year.

Meanwhile, the naira dipped to N317 to the dollar on the interbank forex market yesterday, lower than the N312.50 from the previous day. On the parallel market, however, the naira firmed up slightly to N394 to the dollar, higher

Continued on page 8

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN IKEJHOTEL 0.09 1.89 UPDC 0.18 3.90 INTERBREW 0.83 18.88 DANGFLOUR 0.18 4.17 WEMABANK 0.02 0.70 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN SEVEN-UP 11.64 107.86 CAP PLC 3.60 33.40 FIDSON 0.09 1.77 MAYBAKER 0.05 1.09 LIVESTOCK 0.04 0.93 HPE Nestle Nig Plc N825.00 Volume: 391.375 million shares Value: N3.395 billion Deals: 3,103 As at yesterday 10/08/16 See details on Page 48

% 5.0 4.8 4.6 4.5 2.9 % 9.7 9.7 4.8 4.3 4.1

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Four Officers, 16 Soldiers Court Martialled in Maiduguri for Gunrunning, Murder Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Four officers and 16 soldiers were arraigned by the Nigerian Army yesterday before a court martial for various offences including murder and the sale of firearms in the ongoing war against the insurgency in the Northeast.

Inaugurating the General Court Martial (GCM), with Brig. Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi as its president in Maiduguri, the acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Victor Ezugwu, said it was established to try offences committed by personnel within Operation Lafiya Dole theatre of operations.

He said it is public knowledge that discipline is the bedrock of the military profession and “to have a disciplined body of officers and men, there must be justice because it is when there is justice that discipline can be achieved”.

He noted that justice implies that infractions of the law must be promptly reported, investigated and the accused persons prosecuted within a reasonable time through the laid down rules, regulations and procedures.

Ezugwu said the court martial was convened to try four officers and 16 other ranks of the Nigerian

Army who had committed various offences within the Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole, adding that the court martial will be expected to achieve timely and quick dispensation of justice within the framework provided in relevant statute books.

“Therefore, it is important that both the prosecution and the accused persons or their counsels are mindful of this fact and strive to shun all forms of antics such as request for frivolous adjournments which could lead to delays in the trial process.

“It is often said in the legal parlance that justice delayed is justice denied,” he observed.

He asked the president and members of the GCM to dispense the assignment in accordance with the extant laws and ensure that their opinions and decisions on all the cases brought before them are not in any way beclouded by bias, external pressure or by extraneous factors.

Ezugwu said the outcome of the court martial must be based on careful appreciation of the whole facts of each case and the evidence placed before them in the course of the trial of the accused persons.

He also asked them to ensure that the judgment passed on the accused persons stands the test of the appellate court, public

Soldiers arraigned before the court martial in Maiduguri... yesterday opinion and above all, “that of the Almighty Creator”.

Speaking to journalists after the inauguration, Ezugwu disclosed that some of the accused were involved in criminal activities, which included murder, crimes against civilians, and illegal sales of firearms.

The GOC said over a

hundred soldiers had been tried and punished at the brigade level for acts of indiscipline and unprofessionalism.

He disclosed that there were little or no issues pertaining to indiscipline in the theatre as 15,000 soldiers had been awarded medals of excellence for patriotism and gallantry.

Speaking during the inaugural sitting, the president of the court, Brig. Gen. Adeniyi said the accused had nothing to fear, as they would be given fair hearing.

He said: “I must assure all especially the accused that they have nothing to fear, we are going to be fair to all of them. We will be

guided by the constitution and all other military laws. We would be fair and just. There are higher courts where the judgment here can be appealed. You have the right of legal representation.”

He however warned that the GMC would not tolerate any unnecessary delays.

UK Launches 24-hour Visa Service in Nigeria The UK has launched the Super Priority Visa Service in Nigeria to allow prospective visitors to Britain to process their applications within 24 hours.

The British High Commission, on its website, said the new service was targeted at meeting the needs of those who require urgent service to travel.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the High Commission quoted the British High

Commissioner, Mr. Paul Arkwright, as welcoming the introduction of the Super Priority Visa service in Nigeria.

“I am pleased to see the Super Priority Visa service being launched in Nigeria.

“This comes with an additional cost but is designed to give greater flexibility to our customers and underlines our strong commitment to make improvements to the visa services we offer.

“We expect this new service to be particularly useful for business. We understand that business opportunities and urgent requirements can arise at very short notice.

“We recognise this and want to facilitate such travel to the UK with this new super-fast service,” Arkwright said.

The High Commission said the introduction of the service allowed customers greater flexibility to choose

from a number of visa products to meet their needs.

“It is offered alongside our current Priority Visa (front of queue processing five to seven-day) and standard (15-day) services.

“The UK is the only European country to offer a visa decision in 24 hours.

“The Super Priority Visa service is aimed largely at key business customers and those needing to travel urgently by providing a visa decision for collection at the

Visa Application Centre the working day following submission.”

It said the service costs 750 pounds sterling in addition to the visa fee and would be available to eligible customers applying in the Abuja and Lagos Visa Application Centres.

The High Commission said those applying in the “Visitors” or “Points Based System Tier 4” are eligible to use the Super Priority Service.

It said appointments are available from Mondays to Thursday from 8.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and Fridays from 8.30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Abuja and Lagos centres only.

“Extending the Super Priority Visa service to Nigeria is another example of how the UK is leading the world in the provision of premium visa services for those coming to the UK to visit, do business or study.”

these documents, the fact remains that Hillary Clinton never took action as secretary of state because of donations to the Clinton Foundation," Schwerin said in a statement.

GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump sought to use the emails to paint Clinton as corrupt.

The Clinton Foundation was not part of the recent investigation into her private server; it was separate. The FBI went to Justice Department earlier this year asking for it to open a case into the foundation, but the public integrity unit declined.

The Justice Department

had looked into whether it should open a case on the foundation a year prior and found it didn't have sufficient evidence to do so.

Yesterday, Judicial Watch released written testimony from Mills, in which she provides further detail on how Clinton's private email server was set up to address potentially security concerns.

Mills told the attorneys she spoke with a Clinton IT staffer in 2013, after learning the email account of a close Clinton confidante, Sidney Blumenthal, had been compromised by a hacker.

"As I recall, these

discussions involved whether this event might affect Secretary Clinton's email," Mills said in followup answers to an earlier deposition given to Judicial Watch.

Mills also said she recalls speaking to the same staffer -- Bryan Pagliano -- about the company overseeing the server set up.

"As I recall, these discussions involved whether Platte River Networks would have the technical capacity and be the appropriate source from which to gather Secretary Clinton's email from the clintonemail.com system," Mills said.

HILLARY CLINTON’S EMAILS REVEAL TIES TO GILBERT CHAGOURY responded, referring to Jeffrey Feltman, who was the US ambassador to Lebanon at the time. "I'm sure he knows him. I'll talk to jeff."

Feltman told CNN yesterday that he never met with Chagoury.

"I have never met nor spoken with Mr Chagoury.

I was not aware of the proposal that he speak to me until this email exchange was released, but in any case we never spoke," he said.

Judicial Watch President Tom Filton said in a press release that Clinton "hid" the 44 emails on purpose.

"No wonder Hillary

Clinton and Huma Abedin hid emails from the American people, the courts and Congress," he said in a press release.

"They show the Clinton Foundation, Clinton donors, and operatives worked with Hillary Clinton in potential violation of the law."

Clinton's campaign said the emails didn't relate to her work at the Clinton Foundation.

"Neither of these emails involve the secretary or relate to the Foundation's work," said an emailed statement from Clinton campaign spokesman Josh Schwerin. "They are communications between

her aides and the President's personal aide, and indeed the recommendation was for one of the Secretary's former staffers who was not employed by the Foundation."

The Clinton campaign said yesterday that Chagoury only wanted to offer insights on the thenupcoming Lebanese election and was not looking for any specific action from the State Department.

"The right-wing organization behind this lawsuit has been attacking the Clintons since the 1990s and no matter how this group tries to mischaracterize

THURSDAY AUGUST 11, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

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

Sheriff’s Unyielding Stance Threatens Renewed PDP Peace Efforts Jerry Gana c’ttee considers compromise

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The end to the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is still not in sight, as the latest peace overtures initiated by the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) to broker a settlement with the ousted national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has failed to yield positive results.

Sheriff, who was expected to back down on his demands and accept to reunite with his party, instead stuck to his position yesterday, stating that the National Caretaker Committee was illegal and as such should be disbanded before peace could return to the PDP. At the close-door meeting with Sheriff, which started on Tuesday night and lasted into the wee hours of yesterday, the 18-member reconciliation committee led by Prof. Jerry Gana agreed to go back for further consultations on possible concessions to be made to the former chairman.

Sheriff is insisting that as a condition to end his fight against the party, the PDP must postpone the August 17 national convention, reconstitute the convention planning committee and ensure that a new venue other than Port Harcourt, Rivers State, be chosen.

He accused some leaders of the party of being part of the lingering crisis. The embittered former chairman agreed during the BoT intervention to make concessions and possibly end his struggle to hold on to office, but only if the process of easing him out of office is done in accordance with the PDP constitution.

“I say no to the convention in Port Harcourt on the 17th. The date and venue must be set by

all stakeholders and approved by INEC,” he said.

Also, Sheriff maintained that the governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, must not be allowed to chair the convention planning committee, while also calling for the disbandment of the Makarfi-led caretaker committee.

According to Sheriff, the caretaker committee is an illegal contraption unknown to the PDP constitution and must be disbanded.

“All forms of impunity and lawlessness must stop. The ward, local government and state congresses already concluded and approved by NEC must stand,” he said.

Earlier, Sheriff had expressed gratitude to the party’s leaders who initiated the peace drive, maintaining that the crisis in the party wouldn’t have arisen if they were alive to their responsibilities.

“If our leaders had taken their responsibilities seriously, we would never have had most of the problems we are facing today.

When a leader refuses to stand up to his responsibilities, there will be problems.

“Why am I saying this? Some of our leaders are parties to our problems,” Sheriff said.

He said that for the party’s crisis to be resolved, the “rule of law” must be followed.

“The moment we want to use one impunity to address another, it will not work,” he added.

Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Gana said that it was a fruitful deliberation.

He said the committee had taken serious note of the problems causing disaffection within the party.

“We are delighted that there has been a clear resolution on the determination and desire that the problems must be resolved, unity

Buhari Swears in Uwais, Abdullahi, Two Other Special Advisers Tobi Soniyi inAbuja President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated four special advisers and one permanent secretary at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The brief ceremony took place shortly before the commencement of ameetingoftheFederalExecutiveCouncil (FEC) which is presently ongoing.

Those inaugurated included the Special Adviser on Social Investment, Mrs. Maryam Uwais;

Special Adviser on Political Matter, Senator Babafemi Ojudu; Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu; Special Adviser on Planning, Tijani Abdullahi; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Rafiu Enikanolaye.

Uwais, Ojudu and Dipeolu would work through the Office of the Vice President, Abdullahi would work through the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

Nigeria May EaseVisa Requirement for Africans from 2017 Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has hinted that African travellers may no longer be required to obtain visas to enter the country from next year.

Onyeama made this at the Town Hall meeting held in Abuja, while shedding light on the foreign policy outlook of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

He said the visa free idea was

in tandem with the African Union (AU) which this year announced plan of a single passport and a visa free travel for all African citizens within the continent by 2020.

The proposal is to boost integration in addition to enabling free movement of people and goods.

Presently, Nigerians don’t require visas to travel within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) but still encounter tough visa conditions imposed by other

Cont’d on page 12

be re-established and for PDP to move forward,” he said.

Gana disclosed that there would be another session with Sheriff and that the committee was scheduled to meet yesterday to further deliberate on issues that were raised before getting back to Sheriff’s group.

Ihedioha: Sheriff Cannot Stop Convention

Despite Sheriff’s refusal to yield grounds, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has said nothing would stop the PDP from holding its national convention slated for Port Harcourt.

This came as the PDP in Rivers State absolved the state governor, Nyesom Wike, of any links to the Niger Delta Avengers or any other militia group in the region.

Ihedioha, who is chairman, Rivers State Ad-hoc Ward/National Delegate Congress Committee, spoke in Port Harcourt yesterday while addressing journalists.

He said he was in Rivers State to ensure peaceful ward congresses, which are actually part

of the process of the convention, adding that he was confident that the convention would hold.

He maintained that the party would not be distracted by agents of destabilisation, who are bent on going against the ideals of the party.

Ihedioha described the former chairman as “an interloper into the party”, but said the party would not be distracted by his antics.

“We will not be distracted. We will be focused and are confident that the national convention of the PDP will hold. Everybody is in speed gear; we cannot be distracted by agents that are against the ideals of our party.

“Sheriff is an interloper in the party. No one has the authority to say that he has cancelled or suspended the convention.

Decisions were taken at a national convention that was held in Port Harcourt. The party constitution is supreme,” he said.

Ihedioha alleged that Sheriff was acting out a script written for him by forces bent on ensuring that the PDP remained destabilised as a viable opposition party.

“You cannot stop a man from being an agent of destabilisation,” he said, referring to Sheriff, adding that the former chairman had promised to lead the party for only three months and wondered why he remains adamant at retaining the leadership of the party.

Also, the Rivers PDP absolved Wike of any links to the Niger Delta Avengers or any militant group in the region.

The state publicity secretary of the PDP, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, told journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday that the allegation was an attempt by the opposition in the state to tarnish the image of the governor.

Explaining that the governor was working with security agencies in the state to rid it of criminals, Nwanosike wondered why anybody would link Wike with the sponsorship of militancy and a militant group.

He said: “A few days ago, we read reports which went viral on the social media that Governor Nyesom Wike is one of the sponsors of Niger Delta Avengers. Our governor has

no relationship with the group.

“The governor is working with security agencies to tackle insecurity in the state. He has provided security gadgets and vehicles for the police. The governor has fought insecurity in the state. Those behind the story want to tarnish the image of the governor.

“Those behind this concocted story should desist from such and join hands with the governor to build a strong and peaceful Rivers State. The governor had no relationship with such group in the past, present and future.

“The security agencies in Nigeria have full details of those behind the Niger Delta Avengers and should act accordingly.

“Governor Wike has taken the battle to the criminals’ hideouts by demolishing their houses and shanties. The story linking Wike to the Niger Delta Avengers was aimed at ridiculing the governor and tarnishing his image, but it will not work,” Nwanosike insisted.

He expressed confidence that those behind the allegations would be exposed in due time.

FEC MEETING

L-R: Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari; National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Mongonu (NSA); Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Babachir David Lawal; and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, during the Federal Executive Council meeting (FEC) at the State House in Abuja...yesterday Godwin Omoigui

Fashola: Merger of Three Ministries Was a Cost Saving Measure Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has described the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to merge the Ministries of Power, Works and Housing which he manages as a single entity as a calculated measure to save the costs associated with running them independently.

Fashola said this at a ‘Town Hall Meeting and Policy Dialogue for Good Governance’ organised by the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (AANI).

He also noted that he was equal to the task of running the ministries, and comfortable with the merger decision of Buhari.

A statement last night from

the senior communications aide to Fashola in Abuja, Mr. Hakeem Bello, stated that the minister had in response to a question on the challenges he has running three ministries, said he welcomed the responsibility as it was a cost saving initiative by the president.

He added that he was pleased to serve his country in any capacity.

“Now, about whether I can cope with three ministries or not, on one hand, we have spoken of the high cost of running government and in trying to mitigate or reduce that cost, Mr. President, in his wisdom decided to merge the three ministries together.

“Now, two of those ministries have had a natural relationship over years. They were either works and housing or land, works and housing. In adding

power to it, let us also remember that the work left in lower is just to complete the privatisation and to complete the transmission grid,” he said.

He added: “The distribution is now in the hands of companies.

All of the work that NEPA used to do distributing power is now in the hands of 11 companies. All of the work that NEPA used to do generating power is now in the hands of six companies.”

The minister further explained: “Now, there is an agency called NERC (Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission) created by law made by people you and I elected. That is the regulator of the power sector now, in getting licenses issued and so on and so forth and a statutory company called NBET (Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading

Plc). So, all of these institutions are taking positions and evolving.”

He said: “So, my work really there is supervisory and directional.

And that is why you will see that in the ministry of works and in the ministry of housing where we have over 4,000 personnel in each ministry, the ministry of power has barely 800 staff now and the numbers are reducing as traction is being gained.

“So, it is no longer a government driven sector; it is now a government regulated sector driven by the private sector.”

Fashola equally said: “And if you still have any issue about that really, I think you should complain to Mr. President. For me it is a privilege to serve my country in whatever capacities I am designated to do so.”

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THURSDAY AUGUST 11, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

New Militant Group Breaches NPDC/ Shoreline Trunk Line in Delta Shell declares force majeure on gas supply to Nigeria LNG Ejiofor Alike in Lagos and Sylvester Idowu in Warri There seems to be no solution in sight to the crisis in the Niger Delta region as a new militant group, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM), yesterday claimed that it has breached a major trunk/delivery pipeline to the Eriemu manifold in Urhoboland belonging to Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and Shoreline Resources.

The militant group, which claimed to be agitating for the people of upland-the host communities to oil facilitiessaid they had been left out of previous negotiations between the federal government and riverine communities which host the same facilities in the past.

The group had announced its emergence last Tuesday with 48 hours ultimatum to all the oil multinationals still in the upland of the region-Agip, Total, SHELL, Mobil, Shorelines, NECONDE, E.D Western, SEPLAT and others to evacuate their personnel from the region, especially in the Ogba/Egi axis of Rivers State, Urhobo/Isoko/Ndokwa axis of Delta State and other upland oil producing areas.

It also threatened to blow up Warri and Port Harcourt refineries as well as Utorogun gas plants in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

To establish its seriousness, the militant group claimed that it brought down a major trunk/delivery line from Isoko to Eriemo manifold in Urhobo at about 2 p.m.

“As a mark of our seriousness and to prove we are people of our words, at about 0200hours of August 10, 2016, operatives of the NDGJM brought down a major trunk/delivery line from Isoko to the Eriemu Manifold in

Urhobo land, belonging to the NPDC/Shoreline Resources,” it claimed.

In a statement titled: ‘Operation Zero’ and signed by its spokesperson, Aldo Agbalaja, the group said: “One is down and countless more to go.

“The Central Operations Command of the NDGJM hereby announces the commencement of demolition and evacuation of the uplands tagged: ‘Operation zero’ to correct the wrongs that have afflicted our people for years, seek justice for the perpetually cheated and protect the identities of our people who are co-owners of the wealth which Nigeria has forever misappropriated,” it added.

The group warned operatives of the asset in NPDC/Shorelines not to effect any repairs on the breached trunk line until signals are given or else their personnel will be exposed to dangers.

“We would also want to use this medium to give a very strong warning to the operatives of the asset NPDC/Shorelines not to commence repairs pending when they get signals from us otherwise the inevitable may occur to their personnel as we have earlier warned them to begin evacuating the uplands,” it The group noted that the attack was just a glimpse of what would happen to other facilities penned down for destruction.

It declared: “This is just a glimpse of what is to come, there are several assets already penned down for destruction. This line of action has been made inevitable by an unjust system, which only responds to the violence, to the detriment of the peaceful and law abiding people.”

Media Manager of NPDC, Mr. Ugo Atugboko, did not respond to THISDAY’s enquiries about the incident last night.

He retorted that: “How do

Jail Break in Nsukka, 15 Prison Inmates Escape Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu No fewer than 15 inmates at the Federal Prisons in Nsukka, Enugu State, have escaped during a jailbreak that reportedly took place last Tuesday evening.

However, two people of the total number of those who escaped have been rearrested according to informed sources.

The Controller of the Nsukka Prison, Lawrence Okonkwo, confirmed the unfortunate development but could not provide the exact number of the inmates that escaped.

“There has been a jailbreak but we are on top of the situation.

“We are expecting the state Prisons Controller, Isaiah Amariri, in Nsukka prison so that we would brief him on what happened last night.

“He will be the one to tell the public the number of inmates that escaped, the re-arrested ones and efforts put in place to arrest those still on the run. It is not up to us to give those details,” he said.

It was gathered that the inmates

broke their cells and climbed the perimeter fence of the prison.

According to a source who spoke on grounds of anonymity, “The inmates carefully opened their cells and scaled the perimeter fence of the prisons to escape.

“Before the prison officials on night duty knew what was happening, about 15 inmates had escaped.”

Officials of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) were seen in some parts of Nsukka and its environs yesterday searching for fleeing inmates.

At present, fear has gripped residents of the university town over the whereabouts of the fleeing inmates.

A resident, Uche Arua, said “Since last Tuesday night, we’ve been living in fear because we don’t know what these escapees could do at the moment.”

He however appealed to the prison authorities to engage the services of other security agencies, including the police, SSS and men of the Civil Defence Corps to assist in going after the inmates.

you expect me to know. This is night time, so how will I know.

Maybe you should come over to the office tomorrow (today) and confirm.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s efforts to monetise her gas resources through exports have suffered setbacks as Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has declared force majeure on supply of gas to the Bonny Island plant of the Nigeria LNG Limited.

The 22 million tonne-capacity Nigeria LNG, which accounts for about eight per cent of the global LNG supplies, has longterm supply contracts with long term buyers.

The company, which buys gas from upstream companies such as Shell, Total, Mobil, Agip and Nigerian independents, also sells its liquefied natural gas on the spot market.

But a Shell spokesman, Mr.

Precious Okolobo, confirmed yesterday that the company has declared force majeure on the export facility on Bonny Island following a leak on the company’s Eastern Gas Gathering System Phase 1 (EGGS-1).

The statement did not disclose the cause of the leak but added that a joint investigation would ascertain the cause of the incident.

“The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) declared force majeure on gas supply to NLNG on 8 August 8, 2016, following a leak on the Eastern Gas Gathering System (EGGS-1) pipeline through which it supplies the bulk of its gas to NLNG,” Okolobo said in the statement earlier released by the company’s spokeswoman in London, Natasha Obank.

“The pipeline has been shut down for a joint investigation visit into the cause of the leak

and repairs,” the spokesman said, adding that SPDC continues to supply gas to the facility through other pipelines,” Okolobo added.

A source at NLNG however told THISDAY that the shutdown of the EGGS-1 pipeline would not stop exports of LNG as gas could be supplied to the plant through alternative routes.

But THISDAY gathered that exports would be impacted while the company rescheduled some shipments to customers.

NLNG produces 22 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG from its six-train plant and also manages 16 long term LNG Sales Purchase Agreements (SPAs) executed with 11 buyers on a Delivered Ex-Ship (DES) basis.

Some of these buyers include Spain’s Repsol, Italy’s Enel, Britain’s BG Group, France’s GDF Suez, Portugal’s Galp, Turkey’s BOTAS, Gas Natural of Spain,

BG LNG, Endesa, ENI, Iberdrola, Shell Western LNG BV and Total Gas & Power Ltd. According to the company, the long term LNG buyers take delivery of their volumes in receiving facilities spread across the Atlantic Basin in countries such as Spain, France, Portugal and Italy in Europe, as well asTurkey, Mexico and the United States.

The company, which ships an average of one cargo daily, has also delivered cargoes in recent times to the Far East, Middle East, South America and the United Kingdom through existing customers and via spot Master FOB agreements with several companies.

Gas volumes have also gone as far as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, India, Kuwait, Brazil and Wales, thus positioning the company as a global player in the gas market.

FACTS BEHINDTHE FIGURES

L-R: Company Secetary, A. G. Leventis (Nigeria) Plc, Titi Talabi; Executive Director, Capital Markets, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Chairman,A.G.Leventis,ChiefJosephB.Oke; ExecutiveViceChairman/CEO,A.G.Leventis,MichailEconomakis;and ExecutiveDirector,A.G. Leventis,AhmedMantey, attheFactsBehindtheFigurespresentationatthe NSEinLagos...yesterday

Ekiti Assembly Moves to Criminalise Free Grazing Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti To halt the rising wave of clashes between farmers and herdsmen in Ekiti State, resulting in the death of innocent citizens, the Ekiti State House of Assembly, yesterday, began a public hearing on the proposed Prohibition of Cattle Grazing Bill, 2016.

Stakeholders, who participated in the public hearing on the bill tagged: ‘Prohibition of Cattle Grazing Bill, 2016’ were: Security agencies, traditional rulers, officials of the Ministries of Justice and Environment, Fulani Community, Cattle Rearers and other stakeholders.

Fayose had during the May 20, 2016 invasion of Oke Ako, a community in Ikole Local Government, leading to the death of two persons pledged the enactment of a law that would bar free grazing in the state.

While addressing the participants in the hallowed chamber of the House of

Assembly, the Deputy Speaker, Hon Segun Adewumi, who presided over the session , said incidences of bloody clashes between the herdsmen and farmers in recent time had attracted government’s attention and that there should be an enabling law to halt the bad scenario.

Adewumi added that the bill when passed into law would protect the lives and property of Ekiti residents, saying the public hearing became imperative being an important and reliable way of seeking the opinions of critical stakeholders in the matter.

“This forum is for us to aggregate the opinions of stakeholders to address sensitive areas of the bill. The major assignment before this gathering is to critically examine the bill from all sides and angles for possible amendments.

“Our hope is that the public hearing will help the quality of the bill and enhance its quick passage into law”, he said.

The Legal Adviser, Jamu Nate

Fulbe Association of Nigeria, Mr Umar Imam , said though the body is not opposed to the passage of the bill, but urged the lawmakers to reconsider its stand on the barring of night grazing .

Imam urged the assembly to mandate those that will move their cattle at night to get permission from the state government, saying compelling situations could make them embark on movement at night.

He disagreed with section 2(1) and 2 which suggested that designated ranches will be provided by the government to restrict the cattle to a portion , saying this will lead to the death of the cattle of his clients.

Concerning the barring of the herdsmen from carrying arms like knife, catapult and Dane gun in the proposed bill, Imam said the country has enough laws guiding the carrying of firearms, saying enacting another law could run contrary to the provision of the constitution.

The representative of

Cattle Rearers’ Association of Nigeria, Ekiti chapter, Alhaji Mohammed Zaiyannu urged the lawmakers to take provision for the formation of a vigilante group comprising members of all critical stakeholders and security agencies to be able to arrest those that are wreaking havoc on farmlands at night.

The Elemure of Emure Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo, who represented the Council of Traditional Rulers, said what the monarchs were interested in is peaceful co-existence between the farmers and the cattle rearers.

He said the traditional rulers in the state are particularly miffed by the manners of killing and wanton destruction of property by evil doers under the guise of cattle rearing, saying this bill will help in stemming the tide of these criminality.

The Deputy speaker promised that the assembly will expedite action on the passage of the bill for Governor Fayose to assent to it in due course.

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THURSDAY AUGUST 11, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Oshiomhole, Ex-PDP Govs Clash over Economy, Naira Devaluation Duke: Today’s politicians are jobbers, budget ‘padders’ Babangida: People are crying in the markets, streets Paul Obi in Abuja Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday clashed with former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, and former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, over the poor performance of the economy and free fall of the naira against other currencies especially the dollar.

The political fireworks and exchanges which took the shape of disagreement on policies of the two major political partiesPeoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC)-pitched Duke and Aliyu on one side against Oshiomhole, who vehemently defended the policies of his party amid economic hardship.

The clash took place during the second public lecture organised by the Kukah Centre for Faith, Leadership and Public Policy with the theme: ‘From Activism to Political Power: the Challenges of Democratic Governance in Nigeria’ and moderated by the founder and Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Hassan Kukah.

The Edo State governor, who

spoke as the guest speaker, rationalised the idealism that governs activism and the reality political office holders are confronted with when in power.

Oshiomole lambasted the previous PDP government, arguing that the looting spree that characterised the regime was the architect of Nigeria’s current economic woes. According to him, the consequences Nigeria is facing presently in the economy and the depreciation of the naira are results of the massive looting during the PDP era.

“We have to change the society where all you need to do is get your brother elected and get him around the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and he becomes oil marketer, do some papers and become a billionaire in the name of subsidy.

“We have to change that and that’s what this change is all about. There is always a time between decisions and consequences. What politicians did in the past are the consequences we are facing now.

“There’s always a time line

between massive looting of the treasury, transfer of defence budget to private pockets and take money meant for infrastructure. Spend $16 billion on light; the more money you spend, the more darkness,” he stated.

Oshiomhole, while speaking further on the new minimum wage, said: “We should demise the idealism. To be an activist does not mean being progressive.

What I question is that you cannot have centralised system of compensation for governors, chairmen and councilors.

“So, if we have a national compensation, how can those governors turn around and question the national minimum wage?

“It is that discrimination that I found extremely offensive and unacceptable. No one can change society with individual activism.

“The idea is not to bring down a government but to defeat a particular policy. It was not my interest to bring down President Olusegun Obasanjo but to oppose some of the policies.”

In his remark, Duke, who doubled as the chairman of the occasion, took a swipe at the APC government and its change mantra, stating that the change campaign was nothing but a fake propaganda.

“Sadly, politicians in our society today are mostly jobbers and budget ‘padders’, advocating for themselves and not the society.

“They cleverly and surreptitiously apply the word change. I won’t use that word because as a member of the PDP or what is left of it, that word change ‘dey do me wan kind’,” he seriously joked.

Duke also questioned the sincerity of Oshiomhole as a labour leader during his days as Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) president, stating that his idealism then contradicts some of the programmes he championed as a governor.

Similarly, Aliyu tackled the APC government, governors and their economic policies, warning that such economic policies have increased the suffering of Nigerians.

Aliyu confronted Oshiomhole, who he said benefited tremendously from the PDP government only to turn around to ridicule the party.

He said: “During my time, we paid salaries in the North, and apart from Kano State, the rest 18 states are civil service states. The payment of salaries is very crucial in sustaining the

economy. This time, they don’t understand anything about the essence of salary.”

On APC policies, Aliyu said: “Please Oshiomhole talk to Governor Rochas Okorocha, tell him that civil servants were not employed to be farmers.”

He said though the governor can defend the government, the prevailing economic circumstance was biting the masses severely, adding that the governor should “go to the market, go to the streets, you will hear cries. I don’t understand this silence when some people are messing up.”

Some of the guests who graced the lecture were Prof.

Jubrin Ibrahim, Mr. Issa Aremu, Rev Fr. Emmanuel Ojeifo as interlocutors; THISDAY Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Kayode Komolafe; Prof. Kabir Mato among others.

Army Debunks Planned Boko Haram Attacks in FCT, Seven States

Say letter in circulation is fake Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Nigerian Army has debunked the circular warning of imminent Boko Haram attacks on various locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and seven other states in the country.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in response to enquiries, called on members of the public to disregard the circular said to have emanated from the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) office.

The circular dated August 5, 2016 and titled: ‘Plans By Boko Haram Terrorists Group to Attack In FCT and Other Parts of the Country, was allegedly signed by one Colonel A. Suleiman on behalf of the army chief, warned that terrorists “intend to target police stations and formations in Abuja, Kano and Imo States.”

Part of the circular read: “Information at the disposal of this headquarters strongly point to plans by Boko Haram terrorists group to attack various locations in the country. The targeted areas include but not limited to police stations, prison facilities, schools and market places.

“Similarly, schools that are being re-opened in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States are also at risks, in the light of the wide ranging plot by the group to cause large-scale destruction.

“In view of the above, I am directed to inform you of this imminent threat and respectfully request that you take all necessary

proactive measure to prevent Boko Haram terrorists from carrying out these heinous acts.

But Usman has branded the letter as “completely fake and must be treated as what it is.”

“There is no iota of truth in that letter and I want members of the public and particularly the media to disregard this letter, which content must be within the imagination of some mischievous elements,” he said.

“I don’t know why some media platforms will be in a hurry to carry such purported circular without proper confirmation. The bottomline is that what has been circulating on social media did not emanate from the Nigerian Army or COAS office it’s fake.”

This rumoured circular is however, coming amid rising tensions within the terror group over leadership disputes orchestrated by reported imposition of the former spokesperson, Abu Musab alBarnawi, as Boko Haram’s new leader,with Abubakar Shekau insisting that he is still the leader of the militant group.

Recently, both al-Barnawi and Shekau has promised to unleash unimaginable terror in the country, which the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed as a “mere rhetoric to stay afloat”.

Earlier, the United States Department of State has also issued security alert and travel warning to a number of states in the country including the ones allegedly being targeted by Boko Haram in the purported circular.

WEALTH CREATION CENTRE

L-R: Director General/CEO, SMEDAN, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda; CEO, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher; Head. Global Business Operations, YuuZoo Corporation, Mohan Das; and Group Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, during the launch of small and medium-scale enterprises arenabyEtisalatNigeriainpartnershipwithYuuZooCorporationinLagos....yesterday AbiodunAjala.

El-Rufai Attacks CBN, says It’s Flood Washes away Plateau Destroying Jobs Roads, Drowns 29 Cattle The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday decried the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) prevailing fiscal regime, saying the bank’s 14 per cent monetary policy rate has led to massive job losses in the country.

El-Rufai said the CBN risked losing its power to set lending rates for commercial banks unless it immediately addressed the situation, addingthatonlyunscrupulouselements could successfully operate under the current fiscal policy atmosphere.

“We have a Central Bank that has an MPR at —what?— 14 per cent and banks lending at 20 per cent. Only traders and drug dealers can make money at this interest rate.

“I have said it before and I will repeat it again, unless the CBN and the banking system make a conscious decision to bring interest rate down, one day we would legislate it,” El-Rufai said.

The governor’s comments, according to an online news portal, Premium Times, were delivered at a special edition roundtable organised

by Women in Business, a non-profit women advocacy organisation, in Abuja.

El-Rufai dismissed CBN’s perennial reasons for high interest rate, and used as expletive to express his disgust.

“The rate of inflation in the UK is not two per cent or 1 per cent. It is 7-8 per cent. But lending rate is at what one percent. I think they cut the interest rate last week.

“All these theories that the rate of interest must be above the rate of inflation is economic (expletive),” El-Rufai said.

“We must decide that businesses should be able to borrow at the rate interest that makes sense and politically lower rates to that level.”

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos At least 29 cattle were drowned on Tuesday following a heavy downpour that washed away several roads in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Farmlands and bridges linking the people of the area to the headquarters of the local government were not spared by the rainfall that lasted for several hours.

Member representing Jos East constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon Joshua Madaki, who lamented the monumental wreak caused by the havoc, told journalists yesterday that by disconnecting the council secretariat from the people and forcing residents to go through

Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State before they can reach the council headquarters the local government was in disarray.

Madaki solicited the intervention of the state government and other spirited individuals to rescue the affected communities by providing relief materials and to reconstruct the damaged bridges to enable the farmers move their harvests to the markets.

He told journalists that “the main roads connecting FoburFedere-Angwari at Keven are badly washed away by the flood, including farmlands; no heavy truck can pass through the area. Maza community road was also affected, disconnecting the people and rendering them helpless.”

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THURSDAY AUGUST 11, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

FG: Banks, Companies Must Not Lay off Workers Despite Economic Downturn Paul Obi in Abuja The federal government yesterday said despite the economic downturn, banks, other financial institutions and multinational must keep existing jobs and desist from sacking their workers.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, stated this yesterday at a parley with the National President of Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFE) and the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) in Abuja.

According to Ngige, to prevent further crisis, “We took a major step towards the resolution of the lingering retrenchment and other major labour issues in the banking and financial institutions with a crucial meeting with the sector’s organised labour unions, ASBIFFE and NUBUIFE,” declaring that banks and their employees must be ready to operate within the provisions of the Nigerian laws.

“The economy is technically in recession. It is therefore imperative for us as government to use various mechanisms to keep the existing jobs as we have done in the oil sector where cuts in perks

and allowances especially at the upper level were deployed. We expect same in your sector.

“It was the first of the threestage meetings with the sector’s stakeholders. Today, our journey towards the resolution of the industrial disputes in the banking and financial sector begins in earnest. You may recall the series of petitions from the organized unions in banks and financial institutions, and individuals complaining of unfair labour practices which include illegal termination of appointments, forced resignations, unpaid exit emoluments and entitlements, non-remittance of union check-off dues, prolonged casualisation, contract staffing and redundancy.”

The minister gave a short history of the disputes in the sector which compelled him to intervene and declare status quo ante-bellum on May 30, 2016, directing banks to reverse all termination of the previous four months while the unions were restrained from picketing the banks, pending the outcome of negotiations.

Ngige maintained that the misinterpretation of this directive led to an invitation by the Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions, which agreed that the ministerial directives were proper, and legally guided after his appearance with

the banks and the unions and commended his approach to the matter.

The minister further promised that his intervention was to resolve the disputes in the overall interest of all Nigerians.

He expressed displeasure with the skewed observance of the laws of the land by the financial institutions and warned that the provisions of the Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) cannot be the only law banks will comply with, to the exclusion of the laws of the country.

“Banks are not only to obey the Banks and Financial Institutions Act; they must also obey the all encompassing laws of Nigeria, especially the labour laws because the banks cannot function without human beings. So, both the banks, that’s the owners and the unions, the umbrella for the workers must conform to the laws of the land that guide employer/employee relationship,” Ngige said.

He said the federal government was conscious of the nation’s steep economic indices, hence, the emphasis on saving the jobs where government was constrained to create new ones.

He stated that government was not on a witch-hunt but was also prepared to ensure that all parties to the dispute obey the laws of the land, insisting that where retrenchment was inevitable at the end of negotiations, then, due

process of law must be followed.

ASSBIFE President, Sunday Salako, commended the minister for his forthrightness and dogged determination to defend the rights of all Nigerians irrespective of class.

“This is the first time, a Minister of Labour in this country, at least in recent time, will for once come out to say that the bourgeoisie that are taking we the workers for a ride in this country cannot do that again with impunity.

That statement alone is a firm new direction,” Salako stated.

He also listed unilateral declaration of redundancy, casualisation and non-remittance of check-up dues as the peak of the

unfair labour practices in the sector and expressed the commitment of the union to complement the efforts of the government to tackle the problems.

In the same token, NUBIFIE National President, Danjuma Musa, decried the flagrant abuse of labour laws by the bank employers, listing Guaranty Trust Bank, Fidelity, Standard Chartered, Stanbic IBTC as well as Diamond Bank as topping the list of defaulting banks. He told the minister that since his intervention, the management of the banks had resorted to hiding under the principle of “Appraisal” to give poor evaluation to workers they want to sack.

NIGERIA MAY EASEVISA REQUIREMENT FOR AFRICANS FROM 2017 African countries in other regions.

According to Onyeama, the policy will enlarge economic space for Nigerian people as 10 per cent of the trading is only among African countries, who mainly prefer formal trading with nations outside the continent.

“We are firmly in support of the African single passport and the proposed Free Trade Area in the continent from next year, which will enable Nigerian manufacturers

and entrepreneur to have a larger market for their produce.

Nigeria wants to extend the free movement of people across the continent beyond the ECOWAS as unrestricted movement of people will promote trade,’’ he said.

According to him, government intends to promote economic development in the country by attracting foreign direct investments in addition to promoting export and market access for Nigerian business men.

THURSDAY AUGUST 11, 2016 • T H I S D AY

13

NEWS

FG Inaugurates C’ttee to Review National Tax Policy

Asks c’ttee to expand Nigeria’s treaty network to include major trading partners

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The federal government has

inaugurated a committee for the review of the National Tax Policy (NTP) in order to make it

Ogun APC Holds Parallel Primaries for LG Polls Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta Ahead of local government elections slated for October 8 in Ogun State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yewa South Local Government Area in the state yesterday held parallel primaries to elect the candidates of the party for the elections.

A faction said to be loyal to the Governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun, held its primary at the local government party secretariat while other faction believed to be loyal to the senator representing Lagos West at the Senate, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, held its primaries at Oba Kehinde Olugbenle pavillion.

Adeola’s group produced an SDP returnee, Mrs. Bola Ajayi, while the governor’s group produced one Jimoh Taiwo.

It was gathered that the chairman of the party in the local government area, Tunji Idowu, led Adeola factional primary while other executive members were at the party’s secretariat.

Idowu, however, said: “Nobody is doing primary here, we are only doing congress, I am very busy and don’t have time now.”

The Assistant Organising Secretary of the party, Salako Samson, alleged that the party chairman was working against the party’s interest in order to favour the governorship ambition of the senator.

He said: “We were informed that there is no approval from the state to conduct primary in the local government area we don’t know where the chairman derived that authority to conduct primary in the local government area which is ongoing now.”

conform with global best practices as well as align with the nation’s socio-economic realities.

The committee, will among others, expand Nigeria’s treaty network with other countries to include major trading partners as well as review the existing Double Taxation Agreement.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who inaugurated the committee in her office in Abuja yesterday, said the move was aimed at entrenching an improved tax policy to effectively harness the much-needed resources necessary for the nation’s sustainable economic growth and development.

The committee, which has four weeks to complete its assignment has six terms of reference, including a review of the National Tax Policy document, and recommend a list of tax laws and regulations that need to be reviewed or amended.

It is also to make any other suggestions on the NTP with a view to facilitating the effective implementation of the document, recommend policy to ensure interagency cooperation between the Federal Inland Revenue Service

(FIRS) and other revenue agencies towards enhancing the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the federal government.

The committee chaired by Dr. Abiola Sani is to equally expand the treaty network of Nigeria to include the nation’s major trading partners and review the existing Double Taxation Agreement.

Another term of reference is for to ensure that tax laws are reviewed from time to time to minimise avoidable hardships to taxpayers “As keen as we are to grow revenues and improve our tax collection, we are equally determined to ensure that our taxes are simplified. The task of growing tax revenue must be pursued with a human face and sustainability in focus.

“The relevant unit of the Ministry of Finance will be strengthened to enable it play a more vibrant role in tax policy formulation,” Adeosun said.

History, she noted was made in 2012 with the introduction of the National Tax Policy, which contains a set of fundamental principles,

which should serve as guide or barometer in determining what legislative and administrative action the tax system may require.

She added that the Policy builds on the set of principles espoused by Adam Smith in his wealth of nations which include equity, certainty, convenience, and administrative efficiency.

“However, it is over four years now since the document was finalised without any additional updates and it is yet to be fully implemented. In a rapidly changing commercial environment with new business models, tax avoidance and evasion strategies among other activities, a tax policy can not be static.

“The review will be a continuous exercise, as a means of evolving with global best practices and keeping with the domestic socioeconomic realities. Government shall indeed remain committed to the continuous improvement of our tax system as part of a dynamic framework to enhance compliance,” she stated.

Adeosun said the current administration was committed

to diversifying the sources of government revenues away from oil, which is just 13 per cent of the economy but accounts for 70 per cent of government revenue.

“Our challenge is to ensure that the other 87 per cent of economic activity makes its own contribution to government revenue. An effective tax system is key to this and such as system must be underpinned by an effective and appropriate tax policy.

“Nigeria has one of the lowest tax to GDP ratios in the world at just five per cent There is clearly a pressing need for an overhaul of our tax policy and this is a key function of the Ministry of Finance.

“Businesses react to tax policy and we are determined to ensure that ours sends the right message being that Nigeria is open for business and is encouraging businesses with a tax system that is easy to understand and comply with.

“Areas of our tax code and laws that are in need of review will be addressed as part of this exercise as will modalities for simplifying our processes and reducing the tax burden on small businesses,” she assured.

Seven Months after Bayelsa Guber Poll, Amnesty International to Probe Electoral Violence Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Seven months after the Bayelsa State gubernatorial election was held, Amnesty International (AI) has said it will launch an investigation into the electoral violence that characterised the election, which led to loss of lives and also forced 600 persons into the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Southern Ijaw.

The representative of the international rights group, Attah Ikide, made this yesterday in Abuja during a public presentation of a report carried out by the Save Ijaw Nation Group titled; “Unreported Cases of Human Rights Abuses and 2015/2016 Bayelsa Governorship Election Violence.”

According to him, “I have not gone through this report, but if like he said, some of the pictures that we saw on the Internet are the pictures in here, then this is something that Amnesty International will take seriously.”

Ikide added: “When you contacted me, I immediately called our United Kingdom office and I informed them that there was a report coming out; what now happens is that when we have a report like this, we take it to our research unit and they will look into it and investigate it “It’s a long time I saw something like this in Nigeria, but most of the time, the reason AI will not take up some of the human rights cases in Nigeria is because some of those cases are not well researched, if you look at this report, it is well researched, a lot of pictures in here, witnesses, evidence, AI needs more of these things.

“This will be the first comprehensive report AI will be

receiving from southern Nigeria, so we are going to take it seriously, I promise you, I am going to take this to our people in UK, they will engage the Amnesty group here,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Secretary of the group, Mr. Olufemi Akindele, said that having realised that a lot of things were unreported, despite the numerous reports made by victims, and despite the numerous arrests made on the days of the election in December and January, the group took it upon itself to conduct a comprehensive investigation on it.

He noted that the report wouldn’t have been necessary if the federal and the state government had taken a decisive action to forestall further bloodbath in subsequent election.

Akindele stated: “We went back to Bayelsa State in February and we discovered that there were even Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bayesla and what was the reason? The communities were not invaded by Boko Haram, nor the conventional Niger Delta militants, we realised that these people became Displaced as a result of that same election that happened in December and January.

“We took it upon ourselves and we visited various communities where there were cases of violence, we had personal interviews, we took phone numbers, we took pictures and we did practical on-the-spot assessment of what happened between December 2015 and January 2016,” he added.

Akindele stressed that a total number of 200 opposition supporters could not be accounted for presently several months after the election was held.

I PLEDGE TO SERVE...

L-R: Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolui; Special Advicer on Planning, Alhaji Tijjani Abdullahi; Special Adviser on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojodu; and Special Adviser on Social Investment, Mrs. Maryam Uwais during their swearing-in by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa in Abuja....yesterday Godwin Omoigui

FG Says Broadcast Digitisation will Create Jobs Tobi Soniyi in Abuja The federal government has said migration from analogue to digital broadcasting will create more jobs for the unemployed youths in the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said this yesterday while briefing yesterday after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

When asked why the council was preoccupied with discussion on migration from analogue to digital at a time when Nigerians are reeling under hard economic condition, Mohammed said that the hardship was temporary and that government would not be shut down.

Apart from creating jobs, he said that migrating from analogue to

digital broadcasting would address the problem of piracy.

According to him, the council considered a memo on the migration in the face of the International Communication Union (ITU)’s June 2017 deadline mandating all countries in the world to digitalise.

Mohammed said digitalisation would also help in dealing with the menace of piracy and encourage the creative industry to prosper.

He said: “Already the pilot scheme in jos which was successfully deployed at the end of April is working very well and today those who are in possession of our set up boxes can view 15 channels with clarity in Jos and the highlights of today’s council meeting is that council reaffirmed its support for us to meet the deadline of 2017 June and directed that the

relevant ministries work together to achieve these deadline.”

Asked why the council chose to focus on digitalization at the face of hunger and deprivations in the land, the minister said “Yes, Nigeria might be going through a very difficult times, it doesn’t mean that we are going to be cut off from the rest of the world.

“Twenty years ago Ethiopia had a famine that ravaged the whole country they have risen from the ashes of that famine to become one of the strongest economies of the world. The fact that we are facing temporary problems does not mean that we are not going to be at pace with technology development all over the world. This is a global issue. It simply means that if we do not move from analogue to digital broadcasting, we may not be able to even receive signals on

your television.

“Again the government would assist to subsidise in getting the boxes but look at the job creation that digital migration is going to bring to Nigerians.”

On the advantages accruable from digitalisation, Mohammed said: “Look at the opportunities it offers our young men who are very talented to provide content to television stations. So, it’s going to impact very largely on the broadcast industry.

“Even piracy which has been a menace to us today, with digitalisation it means that musicians and film makers can release their films or records direct on digital broadcast such as video on demand and we are now going to cut off the entire pirate network which has been a bane to our creative industry.

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COMMENT

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

PERSON OR PEDOPHILE: THE MOLESTER WITHIN It is time to speak up and report cases of child sexual abuse regardless of who the perpetrator, argues Juliet O. Obiora

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tatistics from the US Department of Justice (NSOPW) 2014 proves that an estimated 60% of perpetrators of sexual abuse are known to the child though they are not family members. For example, a number of these child molesters are family friends, babysitters, child care providers and neighbours. Just about 30% of perpetrators of child sexual abuse are family members.

Furthermore, about 10% of perpetrators of child sexual abuse happen to be strangers to the child. However, not all perpetrators are adults— as an estimated 23% of reported cases of child sexual abuse are perpetrated by individuals who happen to be under the age of 18.

In third world countries like Nigeria where we practice the extended family system, it is unarguable that statistics of people who sexually abuse children are likely to be higher with people we know, and mostly people we care about, like relatives, family friends and even siblings, not the assumed stranger whom they have definitely been warned against.

Thus, this sadly leaves our children prepared for the stranger but not for the pedophile within. In addition to this fact, parents and guardians too seem not to envisage the possibility of a pedophile or perpetrator within and even in the event of realising that there is a pedophile within, they are forced to douse the flames of such an exposure or bury the secret.

Now, a number of reasons have been given for the dousing, most notable amongst these are the issues of trying to protect the child’s identity, whilst the second is said to be for “the sake of the family name”.

Now, I may be able to understand the issue of trying to protect the child’s identity. This is quite important in order not to exacerbate the trauma such a child will go through and also not complicate recovery. However, the challenge is the issue of “family name” and largely sounds ridiculous because even if one separates one’s child from the unfortunate scenario, it is not enough as dousing it would only allow a loose cannon to look for his next set of victims, vulnerable children who are at the risk of being sexually abused.

IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES LIKE NIGERIA WHERE WE PRACTICE THE EXTENDED FAMILY SYSTEM, IT IS UNARGUABLE THAT STATISTICS OF PEOPLE WHO SEXUALLY ABUSE CHILDREN ARE LIKELY TO BE HIGHER WITH PEOPLE WE KNOW, AND MOSTLY PEOPLE WE CARE ABOUT, LIKE RELATIVES, FAMILY FRIENDS AND EVEN SIBLINGS

Thus, it is about time we speak up and report cases of child sexual abuse regardless of who the perpetrator is to us.

We should always remember that our silence allows people who sexually abuse children to get away with it. Rather than speak up and expose such people, we become guilty as they, as we without knowing drive these pedophiles to further exploit vulnerable children.

Everyone needs to speak up. When we don’t take the keys from a drunk friend who’s about to drive, we’re risking that friend’s and other people’s lives on the road.

When we don’t question a friend’s sexualised comments or behaviours toward a child, we’re risking the well-being and future of these children. People who sexually abuse children normally take advantage of our confusion and reluctance to acknowledge discomfort. Our society at large needs to raise the discourse on sexual abuse and to learn what to do to keep children safe. The first steps are setting clear boundaries and limits with everyone involved in our family and social circle and speaking up when any of those rules are broken.

Often, most families whose kids were sexually abused wish that they had talked more openly beforehand with their children in ways that would have made them less vulnerable when someone tried to approach them sexually. Others sadly would rather blame the child for being sexually abused, thus encouraging such children from speaking out.

It is important to teach our children to get comfortable using words that pertain to their private parts as well as talking about it when they are made uncomfortable. When adults and kids have the right words, it’s easier for kids to tell us when they are sexually approached or harmed.

Shyness or embarrassment about sexual behaviours or calling out our private parts can also make it more difficult to talk with someone who may be acting inappropriately towards a child.

By speaking up, we can all help prevent and stop the sexual abuse of children and help rid our society of one more pedophile.

Obiora is the Programme Coordinator, Action Against Child Sexual Abuse Initiative

A LEGISLATION AS A PHOENIX

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The recent passage of persons with disabilities bill by the Senate excites the handicapped, writes Sanni Onogu

otwithstanding the principle proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations that recognises the inherent dignity, worth and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, it is lamentable that a segment of the Nigerian society still live on the fringes as a result of disability. It is an open secret that persons with disabilities (PWDs) often face untold hardship from day to day in the country. They are both discriminated against and stigmatised. Former President of the World Bank, Paul Wolfowitz once said that PWDs are people with extra talents. Yet, they are often forgotten.

“When PWDs are denied opportunities, they are more likely to fall into poverty.

As long as societies exclude those with disabilities, they will not reach their full potential and the poor in particular will be denied opportunities they deserve,” he said.

The plight of PWDs in the country is further aggravated due to lack of appropriate laws to ensure their full social integration into society particularly through provision for their economic, social, educational, emotional and psychological needs. To bridge this yawning gap, a bill to provide for the comprehensive care for disabled persons in the country was passed by the National Assembly during the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. The passage of the bill then was hailed by PWDs, advocacy groups and development partners as a step in the right direction. However, the bill titled: “A Bill to Ensure Full Integration of Persons with Disabilities into the Society and to Establish a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and Vest it with

the Responsibilities for their Education, Healthcare, Social, Economic and Civil Rights (Establishment, etc)” never received the assent of the former president required to make it a law. Although, the 6th and 7th National Assembly also passed the bill and sent it for mandatory assent, former President Goodluck Jonathan, either by omission or commission, also failed to sign the bill into law thereby putting the plight of over 19 million Nigerians who suffer one form of disability or the other in precarious circumstances.

However, in its efforts to ensure that the rights of 19 million Nigerians are not left in limbo, the 8th Senate reintroduced and once again passed the Disability Bill in June 2016. What is required for the bill to be sent to the president for assent is the concurrence of the House of Representatives. It is worthy of note that the recent passage of the bill by the Senate has continued to excite PWDs in the country as their hope of the bill becoming law under this administration has again been rekindled by the Senate.

It could be recalled that a delegation of PWDs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Niger Delta region recently paid a thank-you visit to the leadership of the Senate for once again passing the bill.

Senate President, Dr, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, while receiving the group said the swift passage of the disability bill by the 8th Senate underscores the passion and burning desire of the current National Assembly to ensure that all Nigerians are treated equally irrespective of their status in life. Saraki said: “Let me give thanks to God for making this day possible because I remember that when you came earlier, we made a promise that we will ensure that we pass the Disability Bill as soon as possible and we thank God that with the support of everybody here, the 8th Senate

has been able to fulfill that promise. I want to assure you that by this prompt action of passing this Disability Bill, it will send a clear message across that all of us here as senators and the entire National Assembly, do not believe that because of one disability or the other, you are any different from any other Nigerian. We will continue to fight to ensure that you have the same rights as any other Nigerian and that matters that concern you concern us; and that issues that concern you get prompt attention.”

To ensure the utilitarian implementation of the all-encompassing provisions of the bill, a commission, as proposed in the bill, would be set up to coordinate and implement the provisions of the bill when signed into law. Chairman, Senate Joint Committee on Sports and Youth Development, Poverty Alleviation and Social Welfare, Senator Obinna Ogba, while presenting the report of the committee to the Senate in plenary, justified the importance of the commission when he stated that the panel is not unaware of the fiscal policy of the present administration, “especially the need to reduce bureaucracy”. He said the establishment of the commission has become imperative as it would give the disabled persons the desired recognition and protection. He said the commission is also envisaged to be modest and easy to manage. The main objective of the bill, he said, is to enact a law for the social protection of persons with disabilities against any discrimination that they may suffer from and also to establish a national commission for the disabled persons that will be responsible for their education, healthcare, social, economic, and civil rights as contained in Sections 15 (Political objective), 16 (Economic objective), 17 (Social objective), and 33 (Right to life) both under the directive principles of State

Policy and Fundamental Rights in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

He however lamented that persons in this category are daily confronted with several challenges, chief among which is marginalisation and discrimination as a result of their impairment. He contended that without necessary legislation, the challenges which are widespread would be difficult to ameliorate or eradicate.

According to Senator Ogba, part one of the bill, provides for prohibition of discrimination and harmful treatment and any offender of this section is liable to a fine of N1million for corporate organisations or N100, 000 for individuals; and six months imprisonment or both. Part three, talks about the accessibility to physical structures and makes it mandatory for public buildings, roads, walk-ways and others to be constructed in such a way that a PWD can access them like every other person without let or hindrance.

Offenders here are punishable with a fine or imprisonment or both.

The bill also gives the right of first refusal in queues and emergencies to PWDs and condemns the act of using a person with disability for alms begging.

Interestingly, the bill says PWDs should be encouraged to participate in politics and public life. Besides, the proposed law provides for the establishment of a commission to oversee the full implementation of its provisions to the benefit of PWDs. Section 33 (1) says: “There is established a body to be known as the National Commission for persons with disability (in this Bill referred to as “the Commission”) to be placed under the Presidency. It stipulates that there shall be a board which shall conduct the affairs of the Commission.”

Onogu is Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President

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EDITORIAL NIGERIA AND THE 2016 RIO OLYMPICS

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The ghosts of the past once again embrace the preparations for the games

n one of those extraordinary stories for which Nigeria has become familiar, especially in the football world, the Under-23 national team, popularly called the Dream Team, last Friday defeated the Japanese side five goals to four at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil. Typically, the team had been stranded in the United States for days, following flights cancellation over money matters, before eventually taking off on the morning of the game. The squad landed in Brazil less than seven hours before the match which they went on to win. Last Sunday night, the team qualified for the quarterfinals by defeating Sweden in their second match.

Like the previous competitions, the preparation of our country for the 2016 Rio Olympics which opened last Friday amid pomp was to say the least, lousy. Former athlete, Mary Onyali, summed up the situation last month when she said: “We have failed to plan to win: we want to win and then plan, and it is not possible. When other nations are planning to win, we are praying. It is IN THIS AGE OF GLOBAL going to be a tough ECONOMIC TURMOIL, IT battle because you IS COMFORTING THAT don’t pick a medal.”

SPORTS STILL PROVIDE Table tennis player, THAT ELIXIR AND Segun Toriola, who ENTERTAINMENT FOR is making history THE WHOLE WORLD TO with his seventh COME TOGETHER AS A Olympics in Brazil, COMMUNITY OF HUMAN also added his voice FAMILY at the time: “I don’t think we have ever had it so bad.”

However, the competitions have started and we can only wish Team Nigeria well. In this age of global economic turmoil, it is comforting that sports still provide that elixir and entertainment for the whole world to come together as a community of human family. Indeed,

T H I S DAY

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

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the spirit of the Olympics dates back to ancient Greece when wars were suspended so that the city states could come together and compete. That is what is now being recreated as thousands of athletes from all over the world aspire to win gold, silver and bronze medals in a ritual that happens every four years.

Since the 1952 Games in Helsinki, Finland, Nigeria has been taking part in the Olympic Games with mixed results. In the 15 games our country has participated in (it would have been 16, but Nigeria pulled out of the 1976 Montreal Games in protest over New Zealand’s hobnobbing with then apartheid South Africa), Nigeria has won a total of 23 medals, mostly in athletics and boxing. The nation’s most successful Olympics participation to date remains Atlanta’96 in the United States where we won two gold medals, one by the football team and the other

by Chioma Ajunwa, now a respected senior police officer.

However, while we hope for a successful outing for our athletes, the fact that their build up to the 16-day sporting fiesta in Brazil was shoddy once again brings to the fore the recurring issue of funding whenever the nation is preparing for a major tournament. For the Rio Olympics, money was released when the games were months away.

If the money was released much earlier, perhaps as early as last year, it would have gone a long way in properly preparing Team Nigeria athletes for the current Olympic Games. With that also, the athletes would have left for Brazil confident that they would do well.

Notwithstanding this anomaly which we hope government will address in future competitions, we urge Team Nigeria to do their best, while comporting themselves in such a manner that will not expose the country to ridicule and scandal as has been the case in some previous games. We wish all the Nigerian athletes and their officials a successful outing at the Rio Olympics.

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CURTAILING THE MENACE OF CHILD ABUSE

he spate of child abuse in the country sadly captures societal disregard and disrespect for the rights of the Nigerian child. It is sad to observe that the Nigerian child is not safe as he is exposed to danger, sexual abuse, exploitation, stigmatisation, domestic abuse and lots more.

Unfortunately, these children are abused by their parents and family members, who are meant to be the first line of protection for them. Child abuse is the physical, mental or sexual assault of a child by the parents or any other adult. It is the violation of the right of the child.

Recently, there has been a rise in the degree of mental and physical abuse of children. A father with the connivance of his wife allegedly chained his nine years old son in a room for more than a month, for allegedly stealing meat from the family’s pot of soup. The boy was left to starve without food or water; by the time he was discovered by government officials he had become extremely weak.

Similarly, another father allegedly beat his 13 years old son and in the process, ruptured his intestine. The medical report

showed that the boy suffered generalised body pains with abdominal swelling and hyperemia, following the beating. A comprehensive assessment of the abuse with the aid of abdominal ultrasound scan revealed free peritoneal fluid ascites and punctured viscus. These are injuries medically proven to be life threatening, ironically inflicted by a father on his son. In the same vein, the private parts of an 11 years old girl was burnt with hot pressing iron by her mother for coming home late from school, in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

These are signs of a dysfunctional society where homes are no longer a safe haven of love, protection and care. A situation where people can no longer differentiate between punishment, correction and total disregard for a child’s right. It is sad to note that the rate of these forms of abuse is increasing on a daily.

Corporal punishment, which is described as “punishment of a physical nature such as canning”, is another form of child abuse that is rampant in our society. Though the term mainly relates to children being punished at school, it also refers to children being punished at home.

There is a need to draw a line of distinction between abuse and corporal punishment as thousands of children are abused daily under the guise of punishment. Some children have lost their lives in the process while some have been maimed for life. Any punishment or correction that threatens the life, health or wellbeing of a child is an abuse. These forms of punishments are unacceptable, illegal and punishable under the law. Punishment that inflicts pain, emotional and mental torture as well as physical abuse is criminal.

Hence, it is pertinent to observe that there are no strong guidelines or laid down policies, regarding corporal punishment and children, like it is done in developed countries, thus, the flagrant abuse of children in African traditional societies.

It is also important to note that this form of abuse has become widespread in schools, primary and secondary schools especially.

It is, indeed, disheartening, because it is happening in an informed environment where it is believed that, as educationists, they should know better.

A situation where a child was slapped several times by different teachers in

the spate of minutes for an altercation with other students is an abnormally. To compound the case, the child was reportedly beaten up by teachers with marks all over her body.

Often, teachers don’t only violate pupils’ right but also encourage senior students to prey on younger and weaker students, victimising them in the process, thereby building and encouraging the culture of violence as senior students are empowered to get physical and discipline their junior ones by engaging in corporal punishment.

These weird and vindictive punishments meted out by parents, guardians and teachers on children are outrageous and need urgent attention by all tiers of governments, religious organisations, child rights activists and other stakeholders. It has been argued that hitting at children in the bid to correct them is counterproductive in the long run as such punishments do not have to be physical before they become correctional.

The Child Rights Act clearly forbids battery, physical assault and abuse in any form.

Temilade Aruya, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Lagos

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POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

Adeniran: PDP is Suffering from an Image Deficit A chairmanship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party from the South-west and member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Professor Tunde Adeniran has said for the party to retake power in 2019, it must be purged of certain flaws and reform its image. He spoke with Onyebuchi Ezigbo. Excerpts: Why are you interested in the PDP chairmanship seat?

The PDP had a vision and a mission why it came to be and so much has been done to really get it across to every nook and cranny of this country to make it the party of choice of the Nigerian people and so much has been done to sustain it. But in the past few years, it has been brutalized; it has been sabotaged and of course, there is a very worrisome devaluation of the party. We believe at this point, it doesn’t make sense just standing-by and watching.

It is just like when you have a baby and the baby is dying of certain illness or sickness that has been properly diagnosed and requiring care.

We believe that by the grace of God when we take over the leadership of the party, we can turn things around and transform it to ensure that we do those things that need to be done.

At the end of it, we would be able to get the party back to the people.

There are three basic problems in the party: lack of internal democracy, disorientation and of course, terrible image that it has acquired as a result of acts of commission and omission on the part of the leadership. We believe that there is need at this point to take it over to restore the dignity of the party. There is need at this point to broaden the base of political participation so that there would be inclusiveness and quality leadership.

We have been experiencing a lot of problems in the past which were caused by this lack of internal democracy and of course, we made necessary noise at that time. We drew attention to the problems we were having and the likely consequences and here we are now. These are avoidable disasters that are just waiting to happen and there is no way in which when you are going in a particular direction you will not end up in a particular destination. That is the

I see some elements of conceptual confusion in this. I see the PDP as a party out of power and getting back to power is doing the right thing to get back. There is no way we can continue to do some of the things we are doing in the past and hope to get back to power. We need to get our acts together.

There is this image hangover. We need to reposition ourselves…

The image has to change

due to the fact that I have committed myself totally to serving Nigeria over the past few decades but more because I have had the privilege of exposure to every segment of this country.

Do you share the view that the PDP has not got the kind of cohesion required to launch the kind of attack the APC used to dislodge it from power?

I don’t at all because people describe us as an opposition party. I see some elements of conceptual confusion in this. I see the PDP as a party out of power and getting back to power is doing the right thing to get back.

There is no way we can continue to do some of the things we are doing in the past and hope to get back to power. We need to get our acts together. There is this image hangover. We need to reposition ourselves.

The image has to change; the face of PDP must change and of course, we have to rebrand and ensure we go all out to convince those who left before to come back and more importantly, there are some people that are not participating – who are just voters and all that is needed are programmes and policies we are going to bring out that will change and transform things and if you have a born again PDP, we would be able to get there.

Adeniran...I’m the best man for the job

fate of the PDP today.

We believe we really have to come in to give a worthy legacy that the people and youths that firmly believe in the party can be proud of and so, we should hand over to them a credible party that has a place in Nigeria and a party that is really a political party and not just coming together of some group for just electoral purposes.

How can the party achieve peace and move ahead with the convention?

Well, there would be peace in the party very soon. Some of the issues that are coming up now are natural development – that is, robust politics because it is unfortunate that there have been some misunderstanding in the past. Once these issues are resolved we will now be able to move forward. The contending factions and forces are part of what you see happen but frankly speaking, the party has enough human resources to think through those issues and resolve them. These issues will be resolved.

They are not legalistic, they are political issues and political solutions will be sought.

If we just rely on legality and going to court and so on, some other issues will be coming over and over but I believe in the integrity of the leadership of party and I believe that they will put heads together and will find solution.

It is just a matter of time.

I believe the leadership of the party will really resolve it. The convention in terms of whether it would hold or not, the convention would be held and everyone would be brought on board. Those people who are taking the case to court are members of the party, the entire party is involved in this thing and we will all come together to resolve our differences and move forward.

Do you feel there are external forces behind the issues in PDP? When you see this type of situation, there is always that tendency for some others to come in

and try to play some roles because some would see it as being in their interest to create more problems to add to the problem of the party because as far as they are concerned, they see themselves as beneficiaries of whatever goes wrong in the party. So, it is important to be mindful of this and that is why we have been appealing to all our people not to let other interest dictate the direction of what happens to the party.

Those who believe that by instigating internal opposition that they are going to benefit from it they are going to be disappointed at the end because our people are mindful of what is going on and we are taking necessary action to ensure that our people are not subjected to the manipulations of these external forces that believe or expect to benefit from any crisis in the PDP. What are your chances considering other interests from the South west?

My chances are very bright due to what I regard as the grace of God and I am a founding member of the PDP. In the entire South-west, I was the first to convene and to host the meeting of the PDP at my hall in Ibadan. Apart from that, by the grace of God, today, I can say quite clearly that I am one leader from the zone who has never lost his polling booth, his ward, and has never lost his constituency in any election from 1999 till today. It is by the grace of God and I thank God for it and I have never at any moment at any time even thought of ever leaving the party.

I have been consistent and it is by the grace of God and people know this and they appreciate it and because of the widespread reception and the encouragement that I have got over the past few months that give me the conviction that there would be no problem in my candidacy, which enjoys local support.

Apart from the local support that it enjoys across Nigeria, it is also a candidacy that enjoys popular reception and support and this is not

Do you think that the National Chairman of the party at this time will have any influence over who gets the ticket in 2019?

I think the problem is that we seem to be living in the past and we feel that what used to happen will happen again, when you have maybe a cabal or some individuals with distorted disposition, who will just determine this and this is what is going to happen. We are putting an end to the era of imposition. It is imposition that got us to where we are right now. So, for someone to think or assume that a chairman will personally determine the candidates that would emerge in 2018, 2019 and so on, I think it is presumptuous.

What we are trying to do is to get a situation whereby power will really belong to the people.

The kind of initiative that would be put in place is that whoever, nationally or wherever must be able to demonstrate support down to the grassroots. We are going to use an inclusive thing. It is not a question of a type of leadership that would be pocketed by an individual or a group of individuals. There would be transparency, there would be accountability and more importantly, like I said earlier on, we have to broaden the space of participation.

The South-west is interested in the chairmanship and at the same time, it is interested in the vice-presidential ticket in 2019. How do you balance this?

There is no problem about it. By the time we get to the convention by the grace of God, I would be elected the National Chairman. If some people are also interested in the Vice Presidential slot or whatever it is when we get to that stage, it would be looked into and then it would be cleared because there would be justice, fairness and equity.

Those are the things that the party must stand for and of course, if there is going to be unity we must also be united in terms of the purposes that we stand for. So, by the time we get to that stage, we would look into it. There is nothing wrong in anybody expressing their wishes or desire but it is important to do the right thing at the right time.

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

19

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

INTERVIEW

‘Issuance of Certificate of Return to Ogah Preposterous’ Dr. Adewale Omirin, a medical doctor, is a former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly and a member of the All Progressives Congress. In this Interview with Olakiitan Victor, he said the Independent National Electoral Commission is creating more confusion through the issuance of Certificates of Return. He also rapped the National Assembly over the proposed legislative immunity for its principal officers. Excerpts:

R

ecently, the speaker of the Ekiti Assembly refused to swear-in a member after a court’s pronouncement that he was the candidate. Was that not contemptuous?

INEC is to blame for this because the commission has been causing unnecessary confusion in the system by arbitrarily issuing certificate of returns after the verdict of the High Court over election disputes. What I believe is that INEC ought to have waited until all election disputes are resolved by either the appellate or the Supreme Court before issuing CoR to whoever is declared winner through judicial pronouncement.

INEC started the confusion in Abia State by issuing Certificate of Return to Mr Uche Ogah through the verdict of the Federal High Court declaring him the rightful Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate for the 2015 poll in Abia State. This was rather preposterous and arbitrary. I am a loyal member of the APC, but the truth must be told for our nation to move forward. This has been causing serious tension in the polity.

I expected the commission to have waited until Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has exhausted all judicial options up to the apex court before taking such hasty step because that singular action is creating more tension and confusion in Abia. The same thing played out in the Ekiti State House of Assembly. Mr Toyin Obayemi contested the fielding of Hon Musa Arogundade for Ado constituency 1 during the 2015 polls.

Obayemi approached the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti and the court had on July 4, 2016 granted his prayers that he remains the PDP candidate and that he should be sworn in immediately. Almost immediately, Hon Arogundade went on appeal and rather than for INEC to await the verdict of the higher courts, he issued Certificate of Return to Obayemi.

Though I am not a lawyer, however, in my own opinion, the Speaker of the Assembly was right by not performing the swearing-in for Obayemi.

Instances abound in Nigeria, where the court had removed a governor at the Tribunal level and the governor was in charge until the Appeal or Supreme Court decided otherwise. So, INEC should stop playing to the gallery. It should stop creating tension in the system. It should allow stability and full exhaustion of judicial opportunities before issuing CoR. So, I want to say emphatically that INEC is to blame in this issue.

Is it proper for the principal officers of the legislative arm to enjoy immunity?

On the immunity being sought by the principal officers of the National Assembly, I want to believe that it was a plot allegedly targeted at derailing President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft war and for treasury looters to cover up their tracks while in office. The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara must halt further debates on the contentious immunity for principal officers of the legislative

arms. This is annoying Nigerians and if they vent their angers on them, they will not be able to withstand it.

I am sure that it takes 2/3 for any bill to pass through in the legislative arm, so the proponents can’t get this requirement because some of the federal lawmakers are opposed to it. Aside from this, Nigerians too are not happy and I know they will resist this vexatious bill from being passed into law. How can people be covering up criminality? You have nothing to fear if there is no skeleton in your cupboard.

There must be justification for whatever action we want to take in life, even if we are not occupying positions.

Let the federal lawmakers tell us any democracy, where such is happening. It means if Saraki enjoys immunity, his trial for alleged forgery and false declaration of assets by the Code of Conduct Tribunal would not have been possible. Now, Dogara and Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin are exchanging hot words over alleged padding of the 2016 budget to the tune of several billions of naira. Dogara enjoying immunity would make it difficult for him to be investigated by EFCC and prosecuted accordingly and this should not be allowed to happen.

Should we now fold our arms and allow people to continue to cash-in on opportunities of being in positions to cheat the system? If some Nigerians are calling for the removal of immunity for president, vice-president, governors and their deputies and some people are saying they want legislators to enjoy immunity, then something must be wrong somewhere. Some of the governors are hiding under the immunity to perpetrate fraud and all forms of criminalities.

To me, there is no need for immunity for lawmakers, it would be a total aberration if it is eventually granted and Nigerians will suffer for it in future.

As a former Speaker, how would you describe the budget padding allegation levelled against the Speaker of the House of Representatives? Is padding a common feature in the appropriation process?

You can’t compare the national and state assemblies in any form. The National Assembly enjoys almost 100 per cent autonomy while the state assemblies are controlled by the governors. That is why we are advocating for the independence of state assemblies, so that they can have powers to scrutinize the budget and whatever the governors do in the most appropriate way. Padding has been in existence for ages, but for the fact that President Buhari has zero tolerance for corruption, it has now blown up.

You could remember that when EFCC ransacked the House of Senator Iyiola Omisore over allegation of N4.7 billion arms fund he allegedly took from Col. Sambo Dasuki, it was revealed that the last budget was padded to the tune of N60 billion and that a sum of N2 billion was allegedly paid into his personal account. So, this is something that has been existing for a long time. But Nigeria can get out of this mess and the only way out is for all of

Omirin...Buhari is repositioning the country

us to join President Buhari to fight corruption.

The President is laying a solid foundation by his fight against treasury looters and I know by the end of his tenure, Nigeria will be a better place. Even as at today, perception of the global community has changed about Nigeria, because the president has been able to minimize graft. The issue of padding is an age-long crime and the revelation of Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin confirmed this assertion.

APC is mediating in the crisis between Speaker Dogara and Jibrin over allegation of padding.

Can such issue be reduced to party affair?

As a loyal party man, there is nothing wrong in the party brokering truce between two feuding party men. We have been in this country for long, there are problems the people thought would tear the PDP apart, but the party will rise up to the occasion and called it a family affair. So, I really see no crime in the party’s interference.

Although I am not saying the issues or allegations being raised should be suppressed or should do anything that can encourage graft, for APC leaders to have called the two dramatis personae and urged them to sheathe their swords, is a welcome development, because the party won’t wait until it is torn apart before taking actions. But if the EFCC or other anti-graft agencies later found Dogara culpable, then appropriate authorities could take actions against him. You could remember that the present National Assembly started on a shaky note and the time is ripe for them to put the issue behind them to prevent governance from being slowed down unnecessarily.

Are you saying that the independence of state assemblies will check corruption, because National Assembly enjoys same and despite that, there are allegations of corruption against them?

Autonomy of the state assemblies remains the best for Nigeria. When I was the Speaker, I was the vice-chairman of the Conference of Speakers in the South-west and during that time, I went round the whole six states in the South-west to sensitise them on the need to embrace the fight for autonomy. But I am afraid because with the way those governors are behaving it will be difficult for us to get there.

Lagos State Assembly enjoys some level of autonomy. It is being run independently of the executive. Let us look at what is now happening in Ekiti State House of Assembly, Governor Fayose upon assumption of office transferred all the staff of the assembly to other places and they were employed by the Ekiti State House of Assembly Service Commission. To the best of my knowledge, you can’t transfer officials of the assembly; they must start their career in the assembly and retire there.

Are you saying state assemblies won’t function without autonomy?

It depends on the caliber of people you have in the house. As we speak now, Ekiti has no

assembly because what we have are governor’s lackeys. Practically everybody is in acting capacity. The Speaker is acting, because the governor is the speaker, both the legislative and judiciary arms have been paralysed. Some of our Judges now perform secret trials and give judgment at night.

You could even see this vividly in their actions.

Recently, the EFCC accused the governor of stealing N1.299 billion from the arms fund and the speaker led other lawmakers to protest on the streets of Ado Ekiti carrying placards.

This is shameful. The assembly is to check the excesses of the governor by performing oversight functions, rather than doing this, they were carrying placards all about and this is unfortunate.

Look at the way they carried out my impeachment with only seven lawmakers out of 26. I had wanted to challenge the impeachment process, but I want to wait until Fayose completes his tenure, may be the courts in Ekiti will be alive to their responsibilities then. No one can get justice in Ekiti judiciary, where cases are being arbitrarily adjourned without reasons.

The Personal Assistant to the slain NURTW Chairman, Chief Omolafe Aderiye had come out to testify that the former RTEAN Chairman, Chief Rotimi Olabiwonnu had no link with his boss’ death, despite this, he is still being imprisoned. This goes a long way to tell you how disrespectful and unconstitutional Fayose’s government has been.

What do you think can be done for your party to win Ekiti in 2018?

Well, APC is on ground in Ekiti and we thank God that our leaders, particularly the National Deputy Chairman, Chief Segun Oni is settling the crisis that has to do with various factions in Ekiti. You could remember that we were together when Dr. Kayode Fayemi was in the office, but immediately he lost the elections, factions began to spring. Having factions in a party is not unexpected in a political party but it should not be to the detriment of such party, especially an opposition party like APC in Ekiti.

I thank God that our leaders are closing ranks and soon, we will have a united party that can win elections. Our followership is mammoth, but we need financial backing for us to hold meetings at the wards, local governments and state levels, I mean to keep them together. Poverty is really affecting us in APC because we are not in government and that is why we need federal government’s patronage.

I want to appeal to President Buhari to allot more federal appointments to Ekiti for the All Progressives Congress to bounce back to reckoning and reclaim the state from Governor Ayodele Fayose in 2018. As we speak now, only three have been appointed and they are the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; the Special Adviser on political Matters in the Presidency, Mr. Babafemi Ojudu and Mr. Leke Adu, who is a Special Adviser in the vice-president’s office. What can these three people do? We need more appointments so that we can have people to serve as rallying points.

20

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

Giving Hope to HIV/AIDS Patients in Benin The United States Mission in Nigeria, in collaboration with Edo State leaders, recently launched a $1 million programme to assist HIV/AIDS affected children and families.

Adibe Emenyonu reports

USAID Country Director for Nigeria, Michael Harvey (2nd right), presenting cheque one of the beneficiaries

B

ello Sylvester (Akoko-Edo), Felix Blessing (Owan West), Rose Egogo (Esan North East), Ewanshi Ekimado (Ikpoba-Okha), Simeon Imakhu Victoria (Etsako West), Abhulimen Patience (Esan West), Rose Uhunamure (Orhionmwon) and Omosivwe Eunice (Oredo) represented the over 2,400 vulnerable families affected by the dreaded HIV/AIDS in Edo State.

They are part of a generation in subSaharan Africa whose progress has been set back due to the fragile health systems that had given rise to a class of orphans and vulnerable children that most times government lacks enough funds to take care of them because of lack of basic facilities due to paucity of funds.

It was in view of this that the Edo State leaders had to partner with U.S. Mission to Nigeria to launch a $1 million programme to assist those affected by HIV/AIDS. Speaking at the launch which took place at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Benin City, the United States Consul General, John Bray and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), said the programme, funded by the U. S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through USAID would help lift out of poverty 15,000 families affected by

HIV/AIDS in Edo, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He added that each selected family will receive a cash amount to enable them to pay for school fees, purchase food and other

The programme we are launching today brings hope to 2,400 vulnerable families here in Edo State alone which is a model for how such programmes can effectively and affordably be put in place, so that other state can follow suit

necessities in order to become self-sufficient entrepreneurs.

Explaining that USAID partners to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing security and prosperity, Bray pointed out that through the agency's partnership with Nigeria, the United States strengthens social stability through social services, support transparent and accountable governance, promotes a more market-based economy, and enhances its capacity as a responsible regional and trade partnership.

"Since the inception of PEPFAR, the U. S. Government had made a point of focusing on children who have been most affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic," Michael Harvey, USAID Director for Nigeria said, adding "The programme we are launching today brings hope to 2,400 vulnerable families here in Edo State alone which is a model for how such programmes can effectively and affordably be put in place, so that other state can follow suit.�

In her welcome remarks, the Country Representative of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Nigeria of USAID funded Sustainable Mechanisms for Improving Livelihood Empowerment (SMILE), Rebecca Hallam Bassey, said the mission of the body is to assist impoverished and disadvantaged

people working in the spirit of Catholic social teaching to promote the sacredness of human life and dignity of the human person.

Besides, Bassey who was represented by Carrie Miller who is the Acting Global Health and Social Services and Technical Advisor for Health and HIV, Programme Impact and Quality Assurance for Catholic Relief Services, added that though its mission is rooted in the Catholic faith, "our operations serve people based solely on need, regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity."

She explained that the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishop of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe, noting that since then, the agency has expanded in size to reach more than 80 million people in more than 100 countries.

To this extent, she said since the year 2000, the agency has worked in 33 states of Nigeria implementing programmes in agriculture and livelihood, HIV and health, polio eradication, emergency response, governance, and peace building, adding that it has enjoyed excellent partnership with Edo state government since 2004 "when CRS implemented a community based care and support programme for people living with HIV."

21

• T H I S D AY THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

FEATURES

Another beneficiary receiving her cheque

A cross session of beneficiaries at the event

"Currently, CRS implements the U. S. Government funded Sustainable Mechanisms for Improving Livelihoods and Household Empowerment (SMILE) programme in Edo State which seeks to improve the wellbeing of orphans, vulnerable children and their caregivers," Carrie stated, adding that the cash transfer scheme of the U. S. Government being funded by SMILE programme being launched marks a significant milestone for the body as an agency of the SMILE project.

According to her, "We are delighted to identify with the social protection programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria which includes cash transfer as a major component.

We are hopeful that the scheme will improve

the livelihood outcomes of beneficiaries and be able to stimulate local economies through spending on consumption and investments in small businesses."

Explaining the benefits of the scheme, Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Aanena Jemitola Fulani-Ojo, said for the 2016 fiscal year, eligible households were divided into three Ps categories namely, provision, protection and promotion.

The household vulnerability assessment tool used by SMILE, she stated was to determine eligible households for enrollment categorises, households into vulnerability pathways based on the LIFT framework.

Furthermore, she said enrolled households fall into one of the three vulnerable levels which can be easily verified from the SMILE information system, noting that each of the benefiting households will receive either an incremental monthly transfers with a maximum lump sum cash transfer worth #20,000 uniquely for business investments.

"In Edo State, the scheme will be implemented with support for eight Civil Society partners across eight LGAs including AkokoEdo, Esan South-East, Esan North-East, Etsako West, Ikpoba-Okha, Oredo, Orhionmwon, and Owan West with a total of 2,400 households expected to benefit from the scheme in Edo State," Fulani-Ojo said.

In addition to the cash transfer, provision in a variety of basic services would be provided to about 46,206 vulnerable children and about 14,359 caregivers in 50 communities across the local governments which include health, education, psychosocial support, nutrition and households economic strengthening.

High point of the ceremony was the issuance of cheques to beneficiaries. Speaking on behalf of others, Eunice Omosivwe thanked USAID, CRS, Edo State Government for coming to their aid.

Omosivwe amidst sobs promised they will continue to make judicious use of of the funds made available to them to continue to improve on their wellbeing.

22

IMAGES

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

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

Outgoing Commissioner of Police Oyo State Mr.Leye Oyebada (left) and ln-coming Commissioner of Police Oyo State Mr.Damilola Adegbuyi during the handing over ceremony at the Police Command, Eleyele, Ibadan...recently FELIX ADEMOLA

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya(left) and winner of the Voice Nigeria Season 1, Agharese Emokpae a.k.a AĂ­rese during the courtesy visit of the eight finalists to Airtel Headquarters in Lagos...recently

L-R: Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mr. Adeyemi Olabinjo; Commissioner for Commerce, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye; his counterparts in Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Folorunsho Folarin-Coker; Special Adviser on Tourism and Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola and Senator Gbenga Ashafa, representing the governor, during the launch of One Lagos brand, in Lagos......recently

L-R President and Director General, Shell Gabon, Mr. Osa Igiehon; Winner of the Best Conference Paper and Lead, Petrophysics Discipline of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), Mr. Itua Osazua; and the General Manager, Development of SNEPCo, Mr. Goke Akinrinamade, at the Award Dinner of the 40th Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers held in Lagos...recently

L-R; Founder and General Superintendent, Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi; Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori and Chairman Osun House of Assembly Committee on Information and Strategy, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, during a great miracle crusade at Osogbo.. recently

L-R: Guest Lecturer/Director, Nigeria Internal Registration Association (NIRA), Mr. Adebiyi Oladipupo; Chairman, Photo Journalists Association of Nigeria (PIJAN), Ademola Akinlabi; Commander, Rapid Response Squad, ACP Tunji Disu and Sponsor/CEO, Technology Times, Mr. Shina Badaru during a one day training workshop for Photojournalists on the business prospects and opportunities in internet photography by Technology Times, in Lagos...recently KOLA OLASUPO

R-L;Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Education District Vl, Lagos State, Alhaja Amudat Anifowoshe ; CEO, X3M ldeas, Mr. Steve Babaeko and Director, School Administration District Vl, Mr. Olukoya Ayokunle at the inaguration of the lkeja High School Library donated by X3M ldeas as part of its 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project to mark the 4th year anniversar of the company in Lagos...recently

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

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BUSINESSWORLD NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

R A T E S

A S

3-MONTH 6-MONTH

19.1728% 21.6787%

20.50% 17.6724%

A T

NITTY 1-MONTH 2-MONTH 3-MONTH

Group Business Editor ChikaAmanze-Nwachuku Email: chika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com 08033294157, 08057161321

A U G U S T 13.24% 15.3016% 16.4276%

6-MONTH 9-MONTH 12-MONTH

5 , 19.5136% 20.8107% 24.6703%

2 0 1 6

EXCHANGE RATE N318.91/1 USDOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes IDC, Gartner Rank Lenovo Highest in PCs IDC and Gartner have announced their worldwide PC market share rankings for the second quarter of 2016. Lenovo maintained its position as the world’s #1 PC company with 21.2 per cent market share. The company continued to outgrow the global PC market, with particularly strong double-digit shipment growth in North America.

The President and Chief Operating Officer, Lenovo, Gianfranco Lanci, said: “Our PC business continues to be solid, balancing high market share with strong profitability. The latest quarterly results are a testament to the continued success of our Yoga convertibles, ThinkPad X1 family, detachables and Y series gaming portfolio. But we won’t rest on our laurels. Through customer-centric innovation and breakthrough products, we are focused on our 30 percent worldwide PC market share goal.”

Lenovo is a $46 billion global Fortune 500 company and a leader in providing innovative consumer, commercial, and enterprise technology. Its portfolio of high-quality, secure products and services covers PCs, workstations, servers, storage, smart TVs and a family of mobile products like smartphones, tablets and apps.

BlackBerry Launches Software Licence

BANKING WITH EASE

L-R: Executive Director, Personal Banking Division, Access Bank Plc, Victor Etuokwu; Executive Director, Commercial Banking Division, Roosevelt Ogbonna; Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe and Head, Digital Factory and Innovation, Olugbenga Agboola at the launch of the bank’s upgraded lifestyle solution, PayWIthCapture5.0 in Lagos...recently

Postmaster General Moves to Revamp NIPOST Stories by Emma Okonji The newly appointed Postmaster General and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Asiwaju Bisi Adegbuyi has declared that he will run NIPOST as a pure business organisation that will compete favourably with the best operators in the postal, courier and eCommerce industries.

Adegbuyi who reiterated government’s commitment to revamp the postal service during his first official visit to NIPOST operations in Lagos, said he was mandated by President Muhammadu Buhari to turn around the organisation

ICT and make it economically viable within a short period of time.

In order to achieve the task he was saddled with, Adegbuyi listed fresh strategies, which include the provision of digital tools that will enable staff members operate digitally with maximum efficiency, as well as re-training of staff for improved productivity.

He however warned the existing staff not to resist change, which he is about to introduce into the system, and called for their support and cooperation to succeed on his mandate.

We need attitudinal change

because we have to first change our attitude to work, before we can collectively change the system in which we operate, Adegbuyi advised staff members.

According to him, the old saying that government has no business in business should not be the case with NIPOST because government organisations that are being managed by government in other regions of the world are doing well.

“There had been underachievement and underperformance in the operations of NIPOST, because the morale of staff has gone so low, following the neglect of staff welfare for too long. But the time has come

for us to change and develop business orientation that will drive competition. I am a due process person and I will run a transparent government, so I need your support to succeed,” the PMG said.

“We must provide you with the tools that will make you work effectively. If you were supposed to operate digitally and analogue equipment became the only tools you have to operate, then you are not likely to achieve results as high as those operating digitally,” he said.

My mandate is to turn NIPOST to huge revenue-making Continued on page 24

FG Urged to Expedite Full Implementation of Broadband Plan The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the umbrella body of all computer professionals in the country, has called on the federal government to expedite the full implementation of the country’s five year broadband plan that was developed and submitted by the presidential committee on broadband in 2013.

The need to fully implement the broadband plan was part of the issues raised and deliberated upon during the 26th annual conference of NCS in Abuja recently, which was contained in the communique issued at the end of conference.

Presenting the communique to the media in Lagos recently, the President of NCS, Prof.

Adesola Aderounmu said the five year National Broadband

IT Plan (2013-2018), should be diligently implemented to spur economic growth and enable broadband deployment to achieve national safety and security. Aderounmu also emphasised the need for the immediate enactment of the critical National Infrastructure Bill, which he said, would help deepen broadband penetration.

Aderounmu who expressed concern over the slow development in broadband penetration in the country, said the full implementation of the plan would surpass government’s projection of increasing broadband penetration from its current 10 per cent penetration level, to 30 per cent penetration level by 2018.

He said availability of broadband would create additional job opportunities for youths, since broadband has the potential of enabling entire new industries and introducing significant efficiencies into education delivery, health care provision, energy management, ensuring public safety, government/citizen interaction and the overall organisation and dissemination of knowledge. He re-echoed the general statement that had been empirically proven that every 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration in developing countries, results in a commensurate increase of 1.3 per cent in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He further explained that the recession period currently faced by

the country, is as a result of the country’s inability to export products in exchange of foreign currencies, since the continued drop in the global prices of oil that hitherto was the main stay of the Nigerian economy. He maintained that sufficient broadband in the country would spur youths into developing software that could be traded outside the shores of the country in exchange of foreign currencies.

Owing to the importance of broadband in developing countries, the federal government in September 2012, inaugurated a Presidential Committee on Broadband, to come up with a national broadband policy and roadmap for the Continued on page 24

BlackBerry Limited a global leader in secure mobile communications, has announced the launch of a software licensing program for its Mobility Solutions business by introducing the BlackBerry Hub+ for Android.

A suite of BlackBerry applications, BlackBerry Hub+ makes productivity and communication on Android 6.0 Marshmallow smartphones effortless.

BlackBerry’s Mobility Solutions unit manages the BlackBerry smartphone business and development of device software offerings that includes maximizing the best of BlackBerry 10 software features and making them accessible on other platforms.

Announcing the new initiative, the Chief Operating Officer and General Manager, Mobility Solutions, BlackBerry, Ralph Pini, said: “An important initiative of the Mobility Solutions unit is a software strategy that combines BlackBerry’s strength in security, engineering savvy and device experience. The result is the ability to extend the best of BlackBerry’s secure communications and productivity features to any Android consumer, enterprise or government customer.”

“Our customers have always raved about the unique experience of our proprietary productivity apps such as the BlackBerry Hub, calendar and contacts, amongst others. I’m excited that we’re now able to offer these amazing features to all Android users that demand the most out of their smartphones,” Pini added.

LASACO Pays N142m Claims LASACO Assurance Plc has paid N142million to families of deceased workers of the Lagos State government as insurance claims.

No fewer than 71 families in July, 2016 benefited from the Lagos State Group Life/Group Personal Accident Insurance Scheme insured by LASACO Assurance Plc. The beneficiaries were families of the deceased in all Local Government Areas in Lagos State and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) The Lagos State Governor, AkinwunmiAmbode, said the welfare of workers of the state was a top priority of his administration. The governor who was eminently represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami, added that the payment was the second in the series, as the first one was paid in 2013. The governor said: “The government cares for the welfare of workers and promised that what is accrues to the families of the deceased will be paid to them.”

Foreign awards and recognitions should not be the parameter to judge the growth of Nigeria agencies Former Registrar, APCON, Dr. Josef Bel-Molokwu

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BUSINESSWORLD POSTMASTER GENERAL MOVES TO REVAMP NIPOST organisation and the way to do it is to provide the tools that will make us competitive.

The world is changing with technology and Nigeria is also changing, NIPOST must therefore change with technology advancement and the changes start will all staff members, including management staff and my very self, he added.

“I am aware that staff morale is very low because of poor condition of service, but I assure you that I will handle staff welfare in such a way that it will boost the morale of staff again,” the PMG assured NIPOST staff.

He however said there were challenges militating against the smooth operations of NIPOST in the past but assured the staff that the challenges were not insurmountable.

He promised he was going to create a platform where every staff could reach him, without any barrier.

I am a man with private sector orientation and I am business inclined, so I am going to use my skills and experience to turn around NIPOST.

FG URGED TO EXPEDITE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF BROADBAND PLAN country. The committee, which was co-chaired by the former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe and the chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, supported by 15 core Information Technology (IT) experts, submitted the broadband plan in 2013, which was adopted by government, but its full implementation has been an issue, a situation that has led to the crawling of broadband penetration since 2013.

The communique, which also raised other burning issues, called for capacity building of security agencies, the judiciary and related stakeholder in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), cybersecurity, digital forensics and related expertise to understand and combat the 21st century national security challenges.

Group Business Editor

Chika Amanze-Nwachuku AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Crusoe Osagie

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (Maritme)

NEWS

Nigeria Spends $4bn Annually on Imported Textiles, Readymade Clothings Dele Ogbodo in Abuja The Director General, Textile Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (TMAN), Mr. Hamma Kwajaffa, has said that Nigeria currently spends over $4billion annually on imported textiles and ready-made clothings.

According to him, the country’s textile sector has the potential to produce textiles for the local market as well as for export to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), made up of over 175 million people.

He added that textiles from Nigeria can also be exported to the United States of America (USA), under the AGOA platform and to the European Union (EU), under its GSP scheme which Kenya, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Madagascar and a number of African countries are already exploiting. The DG who made the disclosure in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, stressed that textiles used to be Nigeria’s foremost industry, being the second largest employer of labour after government and utilising indigenous raw materials such as cotton. With the country spending so much annually on importation of both ready- made and second hand clothings, the situation, he said is worrisome despite government intention to revive the sector, adding: “the reality on ground continues to be worrisome.” he said.

He said: “The prevailing unprecedented harsh environment has no doubt dealt a serious blow to the already

fragile industry.

“Unless urgent steps are taken by the government to address key issues raised by the industry, the ray of hope that had arisen from the recent government initiatives may get extinguished.

“Nigeria’s huge population of over 165 million people, represents a large natural market for textiles.

“Influx of smuggled goods continues to flood major textile markets in Kantin Kwari, Kano

and Balogun and Oshodi, Lagos.” According to him, continuous importation of textile products, not only undermines the local industry, steal our jobs, and deprive government of revenue, it is a drain on Nigeria’s precarious foreign exchange reserves.

While commending the effort of government in its recent move at revitalising the sector, he said: “In the past six months, we were called by the Minister of industry, Trade and

Investment, Governor of CBN and even the Vice President who is at the helm of the economic affairs.

“The minister of state for industry Mrs. Aisha Abubukar, recently visited textile mills in Lagos for a spot assessment.

“A list of 8 specific issues were brought to the notice of the government. Most of these issues for which government intervention was sought are within the ambit of existing policy framework whereas

CONGRATULATIONS

L-R: Head, Consumer Banking, Diamond Bank Plc, Aishah Ahmad; DiamondXtra SUVWinner and family, Ugwuozor Tochukwu Emmanuel; and Area Manager, Diamond bank Enugu 1, Daniel Nzeka at the DiamondXtra South East Regional prize and Cheque presentation Ceremony, held in Enugu … recently

Alleged Breach of Contract: Nigeria Records 68,050 First Hydrocarbon Nigeria, Registrations in 10yrs Others Sued AmbyUneze in Owerri An indigenous Oil and Gas Company, Petroleum Zion Ltd, has filed a suit against PJT Partners UK and their security trustees (a subsidiary of Blackstone UK), African Capital Alliance (ACA), Vertex Energy and First Hydrocarbon Nigeria (FHN) over alleged breach of contract and interference into a contract.

In a suit no: FHC/L/ CS/844/2016 filed before Justice M.B. Idris of a Federal High Court, Lagos was sequel to a recent divestment exercise conducted by Blackstone (later taken up by PJT Partners) in September 2015 to sell Afren’s 100 percent stake in FHN26 Limited, which is an indigenous subsidiary of Afren that owns 45 percent working interest in OML26 Oil Block located in the inland Niger Delta region. The oil block currently operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Ltd (NPDC) has two producing fields (Ogini and Isoko) with current potential of 10,000 barrels per day.

Zion was declared the highest bidder in the transaction, which held atTranscorp Hilton Abuja on 21st October 2015 and became preferred bidder having met its financial obligation and negotiated a Sales Purchase

some require new initiatives.

“Re-scheduling of the CTG loan facility by the Bank of Industry (BoI) to 10+2 years was agreed by the government. For this to be effective, a notification is still awaited.

“The price of gas supplied to the local industry is pegged to the American dollar and was not reviewed after the drop in global oil and gas prices. The current domestic tariff at $7.38 per MMSCF is 3 times the price of gas in international market.”

Agreement (SPA) with PJT to complete the acquisition for $100 Million consideration.

The plaintiff also alleged that PJT Partners in conjunction with FHN senior management had contrived with ACA and Vertex to circumvent the transaction by going behind Zion’s back to sign SPA for same amount without warning o right of preemption just in a weekend preceding May 30, 2016, the week that Zion and PJT had scheduled a handshake to sign their SPA in London.

Zion approached the court to compel the FHN26 to honour agreed terms of the sale by completing the transaction for which it has raised full funding and incurred huge costs liable for $230million in losses.

In addition, Zion is claiming substantial damages from ACA for suspiciously monitoring their transaction secretly and obtaining valuable information through their inside channels within FHN / PJT and for unlawful interference with their economic interest, whilst also claiming expenses from PJT Partners for breach of confidentiality, lack of goodwill by stringing ACA along the entire process and for misleading Zion throughout the 10 month-long transaction period.

Emma Okonji

The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the body managing the country’s domain name registration, has revealed that the total number of dot ng domain name registered in the country in the last 10 years, is 68,050, as at July 2016.

NiRA however explained that should all Nigerians online decide to identify with the country and register, using their domain names with the suffix .ng, instead of the free domain names like yahoo and hotmail that are common with Nigerian registration, the county would hit up to 10 million registered domain name within the next one year.

President of NiRA, Mr. Sunday Agolayan who made the disclosure, told THISDAY that since NiRA has reduced the cost of registering domain name like .name.ng to N500 to end users, NiRA expects all Nigerians to register their names, using .ng domain name, instead of the yahoo, gmail and hotmail that most Nigerians registered with. He said the initiative to reduce the cost of domain name, was to populate the .ng domain name in Nigeria.

In technical parlance, domain name which could be country code Top Level Domain name (ccTLD) or

Domain

generic top level domain (gTLD), is the identity of individuals and organisations in cyberspace. For anyone to have access to internet activities privately, the individual must register with a domain name that represents a country.

For instance, Nigeria’s domain name in cyberspace must have the suffix .ng, Canada is .ca, South Africa is .za, United Kingdom is .co.uk, among others.

The federal government had in the past, reiterated the need for Nigerians to identify with the country’s domain name, which is .ng that NiRA is promoting in the country.

Giving reasons why NiRA could not make projections of expected number of registered domain name in the country at a given time frame, Afolayan said “the registry is not in the actual business of registration with the registrants but relies on registrars to drive the business of domain name registration in the county. What we do is to create policies that will drive goals and we do not set targets.”

Giving insight to the number of domain name registrations recorded from January to July 2016, Afolayan said 17,809 dot ng domain name were recorded, with 10,808 renewals. He said in July

Name

this year alone, the country recorded 2,843 domain name registrations, 1,537 renewals and 88 transfers. He said the figures showed an increase in domain name registration in the country.

“The growth of domain name registration in the year 2016 has been on a steady increase. With 2,843 registrations and 1,537 domain renewals and 88 transfers in July 2016, these figures are the second best figures on a monthly basis this year.

There were 88 domain transfers between the NiRA Accredited Registrars. The slight increase in fresh domain name registrations could be attributed to the new price regime introduced early July 2016,” Afolayan said.

Explaining the importance of domain name in a country, Afolayan said marketing of products and services has shifted from the old conventional method to a new world driven by the internet with an important tool known as domain name.

Having and using a domain name makes communication easier and seamless over the internet. A domain name could be registered at different top levels such as the country code top level domain (ccTLD) and generic top level domain (gTLD) or even directly as a name, he said.

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MTN’s Passion for High Speed Connectivity The commencement of the test-run of its 4G LTE internet services by MTN Nigeria, using its Visafone network, underscores the firm’s commitment to providing customers with a new experience of high speed broadband connectivity, writes Emma Okonji

MTN Nigeria CEO, Ferdi Moolman

It is a fact that technology drives speed of connectivity for telecoms operators and other service providers. This is why operators had, over the years, evolved from the use of second generation (2G) technology to 3G, 3.5G, the latest fourth generation long term evolution (4G LTE) and the Advanced LTE, in providing services for customers.

Aside technology evolution, consumers’ demand for high speed voice and data connectivity has also compelled service providers to explore latest technology that will provide better customer experience, especially in the area of speed of connectivity. The passion to continually satisfying customers’ demand must have prompted MTN into buying of the 800MHz spectrum from the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC). The company later bid for the 2.6GHz spectrum licence in February this year and emerged the only winner of 6 slots of the 2.6GHz spectrum, all in preparation for its 4G LTE rollout, after acquiring Visafone in January.

Last week, the telecoms company commenced the test-run of its 4G LTE internet technology service for smartphone users, a move that is designed to roll out superior high-speed internet services in major cities, empowering Nigerians with the latest mobile broadband technology, which is expected to drive broadband penetration in the country from the current 10 per cent penetration to the targeted 30 per cent by 2018, in line with the federal government’s broadband plan and target. The test-run of MTN’s 4G LTE services has continued to attract commendations for the telecoms company, especially now that cost of data is crashing, giving opportunity for subscribers to experience heavy online downloads and long browsing period at a much reduced data cost.

About 4G LTE Long-Term Evolution (LTE) is a standard for high-speed wireless communication for mobile phones and data terminals. It is based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies, increasing the capacity and speed using a different radio interface together with core network improvements.

LTE is the upgrade path for carriers with both GSM/UMTS networks and CDMA2000

Oyagbola

networks. The different LTE frequencies and bands used in different countries will mean that only multi-band phones will be able to use LTE in all countries where it is supported.

LTE is commonly marketed as 4G LTE, but it does not satisfy the technical criteria of a 4G wireless service, as specified for LTE Advanced.

The LTE specification provides downlink peak rates of 300 Mbit/s, uplink peak rates of 75 Mbit/s and permitting a transfer latency of less than five ms in the radio access network.

LTE has the ability to manage fast-moving mobiles and supports multi-cast and broadcast streams.

It supports seamless handovers for both voice and data to cell towers with older network technology such as GSM, UMTS and CDMA2000.

Test-running MTN’s 4G LTE With the commencement of the test-run and launch of its 4G LTE internet technology service for smartphone users on its Visafone

“The test-run of MTN’s 4G LTE services has continued to attract commendations for the telecoms company, especially now that cost of data is crashing, giving opportunity for subscribers to experience heavy online downloads and long browsing period at a much reduced data cost”

network last week, MTN has begun upgrades of networks in designated locations in Lagos.

The launch of 4G LTE services by the merged entity of MTN and Visafone will roll out superior high-speed internet services in major cities, empowering Nigerians with the latest mobile broadband technology, which is expected to drive broadband penetration in the country.

According to MTN Executive, Amina Oyagbola, “the company is determined to deepen broadband penetration in the country. Our recent license 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 “MTN currently has the best spectrums and has the coverage and adequate infrastructure to support it,” the stakeholders said.

The 2.6MHz spectrum will be accessed by MTN subscribers, while 800MHz spectrum will be rolled out for Visafone subscribers including MTN subscribers with Visafone numbering system, while other subscribers will have access to the 800MHz spectrum through Visafone/MTN MIFI devices.

The MTN 4G LTE, which is the next generation network, comes with super high speed connectivity that is 10 times higher than 3G. It offers a wider coverage across the country and its bundles will run at current rate with no extra premiums. Bundles will be expanded at same or lesser rate upon deployment.

Subscribers are therefore advised to swap existing MTN SIMS to ‘U Sims’, which are already LTE ready at MTN experience centres.

Retooling Visafone’s network The recent move by MTN to provide customers with 4G LTE service on its acquired Visafone network, has again demonstrated the passion of the company to revive the once ailing Visafone network and to provide its subscribers and would-be subscribers, with quality service and high speed voice and data connectivity, using the fast speed 4G LTE technology.

Before the final acquisition of Visafone in January this year, the company, which was the last standing operator in the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operations, also known as the fixed wireless operations, was already losing operational steam and was on

the verge of collapse, before MTN bought it over and resuscitated it.

Today its subscribers now enjoy high speed data and voice connectivity, a service that they least expected, if they had remained with the old Visafone.

Aside reviving the once ailing operator, stakeholders see the MTN’s move as a welcome idea that will further contribute to telecoms growth in the county and also boost the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Two months after the acquisition of Visafone, there were indications that MTN would integrate the operations of Visafone into its GSM operations, and run it as voice over its 4G LTE technology network.

The NCC, it was gathered, gave approval to MTN to acquire Visafone, on the ground that it would resuscitate the dying operator and provide quality service to its existing customers that were already depreciating before the acquisition.

Oyagbola, who had earlier given insight about the acquisition, said it would leverage resources for service enhancement, and that it was also a reflection of MTN’s concerted efforts to deepen the growth and rollout of broadband services across the country in support of the National Broadband Plan for the benefit of Nigerians.

Visafone, according to her, “is one of the leading CDMA/ICT companies in Nigeria offering a number of services including voice, high speed data (3G), internet and other Value Added Services (VAS). Visafone also provides business solutions to small and medium sized companies and corporate organisations in Nigeria.”

“We are committed to exploring avenues for meeting our customers’ increasing data needs in line with our vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our customers,” Oyagbola added.

With the acquisition of Visafone, the winning of the 2.6GHz spectrum, and the purchase of the 800MHz frequency spectrum, MTN, no doubt, is ready and committed to provide high speed 4G LTE broadband services, and Nigerian subscribers are hopeful that the aspiration and commitment of MTN in building a world-class telecoms industry in the country, will turn out to be a dream come true.

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E-BUSINESS

NCC, NITDA Set Up Committee to Boost Nigeria’s ICT Devt Stories by Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), have agreed to set up a joint committee to design a framework for collaboration to optimise development of telecommunications and ICT in the country.

This was a major outcome of the interactions between the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, when the acting

Director General of NITDA, Dr. Vincent Olagunju, and his team paid a courtesy visit to the NCC headquarters in Abuja recently. Both agreed that a new era of interagency collaboration, especially within the sister ICT agencies would bring about desirable results, in line with global best practices.

The Joint Committee, to be chaired by a director at NITDA, Dr. Agu Collins Agu, is expected to provide detailed areas of collaboration and terms of reference, which will be initialed by the two

organisations in due course.

Danbatta said the initiative would prove to the world that sister agencies in our clime can work together in the interest of the nation., and charged the committee members to work assiduously to ensure that the objective of the collaboration is realised. “We must concentrate on those things that we know that with the right investments and involvement of our human capital resources, we would realise things that we can show the world about the giant strides that are being

made in this country, especially in the area of Information and Communications Technology,” Danbatta said.

According to him, the agreement to collaborate remained consistent with the mandates of the two entities to ensure pervasive penetration of ICTs. “But we have to be mindful of the fact that, the more you introduce services, the more your burden the infrastructure on ground. I hope that the committee will take cognizance of what you need to do to address the existing capacity of

infrastructure,” Danbatta said.

He added: “What we are looking at is the progress we are steadily making by the day to ensure we reach the destination of what we call a networked society, a society that is e-driven, a society that is ICT driven, as well as a society that will be relying on the power and leveraging on ICT to conduct all kinds of businesses.”

According to Olatunji, there should be no rivalry in ways that the two organisations operate these days because it is all about common vision

and common goals which are tied together for the future of our nation.

“The information technology sub-sector, and the telecom sector, already work together now in their operations. If those of us at the helm of affairs that are driving the industry do not work together, we will not go far”, he said.

Olatunji said the disposition of the EVC of NCC, in arriving at the decision to set up the committee has demonstrated the quality of leadership he has brought to bear in the sector.

StarTimes Redefines Pay TV with 2-in-1 Combo Decoder Foremost digital television company, StarTimes has launched the first of its kind 2-in-1 combo decoder in Nigeria, in a move to change the pay TV landscape in Africa and offer surplus entertainment access to subscribers.

The new innovative product, the first of its kind in Africa, is equipped with world’s latest decoder technology to combine effectively for the first time the features of both digital terrestrial television (DTT) and digital satellite direct to home (DTH) digital television technologies on a single device.

Marketing Director, StarTimes Nigeria, Mr. Oludare Kafar, while unveiling the new decoder in Lagos, said: “The 2-in-1 combo decoder is a game changing product from StarTimes and it was deliberately designed with latest global technology to lavish subscribers with unprecedented access to digital television and entertainment. Interestingly, this new combo decoder works with both antenna and dish and offers channels on both for the price of one. It also grants our esteemed customers access to over 100 channels across the

genres with an enhanced high definition (HD) picture quality.”

Kafar noted that the digital television company’s desire is to offer multiple access to subscribers to enjoy both digital terrestrial and digital satellite television channels and offerings on the same decoder and grant ease of access to switch between the options conveniently because our customers deserve utmost comfort and convenience.

“We strive to ensure that with a single decoder customer enjoys access to all digital television channels and contents available and this new decoder is expected to replace the traditional single decoder model. By default, both the Digital DTT and DTH has comparative advantages but with combo, StarTimes subscribers enjoys the combined strength of both.

DTT is embraced as a model for its affordability, low weather interference, portability, more local channels, easy to set up and mobile friendly while DTH is desired for its sharper and clearer images, higher number of international channels, resilience and widespread strength in remote areas,” Kafar said.

Govt Urged to Leverage Power of Broadband Technology The federal government has been called upon to leverage the power of broadband technology for the Nigerian economy to recover and attain vision 2020.The leader of the organisers of the Nigeria ICT Impact CEO Forum (NIICF) and Africa Digital Awards (ADA), Mr. Tayo Adewusi, who made the call in Lagos, said the power of broadband technology to transform and catalyse economies and social growth cannot be over emphasised.

According to him, the organisers understood the power of broadband technologies in transforming economies, hence the focus for this year’s NIICF and ADA forums was centered on broadband.

He said broadband technology remained an essential tool for empowering people, create environment that nurtures the technological and service innovation and trigger positive change in business processes.

Adewusi said broadband technology had become the priority of the 21st century economy, and described broadband as the technology that enables high-speed transfer

of data. ”Broadband is at the heart of the economy and covers support services, electronic billing, Wi-Fi, electronic monitoring, inventory management, and web security. Other areas are device configuration, project management, e-ticketing and installation,” Adewusi said.

According to him, the theme this year’s forum is ‘How Broadband Deployment Can Impact Nigeria’s Economic Recovery’. He said expected dignitaries and speakers at both fora scheduled to hold on August 26, 2016 at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, would speak on broadband and its impact in nation building. The forum will also honour outstanding corporate and individual achievers that have leveraged on the potential power of ICT to better the lots of the Nigerian society, he said. Adewusi explained that an increase in the adoption of broadband in the country would drive and support several services and applications in the economy, but insisted that broadband needs to be affordable for Nigerians.

ECONOMY ON THEIR MIND

L-R: Former Smart City Director of the Barcelona City Council, Mr. Ramon Ferrer; Chief Executive Officer, Terragon Group, Elo Umeh; Professor of Strategic Management and Chairman of the Strategic Management Department at the IESE Business School, University of Navarra, Spain, Professor Joan Enric Ricart and, Faculty Organisational Behavior/HRM, Lagos Business School, Dr. Eugene Ohu, during the Terragon – Lagos Business School (LBS) breakfast forum in Lagos…recently

Sterling Bank Partners IT Firm Airtel Offers Customers 6x on Computer Education Value on Every Recharge Sterling Bank Plc, in partnership with Audax Solutions Limited, an education technology solutions company, is introducing a computer education initiative toward boosting e-learning in Nigeria.

The Computer Science Education (CSE) programme tagged: ‘Audax Code School’ is in line with the bank’s One Education initiative aimed at consolidating its strategic focus on education and its commitment to youth empowerment and development in Nigeria.

The initiative is aimed at bridging the digital skills gap in Nigeria, empower children and teachers in both rural and urban areas, foster creativity and creative thinking skills through information and communications technology learning and encourage careers of underprivileged youth through Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education.

The training programme, which is aimed at also deepening awareness of Computer Science Education among children and youth will cover Summer Code School, Africa Code Week, Computer Science Education Week, Hour of Code Week, and Train the Trainer Sessions.

Sterling Bank in a statement

released recently, commended Audax Solutions for initiating the programme, noting that participants, who took part in previous programme, raised “our hope that we still have in Nigeria.”

“A crop of children with potential to be among the best in the world in the area of computer education, if given the right exposure and encouragement” the statement said, stressing this has informed the reason for the support of the 2016 edition.

The partnership with Audax Solutions, according to the bank, was informed by the belief that teaching children programming skills is essential to developing their problem solving, creative and communication skills, helping to foster an interest in technology that can result in profitable and rewarding careers. Audax is an education technology solutions company that had invested and continues to invest immensely in technology training and development in Nigeria.

The company has a fullyequipped comfortable centre that sits 150 people. Its centre holds over 400 laptops, projectors, and sound equipment that is available for trainings, seminars and computer based tests.

Airtel Nigeria has announced the introduction of SmartConnect 2.0, a new offer which offers new prepaid customers six times the value of every recharge they make.

The SmartConnect 2.0 is specifically designed to give more value and enrich the lives of telecoms consumers, also empowering them to do much more as well as succeed in their personal and professional endeavours.

The new offering is specially created for new prepaid customers joining the Airtel network.

Nigerians, who desire to enjoy the benefits of the newly introduced package, will need to buy a new Airtel SIM card, register it and recharge to enjoy six times the value of every recharge.

For instance, when a new customer recharges N100, he/ she gets N600 total airtime value instantly, while a recharge of N1000 gives N6000 instant total airtime value.

For a N100 recharge, customers get N100 in their main account, an additional bonus N250 for calls to all networks and N250 or 50 MB data while the N1000 recharge gives customers N1,000 in the main account N2500 for calls to all networks and N2500 or 500 MB data.

Customers are expected to recharge their lines by dialling *126*pin#. The airtime value in the customer’s main airtime has no validity expiry; while bonuses have seven day validity. Customers can continuously roll over their bonuses if they recharge their lines within the seven day validity of their existing bonus.

Announcing the SmartConnect 2.0, Head, Public Relations Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Femi Adeniran said the product reaffirms Airtel’s commitment to offer a unique telecommunication experience and amazing opportunities to new customers on the network.

He noted customers can enjoy extensive hours of calls and browsing on the new package.

Adeniran further explained that, as the name implies, Smart Connect 2.0 gives smart connectivity and choice to customers on the network to keep everyone connected to their families, friends and loved ones.

“As Nigeria’s leading network in innovation, Airtel is committed to exploring new opportunities that will enrich the lives of telecoms consumers and empower them to do so much more in their professional and personal lives,” Adeniran said.

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OneCard Partners IBEDC on Multi-purpose Recharge Card Stories by Emma Okonji OneCard Nigeria, an innovative fast moving consumer goods company that provides top up solutions on multiple platforms in collaboration with FETS has co-opted Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) on its multi-purpose recharge card.

The One1Card now makes it easier for IBEDC consumers

to recharge their pre-paid and post- paid metres conveniently from their mobile phone by simply dialling *979*14*PIN*Acc number or Meter Number#.

Chairman , OneCard Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Odulaja, while briefing the media on the exciting development, said when the company launched its multi-purpose recharge card it was with a

PayPorte Launches Food Store Nigeria’s online shopping brand, PayPorte has once more positioned itself as a forward thinking e-commerce brand with its new product line ‘Food Store

By PayPorte’, an online food store to make food shopping easy and more convenient.

Speaking on the new product line, Head, Strategy and Planning at PayPorte, Irene Kayoma said: “PayPorte will be the first e-commerce shopping platform to introduce this to its clients. We developed this pro With yet another accolade to its collection, duct line to address the food need of the urban Lagos metropolis and we are hoping to cut short the hassle of food shopping by bringing food directly to your doorstep.”

“While the brand continues to strive hard in meeting daily needs in terms of demand and supply, the management is mindful of key challenges and as a result has developed ways to manage some of the difficulties that may arise. The food store will only be open for orders every Thursday

queues, following cumbersome processes to top up various services is removed for all Nigerians by the singular card, OneCard.’’

General Manager, OneCard Nigeria, Mr. Femi Muka, explained that IBEDC customers are also at liberty to top up their accounts/ meters via OneCard Online Channels; MyTopUp Business and MyTopUp Nigeria or via

OneCard Direct TopUp devices available at TopUp points.

He said because OneCard’s services are about people and meeting their needs, the company provides multiple choices and everyone is at liberty to choose based on their needs and preferences.

OneCard Nigeria is a technology based fast moving consumer goods company that provides top-up solutions on

multiple platforms for various services like mobile phones, toll fees, pay television, electricity and a lot more nationwide. OneCard offers unique, secure top-up solutions for individual, corporate and retail customers via online channels, as well as java enabled or android handheld direct top-up devices and the innovative multi-purpose recharge card.

Online

at midnight and ends every Friday at noon, while delivery will commence from Friday to Sunday. It has adequate hands to ensure the smooth operation of this new line,” Kayoma assured Nigerians.

Kayoma added, “The reason for this order and delivery clause is to ensure that we are able to meet all orders and to ensure all food items ordered, delivered are fresh and hasn’t gone through any form of artificial preservations.”

The food store, which has already gone live, is expected to expand outside Lagos metropolis and become a 24hour online food store.

With yet another accolade to its collection, PayPorte was awarded E-Commerce Company of the year at the recently held CBN Cashless Expo 2016. The CEO, Eyo Bassey during the event said he was very happy with the award, “the e-commerce company of the year amidst other market players, which he said, remained a huge honour that cannot be taken for granted.”

22Years Old Nigerian Unveils Online Retail Mall With the increasing use of internet and with almost twenty million Nigerians having transactions done on the web, a new company wants to take leverage of that and set up an ecommerce website.

Chimmie Ijezie, a 22 years old Engineering graduate is set to launch Shopity, a new online retail store for fashion products and accessories, August 12, 2016. According to Ijezie, Shopity offers a unique experience to customers, providing quality products ranging from men’s wear, women’s wear, shoes, bags beauty products and accessories. Their aim is to replace the hassle of traditional shopping, providing consumers with the opportunity to acquire exactly the cloth or accessories they need and when they need it.

Speaking on the upcoming start-up shopping site, Ijezie said: “We have built a solution, which though far from perfect provides a great user experience for Nigerian shoppers to shop through amazing collection of fashion products at affordable rates and unique quality.

Our goal is to allow Nigerians purchase amazing fashion wears and accessories at affordable rates and premium quality.

Our partnership with major fashion vendors and local fashion designers has made

promise to Nigerians that more services would be added to the One1Card to create a onestop recharge solution’. The addition of the new service he said is a fulfilment of that promise even as the company continues in its stride to make Top Up of various services easier.

According to him, “the hassle of travelling long distances, joining long

this possible. Also customers do not need to worry about size of their suit or traditional wears as we have introduced bespoke category on our mall, which allows customers to make their order and have it customized and tailored to fit them at affordable rates. This is the first time in Nigeria one would be able to shop bespoke and have a cloth tailored to his size and preference. We are happy to be pacesetters.

We will be investing over the next couple of years to take this to the next level and also introduce more fashion categories like electronics and gadgets, groceries and lots more.”

He noted that the recent growth of e-commerce in Nigeria has created the need for consumers to have access to local products as this not only makes it affordable for them but also helps to promote the Naira currency.

The online shopping services comes at a time when Nigerians appear to be embracing the culture buying products online especially with the advent of big online stores like Jumia, Konga and PayPorte as well as with the Federal Government’s push for a cashless society. These economic factors combine to make Shopity.com. ng a veritable tool for internet savvy consumers.

BOOSTING TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Etiam Global Concept/Samsung partner, Mark Anthony Nduka Eze; Head, EBT/IT Business, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Anu Rotimi Agboola; Cross Rive State Commission for Education, Hon Godwin Etta; Chairman, House Committee on Education, Cross River State, Dr. Itam Abang; Business Manager, Education Sector, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Matthew Iwundi and Commissioner, Ministry of ICT, Chief Offu Aya, at the launch of Samsung Smart School in Calabar...recently

InnJoo Launches Max3 Smartphone with Fingerprint Technology Fast-selling mobile device brand InnJoo, this week, launched its latest brand offering of smartphone known as Max 3, which is a high-specification smartphone with an epic six inch High Definition (HD) screen with fingerprint technology into the Nigerian mobile devices market to offer more value to millions of consumers.

Built around an all-metal body design and the first time applied 2.5D diamond-cut glass, the Max 3 is a sleek and premium-looking device that would go a long way in meeting the needs and aspirations of millions of Nigerians in search of a high-powered mobile device at a cost that makes sense in line with current economic realities.

Speaking at the launch, President of InnJoo, Mr. Jack InnJoo said apart from offering the user an unprecedentedly bigger screen to work with, the Max 3 comes fully equipped with a 4000mAh long-life battery designed in line with consideration of the power situation in the country to offer the user over 2 day-long normal usage and 19 hours phone call time with a single charge. With its rapid response quad core processor, the Max 3 offers the user 0.35 seconds lightning fast unlock speed, along with the guarantee of

quicker upload and download of multimedia contents.

Country Manager of InnJoo, Mr. Rakesh Rocque explained in a demo that selfie lovers will find the Max 3 a more than useful tool with its high-powered dual cameras of 13MP at the back and 8MP in front, which offers auto-focus, multiple modes and anti-shake properties, delivering best in class picture quality.

Chairman, Zinox Group, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh said Technology Distribution (TD) had to sign on InnJoo mobile phones and devices to market them in Nigeria, because the InnJoo Max3 comes with high quality standard that meets the needs of Nigerians at affordable rates.

Former Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, who also endorsed the phone, said mobile phones, especially smartphones would continue to drive mobile and internet connectivity in Nigeria.

He called on Nigerians to support the brand and experience quality smartphone.

The Max 3 is available in all mobile device market in Nigeria, is already generating huge excitement among tech-savvy Nigerians, many of whom are in tune with InnJoo’s wide range of high specifications and affordable devices.

‘Business Hub Africa Will Rule the World Through SMEs’ The Executive Director, African Hub International, Mrs. Oluneye Oluwole, has said that the company will soon be a global business leader through the support services and social enterprise it renders to ensure the success of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria and other African countries.

Oluwole, who gave the assurance in Lagos during the company’s maiden press conference, noted that the company was established to create a platform, an enabling business environment and provide business support services for business owners, emerging entrepreneurs, start-up, micro, small and medium enterprises, with its state-of-the-art business services.

She explained that African Hub provides a platform for its clients to network, learn, work and grow their businesses and ideas through various events that it organises, like product seminars, workshops, launches, press conferences, among others.

According to her, “African Hub International is a PanAfrican Business Supportive Service Organization and Social Enterprise. We create a platform, an enabling business environment and provide business support services for business owners, emerging entrepreneurs,

start-up, micro, small and medium enterprises, with our state-of-the-art business services: Work Stations, Virtual Office, Unlimited Internet Access, uninterrupted power supply, Front Desk service, Administrative Support and Beverage Catering.”

“Beyond this, we provide a platform for our clients to network, learn, work and grow their businesses and ideas through our various events: product seminars, workshops, launches, press conferences etc.

Our focus is to foster the growth of Africa’s emerging entrepreneurs and SME sector,” Oluwole added.

She said part of the company’s resolves to help grow small businesses and start-up was the creation of work stations and virtual offices whereby the clients would only pay a minimal amount of money for using their work stations or virtual office for their business transactions without necessarily having to own physical offices, which could be expensive.

She further noted that the African Hub would be launching an e-commerce platform, in addition to dedicated web portals and enhanced business support services, where its clients would have a wider platform to reach their target markets, increase productivities and sales.

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How a Mobile App Saved a Corps Member In this report, Raheem Akingbolu writes on a young Nigerian, who shared his experience on a news portal about how FirstBank mobile app saved him from being defrauded by kidnappers The story of how technology redefined the financial sector will continue to amuse Nigerians.

Comparing what the banking publics were experiencing 15 years ago and the situation today is like word and opposite. Banking transactions were not only difficult in those years; they were boring, challenging and time consuming. Today, things have changed so fast that more transactions are now done outside the banking hall. Gone were those days when bank customers spent hours on the queue before being attended to.

However, if there is anything that further differentiates the present regime from those dark days, it is the fact that banks are not competing perfectly to introduce products that will align with different lifestyles and classes.

This explains why every segment of the market can now embraces various products depend on the purpose. In recent time, the most trending one is obviously the mobile applications which help customers to transact from anywhere they are. In a way, this has deepened the relationship between the banks and the youths.

FirstMobile as example First Bank of Nigeria Limited was one of the first brands in the industry that unveiled its integrated lifestyle mobile banking app, FirstMobile. During the first launch of the product in Lagos a few years ago, the management had emphasis that it was in line with its commitment to offer value-added products and services that suit the lifestyles of its customers.

The mobile banking app is believed by many patrons of the brand as another secure platform that allows customers to execute banking transactions and access lifestyle news content on the go from their mobile phones.

It is currently one of the most effective mobile banking apps that customers can download on their mobile phones, activate and transact on without having to visit a bank branch.

According to the promoters of the brand, with the smartphone app, customers can enjoy real-time mobile banking services such as domestic funds transfer from self-owned accounts to other FirstBank accounts and other bank accounts. It was also stated that it can be used to make quick airtime purchase for self and others on all mobile networks; bills payments; cheque services, including confirm cheque and stop cheque, flight booking; and quick account services such as account balance inquiry and statement view.

In addition, the lifestyle banking app offers FirstBank customers unique access to the latest articles and videos across a wide variety of categories, including technology and gadgets, life and travel, the economy, local news, luxury goods, business, health, sports, entertainment, shopping and more.

When declaring that the application was free and available for download to customers of the bank, the management of the bank had pointed out that it was another step towards leveraging evolving technologies to bring fast and convenient financial services closer to Nigerians, in line with the bank’s digital banking strategy.

“Today, we are delighted that we have been able to deliver an app that supports the consumer lifestyle by providing users with an instant suite of financial options on their mobile devices in a convenient and highly secure environment.

By enabling people to use their mobile phones as a tool for carrying out financial transactions and accessing lifestyle content, FirstBank is delivering long-term benefits for both our customers and the Nigerian economy as we continue to put our customers first,” the bank had stated in a statement.

Customer’s diary Like many Nigerians, who have not bought into online banking, Christian C. Osor, had never been attracted with the beautiful stories about online banking because of the challenges that come with it in Nigeria. According to the story he narrated in Hovabuzz, a news blog, he distanced himself from the technology

Smartphones

advancement, because of the fear of confronting hitches like connection error, service time out and unfriendly charges. Even when the mobile app was introduced, he still found it unappealing. He also stated that he was not a patron of First Bank as well, until circumstance compelled him to start patronising the brand “I was not a fan of First bank and I didn’t pretend about it. Before I eventually became one of First Bank’s customers, I had been hearing about the poor services of the bank; their rude customer care agents and massive queues in the banking hall. I didn’t like it but fortunately the bank was recommended for me by NYSC for receiving my monthly allowance. At this point, I had no choice but to use it except I wanted to do away with the monthly allowance.

As fate would have it, I served at a village in Rivers State and the closest place for me to access bank was Port Harcourt. Since there is no bank or ATM in the community, I would have to travel to the main town to use either the ATM or carry out other transactions.

The turning point The world view of the corps member started to change in April, when one of his sisters was planning to send him a huge sum of money for something important. At the same period, his domain was due for renewal as he was approaching the end of the month.

According to him, he was preparing to go to Port Harcourt to renew his domain when he encountered some challenges. “I couldn’t even leave my PPA to Port Harcourt. I was stuck, and like I pointed out above, there was no bank or ATM in the community. And I couldn’t just back-out, I don’t want to lose my domain name. I was left with doing an online transaction. What I was running away from, I had to go for it. It’s not a choice; it’s just the best option at that moment. I downloaded the First bank mobile app which I used to pay for my domain. That marked a new turn, and I began using the Firstmobile, though not frequently,” The next stage was on 2nd of June, when his sister eventually sent N210, 000 into his First bank account. Of course he was happy, especially since the money was given to him as gift.

“I was hoping to leave the money and use the sum of N210,000 and other money I was able to save before the end of the programme to start up any small scale business after my passing out. On 8/06/2016 at about 10am, I was coming back from Port Harcourt. I entered a car in Choba going to Buguma. The journey was so smooth but when we got to Ogbakiri

junction to divert to Kalabari kingdom, we met some men but thought it was just the usual police check point. It never crossed our minds that they could be kidnappers.

“Everything looked like a dream. Not until they asked us to get down from the car and began beating us. Two of them had guns. Within 10 minutes, they had ordered the five of us into their jeep. We began hearing gunshots from behind. I guessed the police were fast approaching. The kidnappers had to move us out of the place. I thought the police would keep up chase, but it wasn’t. We were taken to an uncompleted building and made to sit on the ground. Of the five people kidnapped, I was the only youth, others were elderly.

“We were taken to one uncompleted building, collected our pulse, phones, handbags and my wallet. I had heard of kidnappers collecting ATM cards and pins from victims and zapping their accounts, but this was it! They collected the money from us and ATM cards. Funny enough, only two of us had ATM cards with us. Others said they didn’t use ATM but our captors said they would not release those without ATM. They insisted those without ATM would have to call their families to pay ransomed.

I was so scared within me. “All the money I had in my account will be taken away,” I thought to myself. “How will I tell my story?

The money I was planning to use to startup small business.” My second account in another bank had only N23, 000 in it. “Thank God I left the other ATM card at home, if not they will still demand for it and use it to collect the remaining money in it,” I thought to myself, because they said they would collect all the monies in our account before they release us.

Even if it took three to five days, they insisted that they would keep us there till they get what they wanted.

“I gave them my ATM card and pins. The other man gave them his own too. It was sad because he had about 4 ATM cards with him.

He gave it to them with the pins. I was so scared when two of them went to withdraw the money. I was just praying in my mind for God to perform miracle and my ATM card will just be deactivated or for it not to pay,” he said.

Transaction in the jungle According to the corps member, 20 minutes after taking the ATM cards from them, his phone rang but one of the kidnappers, who stood back to watch them cut it. When the phone rang again, he asked them who owned it.

“He inquired from us to know the owner. I

said I was the one and he said if not because he loved the ringtone, he would have smashed it. “So you dey watch Empire?” he asked me.

I said “Yes.” My ringtone was “ready to go”

by Jamal from empire. In fact I had almost all the songs used in the series. I tried to see if I could chat with him, if that will make us friendly and will turn his mind around to tell his fellow kidnappers not to withdraw my money.

I told him that I have almost all the empire songs used in the movie series. He said it was nice. He asked how I got them. I told him I downloaded them online. He said he only stopped in season 2, episode 10.

“I told him I had watched it till episode 18 in season 2. I told him I have the whole series till the current one on my phone. I told him I could even send them to him from my phone. He smiled. He said I was not going to get my phone back. That he would only give me my sim. He asked me the password of my phone and I told him. That was how he opened the phone. “Five minutes later, he said he couldn’t find the film. I told him where he would find the series and gave him password to that folder. I believed he had challenges operating the phone. He had to give me my phone to open the folder. I was scared to use the phone and in fact my hands were shaken while operating it. As I was swiping to get to the folder, I came across the Firstmobile app.

“At this point, something in me said; “why don’t you transfer your money in First bank to your GTB account.” At first I was scared, I didn’t know if the ones that had gone to withdraw had already completed the transaction. Or in the process I was caught! I had to summon courage, on my network as fast as possible. I logged in and my N265, 540 was still there in my first bank account. I transferred the money to my GT bank account. In fact the network in the area was so fast that I did everything within 45 seconds. The kidnapper that gave me my phone felt I was wasting a lot of time. He thought maybe I was sending a text message to people about the kidnap. He came and asked why I was still wasting time. I told him I was still on it as I had already logged out and opened the empire movie folder for him.

About 15 minutes after the corps member transferred the money in his account, the kidnappers received a call from those that went to withdraw money that Osor’s account had only N540. With that, they concluded that they would hold him there in the bush until his family paid ransom. That was when he began to plead with them that he was serving and didn’t have money.

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FG Set to Engage Licensed Practitioners on Communication Stories by Raheem Akingbolu For effective policy communication, federal government has concluded arrangement to engage advertising practitioners to execute its programmes.

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibajo, who stated this while receiving the executive members of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), during a courtesy visit to his office, also assured the association that government is set to constitute the governing council of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), which has been left unattended to for almost a year.

Osibajo said government is not unaware of the important role advertising is playing in the economy and that the current administration would effectively ride on the industry to change perception about brand Nigeria as well as bonding more with the populace.

“The current administration is aware of the important role advertising is playing in projecting our country and transforming the economy. To this end, government and its agencies will involve AAAN members in its communication plan to reach the target audience perfectly. As experts, advertising practitioners are in the best position to help government in its work plan to drive reorientation programmes and attitudinal change,” On APCON governing council, Osibajo said the administration is on top of the game and that the Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Muhammed is working assiduously to resolve the issue.

Earlier, the AAAN President, Mr. Kayode Oluwasona, had told the vice president that the association visit was in further-

ance of its social responsibility to the Nigerian nation-state.

He said AAAN had come to pledge its full commitment and readiness to support the initiatives of the government.

“We have come to discuss matters that militate against our industry contributing even more to our National Development. We would like to recommend that Government urgently reviews the current communication architecture to allow for professionalism and better standards across levels and departments of government.

The objective here is to upgrade the quality of the work of communication handlers inside Government and also that of their external partners,” He pointed out that Nigerian advertising laws and regulations allow for only APCON licensed organisations to practice advertising in the country and expressed his regret that government and its agencies patronise unlicensed agencies, which operate under different fictitious titles.

“While urging government to uphold the APCON laws and regulations in the execution of her communication projects, we suggest that government works with only APCON-licensed marketing communication experts in the Organized Private Sector to ensure that Government communications are standardized and made more effective,” he said. Speaking further, Oluwasona stated that the Governing Council of APCON was one of those dissolved by the Federal Government about a year ago and pointed out that when APCON doesn’t have a council, the industry gets over exposed, and the

NIOMCO Concessioning: Firm to Present Business Plan to Govt Following the recent signing of the modified Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) concession between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Global Steel Holdings Limited, the GSHL is to submit its business plan for government’s approval within the next 105 days.

The submission of business plan for approval by the federal government was part of the timeline agreed upon by both parties for the revitalisation of the entity.

The submission and approval of the business plan is to come after the release of claims by GSHL. Under the new arrangement, the concessionaire is to implement the business plan as approved by the government.

The Vice President, Prof.

YemiOsinbajo, had, while presiding over the signing ceremony, urged both parties to keep to the various deadlines contained in the agreement in the spirit of mediation.

According to the timeline released by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, GSHL would within 48 hours of the signing of the agree-

ment gain access to NIOMCO plant at Itakpe, Kogi State, for due diligence.

Also, an independent audit of the Joint Audit Report is to be carried out within the next 65 days. The terms of reference of the auditors of the audit would be to “cross check and verify the report and not to re-do the audit all over again”.

The ratification of the Joint Audit Report by the Attorney General of the Federation and GSHL is to be carried out shortly after, specifically within 80 days of the agreement signing.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. KayodeFayemi, said getting NIOMCO and Ajaokuta working would move Nigeria from just being a mineral-rich country to a mining nation.

“Once the first phase of the agreement is accomplished, it is the intention of the FGN to quickly move into accomplishing the objectives of concession of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant to the most competent operator.

“Through this, we would be able to process, beneficiate and add value to what we have”, the minister added.

achievement of decent, responsible and progressive advertising, which the council is set up to enforce, suffers.

“The Council that was dissolved was in existence for only four months, as against a standard tenure of three years stipulated in the APCON Laws. Prior to the constitution of this same council, APCON had been without a council for almost two years, and that was the period during which the regrettably unwholesome

political campaigns of last year fettered,” The AAAN boss then requested for the immediate re-constitution of the council, to allow the recently gazzetted reform of the industry, be effectively implemented.

Looking back at the contribution of the industry to the economy, Oluwasona said on account of AAAN activities, people’s opinions about economic, social and political developments are daily being moulded. He added that many

household brands today may not have had a chance of survival without the indelible contributions of ingenious creative communications developed by his members.

He also informed the Vice President that advertising industry is making its modest contributions to the GDP of Nigeria. Advertising and related activities form an integral part of brand values, it can be said that we sustain the sales of most of the brand’s, which sponsors play actively on the

Nigerian Stock Exchange, and therefore define our Capital Market.

We have also made modest contributions to National Orientation. Readily coming to mind is the ‘Good People, Great Nation’ Corporate Nigeria Campaign during the tenure of the late Mrs. Dora Akunyili as Minister of Information. Our Association actually provided the Steering Secretary of the National Project in the person of Mr. LoluAkinwunmi, one of our Past Presidents,” he said.

WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE

R-L: A representative of the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Hajia Lami Tumaka and Governor of Women in Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Hajia Bola Muse; during the visit of the association to the agency’s Head Quarters in Lagos...recently

Recession: Terragon, LBS, Drive EXMAN Advises Government Conversations around City on Policy Management Contributions to Devt Availability of accurate data and technology has been identified as major tools to boost businesses during economic recession. The Chief Executive Officer of Terragon Group, Mr. Elo Umeh, who said this in his opening remark at the second edition of Terragon – Lagos Business School (LBS), breakfast forum spoke about the need to making data work for marketing activities. The theme of the forum was; “Smart cities: Strategic positioning in the time of recession.”

According to Umeh, “The value of marketing technology lies in what it enables — a customer’s ability to engage with a brand wherever they are and the platform they favor at that moment. To earn customers’ trust in your brand, you need to leverage data. Tapping into the power of data and mobile enables businesses take marketing beyond awareness and lead generation to driving sales and conversions.”

According to him, this year’s topic was set to engage participants on the conditions in which a megacity like Lagos can help drive innovation, harness the value of the millions of mobile connections in the metropolis by using the power of data and technology for efficiency in a time of recession.

Guest speakers for the

event were Mr. Ramon Ferrer, A former Deputy CIO and former Smart City Director of the Barcelona City Council (2012-2015) and Professor Joan EnricRicart, a Professor of Strategic Management and Chairman of the Strategic Management Department at the IESE Business School.

Describing a smart city, Professor Joan EnricRicart, said it’s the Integration of software, services and technology to improve resource efficiency in homes, buildings, utilities, transportation infrastructure.

“Technology in isolation is unlikely to make a city smart.

In any case, people will be choosing cities for more than its technology. Only when the technology is connected to the needs and aspirations of citizens will its full potential be realized,” he said.

Speaking on “Smart City Vision: an opportunity for transformation”, Mr. Ramon Ferrer said there is a need to kick start the dialogue for making Lagos a Smart City.

According to him, “Barcelona is the first global smart city and the journey to this success took 30 years. With the current level of technology advancement/discussions in Lagos, the right alliances, industry partnership and a strategic plan can fast track the process to earning the smart city status within a quicker period”

To achieve effectiveness in the delivery of its policies to the people, the federal government as well as the states and local councils have been urged and reminded to deploy the use of experiential marketing, citizen engagement and community relations. These three marketing elements were stressed at the just concluded 3rd annual general meeting of the Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN) in Abuja, as the most effective and potent ways to engage Nigerians.

This was contained in a position paper presented at the 2016 AGM by President of the Association, Dr. Rotimi Olaniyan entitled ‘Building Nigeria through Meaningful Experiences: The Role of Experiential Marketing in Citizen Engagement and the Marketing of government policy.”

Speaking on the role of EXMAN and the pursuance of citizen engagement and policy marketing in Nigeria, Olaniyan said that the professional body offers the opportunity for government to gain sufficient partnership from the private sector for its initiatives.

According to him “We offer the opportunity for government to receive immediate feedback from citizens on the effects of their public policies and projects. The association has healthy relationships with most communities across the country, thanks to many years of brand

activations and engagements within these communities.”

According to the EXMAN President, having this feedback is important for adjustments on these public policies and projects to be made.

Buttressing further on those elements, Olaniyan noted that there was the need for government to bring them in for effectiveness in communication policies Olaniyan said: “In communicating government policies, the relationship between experiential marketing, citizen engagement and community relations has a number of dimensions. First of all, these concepts require the existence of people. They involve efforts and activities aimed at engaging people and they also seek to ensure positive relationships with people”.

“For experiential marketing, it is a form of marketing that requires a good strategy for it to be as effective as intended by those undertaking it. Like many marketing campaigns, there is an underlying strategy guiding it to achieve its objectives and aims.”

“Meanwhile, community relations can serve as a strategy on its own for experiential marketing. For example, in Casanare, Colombia, where it is developing oil interests, British Petroleum invests in community activities that support the business plan and contribute to the region’s development.

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Diamond Bank Doles Out N25m, SUV to South East Customers Diamond Bank has once again shown appreciation to its customers by giving out a total sum of N25 million and a brand new SUV to its customers in the South East Region.

This took place at the eight season of its annual Diamond Xtra Savings account draw held at the New Berry Park, Enugu State. A total of 40 winners won cash prizes of 500,000 and N1million Naira whilst a lucky winner went home with the grand prize of a Sports Utility Vehicle (popularly called a Jeep).

Diamond Bank stated that the 40 customers that were made millionaires through its regional draw is a reflection of its commitment to growing the financial asset value of its loyal customers. This is coming on the heels of its Mid-year draw held in the Ikeja Military Cantonment, Lagos in which 30 customers also emerged as millionaires.

The Enugu Regional draw had in attendance many industry stakeholders, customers, potential customers, shareholders, journalists and top management of the Bank to make it a festive and lively occasion.

Diamond Bank’s chief spokesperson, Ayona Trimnell, stated that the DiamondXtra draw is one of the ways that the Bank rewards its loyal customers.

According to her, the unique customer reward scheme is tied to the DiamondXtra account proposition, which aims at stirring and promoting a savings culture among Nigerians.

“Apart from rewarding customers for their loyalty to the Bank, the scheme encourages savings and helps in driving and deepening financial inclusion in the economy”, Ayona stated.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Osita Ede, the Diamond Bank’s Head, Mass Market stated today’s event was unique because it was targeted at Diamond Banks customers located in the South Eastern Region. It was just for the branches in Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia and all the other States in that region.

He said the Diamond Xtra reward scheme was no longer a promo as it had become a part and parcel of Diamond Banks efforts at rewarding its loyal customers. He said it was important to note that the campaign continues because, every month a lucky Diamond Bank customer could emerge as the recipient of Diamond Banks “Salary for life” no matter where his or her account was opened.

This meant that the lucky individual would be entitled to the sum of N100, 000.00 every month for Twenty years

Stakeholders Braze Up for Ports, NPA Reforms Eromosele Abiodun As the new Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman settles down to work, there is apprehension among stakeholders and staff of NPA about the imminent reforms of the port, THISDAY checks has revealed.

Bala Usman will begin her first official engagement outside Lagos on Wednesday, few weeks after she assumed duty as the Chief Executive Officer of the ports authority.

Industry players and stakeholders told THISDAY that there is hope that a genuine transformation of the corruption ridden port industry is about to begin.

Top industry stakeholders, who spoke to THISDAY, said they are confident in her ability to turn the NPA and the industry around.

President of Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (CMDLCA), Mr. Lucky Amiwero, said that there is hope that the port industry is set to be repositioned to effectively play its role as a key revenue earner for the country, especially at this period when the price of Nigeria’s main revenue earner, oil is at its lowest in over ten years.

Amiwero said he is confident that Usman understands the port industry very well as it was during her time as the Enterprise Officer of Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) that the privatisation agency successfully concession the Nigerian seaports.

Speaking on the planned

reform, a port industry commentator, Mr. Ismail Aniemu, said her concerns reflects a larger perspective shared by industry player, citizens, thinkers and activists.

The NPA boss had while speaking on her new appointment as the NPA helmsman said: “Our ports are a critical artery of the economy, and it is our duty to ensure that the operators deliver port services at the standards that our businesses deserve in the 21st century in supporting President Buhari’s administration agenda of economic diversity.

“We will strive for enhanced operating efficiency to facilitate improved revenue generation and inflows into the national treasury. We will listen to our customers, importers, exporters and other agencies working in the ports to improve on our service delivery to the nation, anything less than world-class services is simply not acceptable, as attaining such heights is a mission to which I am certain we can all subscribe.”

“As a team leader, I have come to add my best efforts to transform this agency so that we can collectively achieve results for our industry. We shall prioritise investment in primary equipment and infrastructure and services committed to by NPA in the concession agreements to hasten clearance of imports and exports from the ports.

As we collaborate in the best traditions of public service, I believe that with commitment and diligence our hard work can position NPA as a model agency.”

irrespective of the region. This happened every month for customers with a Diamond Xtra account across the country.

He further said every month a total of 15 customers were selected from those having a Diamond Xtra account, with 1 customer winning N2 million, 13 customers winning N1 million in addition to the lucky winner of the Salary for Life.

The winner of the Star Prize of the SUV, Mr. Ugwuozor Tochukwu Emmanuel from the Port Harcourt Road Branch, Onitsha when contacted on phone, after initially conveying doubts about the authenticity of the call was eventually convinced that it was genuine. He expressed his gratitude and could not contain his excitement as he burst into his native dialect to

ask when he would receive his prize and if he could start coming immediately to pick it up.

Officials from KPMG and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission were also on hand to vouch for the authenticity and transparency of the promo.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Eke Michael representing the Lottery Commission confirmed that

Diamond Bank had fulfilled all its necessary obligations and satisfied the commission.

One of the past winners at the event, Mr. Casper Ibe, a Catholic Clergy also confirmed that indeed, the promo was genuine as he was one of those who won the N1 million cash prize from the Owerri Branch in 2012.

A NEW OFFERING

L-R: Chairman and Director, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Capital (Ltd), Mr. Kayode Akinkugbe; Managing Director/CEO, Financial Market Dealers Question (FMDQ), Mr. Bola Onadele Koko; Managing Director UPDC Plc, Mr. Hakeem Bello; and Division Head, Assets & Investment Management, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, during the UPDC Commercial Paper Listing on the FMDQ platform at the FMDQ Securities Exchange in Lagos…recently YOMI AKINYELE

Unity Kapital Assurance Prepares for Next Growth Phase The Board of Directors of Unity Kapital Assurance Plc, under the leadership of Aisha Azumi Abraham, has appointed Mr. Olatunji Oluyemi the new managing director/chief executive officer of the company subject to regulatory approvals from the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

The appointment, which is in order to position the insurance company for its next growth phase, followed the resignation of Michael Dogo as MD/CEO effective July 20, 2016.

This development coming after 39th annual general meeting (AGM) of Unity Kapital Assurance Plcin Abuja.

With a commendable professional experience in the insurance industry, the incoming MD, Oluyemi has held various high level positions in the insurance industry in the course of his career and was a former MD of Royal Exchange Assurance of Nigeria.

Oluyemi is expected to bring his depth of experience in Nigeria’s financial and insurance sector to bear on Unity Kapital Assurance. “ Oluyemi is a leader that understands how to work with people, and use knowledge and time to achieve significant results for all stakeholders. He is known to have launched new initiatives and significantly grow an operations balance sheet over a short period,”

industry analyst said.

The analyst explained that the decision to select a CEO who is an industry veteran should reassure investors as management works through a strategy focused on building a more efficient Insurance firm.

The new MD will be focused on moving the company to the next growth phase after the recent surge in premium and other income in the past 3 years.

Unity Kapital Assurance Plc, reported gross premium income of N2.68 billion in 2015. The company’s books show Net premium income of N2.09 billion for 2015 and an underwriting profit of N1.043 billion.

Profit for the year came in at N321.9 million as against N98.9 million in the preceding year, while basic earnings per share rose 400 percent to 5 kobo per share from 1 kobo in 2014.

The firm’s total assets rose to N11.4 billion in 2015 from N10.8 billion in 2014. Unity Kapital Assurance came into existence following the insurance regulation of September 2015 which required insurance companies to recapitalise to the level of N3 billion for non-life companies and N2 billion for life companies.

The firm has developed competences in bond insurance, oil and gas insurance, aviation and engineering insurance among others.

Agbaje to Speak at Made-inNigeria Roundtable The Chief Executive Officer, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, Segun Agbaje is billed to lead a roundtable for entrepreneurs at the forthcoming Made-InNigeria (MaIN) Festival billed to hold between September 23rd – October 1st, at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos.

With the theme: “Innovate.

Connect. Power the Future” MaIN Festival seeks to enhance innovation and productivity while improving domestic and foreign investments.

Entrepreneurs, especially small scale businesses would be empowered to reach new markets and potential investors during the festival, while international Trade Missions would also explore opportunities that are available in Africa’s largest economy. There are 14 engaging businesses and trade related events that have been lined up for the festival including, The MaIN Expo, MaIN Idea, MaIN Agenda, MaIN Summit and The Supremacy festival; The Made-In-Nigeria (MaIN) idea is a private sector-driven initiative that seeks to create a platform for the maximum expression of the true Nigerian spirit of creativity, enterprise and resilience among others.

The festival is open to all Nigerian brands and businesses providing products and services for the Nigerian market. It is designed to create opportunities and foster networking as over 600 exhibitors comprising global brands and Nigeria’s biggest

brands and businesses make up the exposition.

MaIN Expo will cover over 22 sectors including key thematic areas among which are telecommunications, banking and finance, healthcare, furniture, food and beverage, automobile, fashion and beauty among others.

One of the interactive sessions billed for the event are designed to engage entrepreneurs and highlight the role of small businesses in transforming the Nigerian economy. The session would also address pertinent issues including funding for SME’s, innovation and emerging opportunities for entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Agbaje is also expected to underscore the impact of Made-In-Nigeria innovation as the panacea to reducing unemployment and creating wealth for Nigerians.

With over three decades of experience in the banking and finance sector, Agbaje joined GTBank – one of Africa’s foremost banks – based in Lagos, Nigeria, as a pioneer staff in 1991. He served in different capacities – across different groups in the bank.

On account of his exemplary style and work ethic, Agbaje rose through the ranks. In 2000, he was appointed as an Executive Director and later appointed as Deputy Managing Director in 2002. By 2011, he was appointed as the bank’s Chief Executive Officer.

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Shittu, Danbatta to Lead Discourse at Digital Innovation Confab Stories by Emma Okonji The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu and the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof.

Umar Danbatta will lead discussions at this year’s Nigeria Digital Innovation Conference holding in Kano.

Both the Minister and the EVC confirmed their participation via separate letters of endorsement of the event, addressed to the organiser, Centre for Cyber Awareness and Development (CECAD).

The Minsiter Barr. Adebayo Shittu during a recent visit to the Centre, pledged the support of the Ministry and its readiness to optimize digital opportunities for Nigeria.

“Our goal is to leverage the ICT sector for efficient and transparent governance, inclusive participation of the public in government activities

as well as socio-economic diversification hence we are committed to partnering your Centre to achieving a common and collective objective” the Minister noted. In the same vein, the Nigerian Communications Commission in a letter stated; “We write to convey management’s approval for support and endorsement of the Nigeria Digital Innovation Conference 2016, being hosted by your organization.

The Commission’s support is hinged on its commitment toward creating awareness and engagement of stakeholders in addressing germane industry issues,” said NCC in the letter signed by Mr. Reuben Mouka, Head of Public Relations on behalf of the Executive ViceChairman Professor Umar Danbatta NCC added that its support and endorsement of the conference is predicated upon the organiser’s demonstration to

implement a multi-stakeholder conference whose outcome will enrich the efforts to accelerate ICT development in Nigeria.

The Conference with the Theme: ‘Building a new Nigeria in a digital economy’ is scheduled to hold at the Bayero University, Kano North-West Nigeria between

18-19th of August 2016. The event is structured to examine how the rapid expansion of digital technology and broadband is transforming the economic opportunities for millions of Nigerians.

The conference presents an pportunity to engage multistakeholders of high-powered

panelists, experts and audience drawn from both the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy to articulate best ways for promoting youth innovation, job creation and economic development in the digital world.

The Centre for Cyber Awareness and Development

is an advocacy, training, public education and development non-profit, non-governmental organisation (NGO).The overall aim of CECAD is to promote cyber responsibility

by Internet users at the local, regional, national and international levels through advocacy and public education.

SystemSpecs Set to Chat New Course for Nigeria’s ICT Revolution As Nigeria struggles to play catch up with advanced nations of the world that have made ICT their mainstay, its successful implementation of a Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy continues to attract the attention of stakeholders in the industry, both home and abroad. Recently, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed admitted that the TSA had averted Nigeria’s imminent collapse and stemmed the tide of corruption.

Renowned Indigenous ICT provider SystemSpecs is credited with inventing the acclaimed Remita software with which the Federal Government successfully implemented the policy. The software aggregates multiple bank accounts and payment options, easing the hassle associated with the payment process for major billers and the general public.

Only recently, CSR-inAction, a not-for-profit committed to promoting sustainability and corporate social responsibility in Nigeria, hosted a SystemSpecs Executive Director, Mr. Deremi Atanda on its periodic Good Citizen tweet meet. He shared his insights on the policy and the controversy surrounding the remittances allegedly owed SystemSpecs 16 months after the revolutionary ecollection and payment system was introduced.

The TSA is “a set of linked accounts maintained by government to have clear visibility on its transactions,” Atanda explained.

He said the policy had been implemented by many countries across the globe with significant benefits which include strict government control over its finances such that all transactions, both payment and receipt, are thoroughly monitored.

In 2011, SystemSpecs was engaged to provide the TSA payment technology following a rigorous selection process.

The software provider worked

with a team of experts drawn from the CBN and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) to deliver the daunting first phase of the project in less than three months.

Ever since, the adoption of the policy has ensured transparency in government’s financial transactions, eliminated bottlenecks and automated payment processing in the system.

“Government transactions are no longer limited to office hours, as suppliers and citizens can be paid or pay anytime.

Ultimately, government can easily plan on available funds and know actual funding gaps [with] great reduction in local borrowing cost,” disclosed Atanda.

He emphasised that Nigerians equally stand to benefit immensely from the TSA implementation as it eases the hassle of travelling long distances to make payments, opening up vast opportunities in retail banking and ICT innovation if government refocuses its attention on information technology from the traditional crude oil.

Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding the unpaid remittances of the TSA service providers – SystemSpecs and the commercial banks – lingers.

Atanda disclosed that “all service providers are yet to be paid for TSA collections,” an impasse which he said is unfounded since “fees are contractual.”

He maintained that SystemSpecs’ 1% service charge is minimal, compared to other local and international Fintech platforms offering related services.

“A 1% transaction fee was agreed by all parties in the contract, though it could go as high as 3.5% in other climes.

Interestingly, some government schemes were charging well above 5% before the TSA came on board,” Atanda explained.

EXCELLENT AWARD

L-R: Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, presenting the Group Managing Director of Courteville Business Solutions Plc, Mr. Adebola Akindele, a recognition award, which also include the ‘Most Revolutionary e-Government Product of the Year Award’, at the Titans of Tech Award night, held in Lagos...recently

LG Introduces Latest OLED Television into Nigerian Market Following the challenges of poor picture qualities and resolution that impede television viewing in Nigeria, where families had to converge around the television box at the end of the day to catch-up with their favourite TV programmes, LG has introduced the world’s first 4K OLED TV into the Nigerian Market that addresses the challenges.

LG had some years ago, introduced the OLED TV technology, which is solely produced by LG Electronics, which came in 55-inch TV sizes.

But the new entry of the LG 4K OLED TV into the Nigerian market, signals another hurdle for other brands in the consumer electronics industry as LG 4K OLED TVs come in both 55 and 65inch sizes. There is no doubt LG Electronics has distinguished itself from its major competitors when it comes to meeting consumers expectation with core innovative technology leaving consumers longing and looking forward to the next production. The 4K OLED TV is a clear statement from LG Electronics, displaying its core competence and taste for high quality when it comes to home entertainment and of course with the interest of the consumer coming first, the company said.

Describing the LG’s curved 4K OLED TV, as unique and pleasant for consumers, the General Manager, Home Entertainment division, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Steve Ryu, said it

combines the intense detail of Ultra High Definition (HD) with the superior contrast and rich, accurate colour that only OLED TV can provide, to display what leading industry pundits have deemed the best picture ever.

According to him, the OLED’s revolutionary technology delivers an awe-inspiring picture with perfect blacks and incredible color, even from wide viewing angles. LG’s Art Slim design philosophy is a complement to any interior décor as the TV boasts an amazingly slim depth at only a few millimeters and a stylish, frameless design.

LG 4K OLED TV model offers 4k resolution which delivers perfect black cinematic colour for clear and beautiful Ultra HD picture quality to the delight of consumers. The Ultra HD Resolution which is 4-times the resolution of full HD is recorded as 3840 x 2160p ensuring every picture detail is revealed just as it.

With the LG OLED WRGB technology, the LG 4K OLED TV comes with a total of over 33 million sub-pixels heralding the display of a billion variety of colours.

“For years LG has been at the forefront of innovations that demanded recognition from both experts and consumers, and industry recognition further validates our efforts, especially with 4K OLED TVs,” Ryu said, adding, “OLED TVs are a whole new standard in picture quality and when matched with Ultra HD technology, the results are simply astounding.”

According to him, the innovation used in making the 4K OLED TV would revolutionise TV, design putting competitors on their toes, either to design something better than the 4K OLED or simply queue behind it. LG has demonstrated that the 4K OLED TV as a flagship

model is truly a game changer with an unparalleled advancement in innovative technology.

The LG 4K OLED TV is 1000 times faster than the regular LED TVs. With a response time of .001 seconds while showing moving images, makes the product special for customers.

Glo Collaborates with Channels TV to Push News to Phones Data grandmasters, Globacom, has entered into a partnership with leading news station, Channels Television, to offer breaking news service to subscribers on the company’s network.

According to Globacom’s Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Ashok Israni, the unique video offering will keep subscribers well informed about happenings around the globe as it enables them to watch news on their phones as it breaks.” The service gives our subscribers unlimited access to breaking news around the world from Channels TV on their smart phones. The news will be delivered via video as it is broadcast on conventional television,” he stated.

Israni explained that the Channels TV breaking News is a 24-hour news service, and that its introduction further reinforced Globacom’s position as the most innovative network in the country as well as its commitment to giving more

value to its subscribers.

To enjoy the Channels TV breaking News service from Globacom, he added, all a subscriber requires is to simply Text CTV to 50061. Customers will be charged N25 per week for the service.

Once a customer subscribes to the offering, he will receive at least two breaking news headlines daily with a url link that opens the video once it is clicked on.

This service will make Glo subscribers the “first to know” about breaking news of major events happening within and outside the country.

He emphasized that Globacom had consistently brought innovation, first-class service delivery and numerous benefits to its subscribers for the past 13 years it has been in business.

Israni enjoined Nigerians to make maximum use of the new service to stay ahead, assuring subscribers to the services of high-resolution images and videos.

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DEVELOPMENT

Cane Furniture: Embracing a Viable Revenue Source Cane furniture sector has been identified as a very viable industry with huge potential for generating scarce revenue for the nation, if given the needed support and enabling environment by the federal and state governments. Ugo Aliogo reports

N

igeria is a country with an undying love for fine furniture.

The love stems from the fact that Nigerians are born artisans and craftsmen with a knack for aesthetics and durable furniture. The Nigeria furniture market is largely dominated by upholstery and cane; the latter product known for its durability and aesthetics.

In many homes and offices, cane furniture is popular. For some Nigerians, it is a viable replacement for the leather upholstery furniture.

This reason is not due to cost in most cases, but because of the comfort it brings to the individual and its uniqueness.

Rich History Cane furniture work started in Nigeria in the 60s. During that era, the product enjoyed higher patronage from the colonial masters than from Nigerians. The cane furniture makers then produced kitchen and garden chairs, which were hawked on the streets of Ikoyi, Obalende and Victoria Island in Lagos.

In the 80s, there was a boom in cane furniture production, due to the entrance of youths, especially young school leavers, into the business.

Also, Nigerians who travelled abroad saw the usefulness of cane products in those societies.

Presently, the demand for cane furniture is high compared to the past. As aesthetic objects, they are used in hotels, offices and residential homes and it is a lucrative venture. But it is disheartening that the industry is not getting the needed support from the federal and state governments in terms of subventions, trainings and technical assistance.

The cane furniture industry if properly harnessed can be a stronger and viable revenue earner for the country, as can be seen from the experiences of countries such as Philippians, Taiwan, and Japan, which export their products to generate vital foreign revenue.

Sensible Appeal When THISDAY visited one of the production sites in Lagos, the state Chairman Cane Weavers Association (LSCWA) Mr. Mark Ewhieberene, expressed deep frustration that the association is not receiving the needed support from the federal and state government in order to grow the businesses, saying “I have always appealed through the media that the federal and state governments should come to our aid.”

Ewhieberene who appealed to the Lagos state government to provide three acres of land for all cane weavers to converge together rather staying in different locations, commended the government for the opportunity to allow them stay under the bridge.

He also called on the state government to assist them with loans and subventions to grow their businesses and buy equipment to improve the quality of the products, adding that they are using the business to boost economic growth, improve artisanship, and provide unemployment opportunities. Ewhieberene added: “What is unique about the product is that it is durable, compared to the upholstery furniture. It can serve for 15 to 20 years if properly maintained.

It is not heavy to carry from place to place. We get our raw materials from different locations, such Delta State, River state, Edo state and some parts of Lagos state around Epe area.

“Most buyers prefer it designed with a particular colour, while others want it kept natural; it depends on the individual concerned. We have different types with various prices. A fully weaved set of cane chair with foam is N150,000. While the one made with raffia, a completed set of it, goes for N180,000.

“There is also a new addition to the system, it is made of rubber material (a foreign raw material imported from Japan which is used for cane furniture production). A complete set of it with the foam costs N600,000. The figures are quite expensive, but it depends on the materials used. Cane naturally is cheaper; raffia is higher in value, while rubber is very expensive.

“From January to September the sales is usually very low, but we still try to sell. The peaks of

Showcasing local ingenuity, foreign revenue potential

sales are usually during festive periods such as Easter, Christmas, and Ramadan. But December is a perfect time where customers come to buy Christmas harpers for gifts.”

Intervention Fund The Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in every economy is the engine of economic growth because it contributes largely to productivity and economic prosperity. According to National Bureau of Statistics data, in 2010 the MSME contributed 46.54 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP in nominal terms, with the potential to contribute more in view of their large number in the country. Despite this encouraging statistics, the MSME sector has not been able to achieve increased growth as expected due to huge financial gaps.

In August 2013 as part of federal government’s effort to support this critical sector of the economy, the CBN launched the MSME development fund, an intervention fund with a take-off seed capital of N220 billion. The fund was set to help MSMEs in the country have access to credit facilities in order to expand their businesses.

The fund was launched by then CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who said: “In 2012, Nigeria had about 17.6 million MSMEs employing about 32.4 million people, and contributing about

Trust Abused

Nigerians have the right to be angry with the governments at all levels and across board. Right from the local council to the state and federal levels, majority of citizens, including this reporter, are being exposed to harrowing hunger and mounting deprivation through no fault of theirs. This has nothing to do with avoiding taxes; almost every Nigerian pays tax in one form or the other, through VAT, PAYE e.t.c. It is about abuse of public trust and the expected result, simple.

This is about the elected representatives who have consistently failed to deliver on their campaign promises to the people; from the

46.54 per cent of nominal GDP. A survey by IFC and Mckinsey in 2010 noted that 80 per cent of these MSMEs are excluded from the financial markets. The state of MSMEs in this country underscores the importance of this fund.”

The fund is administered at an interest rate of three per cent per annum, under the wholesale funding to the PFIs with a spread of six per cent bringing the lending rate to borrowers at a maximum of nine per cent per annum, inclusive of all charges.

Despite these seemingly favourable conditions, MSME operators have not been able to access the fund due to the cumbersome processes involved. Commercial banks have high interest rates which most MSME operators cannot cope with, while the micro-finance banks are also not making it easy for them to get soft loans.

The situation appears sad and nothing seems to be done in helping the MSME operators to access funds to grow their businesses. In most states such as Lagos state, government derives lots of revenue from MSME operators through taxation process.

Policy Recommendations An economic policy expert, from the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) Prof. Akpan Ekpo, stated that the cane furniture industry has

the capacity to earn foreign exchange for the nation through export, if given the needed the support and enabling environment.

He said with the present situation in the country, foreign exchange is highly needed, adding that the cane furniture is a means to economic diversification. Ekpo decried the federal government’s adequate attention to the informal sector, while urging them to copy the example of Lagos state government, which to him, has an innovative way of taxing the informal sector and generating revenue from them.

He added: “The federal government should help them access to funds in order for them to expand. There is the CBN Intervention Fund for Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SMEs) but they don’t have access to it due to the modalities involved in access the fund.

Government should relax the modalities to allow for easy access to the fund.

“Also our Universities should think ways of designing new machines to support their production processes, because at the most many of them, do their work under very tedious conditions. Therefore, when they have access to well design machines, it will facilitate the growth process and make work easier for them.

They also need concessionary foreign exchange rate from government in order to buy good quality machines,” he added.

RANDOM THOTS leaders in the north who divert aid and ecological funds and cannot justify the billions from monthly federal allocations to their states; to governors in the south-east and south-south who spent years agitating for a separate slice of the national cake (13% derivation formula), only to siphon the proceeds, to the detriment of the under-developed communities in the Niger Delta; and to the south-west leaders who impose stiffer taxes on already impoverished citizens and give revenue-generating agencies impossible targets and free reign to meet such targets by hook or crook.

And even though the federal gov-

ernment is struggling to meet the expectations of the people based on the campaign promises on which the present administration emerged, the centre appears overwhelmed by the scale of corruption and the sheer size of citizens in desperate need. The result is the simmering anger and discontent among the average populace across the land, which has the potential to boomerang out of control as long as the masses continue to see their leaders flexing in luxurious official cocoons without urgently addressing the pressing needs of the public. The timebomb is ticking…

Abimbola Akosile

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DEvELOpmENT/ISSUESINBOx

House of Representatives in session

Is it Time to Start Recalling Erring Legislators?

The media space has been awash with allegations of fraud and budget padding at the National Assembly, especially at the House of Representatives; even as the Senate leadership is still reeling from allegations of forgery and questions on assets declaration. To restore peace and sanity to the Legislature and ensure needed development at this point in the nation’s history, is this the right time for the electorate to exercise their mandate and start recalling any errant representatives?

Abimbola Akosile

THE FEEDBACK

* It is high time but the problem is that most electorates lack awareness on this process and the lawyers, journalists and civil society practitioners need to promote awareness on it.

- Mr. Feyisetan Akeeb Kareem, President, Change Makers Forum, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State

Yes, it is time:

6

No, it is not:

1

Others:

6

Radical tip:

Recall doesn’t work!

Total no of respondents:

13

* Yes, it is time to recall all the legislators found wanting of inglorious crimes like budget padding, false assets declaration, looting of public funds, diversion, misappropriation, laundering e.t.c. as all such bring shame, disrepute, retrogression e.t.c. to Nigeria and Nigerians locally and globally. At the grassroots level the law is over-effected whereas the reverse is the case with the elites. True change demands total honesty and patriotism; no bending of any laws no matter whose ox is gored. We must act now and fast.

- Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State

Male:

10

Female:

3

Highest location:

Lagos (7)

* There is no better time than now. Many of them have shown that they didn’t go there as leaders or law-makers. What law do we expect from corrupt people? If you follow all the proofs in all the allegations, as shameless as they are, they will want to be recalled instead of bowing out in a gentlemanly manner. It is a shame the people we call Honourable and gents; all those found wanting should be recalled immediately.

- Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna * I have reiterated this again and again at different fora. The sensitisation has begun.

It is just a matter of time; Nigeria shall come out of the woods in fullness of time. God bless Nigeria.

- Mr. Oyekanmi Oladele, Lagos State * When the presidency said the budget they gave the National Assembly was padded and PMB said he would not sign the budget because it was doctored, everyone was calling for his head for not signing it because of the suffering of Nigerians. Now, confessions are coming out of how the Speaker and other principal officers padded the budget for their selfish interest. The EFCC and other security agencies should do their investigation and

bring those behind the doctored budget to book despite their positions in the House, to deter others who engage in similar acts in the future. This is very embarrassing to the nation.

- Mrs. Ijeoma Nnorom, Lagos State * The only way to move Nigeria forward is to fight corruption at all levels to its barest minimum by punishing offenders to serve as a deterrent to others. But it should be done with profound evidence. Visionary people who have the mind to develop Nigeria and her people should be elected or appointed to the position of authority. May God help Nigeria.

- Mr. Sunday Odong, Lagos State * The warning signs were there from the beginning. At a time everyone was clamouring for and trying to reduce cost of governance, our Speaker was said to have chartered a private aircraft to a private function in one of the states in the South-east. Right from then, I knew it would only be a matter of time before one financial scandal or another would bring him down. The only surprising thing is that it took this long. Recall has never worked but the electorates seem to be able to recall a good number during elections, as far as legislators are concerned.

- Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State * It’s time but these people will outplay the electorate. I think we just need to be extracareful at election to screen them more. I believe we all saw Dogara shamelessly telling

us already he is a trained lawyer; but the day of reckoning is coming soon. God help Nigerians.

- Mr. Isaac Olomola, Legal practitioner, Lagos * Yes, of course the exigencies of the legislators must be curtailed urgently. It is becoming too unbecoming of too many of them by their flagrant defiance of the law and acting arbitrarily. They have been involved severally in amazing acts like budget padding, infighting, sex scandals, financial frauds, insincerity, unpatriotism, forgery e.t.c. All culpable legislators do not have electorate in their agenda and so should be recalled henceforth, to avoid wasting tax-payers’ scarce funds, time and resources. They must sit up.

- Ms. Saiki Ometere Tina, Gboko, Benue State * No, recalling them is like executing thieves; a more horrendous set simply emerges. Just check their excesses. So much public money, time, energy, other resources e.t.c have been invested on them over time; why waste all that?

Advanced countries will repair rather than destroy only available although poor patriots.

Corruption and inflation nearly destroyed America during their civil war and crisis in times past but Franklin Delano Roosevelt held tight to good leadership and unity to pull through. We should do same instead of graduating from one illusive confusion and disaffection to another.

- Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos State * There is no better time than now.

- Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna * If only the masses realise the latent power they have to recall erring legislators, many so-called representatives would have been dragged back home by now without any recourse to violence. But the general mindset is that the same masses didn’t vote the legislators into power in the first place - since they were chosen by their political parties through primaries - and thus do not possess the power of recall. The simple truth is that a mere agitation by angry electorates at a town-hall meeting is enough to make any representative jittery, much less a jointly-signed letter of protest, or better still of a full recall.

The day those who stood for hours in the sun and the rain to vote in legis-looters know

the power they have, sanity will be ensured in the National and State Assemblies.

- Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State * What is happening in the green chamber over padded budget is shameful and an insult to Nigerians. Upon the economy challenges, the Speaker and his principal officers doctored the budget for their selfish interest. He should resign and let him face probe for his ugly acts, which should be a lesson to others who may want to do the same to their fatherland in the future. Budget padding has allowed us to know the kind of selfish people we elected to represent us.

- Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State

Next Week: Can New WAI Initiative Help Restore Nigeria?

The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Garba Abari, has announced that the Federal Government, led by president muhammadu Buhari has re-launched the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade in Abuja, to help gather civil intelligence in this era of insecurity, violence, and kidnapping. minister of Information, Lai mohammed, had said WAI will be rebranded into Change Begins with me (CBWm). Given WAI’s positive effect during pmB’s first tenure in the 80s, can this re-launched initiative successfully help curb corruption and restore Nigeria to her former lofty height? please make your response direct, short and simple, and state your full name, title, organisation, and location. Responses should be sent between today (Aug 11 & monday, August 15) to abimbolayi@yahoo.com, greatbimbo@gmail. com, AND abimbola.akosile@thisdaylive. com. Respondents can also send a short text message to 08023117639 and/or 08188361766 and/or 08114495306. Collated responses will be published on Thursday, August 18

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Changing the face of Lagos at Berger area

ABIMBOLA AKOSILE

FGDisburses$1.5mPerformance-basedGrantsto36StatesonSOML Kasim Sumaina and MaryAnne Abin in Abuja The Federal Government has launched the symbolic $1.5 million disbursement of initial performance-based grants to the 36 States of the federation on Saving One Million Lives (SOML) Programme for Results (PforR).

The move, government noted, was to build on existing ongoing initiatives that are part of and driven by the National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP) and the State Health Development Plan (SHDP).

Disclosing this at the recent launch in Abuja, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said, “As Nigeria starts her journey towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UCH), it is important we

understand where we are as a nation, current challenges and responsibilities and roles expected from all stakeholders.”

Adewole in his keynote address said, “We are gathered here today to officially launch the SOML PforR in Nigeria and to disburse an initial take-off grant of $1.5 million to all the Ministries of Health in the 36 States and the FCTA Health and Human Services Secretariat, following a careful assessment of an initial, evidence based plan of action submitted by all the beneficiaries.”

According to him, “Earlier in April, we published the results of the 2015 SMART Survey, which will provide the baseline data for SOML PforR. With this launch, we would begin to count, assess

the progress that States have made on annual basis.”

The minister hinted that the SOML is being funded from a N140 billion ($500 million) IT’S credit that has been negotiated by the federal government with the World Bank and is given to the states as grant.

“It is pertinent to reiterate that with the SOML PforR, we are not replacing the responsibility of the State Governments to improve the health status of their citizens, rather, we are providing an incentive to encourage them to do more. Remember however, No Results, No Reward Incentive,” the minister said.

“Nigeria accounts for an estimated 14 per cent of maternal deaths worldwide with a maternal mortality of 576 per 100,000 live births; infant

mortality rate of 69 per 1,000 live births and child mortality of 128 per 1000 live births.

“The current administration is resolute to reverse these shameful national health indices by promoting innovative mechanisms that will promote equitable and qualitative health care. Our vision is to reduce maternal mortality ratio to less than 100 per 1,000 live births; reduce infant mortality rate to less than 10 per 1,000 live births and child mortality rate to less than 25 per 1,000 live births by 2020. I’m confident that these are realistic targets.

“Considering the above situation, the federal ministry of health conceived the idea of Saving One Million Lives (SOML) as a new strategy to save the lives of mothers and children by increasing

access to, and utilisation of a set of high impact essential commodities and services.

“The process of negotiations benefited from participation and/or inputs from a wide range of stake holders including the FMOH, federal ministry of finance (FMF), Federal Ministry of Justice (FMoJ) the WB, Heads of Development Partner Agencies and Civil society”, the don disclosed.

Continuing, he said: “Based on the result of an annual performance assessment that will be conducted using data from two annual health surveys; the national nutrition and health survey (which used the standardised monitoring and assessment of relief and transition (SMART) Methodology) and the health facilities surveys, States will receive reward incentives in

multiples of $205,000 for every increase, above a set threshold, in coverage of the six SOML PforR tracers indicators paying for results in the manner we believe has the advantage among others.

“This is to help institutionalise in the long run, a culture whereby, we think, plan and implement interventions and measure our success by how much our efforts have helped improve the health status of our people. This has an intrinsic value in putting people first. An independent verification agent will also be recruited by the federal ministry of finance to review and validate any data that is generated on progress, as an external check to avoid chances of gaming the system.

This is the umpire”, Adewole added.

Abia Awards N14.8bn Contracts for Roads, Street Lights Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia Abia state government has announced the award of contracts worth N14.8 billion for developmental projects covering 10 road projects, installation of street lights and construction of health facility.

State commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Bonnie Iwuoha made this known while briefing

newsmen on the outcome of a recent emergency meeting of the State Executive Council in Umuahia.

The projects include a total of 50.47km roads located in urban and rural areas, provision of street lights on two stretch of roads in Umuahia the capital city as well as the construction of the Child and Maternal Health Centre at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH).

The commissioner said the contract for rehabilitation and expansion of the 4.8km Faulks road Aba and its drainage component has been reviewed upwards from N5.588 billion to N6.840 billion. Faulks is one of the strategic road networks in the commercial city of Aba as it leads directly to Ariaria International market and links the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.

According to Iwuoha, the

review of the contract sum for Faulks road became necessary because of the “level of work” expected to be done by the contractor (Setraco) at Ifeobara basin to tackle the perennial problem of flooding in the area.

He pointed out that a private citizen, Chris Odinaka Igwe, has elected to join hands with government in the construction of the 6.15km Amuda Isuochi road in Umunneochi local government, adding that the

Isuochi-born business man would bear 40 per cent of the total contract sum of N836 million.

Iwuoha emphasised that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has made it a point of duty to ensure that every road project constructed by his administration must have a life span of a minimum of 10 years, adding that contractors have been made aware of the need to do high quality jobs.

The government spokesman also stated that the State Executive Council has taken a firm decision to put an end to illegal collection of taxes and levies by touts in both Aba and Umuahia.

To this end he said government has set up a task force to go after the illegal revenue collectors, adding that the task force was empowered to arrest the people involved in the illegal business and prosecute them to serve as deterrent.

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The ills that bedeviled the nation at that time are still very much with us today. That is why, when the NOA was established in 1983, the War Against Indiscipline (WAI Brigade) was automatically drafted to be part of the agency to fight against indiscipline, disorderly behaviour in public and private places, disobedience to traffic rules and regulations, disrespect for constituted authorities, filthy environment, bribery, corruption and other social vices” - DIRECTOR GENERAL OF NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY (NOA), DR. GARBA ABARI, SPEAKING IN ABUJA

Canada Commits $6.5m to Campaign against Child Marriage in Nigeria Alex Enumah in Abuja

103 Osun Communities Free of Open Defecation, Says UNICEF Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The European Union and United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) have disclosed that 103 rural communities in Osun state are now free from open defecation through the implementation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects in the state.

The State UNICEF WASH Consultant, Olowole Modekai said out of the 304 trigger communities, 50 are also approaching the status of open defecation; representing 50 per cent of all rural communities engaging in open defecation in the state.

Modekai said this at a recent two-day workshop on WASH Capacity Building Media Network in Osun held in Ijebu-jesa to engage media practitioners on strategies to promote water and sanitation hygiene in Osun.

According to him, 215 water facilities have been completed out of 259 awarded through the collaboration of state government, Rural and Water Environmental Sanitation Agency (RUWESA) and EU/UNICEF to ensure equitable access to water supply for 65,500 people in the state especially the rural areas.

He said 2,387 improved latrines have been constructed in Osun and 4,800 school children are having equitable access to hygienic water, adding that the target of Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme (WASSSRP) is to ensure that 120,000 people in the state have equitable access to water supply in 2017.

The UNICEF consultant explained that 7,515 are engaging in open defecation but virtually all houses in the two focal local governments, Ayedaade and Odo-otin where WASH programmes are currently ongoing have constructed household latrines.

Also speaking, Director Sanitation and Health, RUWESA, Segun Moyinoluwa said the state was able to achieve the feat with the commitment of the State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola through prompt payment of counterpart funds to the partnering international organisations.

Moyinoluwa, who commended Aregbesola

FIGHTING AGAINST OPEN DEFECATION for giving priority to healthy living of the people of the state, further explained that Osun government paid 100 per cent of the counterpart contribution involved in the WASH project despite the lull in the nation’s economy.

He said the involvement of the state government in WASH is in fulfillment of the governor’s six integral action plans to promote healthy living in the state.

Through the WASH and other interventions, according to Moyinoluwa, the 1,000 boreholes have been provided in 800 rural and urban communities with the assistance of EU/UNICEF and other partners which have significantly reduced water-related diseases and promote sanitation and hygiene in the state.

He added that the agency programme has increased school enrolments, enhanced human dignity with the prevention of open defecation, and provided opportunities for the remotest rural areas to have access to

WWW.SCOOPWHOOP.COM drinkable water in the state of Osun.

Moyinoluwa urged media practitioners to support the agency and other partnering agencies in promoting the culture of sanitation and hygiene in the state.

Enumerating some of the benefits of WASH intervention programme, Moyinoluwa said the programme has drastically helped in the reduction of poverty that may likely to ensue through the outbreak of diseases.

According to EU/UNICEF reports, 663 million people do not have access to clean water and 2.4 billion persons lack access to improved sanitation; 946 million defecate openly, while 9 out of 10 people in rural areas are defecating openly.

The workshop aimed to establish media network and partnership in communicating water sanitation and hygiene to the public.

It was attended by the representatives of media houses in Osun.

Canada has joined the League of Nations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that are currently waging war against early and child marriage in Nigeria and the African continent, with the donation of $6.5 million to help tackle the menace in Nigeria; even as The Gambia and Tanzania recently made it an offence punishable by imprisonment for perpetrators of the act.

The Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Perry Calderwood who made the disclosure at a recent briefing on African Child Campaign, in Abuja, said Canada is actively involved in efforts to bring an end to child, early and forced marriage globally.

Calderwood noted that if any country is to genuinely put an end to child marriage, it is essential that girls should be offered a quality, gender-sensitive and accessible education, adding that government and people make conscious efforts to proffer solutions to those factors which make it difficult for parents to keep their girls in school.

“In Nigeria, Canada is providing $6.5 million in programming through UNFPA and Save the Children to improve access to education for girls and help to keep them in school longer.

In addition, Canada supports organisations advocating for girls’ rights and opportunities at the community level”, he said.

While arguing that if equipped with a quality education, girls can obtain the skills and gain access to the opportunities necessary to ensure that they and their families escape poverty, Calderwood pointed out that, “A quality education also instills the confidence and provides the knowledge girls require to determine their own futures”.

The High Commissioner disclosed that outside the provision of funds for the campaign against early and child marriage, Canada at the level of policy, has been having regular meetings with Nigerian officials, advocating strategies for raising awareness about the girls’ issue.

“Gender equality and empowerment of women and girls are also key priorities shared by both Canada and African states”, he added.

According to him, the High Commission supported the National Conference on Social Protection for the Girl Child, which was spearheaded by ActionAid in partnership with the Ford Foundation in Abuja.

Calderwood stressed that girls must be included as full participants in any decisions that affect their lives and that they can only do so when they are well educated.

Other areas the Canadian government has been supportive to Nigeria include the healthcare sector, particularly the issue of polio eradication, which the envoy claimed has yielded fruitful result.

Popular Nollywood actress and a major voice in the child rights campaign, Stephanie Okereke-Linus, while stating that education is the only solution to child marriage and its attendant consequences, called on all stakeholders to support the cause of the girl child so that she can actualise her dreams.

She expressed joy that her campaign through the movie, ‘Dry’, is beginning to yield result as the governments of The Gambia and Tanzania have made it a criminal offence for anyone to give or accept a girl child in marriage.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

The Countless Dangers of Female Genital Mutilation Killing of twins and albinos, and the drawing of tribal marks on faces, are some of the traditions that have gone into extinction in Nigeria, but female genital mutilation has refused to go away despite its health and social consequences. Rebecca Ejifoma writes on the need for urgent government and societal interventions against the practise

F

emale Genital Mutilation (FGM), is the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is done either with a blade or massaged daily to whither or fold into the vagina.

True, almost everyone has heard of this ‘tradition’ done against the girl-child. Over 200 million girls and women have undergone the unfortunate experience, with majority of them living in 30 countries, including Nigeria.

For instance, in Nigeria alone, studies have shown that about 40 million women and girls have been subjected to FGM, with majority of its victims oblivious of the dangers it poses to their health and social life.

One of such families that have experienced the barbaric act is that of Mrs. Augustina, whose four daughters were circumcised. They are now aged 10, six, four and three.

She said her daughters were cut at one month old while their navels were falling off. “When I had my first child, my in-laws came quickly to my home from the village with their nurse.

They say she is a professional in the ‘business’.

I refused them to touch my daughters, but because there was no one to stand by me, they overpowered me. While they were cutting my first daughter, I had to call my mum because I was confused, but she told me she knew about the practise, even though in my place they just rob it till it withers.

Augustina, an indigene of Edo State, is married to a man from Imo State, whose family, according to her, was a staunch FGM believer.

“Even my mother-in-law told me that FGM will make my daughters responsible and not promiscuous. So, they cut my second, third and fourth daughters,” she notes.

She said in her case, the clitoris of her girls were totally cut off and the upper parts scrapped.

FGM could make a female promiscuous Contrary to traditional belief, a nurse and advocate against FGM, Mrs. Folorunso Adelapo has revealed that the practise does not stop promiscuity, adding that, as a matter of fact it promotes promiscuity among women.

She said unfortunately, the men holding fast to FGM as a culture were those that think they want to marry women that are submissive sexually, whereas in reality, the practise would rather make women less submissive.

Buttressing her point, she said the clitoris that is being cut was a sensitive organ that God has made, such that during sexual intercourse the woman is aroused. “That is what makes a woman feels satisfied because it is fully vascularised (full of blood vessel). During sexual intercourse, when the male organ touches the clitoris, the woman feels this satisfaction in her, but if you cut it off, she does not feel that satisfaction.

Hence, she continues to look for satisfaction else where.

“She will not know the circumcision on her is the reason she is not sexually satisfied. She will go from one man to another, and yet another.

Unlike a woman whose clitoris is intact and gets satisfied during sexual intercourse,” she explained.

Adelapo, who has spent over 23 years in the field, said culture was dynamic, hence the need for the FGM practise to change. “But that has been very difficult to change, as people continue to lay claim to culture. When you ask them why their culture tells them to cut girls, they will tell you it is simply their culture. A culture that cannot be explained, that cannot be dynamic should be changed,” she stressed.

Interestingly, in those days, she recounts, “I

FGM has social and health concerns

come from a place where tribal marks were drawn on children’s faces for purpose of identity.

But with time, when we could write down the names of the children, tribal marks gradually disappeared. So, if we have a culture that has no usefulness, why can’t it be changed?

In the South-west, during childbirth, it is believed that if the head of a baby touches the clitoris during delivery, the baby will die.

She countered: “This is a lie. I’m a midwife.

I’ve taken several deliveries of uncircumcised women. And you see, God is so wonderful that during labour, the vulvar widens so much that the clitoris is pushed to the back of the vulvar and the head of the baby can never touch it.”However, reports also show that no baby dies from having contact with the mother’s clitoris during childbirth.

As an advocate for girl-child and women, this expert continued that from what they now tell people, apart from the medical and health hazard of this, it is an inhuman act which also bothers on the right of the girl-child.

She said the clitoris, among other areas, could make a woman aroused, adding that for some women, it is their nipples, while others could be their inner thighs. “So, do you cut off their nipples or their thighs because it could make them aroused? So, let them think twice.”

Besides, other health risks or complications attached to FGM include, she said severe pain during sexual intercourse, excessive bleeding during or after child delivery, genital tissue swelling, impaired wound, psychological consequences, mensural problems, female sexual health, shock in delivery, obstetric complications, infections like HIV/AIDs, leakage of urine and faeces and even death.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified FGM into four broad categories in 1995 and again in 2007: I: Partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce. II: Partial or

total removal of the clitoris and labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora.

III: Narrowing of the vaginal orifice by cutting and bringing together the labia minora and/or the labia majora to create a type of seal, with or without excision of the clitoris. IV: All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example: pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterisation.

Research shows that geopolitical zones in Nigeria like South-east, North Central, North West, South-south uphold this long due traditional practice firmly. While some carry out this cut when the baby is still in infancy, others do it a day to the girl’s wedding or few days to the delivery of her first baby, findings show.

Sadly, Mrs. Vivian (surname withheld), who is a media practitioner in her late 30s, shares her own tale with THISDAY. “When my uncle heard I gave birth to a baby girl in Washington DC, United States, he called me to ensure I kept the tradition alive. He instructed me on how to remove the clitoris since the nurses from our village were not there.”

According to her, she was told to grease her thumb with vaseline and massage the clitoris of the child daily until it fell off. “My uncle said if I continued pressing it with my thumb, the clitoris would either wither and fall off or pull into the baby’s body,” she explained.

Enforcement of the Law The ex-president Goodluck Jonathan’s government passed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition bill (VAPP) into law last year. The law prohibits female circumcision, forceful ejection from home and harmful widowhood practices after 11 states in Nigeria banned FGM. And today, however, Ebonyi State has followed swiftly with the enactment of a five year jail term against anyone who carries out the harm on girls. Still the practice continues.

In an interview with THISDAY, the Chairman, Lagos Advocacy Working Group, Barrister Ayo Adebusoye, said Nigerians should understand that law was one thing and enforcement was another.

“I think again this is where awareness comes in. People need to know why FGM is unacceptable in the modern society. It’s just like the maltreatment of widows and all.”

He, however, argued that “we may talk about the law, but it is the belief system of the people that matters, and it can only be elevated by education. It shouldn’t be tolerated in the 21st century Nigeria. It is an abomination and harmful. It leads to very unnecessary mortality in women,” he added.

The advocate further urged the government and the media to collaborate in broadcasting the dangers of FGM. “Those who are caught should be sanctioned as an example to others.

Without sanctions, people will keep doing it.

After all, there was Atlantic Slave Trade. But when people saw sanctions - though it took a while - it was checked.”

He described a lot of traditions practiced in the country as criminal. “Some of our traditions are criminal! We need to be brave enough to say we are not doing it again. Have we all as a people decided that this is unacceptable? If not, people will keep saying tradition must come first.”

So, unanimously, these experts alongside several others have suggested that all religious leaders, traditional rulers alongside community leaders should say this is unacceptable.

He further said: “When everybody is educated, when every woman is empowered enough to take decisions over her children and over herself, FGM will be abolished. As long as we remain a patrician society where men still make decisions for us, it will take time but we will get there,” he stressed.

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NEWS

‘Economic Situation Affecting Drug Availability and Affordability in Nigeria’ Martins Ifijeh Following the economic downturn in the country, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has raised the alarm that some important drugs were going out of the Nigerian market, while the available ones were becoming too expensive for the ordinary Nigerians to purchase.

Revealing this in Lagos during the celebration of ACPN Day in Iju Ishaga, the Chairman of the Lagos branch of the association, Pharm. Biola Paul-Ozieh, said the high foreign exchange rate and the consequent high cost of purchase and importation of medicines were discouraging importers from importing medicines, as they are unable to get their funds back when they sell their products in the country.

She said the situation has also caused the increase in the products that have been imported, adding that this was affecting the affordability of medicines among the ordinary Nigerians who pay-out-of-pocket for their healthcare. According to her, one of the ways of getting out of the situation was for the government, stakeholders and pharmaceutical organisations to encourage local productions of drugs, adding that this would make medicines available and affordable to the citizens.

“There can’t be standard healthcare system if it is not accessible, affordable, as well as available to all. Hence, we must be able to make our drugs locally if we want to achieve this in the pharmaceutical sector. If 80 per cent of our drugs are made in Nigeria, they will be available, accessible and affordable to all Nigerians,” she added. Paul-Ozieh also noted that Nigerians need to know the right places to access medicines, adding that any pharmacy that does not have the green cross sign should not be patronised. “Pharmacies that have the green cross sign is the appropriate place for Nigerians to get drugs because the sign means the pharmacy is registered by government, as well as also have pharmacists manning the facility.

“Do not go to any pharmacy without the sign, because there is no guarantee that their drugs are authentic,” adding that, “buying drugs from quacks and unprofessionals could cause more harm to your body,” she added. She also advised Nigerians against over-the-counter drugs, adding that abuse of controlled drugs could damage the user, as well as have negative effect on the society at large. The Chairman called on the government to increase enforcement against drug hawking, which she said

Stanbic IBTC, LiveWell Initiative Advocate for Healthy Living Martins Ifijeh One of Nigeria’s foremost financial services institution, Stanbic IBTC and a non governmental organisation, the Livewell Initiative, have called on Nigerians to live a healthy lifestyle as it represents a guarantee for longevity and sound health.

Speaking during the institution’s annual health week grand finale in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Yinka Sanni, said Nigerians should take their health seriously, as well as get awareness on the various common health issues in the country, as these would help them live healthy.

He said the health week has brought more enlightenment to staff of the organisation on how to take care of their health, adding that, “inasmuch as our staff work hard across the country to put smiles on the faces of customers, their health is very essential. When the workers and their families are healthy, they naturally make better input in their work. And today, we know we have achieved that because a lot of awareness and free testings have been done,” he noted.

According to him, the health week has also brought families of staff together, as this would bring more bonding.

He said the bank was also involved in several corporate social responsibilities across the country. “Among other CSRs, we are presently supporting

limbless children in the north who may have lost limbs due to the Boko Haram attacks. We are providing limbs, treatments and empowerment for them,” he added.

Also, the CEO, LiveWell Initiative, Pharm. Bisi Bright, who partnered with the bank on the health week, explained that the event, among others, gave room for the staff of Stanbic IBTC and their families to get free testing on Hepatitis B and C, HIV, malaria, oral health, prostrate, breast and cervical cancer, dental health, body composition, among others.

Bright said she was proud of the bank who had shown that the health of their staff matters, adding that other organisations should take a queue from this because the health of any staff was very important to the productivity of such organisation.

Lending her voice, the Head, Wellness Unit, Total Health Trust, Funke Aghedo, who gave various nutritional health tips, said the choice of food determines the health of such person, hence it was imperative that whoever wants to live healthy must eat right.

She called on Nigerians not to wash food in the kitchen sink, but rather wash them in bowls, adding that kitchen sinks were full of bacteria. Also, “people should not leave their iron spoon in a pot of food, especially hot food, because the metallic spoon secrets substances, which when mixed with the food may be toxic to the human body,” she noted.

was becoming a common menace in the society. “Those who sell drugs in trays under the sun, in buses, at night, among others should be cleared from our society, because they are

doing more harm to Nigerians than we can imagine,” she added.

Lending his voice, the former Chairman, Lagos branch, ACPN, Pharm. Oyewole

Anthony, said Nigerians must be able to different genuine and fake drugs through proper identification of registered pharmacies and unregistered ones.

“Only patronise the pharmacies with the green cross sign.

The sign is usually placed as a signpost in front of the pharmacy where it is visible to everyone,” he added.

L-R: Chairman, Committee on Medical Outreach & Public Health, University of Benin Medical Students Association (UBEMSA), Dean of Medicine, UNIBEN, Prof Moses Momoh, and Local Officer on Research and Exchange, UBEMSA, Eddy Uwoghiren, during the 175th Inaugural lecture of UNIBEN …recently

Ebuka Needs N7.5m for Kidney Transplant Martins Ifijeh Chukwuebuka Umechiedo, a 20-year-old indigene of Enugu State has called on kind-hearted Nigerians, organisations and the government to help in raising N7.5m that would enable him undergo a kidney transplant and live a normal life.

Ebuka, who has gone to several hospitals for treatments, including the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), has been bedridden since February this year and currently on dialysis once weekly at the cost of N50,000 per week in Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi.

Speaking during a visit to THISDAY, Ebuka’s father, Godwin Umechiedo, who sells clothing materials in Lagos, said since February when his condition deteriorated, leading to dialysis, at least once a week, he had sold off all his properties for his treatment which gulps at the least N50,000 weekly, with some weeks gulping as high as N100,000 depending on how many times he is able to pay for dialysis per week, which ideally should be twice weekly.

“I am a trader, I sell clothes here in Lagos. I always send money every week for the dialysis. Sometimes, I go to my meeting members to ask for money because every week I must send the money otherwise he may not live beyond that week. I also go to friends to ask for money. Right now I

Ebuka

am having nothing, I always strive weekly to meet up the money, it’s been difficult now for us.”

According to the Medical Director of Chinyelugo Specialist Hospital, Dr. Eze HT, whose hospital sometimes offer dialysis to Ebuka when doctors of Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospitals are sometimes on strike, he would need to do a kidney transplant which would cost at least 7.5m as it is increasingly difficult for the parents to raise the weekly N50,000 for his dialysis.

Ebuka, who managed to finish secondary school last year and hopes to be a medical doctor in future, has been battling with kidney disease since he was 12 years old, but had his worst breakdown since early this year.

“During the winding phase of his secondary school education, there were weeks Ebuka would miss school, but yet during exams he either comes out first, second or in the third position in class. He is a fighter and he

has fought well till this time, but his health is increasingly failing, and I was told when the kidney transplant is done, the suffering will not only stop for him, but I and the mother would not have to be looking for N50,000 every week to pay for his dialysis.

“Presently, I have exhausted all options. I have borrowed money from my meeting people in the market, collected from friends, relations and sympathisers, just to be able to pay for

his dialysis, but I have ran out of options as Ebuka is not just my only son, he is my only child,” the father laments.

He called on well meaning Nigerians, organisations and the government to come to his aid.

For support, kindly contact Ebuka on 07066382238 and 08033764007. His father can be reached on 08091559887.

Account details is 3095994904, Umechiedo Chukwuebuka Peter, First Bank.

Pumoh Launches Non-Surgical Cosmetic Treatment Plan Unveils Bankole as ambassador Godbless Eduviere Maison de Beaute, a division of Pumoh Exclusive Online Services Limited, is set to launch its non-surgical face and body-lift rejuvenation treatment in Lagos, by August 12.

Among other things, the beauty section of the firm is set to tackle ‘jawling’ of jaw lines, tightening of post pregnancy sagging, reduction of sagging skin across the body, reduction of eye bags and crowing feet, as well as give amazing brow lift.

Meanwhile, the firm has unveiled a Nollywood actress, Kehinde Bankole as its brand ambassador.

The beautiful, award win-

ning actress will be featured in the organisation’s campaigns which would cut across television, print and online channels, as well as in-store, with her personality, wealth of experience and principles harped on for the new ideas Pumoh intends to drive.

Bankole is a Nigerian actress, model and television host.

She made her entertainment debut in the 2003 Miss Commonwealth Nigeria beauty contest, then proceeded to the 2004 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant.

She won the revelation of the year award at the 2009 Best of Nollywood Awards, two years after her first screen feature in Wale Adenuga’s Super story.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

HEALTH MATTERS

HEALTH

By Goke T. Akinrogunde

goketakinrogunde@gmail.com

07037677348

Smoking: Easy to Start, Difficult to Stop

N

o doubt getting off smoking could be challenging but definitely possible. In truth, smoking has no known positive impact to health but on the contrary it has been linked to unlimited possible woes to the health of the smoker and the society at large.

Notwithstanding the statement above, smoking remains one of the commonest habits that people engaged with on universal basis. It has no repulsive boundaries. Smokers are found among all nations, classes, ages, races and creeds. More interesting is that there is also no gender barrier; in some places, it has been noted that smoking is almost of equal prevalence among both female and male sexes.

Smoking cigarette is one habit that is potentially physical/psychological addictive.

In other words, an established smoker not only craves for cigarette out of psychological imbalance but because certain physically disturbing body signs and discomfort may also come knocking on the need to get on smoking in order to ‘feel better’.

In the same vein, professional disposition does not seem to serve any meaningful barrier to smoking; smokers cut across all professions; it is plentiful among the unskilled and the skilled workers. O yes, even doctors and other health workers who should expectedly know better are not immune to this potentially health killing habits.

I once recalled on this page my first encounter with a doctor whom from all assessment qualified to be called a chain-smoker, something I won’t forget easily. Then I was barely 10 years, I had gone visiting my mum who was then working at the Lagos Chest Clinic, located along Broad Street on the Lagos Island, when I saw this doctor with tinge of gray hairs dashing out from the consulting room with the cigar between his lips and puffing out smoke from both nostrils and his month. It was an experience that kept me wondering how it really feels like to smoke; I had thought it must have been so pleasant that the doctor could not resist smoking it off on the patients indecorously in the consulting room.

So what make smoking so habitual, so universal and so difficult to stop?

It is relevant here to note that there are many ways on why smoking is so hard to stop especially when one think of it as a daily necessity; in truth, most smokers are quick to say that it really helps a person to ease tensions, helps in cold weather and clears the mind whenever one is stressed out.

In truth, when one is hooked on smoking it becomes a habit very difficult to stop with all the potentials to do harm and no good to one’s health. From the very first time you have it in your hands, drawing in the

Smokers are liable to die young

damaging contents of the cigarette into your body via your lungs and worse still you also affect everyone with what was being exhaled from the smoke.

Similarly, and most important to know, is that smoking cigarette leads to an addition and this has to do with the fact that cigarette contains nicotine which is a very addictive substance. Concretely speaking, addiction here implies that after smoking, one needed to take more of it to get the same effect like before and you are also psychologically and to some extent physically dependent on smoking to feel alright. Equally notable is that the cigarette smoke contains around 4000 chemicals including some of the most toxic compounds known to humanity.

How to stop smoking?

So how does a person actually give up smoking if it is an addiction? On this, there are many ways to achieving it, it is just a matter of why, how, when and where to start.

On the question “Why one must give up

smoking?” In reality this may be countered with: “why give up smoking in the first place if one is finding satisfaction from this as noted earlier. Hence to answer this aptly, the concern person must first identify to himself/ herself that having to give up smoking is a good thing for him and for everyone that surrounds him/her and indeed the larger society, since passive smoking could be as dangerous as actual smoking. Passive smoking is unavoidable smoking from the atmosphere by those in the vicinity of the real smokers.

There are many ways on how to stop smoking but it is only natural to note that it must come to one first on why quit before one can start working on the how to fully stop.

In other words, it flows first from within the concern, there are no secret methods, and it’s just you and your conviction!

“When”? it is important to note that whether one want it to start now, in reality it will not automatically happen. It will have to be seen as a gradual stage; so, teach the mindset first, set it in the mind that one is ready to

end the smoking habit, after then one can set the time to stop.

And where does one seek help? Just as I have noted earlier, everything starts from the inner person that is from the concern. I have often argued that to change habit start from the person himself and in most cases also end with him/her. Hence, after understanding why you must stop smoking, how you will stop, when you wish to stop then you can stop smoking from that point as you so wish. For some, they think stopping this habit could be achieved by moving away from their present peer group of smokers but no sooner would they find out that smokers are everywhere and they soon get hooked up again.

However, if getting off smoking on your own is becoming repeatedly unsuccessful in spite of the outlined guide above, then there is be a place for professional psychotherapist intervention and sometimes nicotine-alternative medications are best prescribed. For the best, why not talk to your doctor, who would guide you properly on where to go or what to get.

One-on-One

Clarification on How to Determine Your Baby’s Sex I recently came across one of your old articles titled: “How to Determine the Sex of your Baby” in THISDAY Newspaper; I hope to get some clarifications from you on the subject matter.

In the said article, you hinted that to have a male child, intercourse should occur closest to ovulation but in the same breath you also said that having sex two to three days to the day of ovulation or beyond will most likely result in the formation of a female-child.

I am confused because in the next paragraph you then said that male seeking couples will have to time their intercourse to fall on the exact day of ovulation or at most a day before/ after ovulation day.

Please clarify me because if having sex

between 2-4 days before ovulation may result in a female-child as mentioned, why should having a male-child be on the exact day of ovulation or beyond and why will it not result to a female-child?

Another question that also requires clarification is: is there any specific style of having intercourse that determines a male-child? This is because it was mentioned in the article that the “face-face”, so-called ‘Missionary’, sexual position, determines a female-child.

Thanking you for your quick response Jude.

Dear Jude, I recommend that you re-read the said

elaborate article on “How to Determine the Sex of Your Baby” or better still look out for my upcoming book on the subject matter, a compilation of my previous write-ups on the subject. Without being immodest, the article is quite straightforward with some patient follow through you will be well clarified.

As for appropriate sexual position to determine the sex of a child at conception, I should stress that this is not a major factor for sex determination but could be relevant if the timing is correct.

The relevance of certain sexual position is to the extent that they facilitate the chance of the sperm cells (who do not strive well in acidic medium) escaping the hostility

of the vagina acidic fluid as they allow the ejaculated semen to get closer to the womb entrance (cervix), this is particularly true for the male child-forming-sperm cells. Hence, sexual position from the rear increases the chances of survival of the pro-male baby forming sperm cells, while the face-to-face position aids their demise and the survival of the more resilient female-child-forming sperm cells; there are other reasons for this, which are beyond the present scope of discourse.

Due to constraint of space, I’m unable to answer your questions more comprehensively as deserved but you can as well look forward to an updated of the said write-up on this paper in the not-so-distant future.

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HEALTH

‘Women Who Breastfeed Frequently Are Less Prone to Ovarian, Breast Cancer’ Martins Ifijeh The Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris, has stated that women who breastfeed their babies frequently are less prone to ovarian and breast cancer, as well as diabetes later in their life.

He said the health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for the recommended period in a child’s life was not only beneficial to the child, but could improve the mother’s health, as well as prevent certain health issues in both mother and child.

Idris, who spoke during the commemoration of the 2016 World Breastfeeding Week, also noted that breastfeeding could

help in child spacing, such that the mother would recover fully from childbirth before having another pregnancy, which he noted would also help the child as well to develop properly. “ He said children who were exclusively breastfed have higher immunity, higher intelligence quotient, as well as becoming better adults in life, adding that breast milk has antibodies that protects children against infection. “Also, children who get exclusive breast milk have lower chances of getting obese,” the commissioner added.

On his part, the Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Primary Health Care (PHC), Dr. Olufemi

Onanuga, said only 28 per cent of mothers in Lagos exclusively breastfeed their new babies for at least six months, adding that 72 per cent of mothers in Lagos were not observing the healthy practise. Onanuga said exclusive breastfeeding and adequate complementary feeding were part of the key interventions for improving child survival and had the potential of saving about 20 per cent of under five children from morbidity and mortality.

According to him, about 50–60 per cent of under-five mortality cases were largely due to malnutrition, caused by poor breastfeeding practices and inadequate complementary

feeding.

While observing that the national percentage was way lower, at 17 per cent of exclusive breastfeeding rate, he said that of Lagos, which is 28 per cent must be increased, hence the need for more awareness on the benefit of the practise.

He said in Lagos, “statistics has shown that only 22.6 per cent of children were breastfed within one day of birth while 25.9 per cent of children born in Lagos State were breastfed appropriately, (2013 MICS 4).

The practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life and the introduction of adequate complementary diet till the first two years of life are

integral part to child survival and optimal growth. Our future is in our hands which can be guaranteed with the provision of adequate diet to children for optimal brain growth,” he said.

The special adviser said it was for this reason that the state government institutionalised the extension of the maternity leave to six months and also introduced two weeks paternity leave, adding that wise nursing mothers were expected to make effective use of this long holiday to exclusively breastfeed their babies. He said the objectives of the 2016 Breastfeeding Week included sensitising the public that the provision of adequate

nutrition for children at all age groups was the first step towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG); firmly anchoring breastfeeding as a key component of sustainable development; galvanising a variety of actions at all levels of breastfeeding in the new era of the SDGs and engaging and collaborating with a wider range of actors around the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding.

“Collectively, we must ensure the survival of our children to guaranty our tomorrow. The efforts of this administration are geared towards the promotion of maternal and child survival strategies,” he said.

UNAIDS, StarTimes to Collaborate on Anti-AIDS TV Content in Africa Uchechukwu Nnaike UNAIDS and StarTimes are in extensive discussions over a robust collaboration roadmap targeted at delivering antiHIV/AIDS TV content for increased awareness and positive reorientation to Africans through StarTimes network across Africa.

UNAIDS Executive Director under Secretary-General of the United Nations, Michel Sidibé, last week, said UNAIDS expects to establish partnership with StarTimes to build a new bridge between Africa and China during a meeting with China-Africa Business Council in Beijing.

Sidibé said: “I can just confess that all the interventions were so pertinent and so relevant. Collaborating with StarTimes is also for me very important because what we are going to project is a new vision, which is to reach more people and create social reorientation which will also ensure that

everybody can benefit from the digital revolution. StarTimes technologies,innovations, creativity and international stature can help expand access to information and aid Africans to live healthier.”

The UNAIDS Executive Director added: “For me, this is the only way to build a new bridge between Africa and China, through our partnership for the future to come.”

UNAIDS Director for Communications and Global Advocacy, Annemarie Hou also at the meeting, said that UNAIDS and StarTimes can work together to deliver anti-HIV/AIDS TV content to Africans. “We are working now with OAFLA (the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS) and First Ladies and we are doing an excellent work on content, and they are also asking for more TV content. So if we can work together, let’s think about things that will really help their message to be delivered to everyone in Africa.

In recognition of the high level of unmet blood needs in Nigeria, Access Bank Plc has supported the Lighthouse Global Health Initiative (LGHI) to implement a voluntary blood donation campaign in College of Education, Niger State.

Speaking during the campaign, the President, LGHI, Pharm.

Adebisi Adenipekun, who is also a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, emphasised that the blood drive was in alignment with NYSC community development service, adding that the objectives were to create awareness among young people on the need to be voluntary, nonremunerated blood donors.

At the end of the five-day campaign, implemented in partnership with National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS); an estimated 10,000 people were reached with an advocacy message of the importance of voluntary blood donation through the Ultimate

FM 103.9 radio platform; about 700 young people were directly reached with printed IEC materials which provided answers to frequently asked questions and burst the myths associated with blood donation.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the safest blood donors are voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors from low-risk populations. The blood donation rate in high-income countries is 33.1 donations per 1000 people; 11.7 donations in middle-income countries and 4.6 donations in low-income countries.

Despite the low blood donation rate in middle income countries, including Nigeria, there’s a high demand for the life-saving blood among children less than five years; women due to pregnancy related complications including post-partum hemorrhage; and road traffic/insurgents accident victims.

FOR BETTER HEALTHCARE

L-R: Medical Sales Rep, Ranbaxy Nig Ltd (RNL), Victor Nnamani; Medical Sales Rep, RNL, Glory Aizenabor; Area Sales Manager, RNL, Ezinne Ijekpa; Sales Development Manager, RNL, Okpara Okechukwu and Medical Sales Rep, RNL, Frank Eze, during the annual conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria in Enugu ...recently

Organisations Hold Training Apapa-Iganmu Partners Workshop on Foot Care US Based Consultants on Free Cardiovascular Health be done to help them, except Martins Ifijeh amputation, to save their lives.

Organisations Support Blood Screening In a bid to help prevent and The workshop is therefore Donation Campaign in Niger manage complications of being organised to bring the exercise was diabetes mellitus, now on medical practitioners and other The Sole Administrator of screening State Apapa-Iganmu LCDA, Mr. informed by his desire to the increase worldwide, with healthcare workers involved Olumide Olayomi, has said that the Council will unveil a three-day free screening exercise on cardiovascular and other health related diseases for residents of the area, in partnership with cardiology specialists from the United States of America, USA between August 15 and 17, 2016.

Speaking on the essence of free health screening for residents, Olayomi said the present administration believes that early detection of healthrelated diseases will go a long way in curtailing the pace at which people die of the disease due to ignorance.

According to him, “Since heart-related diseases have been observed as one of the major causes of sudden death in recent times worldwide, early detection can help stem the tide of sudden death.”

Olayomi being a Fellow of Rockefeller Foundation, USA Leadership for Environment and Development, said the

improve healthcare delivery to residents of Apapa-Iganmu and its environs within his sphere of influence, while also aligning with Governor Ambode’s policy on improved public health.

“The health screening will be focusing on individuals who do not have immediate access to treatment of heart-related diseases”, the Council boss stated.

The Sole Administrator said that beneficiaries would be screened by the renowned Nigerian Cardiologist specialists, Dr. Olurotimi Badero, the world’s first Combined Heart and Kidney Specialist Doctor and Dr. Sabu George both of whom are based in the United States of America.

The exercise which will hold between 10am-3pm daily is supported by Betwazobia, a division of Secure Technologies Limited, USA and will be chaired by Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga.

Nigeria having the highest number of cases in Africa, Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre, in partnership with the World Diabetes Foundation and the Podiatry Institute, USA, has announced plans to organise its third annual five-day capacity building workshop on diabetes foot care.

According to a press release signed by the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Afoke Isiavwe, the workshop, which holds in Lagos from August 15th to 19th, aims at empowering health workers with much needed skills to help prevent, identify and reduce the risk of diabetes-related foot amputations in the country.

Diabetic foot complications, though preventable, are a leading cause of admission, amputation and mortality in diabetic patients worldwide.

“For diabetes mellitus foot syndrome, prevention is better than cure. Sadly, many persons affected report for treatment too late when not much can

in diabetes management upto-date, especially in the care of the foot of persons living with diabetes.

“Podiatry, a branch of medicine which deals with the care of the foot, is currently not taught in any Nigerian school of medicine. Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre plans to bridge this gap, in the interim, by providing a hands on forum for Nigerian healthcare professionals to acquire basic foot care skills,” Isiavwe said.

With the theme: “Initiating, Implementing and Sustaining a National Diabetes Foot Care Policy”, the workshop is expected to feature resource persons from the USA, South Africa and from within Nigeria.

Participants in the workshop, according to the statement, will include medical doctors, nurses, plaster technicians, residents in internal medicine, paediatrics, and orthopaedic surgery, and healthcare workers caring for persons living with diabetes.

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INTERNATIONAL Sudan Begins Ceasefire Talks Talks to secure a lasting ceasefire in Sudan’s three war-ravaged regions began on Tuesday, a day after an opposition coalition signed on to a roadmap for ending hostilities and

achieving political reconciliation.

There has been fighting between the Sudanese army and rebels in the southern regions of Kordofan and Blue Nile since 2011, when

Saudi Arabia Intercepts Missiles Fired fromYemen Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles fired at the kingdom

by Yemen’s armed Houthi movement yesterday, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV reported. The attack follows renewed air strikes by a Saudi-led military coalition on the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital, Sanaa. Thirteen civilians were killed when bombs a snack food factory.

The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the missile attack. In the past, they have boasted of launching around a dozen Scud missiles at the south of the kingdom during more than a year of war.

A senior Houthi official did say that he held the United Nations responsible for the stepped-up combat, which followed the

collapse over the weekend of U.N.-backed peace talks. “The silence of the U.N. towards this dangerous escalation and mass extermination against the Yemeni people ... makes it a partner in the aggression,” Saleh al-Samad, the chief of a new Houthi-backed political council, told state news agency Saba.

Saudi Arabia and an alliance of mostly Gulf Arab allies have launched thousands of air strikes against the Houthis and their allies in Yemen’s army since they intervened in Yemen’s civil war on behalf of the exiled government.

The Saudis are backing an offensive by pro-government fighters aiming to advance on Sanaa from the north and east.

adjacent South Sudan declared independence. Conflict in Darfur began in 2003 when mainly nonArab tribes took up arms against the Arab-led government based in the capital Khartoum.

The roadmap, brokered by the African Union, marks the first time the country’s major opposition groups have signed a deal with the government since regional fighting reignited in 2011. The accord spells out a process for reaching a permanent ceasefire, endorses a national dialogue between the government and opposition rebel and political groups, and includes provisions for immediate

humanitarian assistance.

Although violence has eased in recent years, an intermittent insurgency has continued. At least 130,000 people have fled fighting in the central Jebel Marra area of Darfur since mid-January alone.

Khartoum signed the AU plan in March, but opposition groups, many of which call for the overthrow of veteran President Omar al-Bashir, refused at the time to follow suit.

“We signed yesterday in Addis Ababa after the African intermediary agreed to include our demands in the agreement,” Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) spokesman Jibril Bilal said. The Darfur

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

leader was referring to a clause ensuring preliminary meetings in the Ethiopian capital among all political groups before a national dialogue in Khartoum.

“The signing of the roadmap is a positive step, but the more complex stage will come with talks revolving around a ceasefire and a political solution,” said Bilal. Signatories to the roadmap included many of the country’s most prominent opposition and rebel groups, from JEM and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-North) to the Umma Party, the largest opposition party.

“We welcome the opposition

signing of the roadmap and today the government begins to engage in negotiations with armed rebels over a ceasefire...We are optimistic...

It’s important that a creasefire is reached to stop the war,” government spokesman Ahmed Bilal said.

Holdouts to the roadmap remain, however, with the Sudan Liberation Movement, a major rebel force in Darfur, and the country’s communist party refusing to sign.

“We are ready to reach necessary political solutions for the country, but this is tied to the will and desire of the other side, the government, for peaceful solutions,” JEM’s Bilal said.

Ailing Zambia Economy Could Hurt Lungu’s Re-election Ailing Zambia’s economy could hurt the re-election president Edgar Lungu. Informal currency trader Jabulani Lungu thinks Zambia’s ruling Patriotic Front has had its chance, and he hopes this week’s general elections will bring in a new party to steer the economy out of a slump.

Many Zambians are worried about rising food and transport costs, unemployment, chronic electricity shortages and a violent campaign in one of Africa’s most peaceful countries. “The main issue in these elections is the economy,” the 31-year-old said before the Aug. 11 vote for a new president, vice president, mayors and councillors.

“The kwacha has lost value and businesses are finding it hard to survive.

“Also, there is too much corruption, which we are able to see every day here on the streets. If we are seeing corruption on the streets, what more is in government offices?”

Zambia’s currency, the kwacha, fell more than 2 percent in value on Monday, as data showed China’s demand for copper had slumped 14 percent in July.

Zambia is Africa’s second-biggest producer of copper, which is a mainstay of its economy. With prices near six-year lows, mining companies have closed mines and cut thousands of jobs. Consequently, the economy grew only 3.6 percent in 2015 compared with a target of 7 percent, according to the Bank of Zambia. The central bank said it expected growth to edge up to 3.7 percent this year. Inflation, meanwhile, is running at more than 20 percent a year.

Zambia is in talks with the International Monetary Fund over a possible financing deal, after conceding its budget deficit, which has averaged 4.8 percent of gross domestic product in the last two years, was unsustainable.

“Zambia is facing its worst economic crisis in more than 10 years ... The political contest has never been this fierce,” the South Africa-based Institute for

Security Studies said in a note on the election.

The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) hopes to tap into this frustration, as grapples with the impact of a balance of payments shortfall caused by diminishing demand for the metal.

Led by wealthy economist turned businessman Hakainde Hichilema, the UPND has pledged to boost power supplies, provide free education, increase agricultural output to reduce reliance on copper and cut what it calls wasteful government spending.

Lungu is a former lawyer who narrowly beat Hichilema in a vote early last year to replace Michael Sata, who died in office in October 2014. He insists his government has made strides in improving Zambia’s road network, commissioning new power plants and investing in agriculture with limited resources.

“I think this government has tried its best. President Lungu was elected when Zambia’s economy was under severe stress,” said Stanley Mulenga, a 26-year-old street vendor selling clothing items on Lusaka’s bustling Cairo road. “We need to give the current government more time to improve things.” The pre-election period has been marred by violence, forcing the Electoral Commission of Zambia to impose a 10-day ban on campaigning in some parts of the southern African country.

The UPND accused the commission of manipulating last year’s election results in favour of Lungu - a charge it rejected - and says this week’s vote will not be free and fair, with police blocking several of its rallies.

Analysts predict the result could be even closer than it was in 2015, when Lungu scrapped through with 48.3 percent of the vote compared with 46.7 percent for Hichilema.

The opposition scored a political point this week when Zambia’s Constitutional Court ruled that cabinet ministers were in breech of the law by remaining in office after parliament was dissolved in May.

RISKY ADVENTURE

New York police arrest man trying to climb Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump Tower in America

Vietnam Moves New Rocket Launchers into South China Sea Vietnam has discreetly fortified several of its islands in the disputed South China Sea with new mobile rocket launchers capable of striking China’s runways and military installations across the vital trade route, according to Western officials.

Diplomats and military officers told Reuters that intelligence shows Hanoi has shipped the launchers from the Vietnamese mainland into position on five bases in the Spratly islands in recent months, a move likely to raise tensions with Beijing.

The launchers have been hidden from aerial surveillance and they have yet to be armed, but could be made operational with rocket artillery rounds within two or three days, according to the three sources.Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry said the information was “inaccurate”, without elaborating.

Deputy Defence Minister, Senior Lieutenant-General Nguyen Chi Vinh, told Reuters in Singapore in June that Hanoi had no such launchers or weapons ready in the Spratlys but reserved the right to take any such measures.”It is within our legitimate right to self-defence to move any of our weapons to any area at any time within our sovereign territory,” he said.

The move is designed to counter China’s build-up on its

seven reclaimed islands in the Spratlys archipelago. Vietnam’s military strategists fear the building runways, radars and other military installations on those holdings have left Vietnam’s southern and island defences increasingly vulnerable.

Military analysts say it is the most significant defensive move Vietnam has made on its holdings in the South China Sea in decades.

Hanoi wanted to have the launchers in place as it expected tensions to rise in the wake of the landmark international court ruling against China in an arbitration case brought by the Philippines, foreign envoys said.The ruling last month, stridently rejected by Beijing, found no legal basis to China’s sweeping historic claims to much of the South China Sea. Vietnam, China and Taiwan claim all of the Spratlys while the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei claim some of the area.”China has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly islands and nearby waters,” China’s Foreign Ministry said in a faxed statement on Wednesday.

“China resolutely opposes the relevant country illegally occupying parts of China’s Spratly islands and reefs and on these illegally occupied Spratly islands and reefs belonging to China carrying out illegal construction and military deployments.”The United States is also monitoring developments

closely. “We continue to call on all South China Sea claimants to avoid actions that raise tensions, take practical steps to build confidence, and intensify efforts to find peaceful, diplomatic solutions to disputes,” a State Department official said.Foreign officials and military analysts believe the launchers form part of Vietnam’s state-of-art EXTRA rocket artillery system recently acquired from Israel.

EXTRA rounds are highly accurate up to a range of 150 km (93 miles), with different 150 kg (330 lb) warheads that can carry high explosives or bomblets to attack multiple targets simultaneously.

Operated with targeting drones, they could strike both ships and land targets.That puts China’s 3,000-metre runways and installations on Subi, Fiery Cross and Mischief Reef within range of many of Vietnam’s tightly clustered holdings on 21 islands and reefs.

While Vietnam has larger and longer range Russian coastal defence missiles, the EXTRA is considered highly mobile and effective against amphibious landings.

It uses compact radars, so does not require a large operational footprint - also suitable for deployment on islets and reefs.”When Vietnam acquired the EXTRA system, it was always thought that it would be deployed on the

Spratlys...it is the perfect weapon for that,” said Siemon Wezeman, a senior arms researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).There is no sign the launchers have been recently test fired or moved.

China took its first Spratlys possessions after a sea battle against Vietnam’s then weak navy in 1988. After the battle, Vietnam said 64 soldiers with little protection were killed as they tried to protect a flag on South Johnson reef - an incident still acutely felt in Hanoi.In recent years, Vietnam has significantly improved its naval capabilities as part of a broader military modernisation, including buying six advanced Kilo submarines from Russia. Carl Thayer, an expert on Vietnam’s military at the Australian Defence Force Academy, said the deployment showed the seriousness of Vietnam’s determination to militarily deter China as far as possible.”China’s runways and military installations in the Spratlys are a direct challenge to Vietnam, particularly in their southern waters and skies, and they are showing they are prepared to respond to that threat,” he said.

“China is unlikely to see this as purely defensive, and it could mark a new stage of militarisation of the Spratlys.

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INTERNATIONAL

Calderwood: Serving in Nigeria has Been a Great Experience, Privilege The outgoing Canadian High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Perry Calderwood, in a special interview with Zacheaus Somorin said serving in Nigeria as a diplomat has been a privilege and a great experience. Excerpt Nigeria. Although we recognize that this has really not captured financial engagements or expertise contracts and fees that many Canadian expatriates do render when they come to Nigeria.

Nigerian export to Canada has been mainly through petroleum which is quite over a billion dollar.

How would you describe your experience in the last three years as the Canadian High Commissioner in Nigeria?

Well, my last three years in Nigeria have been busy and quite interesting, exciting and dynamic. It has actually been fascinating for three reasons: First, it was really a privilege to have served in Nigeria when the country had a political transition from one civilian administration to the other. It was historic because it was the first time that a ruling party transferred power to the other that was hitherto an opposition party.

You will recall that before the election, there were lots of concerns but in the in the end, everything went on peacefully and so many people were quite surprised. Also, my period of service in Nigeria has been quite seen to progress in the area of trades and developing cooperation in different sectors of the economy as well as in health and education sectors.

In the area of education, we have been having Canadian Education Fairs involving Canadian universities and colleges coming to Nigeria to meet Nigerian students willing to come to Canada to further their studies. These among other issues have been my experience within the period of service in Nigeria.

You have witnessed two administrations in Nigeria in the last three years. How will you describe approach to governance between the past and current administration?

Well, I cannot comment about the approach to governance by administrations because that would be outside my diplomatic engagement. But like I said earlier, the success of the last general election brought about renewed hope about Nigeria. I do relate with Nigerians and if I am to comment about what I have heard them talked about, I think many of them are impressed with the performance of the current administration.

But I also understand that a lot still has to be done. My observation shows that many overwhelmingly want government to continue with transparency and accountability in government. They want government to keep combating corruption and insecurity. But I also know that the aspirations of Nigerians just as it is common with citizens of other developing countries bother on fighting inequality, poverty, having stable power supply, among others.

And as someone who has served in seven different countries, I can relate with these aspirations.

You made reference to the challenge of insurgency in the North East and the Federal Government has been soliciting for foreign collaborations - both in fighting the war and managing the plights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), what has been Canada’s response?

I was fortunate to have travelled to the capital cities of Maiduguri in Bornu State and Damaturu in Yobe State. Prior to the time of travelling, we have heard report of humanitarian challenges and I decided to visit and see things with my own eyes. During the period, I met Governors of both states and also visited IDPs. I’m aware that Nigerian government has done a lot and deserves to be applauded. But we know a lot still has to be done.

But on our part, the Canadian government has given $8 million to United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF), the Norwegian Refugees Council (NHR), among other international agencies in charge of refugees and IDPs. Recently, we also donated the sum of $26 million to the Lake Chad region which Nigeria is part of.

What has been Canada’s effort in the area of military support?

Of course Canada has been funding a number of trainings and engagements of military and para-military forces in counter-terrorism measures. Already, we have trainings involving the Nigerian police with their Canadian counterpart focusing on how to investigate and arrest suspected terrorists and also how to interview them, among other things.

Aside that, Canada has also invested more than a million dollar in the Middle Belt region. Of course, you might want to say

Canada-Nigeria Intergovernmental Business Summit tagged Canibus2016 holds soon in Toronto. What do you think both countries would benefit from this?

Yes. I am quite aware of the summit. I think is a good initiative that would bring both countries together business wise.

There appears to have been increased hostility against immigrants in the western world in the wake of terrorists’ attacks in major cities of the world and considering the fact that Canada has even brought in more refugees from Syria lately, what are the measures your country is putting in place to forestall ugly incidences?

As at last count, Canada has taken in 25,000 Syrian refugees and there are chances that more will still be brought in. We believe we have moral obligations to do this. And this figure does not even include those who have been brought in by various religious groups and organizations as well as family members who had requested for permission to do so. And I can assure you that adequate checks are carried out on some of those people who are coming to Canada. And as you might recall, there has not been any recent attacks in Canada.

Perry Calderwood, the region has not witnessed terrorism like North East, but we must not forget that there have been constant communal clashes and crises in a number of places in the region. And as part of effort to engender peaceful co-existence among major tribes and ethnicities in the region, we have seen to the support of Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD) in Plateau and Kaduna States.

We hope through this, we can strengthen peaceful co-existence among ethnic groups in the area.

The electricity contract between Manitoba Hydro International (MHI) and Nigerian government expired some weeks ago. Is there any plan for the Canadian power company to renew it?

Well, I may not be able to say anything about it. I think you may need to speak with MHI directly to get to know what was responsible. But I must say that I am proud of the power firm which has been in Nigeria in the last four years. I have known MHI for many years and I can say it is a reputable company with many years of expertise. But I think if you need any information relating to its contract, it would be right you speak to the MHI itself.

There are many Nigerians who are living, trading or schooling in Canada, how will you describe their attitudes and relationship with Canadians and other nationals living in the country?

Like we always say, Canada is a country of immigrants and I can tell you that as we speak, we have about 10,000 Nigerian students in the country. They constitute seventh largest nationals of other countries studying in Canadian schools. Aside that, many Nigerians immigrants are in Canada and doing businesses legitimately there. And to a large extent, they have been relating well with other people.

Currently, what is the volume of trade between Nigeria and Canada?

Well as at the end of December 2015, the trade volume between Canada and Nigeria is over $1.5 billion. And that is in favour of

What are the areas you think your successor should focus on?

Well, I really can’t dictate for my successor where and what to focus on. But most importantly, I will want him or her to succeed. Of course we must not forget that this is a time Nigerian government is taking steps to diversify the economy and as we know, attention is now being shifted to mining and agricultural sectors – two areas where Canada has expertise. So, I believe my successor may want to pay attention to the area of trade and investment. Also, in the area of health, we look forward to Nigeria and indeed entire Africa being declared polio-free. For more than a year, there has not been any new case of polio. We hope that can be sustained for another one year and the country can be declared polio free.

There have been perceptions that many countries collaborate with corrupt individuals in Nigeria to get stolen funds kept there, what has been Canada’s effort that stolen funds don’t find are illegally saved there?

If there are funds that have been traced to Canada, there are mechanisms in place for our government to respond to this kind of request. It’s through our Federal Police and through our Justice department and the contacts are there already’’. People feel frustrated that it takes time to retrieve funds that may have been stolen and stashed in Canada in form of real estate or something…but remember that in any country that respects rule of law, certain procedures must be followed. A government simply just doesn’t have power to seize something and return it somewhere. You have to go through the legal processes.

In Canada, we have rules in place whereby the red flag is raised if a large amount of money from a mysterious origin is transferred. I think we have made quite a bit of progress in that regard and perhaps for that reason, Canada isn’t one of the leading destinations for stolen funds’’.

There is scope for even more improvement because the phenomenon we are working against…those people are very sophisticated.

They are using accountants, lawyers, Shell companies and going from one country to the other, so often it’s not that simple. But we have to, as a government committed to tackling corruption, make resources available to effectively combat that and not allow the criminals to find their ways around our rules by exploiting different jurisdictions and shell companies and other mechanisms at their disposal.

Brazil’s Senate Indicts Rousseff, Opens Impeachment Trial Brazil’s Senate yesterday voted to indict President Dilma Rousseff on charges of breaking budget laws and put her on trial in an impeachment process that has stalled Brazilian politics since January. With the eyes of the world on the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, senators in the capital Brasilia voted 59-21 against the suspended leftist leader in a raucous, 20-hour session presided over by Chief Justice Ricardo Lewandowski.

A conviction would definitively remove Rousseff from office, end-

ing 13 years of leftist rule by her Workers Party, and confirm that interim President Michel Temer will serve out the rest of her term through 2018.

Rousseff’s opponents needed only a simple majority in the 81seat Senate to put her on trial for manipulating government accounts and spending without congressional approval, which they say helped her win re-election in 2014.

A verdict is expected at the end of the month and will need the votes of two-thirds of the Senate to convict Rousseff, five votes less

than her opponents mustered on Wednesday. Wednesday’s vote showed the movement to oust Rousseff has gained strength in the Senate, which had voted 55-22 in May to take up the impeachment proceedings initiated in the lower house in December. It also looked like game over for Rousseff who lost crucial ground instead of winning over more senators.

This will strengthen Temer’s hand as he strives to establish his legitimacy and stabilise Brazil politically. The uncertainty has hampered his efforts to plug a

fiscal crisis inherited from Rousseff, who is blamed for driving the economy into what could be its worst recession since the 1930s.

Temer, Rousseff’s conservative former vice president who took office in May, has urged senators to wrap up the trial quickly so he can move ahead with a plan to cap public spending, reform an overly generous pension system and restore confidence in government finances.

Investor expectations that Rousseff will be replaced by the more business-friendly Temer have

strengthened Brazil’s currency and driven up shares on the Sao Paulo stock market by more than 30 percent since January, placing them among the world’s best performing assets.

Rousseff has denied any wrongdoing and denounced her impeachment as a right-wing conspiracy that has used an accounting technicality as a pretext to illegally remove a government that improved the lot of Brazil’s poorer classes.

“The cards are marked in this game. There is no trial, just a

sentence that has already been written,” Workers Party Senator Jorge Viana said in a speech to the chamber. The impeachment, he said, was driven by the elite which oppose social welfare gains.

Rousseff’s critics say her interventionist economic policies and inability to govern led to the debacle in Latin America’s largest country. Some argue that, whatever the legal reasons for impeaching her, she should not be allowed to return to office for the good of the nation.

46

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Pursue Policies to Spur Foreign Capital Inflows, FG Told Obinna Chima The federal government has been advised to in the medium term, pursue policies directed towards spurring the inflows of foreign capital with renewed vigour.

The government was also urged to consider selling assets which could include the privatisation of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, taking the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) public by selling part of government’s 100 per cent stakes in the state-owned oil company and the sale of railway operation licences to domestic and foreign private operators.

Analysts at the Time Economics, an economic consulting firm stated this in their monthly economic report for August obtained yesterday.

Furthermore, they stated that efforts should also be made to fast track the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill.

“In the long term, efforts

should be directed towards structural reforms aimed at diversifying the productive base of the economy while the ever growing informal sector, now estimated at N39 trillion or 42 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP by the NBS should be brought into the formal system,” the report added.

The report noted that a weak medium term outlook for the economy arises from the collapse of public and private investment, and declining consumer expenditure.

“In all, the three drivers of aggregate demand in the economy – public expenditure, private sector investments and consumer spending – remain significantly dampened. We believe the economy contracted again in the second quarter, but expect growth in the third and fourth quarters of the year.

“Thus given current conditions of subdued or negative growth coupled with macroeconomic uncertainty and short-term weak outlook, the continuous

over reliance on the Central Bank of Nigeria to activate growth is unlikely to yield the desired results,” it added.

According to the analysts, to avoid renewed downward spiral in the second half of the year, government will need to step up the use of fiscal policy tools.

“In the short term, it is right for the government to expand debt, especially foreign debt.

It is an attractive proposition given very low international interest rates, long term and concessionary possibilities, and provides dollar revenues.

However, the purpose for which the debt is used for have implications for Nigeria’s economic outlook. “ So far, the deficit expenditure has been largely used to cover recurrent expenditure and payment of salaries. This nature of expenditure will not support Nigeria’s growth in the medium term because of its limited effect on private sector investments and job creation,” it added.

More Winners Emerge in FCMB Promo First City Monument Bank (FCMB) said it has rewarded another set of 644 customers at the second draw of its ongoing promotion tagged: “FCMB Millionaire Promo Season 3.”

The winners emerged at the electronic selection exercise, which took place across the four regions and 25 zones of the bank nationwide held yesterday.

While four customers of the bank were rewarded with the sum of N1million each at the regional draws in Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt (Rivers state) and Ilorin (Kwara state), a total of 640 others went home with LED televisions, power generating sets, decoders, tablets, smart phones and other consolation prizes at the zonal draws held in different parts of the country.

According to a statement from the bank, at the Lagos Regional draw, Franca Ehighale Hilary emerged as the lucky winner of

N1million, while at the Abuja/ North Regional draw held in Kano, Meller Lois Benjamin was rewarded with the same amount.

Abigail Onwugbuta emerged the proud winner of N1million at the South-East/South-South Regional draw that took place in Port Harcourt, just as Adewole Adams Kolawole also won N1million at the South-West Regional draw in Ilorin.

The “FCMB Millionaire Promo Season 3’’ commenced in April this year and will run till November. The current season followed the conclusion of its season two, which held from August 2015 to January 2016 and produced 12 millionaires.

The promotion which targets all segments of the society is part of the various initiatives put in place by FCMB to reward customers for their loyalty and patronage.

Speaking on the campaign, the Senior Vice President/

Divisional Head, Retail Banking at FCMB, Mr. Olu Akanmu, said the promo is “a unique opportunity for us to connect with and reward our customers for their loyalty and patronage.

We listen to our customers and when they asked for more after the success of ‘Millionaire Promo Season 2’, we were keen to deliver and ensure that more of our customers (both existing and potential) benefit from this exciting reward scheme. Without a doubt this promo has turned dreams to reality.

“For the customers who win millions and the hundreds of others who get various gifts from this promo, this is not something they expected but it adds great value to their lives.

We will continue to ensure that this promo serves as an avenue to create empowerment opportunities for our account holders to fulfill their aspirations.”

Broad Street

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS 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

for all stakeholders: policy makers, regulators, operators and clients in the financial services industry to share experiences and exchange ideas on contemporary issues affecting the sector and the economy as a whole.

The Conference with the theme “Innovation in the Financial Services Industry: Driving

---- 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)

by stability of the cedi and the beginning of good harvest,” Reuters quoted government statistician Philomena Nyarko to have told a news conference in Accra.

Nyarko said the inflation rate in transport also fell last month compared with last year because fuel prices were stable.

Year-on-year non-food inflation for July was 21.2 percent, down from 24.1 percent in June, while food inflation was unchanged at 8.6 percent, Nyarko said.

Ghana, which exports cocoa, gold and oil, is implementing a three-year aid programme with

-1,208,668.38

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

18,882,237.7

--Other Assets Net

-7,746,094.02

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,758,634.07

--Currency in Circulation

1,811,090.48

--Banks Reserves

3,383,756.72 • Source - CBN

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Price (N)

Nigeria’s New Economy” is deliberately designed to further support the financial industry with new and current initiatives and strategies.

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to be the guest of honour while the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele is expected to deliver the keynote address.

Ghana Inflation Drops 16.7% in July Ghana’s annual consumer price inflation dropped to 16.7 percent in July from 18.4 percent in June as the cedi currency stabilised and food prices fell at the start of the harvest season, the statistics office said on Wednesday.

The West African country has enjoyed general price stability this year compared to last, when water tariffs increased 15 percent and petroleum prices also increased significantly.

“The main reason why we are seeing a drop in July is as a result of base drift and seasonality effects, influenced

22,664,815.74

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

CIBN Holds Banking Conference The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) said it has concluded arrangements to hold the 10th banking and finance conference.

The conference is expected to hold between September 6 – 8, 2016 in Abuja.

A statement said the flagship event of the institute, hosted annually to provide a platform

(MILLION NAIRA)

MARCH 2016

the International Monetary Fund to remedy fiscal problems including persistently abovetarget inflation.

Analysts expect further decline in inflation in the months ahead mainly due to a monetary tightening stance held by the central bank, and supported by the harvest season.

“We should start to see a faster deceleration in year-on-year inflation, allowing the Bank of Ghana to begin an easing, perhaps as early as its September MPC meeting,” head of Africa research at Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan said.

Stanbic Balanced Fund

Buying Price(N)

Selling Price

1,660.29

1,685.29

Stanbic IBTC NEF

1,000.00

11,002.32

11,326.67.11

Stanbic SIBond

20

120.47

120.47

Stanbic IBTC Ethical

1

1.10

1.13

Stanbic IBTC GIF

142.90

143.38

UBA Balanced Fund

1.2563

1.2493

UBA Bond Fund

1.3443

1.3443

UBA Equity Fund

0.8205

0.8074

UBA Money Market Fund

1.1510

1.1510

ARM Aggressive Growth Fund

N13.0544

N13.4480

ARM Discovery Fund

N288.2515

N296.9425

ARM Ethical Fund

N22.5268

N23.2060

ARM Money Market Fund

13.1030 (Yield % ) • Monetary Policy Rate - 14%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT TUESDAY9, AUGUST 2016 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $41.08 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $41.10 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 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

8-Aug-16

5-Aug-16

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators

Open 5-Aug-16

NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion)

27,425.86 9.42

27,394.98 9.41

-0.11 -0.11

113.55 8.84

113.01 8.80

-0.48 -0.48

01 Dangote Cement Plc

180.00

180.00

0.00%

3,067,291,332,900.00

9.56

19.14

5.76

4.44%

4.51

02 Nigerian Breweries Plc

130.00

133.03

-2.28%

1,030,783,115,440.00

4.50

30.03

3.57

2.71%

6.48

03 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

23.95

23.11

3.63%

704,876,742,414.80

3.38

7.07

2.36

7.66%

1.57

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

16.01

16.03

-0.12%

502,657,865,513.86

3.33

4.91

1.23

11.23%

0.81

06 Lafarge Africa Plc

51.50

51.15

0.68%

234,577,443,215.00

-6.71

-7.69

1.06

5.87%

1.66

166.82

166.82

0.00%

217,279,897,602.46

4.22

39.53

1.47

2.07%

5.07

11.54

11.82

-2.37%

211,753,821,021.10

0.23

53.54

0.42

5.25%

0.36

4.55

4.51

0.89%

165,071,844,765.10

1.65

2.80

0.53

13.30%

0.47

10 Presco Plc

38.85

38.85

0.00%

154,253,033,198.25

0.86

44.96

2.18

3.35%

3.59

11 Guinness Nig Plc

95.00

95.00

0.00%

143,059,377,860.00

3.70

25.69

1.27

0.00%

3.22

250.00

242.60

3.05%

138,327,578,250.00 -14.43

-17.70

1.51

6.56%

0.36

Table 4 Top 5 Losers

13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc

13.30

13.90

-4.32%

133,000,000,000.00

2.04

6.78

1.17

0.72%

1.24

Stock

14 Unilever Nigeria Plc

35.00

35.00

0.00%

132,415,368,750.00

0.46

75.69

2.17

0.14%

14.87

15 Access Bank Plc

5.60

5.48

2.19%

128,144,345,884.80

2.48

2.26

0.48

10.04%

0.41

16 FBN Holdings Plc

3.29

3.30

-0.30%

118,095,513,285.68

0.30

10.92

0.24

4.55%

0.19

17 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

6.98

6.65

4.96%

83,760,000,000.00

1.05

6.33

0.66

7.52%

1.34

18 Total Nigeria Plc

229.95

242.02

-4.99%

78,073,046,418.15

31.13

7.15

0.31

5.78%

3.89

19 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc

119.50

120.20

-0.58%

76,550,548,378.50

11.12

11.36

1.04

1.83%

3.21

5.70

5.88

-3.06%

68,597,327,695.80

-3.46

-1.60

0.36

12.76%

0.51

178.60

178.60

0.00%

64,402,313,793.20

17.69

9.62

0.74

4.03%

3.75

22 Julius Berger Nig. Plc

48.39

48.39

0.00%

63,874,800,000.00

0.24

199.88

0.62

3.10%

2.85

23 International Breweries Plc

19.00

19.00

0.00%

62,590,736,320.00

0.17

105.36

2.43

1.32%

5.07

24 Flour Mills Nig. Plc

20.00

21.98

-9.01%

52,484,743,740.00

6.81

2.94

0.14

9.10%

0.58

1.24

1.24

0.00%

48,014,036,807.00

-0.37

-3.22

1.03

0.00%

0.63

20.00

20.00

0.00%

38,417,287,740.00

2.44

8.20

0.53

5.00%

0.52

1.28

1.28

0.00%

36,851,735,201.28

0.31

4.15

0.35

7.03%

0.44

28 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

29 Diamond Bank Plc

1.37

1.37

0.00%

31,729,732,886.16

0.11

13.68

0.17

0.00%

0.14

30 Fidelity Bank Plc

1.05

1.05

0.00%

30,423,536,874.15

0.39

2.77

0.22

15.24%

0.17

31 Wema Bank Plc

0.70

0.70

0.00%

27,641,861,249.10

0.06

11.93

0.61

0.00%

0.57

32 FCMB Group Plc

1.34

1.27

5.51%

26,535,632,410.36

0.61

2.09

0.16

7.87%

0.14

33 Cadbury Nigeria Plc

13.90

13.90

0.00%

26,107,008,356.00

3.21

4.33

0.78

9.35%

2.52

34 Cap Plc

37.00

37.00

0.00%

25,900,000,000.00

2.49

14.89

3.67

3.11%

17.04

35 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.80

3.99

-4.76%

22,351,083,941.00

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

2.10

2.09

0.48%

22,050,000,000.00

0.27

7.55

1.12

2.39%

1.04

38 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc

8.06

8.06

0.00%

21,354,473,326.68

0.89

9.03

1.17

6.82%

3.09

39 PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc

19.55

19.55

0.00%

19,550,000,000.00

4.14

4.72

1.47

0.51%

0.59

40 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

1.52

1.59

-4.40%

12,053,900,440.16

-0.40

-3.76

0.25

10.06%

0.77

41 Unity Bank Plc

0.99

0.99

0.00%

11,572,444,562.58

0.54

1.82

0.18

0.00%

0.13

42 Continental Reinsurance Plc

1.02

1.00

2.00%

10,580,199,198.24

0.33

2.95

0.49

12.00%

0.54

43 Skye Bank Plc

0.68

0.70

-2.86%

9,438,604,958.80

-2.93

-0.24

0.06

42.86%

0.09

44 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

6.60

6.65

-0.75%

8,294,073,255.60

0.96

6.61

0.61

1.50%

0.82

45 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,691,369,124.00

0.11

5.16

0.94

6.00%

0.43

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

3.72

3.72

0.00%

6,393,749,981.40

-0.05

-68.09

1.81

18.82%

0.18

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

0.71

0.68

4.41%

4,920,445,180.80

0.28

2.42

0.14

7.35%

0.49

50 Fidson Healthcare Plc

1.95

1.95

0.00%

2,925,000,000.00

0.31

6.36

0.43

2.56%

0.46

04 Nestle Nigeria Plc

07 Forte Oil Plc. 08 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated 09 United Bank for Africa Plc

12 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd

20 Oando Plc 21 Mobil Oil Nig Plc

25 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc 26 U A C N Plc 27 Sterling Bank Plc

TOTAL

8,799,367,404,810.01

TOTAL MARKET CAP

9,408,790,941,936.79

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

93.52%

Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

Close 8-Aug-16

Change %

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers Stock

Open 5-Aug-16

FCMB Group Plc Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc AIICO Insurance Plc Guaranty Trust Bank Plc Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd

1.27 6.65 0.68 23.11 242.60

Open 5-Aug-16

Flour Mills Nig. Plc Total Nigeria Plc Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc Honeywell Flour Mill Plc Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc

Close Change 8-Aug-16 % 1.34 6.98 0.71 23.95 250.00

5.51 4.96 4.41 3.63 3.05

Close Change 8-Aug-16 %

21.98 242.02 3.99

20.00 229.95 3.80

-9.01 -4.99 -4.76

1.59 13.90

1.52 13.30

-4.40 -4.32

Market begins week on a bearish note as Index drops 0.11% Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today – Monday, August 8, 2016 closed on a negative note due to intense sell presuure. This was further highlighted by negative performances from the NSE sub-sectors: Oil & Gas and Consumer Goods (Save Banking and Insurance).

Trading activities decreased in volume as 118.37 million shares worth N1.27 billion in 2,899 deals exchanged hands today. This is a decrease from the 120.84 million shares worth N1.27 billion in 3,307 deals exchanged on Friday. Topping in volume terms was Access Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc and FBNH Plc while 7UP Bottling Company Plc and Zenith Bank Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed negative with a 0.11% (-30.88) decrease to close at 27,394.98 from 27,425.86 the previous trading day. Market Capitalization depreciated in tandem to N9.41 trillion from N9.42 trillion of prior trading day.

Similarly, the Thisday BGL 50 Index also followed suit with a decrease of 0.48% to close at 113.01 from 113.55 recorded at the end of the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N8.80 trillion from N8.84 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 15 stocks gained on the bourse today while 18 stocks declined, 59 leaving stocks unchanged. FCMB Group Plc emerged the day’s toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 5.51% to close at N1.34 per share. It was followed by Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc with a gain of 4.96% to close at N6.98 per share. Others on the gainers list include: AIICO Insurance Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd while on the decliners’ list; Flour Mills Nig. Plc led with a loss of 9.01% to close at N20.00 per share. It was followed by Total Nigeria Plc with a loss of 4.99% to close at N229.95 per share. Others on the losers list include: Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc, Honeywell Flour Mill Plc and Stanbic IBTC Holdings 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

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

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MARKET NEWS

SEC to Stop Issuance of Dividend Warrants to Shareholders Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday said Registrars operating in the Nigerian stock market will no longer issue dividend warrants to shareholders as from June 30, 2017. Rather, all dividends would be paid electronically.

The Director General of SEC,

Mounir Gwarzo, who disclosed this at the post Capital Market Committee (CMC) meeting media briefing in Lagos, said the move would check the growth of unclaimed dividends in the market.

According to him, before 2017 date, the electronic-dividend registration would have gained significant traction. “From June 30, 2017 no

registrar will issue dividend warrant again in the market.

This will not only assist in reducing unclaimed dividends in the market but will also compel those yet to embrace the e-dividend registration to do so,� he said.

He said despite the efforts to enlighten investors to register for e-dividend payment, only 6,000 investors had registered

for the e-dividend payment platform that was launched in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).

Gwarzo noted that the aim of the e-dividend payment was to eliminate the difficulty encountered by retail investors in claiming their dividends, noting that the

commission will continue to partner stakeholders to ensure that all retail investors embrace the e-dividend platform.

In this regard, he said the CMC had resolved that every bank and registrar would appoint an e-dividend champion that would interface with investors to settle issues arising from the e-dividend registration process.

Gwarzo said that the e-

dividend champions would work closely with NIBSS to ensure that challenges arising from the e-dividend are settled within three to four days.

The SEC boss added that the regulator has also agreed to continue to be responsible for the cost of e-dividend registration till December 31, 2016 so as to encourage more investors to embrace the initiative.

DAILY STOCK MARKET REPORT T H E

N I G E R I A N

STO C K

E XC H A N G E

THURSDAY AUGUST 11, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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NEWSEXTRA

Refugees Brainwashed by Boko Haram Heading for Europe, Says Daily Mail Report Thousands of Nigerian refugees indoctrinated in Boko Haram camps are heading to Europe’s shores as famine intensifies, security sources have warned.

Five children are dying an hour with 250,000 at risk of starvation while the country’s National Assembly remains hamstrung in a political wrangle.

Despite being Africa’s oil-rich country Nigeria’s civil war with Islamic terrorists has left the Northeast Borno region devastated with three million refugees.

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

Apapa Customs Records N28bn Monthly Revenue Eromosele Abiodun Despite the downturn in activities in the nation’s maritime sector, the Apapa Area One Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded massive growth in monthly revenue generation.

Statistical figure made available to THISDAY revealed that the command collected a total of N27.5 billion for the month of July as against N23 billion in the month of June, indicating a 16.36 per cent increase.

Analysis of the numbers revealed that while N14.3 billion was paid into the Federation Account in the month of July, N12.2 billion was paid into the same account in June.

Also, import duty paid by importers to the command for the month of July was put at N12.9 billion while that of June stood at N10.5 billion.

A further analysis of the numbers showed that while the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Common External Tariff for July stood at N1.4billion, June recorded a slightly higher figure of N1.5billion.

This is against the seven per cent Port levy of N897million for July and N740million for the month of June.

Furthermore, the one per cent Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS), for July and June stood at N1.8billion and N1.4billion respectively.

For 0.5 per cent of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), the command recorded N975million and N775million or July and June of 2016.

The flagship of the customs service collected only N2.2million in July as against N20million in June as national automotive (NAC) fees.

For rice and wheat grain levies, a total of N563million and N1.5billion were collected for July and N1.2billion and N2billion collected for June respectively.

N922million and N18.5million were also collected as Iron and sugar levies for the month of July and N21million and N204million for the June.

The Value Added Tax (VAT) recorded for the months of June and July stood at N4.4billion and N6.6billion respectively.

IPC Condemns Assault of Journalist The International Press Centre (IPC), has condemned the continued arrest and assault on journalists in Nigeria.

Specifically, the organisation condemns the recent assault and illegal detention of a reporter with the Blueprint Newspaper, Abuja who was physically beaten, dragged on the floor and illegally detained by the Jikwyo Division Police Force in Abuja on August 4.

According to reports on the incident, Moses John was physically assaulted and illegally detained for over 14 hours by two police officers identified as Sergeant Ishaya Jock and Corporal Akpa Gabriel said to be attached to Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) revenue collectors, at about 4:30p.m around Sada Cruz hotel junction in Abuja.

Narrating his ordeal, Moses noted that he was assaulted because he was a journalist.

“While waiting for my car to be washed, I sat in a beer parlour when the policemen came and ordered the sealing of the bar. When I inquired after introducing myself as a journalist, the officers started beating me with their boot, dragged me into their car, together with a passerby who tried to take pictures, and drove off to Jikwyo Police Station where we were detained, and they claimed that I am an intruder,” he said.

The Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre

Arogundade, in a statement described this incident as barbaric and unacceptable.

“We are concerned that if a journalist can be so brazenly assaulted in Abuja, the FCT, where decorum and respect for citizens’ rights should be a priority, then the respect for the rights and safety of journalists and other citizens in other parts of Nigeria is in jeopardy.

If for any reason a security agent has an issue with a journalist, he or she should take it up in a civilised and proper way, and not taking laws into their hands by using brute force, beating and kicking. The duty of the police is to protect citizens and not assault journalists who have committed no crime,” Arogundade said.

IPC therefore called the attention of the acting Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim K. Idris, to the petition submitted

by Moses John on this issue, and craved his indulgence to act fast, by immediately probing all individuals involved, and take necessary actions against erring officers as a deterrent to others.

“Journalists, who are the fourth estate of the realm in governance and development structure have key roles to play as partners in the development process and should therefore not become object of assault by security agents,” Arogundade said.

crush Boko Haram terror group, which has been responsible for a spate of outrages, including the kidnapping of hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls.

But intelligence sources report human traffickers from the ISISbacked terror group are transporting girls and young men across the Sahara into Libya.

Some trained suicide bombers and militants are heading for Europe while others are travelling to fight for Islamic State in Syria.

“They will soon start showing up on the Mediterranean’s shores,” a source linked to Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency said.

“Some of these people are trained suicide bombers and fighters, including children as young as ten.

They have all been indoctrinated

by Boko Haram and they could soon turn up in Europe’s capitals.”

Meanwhile Nigeria’s parliament is struggling to pass legislation as President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration presses “politically motivated’ charges against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Saraki has accused the administration of a ‘witchhunt’ after the president failed to get his own supporter into the powerful Senate President post last year.

“This case needs a swift conclusion for the country to unite and tackle the very serious issues of famine, security and a stumbling economy,” he told the Mail.

Saraki, a Nigerian politician educated at Cheltenham College, Gloucs, is attempting to get parliament to pass a motion to grant £215million in aid to tackle the emergency.

“This famine must not happen on our watch. I have seen the plight

of these people with my own eyes and it is desperate. The government is making every effort to ensure money is available to fully address this issue.”

Saraki, who helped expose a massive oil corruption scheme under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, denies allegations of asset declaration irregularities likening them to a House of Cards plot with President Buhari trying to remove him from post.

Saraki warned of “a shadow government’ within the president’s administration, adding: ‘They are using executive powers for their own agenda. It is an abuse of process that threatens our democracy and our country.”

Some are calling the Borno famine ‘Biafra 2.0’ referring to the civil war in which three million starved to death in the late 1960s.

Dr Yodi Alakija, a British public health expert who has just returned from the North-eastern part of the country, said it was a ‘international crisis.’

“The UN requires Nigeria to declare it a humanitarian disaster to get relief. This is not a time for politics or game playing. Five children are dying an hour every single day.

“This requires urgent action. We need people to drop their political differences and come together. They can fight later when the children are ok.”

The medic, who works for UNICEF, warned: ‘If we do not make adequate provision for these people there could be an exodus.

That’s when Europe will panic and it will happen when people have nothing and take desperate measures.’

RENDERING ACCOUNTS TO SHAREHOLDERS

L-R: Company Secretary, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Yetunde Martins; Chairman, Mr. Oluseun Ajayi; and Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Olaotan Soyinka, at the 21st annual general meeting of the company in Lagos...yesterday Dan Ukana

El-Rufai: Domestication of Child Rights Act will Protect Rights of Teenage Girls John Shiklam in Kaduna The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has said his administration has been pushing for the domestication of the “Child Rights Act,” as a necessary tool for the protection of girls and their self actualistion.

He also declared that when the bill becomes fully operational at the commencement of next academic calendar in September, parents who refuse to send their children to school will face the law.

Speaking during the commemoration of the 2016 World Population Day yesterday in Kaduna, the governor noted that teenage girls in Nigeria, especially in the north are facing challenges ranging from forced marriages, early motherhood, sexual abuse, gender discrimination and lack of access to basic social services which are detrimental to their well being.

“Teenage girls need to be given the necessary tools and opportunities to make informed decisions about their lives and future. That is why this

administration has been pushing for the domestication of the “Child Rights Act,” as a necessary tool that will give girls the protection that they need and a fair chance for self-realisation,” the governor said.

He said the state the justice system was being strengthened to speedily respond and tackle cases of rapes and other forms of violence and abuse against the girl child in the state adding that the effort has been yielding positive results.

The governor who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Barnabas Bantex, said further that the state government is investing massively in educating of children, adding that the state assembly recently passed an executive bill that gives every child access to nine years of free and compulsory basic education in the state.

“We are delighted today to join the entire global community in commemorating the World Population Day. Today has been set aside by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to draw the attention of governments

and developmental agencies on population issues affecting developing societies like ours.

“The theme of this year’s World Population Day, is “Investing in Teenage Girls”, an issue that this government is especially passionate about because firmly believe that every teenage girl should be given the opportunity to grow into a productive adult contributing to the growth and development of her community.

“We cannot deny that young and teenage girls in Nigeria, especially in the north, are facing issues detrimental to their well being. Issues ranging from forced marriages, early motherhood, sexual abuse, gender discrimination and lack of access to basic social services like reproductive healthcare services, education and prompt justice in cases were these girls have been sexually abused.

“When this bill fully comes into operation at the commencement of next academic calendar in September, parents that refuse to send their children to school will face the law. By doing this,

we are ensuring that all children, the teenage girl inclusive, will have the right to a proper academic foundation to develop their potentials fully and thereby empowering her to live a fulfilled life.

“The efforts of the Kaduna State Government particularly in the area of education have not gone unnoticed, just a couple of months ago, the state received 21 Million US dollars as grant from the World Bank.

“We are also increasing access to healthcare services to all children through our comprehensive healthcare programmes. Through this intervention, we are equipping primary healthcare facilities in all the 255 wards in the state and stocking them with drugs medical equipment to increase access to healthcare. Also, we are rehabilitating and equipping 23 Secondary Healthcare facilities in 23 local government areas for a better referral system and improved healthcare services for all residents of Kaduna State,” el- Rufai said.

THURSDAY AUGUST 11, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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NEWSEXTRA

FRSC to Commence Enforcement of Speed Limiters October 1 Dele Ogbodo in Abuja The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, yesterday said enforcement of the speed limiters on commercial vehicles operating in the country will commence on October 1, 2016.

The disclosure was contained in a statement signed by the

Commission’s Head of Media and Strategy, Mr. Bisi Kazeem, after a wide consultation by an all stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja.

Oyeyemi, according to the statement, commended the stakeholders for the support given to FRSC towards the actualisation of the device aimed at reducing road accident on the highway.

He said: “FRSC commends all

the stakeholders for the consistent support they have given to the policy of speed limiters usage in the country; without such support, it would have been difficult for the country to get to where it is today where enforcement date has been finally resolved.”

The FRSC boss also commended the management of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)

and the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) for their technical inputs in the policy, adding, that it was such collaboration that fast tracked the decision of other stakeholders to buy into the policy.

The initial date for the commencement of the policy, according to the statement, was June 2015, but had to be extended

to accommodate more diverse inputs, and also because it fell into President Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration.

The statement said: “When the Corps Marshal made the presentation to President Buhari and suggested September 1, 2015, as the new commencement date, the president in his magnanimity extended the date to April 1, 2016.

“He further noted that in the process of commencing the enforcement on the set date, a motion was passed in the National Assembly suspending the enforcement pending when a public hearing was conducted by the House Committee on the FRSC to determine the desirability of the policy.”

Mimiko Seeks Military Protection against Ondo Creeks Incursion Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has charged the military authorities to assist in protecting the creeks of the state against incursion by miscreants.

Mimiko gave the charged yesterday in his office in Akure during a courtesy call on him by the new General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2nd Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Kasimu Abdulkarim.

The governor noted that his administration has continued to enjoy tremendous support and cooperation from the military, adding that the cordial relationship between the military and the civil society has been unprecedented.

He said the synergy among the different security agencies has immensely contributed to the prevailing peace and development of the State, stressing that numerous reputable organisations in the

country have continued to have their conferences in Akure, the state capital.

Despite the current security challenges facing the country, Mimiko, who commended the military for its efforts at restoring peace, also admonished it to keep going stronger.

He also assured of his administration’s continued support for the military, noting that the state government has continued to empower widows of the fallen heroes through micro-credit facilities.

Earlier in his speech, Major General Kasimu Abdulkarim, said the visit became necessary as part of his familiarisation tour of states under his command.

The GOC thanked the governor for his continued support for the officers and men of the force in the state even as he assured the people of adequate security.

Jegede: Why I Want to Be Ondo Governor

A frontline Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), has said he wants to be the next governor of the state because the current challenging times in Nigeria require people with extraordinary ideas, adding that he is in a better position to transform the state’s economy.

Jegede who is the immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, stated this in Lagos yesterday during an interaction with journalists.

“I came into the Mimiko government from the inception in 2009 up till when I resigned in July and with all sense of decency, I was actively involved in the achievements of the government. As a result, I am in a better position to continue with our attainments in the health sector, education, agriculture, social services and many more, and even raise the bar if I’m eventually elected the governor of the sunshine state,” the Senior Advocate of Nigeria stated.

He assured that his focus if elected would be raving up the economy of the state.

“My priority if elected will be the economy. Mimiko has done so well in the areas of healthcare delivery, urban renewal and education. So, I will sustain that momentum and at the same time concentrate on revamping the economy of the state, without necessarily overburdening the people,” he added.

While dismissing insinuations

that he is Mimiko’s stooge, the aspirant said such is the handiwork of his opponents who are already scared of his acceptability across the state.

Reacting to claims that his ambition will disrupt the zoning arrangement among the three zones; North, Central and South in the state since he is from the same Central senatorial zone as the incumbent, he also said zoning has never been a consideration for electing governors in the state.

According to him, “Election in Ondo State is never won on the basis on zoning but on merit.

Argument about zoning is being planted and spread by small people who don’t believe in merit, it is an argument that is deceptive and should be discountenanced by those who want the best for the state. Competence, efficiency and integrity should be the requirements and those are what I am offering.”

Jegede who hails from Akure, the state capital, said: “My governorship ambition is not an ethnic agenda, it is Ondo State agenda. The real voters don’t know zoning, it is a contraption of some politicians who are afraid of merit. I see myself basically as somebody from Ondo State, somebody interested in service.

The argument against me is that I come from the central zone and that I am not a politician. But rather than being a minus, those are my strengths because integrity and merit are going to count. I have these and I am bringing them on board in the interest of the generality of the entire people of Ondo State.”

PRODUCT LAUNCH

L-R: Executive Director, Personal Banking Division, Access Bank Plc, Victor Etuokwu; Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Roosevelt Ogbonna; GMD/CEO, Herbert Wigwe; and Technology Architect, Gbenga Agbola, at the launch of ‘Paywithcapture’ powered by the bank in Lagos...yesterday Dan Ukana

Tambuwal, Dogara, Udoma to Speak at Budget Colloquium Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, are among top public officials that will dissect the budgetary process as a key interface between the executive and legislative arms of government in Nigeria.

The event is a colloquium conceived by OrderPaper.ng, Nigeria’s premier independent parliamentary reporting portal to address contentious issues on the Budget and will bring together several top government officials from both arms of government to share ideas, perspectives and experiences on the Appropriation process as provided for in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The high-profile event billed to hold on September 26, 2016 in Abuja, will attract attendance and participation from critical stakeholders in the executive, legislature (national and state assemblies), academia, media, Nigeria’s development partners, civil society organisations, communitybased organisations, private sector and other stakeholders, including political operators across partisan divides.

According to Mr. Oke Epia, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of OrderPaper.ng, “the focus on the budget at the colloquium is a deliberate attempt to address

fundamental issues that have arisen on the budget especially in recent times.

“There is need to deepen the debate about which arm of government plays what roles in the appropriation process and to exactly what extent. Where does the National Assembly’s power of appropriation begin and end? Is the executive vested with unquestionable powers regarding the estimates it sends to the legislature as annual budgets?

Or on the reverse, is the legislature conferred with such far-reaching powers as to be able to substantially alter the estimates so received from Mr. President or a state governor?

What about the disturbing lexicon of ‘Padding’ that has dogged the 2016 budget like a leech? These are questions to be addressed by a holistic gathering of executive; legislature; experts in constitutional law; and civil society actors, among others invited to attend The Gallery Colloquium on September 26.”

It is noteworthy that Tambuwal before his ascension to the Executive position of Sokoto State Governor, was Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 7th Assembly and had also been a principal officer of the lower chamber in the preceding tenure. He is expected to add a rich comparative perspective to the Budget debate with his experience across both arms of government.

Dogara on the other hand, being

a key figure in the 2016 Budget process that has continually been dogged by controversy, is expected to bring his contemporary experience especially with respect to the controversial concept of ‘padding’ to bear on the conversations come September 26.

Udoma as minister in charge of the national budget and one who has been a Leader of the Senate and former Chairman of the Appropriation Committee of the Upper Chamber, is expected to deliver a keynote address that will enrich the debate on the budget.

Airtel Adjudged Most Outstanding Customer-centric Telecoms Brand Sunday Okobi Airtel Nigeria has been adjudged the ‘Most Outstanding CustomerCentric Telecoms Brand of the Year’ at the Marketing Edge 2016 Brands and Advertising Excellence Award and Annual Summit recently.

Vice President, Brands and Advertising, Airtel Nigeria, Enitan Denloye, received the award on behalf of the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya.

The award, according to Airtel, was represented by the Chief Executive Officer, Rockcity FM, Dr. Niran Malaolu.

While reading the citation, the organisers commended Airtel’s consistency in delivery of exceptional customer service experience to Nigerians.

The company’s citation highlighted its persistence in exciting customers with world-class services, noting that Airtel is committed to

remain the most loved brand in Nigerian.

With the themed: ‘Brand Building in a Digital Age: Challenges in a Developing Market,’ the event which was held in Lagos yesterday with notable Nigerians in attendance such as Nigeria’s advertising titan, Ted Mukoro; Sir Steve Omojafor; former Chairman of APCON, Chris Doghuje, veteran marketer and current non-executive Director at Nigerian Bottling Company, Laolu Akinkugbe, commended Airtel’s commitment to service delivery.

The Marketing Edge Brands and Advertising Excellence Award has become one of the most inspiring events in the Integrated Marketing Communications industry in Nigeria.

It provides a unique platform for robust intellectual engagement as well as to honour practitioners for their commitment to excellence in the field of branding and marketing.

THURSDAY AUGUST 11, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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CRIME&PUNISHMENT

Dickson: Killers of Soldiers in Bayelsa Must Face Justice Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State yesterday maintained that suspected militants who killed three soldiers, injured civilians and carted off several military hardware last Monday in Nembe, must be brought to justice.

Describing the killings as “one incident too many,” the governor recalled that sometime last year in the same location, a similar attack where soldiers were murdered in cold blood, also occurred.

He offered his condolences to the military commanders, colleagues and families of the soldiers who were murdered in the attack, noting that he would be summoning the traditional rulers in the area and the chairman of the council for a

‘critical meeting.’

“We condemn it (killings) in its totality and especially looking at it from the point of view that last year in the same location this kind of thing took place. We are very concerned about that.

“Our duty is to work with the security forces to ensure that the perpetrators are followed up and hunted down. They must face justice, and maybe from this incident we might also get a clue as to what happened last year and some other incidents of security breaches”, the governor said.

He added that he had already sent the Deputy Governor of the state, who incidentally is from the area, which he noted helped to douse the tension and apprehension following the attack.

“The commander of Operation

Delta Safe, Admiral Okojie was himself on ground and I want to thank him and his officers for the various steps they took to assure the law abiding people of their safety.

“I want to use this opportunity to call for calm in that area and ask the leaders at various levels to spend more time in their domain and communities so that they can be on top of this kind of development and to liaise with security agencies and government,” Dickson said.

The governorcalledonallthecitizens tobeatpeaceandgoabouttheirnormal lives, stressing that the innocent and law abiding people have nothing to fear.

Recalling why he recently appointed a member of the opposition in the state to oversee the security in the waterways, Dickson advised his opponents and the federal not to play politics with the lives of

the people.

“Bayelsa State is relatively peaceful, and we do not play politics with the security of this state.

Most of you were shocked when I appointed a chieftain of APC, Gen. Afrikanus as the Chairman of the Waterways security committee.

“He and his team were carefully selected, they know the terrain and already their work is showing results which I cannot publicly say.

I have always called on federal officials not to play politics with security when they come to Bayelsa.

“Political disagreements are normal, but one thing we must all agree on is security of lives and property, maintenance of law and order and working to ensure that our country does not suffer any security concerns in Bayelsa,” he noted.

WE WANT A CRIME-FREE YOBE

Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam (middle) and the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sunmonu Adeyemi Abdulmaliki (first left) duing the introduction of CP to state government officials when he paid a courtesy visit on the governor at Government House in Damaturu.... yesterday

Police Arrest Several Criminals, Recover Cars, Firearms in Lagos 33 corrupt cops apprehended Chiemelie Ezeobi In different raids across Lagos, the state police command yesterday said it had arrested 91 armed robbery suspects, 39 cultists, nine kidnappers and eight rapists, as well as 33 policemen for extortion.

The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, who made this disclosure in a parade at the command headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, also said they recovered weapons and ammunition.

He said the police operatives also recovered 28 cars, 20 firearms, 30 rounds of ammunition, several phones and laptops, as well as gold jewelries.

He said: “Among the suspects arrested were three kidnappers, who were picked

up in connection with the abduction of the Oba of Iba, Goriola Oseni.

“The suspects were arrested because they took the information of the Oba to the main kidnappers and they also collected out of the ransom paid.

“Frantic efforts are still being made by the command along the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team to round up others.

Those arrested would soon be arraigned in court.

“Also, in another operation, four armed robbers were gunned down in a gun duel with the police. For other suspects arrested, we are preparing to charge them all to court.

“The command also arrested 39 suspects for their involvement in

street fighting, gang terrorism and cultism. They are those causing chaos in the state.

“We also recovered 28 cars from the different suspects, as well as 20 different firearms and 30 rounds of live ammunition.”

On the rapists arrested Owoseni said, “We arrested six rapists first. Their modus operandi is to use Instagram, a social media platform, to launch adverts to lure people looking for houses.

“One of their victims, a younglady was lured to a hotel and she was raped. They also captured her on tape to further blackmail her. Few ladies have fallen victim of this syndicate.

“When the police were alerted, they traced these rapists to a hotel in Agege and arrested them. The victims have also identified them

as well.

“Another rapist arrested was one Godwin Davies, who was also involved in impersonation and armed robbery. The other rapist, was a 48-year-old man, who raped an 18-month-old baby. He will soon be arraigned in court for the full wrath of the law to take its course.”

On the 33 policemen arrested for extorting money from commercial motorcyclists and tricyclists, he said while some had been recommended for dismissal, other were currently undergoing disciplinary actions.

He said: “The command will not relent in making sure that policemen who do not conform to global policing standards, are fished out and made to face disciplinary action.”

Police Smash Car Stealing Syndicate Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia The new Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Mr. Adeleye Oyebade has hit the ground running as barely 24 hours after he assumed duties, a criminal gang spealising in stealing cars was paraded following their arrest. Parading the two-man gang that had used master key to steal Toyota Camry cars which they sold to their customer, the CP issued a stern warning to criminals operating in Abia, saying he would make it impossible for them to engage in their nefarious activities. “This is a new dawn of policing in Abia state; we will not give any room for criminals to operate,” he vowed, adding “I am here to work and we are not going to sniff out all criminals operating in Abia”. Oyebade said the gang met their waterloo after stealing a black Toyota Camry marked FT 953 LSR at Ohafia. The owner of the vehicle, Ikenna Ngwoke told THISDAY that he had parked his car and went on condolence visit to the house of a relative where a burial ceremony was going on only to come out and found his car gone. The two suspects who gave their names as Pastor Chibunna Onyenweaku, 33, from Ezinihite in Imo state and Princewill Nnabugwu, 42 from Isiala Ngwa, Abia state, said they have been friends before they went into crime. Pastor Onyenweaku said they had stolen and sold six Toyota Camry cars in a spate of 10 months, adding that he has a ready buyer in Port Harcourt who also provided him with the master key which he used in unlocking vehicles. Onyenweaku told journalists that he is “a real pastor” and presides over the Redeemed Assembly Church at Elu Ohafia but noted that “it was “temptation” that drove him into crime despite founding his church over two years ago. A poster the police found on him showed the name and picture of the suspect listed as guest speaker at a five-day crusade that held between February 19 and 23, 2014 at the Apostolic Church Ezeke Assembly Amasiri District, Afikpo North local government of Ebonyi State.

Onyenweaku said he was a regular speaker at crusades organised by different pentecostal churches even though he had other calling of stealing Toyota Camry cars, which according to him, a ready buyer in Port Harcourt paid him N60,000 per vehicle. The pastor’s partner in crime, Nnabugwu said the had been caught in January and charged to court but regained his freedom after the case was discontinued but he could not resist going back into crime. Earlier in his maiden address on assumption of office, Oyebade said he was committed to implementing the policy thrust of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, adding that there is no doubt that “the Force has started a process of wearing a human face.” He said he has come back to Abia (after leaving as Deputy Commissioner of Police), and would strive hard to ensure that God’s own state is made peaceful for residents and for businesses to thrive. He said: “My charge to officers and men of this Command is that they should perform their duties with the fear of God. We must be very firm but fair. We must respect he fundamental human rights of eh citizens of the state. We must remain shinning examples of valour, gallantry and sacrifice in eh overall interest of the public in the discharge of our constitutional responsibility”. The new CP stated that while the Abia Command would do its best to reduce crime to the barest minimum it required the support and cooperation of the public because present day policing has become a “collective responsibility” of all well meaning persons. “My experience over the years is that when you are close to eh people you are policing, useful information is gathered and that there is reciprocal trust and confidence between eh police and he people,” he said.

NDLEA Seizes 1,126.9kg of Cannabis

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Kogi State Command yesterday seized 1,126.9kg of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) worth over N5 million along Kabba-Junction on Lokoja-Abuja highway.

The state Commander, Alhaji Idris Bello, who disclosed this while parading the suspect, a truck driver, Ismaila Abdullahi and three others before journalists, said the illicit drug was concealed in 100 big bags.

Bello said Abdullahi who claimed to be conveying 100 bags of the illicit drug from Uromi in Edo State to Kaduna for one Ibrahim, was arrested in the early hours of yesterday along Kabba-Junction on Lokoja-Abuja highway. The driver, according to Bello, attracted the attention of NDLEA patrol team when he took a U-Turn on the highway in the bid to escape with the drugs having been tipped by a Volkswagen Sharon space bus ahead of him. According to the commander, Abdullahi and his passenger later abandoned the vehicle and ran into the bush when they could no longer cope with the hot pursuit from the NDLEA operatives but he (the driver) was caught while the passenger escaped. The suspect Abdullahi while speaking with journalists said he had been doing business with Ibrahim for long but regretted that Ibrahim played a fast one on him this time around. He added that Ibrahim promised to pay him N250,000 on successfully delivering the “weeds” to its destination in Kaduna and gave him advance payment of N20,000 for fuelling. Also paraded was Saidu Mohammed Bello alias “Wazobia”, a drug seller at Koton-Karfe market, arrested with 9kg of cannabis on August 4, who said he was into cannabis business to raise money for his ambition to contest the governorship seat of Kogi State. On what becomes of his ambition now that he has been caught, Wazobia, said he was not happy that it turned out this way but was still hopeful, adding “if it is the will of God, I will still make it.” Also paraded was Osuporu Wale from Offa in Kwara, nabbed with 200 grams of cannabis on July 31, at Zango-Ofere and Wale Adebisi, a trained tailor who is yet to do his freedom, arrested with seven kg of cannabis on August 7, at Akutupa all in Kabba-Bunu Local Government. The NDLEA commander appealed to the state government to assist the command with logistics especially vehicles to carry out the task of ridding the society free of illicit drugs and urged community vigilance groups to assist the agency with information.

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Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Nigeria Qualifies for Next Round Despite Columbia Loss Reigning champions Mexico knocked out

Colombia brought Nigeria’s Dream Team VI back to reality from their fairytale run at the ongoing men’s football tournament of the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil with a deserving 2-0 victory over the African champions a place in the last eight.

They were the hungrier of the two teams as Dream Team without four of the players that defeated Japan and Sweden back-to-back on the pitch.

Nigeria’s four goals hero in the clash with Japan in the opening match, Oghenekaro Etebo forced out by injury and Dream Team finished the game with 10 players as they have exhausted their substitutions slot.

Earlier last night, London 2012 champions Mexico failed to reach the quarter-finals of the Olympic men’s football in Rio after losing 1-0 to South Korea.

Kwon Chang-hoon’s stunning strike secured the win for the Koreans, who finished top of Group C. Argentina was also knocked out at the group stage after a 1-1 draw with Honduras, but Germany progressed after beating Fiji 10-0.

Hosts Brazil was playing

Denmark as at press time.

The Brazilians, currently second in Group A on two points, have not even scored at the tournament following goalless draws with Iraq and Denmark.

Scoring was not a problem for Germany against Fiji.

SC Freiburg forward Nils Petersen hit five goals, Schalke midfielder Max Meyler grabbed a hat-trick and Arsenal’s Serge Gnabry scored twice as Germany finished second in Group C to set up a last-eight match with Portugal.

The Portuguese finished top of Group D after drawing 1-1 with Algeria in Belo Horizonte.

Colombia’s Teofilo Gutierrez (left) scored the opening goal in the 2-0 defeat of Nigeria last night

Relief for Nigerian Wrestlers as Training Partners Arrive Camp The President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Daniel Igali, has expressed his joy that at last, sparring partners for Nigerian wrestlers have arrived Rio as the team prepares for Olympic glory at the Games.

He however noted that the distraction of not allowing the training partners travel

MEDAL TABLE COUNTRIES USA China Japan S’Korea Hungary Australia Russia Italy G’ Britain France Thailand Kazakhstan Germany Colombia Slovenia Vietnam Brazil Sweden C’Taipei Belgium Greece

G 10 9 6 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

S 9 4 1 2 1 0 7 5 3 3 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0

B 9 8 10 3 1 5 3 2 6 1 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1

(As at midnight August 10)

with the team was unhealthy for the common goal of Team Nigeria.

“They (sports authorities in Abuja) have met me half way by not approving all the training partners I requested for the team.

As it is, we are still going to manage switching the partners for both male and female,” stress Igali

who won Olympic gold for Canada his adopted country as a wrestler.

He however said that he is now happy despite the delay in allowing the sparring partners to arrive Rio with the wrestlers earlier.

“I am happy that they finally gave consent for them to join us. Initially, it was a blunt cancellation for them

to come. Like they say, half bread is better than nothing.

I am happy,’’ the wrestling boss who also doubles as technical director noted.

One other grey area that the former Olympian frowned at was the transport arrangement at the Athletes Village in Rio. “It’s frustrating for me to be doing two hours from my

hotel to join my athletes at the Athletes Village to train them. It takes a toll on me but I however see that as a sacrifice that we all make to serve our fatherland. But, it could have been better ensuring smooth transport arrangement for all those who have key roles to play in the Olympics,’’ he further observed.

Igali assured Nigerians that his wrestler would give their best to ensure a good performance that everybody would be happy with.

“The wrestlers are in good shape and doing well. I’m happy that the training partners are joining up.

That will keep them in good shape for the battle ahead,’’ he concluded.

Brazilians, Africans Celebrate Aruna Quadri’s Feat in Rio Frot Group donates N1m to the African champion

Duro Ikhazuagbe Africa’s first table tennis player to reach the men’s single’s quarter final of an Olympic Game, Aruna Quadri has continued to receive accolades for his feat at the ongoing Rio2016 despite losing to World Number 1, MA Long of China on Tuesday night.

Quadri who turned 28 years old on August 9 got a befitting birthday song from adorable Brazilian fans and other African athletes and officials for doing the continent proud.

An elated Quadri said yesterday: ““They were really good singers, I was so happy seeing them singing for me, it was amazing thing.”

He however admitted the superiority of Chinese superstar, “MA Long is so much better, so much faster, everything is just perfect about MA Long while his speed was just too much for me. It was not going very

well for me tonight and I had a lot more difficulty receiving his service. He was stronger and faster, everything was just too perfect about him.”

With his feat in Rio, Quadri believes this would inspire African players to aim for Olympic medals.

“I believe that it is possible for an African to win Olympic medal in table tennis because nothing is impossible to go there, and not just me. I strongly believe there are some upcoming players in Africa, including Egypt’s Omar Assar, and some top Nigerian players who could be able to easily match my record with hard work,” concludes the 2014 ITTF Star Player.

Meanwhile, President of Frot Group, Frank Momoh, insisted yesterday that the performance of Quadri has shown that with more support, table tennis has the capacity to bring more laurels to Nigeria.

“Despite the loss of

Quadri to Ma Long, the team needs our commendation, especially as Quadri has set a new African record as the first African to reach an Olympic quarter final in table tennis,” Momoh said.

He however lauded the leadership of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) for their efforts. “The leadership of NTTF has never been in doubt, as the country’s in Rio has further shown that the plan for table tennis is panAfrican and you have our full support. With patriotic support from sport loving Nigerians and organisations, Nigeria can establish her authority in world reckoning.

“To show our full support for the team, I on behalf of Frot Group hereby give a cash reward of $2,500 to Aruna Quadri for his new African record. Well done also to NTTF President, Wahid Enitan-Oshodi, well done Team Nigeria,” he added.

Encomiums have also

continued to pour in for Quadri’s feat. From Egypt, Mauritius, Algeria, Djibouti, South Africa, Botswana and Cote d’Ivoire, Quadri’s feat as the first African to qualify for the quarter-final round of the table tennis event at the Olympic Games has become the talk of the town across the continent.

President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy, Vice President of the South Africa Olympic Committee (SAOC), Hajera Kajee, as well as the former President of Djibouti Table Tennis Association and Executive member of ATTF, Farah Hassan Farah, all heaped praises on Quadri, stressing that he has now put the continent on the global map with all eyes on Africa now at ITTF. The excited ATTF boss said: “I am so happy with Quadri Aruna of Nigeria flying high in the prospect of Rio Olympic Games by qualifying to the quarterfinal

of the Men’s Single.

Congratulation to Africa, ATTF, NTTF and all table tennis fans in our continent,” he noted.

“It is indeed a great moment for Nigeria and our Continent Africa. Viva Africa,” said Kajee. Well done!! Kudos to Aruna Quadri and his team, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation and of course the continent should celebrate this outstanding performance,” said Farah.

The President of Senegal Table Tennis Federation, Balla Lo also hailed Quadri, stressing that the huge gap between Africa and developed continents has reduced with this feat.

“This is not the case regarding some major sports like football, basketball, judo and many other sports where the gap is still very wide. My best wishes to Aruna,” concludes the Senegalese table tennis chief.

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New Eagles Coach, Rohr, Expected in Spain for NPFL All Star, LaLiga Tour

The newly engaged Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles, Gernod Rohr, is expected to begin work this week with a visit to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) All Star team currently on a playing tour of the Spanish LaLiga.

Chairman of the Technical and Development Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chris Green, informed npfl. ng that Rohr is expected to join the All-Star team in Spain on Friday, August 12 when they play Malaga FC in the opening of the Carranza World Club Tournament.

“As you know, part of our understanding with the new coach is that he will be on ground to work and follow up on our players in the domestic league. During negotiations with him, we agreed that since we have a crop of the NPFL players embarking on the LaLiga tour, it will be necessary for him to look in on them during the friendlies.

“So, we are expecting him, after playing Valencia on Wednesday (yesterday) to join us on Friday, when we proceed to play Malaga in the Carranza Cup competition,” Green said.

Throwing more light on the plan, Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC) and 2nd Vice President of the NFF,

Shehu Dikko, pointed out that it makes a lot of sense for the Super Eagles coach to join in on the LaLiga tour.

“The head coach of the Super Eagles, Salisu Yusuf, whom he will work with is here. Other coaches who have been involved in the Super a Eagles are here. The back room staff of the Super Eagles whom he will work with are here. Then, the crop of the NPFL players who may form the core of our home-based team is here, so this tour presents the coach a hands-on platform to begin to interact and plan with his team, to hit the ground running.

“It makes great sense for him to be here.

Interestingly, he lives in Bordeaux, France which is just few hours from Spain,” Dikko said.

“For the players, the presence of the new coach will serve as a motivation.

It is remarkable that the Super Eagles coach is resuming work with them even before meeting with the foreign based professionals. That shows that they are important and that the coach is giving a level playing ground for all players who aspire to get into the Super Eagles.”

Meanwhile, gate takings from last night’s friendly between Valencia and NPFL All Stars will be donated

Hotsports, Oshoala on Verge of Sealing FA Cup Deal Hotsports Nigeria Limited is on the verge of finalising arrangements with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to make former Africa Women’s Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, the Face of the 2016 Female FA Cup. Oshoala, who is back on a short break from her base in London, where she features in the women football league for the Arsenal Ladies, joined the Hotsports team in a crucial meeting with the Lagos State Football Association Chairman and the 1st Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Seyi Akinwunmi, at the state FA office in Onikan Lagos on Monday.

The NFF top official described the idea of making Oshoala the Face of the female FA Cup as a brilliant innovation and promised to pass the message to the President of the NFF Amaju Pinnick, who he said will be glad to welcome the initiative.

“When a great thing is about to happen it starts in small way because people hardly notice. i think the small thing we have done here today is the beginning of something very great,” he said.

“First of all, we have Oshoala, coming to give back, it happens only a few

times. Secondly, we need an inspiration for young female footballers in Nigeria, she (Oshoala) has offered herself and it’s a very good thing to do , ” Akinwunmi continued.

The Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Hotsports and HS Media Group, Taye Ige, commended the NFF and Oshoala for creating the platform to revive the image of the female football in Nigeria.

“It’s a boost for female football in Nigeria ultimately, you remember that at every final event of the FA Cup, the female final is played just as an ad joint of the male event or as a curtain raiser.

We think that is not good enough and we think the national federation should do something about it and begin to build the brand called female football,” Ige said.

On her part, Oshoala said she was full of excitement about the initiative to make her the face of the female FA Cup. “I feel very happy and excited about it, I ”ll really appreciate it if it can be approved, to make me the Face of the 2016 female FA Cup,” Oshoala said .

Hotsports is the official Marketing consultant for the Asisat Oshoala brand.

Suarez and Messi celebrate a goal during a match against Samdoria to the victims of a major forest fire that ravaged the little town of Alzira.

The fires destroyed over 3000 hectares of the Valencia province which also includes Alzira.

“We have been made to understand that the Alzira Stadium was chosen for our match against Valencia to assist the victims of the forest fire that affected the town of Alzira in June,”

disclosed NPFL All-Star Team Manager, Ameobi Ezeaku.

“The ticket sales from this match will be donated to the victims of the fire.”

The Enugu Rangers team

manager said the trip to Spain has been an eyeopening experience.

“The experience has been wonderful for both the players and officials,” told AfricanFootball.com

Perez: Real Madrid Already Strong Enough Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has not ruled out making further signings this summer, but believes his team is already strong enough to contend for every available title in the 2016-17 season.

The Spanish giants have been relatively quiet in the transfer market, with the club re-signing Spanish striker Alvaro Morata from Juventus while selling Jese Rodriguez and Denis Cheryshev to Paris Saint-Germain and Villarreal.

Perez, whose side beat Sevilla 3-2 in extra-time on Tuesday to lift its third Uefa Super Cup, said on the club’s official website: “Up until 31 August anything can happen, but we’re really satisfied with

the players that we’ve got.

It’s very difficult to improve our squad.”

Real’s priority is to strengthen their midfield line for the 2016-17 campaign.

However, the Champions League winners lost out on signing French midfielder Paul Pogba, who rejoined Manchester United from Italian champions Juventus earlier this week on a reported world record fee of £89m ($115.98 million).

Italian midfielder Marco Verratti, who was also a target of Real, extended his contract with Paris Saint-Germain until June 2021 last week.

Perez insists that Real have enough quality to compete

against the top European sides.

“We’ve got an extraordinary squad,” he said.

“We’ve got the best players in every position, as was seen at the European Championship.”

Real, who finished runnersup to Barcelona in La Liga last season, showed on Tuesday that they have enough depth to challenge for every title in the 2016-17 campaign by winning the Uefa Super Cup Against Sevilla on Tuesday, Zinedine Zidane’s side played without six regular starters, including stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, but still beat the Europa League winners in their first competitive match of

the season to lift the trophy.

A Daniel Carvajal extra-time winner handed Zidane his second title as Real coach.

“We’re very pleased because it’s not easy to win the Super Cup and we’ve won the last three we’ve played after winning the Champions League,” Perez said. “It’s deserving of a lot of praise and all the more so at the start of a season in which, after the European Championship, not all of the players are available.

“We’ve still got to work very hard and our ambition is always to win it all.”

Real begin their quest for their first La Liga title since the 2011-12 campaign at Real Sociedad on August 21.

Transfer: Everton Signs Swansea Defender Everton has signed Wales captain Ashley Williams from Premier League rivals Swansea for an undisclosed fee, thought to be £12m.

The 31-year-old defender is new manager Ronald Koeman’s third summer purchase after Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye and goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

They are also in talks to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Yannick Bolasie and Sunderland defender Lamine Kone.

“I believe the club is going

in the right direction,” said Williams.

The defender, who has agreed a three-year deal with the Merseyside club, said he was keen to work with former Netherlands international Koeman.

“He’s been one of the greatest centre-halves to ever play the game, so I look forward to learning from him,” Williams told the club’s website.

Swansea had rejected an earlier £10m bid from Everton.

The signing comes a day after England defender John

Stones left Goodison Park to join Manchester City for £47.5m.

Williams featured in Wales’ run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 and has not played any pre-season games following an extended break.

He spent eight years with the Swans, playing more than 300 games after joining for £300,000 from Stockport in March 2008.

As well as seeking deals for Ivory Coast international Kone and DR Congo’s Bolasie, both 27, Everton are also determined to keep Romelu Lukaku.

The 27-year-old Belgium striker has three years remaining on his contract at Everton, and is reported to be interesting his former club Chelsea.

Ashley Williams

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Mikel Explains Reason behind Aircraft Saga in Atlanta

Nigeria’s Under-23 team captain, John Mikel Obi has narrated why he prevented the team from boarding a ‘tiny’ aircraft to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The Dream Team were a late show for the South American country after flight delays – and arrived in Amazonia less than seven hours to their first game against Japan.

In his column, the Chelsea star stated why he took the stern decision which hindered him from lifting Nigeria’s flag during the opening ceremony.

“Not everything went according to plan at the start, mainly because there seemed to be a problem getting a plane big enough to take us from our training base in Atlanta to Manaus for our first match,” he wrote on Evening Standard.

“I will never forget going to the airport and seeing this tiny aircraft that had been booked for us.

“It was so small and only had room for about 25 people.

I don’t know how they expected us to get on that

plane, we all have families.

“We were also told that it would need to make two stops on the way to refuel, fly overnight and take eight hours.”

“I had to step up for the team and told them we have to get a better plane or we will wait in Atlanta. Thankfully a better plane came out of nowhere and we ended up on a direct flight, that took us just five hours,” he continued.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t end up carrying the Nigeria flag at the opening ceremony as expected.

“I watched some of the ceremony but then I got a bit too emotional and had to switch off because I knew I was supposed to be there.

“But that’s life and I still have a lot to be excited about.

We are already in the quarterfinals, regardless of the result against Colombia in our final group game tonight.

“Everyone is determined to carry on the momentum and keep winning.”

South Korean players celebrating after knocking out Mexico last night

Dope: Kenyan Athletics Judo Medalist Djokovic’s Wrist Official Detained Assaulted, Robbed Injury Worsens A Kenyan magistrate has ruled that the country’s athletics manager can be held by police for four weeks as they investigate claims that he was prepared to warn coaches about drugs tests in return for £10,000 ($13,000).

Michael Rotich denies any wrongdoing, saying he wanted to protect athletes.

The allegations result from an undercover investigation by the Sunday Times and German broadcaster ARD. Mr Rotich has already been sent home from the Olympic Games in Rio. During the operation, Mr Rotich was approached by a supposed doping specialist hired to supply banned substances to a fictional British sports team, the Sunday Times reports.

In the film Mr Rotich appears to request a one-off payment to give athletes 12 hours’ advanced notice of a pending drugs test because he knew the official anti-doping testers.

Athletes are not supposed to be warned in advance of doping tests as that might help drug cheats to avoid detection.

But Mr Rotich told the newspaper he was only going along with it because he wanted to find out who the undercover reporters were and “protect” athletes.

Mr Rotich’s lawyer, Ham Lagat, said after the court order that the evidence against his client “is not strong enough”, AP news agency reports.

“It is tenuous, it is whimsical evidence,” Lagat said. “It is about a video, it is about a newspaper, it could be a gutter press,” AP adds.

Kenya was only removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (Wada) list of “noncompliant” countries on Friday, the day the Rio Games opened.

The country had twice failed to meet Wada’s requests for anti-doping mechanisms to be put in place, with athletes facing special testing before the Games.

at CopaCabana Dirk van Tichelt probably didn’t envision one of the greatest days of his life ending in the hospital.

But that’s exactly where the Belgian judoka found himself Monday night hours after winning his first-ever Olympic medal.

Van Tichelt won bronze in the 73-kg judo competition on Monday.

Naturally, he went off to Copacabana Beach that night to celebrate the achievement. And that’s where things went awry.

Van Tichelt was reportedly assaulted by a thief on the famous beach, and was struck in the face. He was taken to the hospital after the incident.

The thief, who was reportedly Brazilian,

Armstrong Wins Women’s Time Trial Third Time American Kristin Armstrong won the Olympic women’s road time trial for the third time in succession with victory in Rio. A day before turning 43, the oldest rider in the event beat Russian Olga Zabelinskaya, who returned from a doping ban last year, by 5.55 seconds.

Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen, winner of the road race, took bronze.

Great Britain’s Emma Pooley, who, like Armstrong, came out of retirement to compete in Rio, finished 14th.

Pooley, 33, told BBC Radio 5 live she “struggled with the blustery crosswind” on the hilly 29,7km course.

“The weather was a bit different to what we expected,” she said. “I had to ditch my visor halfway round because it got steamed

up.

“Some people are just better at cornering in the wet, I guess.”

Armstrong became the first person to win the same road cycling event at three Olympics.

Having won the time trial at Beijing 2008, she retired in 2009 to start a family before returning to win gold at London 2012 and retiring again

came away with a cellphone, but, crucially, not with a bronze medal.

The Belgian Olympic Committee released a statement confirming the details, and saying that van Tichelt didn’t require treatment at the hospital.

He appeared at a media event the next day with a black eye, and, undoubtedly, a smile on his face. Van Tichelt now has more than just a medal to commemorate his Olympic success.

after Olympics Exit World number one Novak Djokovic has said that a recurring wrist injury has “taken its toll” after a “very busy and active” year.

The Serb, 29, was knocked out in the first round of the Rio Olympics tennis tournament by Juan Martin del Potro.

He also suffered a surprise defeat by Sam Querrey in the third round of this year ’s Wimbledon.

Djokovic has pulled out of the Cincinnati Masters, which starts on 14 August.

“I am very sad to announce that I won’t be able to play this year in Cincinnati,” he said.

“I have a recurring injury that has taken its toll on my body due to a very busy and active schedule this year.

“I have played many matches and I have to take some rest in order to heal.”

CAF Appoints Algerian Ref for Eagles, Tanzania Qualifier Bassey, Udoh also in action The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Algerian Mehdi Abid Charef as referee for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and Tanzania’s Taifa Stars.

Fellow Algerians Abdelhak Etchiali (first assistant), Ahmed Tamen (second assistant) and Mustapha Ghorbal (reserve referee) will accompany Charef to the encounter billed for the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Saturday, 3rd September.

The match commissioner is Mr. Inyangi Bokinda

from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Also on the same weekend, top Nigerian official Paul Bassey will serve as match commissioner for the Cup of Nations qualifier between the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia and the Lone Star of Liberia, scheduled for Monastir, Tunisia.

Bassey, a member of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, will work with South African referees Daniel Bennett (centre), Zakhele Thusi Siwela (first assistant), Mothibidi Stevens Khumalo (second assistant) and Tinyinko Victon Hlungwani

(reserve referee). Essam Abbas Siam from Egypt will be referee assessor for the Group A match.

CAF also appointed Nigerian referees to take charge of the Group K encounter between Niger Republic and Burundi, billed for Niamey.

Ferdinand Aniete Udoh will be referee, with Abel Baba (first assistant), Samuel Pwadutakam (second assistant) and Benjamin Odey (reserve referee) joining him. They will work with Germain Didier Simplice Nguiamba from the Central African Republic, who is match commissioner.

T H I S D AY THURSDAY AUGUST 11, 2016

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MISSILE Lusekelo to Tanzanian Opposition

“Registered political parties have less than six million members and yet the country’s population is roughly 50 million people. We should not allow the small fraction to disturb peace and tranquility” – Popular Tanzanian Christian cleric, Rev. Anthony Lusekelo on the call by the opposition CHADEMA for a nationwide demonstration on September 1 against President John Magufuli who has been in power for just nine months.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

China and Africa: A Serious Affair The China-Africa Public Diplomacy Forum, a symposium organized by the Chinese Government, held on Tuesday in Dares Salaam, Tanzania. Invited to speak on the theme “Advancing China-Africa people-to-people exchanges and media cooperation to achieve development”, below is my presentation at the session.

I

n April 2012, I was in Beijing as one of the 36 participants drawn from Africa, Middle East, South East Asia and Eastern Europe to attend a three-week “Seminar on Press and Publications in Developing Countries”.

Organised by the Chinese authorities in charge of media and publications, the idea was for us to know more about China that has been projecting, albeit in a subtle manner, its growing power in the global arena.

While the sessions were enlightening, the most instructive lesson came at Xinhua, a leading publication in the country, where we could not but notice an inscription strategically placed at the entrance to the newsroom. It read: “In October 1955, Chairman Mao Zedong instructed Xinhua to ‘span the globe and let the whole world hear our voice”. That, I guess, is part of the reasons we are gathered here today for the China-Africa Public Diplomacy Forum. Stripped of all pretensions, the idea is to carry out the mandate of Chairman Mao to have the world, and in this instance, Africa, hear the voice of China. But since communication is a two-way thing, it is also important for China to hear the voice of Africa.

I thank the organizers for inviting me to this Forum even when I am under no illusion that Chinese engagement in Africa is an act of benevolence. It is not. But we must also concede that even when the Chinese pursue the national interest of their country, they do so respecting the cultures and mores of our people while conducting their businesses in an atmosphere of mutual respect and in such a manner that it would also be mutually beneficial to both parties. In any case, there are some fundamental commonalities between the peoples of China and Africa who both believe in traditional family values, having also suffered colonial subjugation.

I am quite aware that there are contending issues arising from China-Africa relations that we must deal with but I have decided to make a general remark while it is my hope that the interactive session will provide the platform for addressing some of those issues. One that I must quickly point out is that while Chinese policy is based on noninterference in the internal political affairs of African countries; that has also led to the accusation that China is collaborating with some of the oppressive regimes we have on the continent. It will therefore serve China well to navigate carefully in African countries where the leaders are abusing the rights of their own people.

I have been to China four times, including when, as Presidential Spokesman in Nigeria, I escorted my late boss, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on a State Visit in 2008; though my first time in Beijing was in October 2000.

Chinese President Xi Jinping On that particular occasion, I was nominated by the Chinese embassy in our country to cover the first Sino-African conference which marked the beginning of a real conversation between China and our continent. But it was the 2012 visit that I consider most productive as there were opportunities for interactions with senior Chinese officials who told us where China is coming from and how things have evolved within the last 30 years.

It is indeed fascinating that China sees herself differently from the way others see her. That is one thing we must learn in Africa—the virtue of humility that is based on correct self-assessment. In February this year, The Hurun Report, a China-based wealth research firm, said China now has 568 billionaires as against 535 by the United States, giving it the largest population of billionaires in the world. Ordinarily, that is something to brag about yet, the Chinese authorities are always quick to remind those who care to listen that the GDP per capita in China (which was $6416 in 2015) is still about 12 percent of the US’ $55,805.

What such introspection teaches is that Chinese leaders are ever conscious of the bigger picture and because of that, they seek ways on how the wealth being created would impact on every citizen rather than on just a few fat cats. What such admission also does is to compel leaders to work harder not only to create more wealth but also to ensure a more equitable distribution and that explains why China keeps growing. That is a lesson for African societies where the gap between the haves and the have-nots is widening as poverty spreads.

For instance, Nigeria where I come from is by all accounts a poor nation, given our huge (and largely uncontrolled) population and limited resources (though with enormous potentials). Yet we have for decades deceived ourselves into believing we are rich on account of our small (in comparison with some other OPEC countries) oil wealth which has also been mismanaged. But the real issue is that rather than work towards improving the living standards of the great majority who live below poverty line, some of our leaders would rather romanticise the number of those

who own private jets, many of them ill-gotten.

In contrast, China sees itself as rich and poor, in equal measure, because the leadership understands its primary responsibility to be lifting the poor majority rather than creating more opportunities for the privileged few.

Perhaps the bigger lesson we can take from China is how it has adapted to changing circumstances as one of the oldest civilisations.

For instance, in the course of visiting “The Forbidden City” in April 2012, it became very obvious that the ancient Chinese was a prosperous society before its fortunes changed. But now the tide has turned and the people have collectively been able to rise from poverty to a measure of prosperity.

How did China do it and what can we learn from such experience to change our own narrative on the continent?

That is the conversation we need to have in Africa and to do that successfully, the media will have to play a critical role.

Interestingly, over the past 15 years, there has been a significant shift towards media diversity in Africa. This new path or wave is creating spaces for sustained debates on key issues that impinge on our collective humanity. This new path is also creating a new narrative that will change the way Africa is viewed and reported across the world. But in the age that we are in, you don’t seek respect by storytelling alone, you earn it by positive actions that will compel other people to listen to you and be more sympathetic or at least, less derogatory in the way you are reported.

About five decades ago, China and Africa were at a similar stage of development but today, the story has changed and that should inspire us on the continent that colonialism cannot continue to be an excuse for our failings. Africa is not ill-equipped to embrace change; nor is Africa unable to create her own positive and daring stories; we just need the right leaders with the right attitudes.

However, there are challenges which are tied to the strength of the media and its operators. A weak media cannot produce the kind of engagement that will engender growth and development. And without stories that inspire, development will be difficult.

And without development, outsiders will continue to feed on stereotypes about us as a people while the vicious cycles of poverty and want continue.

The role of the media in Africa therefore goes beyond informing or entertaining its audience, the more critical roles are about framing issues and leading discussions in a bid to galvanizing their respective citizens to positive actions. Like China, we need to

change the notion that we cannot do things on our own. We need to start creating our own stories by focusing on the strength and potentials of our people, especially the energetic and enterprising younger generations. These voices will help us not only to question the past but also to begin the process of inventing new narratives for the change we clamour.

However, it is also important to stress that while the Chinese media model may have worked for their people, it cannot serve the interest of Africa where journalists must keep reminding those in authority of their obligations to the people. That perhaps explains why, even when students of journalism are taught that their role is basically to inform, educate and entertain, Larry Dailey, a Professor in Media Technology, has expanded that role to include the necessity to frustrate, to sadden and to scare certain elements in the society who do not work for the public good. If we must develop like China, that role is most appropriate for journalists in Africa where accountable and transparent leadership is still very much in short supply.

Last night, at the launching of HaiwainetAfrica Online, established by the Chinese People’s Daily, Mr. Wang Yongfu, their Deputy Editor in Chief for Overseas Edition, reminded us that in 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping gave them a mandate to “tell Chinese stories well, spread Chinese voice well, and try to be the bridge of confidence-building, doubts-clearing and strength-uniting”. That may be good for China but as I stated earlier, there will be no conversation if only one side keeps talking.

The Chinese ambassador to Tanzania, Dr. Lu Youqing, struck the right cord when he said that both China and Africa must begin to tell their own stories through constant engagement and mutually beneficial interactions on all fields. There is no better way of doing that than by seeking to earn the respect of the civilized world through working for the prosperity of their respective peoples. Chinese leaders understand this very well and we can see the results but I am not too sure their counterparts on the African continent do. Yet, as a common saying goes, it is how you dress that you will be addressed.

If all that we project in Africa are wars, crisis, disease, corruption etc., respect will elude us. And in the world that we live in today, if you are not respected, you have no compelling story to sell. That is why China is important to Africa so we can learn from your experiences, especially in the last 30 years as we move along in a relationship that is based on shared humanity and will also engender shared prosperity.

Abuja Teens Conference While the Web Portal, www.rccgteapteens. org, will be closed by 6PM today, registered participants will be notified tomorrow morning with a letter that will admit them to the conference on

Saturday. Those who have problems with registration can send their full name; Sex; Age and School to: liz_ekpenyong@ yahoo.com or est2yne@yahoo.com, not later than 8PM tonight.

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