Thursday 20th October 2016

Access Bank Raises US$300m Eurobond from International Market Obinna Chima

Access Bank Plc has successfully raised US$300 million via a Eurobond from the international bond market.

The bank recently accessed the international market to raise the bond, with a maturity

T H I S D AY S P E C I A L R E L E A S E date of October 2021 and at a coupon of 10.5 per cent.

This makes Access Bank the first Nigerian bank to raise a bond from the international market this year despite the country’s macroeconomic

headwinds.

The bank’s management, in a statement yesterday, said the successful outcome of the bond demonstrated the strength, resilience and international endorsement

of Access Bank Plc. Market analysts also saw the Eurobond issue as a show of support for the federal government’s efforts to attract foreign exchange into the country.

Access Bank currently has two series of Eurobonds in

issue – the $350 million maturing in July 2017, at a coupon of 7.25 per cent, and the $400 million (9.25%) maturing in June 2021 – as part of a US$1 billion global medium-term note programme.

Commenting on the

development, Herbert Wigwe, Group Managing Director/ CEO of Access Bank, said: “The bond will be for working capital, for lending to investment-grade names, including Nigerian companies Continued on page 8

Buhari Meets Released Chibok Girls, Snubs BBOG Campaigners...

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Thursday 20 October, 2016 Vol 21. No 7854. Price: N250

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FEC Okays Plan to Concession Railway Rehabilitation to GE...

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CBN Ramps up FXAllocation toAirlines,Manufacturers,Others Pumps $314m through special intervention on forex market

Obinna Chima In an effort to meet part of the pent up demand for foreign

exchange by critical sectors of the economy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday allocated $314 million to

Nigerian banks for onward sale to their customers through Special Secondary Market Intervention Retail Sales

(SMIS).

According to a CBN source, the intervention, which was a sixty-day forwards sale, was

aimed specifically at meeting the FX payment of matured obligations for the importation of agriculture and industrial

raw materials, machineries and equipment as well as Continued on page 9

All Set for Coronation of New Oba of Benin Today British govt congratulates crown prince, Buhari, Saraki, others to attend ceremony

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The proud and ancient Kingdom of Benin and the people of Edo State will be making history today, with the crowning of the 39th Oba of the Kingdom and the 70th ruler in the Ogiso dynasty.

Little wonder the mood across the state and among Binis in particular was one of great excitement yesterday, as the city centre and its environs had been burnished for the visitors from around the world who will be trooping into the city for the coronation of Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa.

Erediauwa will be ascending the 836-year-old throne of his forefathers, the oldest and most revered in the country.

The death of his father, the 38th Oba of Benin, His Royal Continued on page 8

OUR GIRLS… SAVOURING THE AIR OF FREEDOM

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, surrounded by the 21 freed Chibok secondary schoolgirls, when the president hosted them in the Presidential Villa, Abuja… yesterday

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NIPCO Acquires ExxonMobil’s 60% Stake in Mobil Oil Seeks approval from SEC, NSE Crude prices hit 15-month high Ejiofor Alike with agency report In a deal certain to boost confidence in the downstream segment of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, indigenous downstream company, NIPCO Plc, announced yesterday that it has acquired a 60 per cent stake in Mobil Oil Nigeria (MON) Plc from United States oil giant, ExxonMobil.

The transaction was seen by market watches as a continuation of the divestment strategy by international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the country.

NIPCO is also set to initiate the process of obtaining regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), having signed the sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with ExxonMobil.

News of the transaction did not affect the price of Mobil’s shares, which initially rose to N195.30 per share in early morning trading on the Nigerian bourse yesterday, before settling at N186 per share, the same price at which it closed on Tuesday.

Mobil Oil was incorporated in Nigeria in 1951, but got listed on the stock exchange in 1991, with ExxonMobil retaining a majority stake of 60 per cent.

The deal, the biggest in the downstream sector in recent

years, is coming barely seven years after another US energy giant, Chevron Corporation, divested of its majority stake in Chevron Oil Nigeria Plc to another Nigerian indigenous downstream player, MRS Group.

Before MRS acquired Chevron Oil, Ocean and Oil Holdings in 2000 acquired the federal’s government 30 per cent stake in Unipetrol, and increased its stake in Unipetrol to 42 per cent in 2001.

In 2002, Unipetrol acquired a 60 per cent stake in Agip Nigeria, and rebranded in 2004 as Oando Plc. With the sale of ExxonMobil’s stake in Mobil Oil to NIPCO, the French oil major, Total, is the only IOC in Nigeria that operates in the downstream sector with its controlling shares in Total Nigeria Plc. The IOCs have also embarked on a wave of divestment of upstream assets to Nigerian independents in recent years, citing increasing challenges in the operating environment and the need to encourage the development of local capacity.

Confirming the acquisition of Mobil Oil by his company, the Managing Director of NIPCO, Mr. Venkataraman Venkatapathy, said in a statement yesterday that the transaction was agreed with the execution of the SPA with ExxonMobil.

Venkatapathy said with the signing of the SPA, his company would start the transition period and seek the approval of the NSE and SEC. “The transition period will also enable NIPCO Plc to effectively manage a smooth and successful completion of the transaction. NIPCO considers this acquisition an important synergy.

“It is part of our strategic move to support NIPCO’s continuous growth and expansion of its Nigerian retail footprint. We are confident of adding tremendous value to MON and likewise MON will add huge value to NIPCO. “In furtherance of this value addition, NIPCO will continue to maintain the Mobil brand on its retail outlets as well as continue to blend and sell the Mobil brand of lubricants under branding licence(s) from ExxonMobil,” Ventakapathy explained.

The NIPCO boss, who did not disclose the value of the deal, however expressed his company’s profound gratitude and appreciation to ExxonMobil for selecting NIPCO as the preferred bidder for the acquisition of MON. “We wish to give every assurance to ExxonMobil that having entrusted us with this invaluable asset (MON), we will ensure full brand compliance with ExxonMobil’s global standards as well

as rigorously sustain and follow ExxonMobil’s code of conduct/ethos and operational excellence,” Ventakatapathy added.

According to him, NIPCO’s expansion reinforces its implicit confidence in Nigeria’s future.

He noted that the Nigerian economy still provides a robust and premium return on investment, adding that his company was privileged to have been given this opportunity by ExxonMobil on its home ground.

“To our shareholders and stakeholders, we say welcome to a new dawn. A new era that will usher in stability, prosperity, sustainability and growth,” Ventakatapathy said.

Meanwhile, there was more cheering news for the oil sector yesterday, when crude oil prices rose by three per cent, with the U.S.’ West Texas Intermediate (WTI) hitting a 15-month high after the U.S. government reported a surprisingly large drop in domestic inventories for the sixth week.

Global benchmark Brent futures were up $1.21, or 2.3 per cent, at $52.89 a barrel after hitting a session peak of $53.14.

WTI oil futures were up $1.45, or 2.9 per cent, at $51.74 a barrel, after touching $51.93, the highest level since July 16, 2015, when WTI hit $52.17.

US commercial crude inventories reportedly fell by 5.2 million barrels to a total of 468.7

million barrels in the week through October14, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported. Analysts polled

by Reuters had expected the EIA to report a crude build of 2.7 million barrels.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the fact that US stockpiles are draining at a time they usually grow is even more encouraging for bullish traders.

According to the report, the draw was large enough to overcome an addition to gasoline stockpiles, and the total amount of all oil and refined products in storage fell by 3.6 million barrels.

That total inventory—at 1.3 billion barrels—is now down 2.4 per cent since the end of August, the largest drop over a seven-week span since February 2014, according to EIA. Reuters reported that it is common for crude stocks to build at this time of year as refineries go into maintenance, turning out less gasoline and other fuel products. Refinery runs have fallen since the start of September, reaching 88 per cent of capacity last week.

The EIA data also cited lower crude imports as a factor for the inventory drop.

U.S. crude imports dropped by 912,000 barrels per day last week to 6.47 million bpd, the lowest since November 2015.

Still, a surprisingly large build of 2.5 million barrels in

gasoline stocks that contrasted with analysts’ expectations for a 1.3 million-barrel drop meant a less rosy outlook for oil for some.

Also supporting oil in early trade was evidence of declining production in China, and optimism that the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will secure an output cut at its meeting next month.

Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said yesterday that oil markets were at the end of a considerable downturn as fundamentals were improving and supply and demand were rebalancing.

He called on non-OPEC producers to help stabilise the market saying their role was as critical as the role of OPEC members.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak also said yesterday that he was planning to meet Falih this weekend to discuss coordination of possible actions.

As the world’s largest exporters prepare to discuss the first cut in output in eight years next month, the pressure of persistently low oil prices on higher-cost producers is becoming apparent.

China’s crude output fell 9.8 per cent to 3.89 million barrels per day (bpd), near its lowest in six years in the second-biggest year-on-year decline on record.

he visited Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo in Benin yesterday.

Arkwright said he was in the state with his wife Tricia to witness the coronation of Prince Eheneden as the new Oba of Benin as well as convey the greetings of the Queen of England to the crown prince.

He said he had been in the country for one year as the British High Commissioner but was in the state for the first time.

He expressed the interest of the British Government to foster bilateral relations with Edo, reported the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said his country was interested in what business British companies could venture into to curtail unemployment in the state and commended the achievements of the outgoing Oshiomhole’s administration in the last eight years.

Oshiomhole said the coronation was extremely important to the people hence, the declaration of today as public holiday in the state.

He also said the coronation would be the first time in the history of the state that an elected governor would be presenting a staff of office to an Oba. He said Edo was one of the few states in the country where the traditional stool has never been in dispute, adding that

every indigene has a positive disposition to the event.

He further said that the state was keen on strengthening relations with foreign governments and the need to be less dependent on revenue from oil by creating an enabling environment for investors.

Oshiomhole said it would be the pleasure of the state government to see how more investors could be attracted from the UK to the state.

Britain has had a chequered history with the ancient Benin Kingdom that its people have never forgotten.

In 1897, the British launched a punitive or imperialist expedition, deposed and exiled the then Oba Ovonramwen, taking control of the area in order to establish the British colony of Nigeria.

The expedition was mounted to avenge the defeat by the Binis of a British invasion force that had violated Benin territory earlier in 1896. It consisted of both indigenous soldiers and British officers, and is still remembered by the Edos with fear and loathing today.

Under the pretext of covering for the cost of the expedition, the Benin royal art was stolen and auctioned off by the British.

Ovonramwen died in 1914, his throne never having been restored to him. His son, grandson, great-grandson and now his great, great grandson,

however, all preserved their titles and statuses as traditional rulers in modern-day Nigeria.

Meanwhile, contrary to the misplaced perception that the crown prince, who is very well educated and travelled, may have shelved some of the rituals for his ascension to the throne, THISDAY learnt that he fulfilled all the rituals in the tradition of his forefathers.

Indeed, as he went through the rituals, the ceremonies attracted thousands of Bini sons and daughters from home and abroad, to witness the epoch-making events.

As the crown prince moved from one place to the other, the uniqueness, pomp and ceremony of the Benin Kingdom was in full display, as thousands of people, including Benin chiefs, cultural groups, foreigners, youths, residents of the kingdom followed him with unconcealed excitement.

ALL SET FOR CORONATION OF NEW OBA OF BENIN TODAY Majesty, Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I, was announced by the Benin Traditional Council on April 29, 2016.

Erediauwa I will be buried in another flamboyant ceremony several months after his son’s coronation, as during coronation rituals, all burials in Benin are prohibited.

Traders and commercial vehicle drivers who carry out their business activities around Urhokpota Hall, where the coronation will take place, have also been relocated to other areas of the city.

Expectedly, traffic had built up yesterday on major streets within the city as a result of the closure of some roads, especially those within the proximity of the Oba’s Palace and Urhokpota.

A visit to the area by THISDAY yesterday, showed a huge tent, the temporary abode of the crown prince erected at Urhokpota Hall called EkoOhae (bachelor’s camp) where Prince Eheneden is expected to stay for three days, but will climax during the coronation.

The King’s Square and other adjourning streets linking the square such as Sokponba Road, Akpakpava Road, Mission Road, Oba Market Road, Isekhere and Ibiwe Streets, as well as Adesogbe (Plymouth) Road were festooned with decorations.

The decoration and painting of houses within and around the area, THISDAY gathered, was carried out in compliance with the directives issued by the Benin Traditional Council to landlords who own houses within the area.

In addition, security had been beefed up in the state capital for the coronation. By yesterday, security presence on major streets and around strategic locations was evident in the city.

Security vehicles were seen on patrol blaring their sirens to ward off would-be troublemakers.

Also, personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as well as palace security guards had been stationed at the entrance of the Urhokpota at the King’s Square.

The Edo State Police Commissioner, Haliru Abubakar Gwandu, said the police deployed no fewer than 5,000 personnel in the state for the coronation.

He said the deployment was to ensure a hitch-free coronation, adding that the police personnel comprised the Special Protection Unit (SPU), Anti-Bomb Squad, riot policemen and conventional policemen and women.

Gwandu further disclosed that personnel of the Federal Road Safety Commission

(FRSC) and those of other sister agencies would also be available to maintain law and order, before, during and after the coronation.

The deployment, according to him, is to ensure maximum security for residents and dignitaries that would be coming from within and outside the state.

“The coronation will attract dignitaries from in and outside the country who are coming to grace the coronation. And we have to ensure that we do everything humanly possible to make the place safe and will checkmate misguided elements,” he said.

Major dignitaries expected to attend the coronation tomorrow include President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, former heads of state and presidents, governors, traditional rulers from all sections of the country, members of the diplomatic community, members of federal and state legislatures, and thousands of Nigerians from various walks of life.

Ahead of the coronation, the British Government has felicitated with the incoming Oba of Benin, and the government and people of Edo. British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, delivered the message when

ACCESS BANK RAISES US$300M EUROBOND FROM INTERNATIONAL MARKET seeking to expand their exports.”

He emphasised that the process signified a significant moment in the bank’s journey to entrench itself as one of Nigeria’s top three banks by 2017.

“It also ensures that we keep our promise of speed, service and security to our customers as we target Africa’s fastestgrowing industrial sectors,” he added.

Access Bank is now one of the top three banks in Nigeria

and ranked among the top 500 global banks, according to a 2015 report by The Banker magazine and is aiming to be Africa’s top bank.

The bank recently won the Best Branch Automation Project in the 2016 Asian Banker

Awards; the 2016 Karlsruhe Outstanding Business Sustainability Award; 2016 Euromoney Africa’s Best Bank Transformation Award; and the EMEA Finance ‘Best Bank of the Year’ and CEO of the Year.

Access Bank currently serves

over 7 million individual and corporate account holders, through 370 branches and with more than 1,500 ATMs in major centres across Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, UK, and representative offices in Asia.

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN CAVERTON 0.03 0.79 STANBIC 0.50 17.00 WAPIC 0.01 0.51 SKYEBANK 0.01 0.65 CAPPLC 0.50 33.75 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN ASHAKACEM 1.46 13.57 FORTEOIL 10.57 127.30 GSK 0.83 15.78 CUSTODIAN 0.20 3.80 INTERBREW 0.99 19.00 HPE Nestle Nig Plc N800.00 Volume: 88.913 million shares Value: N592.52 billion Deals: 2,520 As at yesterday 19/10/16 See details on Page 52

% 3.9 3.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 % 9.7 7.6 5.0 5.0 4.9

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T H S D AY • THURSDAY OCTOBER 20 2016

Buhari’sInfantileViewofNigeria Ch mamanda Ngoz Ad ch e

I was 7 years o d the first t me I recogn sed po t ca fear My parents and the r fr ends were ta k ng about the government n our v ng room n our re at ve y b g house set on re at ve y w de grounds at a southeastern N ger an un vers ty w th doors shut and no strangers present Yet they spoke n wh spers So ngra ned was the r apprehens on that they wh spered even when they d d not need to It was 1984 and Ma Gen Muhammadu Buhar was the m tary head of state Governmenta contro s had mang ed the economy Many mported goods were banned scarc ty was r fe b ack markets thr ved bus nesses were fa ng and so d ers sta ked markets to enforce governmentdeterm ned pr ces My mother came home w th prec ous cartons of subs d sed m k and soap wh ch were so d n rat oned quant t es So d ers flogged peop e on the streets for “ nd sc p ne” — such as tter ng or not stand ng n queues at the bus stop On te ev s on the head of state st ck-stra ght and author tat ve seemed remote mpass ve on h s throne am d the fear and uncerta nty And yet when 30 years ater n 2015 Mr Buhar was e ected as a democrat c pres dent I we comed t Because for the first t me N ger ans had voted out an ncumbent n an e ect on that was arge y free and fa r Because Mr Buhar had so d h mse f as a near-ascet c reformer as a man so persona y aboveboard that he wou d w pe out N ger a s decades- ong corrupt on He represented a form of hope N ger a s d fficu t to govern It s Afr ca s most popu ous country w th reg ona comp ex t es a scarred h story and a patronage-based po t ca cu ture St Mr Buhar ascended to the pres dency w th a rare advantage — not on y d d he have the good w of a ma or ty of N ger ans he e c ted a pecu ar m x of fear and respect For the first weeks of h s pres dency t was sa d that c v servants who were often absent from work sudden y appeared every day on t me and that po ce officers and customs offic a s stopped demand ng br bes He had an opportun ty to make rea reforms ear y on to bo d y reshape N ger a s path He wasted t Perhaps the first c ue was the unusua y ong t me t took h m to appo nt h s m n sters After an ostens b e search for the very best he presented many recyc ed figures w th whom N ger ans were d senchanted But the rea test of h s pres dency came w th the cont nued fa n o pr ces wh ch had begun the year before h s naugurat on N ger a s economy s unwho esome y dependent on o and wh e the p unge n pr ces was bound to be catastroph c Mr Buhar s act ons made t even more so He adopted a po cy of “defend ng” the na ra N ger a s currency The offic a exchange rate was kept art fic a y ow On the b ack market the exchange rate ba ooned Pr ces for everyth ng rose r ce bread cook ng o Fru t se ers and car se ers b amed “the pr ce of do ars ” Comp a nts of hardsh p cut across c ass Some bus nesses fired emp oyees others fo ded The government dec ded who wou d have access to the centra bank s nowreduced fore gn currency reserves and drew up an arb trary st of worthy and unworthy goods — mporters of toothp cks cannot for examp e but mporters of o can Pred ctab y th s po cy spawned corrupt on The exc us ve few who were ab e to buy do ars at offic a rates cou d se them on the b ack market and earn

Two-Minute Briefing NEWS PDP Asks FG to Probe Justice Okoro’s

Allegations The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded an immediate investigation into the allegation of attempted bribery made by a Supreme Court judge, Justice John Inyang Okoro, against the former Governor of Rivers State and Minister ofTransport... Page 10

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PDP Asks FG Allegations to Probe Justice Okor o’s Senate jud Email davids

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T H I S D AY

News Editor Davidson Iriekpe thisdaylive.c n om, 08111 813081

Onyebuchi Ezigbo Omololu Ogunmadand governorship e in Abuja candidate Ibom State attempted ofAkwa appeal, he would have The leadership of the Peoples and sway justice against to bribe a fortune. lost affiliation Democratic the PDP candidates and their Party (PDP) “We wish Justice demanded has and Abia in Rivers, Akwa Ibom Okoro and contributions to the huge and the eventual the CJN States, Buhari receipt report investigation an immediate The party notedrespectively. over this did not keep quite presidency, they are into the allegation to the Senate of such seven judges of attempted to appear before by the the of the fact that that in view February bribery attempt since ‘sacred cows’ and seen as committee chairman bribery made committee shielded the allegation from prosecuti a Supreme Court 2016 by , Senator David Umaru, on.” knew about to tell it all they administration until now for an judge, Justice is “grievous, dangerou yesterday.

John Inyang Meanwhile, that has flouted the incidents criminal and At the commenc Okoro, of raid of unhealthy for s, to have zero tolerance were arrested the judges who yesterday former Governor against the democracy their ement of our following the eventual arrest homes and of ’s plenary, on of their Rivers and Minister State President and the rule of law, corruption. It appears raid had Umaru houses on October of raised order that public would Muhamm Umaru added on October 7.

Chibuike RotimiTransport, Hon. must 43 7, Senate have remainedthe 2016 by the Departmen that the move investigate oradu Buhari the dark without Standing Rules in the was in furtheran Amaechi, and in the All Progressiv cause the with the the prompting Services (DSS) will soont of State intention to relevant agencies ce of their of es the Congress appear explanati make a personal oversight duties.

DSS (APC) governors as to ascertain to probe so invasion harassments and before the Senate Committee He said: “Mr. its veracity.

Judiciary, Human in Akwa Ibom hip candidate of his home. on on the on to the chamber President, “This informatio State, Mr. Umana virtue of the correspon Rights “This Umana.

1999 Constituti by ranking judge n by a high Amaechi allegation against Legal Matters to narrate and committee receiveddence the as amended on ordeals must their has again vindicated The party said and Order not be us before the committee on its resolution from NJC Rule the allegations swept under the carpet 96, that there 37 of by a high ranking The judges’ . of its emergenc at the end appearan powers of our rules, the judge must previous petitions and like corrupt leaders are so many coming not be swept this committe and members on the heels ce is October 11, 2016y meeting of to oversigh the of the under the carpet report of the Rivers e of APC recent on like other previous the the arrest but due to t State Judiciary party of the receipt of the resolution and raid of judges’ and particula the Judiciary petitions.

Commiss In a statement rly its powers NJC by the Umaru therefore homes. issued yesterday Inquiry that revealed ion of include committee by the PDP spokesma leave of the Senate sought the judges judicial matters and misappropriations so many n, Prince and Dayo Adeyeye, to of invite the justices of the party said the former governor funds by court.” the the judge’s allegations when have again held sway from 2007 to he vindicated its 2015.

“Another salient position that are so many there point is the revelation corrupt leaders that Amaechi members of and sponsored the Umana based being shielded APC who are return on from on “The attentionprosecution. want to investment; and we ask, with which of the For leadership of funds? emphasis, on the PDP led Senator Ahmed page three by (first paragraph Mohamm ) of Makarfi has been drawn ed stated: “My Lord, the letter four-page letter to a said Amaechi Okoro to the written by Justice and the President of Nigeria the Nigeria (CJN) Chief Justice of to informAPC mandated him me that they of the National and Chairman win must their (NJC) dated Judicial Council respect election appeals in October 17, 2016, Ibom of Rivers State, Akwa in which he disclosed that State and Abia former Governor the State at of Rivers State, all costs. For Akwa Ibom and Minister State, he alleged of Chibuike RotimiTransport, Hon. Umana, that he sponsored Amaechi the candidate Mr. Umana Umana, the and APC for that election of the APC if he and that lost Akwa Ibom State

arrested jud ges

RMAFC Back s Cash-for-Oil FG’s $15bn EXEC Deal with India UTIVE BANT ER

L-R: Minister James Emejo in Abuja Development, for Solid Minerals Developm Chief Audu the country ent, Mr. Kayode Adeosun, discussin Ogbeh; should The Revenue Fayemi; Minister g during the Minister of State for Mobilisation elsewhere to attract long look Agricultu Federal Executive Allocation for Agricultu term investments like re Developm Council (FEC), re, Heineken Lokpobiri this that Fiscal bring Commission and ent and Rural ; and Minister meeting at the good returns would of Finance yesterday threw (RMAFC) economy Presidential for Villa in Abuja...ye , Mrs. Kemi through employmethe it weight behind the sterday generation nt $15 for oil deal which billion cash sustainab , wealth creation and GODWIN OMOIGUI le developm was recently negotiated ent.”

According on behalf of federal governme the “In order to the statement: Indian government with the incidence to arrest the high Minister of State nt by the harness of gas flaring and Resources, Dr. for Petroleum the gas the huge potential in Ibe sub Kachikwu, in sector in Nigeria a bid to shore which ranks up the country’s Omololu Ogunmad foreign reserves. world and seventh in the e in Abuja first in Africa entire exercise.

Under the with natural As terms of MTN and Minister gas reserves agreement, These guests he was a Director totalling 188 base of Trade have were and Investmen trillion cubic Indian (Tcf) Government the of MTN breached the alleged to and also owned t, Okechukw feet as at is expected Enelamah, appear provisions u Foreign shares in the (2) above, I have never make an upfront to Nigerians May 1, 2015, wealthy Exchange (Monitorinof telecommunications earned any dividend Senate Committe before the and crude oil purchasepayment for should and foreign investors g Miscellan directly from Enelamah who company. MTN be encourage Insurance and e on Banking, the manner eous) Act over to Nigeria, shares. which is to explained d to Other Financial the reason up several of the transfer be Institutions today “It is also LNG projects set basis of firm repaid on the possible. of before the he could not appear over alleged the money out of the country. as point out that pertinent to committee on repatriation Contracts over Term Crude Briefing journalists October of $13.9 billion, l was never 12 as initially “There is no the Senate scheduled, said the ‘owner’ of Celteleco ahead of the investigat reason why whereby Indian some years the country has engaged Investment services of ive hearing he neither owned Celtelecom m should not companies would public sector 4 to10 both foreign the yesterday, Chairman neither did he have Limited (‘Celtelecom’) local forensic and Senate refining as well collaborate in would LNG projects which or a sharehold Committee on of the shares in MTNhave any direct in Celtelecom in unravellin experts to help it Insurance er Banking, nor reap any and production as exploration create add value to production, g as recorded employment, pages on the allegation the truth behind Institutionand Other Financial dividends from it as contracts for with long term economic enhance alleged and 402 and 403 of the votes . s, Rafiu Ibrahim, by Melaye. supply developm Also proceedin of crude subsequen disclosed expected to oil to Indian gs of the Senate ent and He said: “Owing appear engaged that the Senate had before the committe from Nigeria PSU companies generationtly increase revenue to an official of September 27, 2016. travel with forensic experts e at the commencement “Between for the the President of executing and possibilities to Muhamm “In this regard,federation. of today’s assist it unravelling the mystery 2015, I served 1998 and investigative adu behind the mystique. infrastructure CGD and LPG commend RMAFC as the Chief week, I am Buhari in the Executive projects by Indian Central Bank hearing are the ed unable to PSU companie According Dangote of Nigeria (CBN), Industries be Alliance Officer of Capital to him, the present before the committe s Financial Reporting allegation The commissiin Nigeria. on the said on the recentLimited (DIL) e wholly Nigeria Limited, a against Council of on, Nigeria date MTN, acquisitio owned subsidiar in a Twister statement and crave (FRCN), Standard Enelamah and others the kind understan n of signed by of African B.V Chartered y spokesman, Capital its headqua ., a Dutch company ding of Bank, Citibank, and hence, required is weighty the committe Diamond Bank the services e to use this (ACA). ACA is Alliance Mohammed, Mr. Ibrahim Netherla rtered in the a leading and Stanbic of experts to help the committee medium to IBTC. present some pan-African get to the root “always beenstated that it had reliable, nds delivering pertinent facts. investme advocating that of the matter.

Others are high-yield l have read firm sponsoring funds nt instead of selling However, the letter ahead of Babatunde Ahmed Dasuki, appearan off Nigeria’s robust solutions in naturaland strategic assets his I believe and the attachments. managing investments and Folawiyo, Victor processing and ce gas Sub-Sahar before it is needful Odili, Dr. Pascal in separation to term expenditurto solve its short the upstream Dozie and committee, Enelamah the to clarity as follows: for me managed an Africa. Two firms e requirements, Colonel Bello sent a memoran had never

by ACA together l was with oil and gas and midstream appointed others. They Sani, among committe dum sectors.” some individua are all expected e where he to the of MTN at any as a Director entities ls and to explain their invested in MTN. denied never time; roles in the allegations made by held any share l have Celtelecom With Senator in Dino Melaye as the investmen directly MTN since (Kogi West) t inception to vehicle, I served as a that date director and; in conseque of Celtelecom representin nce of ACA managed funds. g the

Senate Hire Alleged Reps Forensic Experts to Unr atriation of $13.9 billion avel MTN, Enela mah, others Minis appea ter writes comm

EDITORIAL The Need ess Nnaman Comm ttee Amn

r befor ittee, says accuse committee today ation is false

t seasytoconc udethatthe24 man comm tteeheadedbyformerSenate Pres dent KenNnaman andsadd ed w ththetaskofreform ngN ger as e ectora aws sdeadonarr va Page 15 T

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POLITICS Onah: Restructuring Won’t Break Nigeria Buhar

OP-ED arge r sk ess profits — transact ons that contr bute noth ng to the economy Mr Buhar has spoken of h s “good reasons” for gnor ng the many econom sts who warned about the danger of h s po c es He be eves r ght y that N ger a needs to produce more of what t consumes and he wants to spur oca product on But oca product on cannot be w ed nto ex stence f the support ng nfrastructure s absent and bann ng goods has h stor ca y ed not to oca product on but to a thr v ng shadow market H s ntent ons good as they we m ght be are rooted n an outdated econom c mode and an nfant e v ew of N ger ans For h m t seems patr ot sm s not a vo untary and flex b e th ng w th room for d ssent but a mart a enterpr se to obey w thout quest on ng Nat ona sm s not negot ated but enforced The pres dent seems comfortab e w th cond t ons that make an economy uncomfortab e — uncerta nty and d s us on But the economy s not the on y reason for N ger ans dec n ng hope A few months ago a young woman Ch dera came to work as a nanny n my Lagos home A week nto her ob I found her n tears n her room She needed to go back to her ancestra home n the southeast she sa d because Fu an herdsmen had ust murdered her grandfather on h s farm She showed me a gruesome ce phone photo of h s corpse desecrated by bu ets an o d man crump ed on the farm he owned Ch dera s grandfather s on y one of the hundreds of peop e who have been murdered by Fu an herdsmen — catt e herders from northern N ger a who unt recent y were ben gn figures n the southern mag nat on wa k ng across the country w th the r graz ng catt e S nce Mr Buhar came to power v ages n the m dd e-be t and southern reg ons have been ra ded the nhab tants k ed the r farm ands sacked Those attacked be eve the Fu an herdsmen want to forc b y take over the r ands for catt e graz ng It wou d be unfa r to b ame Mr Buhar for these k ngs wh ch are n part a resu t of comp ex nteract ons between c mate change and and use But eadersh p s as much about percept on as t s about

act on and Mr Buhar has appeared d sengaged It took h m months and much cr t c sm from c v soc ety to fina y ssue a statement “condemn ng” the k ngs H s a oofness fee s at worst ke a tac t enab ng of murder and at best an absence of sens t ve eadersh p Most mportant h s behav our suggests he s tone-deaf to the w de y he d be ef among southern N ger ans that he promotes a northern Sunn Mus m agenda He was no ess opaque when the N ger an Army murdered hundreds of members of a Sh te Mus m group n December bury ng them n hast y dug graves Or when so d ers k ed members of the sma secess on st pro-B afran movement who were protest ng the arrest of the r eader Nnamd Kanu a tt e-known figure whose cont nued ncarcerat on has e evated h m to a m nor martyr N ger ans who expected a fa r and sweep ng c eanup of corrupt on have been d sappo nted Arrests have tended to be se ect ve target ng most y those opposed to Mr Buhar s government The ant -corrupt on agenc es are perce ved not on y as part san but as brazen y flout ng the ru e of aw The Department of State Secur ty recent y barged nto the homes of var ous udges at m dn ght harass ng and threaten ng them and arrest ng a number of them because the udges festy es “suggested” that they were corrupt There s an ad hoc a r to the government that does not nsp re that v ta ngred ent for a stab e economy confidence There s at a eve s of government a re ent ess b am ng of prev ous adm n strat ons and a refusa to acknow edge m stakes And there are eer e s gns of the past repeat ng tse f — Mr Buhar s tone and demeanor are rem n scent of 1984 and h s m tary-era War Aga nst Ind sc p ne programme s be ng re ntroduced There are no easy answers to N ger a s ma a se but the government s ntervent on cou d be more sa utary — by pr or t s ng nfrastructure creat ng a bus ness-fr end y env ronment and commun cat ng to a popu ace m red n d sappo ntment In a country enamoured of dark humour a common greet ng among the m dd e c ass now s “Happy recess on ” •Culled from The New York Times

CBN RAMPS UP FX ALLOCATION TO AIRLINES MANUFACTURERS OTHERS spare parts and t cket sa e rem ttances for a r nes He sa d n order to ensure that these sectors cont nue to enoy the support of the bank ng system n sourc ng raw mater a s and mach nery the ch ef execut ves of depos t money banks (DMBs) s gned undertak ngs to open new etters of cred t (LCs) equ va ent to the amount of forwards rece ve for each of the sectors “Therefore th s round of sa es was meant to meet both matured ob gat ons and finance new trade LCs ” the sen or

STARTERS

CBN offic a nformed THISDAY At the c ose of the ntervent on he sa d the CBN rece ved va d app cat on (that s those that met the cr ter a st pu ated n the c rcu ar for the auct on) amount ng to $814 208 535 82 Of th s amount t ntervened w th the sum of $313 916 711 09 A sectora breakdown showed that tota demand from the agr cu ture sector stood at $31 941 640 73 of wh ch 61 73 per cent or $19 718 153 67 was met by the CBN

Tota demand by a r nes was $216 738 717 57 of wh ch 31 91 per cent or $69 164 224 83 was met demand for mach nery stood at $167 638 045 08 of wh ch 65 09 per cent or $109 117 686 71 was met and demand for raw mater a s of $397 890 132 44 of wh ch 29 13 per cent or $115 916 711 09 was met At the c ose of trad ng yesterday the spot rate of the na ra rose to N304 75 to do ar from $319 75 from the prev ous day On the para e market the na ra rema ned stab e se ng at N454 to do ar

Elders and community leaders from three local government areas in Ndokwaland in Delta State reportedly protested alleged exclusion of the Ndokwa people from the newly reconstituted board of the Niger Delta Development Commission.What really are the issues?The recent composition of the new NDDC board without a representative from boardw thoutarepresentat vefrom Ndokwa- land can be described as an Ndokwa andcanbedescr bedasan act of injustice. Page 18

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FEATURES Endless Fight over Land

FEATURES End

Thewho Th e whole escenery scenery looks ookssord sordid. d The of carcasses of two burnt patrol ssight ghtofcarcassesoftwoburntpatro vehicles belonging to the Anambra State Police Command and debrissof of StatePo ceCommandanddebr a bungalow with suffocating grasses abunga oww thsuffocat nggrasses marched to earth all caught a picture of a desolate place T abandoned after a war. Page 20

BUSINESS IXPN: Economic Recession Pushing Up Data Traffic in Nigeria The current economic recession has compelled most telecoms service providers to redirect their data traffic back to Nigeria in order to host their data lo- cally,THISDAYinvestigations have revealed. Page 23

HEALTH Maxy Spec a y Cen e Expand ng he

u u ng Won B

T H I S D AY

• THURSDAY,

OCTOBER 13,

h

BUSINESSW NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

2016

R A T E S 14.8750 19.7872

L nd

A S

3-MONTH 6-MONTH

20.5590 21.4160

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1-MONTH 2-MONTH 3-MONTH

O C T O B E R 17.9259 18.0333 18.1358

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23 Group Busines s Editor ChikaA Email: chika.a manzenwachuk manze-Nwachuku wu@thisdayliv e.com 08033294157, 08057161321

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EXCHANGE RATE N311.62/1UD DOLLAR AS AT LAST FRIDAY

18.8515 20.5689 21.9351

Quick Takes

Okere to Speak

ISAN 2016

at ICT Summi The Founder and (CWG), Mr. AustinVice Chairman, Computet maiden edition Okere, will be deliveringr Warehouse Group of ICT Success the keynote The summit at the has been designed Summit 2016. on the role to let Nigerians and impact have an insight of Informati Technology on and since the sector growth of our was liberalise Communications d till date on This summit country’s economy. the will meet with the enable consumers of ICT products and to tell these service providers, resellers services success stories and other partners to hold next week in Lagos. first hand. The event is scheduled Organisers of the summit, Communications Datapoint Consultin g and verse knowledg Week said Okere was chosen becauseNigeria in the country e in information and communic of his ations technolog such software, and his company playing y among others. connectivity, computer in various areas of ICT hardware, broadcas ting

AFRiHiT-Pro

DELEGATES CONFERENCE

2016 The African Heads of ICT Summit Holds Professionals 2016, tagged Development 2016 in Abuja. (AFRiHiT-Pro), is scheduled Summit The summit Telecommunication is organised to hold November by the Associati s Professionals The summit of Nigeria (ATPN). on of is endorsed

by Africa (ATU) and supporte d by Federal Telecommunications Union the Office of Ministry the and Sponsore Secretary to the Governmeof Communications, d and Vodacom by Nigerian Communicationsnt of the Federation, Commission TelePAY MoneyBusiness Nigeria Ltd, (NCC) Overseas Telecoms According to Transfer. and the organiser which has the s, the summit theme: “ICT Proficienc is a professio A Panacea to nal event y & Corporate Stories by Emma Nation Building”.

Management: It is expected Okonji to bring together a wide African Heads The current range of top of ICT economic recession functionaries, ICTexperts, decision/p traffic between has compelle olicy makers, renowned practitioners, their networks government military and paramilita d most telecoms traffic locally and stakehold at no cost, service providers host generally referred only registered ry. Otters include ers, captains of industry, institutions, and identified to redirect in foreign countries for same to as autonom their data traffic directors of ICT CIO’s / CTO’s with IXPN, fear of by ous and non-finan yet released in in back to Nigeria insecurity of their means of mutual systems, volume in order to little cial institutio Oil & Gas companies, tertiary data.

The host peering exchangeof data traffic to financial ns, and student cally, THISDAY their data lo- gathereddollar scarcity it was agreements. the representatives. point, Samsung Begs “We are beginnin have revealed. investigations difficult has made it extremely operators have while some Customers Samsung Electronic g to see operators for these service deliberately over Note7 Most Nigerians s has said pro- services migrating their data refused to identify with to the safety who hitherto viders to access hosted their back IXPN. and mobile phonethe company still remain Going through data traffic outside paying so much dollar, aside increasing to Nigeria, thereby despite the committe user experienc the online list incidence of Nigeria and of companie for e of its customer d battery s that are registered “We are working eventually have dollar, if traffic in the volume of data paid inTdollars, H I S D AYthey s, have resorted with THURSD Nigeria, access to it. with relevant explosion of its Galaxy The ChiefAY, the recently OCTOBE that could position a situation data IXPN and are exchangin Note7. regulator Executive R 20, 2016 their local data to hosting of reported g traffic through Officer Nigeria as IXPN, benefit of consumer cases involving they bodies to investigate the data hub exchange data locally, and to Rhuman, Mr. Mohamm exchange, THISDAY the local Galaxy Note7. for West African s’ safety, we of the Galaxy traffic through For the who confirme ed countries,” Rhudman stopped discovered the Internet that MTN was developm d the Exchange Point production,” Note7 and have conseque sales and exchanges said. conspicuously He added Nigeria (IXPN) the company of that the ent, told THISDAY ntly decided that as more missing from the Director and said in a statemen to stop operators redirect country’s online of the greenbacowing to scarcity exchange Business internet traffic t. their data an indication that MTN list, Samsung Electroni Leader, Informatio k. point (IXP), n Mobile and This is against still cs West Africa, physical infrastruc is a of datato Nigeria, the volume carries and hosts made Technolog the the old Emmanouil appeal, its data 36 practice whereby that pass through traffic outside ture that allows several Revmatas, whoy, diligently with said: Samsung remains Nigeria. Glo1, the for instance, Internet Service Nigerian Internet service providers these telecoms Providers Acting necessary stepsappropria te regulator committed to working is registered generate data (ISPs) and network Point is increasing Exchange IXPN, y authoritie with to resolve the Featur es but decided operators to by the day. s Editor an to original take situation.

He to release all Charle exchange data however expressed Galaxy Note7 small volume Consumers s Ajunwa Email: or replacem are advised with either displeasure of data for charle his ent s.ajunw to that some operators Note7 advantage of power down and stop usingGalaxy a@this device daylive the the device Continued .com Service Centres. remedies available at on page 24 our Samsung and take Authorized L-R: Chairman lndependent of the occasion/a former Akingbola at Shareholders Association Chairman of Union Bank, the ISAN 2016 Elder Kalu U of Nigeria (lSAN), Kalu; Guest Triennial Delegates Sir Sunny Conference and Nwosu and a formerSpeaker, Mr Anold Ekpe; National MD Gala Night in Lagos ... recentlyof lntercontinental Bank Coordinator, Plc, Dr. Erastus ABIODUN AJALA

IXPN: Econom Traffic in Nig ic Recession Pushing Up eria Data

HEALTH & LI FESTYLE

M

‘Digital Chaaxy Specialt nnels Accoun y DepositFro Celebrates t for 70% ofCentre:Red StarEx s’ ntiers of Anniversary pa24thnd Banks He In an ing

althcare

Group Managing Director of Red has praised Star Express the Plc, Sola from the scratchforesight of those who Over 70 per built the Red Obabori to its present saying their tenacity cent of financial deposits across has brought Star brand state of growth. the company Speaking on commercial BANK ING banks, are the recently in Lagos,24th year anniversa generated novative banking various digital from created ry of the company, Obabori stated Mohammed solutions channels that held that the driven by technolog H. which is the are designedby banks, which was that would further Olorogun EddyKoguna, Mazi, Sonny Allison,unique vision of Dr. Head, Consume y solutions, inclusion to drive financial the cashless initiativeenhance game changingworld’s newest Olafeso and Mr. Patrick Nwosu, to start the of the will r and Digital technology and CBN, said in a cashless Banking at company, has other investors who the dramatica society.

African Furthermo took the United Bank He also thanked survived lly advance global bank had re, he said that Africa (UBA), for than 30 the all the tireless several seasons and risk “less innovativein the past, developed payments landscape served the company Dr. Yinka Adedeji per cent of cycles. efforts of all in Nigeria has said. and across technology apps generated both past cash across staff who Africa. resilience and empowered that banks, come He made the enthusiasm and present, for the commitmhave EmailMoni its physical customer from for growth. is a next generas to tion ent, ing an interactivdisclosure dur- cheque cash deposits and do more financial transactio payments technolog e session deposits” from the ns technology y that reporters in with that the cashless , suggesting without comfort of their homes, enables people and businesse Lagos Central initiative of the on Tuesday, visiting the to securely s bank. where he listed send Bank He said the the digital channels money electronica and receive is fast gainingof Nigeria (CBN) continue bank to include acceptance Automated to innovate, would and at low cost lly in real-time both he announce Teller Machines in urban and rural just as loadable using a downHaving worked (ATM), Point communi d because of the another soluties tion mobile smartpho of in BoI for over from UBA convenien (PoS), Internet Sales machines technolog decade that would app or from a web app. ne Banking, Mobile Waheed two y innovatio ce that revolutionise banking Banking, among The Olagunju iss, ns have brought to in Nigeria. EmailMoni web app more than He said the Adedeji attributedothers.

Adedeji who banking sector. agreemen UBA entered into accessed from any can be lead the qualified to mobile ment to innovativthe develop- bank’s reiterated his device, any t with MyEChec ment browser or commitme to provide financin develop e solutions any a revolutio k type of internet institution as more Nigerians nt to empower new nary computer a substangtive connected social commerce through in.

MD payment system called ‘EmailMoni’, Benue State Continued on page 24 Dr. Samue Governor,

the

industry tablishment awash with stories of of opening a new Maxy Super-Specialty what has gone wrong and what is Cent vista for Nige not work ria’s health re, a one-stop facility for sector. Martins different speci ing, the esIfijeh write alist care, is s

F on e s o Hea hca e Wh e t stempt ngtob amethe ack offund ngbygovernmentandthe dearthofhea thcarefac t esas thema ordrawbacksofN ger as hea thcaresystem Page 36 W

l Ortom

L-R: Founder, Sickle Cell Foundation Lagos State, of Nigeria, Dr. Jide Idris and CEO, Reddington Prof. Olu Akinyanju; Commissioner Healthcare for Health, Group, Dr. Yemi Delta State, Onabowale, hile it Dr. Nicholas during the commissio

is tempting to blame the lack of ning of Maxy He said with Director, Shell Super-Specialty its state-of-th Nigeria, Mr. government funding by the quality Centre in Lagos e-art facilities Osagie Okunbor, and ...recently and of healthcare the dearth Hospital, services rendered by Commissioner Reddington world class super-spe for Health, many facilities as the major draw healthcare servicesNigerians needing He also emphasise cialty centre,” he specialist backs of ling noted. the would have d the need Nigeria’s care, adding there are select facility was abroad for treatment, no need for preventiv and passionatehealthcare system, boasts a careful, deliberate e sionate noting that the travel- collectively that, “every Nigerian society who of highly push for preventiv and pasthink supportin members of the need to health approach towards the requireme trained professionals centre is much more healthcare provision providing g the citizens specialty plus e care, as nts of a standard and all few effective. For with a world class a one-stop as it applies countries like Speaking at instance, just this professionals for people know in advanced facility the event, which health facility. the United States, very that once 10th year anniversar and above, and India will He said Maxy the service of mankind. and also marked you are supposedyou are 50 years help boost the United Kingdom Group, Super-Specialty the y of system and reduce country’s healthcare Centre was to visit an Ear, first major centre in Okunbor said Reddington Healthcare Nose and Throat (ENT) the the the country avoidable the specialist specialties were every five by poor healthcare deaths occasioned hospital speaks volume antecedents of brought together where all major the specialist, years. We also need at least once . the super-spe of what to “The ophthalmo One of such to visit an eye at least once expect in patriots is the logy section under one roof. a year. Same Shell Nigeria cialist centre, adding innovative the other specialties Officer of Reddingto of the centre Chief has . Fortunately with most of bring into facilities which we n Healthcar Executive its healthcare enlisted Reddington that since parts of Yemi Onabowa are the now, these are what the Maxy Hospital as the country. provider, its le, whose various e Group, Dr. in general Same with the first to Super-Specialty the ENT, among offers Nigerians ties have pioneered staff and the health have dentistry, oil firm Centre ,” he said. healthcare industry a number of firsts facili“Reddington, others.

He said He said: “A been happy and comfortab few years ago, as an hospital in the to le. discussed recently, the Delta State of the country a performing lot provide of achieveme Government has pioneered we struggled ranging with Reddingto healthcare the has nts in services in n heart by a non first closure of a hole from our people, house for to see to it that the same Hospital management which is the fact that we this country, among in the deliberate but one day we surgical procedure to do a closure were in the state. facility was the first in all sat down on this. At in replicated the “After which, of a hole in the first hospital to will also that time I surgical quality improvemcountry to attain the Nigeria, GMD, but I the we heart hope that this procedure. was not be replicated was privileged Cohsasa who The three-year by a non was to be among others. ent and certification to be among the zones of the country,” in the six geopolitic made decisions -old patient in Nigeria, those al do it for carried to India, but on which health he adds. enlist. Since On his part, Despite its we decided free,” Reddington facility to to came on been very happy Health, Dr. the Lagos State Commissi improving the achievements and support According to he adds.

Jide Idris, commend oner for ity, the healthcare system because of their board we have and to and profession its hunger Dr. Misbah Medical Director of the his team for level of of the to being dependabl ed Onabowale care Oleolo, the facilhealth needs see a perfect society country, invited to comealism. That is why whenquality government, multidisciplinary centre was e partners to where adding are attended I was here, a world class the dearth to irrespectiv all to come irrespectiv I did everything possible the job of providing that government cannot the facility with premium and integrativ of e of the inconveni do during e adequate healthcare for integrity, the country specialists and equipmen e of he added.

“Private Public the putting adding that ences,” have tackling specific alone. of efforts ts in Partnership together of has again driven Lending his is the way personally the facility, went voice, the Commissio a lot the healthcare health issues, Delta of Reddingto seen the various health to go. I and up-to-date into procuring new, innovative establish a State, Dr. Nicholas ner for champion multi-specialist n Hospital, and facilities equipments.

Maxy Super-Spe Azinge said Health, has done “We also I will centre, called s to healthcare provider cialty Centre the class facility to put up such for any services well in the provision of say the team hands, most made sure we recruited The Centre in Lagos. quality health to the people,” like the one of a the best the economic their various which were leaders and he noted in the centre, world dental care, Ear,is a one-stop48 Idris, however specialty centre carriers recession despite stars Nose noted that, despite for speaks in and Throat (ENT) abroad.” Also, presently experience for PPP, governme eye treatment, volume of the clamour Medical Director, Reddingto the Group treatment, nts in the the team’s d, and primary service.

Dr. Olutunde Sleep studios, endoscopy, physiotherapy, n passion to offer arm were not tertiary, secondary dialysis, audiology, Lalude said Healthcare Group, EEG, healthcare problems of healthcare sleep managem Azinge, who doing with the country’s speech therapy, funding. “Before much in terms lack ent, among including patient healthcare by said the passion for an could remember Speaking during others. of quality Ebola excellent they both left Onabowale dates back to request that I once went to my came, I and medical facilities, dearth of man safety, specialist centre the inauguration of then technology, to when medical school the multi adding power I be given earlier in the all affecting to fund Managing Director, half a billion boss provision, the some 30 years THURSD week, the that while others Maxy Super-Spe AYhealthcare naira ago, possible. healthcare. He told OCTOBE were going Okunbor, declared Shell Nigeria, Mr. Group seek greener cialty will aim R 20, 2016 • But when Ebola me that was not to close that gap in the abroad to pastures, the Osagie to T H I S D AY country. office Maxy Super-Spec that the newly inaugurat He said in the bring world came, I was CEO class healthcare had a vision ask when money came, in UK, several ed medical tourism ialty Centre, will greatly “The I didn’t have my were spent on for it.” to Nigerians healthcare for millions of pounds reduce here fruit of that passion is to go people in the country. .

He advised the about 67 what we are today. A living governments million that has had world class Reddington seeing there was outbreak very little is in the country, but lamented not budgeted for Hospital firsts in several that before healthcareto wait until adequately. healthcare in Lalude is a email: areas, and now was funded foreig Nigeria. highly experienc a ndesk colorectal, On his part, ed consultan @this dayliv general and Onabowale t laparoscopic with over 25 e.com said the birthing surgeon years of experienc of the National e practicing Health Service (NHS) in the in UK.

INTERNATIONAL US Expects IS to Wield Chemical Weapons in Mosul The United States expects Islamic State to use crude chemical weapons as it tries to repel an Iraqi-led offensive on the city of Mosul, U.S. officials say, although adding that the group’s technical ability to develop such weapons is highly limited.

Page 48

Azinge; Group

Managing

INTERNATIO

NAL US Expects in Mosul IS to Wield Chemical We apons

The United Islamic StateStates expects U.S. forces to use crude chemical weapons More than are in Iraq. Weiss 100 said. as it are tries to repel embedde d of them forces are Attacking Iraqi State offensive on an Iraqi-led and with Iraqi still 12 is most likely to use Mosul, U.S. the city of forces Kurdish Peshmerga miles (20 to 50 km) to 30 chemical weapons The leader of from officials say, the city itself involved with later in was Islamic State although adding and U.S. of- the campaign, in what Mosul the reported to could be a difficult, group’s technical that the commanoffensive, advising ficials believe that be among go to great lengths to Islamic battle. repel protracte d thousand s of hardline the coalition ders and helping ability to develop such . America militants still them in the city, officials believe some n highly limited.weapons is power ensure coalition air suggesting Islamic State’s hits the of the group would U.S. forces officials said. right targets, are in Mosul. best fighters Still, those to regularly have begun forces are not at collect shell fragmen ts the front lines, they to test added. possible chemical for The fall of agents, signal Mosul given Islamic the defeat would mustard agent State’s use of ultra-hard of the in the months line Sunni jihadists before Monday’ in Iraq but could also s launch of the Mosul to land lead official said. offensive, one bloodlettigrabs and sectarian ng between In a previousl groups that fought one another closed incident, y undis- after the 2003 overthrow U.S. forces confirmed of Saddam the presence Hussein. U.S. a sulfur mustard of President agent on Barack Obama Islamic State munition frag- estimated on Thursday ments on Oct. that 5, a second perhaps 1 million civilians official said. were still in The Islamic Mosul, creating State a challenge had targeted local forces, for Iraq and U.S. or coalition not Western backers trying its “Given ISIL’s troops. expel to sible behavior reprehen- force. the group through disregard for and flagrant “If we aren’t successful in standards andinternational helping ordinary people norms, this event is not they’re fleeing as surprising,” from ISIL, then second official the that makes us vulnerabl speaking on told Reuters, seeing e to ISIL condition anonymity, of told reportersreturn,” Obama in acronym for and using an The InternatioWashington.

Islamic State. nal OrganiU.S. officials zation for Migration believe Islamic do not chief, Thomas Weiss,’s Iraq been successfu State has on said Tuesday he l so far at developi expected Islamic weapons withng chemical Mosul State militants to use lethal effects, particularly shields residents as human People fight while they assail a truck conventional meaning that concernsand lent his voice to to try to get food after Hurricane still the mostweapons are of chemicalabout the dangers Matthew hit dangerous agents. The threat for Jeremie, Haiti…re IOM had not advancing Iraqi many managed to procure and Kurdish cently any foreign forces - and those gas masks yet, despite risks, Weiss advisers who get close enough. said from Former Lebanese Prime Minister Baghdad.

Saad al-Hariri It was not immediate Sulfur mustard intends to endorse “We also fear, agents ly clear recently, if Aoun’s candidacy cause blistering can has and there Michel Aoun for the casts new light skin and lungs. on exposed that been some evidence presidency, senior political vacant enough support would enjoy predicamen on ISIL might sources politicians among other t facing Hariri, the source, a member however, thatAt low doses, chemical be using said, and the Hezbollah ally whose Future standing as to secure the necessary of Hariri’s could be weapons. would elected Lebanon’s Movement, two-thirds quorum be deadly. not head of state Children, confirmed Roughly 5,000 the elderly, disabled this month. later in the for the vote influential Sunni politicianmost Hariri had expressed 128-seat parliamen been shaken , will be particula has tion, but this intenLong by rly vulnerab t.

The next scheduled at his Saudi-bas a financial crisis parliamenmembers of his own le,” backed an opponent of the Iranparliamened constructio Shi’ite tary session to tary bloc n elect a president business.

Hariri would group Hezbollah, is set Fouad Siniora, opposed it. a former prime The troubles minister and minister again become prime Aoun’sfor Oct. 31. Opponents of at Saudi head of the Future under the plan could reshape that ment candidacy include Parlia- which has been hit by Oger, Movement’s parliament ary bloc, It has drawn Lebanese politics. of theSpeaker Nabih Berri, head oil prices and cuts in falling told the newspape Saudi that party and a opposition in his and Shi’ite Amal Movement state spending, have Hariri had told r Daily Star led to a Tuesday a close ally of final decision cash crunch his MPs on not yet been has Hezbollah in Hariri’s Future that he had decided which itself has , Movemen taken, yet The presidency allies said.

Hariri, 46, led to comment. has fallen t. Diplomats say Hariri support Aoun’s candidacy to , which added that there the“March 14” , but reserved for a from favor in Maronite Christianis alliance against Hezbollah Saudi was “no final Arabia, in the country’s and its more which these days cares far decision yet on this matter”.

Philippine sectarian power- allies, after the 2005 assassinatio about confrontin police sharing arrangeme One of the gas to disperse used tear danao. g Iranian senior sources nts, has been of his father Rafik al-Hariri. n influence in the “There vacant about 1,000 Gulf and Syria said Hariri would He than about anti-U.S. protesters no justificatio was absolutely political for 2 1/2 years due to remains a fierce critic of announce his support Lebanon.

Hezboln (for the police outside conflicts. Aoun, lah, the U.S. embassy for Aoun “within Two senior a veteran in which is fighting in Syria politician in in Manilla violence),” Reyes said. politicians told the coming few days”. yesterday, as support his 80s, has “Even current governme television news as the president The long al-Assad. of President Bashar Reuters that Hariri had expressed footage showed avowed an coveted the post. his intention nt of Prime independent Minister a to patrol nominate foreign policy, Tammam Salam which had come The proposal, van, Aoun been unthinkable until for the presidency as has under attack, Philippine police forces paralyzed by driving at demonstr part of the power-sharing act as running still ators. deal. A third exacerbated by rivalries dogs of the U.S.” The rally came In a series regional conflict. as President of conflictin Rodrigo Duterte g A decision visits Beijing statements, Duterte to strengthe to push back insulted has n presi- himself the world’s relations with Obama U.S. President Barack dential elections in Democrat and arranges elections,” economy amidsecond-largest sador and the U.S. ambas- Republic of Congo (DRC) ic Ayrault told reporters. by delegates in Manila for 2018 is not to ing back at cross-par ties with former deteriorating his war questionin the the election “Push- talks in the capital, ty the 18,000-stro colonial power on drugs, which g crisis there and answer to the an uncertain to 2018, leader the United States, one party ng peacekeep risks fuelling date is not said. mission, Maman ing an solution. sparked by led to the deaths of has escalation in violence, his controvers 2,300 Sidikou, told suspected users There is a real the Most oppositio ial war on illegal French of the Security and pushers. foreign minister Jean-Mar drugs. risk have T H IHe a clash.

S Dtold AY •THURS boycotted then parties there was Council last week Ayrault said.

ObamaDAY c of violent There is a danger an Police made to “go talks and OCTOBE called for a hell” demonstrations to R The to the stability “extreme risk” 20, 2016 general Constitutional repression,” the rally while 29 arrests at ing and alluded to severof the country Ayrault said. and Wednesday to put strike on and that ties with Washing Court in Democra at least 10 the crisis could people were pressure on Kabila was due tic Republic ton.

Then, spark large-scale to step down Kabila. European Union after being taken to hospital anti-Am after weeks of Congo said on Monday of in December violence. foreign ministers said hit by the police when had A senior erican it his approved on Monday two- they term mandate van, Renato rhetoric, U.N. official, a petition Duterte said would the Philip- the electoral commissi by opponents sayexpires, and his sanctions prepare economic speaking on condition general of Reyes, secretary pines left-wing activist would maintain anonymit on to they fear delay a against Congo of group Bayan existing defense un- that the y, said on Tuesday its set for presidential election intends to first prolong his he less it held president (Nation), 61 peacekeep in Novembe term reporters. told and its office, treaties ial andGroup ing mission, known as military President Joseph r, allowing constitutioand then change the parliamentary elections Sports MONUSCO, The protesters year. next comments have alliances. The remain n to Kabila to plannedDuro move more troopsEditor left Americans to run again. enable himself in office until for the removal were calling and Ikhazuagbe Emailtotoduro.ik “We are and police U.S. April Kinshasa hazuag consulting in the southern of U.S. troops Philippine businesses in the 2018.

The ruling in what on be@th island of Minn.

“We’re going preparatio s jittery about “There is only isdaylive.com part of the coalition and this needs to be done and future. their out is one option,” oppositio battalion and to move in a of the crisis way to get the vote Ayrault an extra and that is should be n say said, adding that that president held in coordinat April 2018 the EU was (formed police unit), FPU does not present and but of course if things ing with the their agreemen on Monday States really on the matter. United bad what t was ratified will that do turn The U.N. envoy to Congo and head of city of 11 million people?”in a official said. the Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa territorial integrity The Ijaw and not to maim of Nigeria “We call Worldwide Youth Council the innocent. on President It noted yesterday that(IYC), warned investiga that from Muhammadu Buhari, Nyesom Wike, government’s Governor of tion, the the failure to case of militancythere was no Rivers State, General of Police,Inspector behind this killing and punish thoseinvestigate and of governme among or vandalism others to ensure “The that those of other innocent Niger that nt infrastruct the killing of responsible for Okarki, ure Delta (JTF) Joint Military Taskforce youths do not ,Operation Sports Club Shooting Stars footballerwhere the 24-year-olin go unpunishe Delta Safe, (3SC) of Ibadan d d. should live was footballer, Joseph some of his shot along with ensuring thatup to its name by friends. have far-reachi Izu, would “We demand taken the lives those who have consequences ng negative the Justice of the Niger for family in the long run. youths like Joseph, Delta of Joseph Izu. Factional leader We it was meant to save, do of the IYC, want to also put it on Mr Elvis Donkeme record impunity. not get away with zuo, said that as of today (we cannot in a statemen speak for tomorrow “The failure that unless t in Yenagoa no militant ), there is the killers appropriate on the part of the camp inside the 3SC’s central of authorities Okarki and do so swiftly to act defender Community or in Okarki were promptly bush.

“There was will lead to consequen arrested also prosecuted, and kidnappin ces no far-reaching that would have g, disturbanc case of wrong signalit would send a peace effect on the e of the of the governm interest in the region to other youths of any or unlawful gathering ent”, the IYC warned. do not matterthat their lives or on kind at Okarki before the day Meanwhile, The group Rivers State was murderedand time Joseph Commissioner, Sport by the soldiers. having representnoted that “ So we wonder said yesterday Boma Iyaye, ed Nigeria internationally what have that may the death of Joseph Izu competitions, in beach soccer of an warranted the killing innocent, armless dark chapter“represents another Izu’s death should not in the history defenceless and Nigerian football.” youth of the carpet. be swept under done nothing but who had Iyaye urged “For the records, used his God-given talent to show strengththe 3SC family until his painful death to sad turn of eventsfollowing the last Sunday, fatherland, save for serve his Joseph Izu a lust for blood security operativewhile urging defender for was a central humanand lack of respect for s to fish out the killers of life on the part Football Club Shooting Stars soldiers”, Izu. “The death of the (3SC) of Ibadan of this vibrant the group further and a prominen young cut short at t and very said. outstanding the prime ofman, The career, represent his player who beach soccer that Ijaw youths maintaine s yet another coming just d made Nigeria dark chapter and Africa proud a few weeks in the history Nigerian football. in different after 17-year-old Innocent of international competitions. Kokorifa was allegedly “I have since He is not by killed condolences sent my personal lawbreaker known to be a the the police in Bayelsa, of any sort,” situation was behalf of the to 3SC and on group stressed. the unbearab getting in Rivers State,sport fraternity le.

While condemn “Kokorifa Izu family to I also urge the ing ‘the murdered growing trend was equally be strong in period of great this by the killing of Ijaw of senseless Police, sadness.

Youths’ by through a Bayelsa “I am also using security operatives gangthis medium to call on security , the group styled execution in Yenagoa argued that operatives the primary two months ago. Innocent’ to embark assignment autopsy and responsib s investigations on exhaustive of the military ility Monday was conducted on English-bo is to protect bringing the with a view of the within and he will be buried Marathon rn Canadian road the week”, Izu to book,”killers of the late runner, in 3 hours, 56 it noted. he said. minutes to setEd Whitlock, 85, finished The late player a new world the Toronto record ...last Waterfront in the 2013/14 joined 3SC Sunday Bayelsa United season from completed his and had just the Oluyole third season at Warriors.

Ed Whitlock, world record 85, is a new press conferenc Ibrahim Shuaibu the English-b holder after He did not racee. in Kano orn Canadian finished the Toronto last year due governor, he Waterfront to problems with his Kano State Marathon in the affairs of was overseeing money knees. Abdullahi “Someho Governor, the club which became Dr. made last Sunday. under four hours running w on occasion I He ran the fastest to them than more important the in a long groove get dissolved Umar Ganduje has becomethe Mai Masugida in the 85-90 years players would performance. the board to They pursued they flare and one of the best use the power of sports Whitlock ran age category. he said. up and start to hurt,” Pillars Football Club, of Kano in the continent clubs monetary personal the marathon “The only thing to project headed

by Kabir Baita, 3 hours, 56 minutes interests and and the image of in “I made sure .

I can describing it Kano not could -- smashing do that seems to get the previous they wanted they got what on maintain their position state government. and the rid of it as a terrible disappointment. record of 4 hours, is to take a rest.” the NPFL.” The four-time 34 minutes. Whitlock “We are now to the extent and I even went Whether he’ll number The governor Nigeria personal of investing champion is known in as “The Master,” basketbal be my assured however l, number one resources and certainly break his own record, able to finished s Kano Pillars to lives up to one Whitlock ensure that they in the club he was fans of the club that in taekwondo and a is uncertain his number seventh this disappointing Now . “I don’t want going The singlet name. disgrace myself, that I am thesucceeded. a new board to put in place three in handball. past to he ran in is soon, we Very years old, while governor, I suppose,” despite huge financial season the most shameful for the team 30 shall dominate Pillars to regain for his sneakers he said, laughing. support that are 15 years Seeing as from the government. its pride of all sports in appreciat despite putting thing is place amongst he currently old. “They’re The governor of your holds aged,” he joked somebody ion wellin a post-race records, disgrace is 36 world the Chairman has directed whom I know has the capacity in the country. NPFL clubs in the remarkable interest to not at all developm succeed likely. of to head Turning ent of Sports Commiss the State Kano sector,” Pillars is inthe board, Basketball to Kano Pillars former Galadima who the ion, Ibrahim Galadima, to Club, the governor, is a disarray who chairman of draft a proposal and has failed horribly,” the then on a new proactive the a firstrecalled his exploits as Nigeria Football Associatio board that governor lamented. would work team (NFA) concluded n Ganduje who his secondaryplayer during . the glory of towards restoring by Before the announce school the dwindlin is pained promised the Ganduje gave club. g fortunes ment to support days yesterday, there the directive of Kano Pillars said: team to retain were reports the infighting Birthday yesterday its position boy, Nigerian when he received advised them on “I the best on the managem of as of Clifford Enosoreg players of the team ent Kano Pillars to adopt to remain strategy with quality in West Africa of Pillars with some members be failed to that if not for the injury, make it pass the board up on top the preparation would have of the league the second round he Basketball team who visited in arms with for given of the second sub-regional him and basketball Baita whom was alleged leg (Futures African opponent a his North that in his office. He recalled them we (governm I told champion 6) of the be running good fight. ship coming ent) was when he was to ready to follow Other Nigerians 16th edition a one-man show. up Governor’s Cup deputy Unfortun of their plans. in the next few days.

The sack of the Lagos Tennis played in the second, who ately, the issue management On Championship round, were not able of assuredhis part, Galadima means the hiring of not finish his as he could hurdles to scale the a new coach the governor to the next that delayedwill now have to be Tunisian Moezmatch against just round as well. like Enosoreg the game played Echargui in Smola be. Maciej of at Poland the Lawn Tennis Lagos Otu beat Thomas Nigeria on Wednesd Club, Onikan from 6-2,6-2. Boy Westerho international ay.

The Netherlan f Ogenyi com that the Onazi The Edo born hard working has Trabzons ds concluded player, a defeated Joseph Imeh wildcard entrant, in Ubon his former plans to take midfield por of Turkey only AfricanFootball.c 27 yesterday who turned topstraight set of 6-36-2,wh club er is not om “He is ile FIFA over unpaidLazio to that seed from Spain, (retired) to , lost 3-6,0-4 Lopez he is being happy them andnot happy with the Tunisian has contacted - Perez beat Enrique AfricanFootball.c wages, two months’ owed Lazio with his head star Sylvester exclusive om can over the issue salary high believing Emmanuel on another the Italian ly report. but it Serie A club.by seems they are not straight set of 6-4,6-4.

A source “Onazi is ready to taking Lazio pay. He served them player told close to the to AfricanFootball.

FIFA letter to this effect salary,” the over-unpaid He is owedalready.” source told June salaries. May and

DESPERATE MOMENT

Lebanon PM Backs

Aoun for Pres idency

Philippine Police Disperse Pro test with Tear Gas ers

SPORTS There‘ll be Consequences Not Probing Izu’s Death The IjawYouth CouncilWorldwide (IYC), warned yesterday that government’s failure to investigate and punish those responsible for the killing of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan footballer, Joseph Izu, would have far-reaching negative consequences in the long run Page 61

Congo’s Elec tion

Delay Not Answer to Crisis

THURSDAYSP ORTS

I J AW Y O U T H S WA R N

There‘ll be Conse quences Not Pro bing

85-year-old Man Marathon Reco Breaks rd

Izu’s Death

Ganduje Sack s Kano Pillars FC Board

Injured Enosoregbe 2016 Lagos Gover Bows Out of nor’s Cup Tenni s

Onazi Drags Lazio to

FIFA over Unpa id Wages

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016 • T H I S D AY

10

NEWS

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

PDP Asks FG to Probe Justice Okoro’s Allegations Senate judicial committee summons arrested judges

Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded an immediate investigation into the allegation of attempted bribery made by a Supreme Court judge, Justice John Inyang Okoro, against the former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transport, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Umana Umana.

The party said the allegations by a high ranking judge must not be swept under the carpet like other previous petitions.

In a statement issued yesterday by the PDP spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party said the judge’s allegations have again vindicated its position that there are so many corrupt leaders and members of the APC who are being shielded from prosecution.

“The attention of the leadership of the PDP led by Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi has been drawn to a four-page letter written by Justice Okoro to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) dated October 17, 2016, in which he disclosed that the former Governor of Rivers State, and Minister of Transport, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Mr. Umana Umana, the APC

governorship candidate ofAkwa Ibom State attempted to bribe and sway justice against the PDP candidates in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia States, respectively.

The party noted that in view of the fact that the allegation is “grievous, dangerous, criminal and unhealthy for our democracy and the rule of law, President Muhammadu Buhari must investigate or cause the relevant agencies to probe so as to ascertain its veracity.

“This information by a high ranking judge must not be swept under the carpet like previous petitions and the report of the Rivers State Judiciary Commission of Inquiry that revealed so many misappropriations of funds by the former governor when he held sway from 2007 to 2015.

“Another salient point is the revelation that Amaechi sponsored Umana based on return on investment; and we want to ask, with which funds?

For emphasis, on page three (first paragraph) of the letter stated: “My Lord, Amaechi said the President of Nigeria and the APC mandated him to inform me that they must win their election appeals in respect of Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State and Abia State at all costs. For Akwa Ibom State, he alleged that he sponsored Umana, the candidate of the APC for that election and that if he lost Akwa Ibom State

appeal, he would have lost a fortune.

“We wish Justice Okoro and the CJN did not keep quite over this bribery attempt since February 2016 until now for an administration that has flouted to have zero tolerance on corruption. It appears that the public would have remained in the dark without the prompting of the DSS harassments and invasion of his home.

“This allegation against Amaechi has again vindicated us that there are so many corrupt leaders and members of the APC but due to party

affiliation and their huge contributions to the Buhari presidency, they are seen as ‘sacred cows’ and shielded from prosecution.”

Meanwhile, the judges who were arrested following the raid of their houses on October 7, 2016 by the Department of State Services (DSS) will soon appear before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to narrate their ordeals before the committee.

The judges’ appearance is coming on the heels of the recent receipt of the resolution of the NJC by the committee

and the eventual report of such receipt to the Senate by the committee chairman, Senator David Umaru, yesterday.

At the commencement of yesterday’s plenary, Umaru had raised order 43 in the Senate Standing Rules with the intention to make a personal explanation to the chamber on the correspondence the committee received from NJC on its resolution at the end of its emergency meeting of October 11, 2016 on the arrest and raid of judges’ homes.

Umaru therefore sought the leave of the Senate to invite the

seven judges to appear before the committee to tell it all they knew about the incidents of raid of their homes and eventual arrest on October 7.

Umaru added that the move was in furtherance of their oversight duties.

He said: “Mr. President, by virtue of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Order 96, Rule 37 of our rules, the powers of this committee to oversight the Judiciary and particularly its powers include judicial matters and judges and justices of the court.”

RMAFC Backs FG’s $15bn EXECUTIVE BANTER Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Kayode Fayemi; Minister for Agriculture Development and Rural Cash-for-Oil Deal with India L-R: Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Minister of State for Agriculture, Heineken Lokpobiri; and Minister of Finance , Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, discussing during the Federal Executive Council (FEC), meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja...yesterday

James Emejo in Abuja

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) yesterday threw it weight behind the $15 billion cash for oil deal which was recently negotiated on behalf of the federal government with the Indian government by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, in a bid to shore up the country’s foreign reserves.

Under the terms of agreement, the Indian Government is expected to make an upfront payment for crude oil purchase to Nigeria, which is to be repaid on the basis of firm Term Crude Contracts over some years whereby Indian public sector companies would collaborate in refining as well as exploration and production with long term contracts for supply of crude oil to Indian PSU companies from Nigeria and possibilities of executing CGD and LPG infrastructure projects by Indian PSU companies in Nigeria.

The commission, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed, stated that it had “always been advocating that instead of selling off Nigeria’s strategic assets to solve its short term expenditure requirements,

the country should look elsewhere to attract long term investments like this that would bring good returns for the economy through employment generation, wealth creation and sustainable development.”

According to the statement: “In order to arrest the high incidence of gas flaring and harness the huge potential in the gas sub sector in Nigeria which ranks seventh in the world and first in Africa with natural gas reserves base totalling 188 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) as at May 1, 2015, wealthy Nigerians and foreign investors should be encouraged to set up several LNG projects as possible.

“There is no reason why the country should not have 4 to10 LNG projects which would add value to production, create employment, enhance economic development and subsequently increase revenue generation for the federation.

“In this regard, RMAFC commended Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) on the recent acquisition of Twister B.V., a Dutch company headquartered in the Netherlands delivering reliable, high-yield and robust solutions in natural gas processing and separation to the upstream and midstream oil and gas sectors.”

GODWIN OMOIGUI

Senate Hires Forensic Experts to Unravel Alleged Repatriation of $13.9 billion MTN, Enelamah, others appear before committee today Minister writes committee, says accusation is false Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja As MTN and Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, appear before the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions today over alleged repatriation of $13.9 billion, the Senate has engaged the services of both foreign and local forensic experts to help it in unravelling the truth behind the allegation.

Also expected to appear before the committee at the commencement of today’s investigative hearing are the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN), Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank, Diamond Bank and Stanbic IBTC. Others are Ahmed Dasuki, Babatunde Folawiyo, Victor Odili, Dr. Pascal Dozie and Colonel Bello Sani, among others. They are all expected to explain their roles in the

entire exercise.

These guests were alleged to have breached the provisions of Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous) Act over the manner of the transfer of the money out of the country.

Briefing journalists ahead of the investigative hearing yesterday, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Rafiu Ibrahim, disclosed that the Senate had engaged forensic experts to assist it unravelling the mystery behind the mystique.

According to him, the allegation against MTN, Enelamah and others is weighty and hence, required the services of experts to help the committee get to the root of the matter.

However, ahead of his appearance before the committee, Enelamah had sent a memorandum to the committee where he denied allegations made by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) that

he was a Director of MTN and also owned shares in the telecommunications company.

Enelamah who explained the reason he could not appear before the committee on October 12 as initially scheduled, said he neither owned Celtelecom neither did he have any direct shares in MTN nor reap any dividends from it as alleged

by Melaye.

He said: “Owing to an official travel with the President Muhammadu Buhari in the week, I am unable to be present before the committee on the said date and crave the kind understanding of the committee to use this medium to present some pertinent facts. l have read the letter and the attachments.

I believe it is needful for me to clarity as follows: l was never appointed as a Director of MTN at any time; l have never held any share directly in MTN since inception to date and; in consequence of

(2) above, I have never earned any dividend directly from MTN shares.

“It is also pertinent to point out that l was never the ‘owner’ of Celtelecom Investment Limited (‘Celtelecom’) or a shareholder in Celtelecom as recorded on pages 402 and 403 of the votes and proceedings of the Senate of September 27, 2016.

“Between 1998 and 2015, I served as the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Alliance Nigeria Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of African Capital Alliance (ACA). ACA is a leading pan-African investment firm sponsoring funds and managing investments in Sub-Saharan Africa. Two firms managed by ACA together with some individuals and entities invested in MTN. With Celtelecom as the investment vehicle, I served as a director of Celtelecom representing the ACA managed funds.

11

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Buhari Meets Released Chibok Girls, Snubs BBOG Campaigners Tobi Soniyi in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with the 21 released Chibok Secondary School Girls and their parents at the State House, Aso Rock.

The girls were handed over to the president by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in the presence of their parents and leaders of the Chibok community.

Buhari told the girls that their days of captivity were over and that they would now experience the best the world could offer them.

The president acknowledged the efforts of security and other international agencies but failed to mention the ‘Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group, a pressure group headed by an ex-minister Oby Ezekwesili that had sustained the campaign to get the girls freed.

The president said the girls’ release followed a series of negotiations between government and the Boko Haram group.

He said the negotiation was “brokered by our friends both local and International.”

Buhari said his government had been working towards the safe release of the girls since May 29, 2015, when he came

into office.

He said: “The Nigerian DSS, military and other security agencies have spared no effort to secure our girls. These 21 girls are the manifestation of our doggedness and commitments to the release and return of the Chibok girls.”

While joining their parents to rejoice and praise God Almighty for the girls’ release, the president said: “We shall redouble efforts to ensure that we fulfill our pledge of bringing the remaining girls back home.”

He said credible first step had been taken and that government would sustain the effort until all the remaining girls return safely Buhari said: “These 21 girls will be given adequate and comprehensive medical, nutritional and psychological care and support. The federal government will rehabilitate them, and ensure that their reintegration back to the society is done as quickly as possible.

“Aside from rescuing them, we are assuming the responsibility for their personal, educational and professional goals and ambitions in life.

Obviously, it is not late for the girls to go back to school and continue the pursuit of

their studies.

“These dear daughters of ours have seen the worst that the world has to offer. It is now time for them to experience the best that the world can do for them. The government and all Nigerians must encourage them to achieve their desired ambitions.

“My dear children. This is a happy moment for me and for all Nigerians. I welcome you back to freedom. It is a moment your parents, the nation and

the international community have been eagerly waiting for, since your abduction on 14th April 2014.”

The president recalled the night of April 14, 2014, when 276 young female Nigerian students were abducted from the Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State

by Boko Haram.

While 57 of the kidnapped school girls were able to escape, leaving 219 in captivity. One of the abducted girls, Amina Ali,

was found in May 2016.

Earlier, the Minister for Women Affairs, Hajia Aisha Al-hassan, had told the president that the 21 released girls were looking so haggard when they were released but were rehabilitated and polished by her ministry before the presentation.

The Chairman of Chibok Local Government Area, Ya’aga Yarakuwa, who spoke on behalf of the girls’ parents, thanked the president for his efforts to recover the abducted girls.

He, however, called on the government to bolster security in his area saying a community was raided by the insurgents last Tuesday.

Rebecca Malu, who spoke on behalf of the 21 girls, equally thanked the president for ensuring their release.

According to her, they had lost hope that they would ever regain freedom but she thanked God that they eventually regained freedom.

Fayose: I’m not Rattled by Obanikoro’s Confession

PEACE IN THE NORTH Denies closing down Access Bank FOR L-R: Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara); Ahmad Yarima Misau (Bauchi); Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari (Zamfara); Abubakar

Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti Following revelation made by the former Minister of Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, that he delivered the sum of N2.3 billion to Governor Ayodele Fayose to fund the 2014 governorship poll, the governor has declared that he is not rattled by the development.

Fayose told the federal government to pay attention to hunger and suffering ravaging Nigeria and its people and leave him alone.

He said: “This project ‘Fayose must be implicated at all cost’ will definitely not put food on the tables of Nigerians and for all I care, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and its collaborators can keep running from pillar to post while I keep delivering good governance to Ekiti Stateand its people.”

Obanikoro was said to have confessed to the EFCC that he received fund from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) to fund his election.

“We have passed this stage of media trial, EFCC should rather keep its gun powder dry, when we get to the bridge, we will cross it. They said more than this in the 2006 poultry scam blackmail, despite that, I am the governor today.”

According to a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications , Lere Olayinka, Fayose said

he was only reacting just to fulfil all righteousness because Nigerians are more interested in having food on their tables.

“Those who arranged the dramatic and compromised return of Obanikoro to Nigeria obviously did so in continuation of their project ‘Fayose must be implicated at all cost,’ but I am not bothered because my election was legitimately funded.

“However, if this is why they are intimidating judges and the judiciary, it won’t work as far as my own matter is concerned as no one can play God. “As far as I am concerned, I am busy here in Ekiti attending to the welfare and well-being of my people. I won’t be distracted.”

While challenging the EFCC to also beam its searchlights on the funding of APC elections, Fayose said; “Since we are now in the era in which financial assistance from Nigerians to fund elections is being criminalised, the international community, especially those funding EFCC must insist that the commission probes the funding of APC elections before further funds are released to the commission.”

Meanwhile, the state government has dispelled the rumours that it has shut down the Ado-Ekiti branch of Access Bank Plc following last Monday’s attempt by agents of EFCC to arrest Mrs Precious Chikwendu Fani-Kayode, the wife of former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in the bank premises.

Sani Bello (Niger) and Aminu Waziri Tambuwa (Sokoto) at the ongoing symposium for Northern Nigeria governors organised by the US Institute of Peace in Washington DC...yesterday

Ondo Poll: Undaunted PDP Presents Party’s Flag to Jegede James Sowole in Akure Undaunted by the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja which said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should accept the nomination of Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim as the candidate of the party in the November 2016 gubernatorial election in Ondo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday presented the party’s flag to Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) as the standard bearer of the party for the election.

The PDP at a rally to inaugurate the campaign of Jegede for the gubernatorial election, declared that any other person presenting himself as the party standard bearer is a counterfeit.

The declaration was made by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, after he presented the party’s flag to Jegede on behalf of the party’s Caretaker Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi.

According to Adeyeye, the candidature of the Jegede fulfilled all legal and political processes.

He said the INEC, the Department of Security Service (DSS), police and observers witnessed the party’s primary that was conducted in Akure, the state capital, unlike the

one that was conducted in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, without the presence of relevant government’s agencies.

In addition, Adeyeye said the Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson was the representative of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party.

He said it was not the duty of court of law to foist candidate on the party.

The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, and his Ondo State counterpart, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, while addressing the mammoth crowd as the Democracy Park in Akure, the state capital, raised the alarm alleging plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

The duo expressed dismay over what they described as the inability of the INEC to organise a credible election in the country.

Specifically, Fayose said the forthcoming election would be a contest between the PDP and INEC. Fayose who spoke against the backdrop of alleged rigging which he said characterised the last election in Edo State, called on the people of Ondo State to resist rigging by all means.

“We are in a country where the opposition party is contesting against the electoral umpire. The November 26 governorship election in Ondo State is not a contest between PDP and APC, but it is a contest between the PDP and INEC. That is why every member of the PDP in the state must resist all attempts by both INEC and APC to rig the election as they did in Edo State.

“The PDP is battle ready for the next election in Ondo State and we will do everything to prevent a repeat of what happened in Edo State.

“We are not going to allow INEC to destroy our democracy in this country. There is the need for every individual in Ondo State to rise and defend their votes in the next election,” Fayose stated.

The governor, who condemned the President Muhammodu Buhari-led federal government said the present administration has destroyed the economy through harsh policies, stressing that “no right thinking Nigerian can vote for APC again, because the party represents evil and calamity.”

“Today, everybody in Nigeria is a thief except members of the APC. All Nigerians have become thieves in the hands of Buhari and only APC members

are saints. If anyone promises you change henceforth, you must ask of the kind of change because the APC has brought terrible and negative changes to Nigeria.”

In his address, Mimiko declared that Jegede is the only recognised candidate of the PDP in the state, adding that Ibrahim who challenged his candidature, was not a member of the PDP and does not have the right to challenge Jegede’s candidature.

Mimiko disclosed that his eight years tenure as governor of the state was full of tremendous achievements, and thereby appealed to the people of the state to allow continuity of his laudable programmes by voting for the PDP. He urged the people of the state to resist rigging in the election, even as he urged them to be vigilant before and during the election to ensure that their votes count.

Mimiko who presented Jegede to people of the state as his worthy successor, said the people should not allow themselves to be taken back to when women die at childbirth, when children drop out of school because they could not pay school fees and fell down on motorcycles because they ride to school on commercial motorcycles.

T H I S D AY THURSDAY OCTOBER 20, 2016

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

COMMENT

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

WHY NORTHERN GOVERNORS ARE IN WASHINGTON Kashim Shettima argues the visit is for the ultimate benefit of the people

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hen I arrived at the entrance of the United States Institute of Peace a short while ago, I recalled the last time I was here in March, 2014, when the Institute organised a security symposium for members of our forum. Since my last visit, I can point to many benefits that my primary constituents- the people of Borno State - have derived, since they sponsored my trip here. The 2014 symposium was dominated by issues of security and the Boko Haram insurgency, of which Borno State was the epicentre.

The discussions we had then must have contributed in many different ways to the commitment and responses of the United States Government and the international community in helping Nigeria to fight the insurgency. Our visit here in 2014 proved to be highly beneficial in the fight against Boko Haram, which affected Borno State the most but also had a destabilising effect on nearly every other state in Northern Nigeria and the country at large.

Soon after that symposium, the United States Government increased humanitarian and development support for Borno State through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). But then, my present visit for the 2016 symposium is not just about Borno State.

My colleagues and I are here to seek benefits that should accrue to all the 19 Northern States of Nigeria. We look forward to many more benefits that will accrue to our region after this important symposium.

Ongoing economic recession in Nigeria has made life very challenging for our citizens but the federal and state governments are tackling it in many different ways. As you would see in a 14-minute documentary, the North of Nigeria is grappling with all kinds of problems.

But by the time we wake up, the print, online and broadcast media houses in Nigeria would have screaming headlines, “Ten Northern Governors storm Washington” in the midst of economic recession, when our national currency, the naira, has sharply depreciated against the U.S Dollar. Majority of our citizens will quickly conclude that we are here on a jamboree. Well, leadership isn’t only about popular decisions; leadership is about doing what is right at a time that is right.

Our visit to Washington is an opportunity to re-engage with our American partners on the most vital issues that can help us to quickly make transition from volatility to a phase of peace and development in the Northern states of Nigeria. Over the past few years, we have realised that the indices of development in our region have not only been some of the most damning in our country, they have also been the background against which the problems in our region have manifested. These range from the deepening problems of Boko Haram, rural banditry, spontaneous religious and inter-tribal violence, deadly clashes between pastoralists and farmers, cattle rustling as well as the Mother of them all, which is pervasive poverty that gives birth to all forms of crime. The emergence or the re-surfacing of insurgencies is not episodic events. They manifest through lingering processes which eventually symptomatised into aprons like Boko Haram and ISIS. We have the greatest respect and admiration for the American Govern-

OUR VISIT TO WASHINGTON IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RE-ENGAGE WITH OUR AMERICAN PARTNERS ON THE MOST VITAL ISSUES THAT CAN HELP US TO QUICKLY MAKE TRANSITION FROM VOLATILITY TO A PHASE OF PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHERN STATES OF NIGERIA

ment and we hold the United States Institute of Peace in very high esteem due to its track record. It is for these reasons that even though we anticipate criticism at home for this visit, we came here with high expectations. We believe that our hosts, USIP and officials of the U.S Government will work with us with the utmost sincerity of purpose to guarantee quick benefits that will improve the living conditions of our people. As governors of the 19 Northern states, we hope to secure tangible benefits that we can point to our people as proof, that our visit here is not a jamboree.

We in the Northern States Governors Forum recognise that our partnership with USIP is strategic. Some of the benefits we derive from this partnership include deepening cooperation towards eliminating conflicts. We may not be able to point this benefit tangibly to our people but we know for instance, that the United States is the world’s pre-eminent agricultural power and the number one food exporter. On the other hand, no land in the world is better suited for agricultural cooperation than Northern Nigeria.

Your highly adored and respected First Lady, Mrs. Michelle Obama, has a programme for intervention on girl-child education in Africa. We eagerly look forward to benefit from this programme as well as many other areas in which we can partner with our American friends to tackle our under-development and weak infrastructure. What is needed is the will and I can assure you that all the governors of the Northern states here and those at home, are irrevocably committed to these partnerships in the service of our people. Northern Nigeria provides a good eco-system for all developments and development partners. What we need is sincere will from our development partners and I am sure that our development partners have the will.

Finally, let me express our profound gratitude to the American Government, to the Board and officials of the United States Institute of Peace, to the United States Agency for International Development, to the European Union and to all partners who have stood in solidarity with us through development support in different parts of Northern Nigeria. We are also grateful to USIP for organising this symposium that once again brings the underdevelopment in Northern Nigeria to the front burner of discussion. But even as we discuss, we cannot ignore the fact that the outcome of the U.S election in 21 days to come, may affect the full implementation of our goals after this symposium.

Favorably, our country is not as close as Mexico for us to be worry about a wall that could come between our forum and the United States after January 20.

What works in today’s world is coming together with sincerity because like Henry Ford said, “Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success.”

We look forward to successful partnerships.

Shettima, Governor of Borno State and Chairman of Northern States Governors’ Forum, delivered this speech on October 18, 2016, at the opening of a three-day symposium for Northern Governors in Washington, DC

EMEFIELE AND THE ECONOMIC RECESSION

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The central bank governor is doing his best for the economy, writes Williams Eghebi

arly this year, Pastor Tunde Bakare, perhaps in response to his dwindling church collections, called for the resignation or sack of Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Some legislators including Dino Melaye, the unofficial spokesman of the embattled Senator Bukola Saraki, joined the fray without empirical fact to link the current economic challenges to the nation’s chief banker. These rabble rousers received unquantifiable attacks from all angles.

Last week, a member of the Federal House of Representatives chose the CBN governor as the specimen to test its potency. According to him, Mr. Emefiele should be shown the exit door as sacrifice for the harsh economic realities we now face. My knowledge of economics did not transcend my secondary school aside what I gathered from my interactions with several countries visited and media reportage. But this recap may serve useful purpose.

In 2007 while in the UK, a friend visited from Nigeria. He had a Nigerian girlfriend who was a smoker. My friend came with about 20 packs of cigarettes he bought in Nigeria. Though the product was within the quantity allowed, he was detained for hours. As at the time he was let go without charges, he was mockingly told that tobacco products from Nigeria and other developing climes have higher tendency to cause cancer and other terminal ailments.

The reason for this boarder humiliation was very far from what was offered. In that particular country, such products receive over 800% value added tax.

In addition, restriction of inflow of such products encourages employment and by extension, economic growth.

For a nation therefore to grow economically, there must be a structure that stimulates production of

what is needed. No nation can survive without apparent dependence on another though the support may be little. And any nation that depends on another solely for its sustenance is doomed. And sadly, Nigeria with a sobriquet, ‘Giant of Africa’, belongs to this uncharitable club. We did not join the league by accident. Through our insatiable love for anything foreign, we spontaneously endorse inarticulate economic policy which entails we consume what we do not produce.

Nigerians, both educated and illiterate, long knew that we were sliding towards doom if we fail to change our consumption pattern. We allow the bureau de change business to replace groundnuts pyramids in Kano. The ingenious craftsmen in Nnewi and Aba were encouraged to drop their skills for ‘general importation and general merchandise’ and mass transit businesses. ‘Ekene Dili Chukwu and Osondi’ became their trademarks. The cocoa farmers in the West were nudged to accept politics as profession laced with violence despite the legacy the crop brought. In the Mid-West, palm trees were abandoned for civil service jobs. All these crossovers were motivated by the discovery of oil in Oloibiri in 1958 and subsequent exploration in various parts of Niger Delta.

The money began to flow, employment letters were dispatched to people who never sought them.

People were paid to go to school. Graduates were offered cars to lure them to work. Jerome Odoji became worried that the vaults were no longer enough to house the proceeds from oil. He insisted that more money be distributed to workers without their request.

The managers of our economy requested that Asians be brought to teach in our schools. We are a rich nation. Our kids need be taught by ‘whites’.

We were ‘progressing’. The foreign earnings were on the up. Young men and women were sent overseas

to study. Quarrel amongst brothers and sisters that could be resolved ensued. Nay, let’s fight. After all, we have money. The Ibos were butchered. United Kingdom had opportunity to ship weapons to Nigeria. France had Biafra as business partners.

The brains sent overseas to study returned to fight along tribal lines. Those brains ended up in mass graves. Our infrastructure was decimated. Our Ibo brothers became malnourished and they were tagged enemies even if the mantra of reconciliation hinged on ‘no victor; no vanquish’.

Consequently, national leaders became ethnocentric to the extent that mediocrity became the norm.

In the mid-1970s there was need to change the tide but the crusader was hacked down and our ‘brother’ who succeeded him against his wish was scared to do the needful. The former teacher was removed by a military gang not because his cigarette addiction hindered his articulation but because the military was idle in the barracks.

The jackboot boys introduced all manner of programmes to blindfold us against their loot, exchanging batons with ease until one of them died ‘thieving’, leaving the risqué apple-bearers behind.

Their civilian collaborator was earlier nudged to take over from them. He fell into the booby trap and died in the presence of western accomplice.

The Papa who was hitherto unready for governance was brought out from confinement to represent the interest of the military pensioners. He was fast to replenish his barn depleted while in jail over phantom coup plan. He sweet-talked our creditors to slash our debts but he spent the gains in his futile attempt to lead till eternity.

A sick but decent man was foisted on us. He was very austere and succeeded in taming the creek agitators and warlords. As his health was rapidly failing, his harem amazon emerged from the cocoon, giving instructions. Someday, the man

was pronounced dead. Power suddenly dropped on the laps of the riverine dwellers. Mr. Transparency boasted that he was rigged out and allegedly vowed to withhold peace. Best brains were assembled.

Not too long, we were convinced that ‘book nor be sense’. There came different competitions ranging from thieving to randy escapades with women of easy virtues in the team.

The gentle guy was not strong enough to confront the state monitors on saving the excess funds from crude oil. His party was drifting while the self-acclaimed ‘father’ motivated him to discard ‘Mr. Fix It’ and Papa Iyabo. Criminals became the godfathers. The leadership of the upper chambers of the national legislature was unchanged for eight years not because they cared a hoot about us but for harmonious ‘sharing of the loot’.

The senior prefect was overwhelmed. He called on a thorough bred to midwife the next election.

He had no interest to run for a ‘second term’, hence he put in motion machinery for transparent and credible contest. His matriarch was scared to vacate the opulence just as his aides and kinsmen. He was threatened and consequently carved in. The professor was urged to drop the electronic device in order to help manipulate the results without success.

Our vaults were emptied to buy votes but those sent kept the money in their underground wells.

Nigerians were used as collateral for more loans that were shared amongst them. A blue-blooded retired army officer was given our national ATM card. It has no withdrawal limit. Election came. Behold, the man lost. He hurriedly accepted defeat without consulting ‘Madam’, his domestic boss and aides.

The maritime thugs felt their end was near without their kinsman calling the shots. The looting gang became afraid of the new czar in town.

Eghebi is Acting Editor, Anioma Watch Newspaper

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

EDITORIAL THE NEEDLESS NNAMANI COMMITTEE This is no time to squander scarce resources

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t is easy to conclude that the 24-man committee headed by former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, and saddled with the task of reforming Nigeria’s electoral laws is dead on arrival. Since it was announced and inaugurated by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, it has come under searing attacks by social policy analysts and majority of stakeholders with keen interest for cleaner electoral process in the country.

The main grouse is that the committee, given its terms of reference, is a waste of time and scarce national resources because it seeks to duplicate a process that had been adequately undertaken with an uncommon unanimous public approval.

According to Malami’s brief, the Nnamani Committee is expected to “review the electoral environment, laws, and experiences from recent elections conducted in Nigeria and make recommendations to strengthen and achieve the conduct of free and fair elections.”

For the army of critics, this assignment was professionally undertaken in 2007 and competently concluded in 2008 by the 22-man Electoral Reform Committee instituted by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua which was headed by former Chief Justice of THE UWAIS COMMITTEE Nigeria, Muhammadu COVERED THE FIELD, Uwais. Members RECOMMENDING MEASURES of the committee THAT WOULD IMPROVE THE included the best ELECTORAL ENVIRONMENT; of the stakeholdSTRENGTHEN THE LEGAL ers, attracting FRAMEWORK AND ENHANCE heavyweights from THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE the academic, civil society organisations, ELECTION MANAGEMENT professional groups BODY and the public service.

It was a testimony to the thoroughness of its outcome that the Yar’Adua administration accepted over 90 per cent of its recommendations and took immediate steps to implement them.

The Uwais committee in its report covered the field, recommending measures that would improve the electoral environment; strengthen the legal framework and enhance the independence of the election management body.

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HOW TO REMAKE NIGERIA

hat Nigeria is the giant of Africa is a hyperbolic expression. The truth is this: Nigeria has failed to realise its potentialities. It is where it ought not to be. For all our human and material resources, Nigeria is still technologically and economically backward. In the 21st century, it is still a rentier state whose economic survival is dependent on crude oil sale.

Instead of crude oil being a blessing, it has become a curse. Since our attainment of political sovereignty in 1960, our political leaders have been plundering our oil wealth. And, the soldiers with messianic vision who intervened in the political governance of Nigeria did not fare better. Late Sani Abacha who ruled Nigeria as a soldier was an exemplification of thievery. And Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) entrenched corruption in Nigeria.

Now, consequently, corruption is part of our culture. A poor man holding an exalted political office, who is not corrupt, is viewed with contempt and disdain. And he is the butt of jokes of his friends and relatives. Political office holders in Nigeria perceive their occupation of exalted offices as a license to better their lot in life by stealing public money.

So, corruption is the cancer asphyxiating life out of Nigeria. It is the principal reason why our march to the acme of technological and economic advancement

Specifically, it recommended among others, constitution amendments that would insulate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the influences of the executive arm of government in terms of its composition and funding. The power to appoint INEC board was to be transferred from the president to the National Judicial Council (NJC) while its funding was to be a first line charge on the Consolidated Revenue of the Federation. Election petition was to have time limit even as a Special Electoral Offences Commission was to be set up to try electoral offenders.

But for the refusal to cede the power of appointment of the INEC board, the Yar’Adua administration accepted most of the fundamental recommendations and was to begin implementation when the president took ill and eventually died. But President Goodluck Jonathan who succeeded him implemented the policy aspects and forwarded the entire report unedited to the National Assembly for consideration of areas requiring legal reforms and constitution amendments.

The financial independence granted INEC in the first amendment to the 1999 Constitution and the electoral reforms embedded in the Electoral Act 2010 as amended as well as the little known Electoral Act 2015 accented to by President Jonathan on the eve of the general elections were based on the committee’s report.

It is against this background that we agree with many critics that the Nnamani committee is unnecessary. We, therefore, endorse the declaration of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Abubakar Kyari, that the National Assembly would not wait for the input of the Nnamani Committee into its ongoing efforts to reform the electoral system since the Senate had almost completed the process of fresh amendments to the constitution and the Electoral Act 2015, using the Uwais Committee report as a base.

Given the prevailing dire paucity of funds in the country and the deafening clamour for the strengthening of our institutions, we urge government to immediately disband the Nnamani committee by making use of its existing bureaucracies and appropriate agencies, including the INEC, to conduct a review of the outstanding recommendations of the Uwais Committee report and forward them to the National Assembly for legislation.

is stalled. In line with its political and electioneering promises, this political administration is waging war against graft, although its method for prosecuting the war against corruption is undemocratic, crude, fascist and barbaric. Adopting a humane and methodical approach to tackling corruption in Nigeria will endear this political regime to the people. President Buhari should not engage in deeds that will subvert and undermine our democratic ethos in his spirited fight against graft.

More so, it should not make the fight against corruption its cardinal or onerous responsibility as there are other national problems begging for his attention. Owing to the plummeting global oil prices, vandalism of oil pipelines by Niger Delta militants, and the mismanagement of our economy by past political administrations, Nigeria’s economy has been thrown into a tailspin and recession. So, fixing our economic problem has become a desideratum.

And the economic recession currently buffeting our country has underlined the need for the government to embark on the diversification of our economy.

Agriculture holds the key to the diversification of our economy. In this regard, the federal government should execute measures that will boost agricultural practice in Nigeria.

Chiedu Uche Okoye,Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State

ATTENTION: JOS ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION PLC

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must begin by quickly applauding THISDAY, Daily Trust and others which have assisted the people of Akpehe Community in Makurdi for publishing an article with regard to the injustice against them by Jos Electricity Distribution Plc. I wish to confirm that the larger part of Akpehe Community that was living in darkness is now having power supply. I thank the newspapers in contributing to this change by letting the concerned authorities know how some officials of JED Plc, Makurdi Business Unity, wanted to exploit the community in question.

When some members of Akpehe community came to seek my opinion on what they should do concerning the action of Jos Electricity Distribution Plc with regard to the stealing of parts of the transformer that supplies electricity to them, I sought to know who was having the keys to the fenced transformer in question and they said officials of JED Plc, Makurdi Business Unity. Thereafter, I pleaded with them to give me two weeks. I also warned them that they should not give any money to any official of JED Plc. I quickly mobilised some youth to investigate

the theft. After the investigation, it was obvious that the same officials of JED Plc who were and still in possession of the keys to the fenced transformer stole what was said to be missing from the transformer. The same persons having the keys to the fenced transformer were the same persons that alerted and informed the community that something had been stolen from the transformer when there was no sign of somebody breaking into the fenced transformer.

The door of the transformer in question was conveniently opened and something was also conveniently removed from it and the people in possession of the keys denied knowing nothing about it. How possible could that be?

I did a write up together with some patriotic citizens and sent to the national dailies, alerting the public to the problem at stake.

I am happy now because Akpehe Community is now having light and I believe nobody paid for any stolen components of the transformer in question. I must urge and encourage the people of Akpehe and Nigeria at large to always fight for their right. We are no more fools.

Awunah Pius Terwase, Makurdi

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 20, 2016 T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY OCTOBER 20, 2016

To whom the crown fits

The Board, Management and Staff of Arik Air rejoice with the people of Edo State on the epochal event on Thursday, October 20, 2016 for the coronation of the Crown Prince, His Royal Majesty, Ambassador Eheneden Erediauwa (Edaiken N’Uselu), as the 39th Oba of the Great Benin Kingdom.

The people of ancient and noble Benin Kingdom have made a good choice in the Crown Prince and we wish the Oba a long, peaceful, healthy and prosperous reign on the throne of his forefathers.

Oba ghato kpere a r i k a i r. c o m West and Central Africa’s Leading Airline

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

Onah: Restructuring Won’t Break Nigeria National President of the Ndokwa Political Leaders’ Forum, Rear-Admiral Mike Onah (rtd) expressed deep concern about the continued exclusion of Ndokwaland from the Niger Delta Development Commission Board since established in 2000. He also talked about issues of restructuring, anti-corruption war, Niger-Delta crisis and others. He spoke to Shola Oyeyipo.

Excerpts:

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Are all nations of the world oil producing?

There are several nations that don’t have oil and they are doing very well. To me oil has even become a curse rather than being a blessing to Nigeria.

lders and community leaders from three local government areas in Ndokwaland in Delta State reportedly protested alleged exclusion of the Ndokwa people from the newly reconstituted board of the Niger Delta Development Commission. What really are the issues?

The recent composition of the new NDDC board without a representative from Ndokwaland can be described as an act of injustice. It is only Ndokwaland, which is an oil-producing nation that is yet to have a representative on the board of NDDC since the commission was established 17 years ago.

In Delta State, we have five oil producing ethnic nationalities namely Isoko, Ijaw, Urhobo, Itsekiri and the Ndokwa. But strangely it is only the Ndokwa people that are yet to have any representative on the NDDC board since 2000, when the commission was set up. Delta State representatives on NDDC board are supposed to be produced on a rotational basis among the five ethnic groups. But surprisingly, no representative from Ndokwaland has ever sat on the NDDC board. It is only representatives from Ijaw, Isoko, Urhobo and Itsekiri that are being appointed.

Have you drawn the attention of either the federal government or the NDDC to this issue?

We have made several representations to the authorities even before now, but we have been ignored, and this is why our people think that the NDDC is deliberately marginalising us. But this is very unfair. My question to the NDDC is this: what is our offence? It is sad

I don’t think Nigeria will break up.

Restructuring will do Nigeria a lot of good. However, it is unfortunate the way some people are talking about restructuring, giving it a wrong meaning. There are a lot of benefits in Nigeria remaining as one nation. It is only here in Nigeria that we are not using our size and population to our advantage. There are enormous benefits for us if we stay together as a nation. It is sad that we are not maximizing our population and size for social and economic benefits

Some people have argued that our present presidential system of government is too expensive to sustain. What is your take?

That’s correct. The type of government we now practice is also very expensive. Presidential system consumes a lot of money. A lot of money is spent on political appointees and other public office holders with little or no money kept for development.

Onah...restructuring is the way to go

that there is no notable or visible presence of NDDC in Ndokwaland. There are eight oil companies operating in our area, including Agip. We also have the biggest gas deposit in Nigeria but painfully, we have nothing to show for it. We have no electricity supply.

Ndokwaland is in darkness. Our roads are very bad. No good hospital. We have made several appeals to the NDDC and the oil companies operating here but none of them has come to our aid.

Is the federal government aware of your people’s plight?

We have complained to the federal government.

However, we will not relent. We are, however, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue Ndokwaland by calling NDDC to order. Our people are angry, especially the youths, but we the elders have been appealing to them to remain calm in the face of provocation by the NDDC. What is your assessment of Nigeria at 56?

To God be the glory that we still remain one as a nation. Although some Nigerians would have expected the nation to have developed more than this because at independence, Nigeria showed a lot of promises but somewhere along the line, we lost focus. But all hope is still not lost. Nigeria is a nation with a lot of potential. God blessed us with abundant human and natural resources. Our major problem has always been how to harness these resources to get the best for the nation.

To move forward, we need attitudinal change.

Nigerians should be more patriotic. We should all see ourselves as one. Not only that, we should strive to use our large population to our advantage like other populous countries like China, India, Indonesia and the United States. We might not be there yet, but we

will gradually get there.

Some people fear that the clamour for restructuring may lead to breaking up of the country. Do you agree?

I don’t think Nigeria will break up. Restructuring will do Nigeria a lot of good. However, it is unfortunate the way some people are talking about restructuring, giving it a wrong meaning. There are a lot of benefits in Nigeria remaining as one nation. It is only here in Nigeria that we are not using our size and population to our advantage.

There are enormous benefits for us if we stay together as a nation. It is sad that we are not maximizing our population and size for social and economic benefits.

As at independence, Nigeria adopted federalism, and this was in practice until the military incursion, which altered the situation. But my advice to President Buhari and other stakeholders is that we should embrace dialogue to resolve these issues.

Violence by the militants and other agitators and the counter use of force by the federal government will only worsen the situation.

What do you think is responsible for our present socio-economic challenges?

One is our over-dependence on oil over the years, which has made us to become lazy to the extent that we even neglected agriculture which used to be the mainstay of our economy before oil was discovered. I believe that a return to true practice of federalism will bring the best out of us. Adversity at times forces people to think of how to survive – adversity often brings the best out of you instead of thinking only of suffering.

Even when you suffer, you are forced to think about how to overcome that suffering in order to enhance your well-being and survival.

What is the way out of the present crisis in the Niger Delta following renewed militancy and bombings of oil facilities in the region by the Niger Delta Avengers?

I am worried just as I believe that every right thinking Nigerian should be worried. The resurgence of violence, not only in the Niger Delta but in other parts of the country has become a source of concern. To the best of my knowledge, no nation develops or prospers in the midst of violence.

There is no doubt that in Nigeria today, we have a lot of problems. Poverty is also on the rise and things are very difficult but for all these, we have to blame ourselves for the ugly development.

For us to find an amicable solution, I believe we should embrace dialogue. Violence and the use of force to counter violence will only aggravate the situation. Anybody that has ever witnessed war will never pray for a repeat. Nigerians should allow voice of reason to prevail. Rather than war-war, we should jaw-jaw.

How would you react to people saying that nothing has really changed in terms of transformation since the inception of Buhari’ s administration?

That is wrong. A lot of things have changed, and one of those things is the way Buhari has faced the corruption problem. The way he has been tackling the problem, I believe is commendable. Unlike before, there is fear of consequences of engaging in corrupt acts. Not only that, the culture of impunity is gradually fading away.

Now, there is fear that you will be dealt with if you are found to be corrupt or engage in corrupt acts, but this was not so before.

Before, people believed they could get away with some of these things, but things have changed today.

On the issue of Niger Delta Avengers and the bombings, you were canvassing dialogue but …?

For those blowing and bombing oil pipelines, this is wrong. Violence is not the solution, rather it worsens the situation. In the process of violence, you cause a lot of damage, and not only that lives are often lost, what is painful again is that it costs more money to rebuild what has been damaged. What you discover is that for those causing violence and wreaking havoc, they will still come to the negotiation table.

My advice to the federal government is that steps should be taken to address the problems of unemployment, especially among the youths. Government should strive to introduce people-oriented programmes that will help to cushion the effects of economic recession on Nigerians.

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

The Many Lies in Paden’s Book Professor John Paden’s new book on President Muhammadu Buhari is a basket of lies, writes Reno Omokri

T

he book ‘Muhammadu Buhari - The Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria’ by Professor John Paden is not only an intellectually lazy work, it is also a fallacious document hastily put together to paint the protagonist in the borrowed garb of an effective leader, who is cleaning the Augean Stable of misrule and corruption in Nigeria.

But my question is this: how can you fight corruption with lies?

I have taken my time to x-ray the book and I cannot help but agree with the national leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) that Paden has done a great disservice to the truth. If I were Paden, I would consider a career in fiction writing.

His talents are much better suited for that than to scholarly and investigative work.

On page 52 of the book, Professor Paden declares that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan declared for the April 2011 Presidential election on Saturday, 18th of September 2011. But for a man who was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University, Paden did not show much scholarliness because if he did, he would have established that Dr. Jonathan made world history by being the first ever Presidential candidate to make his declaration on the social media platform, facebook, on Wednesday the 15th of September, 2016, a feat which was featured on the New York Times, the Washington Post and in several international news media. If this was the only error in the book, one could forgive Paden, but the errors go on and on.

For example on page 53, Paden, without citing any proof or evidence, called Dr. Jonathan’s margin of victory in the Southsouth and South-east ‘nonsensical’, but then goes ahead to accept President Buhari’s margin of victory in the North as valid even though they mirrored Dr. Jonathan’s margins in the South.

On page 55, Paden called to question Jonathan’s handling of the economy but then in page 60, he admits that the 7% GNP growth Nigeria attained under Jonathan was “impressive”. Does Paden suffer from a split

personality? Here he is calling into question former President Jonathan’s ability to manage an economy that he himself admits generated an impressive growth yet he is praising a President Buhari under whom Nigeria has gone into recession. I don’t get it Paden! Perhaps Paden should have written a book singing Jonathan’s praises instead of President Buhari’s!

Then he attacks Dr. Jonathan in page 55 over the 2012 attempt to remove fuel subsidies and pointed to the street protests that broke out in reaction, but curiously failed to mention that such protests were instigated and led by the then opposition members including President Buhari’s former running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare, who was openly at the fore front of the protests and Malam Nasir Elrufai, who coordinated activities during the Occupy Nigeria protests. This is nothing short of intellectual dishonesty.

In page 59, Paden says ‘President Jonathan had signed a pledge in 2011 to run for only one term’. This is just a lie and betrays the fact that Professor Paden might have replaced investigation with gossip as a means of gathering information. I make bold to say that if Professor Paden can produce a copy of the signed pledge then I would give him a million dollars!

On page 65, Paden goes ad hominem saying “President Jonathan seemed more focused on hanging onto power by looting the public treasury”.

The above is nothing short of libel. But before he is made to answer for his lies in court, let me ask Paden a simple question.

If what he wrote about Dr. Jonathan looting the treasury is true, then how come Nigeria was able to have what he himself agrees was an ‘impressive’ economic growth and how come Nigeria made progress on the annual Transparency International Corruption Perception Index?

On page 67, showing his inability to give credit to whom it is due, Paden accused Jonathan of appointing partisan and dishonest Resident Electoral Commissioners for states so they could assist the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rig elections but

praised INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega for his honesty.

What he failed to mention is that it was President Jonathan who nominated and appointed the honest Jega without having ever met him and that it is this same honest Jega that was fully in charge of posting officials to states to serve as Resident Electoral Commissioners and who (along with his board) had power to recall and discipline any REC. Then in page 68, Paden outdid himself as a liar when he said “faced with these results, would Jonathan concede, or would he challenge the results in court?”

Paden continues on his lying spree by saying inter alia that ‘several former African heads of state held private meetings with Jonathan....they insisted...that he accept the results”. Not yet done with his fallacies, Paden continues “there was considerable international pressure on Jonathan, including by the Archbishop of Canterbury and Western Diplomats”.

All these are the figment of the imagination of either Paden or his sources.

To prove that Paden is a liar, I will quote Mansur Liman, the editor of the BBC Hausa Service in Nigeria, who was at the INEC Elections Result Center in Abuja while results were being released.

Mr. Liman testified verbally on the BBC Hausa service and in writing on its website that while results were still being AWAITED and BEFORE INEC had declared Buhari as winner of the election, he had placed a call to the Buhari campaign and testified that his contact within the Buhari campaign “told me that Gen Buhari had just received a phone call from his rival, in which the president conceded and congratulated him.”

Testifying further, Mr. Liman said that the report he received indicated that “the president (President Jonathan) took the decision to make the call without consulting anyone. They told me that if he had talked to some of his advisers, they would have objected.”

This is a direct testimony from a man on the ground with timelines and records that can stand up in court. Are we to jettison his eyewitness and substantial documentary

evidence for the unsubstantiated lies of Paden? But even without taking into account Liman’s testimony, I traveled to London after making calls to one of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s closest and most senior aides and after a face to face interview with one of the people involved I have established beyond reasonable doubt that the Archbishop of Canterbury DID NOT Call Dr. Jonathan to mount pressure on him to concede. Paden lied!!

This is a direct quote from an official in the Palace of Lambeth when I interviewed him on Paden’s claims. “That is nonsense.

The Archbishop did not call to put pressure on President Jonathan to concede. He called AFTER President Jonathan had conceded to congratulate him for conceding!”

I urge Nigerian newspapers to reach out to the Palace of Lambeth to investigate John Paden’s claims themselves. Both Paden and his source are liars!

If anybody has a history of problems conceding when he was defeated, that person is none other than President Muhammadu Buhari himself. In his three previous unsuccessful attempts at the Presidency, not once did Muhammadu Buhari ever concede much less congratulate the victor. Instead, his comments when he lost were at best uncharitable and at worst unpatriotic!

But oh, there are more lies in Paden’s book. In page 195, Paden lies again when he said that in May of 2016 while Dr. Jonathan was in the US, he had to “cancel some of his public engagements because of protests by Nigerians living abroad”.

This lie is so easy to disprove. Dr. Jonathan did not cancel any events. He could not attend two events in California and he asked me to represent there. The two events were his Keynote speech at the California State University in Sacramento and his leadership award by two California cities.

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

Lessons from Lamido’s Visions

Political leaders in the country have a lot to learn from a former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido on how to develop the country with lean resources, writes Ali Muhammad Gantsa

I

t was Franklin D. Roosevelt, an inspiring figure in America’s political history and the country’s former president, who once remarked that “Politics defined by convictions and ideologies are the ones fashioned to meet the needs of the people and a politician who lacks a sense of conviction along ideological lines is a like a prankster.”

This implied that politics and leadership should be premised on a set of ideas that aim at improving humanity and the choice between competing ideas defines a political leader’s dispositions.

It is this reflection of politics, as a means of serving humanity and the ideological underpinnings that brings to focus, the political career of Sule Lamido, a brand name in Nigerian politics and paragon pragmatic leadership. To set the records straight, the recurrence of the well-read statesman in the political evolution of Nigeria since the country’s adoption of the presidential system of government in 1979 is a reflection of his steadfastness and the strength of his convictions. After Nigeria’s fractious civil war, which lasted a dreary three years with attendant humanitarian disaster on both sides of the crises, the country began to seek a return to civil democracy. The military administration of

Lamido

General Olusegun Obasanjo finally fulfilled the commitment to return the governance to civilian leaders and there emerged a crop of new leaders with a predisposition towards continuing with the visions of the founding fathers. Among the new ‘men of timbre and calibre’ were young and ebullient folks like Greg Mbadiwe, Jim Nwobodo, Abubakar Rimi (of blessed memory) and others with Sule Lamido featuring prominently.

The revered Aminu Kano’s politics of

social democracy was more appealing to the duo of Lamido and Rimi and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) became a ready platform. Instructively, Lamido contested the 1979 elections into the House of Representatives and was among those elected from old Kano State. Then ensued a trajectory of distinctive political service that inspires great followership.

An instructive aspect of Lamido’s eventful days in the House of Representatives during the First Republic was his readiness to step down from the House as a matter of principle when leadership crisis engulfed the PRP. The young legislator positioned that since he won election on the party’s platform, it would only be fair to PRP when joining the Dr. Nnandi Azikiwe-led Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) merger. Therein lies the strength of conviction of the politician of stature. When the country’s democratic experience was truncated in December 1983 by the military coup masterminded by General Muhammadu Buhari, Lamido and his lieutenants did not rest on their oars but rallied together to put pressure on the military to return to the barracks.

With successive General Ibrahim Babangida’s lifting of the ban in political activities in 1989, it was an ideologicallydisposed Lamido that teamed up with

other democrats to form the Social Progressive Party (SPP), which was later to metamorphose into the Social Democratic Party (SDP), a party he later served as Kano State Chairman and National Secretary.

All this while, he characteristically stuck to his gun in ensuring that the right things were done in the gear up to the annulled 1993 presidential election presumably won by his party’s standard bearer, the late Chief MKO Abiola.The essential part of Sule Lamido’s distinctive style of politics emerged better in the pro-democracy activism that greeted the Sani Abacha draconian junta. As the country wallowed in the dark days of the dark-goggled despot, Lamido galvanised other democrats like Adamu Ciroma, Solomon Lar, Abubakar Rimi, Iyorchia Ayu, et al to ensure that democracy, and by extension, sanity returned to the polity.

Upon a meeting of like-minds at the Kaduna residence of Mallam Ciroma, a group – the “G8” was formed with the objective of providing veritable grounds for democratic activism.

-Gantsa, a political activist, wrote from Kano NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

20

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016 • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

Endless Fight over Land The Ukpo and Abagana communities in Anambra central zone have in the last 21 years found themselves locked in a land dispute that is now tearing them apart.

Charles Onyekamuo reports

Suspects arrested by police over land dispute between Ukpo and Abagana communities

T

he whole scenery looks sordid.

The sight of carcasses of two burnt patrol vehicles belonging to the Anambra State Police Command and debris of a bungalow with suffocating grasses marched to earth all caught a picture of a desolate place abandoned after a war. And except for a handful of security police men who mounted a road block on

Mrs. Ezekwe said that though there was a land dispute between Ukpo and Abagana communities but that the police didn’t do well to go arresting illustrious sons of Abagana on the allegation that they were terrorists without any investigation whatsoever

the border between Ukpo community in Dunukofia Local Government Area and Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area in Anambra central zone, frisking passers bye, you would think that the war was still raging.

But there was no war parse. THISDAY checks revealed that the havoc was visited on these properties by irate youths who allegedly came from Abagana, to protest the ceding of the land to Ukpo community after a Court of Appeal that sat in Enugu, Enugu State delivered a judgment in their favour.

The action of the youths it was learnt was ostensibly to disrupt the implementation of the court judgment by Ukpo people, when they found that they were sharing out the acres of land in dispute to land prospectors.

The police authority in Awka was however silent on this, but said instead that it had arrested about 23 terrorists who invaded Ukpo community and destroyed a bungalow containing 10 self contained rooms serving as a barrack for its officers, a police post in the area, two police patrol vehicles and killed a native of Ukpo known as Emmanuel Okafor.

The police said the terrorists over powered a few officers manning their posts and blew up with the aid of a dynamite the police barrack, adding that dynamites and 47 rifles were recovered from those arrested.

THISDAY checks however revealed that the parcel of land in dispute had been a subject of litigation between Ukpo and Abagana communities with each of them laying claim to the land.

Following the dispute, the land matter went through a High Court in Awka and

later the Court of Appeal in Enugu which the Ukpo community won this year and had begun the ceding and sale of the plots of land to interested members of the public and community people and demolishing houses already built by people of Abagana origin within the fringes of the disputed land. It was in the course of this THISDAY learnt that some irate youths stormed the place claiming that an appeal on the victory of Ukpo community at the Court of Appeal Enugu had been filed at the Supreme Court leading to the fracas which allegedly led to the death of one Emmanuel Okafor from Ukpo and the vandalisation of some police patrol vans among others.

The Traditional Ruler of Ukpo community, Eze (Dr) Robert Eze, a medical practitioner was initially taciturn on the matter as visits to his palace met a brick way without either asking the reporter to go because of his indisposition to talk being in a meeting with members of his cabinet or that you go and search for the Town Union President who was out of the country.

Eventually, the Ukpo Town Union in a statement said that they owned the land in dispute and won the ensuing court matter pertaining to the land in suit No: A/74/95, Ichie Austin Ezudu and others as representatives of Ukpo community versus Chief Augustine Ezenwa and others for Abagana.

They also alleged that youths from Abagana attacked Ukpo community on July 19, during which police patrol vehicles were burnt and a bungalow of 10 self contained rooms demolished; while a citizen of the community was hacked to death.

Ugochukwu Ogudo, a native of Ukpo and

the Publicity Secretary of Oranto Progressive Union, (OPU) Ukpo told THISDAY that the aborigines of the land in dispute are the Akaezi village in Ukpo.

According to him, the people of Orofia village in Abagana used to invade the Akaezi people of Ukpo inhabiting the land, making them run for their lives; adding that the land in dispute is known as “Ofogbo land”.

He said that the land belongs to Ukpo people who had been inhabiting the land.

Historically he said the Orofia village in Abagana they were told migrated from Edda in Ohafia area near Arochukwu in present day Abia State, adding that the Akaezi people of Ukpo had inhabited the land before the arrival of Orofia people.

“Even my mother is from Orofia village in Abagana. She hailed from Okeke and Onyekwelu families in Orofia Abagana and she told me when she was alive that they came from Edda and settled there,” he said.

The land issue he said had been a protracted tussle to the extent that it became a court case which according to him Ukpo pursued with civility instead of violence.

The court case he said had been on for over 30 years during which Abagana people he alleged went and began erecting houses on the land before the court pronouncement.

“The court decided in our favour this year and from the best of my knowledge the Abagana people didn’t appeal the judgment,” he said, adding that it was when the Ukpo people started building police station and personal houses on the empty acres until some miscreants allegedly from Abagana invaded Ukpo, destroying government property, vehicles and a building as the police said with the aid of a dynamite.

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• T H I S D AY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

FEATURES He said it was barbaric and unlawful for some people to take the law into their hands, stressing that the problem has shifted from being that of Ukpo and Abagana, but between Abagana and the federal government.

He called on both the Anambra State and the federal government to take decisive action against those who perpetrated the arson and their alleged sponsors and ensure that justice is done.

But the Abagana community through the acting President General of Abagana Welfare Union (AWU), Chief Ben Ugha, said in a statement in Onitsha that the problem between Ukpo and Abagana communities borders on a land dispute.

He said that though the matter which had been on for long and in court was later adjudicated in favour of Ukpo community in suit No: A/74/95 but that the Abagana community had appealed the judgment in Appeal No: CA/E/86/2012 and motion No: CA/11om?2015 at the Supreme Court.

He alleged that the Anambra State Police Command and the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sam Okaula took sides in the conflict because according to him, they were being influenced by an equally influential business mogul and oil Magnate from Ukpo even when the commissioner was aware of the pendency of the appeal.

That, he said explained why the police came and arrested some prominent sons of Abagana and dubbing them terrorists who were allegedly arrested in their hideouts.

He said the community was shocked by the way the police commissioner paraded their illustrious sons as terrorists and caused their photographs to be published in a national daily saying they were arrested with AK47 rifles and dynamites displayed alongside the suspects at the state police command.

He described the whole saga as false and the handiwork of mischief makers who had deceived the police because there were no terrorists in Abagana, adding that the Anambra State Police Commissioner took sides in favour of one party in a land dispute between Ukpo and Abagana communities.

“The entire people of Abagana are rudely shocked by the brutal and militant invasion of the homes, the violent and brute arrest and criminalisation of their responsible, respected and worthy sons as suspected terrorists,” he said.

He gave the names of those arrested by the police as Chief Eugene Anene, a reputable transporter and leader in the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Chief Amobi Ezekwe, an international businessman whom he described as confident and audaciously fearless but peace loving man who was arrested in his country home at Abagana while performing the new Yam festival of his community, Stephen Ezichiegwu, a successful distributor of beer and assorted drinks in Eke-Abagana and a dedicated Christian, and Charles Nwazojie a God-fearing and humble businessman as well as 10 staffers of Em Petroleum in Abagana owned by Chief Emma Nwude.

He said these workers arrested at Em Petroleum are not even from Abagana and that their arrest on trumped up charges was meant to embarrass and incriminate their proprietor, Chief Emma Nwude, a known leader in Abagana community.

“It is important to note that all these people were arrested in the presence of witnesses at noon time and no ammunition or dynamite was found on them. “Where was the hide out where they were nabbed and from where the AK47 and dynamite obtained,” he queried, adding that the people of Abagana with their faith in the country believe in the rule of law, and are pissed that somebody with prodigious financial backing would command security agents to blackmail Abagana people.

He therefore appealed to the presidency, the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, the National Assembly, the Inspector General of Police and the public conscience of Nigerians to save the lives of his people.

But the Ezekwe family of Abagana whose bread winner Chief Amobi Ezekwe was arrested had taken exception to the way and manner the police stormed their home, whisked Amobi away without identifying themselves nor conducting a search in their house only to start parading him as

Obiano...should intervene in the land dispute between Ukpo and Abagana com- Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr. Sam Okaula...ensuring there is peace munities in the two communities

Two police patrol vehicles allegedly burnt by Abagana youths

a terrorist.

The family speaking through his wife, Mrs. Juliet Azuka Ezekwe in their family house at Abagana accused the police of behaving like paid agents bent on tarnishing the image of their breadwinner, and father of five who plies his trade in the commercial city of Onitsha.

I don’t agree with the police report that those arrested are terrorists. It is a lie.

To say that amounts to denting the efforts of the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano who has a record of zero tolerance for crime and criminality.

What happened was a quarrel between Abagana and Ukpo communities over land

She said that though there was a land dispute between Ukpo and Abagana communities but that the police didn’t do well to go arresting illustrious sons of Abagana on the allegation that they were terrorists without any investigation whatsoever. Narrating how her husband was arrested, Mrs. Ezekwe said that on Thursday, August 18 when a fight broke out in the disputed land, her husband was in far away Lagos trying to clear his imported goods from the department of Customs and Excise.

She said that he came back August 20 being Saturday and in his characteristic manner of observing the “Iwaji” (New Yam ceremony) which he already fixed for the 21st of August before the incident, was with his kinsmen friends in his compound.

Midway into the ceremony, Mrs. Ezekwe said two plain clothed men worked into the compound and requested that he followed them outside the gate for a message.

Once outside, his family members who followed behind thinking that they might be conmen or kidnappers found to their chagrin that there were two buses packed outside with over 20 people whom they later understood dragged him into one of the buses and sped off; adding that they seized his phone when he wanted to make a call.

Mrs. Ezekwe said the plain clothed officers who invaded their home neither introduced themselves nor searched the building, a situation that made the family mistake them for kidnappers and went and even lodged a complaint that Sunday evening at the Abagana Police Station.

She now wondered how the police manufactured the dane guns, AK47 riffles, dynamite and all manner of weapons they placed besides him while parading her husband alongside other suspects, saying “imagine my husband who can’t even hurt a fly being treated like a terrorist by the police.”

“I was traumatised to see the police could brand my husband a terrorist, placing beside him the same dilapidated dane guns and AK47 rifle we use to see them on television place beside suspects in the past. How did they come about this? They didn’t search our house, so how did they get the guns with which they are now framing my husband.

From who?” She asked.

She described her husband as gentle and peaceful alleging that his travails had been hatched by an influential businessmen and oil magnet from Ukpo who felt he was becoming two influential in the area and needed to be clipped.

Also the member representing Njikoka II constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Pete Ibida said the police lied by labeling his constituents terrorists.

According to him, Anambra people are not terrorists and that most of the people the police arrested were law abiding citizens he had known over the years and wondered how they could suddenly become terrorists at their age.

He counseled the Anambra Police Commissioner to thread with caution in the discharge of his duty.

“I have read the profile of the new police commissioner. He is a solid policeman. He should be discreet the way he handles this matter. His predecessor did well here and Anambra was better for it.

“I don’t agree with the police report that those arrested are terrorists. It is a lie. To say that amounts to denting the efforts of the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano who has a record of zero tolerance for crime and criminality.

“What happened was a quarrel between Abagana and Ukpo communities over land,” he said.

The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Sam Okaula told THISDAY that he would not comment on the matter again since it has been charged to court.

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IMAGES

Chairperson, ADVAN Awards 2016, Mr Franco Maria Maggi; Executive Secretary, ADVAN, Ediri Ose-Ediale; President, ADVAN, Mr David Okeme and VP, Brands and Advertising, Airtel Nigeria, Enitan Denloye at the ADVAN courtesy visit to Airtel headquarters in Lagos,..recently

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

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

L-R;Okwudike Rachael, who placed 3rd, Agbani Itode, winner, and Ashibuodwu Freda, first runner up of the dancing competition at the University of Port Harcourt edition of Glo Campus Storm held at the Gymnasium Hall of the university in Port Harcourt...recently

R-L: Senior Special Assistant to the President on Disability Matters, Dr. Samuel Ankeli; Special Assistant to the President on Disability Matters/ Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Shehu Garba and Assistant Director, Disability Desk, National Human Right Commission, Mrs. Jamilah Hamza during the inauguration committee for the year 2016 lnternational Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPWDs) in Nigeria in AbujaÖrecently .ENOCK REUBEN

L-R; Brand Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, Tope Oshunkeye; General Manager, Marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho, and, Public Relations Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, Caroline Oghuma during the press conference to announce ‘Business Unusual’ - introducing additional content across DStv packages at , Ikeja...recently.

ABIODUN AJALA

L-R: Kelechi Amadi-Obi of Kelechi Amadi-Obi Studios; President, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Aighoje AigImoukhuede, and Chairman, Freedom Foundation, Dr Tony Rapu, at the private viewing of ëMy Lagos Diariesí at Banana Island, Lagos...recently

Matron, Old Peopleís Home, Yaba, Lagos, Mrs. Feyishayo Olaore (2nd from right) with officials of Stanbic IBTC during a visit to the Old Peopleís Home, in Lagos.. recently

L-R;Partner, MOC Consulting, Dr. Charles Oladimeji; Chairman, MOC Consulting, Dr. Michael OlawaleCole; Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishments and Training, Lagos State, Mrs Folasade Ogunnaike and Director, Office of Establishments and Training, Lagos State, Mr. Ayodeji Aruna during a three- day Directors’ Forum organised by MOC Consulting in collaboration with Lagos State government in Lagos... recently

L-R: The General Overseer, The Lord’s Chosen charismatic Revival Ministries, Pastor Lazarus Muoka; VicePresident, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo (SAN);and Pastor (Mrs) Joy Muoka, during a courtesy by the Lord’s Chosen to the office of the vice -president in Abuja... recently

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016

23

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Quick Takes Okere to Speak at ICT Summit

The Founder and Vice Chairman, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), Mr. Austin Okere, will be delivering the keynote at the maiden edition of ICT Success Summit 2016.

The summit has been designed to let Nigerians have an insight on the role and impact of Information and Communications Technology since the sector was liberalised till date on the growth of our country’s economy.

This summit will enable consumers of ICT products and services meet with the service providers, resellers and other partners to tell these success stories first hand. The event is scheduled to hold next week in Lagos.

Organisers of the summit, Datapoint Consulting and Nigeria Communications Week said Okere was chosen because of his verse knowledge in information and communications technology in the country and his company playing in various areas of ICT such software, connectivity, computer hardware, broadcasting among others.

AFRiHiT-Pro 2016 Summit Holds

ISAN 2016 DELEGATES CONFERENCE

L-R: Chairman of the occasion/a former Chairman of Union Bank, Elder Kalu U Kalu; Guest Speaker, Mr Anold Ekpe; National Coordinator, lndependent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (lSAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu and a former MD of lntercontinental Bank Plc, Dr. Erastus Akingbola at the ISAN 2016 Triennial Delegates Conference and Gala Night in Lagos ... recently ABIODUN AJALA

IXPN: Economic Recession Pushing Up Data Traffic in Nigeria Stories by Emma Okonji The current economic recession has compelled most telecoms service providers to redirect their data traffic back to Nigeria in order to host their data locally, THISDAY investigations have revealed.

Most Nigerians who hitherto hosted their data traffic outside Nigeria and paid in dollars, have resorted to hosting their local data locally, and to exchange data traffic through the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) owing to scarcity of the greenback.

This is against the old practice whereby these telecoms service providers generate data

ICT traffic locally and host same in foreign countries for fear of insecurity of their data.

The dollar scarcity it was gathered has made it extremely difficult for these service providers to access dollar, aside paying so much for dollar, if they eventually have access to it.

The Chief Executive Officer of IXPN, Mr. Mohammed Rhuman, who confirmed the development, told THISDAY that the country’s internet exchange point (IXP), is a physical infrastructure that allows several Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and network operators to exchange data

traffic between their networks at no cost, generally referred to as autonomous systems, by means of mutual peering agreements.

“We are beginning to see operators migrating their data services back to Nigeria, thereby increasing the volume of data traffic in Nigeria, a situation that could position Nigeria as the data hub for West African countries,” Rhudman said.

He added that as more operators redirect their data traffic to Nigeria, the volume of data that pass through the Nigerian Internet Exchange Point is increasing by the day.

He however expressed his displeasure that some operators

only registered and identified with IXPN, yet released little volume of data traffic to the exchange point, while some operators have deliberately refused to identify with IXPN. Going through the online list of companies that are registered with IXPN and are exchanging data traffic through the local exchange, THISDAY discovered that MTN was conspicuously missing from the online list, an indication that MTN still carries and hosts its data traffic outside Nigeria. Glo1, for instance, is registered with IXPN, but decided to release small volume of data for Continued on page 24

‘Digital Channels Account for 70% of Banks Deposits’ Over 70 per cent of financial deposits across commercial banks, are generated from various digital channels that are driven by technology solutions, Head, Consumer and Digital Banking at United Bank for Africa (UBA), Dr. Yinka Adedeji has said.

He made the disclosure during an interactive session with technology reporters in Lagos on Tuesday, where he listed the digital channels to include Automated Teller Machines (ATM), Point of Sales machines (PoS), Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, among others.

Adedeji attributed the development to innovative solutions

BANKING created by banks, which was designed to drive financial inclusion in a cashless society.

Furthermore, he said that “less than 30 per cent of generated cash across banks, come from physical cash deposits and cheque deposits”, suggesting that the cashless initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is fast gaining acceptance both in urban and rural communities because of the convenience that technology innovations have brought to the banking sector.

Adedeji who reiterated his bank’s commitment to empower more Nigerians through in-

novative banking solutions that would further enhance the cashless initiative of the CBN, said the African global bank had in the past, developed innovative technology apps that empowered its customers to do more financial transactions from the comfort of their homes, without visiting the bank.

He said the bank would continue to innovate, just as he announced another solution from UBA that would revolutionise banking in Nigeria.

He said UBA entered into agreement with MyECheck to provide a revolutionary new social commerce payment system called ‘EmailMoni’,

which is the world’s newest game changing technology and will dramatically advance the payments landscape in Nigeria and across Africa.

EmailMoni is a next generation payments technology that enables people and businesses to securely send and receive money electronically in real-time and at low cost using a downloadable mobile smartphone app or from a web app. The EmailMoni web app can be accessed from any mobile device, any browser or any type of internet connected computer.

Continued on page 24

The African Heads of ICT Professionals Development Summit 2016, tagged (AFRiHiT-Pro), is scheduled to hold November 2016 in Abuja. The summit is organised by the Association of Telecommunications Professionals of Nigeria (ATPN).

The summit is endorsed by Africa Telecommunications Union (ATU) and supported by Federal Ministry of Communications, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Sponsored by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Vodacom Business Nigeria Ltd, Overseas Telecoms and TelePAY Money Transfer.

According to the organisers, the summit is a professional event which has the theme: “ICT Proficiency & Corporate Management: A Panacea to Nation Building”.

It is expected to bring together a wide range of top renowned African Heads of ICTexperts, decision/policy makers, government functionaries, practitioners, stakeholders, captains of industry, military and paramilitary. Otters include directors of ICT in tertiary institutions, CIO’s / CTO’s in Oil & Gas companies, financial and non-financial institutions, and student representatives.

Samsung Begs Customers over Note7

Samsung Electronics has said the company still remain committed to the safety and mobile phone user experience of its customers, despite the incidence of battery explosion of its Galaxy Note7.

“We are working with relevant regulatory bodies to investigate the recently reported cases involving the Galaxy Note7. For the benefit of consumers’ safety, we stopped sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note7 and have consequently decided to stop production,” the company said in a statement.

Director and Business Leader, Information Mobile andTechnology, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Emmanouil Revmatas, who made the appeal, said: Samsung remains committed to working diligently with appropriate regulatory authorities to take all necessary steps to resolve the situation. Consumers with either an original Galaxy Note7 or replacement Galaxy Note7 device are advised to power down and stop using the device and take advantage of the remedies available at our Samsung Authorized Service Centres.

Red Star Celebrates 24th Anniversary

Group Managing Director of Red Star Express Plc, Sola Obabori has praised the foresight of those who built the Red Star brand from the scratch saying their tenacity has brought the company to its present state of growth.

Speaking on the 24th year anniversary of the company, held recently in Lagos, Obabori stated that the unique vision of Dr. Mohammed H. Koguna, Mazi, Sonny Allison, Mr. Patrick Nwosu, Olorogun Eddy Olafeso and other investors who took the risk to start the company, has survived several seasons and cycles.

He also thanked all the tireless efforts of all staff who have served the company both past and present, for the commitment, resilience and enthusiasm for growth.

Having worked in BoI for over two decades, Waheed Olagunju is more than qualified to lead the development financing institution as a substantive MD

Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom

24

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

IXPN: ECONOMIC RECESSION PUSHING UP DATA TRAFFIC IN NIGERIA

Nigeria’s Domain Name Registration Hits 74,293 in September

exchange at IXPN. Although Etisalat is also registered with IXPN, it released about 280,978 kbit/second volume of data, while Glo1 released only about 16kbit/second volume of data.

Operators like Airtel, MainOne, and Google, had the highest volume of data traffic that pass through IXPN, with Google topping the list with about 3,753,744 kbit/second.

Rhudman however clarified that not all operators are connected to IXPN, and that it was never compulsory for operators to register with IXPN, even though some countries made it mandatory for operators to connect to the country’s local exchange point.

He however said that organisations that connect their networks to an IXP benefits from reduced reliance on expensive international transit for exchanging local traffic between themselves, and improved efficiency of their operations and communications. “Not only will this reduce transport costs and network latency, but will also ensure faster access to local content because local traffic is exchanged locally, rather than through one or more 3rd party networks including international links.

Emma Okonji

‘DIGITAL CHANNELS ACCOUNT FOR 70% OF BANKS DEPOSITS’ According to him, “EmailMoni allows people and businesses to pay and receive electronic payments securely in a number of easily accessible and convenient ways. Users can send and request money instantly using Microsoft Outlook email, or any web mail. Money can also be securely requested and sent using Facebook, SMS text and other methods.”

Available on iOS on the Apple App Store and for Android on Google Play, the EmailMoni mobile app for smartphones will over time, interact with a card-less ATM network using Quick Response (“QR”) Code enabling cash to be deposited and withdrawn from the system at thousands of ATM locations in Nigeria and across Africa.

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)

The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the body managing the country’s domain name registration, is still struggling, through its registrars, to register Nigerians with the country’s online identity, the .ng domain name.

This is just as the country’s domain name registration moved up slightly by 3,236 in September this year, bringing the total number of registered domain names in the country to 74, 293 as at September 2016, according to the statistics released recently by NiRA. President of NiRA, Mr. Sunday Folayan, in his monthly release, gave details of domain name registration for the months of August and September 2016.

According to him, “Domain Name registrations and renewals at the registry have steadily increased on a monthly basis and year per year basis. The increase can of course be attributed to the hard work of the NiRA accredited registrars.”

The domain names registered and renewed in September 2016 was 4,915, which is more than twice the registration in September 2014, that was 2,370 and far more than the registration in September 2015, that was 3,322, Folayan said.

A breakdown of the figures, show that in August 2016, Nigeria recorded 3,007 domain name registrations with 1,567 renewals and 118 transfers, while in September 2016, Nigeria recorded 3,236 domain name registrations with 1,679 renewals and 43 transfers.

As at July 2016, the total number of .ng domain names registered in the country in the last 10 years, was 68,050, but with the additional registrations by the registrars in the months of August and September, which were 3,007 and 3,236 respectively, the total number

of registered domain names in the county, currently stood at 74,293.

THISDAY, however, gathered that the reduction in the cost of registering domain name in the country like .name.ng to N500 for end users, triggered the steady increase in domain name registration in the country.

NiRA expects all Nigerians to register their names, using .ng domain name, instead of the yahoo, gmail and hotmail that most Nigerians registered with.

According to Folayan, 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 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, which NiRA is promoting in the country.

In order to further boost domain registration in the country, Folayan said: “NiRA has accredited 57 registrars, as of 11th October 2016. These

registrars may have resellers, who use the platform of the NiRA accredited registrars for the registration of the .ng domain names.”

He however stressed that NiRA is not in the business of building websites or website hosting, using the country’s domain name, but that it is the duty of registrars to do so.

In a related development, Folayan also revealed in his monthly release that the contract between the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the United States Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), to perform the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA)

functions, officially ended on the 1st of October 2016.

According to him, the historic moment marks the transition of the coordination and management of the Internet’s unique identifiers to the private-sector, a process that has been committed to and underway since 1998.

ICANN Board Chair Stephen Crocker, said: “This transition was envisioned 18 years ago, yet it was the tireless work of the global Internet community, which drafted the final proposal, that made this a reality.” He assured the global internet users that there would be no change or difference in the experience of Internet users as a result of the steward transition.

TECHNOLOGY IN BANKING

L-R: Head, Consumer and Digital Banking, UBA, Dr. Yinka Adedeji; Head, Virtual Banking, Akeem Salam and Head, Cards, Obinna Uma, at a media briefing on UBA’s technology drive for the banking sector, held in Lagos...recently

13 States Partner Wood Exporters to Regenerate Customs Nets N11 Billion in Nation’s Forestry Nine Months Eromosele Abiodun Tropical Wood Exporters Association of Nigeria (TWEAN) is partnering 13 state governments to regenerate the depleted nation’s forests.

TWEAN Secretary General, Mr. Joseph Odiase, who disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos, said that the group in collaboration with some state governments has embarked on massive forestation programme with a view to arresting the menace of deforestation.

He said the exporters have gone ahead of the federal government policy of cut one and plant two trees by planting seven trees for every tree cut down.

Odiase said that between Ogun and Ekiti states, the group has acquired over 1,000 hectares of land for tree planting.

He hinted that Osun, Kogi, Kwara, Taraba, Benue, Edo, Akwa-Ibom Jigawa, Katsina, Niger, Oyo and Ondo states are in discussions with exporters to create tree farms in the states.

According to him, wood exporters are ready and willing to partner with the federal government to ensure that the effect of climate change in Nigeria was reduced to barest minimum.

Besides, he said that wood exporters, the Processed Wood Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (PWPMAN) was also neck deep in the collaboration of forest regeneration drive.

He explained that issue of deforestation was the concern of every Nigerian, adding that wood exporters will support government in the move to regenerate the nation’s forest.

According to him, “We must protect and preserve the forest for this and future generations because these forests also help in the sustenance and preservation of the environment. We are working with the Ministry of Environment as they have promised to provide technical support when it is needed.

“In as much as our businesses are important to us, we cannot jeopardise the environment for economic

gains because we are not the only ones operating in the nation’s economy. We will not only abide with cut one plant two trees policy of government, we are also embarking on a massive forest cultivation programme. The project is a fulfillment of our commitment to the honourable Minister of Environment at the national stakeholders’ meeting on forestation,”he added Likewise, the president of the association, Mr. Ibitayo Omotoye said the replanting exercise in some the states has since commenced.

Omotayo said the group had written to other states for collaboration adding that the responses were being awaited.

He said: “We are ready to support government through the tree re-planting exercise just as we hope to do the official flag off before the end of the month.”

On his part, the president of PWPMAN, Mr. Ademola Oyeleke said whatever will grow the wood export industry without jeopardising the economy and the environment will be wholly supported.

Ademola Babalola in Ibadan With just two months to the end of the fiscal year 2016, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Command said that it has generated the sum of N11,147,238,490.32 between January and September this year.

The Customs Area Controller, Mr. Temitope Ogunkua made this known while briefing journalists on the achievements recorded by the command in the past few months.

Ogunkua also said that one hundred and eighty-eight assorted seizures were made with a duty paid value of N368,637,788.03 within the period under review. The Area Controller used the medium to warn that his leadership would continue to deal decisively with the economic saboteurs and work for the security wellbeing of the nation. He said: “In the face of the challenging economic situation in the nation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has stepped up its operation by blocking all revenue leakages in order to collect maximum duty accurate to the Federal Government.

“This has led to the arrest of

various assorted, luxury vehicles smuggled into the country through unapproved border routes.” Ogunkua noted that despite the various campaigns against smuggling, some elements are still smuggling various assorted items into the country. “It is disheartening to note that despite the arrest and seizure of about ten thousand bags of rice between the months of January to September 2016, the smugglers have continued their nefarious activities daring the federal government ban on the importation of the rice through the border areas”, he asserted.

He announced that the Command recently seized, one fairly used Honda Crosstour, one fairly used Lexus Rx 300 and Rx 450, one fairly used Honda CRV, one fairly used Mazda 626 and one used Volkwagon Bus. Others included fairly used Mitsubishi Outlander, one fairly used Toyota Carina E, one fairly used Toyota Prius, one fairly used Toyota Avalon, two fairly used Toyota Previa, five fairly used Toyota Buses with bags of Rice, and one fairly used Toyota Picnic also loaded with Rice.

25

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

The Untold Story of NCC’s 2.6GHz Spectrum Auction Emma Okonji examines the circumstances that triggered the absence of competition during the 2.6GHz spectrum auction that produced MTN as the sole bidder and winner of the national spectrum

EVC, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta

Following the successful auction of the country’s 2.3GHz spectrum, which Bitflux won in February 2014, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), commenced the process of licensing the 2.6GHz spectrum in August 2014.

But the regulator announced the suspension of the planned auction in December 2014, citing administrative challenges.

In February 2015, the NCC commenced another plan to auction the spectrum, but again suspended the plan in March 2015, after a new date for the auction was fixed and the Information Memorandum (IM) announced and uploaded on the NCC’s website.

Having suspended the auction of the 2.6GHz spectrum twice, NCC, on February 25, 2016, placed a publication for the resumption of the 2.6GHz frequency spectrum auction, which was followed by a period for the submission of questions to the commission, relating directly to the licensing process defined in the information memorandum.

According to the IM, the actual bidding was to commence with preliminary auction exercise from May 16 to 19, and by June 10, 2016, spectrum winners must have made full payment for the licence won. Also, by June 13, 2016, the NCC was expected to have announced the winners that complied with full payment directive. But to the utmost surprise of NCC, only MTN indicated interest to bid for the licence.

It was in April 29, 2016, when the application was closed to all operators, to give room for the auction committee to scrutinise the applications and inform those that will qualify for the bidding exercise, that NCC realised that only MTN indicated interest to bid and had applied for six lots out of the available 14 slots in the 2.6GHz spectrum licence.

It was at that point that NCC reviewed MTN’s application and in June this year, announced MTN as the winner of the 2.6GHz spectrum licence.

NCC had come up with strong passion to auction the 2.6GHz spectrum but little did the regulator know that the operators were not willing to participate in the auction for some undisclosed reasons.

The operators’ refusal to let NCC know of their plans to back out as at the time the bid was declared open in February this year, made NCC to believe that the operators were willing to bid initially.

The operators, who spoke this week in Lagos at a postmortem event on 2.6GHz auction,

CEO, ntel, Kamal Abass

organised by NCC to find out what informed their inactive participation in the exercise, said they were not comfortable with the conditions for the auction exercise, hence they decided to back out from participating in the auction.

The operators believed every auction exercise, where the highest bidder wins, has the characteristics of being lopsided, and designed to favour only big operators that have the financial muscles, to the detriment of small operators who have limited financial base. They also said they were worried and uncomfortable with the high reserve price of $16 million per lot, owing to the poor economic state of the country. For these reasons, they backed out of the race to bid, leaving the NCC and MTN in a world of their own, without disclosing their plan to the regulator.

About 2.6GH spectrum The 2.6GHz spectrum licence, which has been issued to MTN, is a 10-year licence, designed to boost broadband and internet penetration.

The 2.6 GHz band, which spans from 2.5 GHz band to 2.7 GHz band, is generally considered to cover the frequency range between 25002690MHz, although there are some minor national variations among countries in the use of the frequency band.

The frequency band was designated for mobile terrestrial services, and other applications of the frequencies in this band, which vary by country and region, include satellite services - fixed, mobile, and broadcast - as well as terrestrial video broadcasting. In certain countries, frequencies in this band are still occupied by non-commercial entities, such as the military.

The 2.6 GHz band is often referred to as the IMT-2000 expansion band II and is sometimes called the 3G expansion band.

Spectrum licences generally, are discussed at the international level between countries that need them and the International Telecoms Union (ITU), that superintends over telecoms regulation globally. After the discussions and approval

by ITU, based on availability of the spectrum, individual counties will then take the spectrum to their various countries to deploy, by selling the spectrum to operators through any sales model as approved by individual country. Such is the case with 2.6GHz spectrum.

Cost of 2.6GHz and NCC’s reserve price The 2.6GHz spectrum has 14 available lots and MTN bided for six lots at a reserve price of $16 million per lot. Since MTN indicated interest

CEO, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya

to acquire six lots, MTN had to pay 10 per cent of the total bid price of $96 million for the six lots, which is $9.6 million, as part of the pre-qualification process. By adding the 10 per cent compulsory payment of $9.6 million to the actual cost of the six lots that MTN bided for, which is $96 million, it means MTN must have paid NCC the total sum of $105.6 million to clinch the six lots of the 2.6HGz spectrum.

Reasons for operators’ decline Telecoms operators have openly spoke about the circumstances that made them stayed away from the auction exercise of the 2.6GHz spectrum.

According to them, they deliberately declined to bid for the auction, despite the awareness created around the spectrum by NCC, for the fact that they suspected that the conditions for the auction would pose serious business risk for them.

The Chief Executive Officer of Spectranet, Mr. David Venn, said although the auction exercise appeared transparent just the same way NCC had conducted previous licence auctions, he said operators feared that the auction was meant for big operators who have the money to play with.

He said the smaller operators felt they would eventually lose out by the end of the day, hence they all declined. He suggested that going forward, NCC should consider the revenue sharing arrangement for allocation of spectrum, instead of the auction exercise. He said as at the time NCC was considering the auction exercise, the price of data had already crashed in the telecoms market, a situation that affected the revenue generation of operators to bid for the 2.6GHz spectrum, which he said, had always attracted heavy capital investment.

The Director, Regulatory and CSR, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Ikenna Ikeme, blamed the situation on lack of access to local funding, which he said, made telecoms business very difficult, and also slowed down investment in telecoms.

Going forward, he advised NCC to combine expensive spectrum like 2.6 GHz, with other cheaper spectrum like the 700MHz and 800MHz spectrum that are less expensive. Ikeme suggested that NCC should consider using the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) to drive rollout of spectrum licences.

A director at Airtel, Mr. Lateef Akintunde was of the opinion that the reserve bid price of $16 million per lot, was on the high side.

He explained that the cost of spectrum rollout was also expensive and must be factored in when bidding for any spectrum.

Director, Regulatory Affairs at ntel, Mr. Osondu Nwokoro attributed the inactive participation of operators to the high cost of dollar rate to naira and explained that at the time NCC called for auction of the 2.6GHz spectrum, dollar rate was already climbing high, making it difficult for operators to invest in the telecoms sector. Nwokoro, who supported the idea of revenue sharing formulary for subsequent auctions, however, said the auction process remained the best option, if properly handled to accommodate all players, both the big and the small players. He advised the NCC to reduce the reserve bid price to enable operators roll out the spectrum, after paying for it. He said there was need for rollout obligations and implementation, to enable operators rollout won spectrum licences without delay.

Others who spoke at the forum advised NCC to allow spectrum trading, a situation, they said, would encourage operators to participate in future auction of spectrum licence, if they know they could resell their spectrum to a willing buyer before the expiration of the license.

Effect of decline Industry experts have said the deliberate decline of operators to bid for the county’s 2.6GHz, is an indication that the operators were not finding it easy to do business, as a result of the harsh economy of the country.

The experts, however, said the refusal to bid, has negative impact on broadband penetration, especially now that the National Broadband Plan is targeting 30 per cent broadband penetration in 2018.

They explained that operators need ubiquitous spectrum to drive broadband penetration in the country and that anything that could stifle the availability and spread of spectrum licences, should be discouraged by the NCC. NCC’s position Having been formally informed as to why they shunned the auction, the NCC said it would take the feedback to the commission for further deliberation and action. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who was represented by the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said: “The Commission in consonance with its practice of collaborative regulation, seeks to get useful industry feedback on the auction with the aim of ensuring the effective and efficient usage of available spectrum bands for the delivery of broadband internet access to Nigerians.”

26

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

4G LTE Rollout as Driver of High Speed Connectivity The aggressive rollout of 4G LTE services penultimate week by most telecoms operators, was a boost for increased internet connectivity across the country, writes Emma Okonji Telecoms operators that rolled out their fourth generation long term evolution network, also known as the 4G LTE network, are already expanding their rollout coverage areas to more cities in order to empower more Nigerians with the high speed connectivity associated with 4G LTE. One of such operators is Globacom, which later connected additional eight cities to its 4G LTE network, few days after it launched its rollout plan.

Just one week after it formally launched its 4G LTE nationwide network, national operator, Globacom, has connected eight more cities to the advanced network. This, the company said, is in keeping with its promise to embark upon a rapid rollout of the service in more locations across the country.

Additional cities on Glo 4G LTE network The new locations that were connected to the Glo 4G LTE network, according to Globacom, are Okada (Igbinedion University), Ekpoma (Ambrose Alli University), Bonny, Escravos, Forcados, Abraka (Delta State University), Agbor (College of Education), and Sapele (Western Delta University).

Globacom at the launch of the service on October 4 had announced availability of its 4G coverage in nine cities, namely Lagos- Lekki, Ikoyi, V.I, Ajah and Akoka (South West), Port Harcourt- Aba Road, Trans Amadi, Diobu, Old GRA and UNIPort, Warri, Eket and Benin (South South), Abuja- Maitama, Wuse, Asokoro, Garki/ Central Business District and Airport Road and Jos (North Central), Yola – ABTI (North East) and Zaria- ABU (North West). The eight new locations thus bring to 17 the number of cities covered by the Glo 4network.

Announcing the additional connected cities, the Head of Corporate Sales, Globacom, Kamaldeen Shonibare said: “Our commitment is to give Nigerians access to this advanced network wherever they may be located in this country. It’s a lot of investment, but Globacom is committed to making it so that our subscribers can enjoy the best of telecommunications services at home, at work or on the move.”

Globacom urged millions of subscribers in the eight new locations to seize the opportunity to avail themselves of the immense benefits of the network.

Since the Glo 4G LTE nationwide network was launched, many telecoms subscribers have thronged the Glo World outlets across the country seeking to connect to the network.

The brand new Glo 4G LTE network enables Globacom to offer instant efficient mobile broadband internet to subscribers at unprecedented speeds, which will enable subscribers to download ultra high definition videos in seconds.

Benefits The Glo 4G LTE comes with enormous benefits such as free access to millions of music, video and movie on demand, among others. Available 4G data bundles include N500 for a whopping 1.6GB of data, N1000 for 3.2GB data and 7.5GB for N2000. Others include 10GB for N2,500, 18GB for N4000 and 24GB for N5000. To join the advanced network, customers are required to buy and register a 4G LTE Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or swap his or her existing SIM for a 4G SIM, get a 4G phone and dial *777# to buy a data plan.

The company is also offering a brand new 4G LTE router which gives access to Ultra High Speed Internet and landline, with free SIM, 60 GB of shareable data valid for a month and free world-class content for a one-off fee of N31,000. There is also the Glo 4G MiFi which is bundled with free SIM, 60Gb of shareable data valid for one month and free world-class content for a one-off fee of N25,000.

Beyond the benefits to subscribers, the country also stands to benefit from the introduction 4G LTE. This is true because today, the 4G LTE platform is acknowledged as the most

L-R: Key Account Director, Huawei, Li Shaowei; Regional Director Technical, Globacom, Sanjib Roy; Head, Corporate Sales, Globacom, Kamaldeen Shonibare and Managing Director, Huawei, Jin Renzhe, at the launch of Glo 4G LTE across some states, held in Lagos...recently

advanced wireless broadband connectivity both for voice and data usage offering hi-speed data for users. Now, subscribers on the 4G LTE network service can enjoy optimised wireless broadband experience and high speed browsing.

Stimulating growth with 4G LTE Following the launch and expansion of its 4G LTE network to connect more Nigerians, Globacom said it is stimulating telecoms growth, and securing higher ground with introduction of superior 4G LTE services.

Nigeria’s telecommunications industry has moved to the next phase of growth with the firing up of 4G networks by some major operators within the same week. Globacom blazed the trail on 4th of October with the launch of 4G LTE services in nine cities at once, making it the operator to launch the largest 4G LTE network in Nigeria.

Aside Globacom, MTN and Etisalat have also launched their own 4G LTE services in Nigeria.

Telecom subscribers in several parts of key cities in Lagos, Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Abuja in the Federal Capital City, Jos in Plateau State, Warri in Delta State, Eket in Akwa Ibom State, Benin City in Edo State, Yola in Adamawa State and Zaria in Kaduna State can immediately have the pleasure of connecting to Glo 4G LTE network, while the company pledged that roll-out to other major cities of the country will happen swiftly.

The new and advanced 4G LTE Globacom network has provided a platform for millions of Nigerians to enjoy efficient mobile broadband internet at speeds multiple times faster than the 3G network. The instant benefit to subscribers is the ability to download ultra high definition videos in seconds.

Access to data apps With the launch of 4G LTE across most networks, telecoms subscribers in any of the 4G LTE coverage areas can access data intensive applications with ease. No relief at this point can be greater to anyone who consumes huge volumes of data from individuals to governments at all levels, corporate organisations like banks, oil and gas companies, academic institutions and health institutions, Globacom said in a statement.

“We are pleased to once again play a leading

role in empowering Nigerians with world class data services, helping to close the digital divide.

In the last one and a half years, the people of this great country have spoken repeatedly by making Globacom the largest data network in new subscriptions. The best we can do for our people who believe in us and made us their number one data network is to give them the best technology. What we are offering is the new speed of life,” Shonibare said.

The attractions One huge attraction in Globacom’s offering is free access to millions of music and thousands of videos and movies on demand and a broad range of hard-to-beat 4G data bundle offers to enable all categories of subscribers to have access to the revolutionary products and services.

For instance, for only N500, subscribers will get a whopping 1.6GB of data, while N1000 will give them 3.2GB data. Other exciting offers include 7.5GB for N2000, 10GB for N2,500, 18GB for N4000 and 24GB for N5000. The data plans range from N50 to N18,000 to suit everyone’s pocket.

In addition to its robust and pocket friendly data plans, Globacom is also offering a brand new 4G LTE router which gives access to Ultra High Speed Internet and landline, with free SIM, 60 GB of shareable data valid for a month and free world-class content for a one-off fee of N31,000. For those who prefer MiFi, Globacom is bundling its 4G MiFi with free SIM, 60 GB of shareable data valid for one month and free world-class content for a one-off fee of N25,000.

Shonibare said the Glo 4G LTE services would make life more interesting, comfortable and enjoyable for Nigerians as the advanced technology would touch all aspects of life from education to agriculture and medical care.

“Our subscribers today already enjoy downloading music, video and movie contents and streaming contents on their phones and other devices. But the new Glo 4G LTE network offers subscribers a significantly improved experience.

The video and voice quality in video calls on different applications like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Viber etc is a lot clearer while the picture quality is crisper, and the transmission is faster,” he said.

He said the technology would enable

Globacom to empower most of the over 150 million telecom subscribers in Nigeria to have access to the internet at a much faster speed, enjoy ultra high definition video without buffering and utilise other high intensive data applications with ease.

Activation Shonibare said all a customer requires to join the most advanced network is to buy and register a 4G LTE Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or swap his or her existing SIM for a 4G SIM, get a 4G phone and dial *777# to buy a data plan. He urged subscribers to visit the nearest Gloworld shop to connect to the Glo 4G LTE and enjoy the boundless opportunities offered by the advanced and superior technology.

Within 24 hours of launch, over 15,000 subscribers signed up for the service with many of the early adopters of the new network testifying to the superior quality of the service.

Areas of remarkable edge highlighted include speed, stability and indoor penetration.

Subscribers’ reactions Subscribers have continued to commend telecoms operators for the rollout of their 4G LTE network. Similarly, many Nigerians have commended Globacom for the superior quality of the service and for making it available beyond the major commercial cities of Lagos, Port Harcourt and the seat of power, Abuja.

Maxwell Ejiofor a subscriber to Globacom, who has upgraded to the Glo 4G LTE, said: “I can certify that 4G is a lovely experience. The speed is phenomenal. And the indoor penetration is excellent. I have the signal in every part of my house. I was also among the first to upgrade my other line to 4G on another network. But the indoor penetration was poor and the phone only worked best near the front windows.”

“I have had a 4G phone for a while now. I was using it with 3G services. I simply purchased a 4G SIM to enable me optimise the capacity of the phone. The difference is clear, I tell you.

My videos download without any delay. Glo has done very well with this one,” he said.

Now that telecoms operators have rolled out their 4G LTE networks, subscribers would begin to experience high speed internet access and connectivity.

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

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FG Shops for Investors, Showcases 16 Startups to IBM, Lenovo, Avaya, Others Dele Ogbodo in Dubai The federal government has called on IBM, LG Electronics, Microsoft, Avaya, Lenovo, Oracle and other ICT players to invest more in Nigeria.

The call was made by the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, the Head of Service of the Federation (HoS), Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, and the Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong, on Tuesday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Wooing the investors in the nation’s ICT ecosystem, Shittu, stated that Africa is the new destination of choice for global investments in ICT infrastructure, hardware or software and other smart devices. “We are looking for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that will come to Nigeria to establish their plants, collaborate with us in human capacity development as we are set to establish the ICT University”, Shittu added.

Addressing the gathering at the Africa Investment Forum, organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with Pinnacle Consult of U.S, Shittu, urged them to invest in the 16 young

Nigerian startups, sponsored by the government to showcase their softwares, apps and creative innovations at the exhibition. After each of the startups took time to make presentations, the minister, admitted that the apps and products displayed by the young innovators were indeed worth investing in. He said: “Government is therefore showcasing to the world so that angel and investors can collaborate with to bring the development of these apps to fruition.”

On why Nigeria is shopping for investors in the sector, he said: “Nigeria is more in population than all the other West African countries combined, it is the centre of ICT activities in the region, with 140 Universities.”

According to him, any serious investors who decide to ignore the Nigerian market, is doing so at his own lost. It is one market that any serious entrepreneur must go and invest because of its market potentials, he added.

Shittu explained that oil became an albatross to the country, because it made Nigerians lazy and complacent, adding that it would soon recover from the recession using ICT as

Etisalat Explains Unique Features of its 4G LTE Service Offering Stories by Emma Okonji Having launched its fourth generation long term evolution technology network, otherwise known as 4G LTE service in Lagos last week, Etisalat Nigeria has said the key objective of the service is to drive the future of technology in Nigeria through the delivery of high speed data and quality voice services that would enable customers on its network to do more with the service offering.

Vice President, Marketing, Etisalat Nigeria, Adebisi Idowu, who made the disclosure at the demo of the 4G LTE service in Lagos, said the Etisalat 4G LTE service had been made available strategically to customers in the Lagos Mainland areas of Yaba, Surulere and Ikeja as they represent the hub and future of technology and economic development for Nigeria. He said the service would soon be rolled out in other parts of Lagos and across more cities in Nigeria.

Idowu, speaking with a cross section of Etisalat customers, celebrities, technology journalists and social media influencers, who experienced the Etisalat 4G LTE service firsthand, stated that the telecoms company would continue to express its passionate for quality service and innovation.

“We are positioning our 4G LTE service as a lifestyle enabler. That is why Etisalat is the only network that does not require a SIM swap before a customer can enjoy 4G connectivity. We want to see and encourage use of our 4G technology to enable our subscribers be all that they can be. Our subscribers are able to do more with this new

level of technology. We will not impose features of 4G on our consumers; we want you to tell us what 4G is doing for you. For us, the consumer is the innovator,” he said.

He added that “there is an increasing number of people trying to get online, get their work done and impact lives and our goal is to enable such people exploit their potential.

Etisalat’s strategy is to enable our subscribers compete globally, so we abide by best practices and bring nothing short of international quality service to our customers across Nigeria.”

A cross section of the customers commended Etisalat for its commitment to innovation, quality service and positive customer experience. They included TV personalities - Zainab Balogun, Gideon Okeke and Ill Rhymz as well as James Ademuyiwa, a social media influencer. Gideon in his testimonial said he had experienced Etisalat 4G LTE connectivity at different parts of Lagos and the connectivity was fast. “My Etisalat 4G LTE experience was superfast with no buffering,” he said.

Corroborating, Ill Rhymz said: “The Etisalat 4G LTE is brilliant, trust me. Knowing my work online will now be unlimited, is a relief.”

Ademuyiwa said: “I have heard a lot about 4G LTE becoming a regular thing among telecoms companies.

Experiencing it finally was really a thoughtful move on Etisalat’s part. For me, I see switching from 3G to 4G LTE as an entrance to the internet of things in Nigeria. We can’t stay on 3G or 3.75G to achieve that. Kudos to Etisalat.”

diversification platform.

He told the ICT moguls that Nigeria is in a better position to make it since it has huge and energetic population which makes it a big market, adding: “I believe that ICT will make a prosperous country getting out of recession.

The minister said: “the federal government has assured you, that we are ready to partner and encourage entrepreneurs willing to invest in the country.”

In a remark, Oyo-Ita, stressed that Nigeria is looking for

investors in cloud computing, Internet of things as well as in big data, adding that preference will be given to investors with focus on use of local content as the driving force. On the need to assist the young startups, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Sunny Echono, said: “We know that key to all of these is the issue of venture capital, our startups cannot go far except they have a mechanism to support them financially so that they can provide solutions to all

our needs and take it to the global space.

“We therefore look forward to investors that will be supporting us and promoting these startups, as we are looking for opportunity to start exporting the brand of these young Nigerians.” Speaking on the sideline, the DG of NITDA, Mr. Ibrahim Pantami, said Nigeria recorded some degree of success since it started participating at GITEX. He said: “For example, two of the start-ups we sponsored for GITEX 2015

have forged partnerships with a Malaysian company.

“Two others are being incubated by a Nigerian ICT firm and one Nigerian company that participated at GITEX 2015 forged a partnership with a German company to develop the software to drive their hardware.”

According to him, the product of this Nigeria-German partnership is being showcased at this year’s event, adding that it is the desire of NITDA to scale up such partnerships in the future.

PRODUCT LAUNCH

L-R: Marketing Director, Gionee Nigeria, Mr. Somoye Habeeb; Product face, Damilola Bolannde (Queendamy) and Group Chief Executive Officer, Gionee Nigera, Mr. Chen Lei, at the Gionee S6S phone launch in Lagos...recently

Netflix, Spectranet to Deploy Gionee S6s Mobile Phone Dedicated Server in W/Africa Launched with Unique Selfie Global Internet Television service provider, Netflix and Nigeria’s 4G LTE broadband service provider, Spectranet, have announced plans for the deployment of one of the first dedicated Netflix servers in Africa.

The high capacity server would hold the entire Netflix content library in Lagos, providing Spectranet’s customers with the best possible video streaming performance which offers faster delivery in a cost effective way. Announcing the plan at a media briefing in Lagos recently, Spectranet’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. David Venn, said Netflix collaborated with Spectranet on the planned deployment based on Spectranet’s track records in providing real 4GLTE broadband services to Nigerians.

He said the new partnership would enable Spectranet’s customers to enjoy best TV experience available in the country, adding that the unlimited experience would also afford them the opportunity to enjoy TV series and films when, how and where they want, with seamless, instant access across TVs, tablets, smartphones, game consoles and computers.

He said: “Since we focus on providing families with an excellent and affordable broadband service, this partnership with Netflix means that our customers will be able to enjoy the very best TV experi-

ence available in Nigeria. We are honoured that Netflix has selected Spectranet for one of its first deployments in Africa and the only one in West Africa.”

Netflix offers a new way of watching TV, giving its members the ability to enjoy TV series and films when, how and where they want with seamless, instant access across TVs, tablets, smartphones, game consoles and computers. Netflix offers a great entertainment experience with many titles available in high-definition with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound and some in Ultra HD 4K and HDR, Venn said. According to him, “With fast.com, a simple-to-use website that helps people see how fast their Internet connection is, whether on mobile or broadband - Netflix offers an independent tool that consumers can use for greater insight and control of their Internet service. People in Nigeria can try Netflix for free for one month by signing up at www.netflix.com.”

Venn further stated that Netflix’s laudable innovations have changed how consumers watch television across the world and that the subscribers’ appetite for its many flavoured fare has been very strong, adding that within the space of one year, Netflix subscription service expanded from 60 countries to a total of over 190 and well over 83 million subscribers, including Nigeria.

Flash

Gionee has launched the latest of its ‘S’ series mobile phones into the Nigerian market, called Gionee S6s, which comes with unique selfie flash that enables customers take a snapshot of sharp and bright selfie photos, even in the darkest part of the night. Announcing the launch of Gionee S6s in Lagos recently, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Gionee Mobile, Mr. Chen Lei said the mobile phone is unique, and comes with 4G LTE capabilities, back fingerprint, 13 mega pixel and 8 mega pixel for its rear and front camera respectively, and 3150mAh battery life that keeps the phone alive for days when heavily used. According to Lei, the device runs on Android 6.0, which makes connectivity and navigation a lot faster and easier.

He said the mobile phone was designed and specially targeted to meet the data and voice needs of all strata of customers who want to identify with modern day mobile technology.

“The Gionee S6s is a global product that meets the global needs of all categories of customers who have passion for device that has a combination of aesthetics and features that enhance productivity,” Lei said.

Head, Marketing, Gionee Nigeria, Mr. Somoyo Habeeb, said the company had to come up with unique features of Gionee S6s, based on customers’

demand, following a global market survey, which include Nigeria that was conducted

by Gionee Mobile.

We understand that people across globe want to take a selfie to express their looks and we came up with the Gionee S6s that has unique selfie flash that makes photo images sharp and bright, even when taken in the dark.

Speaking on the marketing strategies to bring the mobile phone to the doorsteps of Nigerians, Habeeb said the brand was purposefully designed to attract users and that customers would not be able to resist it at first sight and at first usage.

According to him, the pre-order sales of the phone commenced last week and would last for 10 days, before the device would be made available in all phone shops and across all its customer care centres in the country. He said fantastic prizes await those that would take advantage of the pre-order sales.

He explained that Gionee has several customer service centres spread across Nigeria to meet the needs of customers, which include repairs and maintenance of Gionee mobile phone devices.

Launched in 2011 in Nigeria, Gionee, a Chinese based phone manufacturer, has come up with various brands of mobile phones for the Nigerian market that have since gained wide acceptance among Nigerians.

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TICAD 2016 as a New Vista for the Nigeria Economy TheTradeCommissionerandManagingDirectorofJapanExternalTradeOrganisation, Lagos, Taku Miyazaki, on his return from the 2016 Tokyo International Conference on African Development, held in Nairobi, Kenya, told Raheem Akingbolu that the conference touched on deepening Nigeria-Japan bilateral relations With a promise of implementing measures centering on developing quality infrastructure, building resilient health system and laying the foundation for peace and stability, amounting to approximately USD 30 billion under publicprivate partnership in Africa, Japan might have seen the need to invest more infrastructural development of the continent.

According to the Managing Director of Japan External Trade Organisation, JETRO, Lagos, Taku Miyazaki, who spoke to journalists on the various activities that shaped the sixth Tokyo International Conference on Africa’s Development, TICAD IV, in Nairobi, Kenya, Japan has decided to invest for the future of Africa for a period of three years from 2016 to 2018.

Speaking about the relevance of the conference to African nations, the managing director said TICAD remains a unique process that has contributed remarkably to Africa’s development and regional integration agenda.

“It is a forum that promotes synergy with a candid and heart-to-heart communication among Africa, Japan and the international community and values the sense of equality and mutual benefit. We recognise that Africa is a dynamic continent that now hosts most of the fastest growing economies in the world. This has led to an increase the in the number of countries progress from low income to middle income status,” he said.

To Nigerians, including President Muhammadu Buhari, who attended the conference, the declaration holds a great promise for if the promised is kept. The theme of the conference according to Miyazaki was; “Advancing Africa’s Sustainable Development Agenda-TICAD Partnership for Prosperity”. Buhari, according to the JETRO boss particularly called for increased participation of the Japanese government and the private sector in the Nigerian economy.

Miyazaki pointed out that the interest to develop the continent informed the decision by the Japanese government to move the venue of the conference to Africa. Hitherto, Tokyo, the political capital of Japan, had always hosted the event since its inception in 1993.

The latest edition of the event attracted over 35 African countries including Nigeria. Also, chief executives of about 80 major companies from Japan were present.

Agenda for development “The TICAD VI agenda focused on three areas: “Economic transformation through diversification and industrialisation; promoting resilient health systems for quality life and promoting social stability for shared prosperity. To this end, $30 billion has been earmarked for investments in various areas of Africa’s development: Infrastructure, health, industrialisation, water, energy, agriculture, et cetera for three years starting from this year.

The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, who made the announcement while addressing the conference, was quoted as saying that Japan is, by the token, committed to the greatness of Africa’s future.

He said: “With 23 years behind us, TICAD is now on African soil, opening a new chapter in the relationship between Japan and African countries. Throughout the continent, I cannot but think that we are witnessing a `quantum leap’. “Today, Africa has leapfrogged over legacy technologies and aims at cutting-edge quality.

It is little wonder that an increasing number of young people from Japan find Africa intriguing and want to be a part of it,” he added.

Under Economic Diversification and Industrialisation, Abe recalled that one of the priority areas in the Nairobi Declaration of TICAD VI was that “Japan will steadily translate into action in Africa the outcomes of the G7 Ise-Shima Summit”. “Japan will provide training to 1,000 people to promote public awareness for intellectual prosperity in Africa”, the Prime Minister said, adding:

Abe and Buhari

“Japan will promote practical training for youths engaged in the IT industry which is expected to grow in Africa under the collaboration among industrial, public and academic sectors. “Japan will aim by 2020 to have agreements related to investments signed or entered into force in 100 countries and regions and will intensify work towards concluding them with African countries to achieve the goal above”.

Take away from the conference For Nigeria, the conference provided a healthy economic opportunity. Apart from being an

Buhari thanked Japan for responding positively to the request for the rehabilitation of victims of Boko Haram and rebuilding of infrastructure in north eastern Nigeria.

The President, however, said there was still more to do on education, health and other infrastructure to ensure quick and voluntary return of displaced persons to their native communities

appreciable buyer of Japanese made vehicles, the diplomatic relationship between the two countries speaks volumes. But both countries needed to take their relationship a notch higher and explore more new grounds. This was why President Muhammadu Buhari engaged in bilateral talks with Abe. Buhari’s presentation was direct and simple: Nigeria has decimated Boko Haram and would also contain the crisis in the Niger Delta.

Buhari was also reported to have held bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Japan H.E. Shinzo Abe at the sidelines of the event.

Recalling his audience with G7 leaders in Germany, which was attended by the Japanese Prime Minister, Buhari thanked Japan for responding positively to the request for the rehabilitation of victims of Boko Haram and rebuilding of infrastructure in north eastern Nigeria. The President, however, said there was still more to do on education, health and other infrastructure to ensure quick and voluntary return of displaced persons to their native communities. Nigeria’s support to Japan on the United Nations Security Council reform, the President agreed to work with Japan to achieve it, stressing that the case for a permanent seat for Africa on the council was a moral one. He equally expressed Nigeria’s support for Japan in its bid for a UN resolution on the problems in East China and South China as well as the “uncontrolled nuclear tests by North Korea.” “The UN system is sufficient for the resolutions of all disputes and no nation should be above the United Nations. This has to be made absolutely clear and I assure the Prime Minister that I will meet as many leaders as possible at the forthcoming UN General Assembly concerning the issues”, Buhari said.

“We are creating enabling business climate in Nigeria’ While making his submission at the plenary session on “Dialogue with the priave sector” at TICAD, the President told the Japanese business community that Nigeria’s business environment was now healthy for investors. He explained that government had

established a Presidential Enabling Environment Council, PEEC, and Inter-Ministerial Council to eliminate inherent and artificial bottlenecks likely to impede the ease of doing business in Nigeria. Buhari hoped that the efforts would move Nigeria from the rating of World Bank’s business index to 20 places this year and be in the top 100 within the next three years. “One of the most important priorities is to create right and enabling environment for business and investors in Nigeria. Our vision and objective is to make Nigeria one of the most attractive and the easiest places of doing business in the world”, he said. “We believe government has a particular responsibility to create right and attractive environment for businesses and economic activities to thrive. “In furtherance of this vision, we have launched the Presidential Enabling Environment Council, PEEC and Inter-Miniterial Council to oversee the efforts of government to remove various bottlenecks that stifle businesses and economic activities and thereby create economic activities; thereby create the right enabling environment and investment climate in Nigeria.

“The secretariat will include strong private sector representation that would be led by experienced business professionals from the private sector. We are committed to moving up the rating of the world bank’s ease of doing business index 20 places in first year and be in the top 100 within the next three years”.

Buhari said Japan’s story of rapid economic growth, hardwork and advanced technology should encourage Africans to strive harder and solve its development challenges.

“Japan has greatly advanced in technology, particularly in solar power infrastructure to spur growth in medium and small-scale industries.

Because of the advanced use of technology, farming and agriculture can become competitive. Japan has the knowledge, technology and capital to assist African countries to develop and Japanese firms are in a very good position to successfully compete for the development of infrastructure in Nigeria,” he said.

9 T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

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Govt Tasks Companies as Firm Donates ICT Room to Ibadan School Stories by Raheem Akingbolu Oyo State Governor, Mr. Abiola Ajumobi, Principal of Ibadan Boys’ High School, Mr. Anjolaoluwa Jeremiah and other stakeholders in education sector have called on corporate bodies not to shy away from partnering government in creating enabling environment for students in secondary and tertiary institutions.

Speaking at the dedication of the Ibadan Boys’ High School’s Information Communications Technology (ICT) Room, donated by Boff & Company Insurance Brokers Limited, to commemorate the 25th year anniversary of the company in Ibadan recently, Gov. Ajimobi, who was represented by the Director, Planning, Research & Statistics, Oyo State Ministry of Education, Mrs. J. A. Okunade, commended the company and called other companies in Oyo State to follow the step and join government to lift the sector.

“Considering the place of technology, especially ICT, in today’s business and work environment, one cannot but commend the strategic intervention of Boff & Company Insurance Brokers Limited because the ICT room will serve as a grooming platform for students

of IBHS. All over the world, Corporate Social Responsibility has become an avenue being used by private companies to contribute their quota to the development of their immediate environment. While we are appreciating the company, we are calling on other corporate bodies in Oyo State to emulate the good work and join hands with government to build infrastructures in schools and other public institutions,” the governor stated. Also speaking, the principal of the school, Mr. Anjolaoluwa Jeremiah Tunji, appreciated the gesture of the company under the leadership of its chairman, Mr. Babajide Olatunde-Agbeja for deeming it appropriate to donate a well equipped ICT room to the school.

“We therefore sincerely congratulate and felicitate with the company on the occasion of its anniversary. We promise that the purpose that the purpose for which it was given shall be fulfilled and we shall carefully handle the materials for the good of the students,” he said.

In his speech at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Boff & Company Insurance Brokers Limited, Mr. Babajide OlatundeAgbeja, identified the need to support the government in alleviating poverty in the

country and bring smiles to business environments.

According to him, it is imperative for corporate organisations and individuals to embark on how to give back to their immediate operating environments. He argued that corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives has become very necessary, all over the globe, since it was becoming increasingly evident that the government alone does not have the wherewithal to fund the various challenges facing the governed.

He explained that the company’s decision to donate some ICT facilities to the school was part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, aimed at giving back to its operating environments, as it marked its

25 years of doing business in the state. Besides supporting the government in its bid to providing qualitative education in the state’s public schools, the Boff & company boss, stated that the donation of the ICT room would also help in keeping the students of the school abreast of developments on the global ICT stage, while at the same time enriching their knowledge of ICT. He noted that the company over the past few years keyed into the development of the young ones in the society by supporting educational programs, health related projects and sport events.

He said: “It is our belief that in future, our impact will be felt well as the company improves. In the last 25 years,

the company has been able to build a brand that is famous for efficiency, professionalism and service. Our clients have come to anticipate no less.

One content customer will be a suitable salesman for a company than daily advertisement leading to the spending of a huge amount of money.

Processing of claims has been maid totally stress free in Boff & Company,” he stated The former President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), however lamented lack of adequate insurance policies for public buildings, such as government’s schools and hospitals, noting that such policies had become imperative since it frees up government funds that would have been used

to replace or repair damaged assets, affected by natural disaster. He attributed the inability of government to repair some public buildings and infrastructures affected by such disasters to the fact that there were no insurance covers for such properties.

The insurance guru decried the idea of government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies going cap in hand to beg government for repairs of buildings or public utilities, affected by natural disaster, arguing that if such properties had been insured, the repairs would have been carried out by the insurance company, thereby allowing government to expend the scarce funds it would have used on this for other purposes.

Hewlett Packard Responds to Market Dynamism with HP Spectre Promoters of HP brand in the Nigeria market took the unusual path recently when they introduced a new product called ‘HP Spectre’ in a stylish manner. The unveiling, which took place in Lagos was heralded with fashion parade to showcase the sophistication of the brand in line with today’s market.

With the crème de la crème of the Nigerian fashion and design industry present and a runway performance which took several hours, one became a bit confused about what was the highpoint of the night between fashion parade and computer launch.

However, when the product was unveiled, it simmered down on everybody why the organizers had tilted more to fashion parade.

It was to awaken the fashion consciousness because the Spectre, makes a fashion statement.

It appears to be the world’s thinnest laptop at the moment.

Its design is certainly an eyecatcher, drawing interest with its high gloss copper accents – proof that PCs can be an expression of style thanks to magical and luxurious technology.

Nigeria Managing Director, HP Inc, Mrs. Ify Afe, believes the HP Spectre is the perfect illustration of how the company not only reacts to trends, but also embraces change.

She said: “A large part of our business philosophy is to reinvent who we are, what our customers want, how we can provide that and – uniquely – how we anticipate that.

We aspire to create technol-

ogy that makes life better for everyone, everywhere and in the HP Spectre we see innovation at its best – advanced and progressive technology that is geared to optimum productivity and a style and design that defines class.”

The HP Spectre has a total weight of just 1.1kg, a width of less than 1.5cm, and the options of an Intel Core i5 model and an Intel Core i7 model. It features a superb entertainment experience with full HD 13.3 (33.8cm) diagonal edge-to-edge display and Bang &Olufsen sound.

And, just a few of its luxurious looks include high gloss copper accents which reflect a hand-polished, jewelry-like finish and an innovative hidden piston hinge, creating the illusion of a hingeless design to offer an unmatched premium look and feel.

Unveiled as the one of the thinnest laptop the world has ever seen.

The new HP Spectre has an aluminium chassis as thin as an AAA-battery and is powered by Windows 10.

Speaking at the launch, Partner Channel Marketing Manager, Consumer Channel Group, Microsoft Nigeria, Bunmi Bialose, said, “Windows 10 empowers people to do great things.

In a mobile world, Windows 10 moves with you seamlessly and easily across your devices, making interacting with technology as natural as interacting with people. It’s more personal and productive.

It’s safer and more secure.

It’s familiar, easy to use and automatically up to date” she said.

ALL FOR WEST AFRICAN MARKET

L-R: Account Director, Lowe Lintas, Mr. Hycent Nwabuisi; Chief Executive Officer, Spectranet, Mr. David Venn and Head, Marketing, Spectranet 4G LTE, Mr. Mike Ogor, at the launch of First Netflix Server for West Africa, held in Lagos...recently

NISD, DFID Task Southwest OOA Foundation Lifts 300 States on Domestication of Orphans, Plans for Six Geographical Zones VAPP Act A non-governmental organisation, New Initiative for Social Development, NISD in collaboration with the Department for International Development, DFID has task state governors who are yet to domesticate an act prohibiting violence against persons, particularly women to as a matter of urgency do so in order to protect the rights of women and vulnerable in the society.

The NGO during a workshop organised for journalists and representatives from various media houses, both print and electronics across the SouthWest encouraged media practitioners to ensure promotion of Violence Against Persons(Prohibition) Act 2015 as they serve as advocate of the masses.

Participants at this workshop, were drawn from media organisations from Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo and Ekiti.

The resource person was the head of DFID, Lagos office, Mr. David Ukagwu, who was accompanied by his assistant, Mrs. Margret Faboyo.

The Coordinator, NISD, Mr.

Abiodun Oyeleye, advocated for mass production of copies of VAPP Act. He expressed the regret that the 31.1% statistic evidence of Violence Against Women in South West in 2014, pointing out that “If there is violence women and children suffer most.”

Also the organisation used the workshop to assure its readiness to give technical policy direction and track impacts of whatever project that will improve the livelihood of the people especially women.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the 2 day programme, participants observed that the level of importance of the media in the society as well as their role in shaping public perceptions about issues and policies of Government was considered a priority.

The participants further identified ignorance, stigmatisation, lack of family courts, religious concerns and incompetent/untrained public officers as some of the challenges confronting the promotion of violence against persons in Nigeria.

Raheem Akingbolu Respite is underway for at least 300 orphans and vulnerable children in Nigeria as Oladiran Olusegun Adebutu (OOA) Foundation has initiated phased intervention programmes aimed at supporting them with access to quality education, primary healthcare, nutrition, as well as social and economic welfare.

OOA Foundation is a non-profit and non-political organisation based in South West, Nigeria, whose official launch is scheduled for October 22, 2016 at Park Inn by Radisson, Presidential Boulevard, Abeokuta. Ogun State.

According to the Chairman of the Foundation Mr. Oladiran Olusegun Adebutu, the initiative is aimed at giving orphans and vulnerable children a level playing field in life. “Society is often caught up in the cycle of trying to make ends meet and tend to forget the vulnerable in the process. We have decided to step in to make a difference because we believe every child deserves a sense of belonging and a fighting chance to succeed in life despite any

initial setback.”

Chief Executive Officer, OOA, Ms. Kemi SokenuMorris, said the “300 orphans and vulnerable children have been carefully selected from six Local Government Areas in the state and will benefit from the pilot project which will run from June to December; this year. The two-year pilot intervention programme will cover three selected senatorial districts in Ogun State.”

The six select Local Government Areas, according to the CEO, include Odogbolu, Ikenne, Imeko, Yewa South, Abeokuta South and Abeokuta North; while plans are underway to extend the intervention to other geographical zones of the country.

“We have been in operation for two years, especially in the South West Zone of the country, and we believe it is timely to extend the coverage of our humanitarian services to other zones. OOA envisages a dream society where no vulnerable children and women are left behind in poverty and sorrow.”Ms Sokenu-Morris, added.

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INTERVIEW

Agar: NSITF Amendment Bill Goes Beyond Just Compensation for Employees The acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr. Ismail Agaka recently spoke with journalists on the amendment bill seeking to expand the mandate of the organisation, and the status of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme.

Damilola Oyedele presents the excerpts: There is a bill in the National Assembly to amend the NSITF Act, and expand its mandates beyond the Employees Compensation Scheme. What is the latest development in this regard?

Indeed, there is a bill in the National Assembly for the amendment of the NSITF Act to execute other programmes apart from the compensation scheme. Nigeria is currently implementing seven out of nine of social security recommendations: Convention 102 of the International Labour Organisation.

We are not implementing family benefits and unemployment benefits yet, but they are critical.

It would however be pre-emptive to disclose the full details since the public hearing on the bill is yet to hold. The public hearing is an important part because it would afford us the opportunity to hear from critical stakeholders, provide procedures of global best practices and such, so that we can have a much more comprehensive package for employees beyond the compensation scheme.

The Employees Compensation Scheme (ECA) itself has grown over the years and we have made 45,000 registrations from zero in five years. In the last eight months alone, we moved from 40,000 to 45,000. In terms of claim settlements, we have also moved from zero claim settlement and compensation to over N700 million. We also moved from zero beneficiaries to over 6,000 beneficiaries. So the ECA is also on the right path, but the amendment bill before the National Assembly will do much more than the compensation aspect.

But the ECA continues to face several challenges, what are you doing to make it attractive particularly to employers who may just regard it as a financial burden?

Yes, we have challenges, we could have done better, but the main issue seems that we have not enlightened the public enough. But we are taking steps by sustaining aggressive campaigns and enlightening our publics who include trade unions and employers of labour.

We are also talking to the state governments to explain the benefits of the ECA. Admittedly, the current economic situation has limited our reach in terms of collecting contributions from employers.

There are some employers that have had to close shop amongst those that were registered while those that have not closed shop; have had to reduce their workforce drastically. All of these are factors that are inhibiting the expansion of the scheme. There is no doubt that the economic recession has really hit some of the critical sector of the economy very hard. For instance, some have been forced to reduce staff while some had to reduce staff remunerations. Contribution is a function of the payroll of organisations; therefore, the reduction of staff or their salaries will affect the amount of contribution into the scheme directly.

What are you doing to ensure the buy-in of state governments?

Bauchi state is already registered on the scheme and will soon begin contributing.

The process of its contribution is already in the works and we expect the details to be finalised very soon. We have met with the Lagos State government officials and are now in the process of getting them registered on the scheme. The management is talking with Edo and Zamfara states with a view to getting them on board soon. We have received invitation from many states to make presentations to them on the scheme.

We are present in all the states with 67 offices nationwide: 11 regional offices, 55 branch offices and the headquarters. While it is desirable to be present in all the 774 local

Agar

councils in the country, the scheme is still too young to be present in all the councils.

Any rush to increase our presence in every local council will mean we would not build reserve. A social security programme cannot be run without building a very robust reserve.

We intend to expand our presence in all the states of the federation but we have to be strategic in doing so.

What processes do employers have to comply with, in times of workplace accidents?

If the accident occurs in the workplace, the employer owes the employee the duty of care by offering e at least first aid treatment. It is after the stabilisation of the worker that the office reports to the NSITF and then the process begin. Whatever medical expenses that might have been incurred prior to reporting to the NSITF, would be refunded. If there is any need for the employee to obtain further rehabilitation as the case may be, it is the responsibility of the NSITF. But the first point is that the employer must be registered on the scheme and also the accident must also be reported to the Fund through a laid down procedure.

Are victims of air crash covered under the scheme?

First, if the employer of such a victim of

plane crash is registered, the survivor of such a person would be compensated. Secondly, the journey must be in the course of carrying out official duty. If it is confirmed that it was an official trip in the course of work, then the next of kin or the dependants of the deceased employee is covered. Indeed, many such claims have been processed by the NSITF. The Act recognises up to four children. We also have a formula to determine entitlements depending on circumstances of the accident. When that is computed it is then paid regularly to the beneficiary, in the case of the breadwinner being deceased. We have a family whose breadwinner died and after the computation of the entitlements, we are now paying up to N1.3million monthly to the beneficiaries. That represents 90 per cent of the last income of the deceased breadwinner.

Can employees register by themselves?

There is no provision for self-registration by any employee . Every worker willing to register must come through an employer because the scheme is employers’ obligation. Everybody is exposed to one form of occupational hazards or the other in the workplace. Employers have to realise that boosting the morale of their workers is beyond just increasing salaries and allowances.

This line of thinking is what that influ-

enced the various types of benefit scheme and mortgage facilities to increase workers productivity. Higher bottom-line means more money coming into the company. It will also lead to better industrial climate in the workplace. A harmonious industrial relation in the country would lead to national cohesion.

The burden of care is transferred to the NSITF for an employer in case of any workplace accident, injury, disability or occupational disease.

The scheme helps employers overcome unanticipated expenditure especially if such happens when the organisation is not financial strong enough for such expenses.

How do organisation address this kind of development during cash flow challenge?

Such development could lead to employees seeing their employers as wicked and uncaring regardless of challenges such employer may be going through.

Will the NSITF review its contribution rate?

We are in the process of reviewing our rate of contribution to reflect the risk exposure of organisation. While there is risk rating, there would also be merit rating. Merit rating is reviewing downwards the contribution of those that are regular in their contributions and are not in the habit of filling claims for compensation periodically.

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

How to Boost Executives’Leadership Quotient in a Recession In this interview, world renowned academic, Professor Nigel Nicholson of the London Business School, speaks on how, in partnership with These Executive Minds (TEXEM), they are boosting Nigerian executives’ Leadership quotient in a recession. Excerpts: Tell us about TEXEM? These Executive Minds (TEXEM) pride themselves on their ability to customise programmes for their clients and TEXEM have a deep understanding of Africa. Also, TEXEM and its world class faculty partners have a very good grasp of contextual realities of Africa vis-à-vis fragile institutions, limited infrastructure and the huge size of government.

Tell us about the programme Strategic Leadership Risk Management and Effective Governance coming up on the 27th of October 2016 at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s residence, Lagos.

Decision makers are in positions of huge uncertainty and vulnerability, which is underscored by the deepening economic crisis, stiff competitive landscape and haphazard trends in Government /Governance in recent times.

There is an urgent need for senior executives to take a strategic approach to combating the myriad of challenges that they face.

Thus, the Executive Master Class would change their cognitive orientation in the areas of strategic leadership, enterprise risk management and effective governance so as to build economic sustainability in these times of recession and beyond. The themes that would be covered during this programme include: 1.Board Leadership in Turbulent Times: The board as a secure base. 2. Overcoming Board Blind spots and developing a meaningful role.

3. New Trends in Strategic Thinking: Probe, Sense and React/Internal competitions / Focus Responses. 4. Preparing boards for the

Nigel Nicholson

unavoidable unanticipated occurrences and crisis that they may face. The programme is highly relevant to organisations based in emerging countries. The relevance of past programmes organised by TEXEM has been exemplified by 60-70per cent of TEXEM’s delegates being repeat participants. For more information, please visit www.texem.co.uk What skillsets are a must for leaders of organisations in order to survive in a tough economic climate?

They need both emotional and intellectual skills in order to be agile and adaptable, and at the same time to maintain cohesion and purpose.

This requires intellect, emotional intelligence, communication and teambuilding skills, a calm nature, energy, and strong values.

How can a business thrive in spite of turbulent economic times?

Family businesses often do best at such times, because they take a long term view. You need to be fast on your feet day to day, but to build and maintain a strong culture and long term relationships that will make you sustainable.

It depends on your business type. Growth may come from constant innovation; it may come from exploring new markets or out-competing others. Quality rather than price is the key to sustainable growth.

What are leadership skills required to navigating headwinds in challenging economic times?

You need moral courage, vision and the ability to “decentre” – understand the point of view of others. You need courage to empower people, and vision that comes from your ability to see the wider landscape of change. Decentring helps you take the right path to empowering individuals.

How should leaders measure growth?

That also depends. Sales growth is the simplest, but you need to consider more broadly the concept of added value. Use multiple indicators but don’t fixate on the short term.

How can negative change be managed to produce positive results in organisations?

If you face downsizing it best not to be democratic in sharing the pain all round. It is necessary How do leaders develop innovation for their to take this as an opportunity to re-calibrate priorities and invest selectively in what will organisations?

It comes from a culture that supports an in- underpin tomorrow’s success. novative mind-set – fail fast, fail early; don’t punish mistakes; create a high communications How can leaders prepare for uncertainty? learning environment. You also need to keep Uncertainty is a constant in business, and moving people around enough to expose them increasing. Sorry to repeat myself but you need to new ideas – don’t let people get too settled people to believe the constancy and security of in groups. Create virtual spaces and processes your culture, values, purpose and commitment that allow people to post and modify ideas. to a way of doing business.

Why is this TEXEM programme coming up at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s residence on the 27th of October important for Nigerian Executives?

This Executive Masterclass will give people an opportunity to understand some fundamental principles, hear about inspiring examples, learn What are leadership strategies for consistent from each other, and have their own questions discussed directly. growth?

What should leaders in business do consistently to maintain a stable business?

Stability comes from purpose and flexibility.

Don’t get stuck with rigid structures and processes. Help people do their best work and learn new skills.

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DEVELOPMENT

IDEP: Joint Global Action to Eradicate Poverty Abimbola Akosile examines various calls by concerned stakeholders for a poverty-free world, as Nigeria and others marked the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17 Vital Theme The theme of the 2016 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP) is ‘Moving from humiliation and exclusion to participation: Ending poverty in all its forms’; a goal which all concerned nations are expected to work towards.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere” explicitly recognises that poverty results not from the lack of just one thing but from many different interrelated factors that affect the lives of people living in poverty.

This means all citizens and stakeholders must go beyond seeing poverty merely as the lack of income or what is necessary for material well-being - such as food, housing, land, and other assets - in order to fully understand poverty in its multiple dimensions. The theme this year - selected in consultation with activists, civil society and non-governmental organisations highlights how important it is to recognise and address the humiliation and exclusion endured by many people living in poverty.

Crucial Goal Goal 1 of the new 17 global Sustainable Development Goals is as clear as daylight. The first and arguably most important goal of SDGs – adopted by more than 190 members of the United Nations in September 2015 – seeks to end poverty in all its forms everywhere between now and 2030, the deadline year of realisation. Nigeria, which adopted the global goals alongside the other UN member-nations, is also making strenuous moves to address the issue of poverty in a country of 170 million citizens, although that is proving difficult to achieve in an ailing economy, which is reeling from economic recession, persistent corruption, inadequate food production, years of selfish leadership, glaring income and gender inequality and fallout of insurgency.

That is not to say the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari is not trying to eradicate poverty, but the general feeling is that poverty cannot be eradicated in Nigeria, under the current circumstances. Rather, the focus appears to be on minimising poverty to a bearable and manageable level. It remains if this will fit into the targets of the SDGs. Ending Exclusion According to the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, poverty is both a cause and consequence of marginalisation and social exclusion, stressing that to fulfil the promise of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind, “we must address the humiliation and exclusion of people living in poverty.”

In his message to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the SecretaryGeneral said implementation of the 2030 Agenda is reaching the end of its first year, and with its 17 SDGs, it embodies a universal vision for peace, prosperity and dignity for all people on a healthy planet. Achieving this objective is inconceivable without executing the mandate of SDG 1, which aims to end poverty in all its forms, he explained, stressing that some one billion people still live in extreme poverty and more than 800 million endure hunger and malnutrition. Ban noted that “humiliation and exclusion are powerful drivers of social unrest and, in extreme cases, the violent extremism that is troubling so many parts of our world.

But, in most instances, people living in poverty respond to these societal ills with stoic resilience as they work to escape the degrading reality of their daily lives. We must break down the walls of poverty and exclusion that plague so many people in every region of the world”.

The UN scribe said the theme for the IDEP can be achieved by building inclusive societies and promoting the involvement of people in global efforts. He said it is the duty of all Governments and societies to address socio-economic inequalities and facilitate the engagement of all people living in extreme poverty so they can help themselves, their families and their communities to build a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous future for all.

No to poverty!!!

Beyond Money In her message, on the Day, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Irina Bokova, said, “poverty is about money, but never just about money,” as underlined by the agency’s 2016 World Social Science Report. Better understanding of the relationships between income and other dimensions of poverty can help to empower people living in poverty as agents of change, she added.

The UNESCO chief said the goal to end poverty in all its forms by 2030 is tough but achievable. “The key to success rests on political determination, driven by solid knowledge about the causes, mechanisms and consequences of poverty,” Ms. Bokova stated.

Indeed, eradicating poverty demands renewed policy approaches and more comprehensive and sophisticated knowledge. Beyond traditional mechanisms of poverty reduction, poverty can be only solved by tackling inequalities. “So long as injustice and exploitation are embedded in economic, social and cultural systems, poverty

Food for All

Nigeria and the rest of the world celebrated World Food Day on October 16, a day set aside by the United Nations to create awareness in the global fight against hunger, with ‘Climate is changing, Food and Agriculture must too’ as the 2016 theme. Nigeria, according to the Global Food Security Index is presently ranked 80 out of 105 surveyed countries in terms of affordability, availability and quality of food. The country spends about $22 billion annually importing food items such as rice, wheat, fish, etc. and is still a net importer of food, although agriculture contributed 22 per cent of GDP in 2014/2015, while farming provides livelihoods for 60 per cent of the population.

The Food Agricultural Organisation

will continue to devastate the lives of millions of women and men,” she said.

Bokova stressed that UNESCO stands for social justice within societies, because ending poverty is not just helping the poor, but also giving everyone a chance to live with dignity.

Role of Agric In a new report the United Nations agriculture agency has noted that rapid transformation of farming and food systems to cope with a warmer world, such as adopting climate-smart practices, particularly to curb greenhouse gas emissions, is critical for hunger and poverty reduction.

While presenting The State of Food and Agriculture 2016 report at the agency’s headquarters in Rome, Italy, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), José Graziano da Silva said “There is no doubt climate change affects food security.”

“What climate change does is to bring back uncertainties from the time we were all hunter gatherers. We cannot assure any more that we will have the harvest we have planted,” he

added. FAO warned that a ‘business as usual’ approach could put millions more people at risk of hunger, than in a future without climate change. Most affected would be populations in poor areas in sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia, especially those who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. Future food security in many countries will worsen if no action is taken today, the report noted.

Without action, agriculture will continue to be a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. But by adopting climate-smart practices and increasing the capacity of soils and forests to sequester carbon, emissions can be reduced while stepping up food production to feed the world’s growing population, the report says. The report provides evidence that adoption of climate-smart practices, such as the use of nitrogen-efficient and heat-tolerant crop varieties, zero-tillage and integrated soil fertility management would boost productivity and farmers’ incomes. Widespread adoption of nitrogen-efficient practices alone would reduce the number of people at risk of undernourishment by more than 100 million, the report estimates.

It also identifies avenues to lower emission intensity from agriculture. Water-conserving alternatives to the flooding of rice paddies can slash methane emissions by 45 per cent, while emissions from the livestock sector can be reduced by up to 41 per cent through the adoption of more efficient practices.

“2016 should be about putting commitments into action,” urged da Silva, noting the international community last year agreed to the SDGs and the Paris Agreement on climate change, which is expect to come into force early next month.

Agriculture will be high on the agenda at the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), known by the shorthand COP 22, in Morocco starting on 7 November.

Helping smallholders adapt to climate change risks is critical for global poverty reduction and food security. Close attention should be paid to removing obstacles they may face and fostering an enabling environment for individual, joint and collective action, according to the report.

FAO urged policy makers to identify and remove such barriers. These obstacles can include input subsidies that promote unsustainable farming practices, poorly aligned incentives and inadequate access to markets, credit, extension services and social protection programmes, and often disadvantage women, who make up to 43 per cent of the agricultural labour force.

RANDOM THOTS (FAO) has called on countries to address food and agriculture in their climate action plans and invest more in rural development, in order to achieve zero hunger globally. Although Nigeria celebrated meeting the hunger target before the 2015 deadline of the UN Millennium Development Goals, millions still go to bed hungry. To tackle this, government at all levels must ensure food security by making land available for modern agriculture, luring youths back to the farms through incentives and infrastructure; irrigation farming, mechanisation and by investing more funds in interestfree agricultural loans to farmers and entrepreneurs.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD)

must implement the new Agriculture Promotion Policy (2016-2020) tagged, ‘The Green Alternative,’ which is designed to address Nigeria’s food security challenges and position the country as a net food exporter. Experts have called for major public investments in agriculture to encourage people to produce enough food for local consumption and export. Beyond ban on importation of food products, government must grow the agriculture subsector, with improved seeds and varieties from research institutions also made available to farmers. Food for all should be the norm, rather than the exception. A worthwhile goal...

Abimbola Akosile

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEvELOpmENT/ISSUESINBOx

A jury box

Can Jury System Improve Corruption Trials, Justice in Nigeria?

Some advanced countries like the United States and the UK often use jury panels of 12 carefullyselected citizens to determine criminal cases, where the verdict or outcome also helps to minimise appeals. Although Nigeria, which adopted bench trials, is yet to fully embrace such a practice, do you think the use of juries can help speed up criminal and corruption trials, reduce bias and corrupt inducement of judges, and enhance administration of justice in this country?

Abimbola Akosile * Yes, the jury system is quite effective in advanced countries, so why not in Nigeria? It will greatly improve trial and justice in Nigeria, if well implemented.

- Miss Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos State * Yes, the jury can help improve corruption trials in any system, depending on who is involved.

President Buhari’s attempt to restore sanity in Nigeria is commendable, but his actions must not be seen to be on an agenda. The arrest and trial of judges is totally not new, and should be commended if only his intentions and actions are genuine.

- Mr. Okechukwu Ikonne, Ogbor, Oke-Ovoro, Mbaise, Imo State * We are not capable of holding a system like that. One guy will buy the jury in a jiffy; in fact, it will become a case of the highest bidder gets justice. We are a peculiar society.

- Mrs. Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare, Ibadan, Oyo State * Carefully-selected citizens even with the Bench trials can truly determine criminal cases where verdict will reduce appeals and rigmarolling in and out of the courts. Juries will speed up criminal and corruption trials, reduce bias, corrupt inducement of judges and enhance administration of justice in Nigeria. PMB is fighting corruption headlong, firmly and fairly, irrespective of whose ox is gored at this apt time.

No to subversion but compromising judicature must be punished promptly.

- Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos State * The jury system will definitely reduce the inducement of judges and positively speed up trials.

- Mr. Albert Odulate, Abuja * What the Department of State Security (DSS) did to some judges is a welcome action over corruption intake in delivering judgment. It will be a lesson to the judges that collect bribe

THE FEEDBACK Yes, jury system can improve corruption trials:

6

No, jury system cannot:

1

Others:

7

Radical tip:

It will encourage corruption!

Total no of respondents:

14

Male: 10

10

Female:

4

Highest location:

Lagos (6)

to deliver fair judgments. Enough is enough!

Judiciary is no longer the last hope of the common man because of the corruption in their system.

We must support PMB to fight corruption in Nigeria, which has become a laughing stock in the eyes of the international community. It is time we stop it.

- Mrs. Ijeoma Nnorom, Lagos State * Good idea....but, trust my Nigerian folks, they will corrupt it by preparing ‘arrangee’ jury.

Let’s rather change our judicial system from the accused being the one to prove innocence to accuser to prove the guilt.

- Mr. Utibe Uko, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State * The jury system is good and will curb the corrupt tendencies of judges if adopted and practiced in Nigeria’s law courts. But this will only work if the members of the selected jury and their families are adequately protected by the law from undue influence, intimidation and pressure from corrupt accused persons and their cronies, and if the Whistleblowers Protection Bill which is pending at the National Assembly is passed speedily and given presidential assent to become a law. No one will want to become a jury member or a prosecution witness if their lives or that of the members of their families

are in danger from unscrupulous elements in a trial.

- Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State * We should not be in a hurry to borrow what happens in other advanced countries; rather, we should improve gradually and enforce our laws.

- Mr. Feyi Akeeb Kareem, CMF & CDHR, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State * Yes, it can. It is working in the USA, UK, Japan, India, Indonesia, Italy, Colombia e.t.c. with the following culprits readily coming to mind: Akil Mochtar, Franco Javier Boron, Ricardo Rodriguez, Jack T Camp, Giancarlo Giusti e.t.c. The judge must listen to the jury and be above suspicion. Credibility of the judicial system is grossly dependent on the judges and their integrity, impartiality and intellectual honesty. Those found culpable must be punished appropriately.

- Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State * I see it here as a hope, because sectionalism, tribalism, religion and above all corruption have all eaten deeply into our system. Let us give jury system a trial but I wonder if they will come from heaven.

- Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna State * A jury system will only encourage corruption in Nigeria because jurors will be easier and cheaper to compromise than judges, lawyers or law enforcement agents. Nepotism and tribal sentiments would certainly play roles here as well. A jury system would only show that the ordinary citizens are no different from the judges, lawyers and law officers they produce. Plea bargaining is still our best alternative presently.

Its pros for Nigeria far outweigh its cons.

- Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State * The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.

- Mr. Ezenwa Chika, Ikeja, Lagos * I believe what the DSS did to the judges is

a welcome development because they (judges) chewed more than they could swallow by collecting bribe to deliver judgment. Our judiciary has become ‘the highest bidder gets justice’, and it is no longer the last hope of the common man. The action of the DSS is long overdue for judges who are putting Nigeria to shame.

We must support PMB to fight corruption to a standstill before we can move forward.

Corruption in Nigeria is something we need to eradicate now to ensure a better tomorrow.

- Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State

Next Week: How Can Nigeria Conquer Hunger, Ensure Food Security?

As the World Food Day was celebrated around the globe recently, the issue of adequate food for everyone again came to the fore of development planning among nations. Although the current administration in Nigeria has placed some emphasis on agriculture as a viable alternative to oil revenue, millions of citizens still go to bed hungry every night due to inadequate food production, mounting poverty and a harsh economy. To conquer hunger and ensure food security in Nigeria, what can the government and other relevant stakeholders do? please make your response direct, short and simple, and state your full name, title, organisation, and location. Responses should be sent between today (Oct 20 & monday, Oct 24) 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, October 27

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DEVELOPMENT

Flotsam and water hyacinth after the rains in Apapa, Lagos...recently

ABIMBOLA AKOSILE

FG Harps on Sound Fiscal Policies to Address Economic Recession Abimbola Akosile In a bid to address the current economic recession, the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning has underlined the need to develop sound and effective fiscal policies to take Nigeria out of the economic downturn.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Fatima Mede, explained that the nation’s fiscal policies must as a matter of urgency develop fiscal policies to ensure that expenditure is linked with sound strategies for maximum

positive impact on the common man in the street and the nation’s economy at large.

The Permanent Secretary made the call during the opening ceremony of a threeday workshop on strategic planning, plan formulation and effective linkage to the budgeting process organised by the Centre for Management Development (CMD) in Lagos.

She said the country is facing challenging economic times as commodity prices, especially oil prices are declining, which has necessitated the urgent need for Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs)

to prepare their medium term sector strategy (MTSS) documents to guide allocation of the scarce resources available for implementation of capital projects to ensure value for money on government spending.

According to her, “Through this process, we will set the basis and fundamental parameters for effective monitoring and evaluation of projects and programmes of MDAs.” Mede, who was represented by the Director of Administration, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Chris Ezeilo, said the workshop will

provide an opportunity for experience sharing, especially in the area of strategic planning and effective linkage to the budgeting process.

According to her, the event brings together budget, planning, research and statistics officers responsible for the preparation of sector strategies, plans and budgets in the federal ministries to deliberate on the requirements for ensuring successful implementation of strategic plans.

She noted that the sessions to be discussed have been carefully selected to signal the sustained commitment of

the Buhari-led administration to push for the realisation of the objective of effective plan formulation and implementation for enhanced service delivery.

Also speaking at the event, the Director General, CMD, Dr. Kabir Usman, said at the end of the workshop, participants will be fully equipped to use strategic planning techniques for goal achievement, identify impelling and impeding forces in strategic planning, produce functional strategic plan and analyse the importance of the MTSS and its critical role in the Medium Term Expenditure

Framework (MTEF) process.

He added that participants will also have the knowledge to highlight the role of result-based monitoring and evaluation in the achievement of the agenda and create an intelligent linkage between strategic plans, policies and budgeting process.

“Our teaching and learning methodology remains experiential and I hope you will seize this opportunity to establish new relationships with colleagues and other people who may come your way during the workshop,” he said.

National Sugar Devt Council Targets 117,000 Jobs by 2023 Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has unveiled its master plan to create about 117,000 jobs after the end of its 10-year plan of the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) by 2023.

Acting Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr. Samuel Ali Kwabe disclosed this plan in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital during a recent Sugar sensitisation workshop with the theme ‘Sustaining the gains of NSMP for National Self-Sufficiency in Local Sugar

Production’.

He said: “It will also substantially reduce importation of sugar to conserve the huge foreign exchange spent on imports annually; generate about 411MW of electricity; and create about 117,000 jobs etc.”

Kwabe noted that the master plan had also been adopted by the Federal Government “as a Road Map” to national self-sufficiency in sugar.

According to him, the road map is meant to provide the enabling environment and support to investment initiatives in

employment generation, sugar cane cultivation and sugar factory processing operations.

The Executive Secretary, who was represented by Director Policy Planning Research and Statistics (PPRS), Mr. Kolawole Hezekiah, stated that the NSMP commenced in January 2013 “and it is expected that by the end of the 10-year plan period, Nigeria would have built up the industrial capacity required to among other benefits, produce about 1.79m metric tonnes of sugar and 161.2 litres of ethanol.”

He said all hands must be on

deck to consolidate the modest gains already recorded and ensure successful implementation of the 10-year plan to the very end.

“It is therefore, my humble appeal that states government and local communities would give adequate support to facilitate the release of identified land for commercial sugar projects in their domain”, he added.

However, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Alhaji Aminu Aliyu Bisala said the time to organise the workshop,

“which seeks to mobilise and enlighten the stakeholders on the abundant opportunities in the Nigerian sugar sector for investment purposes cannot be more opportune than now.”

He further stressed that “the need to create awareness about the potentials that exist for investors in the sugar sub sector is also critical particularly at this time of our national life when government is confronted frontally by the challenges of unemployment with the attendant social vices; low value of Naira in relation to other world major currencies with the

balance of payment problems; poverty and low standard of living; etc. The investment opportunities and versatility of the nation’s sugar sub-sector cannot be over-emphasised.”

Bisala, who was equally represented by Airiohuodion Moses, advised both the industrial players and the regulatory agency- NSDC “to be consistent and focused in playing their different roles in order to ensure that Nigeria achieves self-sufficiency in her local sugar requirement at the end of the 10-year plan period.”

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Our laws contain provisions for plea bargaining. It is also not a trade off as claimed by some. The objective is to have everybody in court. A plea bargain does not mean that there should be no prosecution. It is not a deal between the government and rich men. It is in the law, and should not be polluted in the interest of the society” - EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGAINST CORRUPTION (PACAC), PROF. BOLAJI OWASANOYE, SPEAKING AT A MEDIA BRIEFING IN ABUJA Erosion: Lawmaker Seeks Urgent Intervention for Esa-Oke Roads Threatens legal action against Ibadan Disco Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

WaterAid Renews Call for Improved Access to Water, Sanitation, Hygiene Abimbola Akosile WaterAid has launched a new campaign for health professionals, calling on them to take action to call for improvements to water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities around the world.

The international organisation, which seeks a world where everyone has access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, works in 37 countries across Africa, Asia, Central America and the Pacific Region to transform lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in some of the world’s poorest communities.

In a release issued in Abuja by WaterAid Nigeria Communications & Campaigns Manager, Oluseyi Abdulmalik, the organisation noted that some 38 per cent of hospitals and clinics in low- and middle-income countries around the world do not have regular access to water; even more do not have basic, private toilets and a way to wash hands with soap. In subSaharan Africa, some 42 per cent of healthcare facilities do not have access to water, it added.

According to a World Health Organisation report “Water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities: status in low and middle income countries and way forward”, almost a third (29 per cent) of hospitals and clinics in Nigeria do not have access to clean water and the same percentage do not have safe toilets. The report also shows that one in six (16 per cent) do not have anywhere to wash hands with soap.

The statement also noted that a lack of water and sanitation, combined with poor hygiene, also contributes to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics as they are used to stand in for soap and water in infection prevention, resulting in higher levels of anti-microbial resistance.

WaterAid Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Michael Ojo, said: “Clean, plentiful water, good sanitation and good hygiene including handwashing with soap are absolutely essential to effective healthcare. Yet almost a third of

Clean environment,crucial for development, health hospitals and clinics in Nigeria are without even rudimentary access to water. It is unacceptable that patients and medical workers are exposed to such risk of infection.

“The ability to keep a hospital or clinic clean is such a fundamental basic requirement of health care and within the Sustainable Development Goal 6 commitment to ensuring everyone has access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030, we want to see healthcare facilities prioritised – no new hospitals or clinics should be built without water and sanitation.

“There must be individual and collective responsibility for ensuring hygienic conditions in health centres. We need everyone involved in leading and shaping health services to work together to ensure that the most vulnerable members of society are protected.”

Hygiene, and in particular handwashing, are

frequently overlooked, and yet they make a huge difference to the health and wellbeing of the global population. Out of all water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions, hygiene promotion has proven to be particularly effective in reducing mortality and morbidity from child diarrhoea, and has been identified as the most cost-effective disease control intervention Handwashing is also critical for maximising the health benefits of investments in water supply and sanitation infrastructure and combating many health risks. “As the next World Health Assembly approaches in May 2017, WaterAid is calling for more political priority and more funding to be devoted to this critical building block for health to ensure no health centre is forced to make do without, and we are pleased to see health professionals from around the world joining our call”, the release added.

The lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade federal constituency of Osun state, Hon. Oluwole Oke has called on the Federal Ministries of Power, Works and Housing and Environment to take urgent steps to reconstruct the Esa-OkeEsa-Odo roads, which are being threatened by erosion.

The urgent intervention, Oke noted, is necessary as Esa-Oke is a major transit route to other towns around the region and to the Northern parts of the country.

Oke, in a motion brought before the House recently, added that Esa-Oke and its neighbouring communities already have significant portions of their land being washed away by erosion, a development which is negatively impacting the environment and ecology of the affected communities, including the suitability of the soil for farming purposes.

“This motion observes that as a result of the magnitude of environmental and economic damage so far suffered by the affected communities, the matter can no longer be adequately tackled by the Osun State Government;” “Concerned that if urgent steps are not taken to stem the negative tide, entire communities may be wiped out and an important access road will be completely destroyed,” he said.

Adopting the prayers of the motion, the House mandated its Committees on Works and Environment and Habitat to ensure the inclusion of the projects in the 2017 budget.

Speaking with THISDAY, Oke lauded the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for ensuring temporary management of the roads through the Rural Roads Mobilising Project, under a World Bank facility. “…but this can only ameliorate the situation for a while; once the rains start, the roads become impassable. Truth is the state government cannot afford to fix it, hence the appeal to the Federal Government,” he said.

The lawmaker, who is also House Committee Chairman on Public Procurement, noted that the community possesses significant mineral deposits, and agricultural potentials which cannot be harnessed due to the state of the roads.

In another development, Oke has threatened legal action against the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (Ibadan DISCO) for disconnecting Esa Oke, for over two months, on the grounds that youths of the community protested against its activities.

Oke accused the electricity company officials of extortion and allegedly stealing five transformers belonging to the community, two of which he had donated.

“They are fond of giving meters without receipts, and giving shops N3,000 monthly bills without receipts. These led to the protests.

There is a tertiary institution in the town and so the students rent houses but they are moving away because of the disconnection. Artisans cannot work, businesses are being affected” he added.

The lawmaker threatened to take legal action against the electricity distribution company if electricity is not restored to the town in seven days.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Maxy Specialty Centre: Expanding the Frontiers of Healthcare

In an industry awash with stories of what has gone wrong and what is not working, the establishment of Maxy Super-Specialty Centre, a one-stop facility for different specialist care, is opening a new vista for Nigeria’s health sector. Martins Ifijeh writes

L-R: Founder, Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria, Prof. Olu Akinyanju; Commissioner for Health, Delta State, Dr. Nicholas Azinge; Group Managing Director, Shell Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris and CEO, Reddington Healthcare Group, Dr. Yemi Onabowale, during the commissioning of Maxy Super-Specialty Centre in Lagos ...recently

W

hile it is tempting to blame the lack of funding by government and the dearth of healthcare facilities as the major draw backs of Nigeria’s healthcare system, there are select and passionate members of the society who think supporting the citizens with healthcare provision as it applies in advanced countries like the United States, United Kingdom and India will help boost the country’s healthcare system and reduce the avoidable deaths occasioned by poor healthcare.

One of such patriots is the Chief Executive Officer of Reddington Healthcare Group, Dr. Yemi Onabowale, whose various health facilities have pioneered a number of firsts in the healthcare industry of the country ranging from performing the first closure of a hole in the heart by a non surgical procedure in Nigeria, the first in the country to attain the Cohsasa quality improvement and certification in Nigeria, among others.

Despite its achievements and support to improving the healthcare system of the country, its hunger to see a perfect society where all health needs are attended to irrespective of the dearth of specialists and equipments in the country tackling specific health issues, has again driven the healthcare champions to establish a multi-specialist centre, called the Maxy Super-Specialty Centre in Lagos.

The Centre is a one-stop specialty centre for dental care, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) treatment, eye treatment, endoscopy, physiotherapy, EEG, Sleep studios, dialysis, audiology, speech therapy, sleep management, among others.

Speaking during the inauguration of the multi specialist centre earlier in the week, the Group Managing Director, Shell Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, declared that the newly inaugurated Maxy Super-Specialty Centre, will greatly reduce medical tourism in the country.

He said with its state-of-the-art facilities and the quality services rendered by Reddington Hospital, many Nigerians needing specialist healthcare services would have no need travelling abroad for treatment, noting that the centre boasts of highly trained professionals and all the requirements of a standard health facility.

Speaking at the event, which also marked the 10th year anniversary of Reddington Healthcare Group, Okunbor said the antecedents of the hospital speaks volume of what to expect in the super-specialist centre, adding that since Shell Nigeria enlisted Reddington Hospital as its healthcare provider, its staff and the oil firm in general have been happy and comfortable.

He said: “A few years ago, we struggled to provide healthcare services in house for our people, but one day we all sat down to deliberate on this. At that time I was not the GMD, but I was privileged to be among those who made decisions on which health facility to enlist. Since Reddington came on board we have been very happy because of their level of quality and professionalism. That is why when I was invited to come here, I did everything possible to come irrespective of the inconveniences,” he added.

Lending his voice, the Commissioner for Health, Delta State, Dr. Nicholas Azinge said for any healthcare provider to put up such a world class facility like the one in the centre, despite the economic recession presently experienced, speaks volume of the team’s passion to offer service.

Azinge, who said the passion for an excellent healthcare by Onabowale dates back to when they both left medical school some 30 years ago, adding that while others were going abroad to seek greener pastures, the CEO had a vision to bring world class healthcare to Nigerians.

“The fruit of that passion is what we are seeing here today. A world class Reddington Hospital that has had firsts in several areas, and now a

world class super-specialty centre,” he noted.

He also emphasised the need for preventive care, adding that, “every Nigerian need to collectively push for preventive care, as this is much more effective. For instance, just very few people know that once you are 50 years and above, you are supposed to visit an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist at least once every five years. We also need to visit an eye specialist, at least once a year. Same with most of the other specialties. Fortunately now, these are parts of what the Maxy Super-Specialty Centre offers Nigerians,” he said.

He said recently, the Delta State Government has discussed with Reddington Hospital management to see to it that the same facility was replicated in the state. “After which, we hope that this will also be replicated in the six geopolitical zones of the country,” he adds.

On his part, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, commended Onabowale and his team for being dependable partners to the government, adding that government cannot do the job of providing adequate healthcare alone.

“Private Public Partnership is the way to go. I have personally seen the various health facilities of Reddington Hospital, and I will say the team has done well in the provision of quality health services to the people,” he noted Idris, however noted that, despite the clamour for PPP, governments in the tertiary, secondary and primary arm were not doing much in terms of healthcare funding. “Before Ebola came, I could remember I once went to my then boss to request that I be given half a billion naira to fund healthcare. He told me that was not possible. But when Ebola came, I was in my office when money came, I didn’t have to go ask for it.”

He advised governments not to wait until there was outbreak before healthcare was funded adequately.

On his part, Onabowale said the birthing of

the facility was a careful, deliberate and passionate approach towards providing a one-stop health specialty plus a world class facility and professionals for the service of mankind.

He said Maxy Super-Specialty Centre was the first major centre in the country where all major specialties were brought together under one roof.

“The ophthalmology section of the centre has innovative facilities which we are the first to bring into the country. Same with the dentistry, the ENT, among others.

“Reddington, as an hospital has pioneered a lot of achievements in this country, among which is the fact that we were the first hospital to do a closure of a hole in the heart by a non surgical procedure. The three-year-old patient was to be carried to India, but we decided to do it for free,” he adds.

According to the Medical Director of the facility, Dr. Misbah Oleolo, the multidisciplinary care centre was a world class and integrative facility with premium for integrity, adding that during the putting together of the facility, a lot of efforts went into procuring new, innovative and up-to-date equipments.

“We also made sure we recruited the best hands, most of which were leaders and stars in their various carriers abroad.” Also, the Group Medical Director, Reddington Healthcare Group, Dr. Olutunde Lalude said with the country’s healthcare problems including patient safety, lack of quality facilities, dearth of man power and medical technology, all affecting healthcare provision, the Maxy Super-Specialty will aim to close that gap in the country.

He said in the UK, several millions of pounds were spent on healthcare for the about 67 million people living in the country, but lamented that very little is budgeted for healthcare in Nigeria.

Lalude is a highly experienced consultant colorectal, general and laparoscopic surgeon with over 25 years of experience practicing in the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

NEWS

PhilipsShowcasesLowCostNewInnovationsforAccurateDiagnosis, Treatment Stories by Martins Ifijeh As part of efforts to boost Nigeria’s healthcare standards, Philips West Africa, a medical and lifestyle equipment company has introduced a portfolio of data driven oncology, radiology and women’s health technology solutions across the health continuum in the country.

Showcasing the innovations for healthy living, disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment during the Medic West Africa Exhibition 2016, the Chief Executive Officer, Philips West Africa, Ime Umo, said the equipment company was leveraging on its deep clinical expertise, data management, consumer insights, as well as partnerships to help shape the future of healthcare in West Africa.

The new low cost innovations, according to him are the intelliSpace portal, CX50 CompactXtreme, CombiDiagnost and the V680 Critical Care Ventilator, which are full range solutions in cardiology, oncology and women’s health.

“The aim of introducing the healthcare equipments is to provide more predictive and more personalised care to enable people take charge of their own health, as well as first time right diagnoses and more effective treatments.

“Radiology plays an important role in helping detect and characterise disease at its earliest possible stages; assists in treatment planning and assessment;

and helps in the management of overall patient care. It is also designed to help shorten the time between diagnosis and treatment,” he added.

He explained that with the advancement in data driven digital health technology, radiology has the power to significantly impact the way care is delivered, as it plays a critical role in the majority of healthcare decisions. “By integrating advanced diagnostic imaging technologies with specialised informatics, we are helping healthcare providers enhance the diagnostic process, facilitate seamless collaboration and improve workflow efficiencies,” he noted.

Lending his voice, the Business Development Manager, Philips Healthcare, Dr. George Uduku said one of the technology being introduced into the Nigerian market, IntelliSpace Portal was a web-enabled image and information management system with a single integrated workspace that produces a holistic view of the patient’s care continuum, adding that it was one of the most comprehensive solutions for problem detection, diagnostics, and therapy follow up, offering a full suite of tools to increase accuracy of quantitative measurements and reproducibility, decision support tools to boost diagnostics confidence.

“The CX50 CompactXtreme portable ultrasound system combines the image quality expected of a traditional,

Engage in Yearly Eye Examination, NOA Tells Nigerians As Nigerians joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s World Sight Day, the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA), Optometrist and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN) and the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) have called for regular eye examination, at least once a year, to enable them prevent various issues affecting the eyes.

Stating this during a two-day sensitisation programme to commemorate the World Sight Day, the Chairman of NOA, Lagos Branch, Dr. Ogechi Nwokedi said the eyes are the windows to the soul, hence the need to take special care of them.

“People often neglect the fact that the eyes need optimal care because there could be some issues which often do not come with signs and symptoms. It is better to tackle them early, as prevention is better than cure,” she said.

According to her, glaucoma was one of the eye diseases that does not present symptoms, as the damage it causes were irreversible and could lead to irreversible blindness.

The Assistant Registrar, ODORBN, Dr. Igbo Okafor called on unprofessionals claiming to be opticians to desist from practising, dispens-

ing and carrying out eye test, as the Board will intensify its step in getting rid of them.

“Every Nigerian has the right to ask an optician or optometrist for his or her practicing license, as this will also help in reducing quackery.

Also, there is a difference between an optician, optometrist, ophthalmologist and opthalmic nurses, and they have their different roles.”

Also lending her voice, the Deputy Route Commander and Acting Sector Public Education Officer, FRSC, Mrs. Olabisi Sonusi called on drivers to engage in regular eye check, as this could mitigate the incidence of road traffic accidents across the state.

The two-day sensitisation event involved a road show and a free eye check for residents of the state. Those who were diagnosed with one form of eye issue or the other were either given eye glasses free of charge or were referred for further tests at a registered optometric hospital.

A beneficiary of the free eye screening and eye glasses, Mr. Christian Okoro, thanked the organisers of the sensitisation programme, and called on government and stakeholders to engage in the exercise more often.

premium, full-size system with the convenience of portability.

The CombiDiagnost R90 is a premium remote controlled fluoroscopy system in combination with high-end digital radiography, designed

to improve room utilization in a cost effective manner,” he said.

He also explained that the V680 critical care ventilator provides high performance ventilation in invasive and

noninvasive modes at a fraction of the cost of two separate systems. “This advanced two-in-one platform includes a full complement of invasive and noninvasive modes, lung mechanics maneuvers, and

comprehensive dynamic patient monitoring,” he added.

Concluding, he said Philips will continue to focus on driving groundbreaking connected innovations across the healthcare space.

PROMOTING BIOTECHNOLOGY

L-R: Consultant Virologist, College of Medicine, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Prof. David Olaleye; Professor of Virology, LUTH, Lagos, Prof. Sunday Omilabu; Antonio Aversente of Thermo FisherScientific; CEO, Katchey Company Ltd, Mrs. Kate Isa; and Field Application Specialist, Katchey Ltd, Dr. Oluwatoyin Adeleye, at the seminar on accelerating discovery of life sciences hosted by Thermo Fisher Scientific and Katchey company Ltd in Lagos ...recently ETOP UKUTT

NNPC/Chevron Co-venture NAFDACTasks Stakeholders on De-worms Pupils in Lagos National Fortification Alliance provision of health centre at St. Mandate Rebecca Ejifoma As part of its commitment to protect the health of children from diseases, NNPL/Chevron Co-ventures has commenced mass de-worming of at least 60, 000 children between six and 12 kicked off in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State alongside medical trainings to further combat other forms of communicable diseases.

The General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, (PGPA) Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Deji Haastrup, said the exercise, which has also been replicated in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo, and Ondo states has covered about 500,000 children.

The GM, represented by the Manager (PGPA), Lagos, Mr. Sam Otuonye, affirmed that their target for this year was to deworm 60, 000 pupils in Eti-Osa LGA using the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended Albendazole (Zentel), which is acclaimed to be one of the most potent drugs in the treatment of parasitic worms especially in kids. Adding that research has shown that children that were not regularly dewormed were prone to loss of iron and protein; leading to stunting.

“Other social investments are

Kizito Clinic in Lekki, control and eradication of tuberculosis and other infections common to HIV/AIDS patients; HIV/ AIDS testing campaign in Badagry and mass de-worming exercise for school children in Alimosho, Kosofe, Ikorodu, Epe, Eti-osa and Ibeju Lekki Local Government Areas among several others.

“The company has also executed Roll Back Malaria (RBM) awareness campaign in Ojo, Oshodi, Ikeja, Epe and Ibeju-Lekki LGAs, and donated a molecular biology research laboratory to the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH). It was the laboratory that detected the first case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria thereby contributing to Nigeria’s ability to control the spread of the highly infectious and dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in 2014,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Medical Officer of Health Centre Ikota, Dr. Oladapo Ashiyanbi, has told pupils to wash their hands eight times every day with water and soap, adding “You should wash your hands with soap and water eight times daily.

Don’t buy roadside foods that are not covered. It is exposed to germs. Don’t pick food from the floor,” he said.

The Acting Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. Yetunde Oni, has called for the need to expand and sustain the food fortification programme in Nigeria considering the devastating effect of malnutrition and poor dietary intake in the country.

Making the call at the National Fortification and Alliance (NFA) meeting held in Lagos, Oni noted that out of about 21 widely known micronutrients, five of them were of public health significance (vitamin A, Iron, Iodine, Zinc and folic acid.), adding that they contribute significantly to good health and proper growth of the body and for human survival.

According to her, infants, young children, teenagers, pregnant and breast feeding mothers were prone to becoming malnourished and as such require additional nutrients all the time.

She emphasised that, “one in four children under the age of five suffers from vitamin A deficiency, 31 per cent of mothers in Nigeria are iodine deficient. Available statistics show that nutrition contributes to over 50 per cent

child mortality in Nigeria. These statistics make it unimaginable to question the importance of micronutrients to achieving the socio economic development of any country and attaining the Sustainable Development Goals,” she added.

Oni said that in order to meet set United Nations targets, NAFDAC developed the Vitamin A Food Fortification Regulations, 2005.

She said among other contents, the regulations address, “Prohibition of manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution and sale of any designated food vehicle that is not fortified with vitamin A and other elements as prescribed. Control of advertisement of vitamin A fortified foods -to be censored and given permit before use, labeling requirements for vitamin A fortified foods.

“The regulation also addresses use of logo on all packaged vitamin A fortified food-an eye with letter ‘’A’’ inside it, packaging specifications, interpretations, penalty for non-compliance, which includes administrative fines and prosecution legislators without penalty for violations, will be futile, among others.”

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

HEALTH

Anambra: Making Residents Key into NHIS Charles Onyekamuo in Awka Health they say is wealth.

That is to say to aspire to be wealthy or live a comfortable life, one has to first ensure that he is healthy enough to be able to awaken those creative abilities that could inspire thought and release the energy necessary for the pursuit and actualisation of wealth for the individual and the nation.

But many a time, it is not easy getting people to realise how important having health insurance could assist in helping them surmount some of the health challenges facing them, either as a result of ignorance or lack of financial wherewithal to circumvent same.

In Anambra State, there has been a concerted effort in the last three years to popularise the activities of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and make the people buy into it as a vehicle for sustainable health and development for the citizenry.

The Deputy General Manager and Coordinator of NHIS in Anambra State, Mrs. Nma Getrude Ossi who hitherto was the South-east zonal coordinator of the scheme, said a lot of attention was being paid to ensure that the state was well mobilised.

“I assumed duty in September 2015. I was the zonal coordinator in Enugu in 2014, and that time I was overseeing the activities of the state office in Anambra. I pay a lot of attention to see that the state is well mobilised. So

by the time I came in 2015, we already had some things in place,” she said.

She said what the office did was to build on what was on ground while embarking on massive sensitisation of the state’s citizenry on the benefits of the NHIS through road shows, seminars and other activities geared towards making health insurance a household name in Anambra State.

Towards this end, she said the NHIS office in Awka started active engagements with the state stakeholders, which included the state Commissioners for Health, Finance, state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the office of the state First Lady and the Governor, Chief Willie Obiano himself.

It was gratifying Ossi noted that the Governor granted the management team of Anambra office of the NHIS in December last year an audience to make a presentation before the State Executive Council during which the activities of NHIS and its benefits were discussed.

Besides, she said that she and her team had been able to traverse the length and breadth of the state, meeting residents in the 177 communities of the state’s 21 local government areas to sell the idea of NHIS to the people.

These sensitisation tours, she explained, took them to the traditional rulers, town union presidents, community-based organisations and market women among others, adding that it has culminated in the establishment of four community health insurance

programmes in four communities in four local government areas of the state.

She said that while two of the programmes were launched under her watch as the zonal co-ordinator, the other two came on board when she became the state coordinator.

“We still have four in different local government areas waiting to be flagged-off.

These community-based programmes put together, we have about 28,000 participants (Enrollees) assessing healthcare under the programme,” she noted.

These successes recorded Ossi said were not without constraints, one of which is the difficulty in getting

rural women enroll into the programme. “It has not been easy. Along the line, while trying to get these programmes established, we found out that it wasn’t easy getting rural women to enroll.

“We have to go through the churches, market associations and so on. Up till now, not all is convinced.

But those who gave it a try are enthusiastic and bringing others because they found out that it is real and beneficial,” she said, adding “our luck is that Anambra has a very viable informal sector who are ready to pay when they understand your explanations.”

As part of this understanding, Ossi said some women in the rural areas liaise with

their children in the cities who pay for them for a period of six months or one year, and that outside of these, there are also philanthropists who come up to pay for community people for a period of one year or more.

“NHIS is working in Anambra State and that is why Governor Obiano after the presentation at the EXCO set up a 10-man committee with a time frame to submit a report on how to establish health insurance in Anambra state.

“The Governor is very interested in establishing the State Social Health Insurance Scheme,” she said.

The bill she said sign-posted the level of readiness of

Anambra State Government to key into health insurance.

“The state is very ready to key into Health Insurance programme.

The beauty of it is that the Governor is ready to support the state and we have had discussions on how to get the informal sector seriously involved and partner with equity funding.

“We want to establish a proper referral system in the country.

This is why we said that if you are a pharmacist or a doctor you register as such, so that the primary provider who may be a general practitioner will prefer when the need arises a specialist in a given area,” she said.

Executive Director, Proswiftcare, Mrs Folashade Odebiyi (L) and Education Secretary, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Education Authority, Hon. Aboluwodi Ademofe during the campaign to promote hand washing in Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA in Lagos ...recently

Governor Ganduje’s Emergency on Malaria With Kano State acquiring drugs and diagnostic equipments at N59m due to 22,000 recorded deaths from malaria in the state in 2015, Odimegwu Onwumere writes that the state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje may be living up to the health promises in his inaugural speech During his inaugural speech, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje made many promises of which he might be living up to now, but especially on the health sector of the state.

He endeared the people of Kano and spectators when he said that the All Progressives Congress-led administration in the state would be much pleased in tackling health issues headlong with prevent measures.

The governor added that the measure was imperative to curtail the escalation of incidence of common killer diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, polio, malaria and dysentery and others. Routine Immunisation programme was fad in his speech.

He acknowledged what he said were the contributions of Bill and Melinda Gates and Dangote Foundations in that respect.

He vowed to look into the State Health Insurance

Scheme but that was to be after ample consultations with stakeholders, then the policy would be investigated properly.

He mentioned using groups, public, private and communities to achieve his healthcare policy in Kano State, of which the service of Environmental Health Workers (Duba Gari) was to be revived to be more functional with the dictates of the state.

The governor said that the agency was to be empowered to return to the nooks and crannies of the state by being physically present in the inspection of houses, markets, abattoirs and what had the state in that capacity.

The governor clamoured that there would be a legislation to ban tobacco smoking in public places but that would be forwarded to the Kano State House of Assembly for suitable legislation.

In strengthening the people’s health and the Kano State health sector today, Governor

Ganduje told journalists in an interview on September 24, 2016 that his government spent over N3 billion on subsidy accommodations, medication of pilgrims, and sponsorship of officials for this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia

by Muslims from the state.

That was coming after the Kano State Government on September 22, 2016, made it public that it had acquired drugs and diagnostic equipment at the value of N59 million to combat malaria in the state.

It was made public by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kabiru lbrahim Getso, who added that the materials would be shared out to the 38 hospitals in the state.

Parts of the allocated materials, as according to Getso, were 6.5m treated mosquito nets, 20 microscopes for diagnosing the disease, inter alia.

While this lasted, it was heartbreaking to note that the government had shown bitter expression that it was not up

to the average of people who received the nets use them.

Checks, however, revealed that the residents of Kano State had no excuse to abandon the use of the nets for malaria aversion having witnessed a number of 22,000 people killed by malaria in 2015. It was Getso who made this disclosure at a news conference to mark this year’s World Malaria Day. Kano State under the watch of Governor Ganduje could be enjoying a sincere leadership, not one laced with propaganda, as Getso did not shy away to say that environmental issues made the number of deaths to be high and that remained a major challenge to the state.

There was apprehension that there were 214 million malaria-related issues with 400,000 malaria-caused deaths, with the continent of Africa sharing 90 per cent of the many deaths.

Perhaps, the deaths that saw Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ac-

counting for more than 35 per cent of malaria deaths globally, necessitated experts during the World Malaria Day 2016 (with the theme ‘End Malaria for good’), advising that mosquitoes bite should be seriously fought in Nigeria.

It was not out of place for the Kano State Government to be expending heavily in making sure that the scourge is curbed.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned that under-5 children were among the victims of malaria with the ratio of 78 per cent, mostly in sub-Sahara Africa.

The resilience of Governor Ganduje in the fight against malaria in Kano, reminded one of August 29 2009, when the then Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, represented by a then deputy director in the federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Chioma Amajo, at the flagging off of the second wave of the Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) campaign which

held at the premises of Sheikh Mohammed Jidda Hospital in Kano, said that the state was doing well in the fight against malaria.

At the first launch of the exercise then, the state had more than two million treated nets which were distributed across 21 local government areas.

It was from this programme that the choice of the ministry to take the campaign to Anambra State was formed.

Conversely, Anambra in that year had a success of 1.7 million shared bad nets. It’s indispensable that the Kano State Government has had the gusto to move and hold on strong efforts at controlling malaria until it sends the disease on an errand. By 2009, there was a target to give two nets to a household.

Today, the State under Governor Ganduje has continued with the fight and sensitisation of people in the urban and rural areas in making sure that malaria was mitigated.

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HEALTH

Fixing Nigeria’s Eye Disease and Blindness Prevalence As Nigeria joined the rest of the world recently to mark World Sight Day, Martins Ifijeh writes on the need for stakeholders and the government to emulate the gesture of the Eyesight Restoration Intervention Scheme of MTN Foundation in fixing the high prevalence rate of the scourge According to available statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 90 per cent of all blind people live in poor and middle income countries, including Nigeria, and cataract, a highly preventable and treatable eye disease represents the major cause of blindness.

Experts believed in subSahara Africa, the bulk of the burden is in Nigeria with over one million persons in the country said to be blind, while several millions are said to be suffering from one form of visual impairment or another, a scenario that makes the scourge a medical emergency needing aggressive intervention by stakeholders, the government and citizens.

As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate the day, experts say the high incidence rate of the scourge can be reduced through awareness on prevention of the various eye issues, availability of treatment facilities/professionals and the intervention by corporate bodies and individuals.

A director with MTN Foundation. Mr. Dennis Okoro said with about 3.1 million Nigerians clamouring for visual impairment treatment in the country, there was need for interventions to tackle the menace, adding that, “these individuals conduct their day-to-day activities with significant difficulty, with overwhelming majority of them lacking access to proper treatment or facilities. 80 per cent of the problem is highly preventable,” he added.

He said it was in this regard that the MTN Foundation, through its Eye Restoration Intervention Scheme was

partnering with stakeholders to provide a new lease of life for patients across the country.

The intervention programme in its first phase, according to him, benefitted 33,364 patients in six states of the nation, including Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa, Abia, Delta and Osun states.

So far, in its second phase, over several thousands of patients with various eye problems have benefitted from eye surgeries, provision of drugs for treatment and distribution of eye glasses.

Recently, the Foundation collaborated with the Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Programme (FEYReP), the pet project of Akwa Ibom State First Lady, Mrs. Martha Emmanuel, to provide free treatment, surgeries, refraction error service and prescription of eye glasses for over 6,000 patients.

The Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, at the exercise, said surgery was done for 2000 patients, 2000 pairs of glasses were distributed to those in need of them, while 2000 drug packs were given to those with various eye problems.

Akwa Ibom State is among the beneficiaries of the Phase 2 MTNF EyeRIS project.

The Executive Secretary said MTNF EyeRIS project was just one of the many projects under the health portfolio of MTN Foundation, with other notable projects under this portfolio including the Medical Support Project (MSP), the Annual MTNF Community Health Screening project and the MTNF Sickle Cell Project.

She said the Foundation

Some beneficiaries during one of the MTN Foundations Eyesight Restoration Intervention Scheme (MTN EyeRIS) programmes

also invests in education and economic empowerment portfolio across the country and so far, have invested over $56 million or (N10 billion) in carrying out projects in 344 sites across the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT. She advised other corporate

organisations in Nigeria to further explore ways of helping people in the country the same way the Foundation has done. “I believe that a healthy Nigeria is a better Nigeria.

We believe in partnering and complementing the efforts of the governments at local, state

and federal levels.

“This is why MTN has committed voluntary contributions of one per cent of its profit after tax, to the Foundation for the execution of projects that are in the interest and directly benefit its stakeholders and communities across Nigeria.

“Indeed, the success of Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives is measured by the impact and sustainability of the projects on the host communities. The beneficiaries of the MTNF EyeRIS have the sight for life; that is sustainability,” she said.

Unsafe, Substandard Clippers Cause Skin Infection, Says Dermatologist Stories by Martins Ifijeh Using unsafe and substandard clippers for barbering can cause various diseases and skin infections like HIV, hepatitis, tinea captis, keloid, bumps and pseudofolliculitis barbae, a Consultant Dermatologist, College of Medicine University of Lagos, Dr. Aisha Akinkugbe has said.

She said a typical African man’s hair was relatively difficult to barb, hence barbers tend to apply extra pressure which consequently cuts the skin if the clippers were not skin friendly, adding that such skin cuts could in turn lead to various skin issues and blood transmittable diseases.

Akinkugbe, who delivered a lecture on ‘Have a Clean Cut, Not a Skin Cut’ at the launch of Philips West Africa’s new clippers, said barbers should be courageous enough to refer their customers with bumps, pseudofolliculitis, keloid, among others to a dermatologist rather than barbing such hair. “Barbering such hair will

cause more damage to the customer because the more a clipper is used on such areas, the more the skin issue increases,” she said.

The dermatologist therefore endorsed the Phillips West Africa’s new innovation for professional and private barbering.

Lending her voice, the General Manager, Philips Personal Health, West Africa, Mrs. Chioma Iwuchukwu- Nweke said: “Philips conducted extensive research across a cross-section of men and barbers in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa; it was developed with extensively research on what to do to get the needed clean shave without skin cuts, scratches, bumps and pimples that sometimes develop on shaved areas,” she noted.

Iwuchukwu- Nweke who disclosed that a total sale of clipper in Nigeria was put at 3.4 million annually, added that the unique thing about the product was that its blade was skin friendly while cutting

hairs finely. “The blades lasts the lifetime of the clipper and it is specifically designed to

adapt to our fluctuating power.

It is the first clippers designed to ensure no bumps and less

rash,” she added.

The two clippers introduced are the Philips Clipper Pro

ideal for professional barber styling and Philips Clipper Home for personal use.

Proswiftcare Sensitises Nigerians on Hand Washing As part of efforts to reduces infectious diseases in Nigeria, ProswiftCare, a provider of personal and industrial hygiene care solutions, has called on Nigerians to imbibe the habit of regular hand washing to prevent contamination.

It said the culture of effective hand washing leads to prevention of transferrable diseases through touching, which transfers about 80 per cent of all communicable diseases, adding that it was a very cost-effective disease prevention solution.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme in AjeromiIfelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State to commemorate the Global Hand Washing Day, the Executive Director, Proswiftcare, Mrs.

Folashade Odebiyi, said washing with soap was a simple, effective behavior that save lives, noting that despite its benefits, far too often it was not practiced, hence the need to raise awareness.

With a survey of healthcare facilities in 54 countries, carried out by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, suggesting that 35 per cent of the facilities did not have soap and water for hand washing. Mrs. Odebiyi said this represents a serious risk to both patients and healthcare providers.

“Hand washing matters for child survival, as 1.7 million children die each year as a result of diarrhea and pneumonia—two illnesses that are entirely preventable.

Good hygiene is necessary for good nutrition, particularly for children in the first 1,000 days of life.

Hand washing stations in schools and public places will definitely help in curbing transmittable diseases through touching,” she stressed.

At the sensitisation event, a short video presentation was made highlighting the importance of hand washing and the consequences of improper hand washing such as diarrhea and other illnesses.

A quiz was given to children with a special prize awarded to a very enthusiastic winner, Aishat Musa from LUD School one. This was followed by a session of hand washing, where all the teachers and students had the opportunity

to practice the proper hand washing techniques. All the teachers were given bottles of hand wash and hand sanitizers to encourage proper hygiene in their schools.

In attendance were the Sole Administrator of AjeromiIfelodun Local Government, Mrs. Fehintola Akaba as well as the Education Secretary of the local government, Hon. Aboluwodi Ademofe. Over 200 children drawn from the 48 primary schools in the Local Government and their teachers were in attendance.

ProswiftCare Nigeria Ltd provides personnel and leadership skills development solutions for organizations and institutions tailored to maximize the productivity and efficiency of the workplace.

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INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

US Expects IS to Wield Chemical Weapons in Mosul The United States expects Islamic State to use crude chemical weapons as it tries to repel an Iraqi-led offensive on the city of Mosul, U.S. officials say, although adding that the group’s technical ability to develop such weapons is highly limited.

U.S. forces have begun to regularly collect shell fragments to test for possible chemical agents, given Islamic State’s use of mustard agent in the months before Monday’s launch of the Mosul offensive, one official said.

In a previously undisclosed incident, U.S. forces confirmed the presence of a sulfur mustard agent on Islamic State munition fragments on Oct. 5, a second official said. The Islamic State had targeted local forces, not U.S. or coalition troops.

“Given ISIL’s reprehensible behavior and flagrant disregard for international standards and norms, this event is not surprising,” the second official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity, and using an acronym for Islamic State.

U.S. officials do not believe Islamic State has been successful so far at developing chemical weapons with particularly lethal effects, meaning that conventional weapons are still the most dangerous threat for advancing Iraqi and Kurdish forces - and any foreign advisers who get close enough.

Sulfur mustard agents can cause blistering on exposed skin and lungs. At low doses, however, that would not be deadly. Roughly 5,000

U.S. forces are in Iraq.

More than 100 of them are embedded with Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces involved with the Mosul offensive, advising commanders and helping them ensure coalition air power hits the right targets, officials said. Still, those forces are not at the front lines, they added.

The fall of Mosul would signal the defeat of the ultra-hardline Sunni jihadists in Iraq but could also lead to land grabs and sectarian bloodletting between groups that fought one another after the 2003 overthrow of Saddam Hussein. U.S. President Barack Obama estimated on Thursday that perhaps 1 million civilians were still in Mosul, creating a challenge for Iraq and its Western backers trying to expel the group through force.

“If we aren’t successful in helping ordinary people as they’re fleeing from ISIL, then that makes us vulnerable to seeing ISIL return,” Obama told reporters in Washington.

The International Organization for Migration’s Iraq chief, Thomas Weiss, said on Tuesday he expected Islamic State militants to use Mosul residents as human shields and lent his voice to concerns about the dangers of chemical agents. The IOM had not managed to procure many gas masks yet, despite those risks, Weiss said from Baghdad.

“We also fear, and there has been some evidence that ISIL might be using chemical weapons. Children, the elderly, disabled, will be particularly vulnerable,”

Philippine Police Disperse Protesters with Tear Gas Philippine police used tear gas to disperse about 1,000 anti-U.S. protesters outside the U.S. embassy in Manilla yesterday, as television news footage showed a patrol van, which had come under attack, driving at demonstrators.

The rally came as President Rodrigo Duterte visits Beijing to strengthen relations with the world’s second-largest economy amid deteriorating ties with former colonial power the United States, sparked by his controversial war on illegal drugs.

Police made 29 arrests at the rally while at least 10 people were taken to hospital after being hit by the police van, Renato Reyes, secretary general of left-wing activist group Bayan (Nation), told reporters.

The protesters were calling for the removal of U.S. troops in the southern island of Min-

danao. “There was absolutely no justification (for the police violence),” Reyes said. “Even as the president avowed an independent foreign policy, Philippine police forces still act as running dogs of the U.S.” In a series of conflicting statements, Duterte has insulted U.S. President Barack Obama and the U.S. ambassador in Manila for questioning his war on drugs, which has led to the deaths of 2,300 suspected users and pushers.

He told Obama to “go to hell” and alluded to severing ties with Washington.

Then, after weeks of anti-American rhetoric, Duterte said the Philippines would maintain its existing defense treaties and its military alliances. The comments have left Americans and U.S. businesses in the Philippines jittery about their future.

Weiss said. Attacking Iraqi forces are still 12 to 30 miles (20 to 50 km) from the city itself and U.S. officials believe that Islamic

State is most likely to use chemical weapons later in the campaign, in what could be a difficult, protracted battle.

The leader of Islamic State was reported to be among thousands of hardline militants still in the city, suggesting the group would

go to great lengths to repel the coalition. American officials believe some of Islamic State’s best fighters are in Mosul.

DESPERATE MOMENT

People fight while they assail a truck to try to get food after Hurricane Matthew hit Jeremie, Haiti…recently

Lebanon PM Backs Aoun for Presidency Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri intends to endorse Michel Aoun for the vacant presidency, senior political sources said, and the Hezbollah ally could be elected head of state later this month.

Long an opponent of the Iranbacked Shi’ite group Hezbollah, Hariri would become prime minister again under the plan that could reshape Lebanese politics.

It has drawn opposition in his party and a final decision has not yet been taken, allies said.

The presidency, which is reserved for a Maronite Christian in the country’s sectarian powersharing arrangements, has been vacant for 2 1/2 years due to political conflicts. Aoun, a veteran politician in his 80s, has long coveted the post.

It was not immediately clear if Aoun’s candidacy would enjoy enough support among other politicians to secure the necessary two-thirds quorum for the vote in the 128-seat parliament.

The next scheduled parliamentary session to elect a president is set for Oct. 31. Opponents of Aoun’s candidacy include Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, head of the Shi’ite Amal Movement and a close ally of Hezbollah, which itself has yet to comment.

Hariri, 46, led the“March 14” alliance against Hezbollah and its allies, after the 2005 assassination of his father Rafik al-Hariri. He remains a fierce critic of Hezbollah, which is fighting in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad.

The proposal, unthinkable until

recently, casts new light on the predicament facing Hariri, whose standing as Lebanon’s most influential Sunni politician has been shaken by a financial crisis at his Saudi-based construction business.

The troubles at Saudi Oger, which has been hit by falling oil prices and cuts in Saudi state spending, have led to a cash crunch in Hariri’s Future Movement. Diplomats say Hariri has fallen from favor in Saudi Arabia, which these days cares far more about confronting Iranian influence in the Gulf and Syria than about Lebanon.

Two senior politicians told Reuters that Hariri had expressed his intention to nominate Aoun for the presidency as part of the power-sharing deal. A third

source, a member of Hariri’s Future Movement, confirmed Hariri had expressed this intention, but members of his own parliamentary bloc opposed it.

Fouad Siniora, a former prime minister and head of the Future Movement’s parliamentary bloc, told the newspaper Daily Star that Hariri had told his MPs on Tuesday that he had decided to support Aoun’s candidacy, but added that there was “no final decision yet on this matter”.

One of the senior sources said Hariri would announce his support for Aoun “within the coming few days”. The current government of Prime Minister Tammam Salam has been paralyzed by rivalries exacerbated by regional conflict.

Congo’s Election Delay Not Answer to Crisis A decision to push back presidential elections in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to 2018 is not the answer to the crisis there and risks fuelling an escalation in violence, French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said.

The Constitutional Court in Democratic Republic of Congo said on Monday it had approved a petition by the electoral commission to delay a presidential election set for November, allowing President Joseph Kabila to remain in office until April 2018.

“There is only way to get out of the crisis and that is that president does not present

himself and arranges elections,” Ayrault told reporters. “Pushing back the election to 2018, an uncertain date is not the solution. There is a real risk of a clash. There is a danger of violent demonstrations and repression,” Ayrault said.

Kabila was due to step down in December when his twoterm mandate expires, and his opponents say they fear he intends to first prolong his term in office, and then change the constitution to enable himself to run again.

The ruling coalition and part of the opposition say the vote should be held in April 2018 and on Monday their agreement was ratified

by delegates at cross-party talks in the capital, one party leader said.

Most opposition parties have boycotted the talks and called for a general strike on Wednesday to put pressure on Kabila. European Union foreign ministers said on Monday they would prepare economic sanctions against Congo unless it held presidential and parliamentary elections next year.

“We are consulting on what needs to be done and this is one option,” Ayrault said, adding that the EU was coordinating with the United States on the matter. The U.N. envoy to Congo and head of

the 18,000-strong peacekeeping mission, Maman Sidikou, told the Security Council last week there was an “extreme risk” to the stability of the country and that the crisis could spark large-scale violence.

A senior U.N. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Tuesday that the peacekeeping mission, known as MONUSCO, planned to move more troops and police to Kinshasa in preparation.

“We’re going to move in a battalion and an extra FPU (formed police unit), but of course if things really turn bad what will that do in a city of 11 million people?” the official said.

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INTERNATIONAL

Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian Assailant in West Bank Israeli forces yesterday shot dead a 19-year-old Palestinian woman who police said had advanced towards them with a knife in her hand at a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank. A police spokesman said the woman was shot after ignoring orders to halt.

Over the past year, Palestinians, many acting alone and often using rudimentary weapons, have killed at least 35 Israelis and two visiting Americans in mainly street attacks.

At least 222 Palestin-

ians have died in violent incidents in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Of those, 150 were identified

by Israeli authorities as assailants while others were killed during clashes and protests.

Palestinians have accused Israel of using excessive force and say that some of those killed posed no threat or had no intention of attacking anyone. In some cases, Israel has opened investigations into whether excessive force was used.

No Israelis were hurt

in Wednesday’s incident at a junction near the Palestinian city of Nablus, police said. Ten days ago, a Palestinian shot dead a pedestrian and a police officer in

the source but said it was the same person who had alerted Badawi’s wife, Ensaf Haidar, in 2015 before he received his first 50 lashes, the only part of the flogging that was reportedly administered.

The source did not indicate when the flogging would take place. “Unfortunately, it could happen at any time, if it happens,” Abitbol said by phone in Montreal. Abitbol said that Haidar has asked countries with ties to Saudi Arabia, including the Canadian government, to intervene on the blogger’s behalf.

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said in Ottawa that his department is trying to confirm whether the claims are true and has urged the Saudi government to allow Badawi to join his family in Canada.

A prominent Russian separatist commander was assassinated in eastern Ukraine on Sunday evening, his allies said on Monday, accusing Ukrainian government forces

“We are trying to have the most accurate information possible, because if this information is true, it would be shameful,” Dion told reporters on Tuesday. “Canada completely condemns this type of lashing.”

Haidar, who was in Germany to present a journalism award on Wednesday in her husband’s name, could not be reached for comment.

She was granted asylum in Canada, where she lives with the couple’s three children in the province of Quebec.

Abitbol, the foundation’s director, wants Saudi Arabia to withdraw the flogging punishment, strip Badawi of his Saudi citizenship and let him leave the country for Canada. Last December, the European Parliament gave Badawi the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Former Congolese VP Convicted Congolese former vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba and his defence team bribed witnesses to lie in his defence at a war crimes trial that ended in the highest ranking conviction by the International Criminal Court, judges ruled yesterday.

The court said that 14 key witnesses had been coached about what to say and that Bemba and four other defendants had conspired to present false evidence to the court.

Supporters of Bemba, who is appealing his conviction and 18-year sentence for overseeing a campaign of rape and murder in the Central African Republic more than a decade ago, had no immediate comment.

Judges ruled the politician, who served as vice president from 2003 to 2006, failed to discipline or restrain his Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) soldiers as they rampaged through the neighbouring country in 2002 and 2003 when they found him guilty in March this year.

As part of a systematic

effort to interfere with the trial, Bemba and his team used secret phones and code language to instruct

of Israeli settlements on occupied land that Palestinians seek for an independent state.

Israel says anti-Israeli incitement by Palestinian officials and on social me-

dia networks is stoking the violence. Some individuals, family members have said, carried out what were effectively suicide attacks to escape personal problems at home.

Prominent Russian Separatist Commander Killed Ukraine

Imprisoned Saudi Blogger Faces More Lashes Imprisoned Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, whose public flogging in the kingdom last year generated a global outcry, now risks a new round of lashes, a co-founder of a Canadian foundation advocating his release said on Tuesday.

Evelyne Abitbol, who founded the Raif Badawi Foundation with Badawi’s wife, said a “reliable source” in Saudi Arabia claims he faces a new flogging after being sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and 1,000 lashes in 2014 for breaking the kingdom’s technology laws and insulting Islam.

Saudi embassy officials in Ottawa and Saudi government officials in Riyadh were not immediately available for comment. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the source’s claims.

Abitbol declined to name

Jerusalem before being killed by Israeli gunfire.

Palestinian leaders say the assailants are acting out of desperation over the collapse in 2014 of peace talks and the expansion

witnesses in exchange for cash, promises of relocation, computers and other bribes, the court found.

NOTICE OF MEETING IN THE MATTER OF THE CREDITORS’ VOLUNTARY WINDING UP OF DESTINY DREDGERS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Pursuant to Sections 472 to 473 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) Cap C20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Meeting of the creditors of Destiny Dredgers International Limited (”the Company”) will by virtue of Sections 472 and 473 of CAMA be held on Monday 21st November, 2016 at Plot 5, Block 14, Bashorun Okunsanya Avenue, Off Admiralty Road, Lekki Peninsular Scheme 1, Lagos, Nigeria at 11 a.m. to transact the following business: AGENDA 1. To consider a special resolution for winding up passed by the above named Company; 2. To consider a statement of the position of the Company’s affairs together with a list of creditors of the Company and the estimated amount of their claims; 3. To consider and appoint Mr. Lateef Akangbe as liquidator for the purpose of winding up the affairs and distributing the assets of the above named Company; and 4. To approve directors recommendation fixing Mr. Lateef Akangbe’s remuneration, for the discharge of his duties as a liquidator of the Company, in addition to his costs, charges and expenses.

DATED THIS 18TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2016 AUGUSTSONS & OBIDI Company Secretary Note: A creditor entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote instead of him. A may vote either in person or by proxy and forms of proxy are sent herewith. To be valid, a proxy must be lodged with the Company not later than 5 p.m. on the day before the meeting or adjourned meeting at which it is to be used.

of murdering him to try to destabilize an already fragile ceasefire.

Arseny Pavlov, a Russian national who went by the nom de guerre “Motorola”, was blown up in the lift of his apartment building in Donetsk together with his bodyguard, according to Eduard Basurin, deputy defense minister in the government of the self-styled Donetsk People’s Republic.

Donetsk is the biggest city in the Ukrainian region of Donbass, which pro-Russian militants seized in 2014 and where daily skirmishes and shellings test a shaky 2015 ceasefire deal.“The bomb was placed above the lift’s cabin.

The blast was concentrated inside the cabin,” Basurin told Reuters.

“We had intelligence from

our agent networks that diversionary groups were being sent our way to kill prominent military and political leaders.” Four armed masked men claimed responsibility for the killing in a video uploaded to the Internet.

The men, who appeared alongside a flag belonging to a pro-Ukrainian neo-Nazi group, said they would next target Igor Plotnitsky, leader of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic, together with Alexander Zakharchenko, prime minister of the Donetsk People’s Republic.

Zakharchenko said the murder amounted to a declaration of war by Ukraine and promised revenge. Pavlov, 33, was born in Russia, and commanded the separatist “Sparta” battalion which

fought Ukrainian government forces in several key battles, including the struggle for Donetsk airport.

Short and sporting a ginger beard, pro-Kremlin media and his fellow separatists cast him as a hero, but in Ukraine, many regarded him as a hate figure and a symbol of Russian expansionism.

In a 2015 telephone interview with the Kyiv Post newspaper, a man who identified himself as Pavlov was recorded as saying he had murdered 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war. The Donetsk News Agency, an official separatist news outlet, cited Denis Pushilin, a senior proRussian separatist leader, as saying Pavlov’s killing was a Ukrainian attempt “to rock the situation.”

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BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Stoppage of FX Transactions on Naira Cards May Hit Banks’ Profit Obinna Chima The decision by a number of commercial banks to stopped their naira cards from dispensing dollars via ATMs to customers in foreign countries as well as the use of naira debit or credit cards for online transactions priced in foreign currencies, will impact negatively on the financial institution’s profitability.

It is also expected to affect their non-interest income this quarter, and may be more severe on banks with significant contribution to their gross earnings from E-business in the first half of the year.

Presently, Skye Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank), Standard Chartered Bank, and Stanbic IBTC Bank have already stopped the withdrawal of foreign currencies from the ATMs by their customers who travel abroad. The banks also advised customers seeking to do FX transactions to open domiciliary accounts.

The banks cited dollar scarcity and volatility in the foreign exchange market as reasons.

This development followed the directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which mandated all banks with the exception of FBN Holdings, to sell their dollar inflows from remittances to Travelex, for onward sale to the BDCs.“We see this impacting on banks profitability. E-business Income segment is basically card related businesses, transactional income, exchange rate gains and other related services.

“Banks make money from this segment when customers use their debit or credit cards for online transactions, money transfer to beneficiaries or for withdrawals in either local or foreign currency,” analysts at Lagos-based CSL Stockbrokers Limited stated.

In the first half of 2016, there were significant increases in Ebusiness income of most banks.

While some of this income was attributable to a rise in

volume of card transactions, it was believed that a significant portion was as a result of the spread made on foreign currency transactions.

With commission on turnover (COT) basically eliminated, banks had relied partly on their E-business segments to drive up non-interest revenue this year.

“We see this new directive impacting banks non-interest income in the fourth quarter, especially for banks with significant contribution to gross earnings from E-business in the first half of the year,” CSL Stockbrokers Limited stated in a note yesterday.

When contacted on the development, the Director, Banking and Payment System at the CBN, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, said it was not a CBN directive.

“Maybe it is due to forex scarcity or it is part of the bank’ risk management strategy,” Fatokun told THISDAY in a phone chat.

CBN Unveils Banks With Lowest, Highest Lending Rates The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Wednesday unveiled the list of banks with the lowest and the highest lending rates, and called for transparency in the bank rates, The Cable disclosed.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the central bank had called on the banks to publish their lending rates once a week to drive transparency and competition between the lenders.“In furtherance of the transparency and full disclosure stance of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Monetary Policy Committee has decided that henceforth the lending rates obtainable in all Deposit Money

Banks (DMBs) be made public to guide business decisions,” CBN said in its publication.

“The rates will be published every Wednesday in some selected national Newspapers.

The rates will also be available on the website of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

In the release, CBN unveiled the applicable rates for each of the deposit money banks (DMBs) as at 30/09/2016, showing the lowest and the highest rates from the 24 lenders.

The document showed that Skye Bank, Keystone Bank, Unity Bank and Wema Bank had the highest lending rates,

around 30 percent to 31 percent on the maximum.

Citi Bank, Coronation Merchant Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, and Rand Merchant Bank, paraded the lowest interest rates, between 20 percent and 22 percent on the maximum.

United Bank for Africa (UBA), Skye Bank, Access Bank, FCMB, Fidelity Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Sterling Bank, and Wema Bank, were all cited to have loan facilities with a single interest rate for agriculture.

The rates are known to change from time to time, especially with movement in benchmark interest rate fixed by the CBN.

Female Bankers Call for Support of FG’s Policies The Association of Professional Women Bankers (APWB) has stressed the need for Nigerians to support the federal government in its quest to steer the nation out of economic recession.

Also, APWB has disclosed that the 2016 edition of its annual dinner would be focused on how to offer solution to businesses and entrepreneurs that are also facing challenges.

The General Manager, Corporate Banking, Sterling Bank Plc, Mrs. Mojisola Bakare-Asieju, said the event scheduled to hold in Lagos today, is titled: “Repositioning Business for Continuity in a Challenging Environment.”

Bakare-Asieju, who is also the Chairman of the dinner committee, disclosed to newsmen in Lagos recently.

According to her, “This is a time that businesses are collaps-

ing, a period of contraction, job losses and public anger resulting from hunger; therefore the topic is a most appealing subject matter to address.”

She therefore, called on sole proprietors, representatives of the small and medium scale enterprises, other entrepreneurs, fellow bankers, policy makers, graduates and undergraduates as well as the general public to attend the association fourth coming event.“Indeed all women, our number one constituency, are looked upon as a major beneficiary from this event. More often than not, we become saddled with major responsibilities in the fall out of economic downturns because of composite roles we play in the society.“As an association, we have women empowerment programmes whereby we mentor not only the women

but also undergraduates and harness their talents. We help workers manage their work life and play advocacy roles.”

Also, the Chairperson of the APWB, Toyin Ojo, said that the association had successfully held this event annually since 2012 with many topical issues being addressed.

She noted that the aim was to promote friendliness, good conduct, share knowledge, build bridges for positive growth amongst members, the institute, the financial circle and the world.

“The topic for this year is a fall out of the current economic situation in Nigeria; and how we can weather the storm in this trying times; we have chosen very competent speakers who are experts in economic analysis and business growth to do justice to the topic.”

Sterling Bank, Firm Promote Financial Inclusion As the world celebrates Financial Inclusion Week, Sterling Bank Plc and Afrigrants Resources Limited have come up with an initiative called ‘Market Women Quick Cash’.

The initiative was designed to promote financial inclusion and empowerment especially among women micro entrepreneurs as well as facilitate a platform for them to build capacity for

enhanced business growth.

It would be recalled that the Market Women’s Quick Cash was officially launched in Kaduna last week with the goal of reaching one million women in three years working through diverse collaborations and partnerships.

The initiative will also build the confidence of the

women at the micro level and position them to access more financial services and mentorship.

The Co-Founder and CEO of Afrigrants,nMs. Thelma Ekiyor, noted that the initiative would empower women, promote gender-equity and improve household well-being; and further reduce the number of the un-banked in the country.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JUNE 2016 Broad Money (M2)

21,684,965.22

-- Narrow Money (M1)

9,125,933.16

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,379,187.93

---- Demand Deposits

7,746,745.22

-- Quasi Money

12,559,032.07

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,105,663.47

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

14,579,301.76

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

24,318,143.03

---- Credit to Government (Net)

2,893,190.01

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

2,893,190.01

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-2,111,487.25

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

21,424,953.01

--Other Assets Net

-9,738,841.27

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,370,199.87

--Currency in Circulation

1,684,725.89

--Banks Reserves

3,685,473.98 • Source - CBN

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Price (N) Stanbic Balanced Fund

Buying Price(N)

Selling Price

1,660.29

1,685.29

Stanbic IBTC NEF

1,000.00

11,002.32

11,326.67.11

Stanbic SIBond

20

120.47

120.47

Stanbic IBTC Ethical

1

1.10

1.13

Stanbic IBTC GIF

142.90

143.38

UBA Balanced Fund

1.2563

1.2493

UBA Bond Fund

1.3443

1.3443

UBA Equity Fund

0.8205

0.8074

UBA Money Market Fund

1.1510

1.1510

ARM Aggressive Growth Fund

N13.0544

N13.4480

ARM Discovery Fund

N288.2515

N296.9425

ARM Ethical Fund

N22.5268

N23.2060

ARM Money Market Fund

13.1030 (Yield % ) • Monetary Policy Rate - 14%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT TUESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2016 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $48.24 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $48.22 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

51

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY OCTOBER 20, 2016

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

19-Oct-16

18-Oct-16

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

01 Dangote Cement Plc

183.00

183.00

0.00%

3,118,412,855,115.00

9.56

19.14

5.76

4.37%

4.58

02 Nigerian Breweries Plc

145.00

145.00

0.00%

1,149,719,628,760.00

4.50

32.25

3.84

2.48%

7.06

03 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

23.30

23.35

-0.21%

685,746,475,919.20

4.20

5.56

1.92

7.58%

1.52

800.00

800.00

0.00%

634,125,001,600.00

19.41

41.22

3.82

3.63%

18.02

14.69

14.75

-0.41%

461,214,493,716.34

3.10

4.76

1.11

12.20%

0.75

361.00

361.00

0.00%

199,745,022,993.00 -14.43

-25.02

2.14

4.41%

0.53

07 Lafarge Africa Plc

43.00

42.70

0.70%

195,860,777,830.00

-6.71

-6.36

0.87

7.03%

1.39

08 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

10.53

10.53

0.00%

193,220,774,293.95

0.23

45.83

0.36

5.89%

0.32

09 Unilever Nigeria Plc

45.90

45.90

0.00%

173,653,297,875.00

0.46

99.26

2.85

0.11%

19.49

10 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc

17.00

16.50

3.03%

170,000,000,000.00

2.04

8.10

1.40

0.61%

1.47

127.30

137.87

-7.67%

165,805,844,411.90

3.31

41.70

1.17

2.50%

4.16

5.55

5.52

0.54%

160,550,242,552.05

2.56

2.16

0.47

9.96%

0.37

40.25

40.25

0.00%

159,811,701,061.25

0.03 1,376.55

2.24

3.23%

3.82

4.25

4.22

0.71%

154,187,986,868.50

1.75

2.42

0.46

14.22%

0.35

15 Guinness Nig Plc

78.91

79.11

-0.25%

118,829,636,915.08

-1.34

-59.10

1.17

4.05%

2.86

16 FBN Holdings Plc

3.00

3.01

-0.33%

107,685,878,376.00

0.30

9.87

0.22

4.98%

0.18

17 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc

159.90

159.90

0.00%

102,430,399,043.70

3.75

42.66

1.15

1.38%

3.97

18 Total Nigeria Plc

290.00

303.97

-4.60%

98,461,332,730.00

31.13

9.76

0.43

4.61%

4.89

6.40

6.50

-1.54%

76,800,000,000.00

1.05

6.19

0.65

7.69%

1.31

186.00

186.00

0.00%

67,070,718,732.00

17.69

10.51

0.81

3.87%

3.90

19.00

19.99

-4.95%

62,590,736,320.00

0.17

114.59

2.64

1.25%

5.34

5.03

5.10

-1.37%

60,534,133,036.82

-3.46

-1.47

0.33

14.71%

0.44

23 Julius Berger Nig. Plc

40.00

40.00

0.00%

52,800,000,000.00

0.24

165.22

0.51

3.75%

2.35

24 Flour Mills Nig. Plc

20.00

19.77

1.16%

52,484,743,740.00

6.81

2.90

0.14

10.12%

0.52

1.00

1.00

0.00%

38,720,997,425.00

-0.37

-2.68

0.86

0.00%

0.51

26 Okomu Oil Palm Plc

40.50

40.50

0.00%

38,633,355,000.00

4.60

8.81

3.14

0.25%

2.48

27 U A C N Plc

19.40

19.40

0.00%

37,264,769,107.80

2.44

7.95

0.52

5.15%

0.50

28 Sterling Bank Plc

1.03

1.03

0.00%

29,654,130,669.78

0.31

3.34

0.28

8.74%

0.35

29 Diamond Bank Plc

1.15

1.14

0.88%

26,634,447,313.20

0.11

10.33

0.13

0.00%

0.11

30 Cadbury Nigeria Plc

13.82

14.15

-2.33%

25,956,752,192.80

0.83

17.13

0.96

9.19%

2.14

0.85

0.85

0.00%

24,618,197,838.20

0.39

2.18

0.17

18.82%

0.13

33.75

33.25

1.50%

23,625,000,000.00

2.36

14.10

3.35

3.46%

15.94

33 Wema Bank Plc

0.61

0.63

-3.17%

23,530,424,310.02

0.06

9.99

0.49

0.00%

0.52

34 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.80

4.00

-5.00%

22,351,083,941.00

0.76

5.26

0.70

3.50%

0.84

35 FCMB Group Plc

1.09

1.12

-2.68%

21,584,954,751.29

0.61

1.83

0.14

8.93%

0.12

36 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc

8.00

8.00

0.00%

21,195,507,024.00

0.89

9.03

1.17

6.88%

3.07

37 Mansard Insurance Plc

1.95

2.00

-2.50%

20,475,000,000.00

0.27

7.36

1.09

2.50%

0.99

38 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc

15.78

16.61

-5.00%

18,870,930,980.64

-2.54

-6.54

0.68

1.81%

2.18

39 PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc

18.40

18.40

0.00%

18,400,000,000.00

4.14

4.44

1.39

0.54%

0.55

40 Continental Reinsurance Plc

1.00

1.00

0.00%

10,372,744,312.00

0.33

3.04

0.50

12.00%

0.54

41 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

1.26

1.26

0.00%

9,992,049,049.08

-0.40

-3.12

0.21

12.70%

0.61

42 Skye Bank Plc

0.65

0.64

1.56%

9,022,195,916.50

-2.93

-0.22

0.05

46.88%

0.09

43 Unity Bank Plc

0.68

0.68

0.00%

7,948,749,800.56

0.54

1.25

0.12

0.00%

0.09

44 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

5.50

5.50

0.00%

6,911,727,713.00

0.44

12.42

0.62

1.82%

0.64

45 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.51

0.50

2.00%

6,825,196,508.52

0.11

4.62

0.88

6.00%

0.43

46 UACN Property Development Co. Limited

3.41

3.41

0.00%

5,860,937,482.95

-0.05

-65.40

1.74

20.53%

0.16

47 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

48 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc

3.05

3.05

0.00%

4,953,867,187.50

0.15

19.78

0.62

6.56%

0.80

49 AIICO Insurance Plc

0.59

0.59

0.00%

4,088,820,643.20

0.26

2.26

0.13

8.47%

0.43

50 Fidson Healthcare Plc

1.59

1.59

0.00%

2,385,000,000.00

0.31

5.19

0.35

3.14%

0.37

04 Nestle Nigeria Plc 05 Zenith Bank Plc 06 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd

11 Forte Oil Plc. 12 Access Bank Plc 13 Presco Plc 14 United Bank for Africa Plc

19 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc 20 Mobil Oil Nig Plc 21 International Breweries Plc 22 Oando Plc

25 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc

31 Fidelity Bank Plc 32 Cap Plc

TOTAL

8,887,283,387,258.83

TOTAL MARKET CAP

9,438,164,412,039.70

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

94.16%

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators

Open 18-Oct-16

NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion)

27,593.29 9.48

27,478.04 9.44

-0.42 -0.42

114.43 8.91

114.14 8.89

-0.26 -0.26

Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

Close 19-Oct-16

Change %

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers Stock

Open Close Change 18-Oct-16 19-Oct-16 %

Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc Wapic Insurance Plc Skye Bank Plc Cap Plc Flour Mills Nig. Plc

16.50 0.50 0.64 33.25 19.77

17.00 0.51 0.65 33.75 20.00

3.03 2.00 1.56 1.50 1.16

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

Open Close Change 18-Oct-16 19-Oct-16 %

Forte Oil Plc. Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc International Breweries Plc Total Nigeria Plc

137.87 4.00 16.61

127.30 3.80 15.78

-7.67 -5.00 -5.00

19.99 303.97

19.00 290.00

-4.95 -4.60

Persistence of downward trend as ASI sheds 0.42% Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today – Wednesday, October 19th, 2016 ended on a bearish note as the stock market closed red today. This was further highlighted by negative performances from the NSE Sub sectors: Banking, Insurance, Oil & Gas and Consumer Goods. Trading activities decreased in volume as 81.91 million shares worth of N592.52 million in 2,520 deals exchanged hands today. This is a decrease from the 130.52 million shares worth of N778 million in 2,588 deals which exchanged on Tuesday. Topping in volume terms were Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, FBN Holdings Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc while Ecobank Transnational Incorporated and Total Nigeria Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed negative with 0.42% (-115.25) decrease to close at 27,478.04 from 27,593.29 the previous trading day. Market Capitalization depreciated in tandem to N9.44 trillion from N9.48 trillion of prior trading day. Similarly, the Thisday BGL 50 Index followed suit with a decrease of 0.26% to close at 114.14 from 114.43 recorded at the end of the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at 8.89 trillion from 8.91 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 13 stocks gained on the bourse today while 27 stocks declined, 59 leaving stocks unchanged. Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc emerged as the day’s toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 3.03% to close at N17.00 per share. It was followed by Wapic Insurance Plc with a gain of 2.00% to close at N0.51 per share. Others on the gainers list include: Skye Bank Plc, Cap Plc and Flour Mills Nig. Plc; while on the decliners’ list, Forte Oil Plc led with a loss of 7.67% to close at N127.30 per share. It was followed by Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc with a loss of 5.00% to close at N3.80 per share. Others on the decliners list include: Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc, International Breweries Plc and Total Nigeria Plc. REQUIRED DISCLOSURE This report has been prepared by BGL Plc. BGL Plc does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should use this report as one of many other factors in making their investment decisions.

For more details go to www.thisdaylive.com

52

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

MARKET NEWS

GTBank Grows Profit by 59% to N120bn in Nine Months Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie Guaranty Trust Bank Plc yesterday reported a jump of 59 per cent in profit after tax (PAT) to N119.9 billion, following a major boost from foreign exchange (FX) revaluation gains.

The unaudited results made available to market operators by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), showed gross earnings

of N329.284 billion, up by 43.5 per cent compared with N229.4 billion in the corresponding period of 2015. Net interest income rose by 10.5 per cent from N120.13 billion to N132.7 billion, while net fees and commission income grew by 28.2 billion to N37.5 billion, up from N48.13 billion.

However, net impairment loss on financial assets soared by 570 per cent to N57 billion, from

N8.5 billion in 2015. Other income, from FX revaluation gains, jumped up from N6.957 billion to N93.95 billion.

PBT improved to N141 billion, up from N92.1 billion, while PAT rose by 59.6 per cent to N119.92 billion, compared from N75.2 billion in 2015.

Assessing the result for the third quarter(Q3), analysts at FBN Quest said the performance showed strong PAT of

N46 billion, up 97 per cent, off the back of a PBT result of N49 billion, up 71 per cent.

FBN Quest said: “PAT growth was stronger due to other comprehensive income of N4.3 billion, which was up 172 per cent. Other comprehensive income was boosted by FX translation gains. The market had been expecting tangible fx gains in GTBank’s results in recent weeks. Similar to Q2,

although the FX revaluation gain will be welcomed by the market, the scale of the provisions, though down quarter/quarter, will likely concern investors.

Nonetheless, the underlying numbers were quite strong enough to provide an offset, with both funding income and non-interest income up, by 34 per cent and 184 per cent to N53.6 billion and N46.3 billion respectively.”

According to the analysts, Q3 PBT beat by 18 per cent on the back of positive surprises on both income lines while PAT was ahead by 22 per cent.

“Funding income and noninterest income were both ahead by 29 per cent and 53 per cent respectively to more than offset negatives on both the operation expenses (opex) and provision lines.

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

53

THURsDAY, ocTobeR 20, 2016 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

FMDQ Set to Commence Listing of Short-Term Bonds Goddy Egene FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange has introduced Short-Term Bonds (STBs) to the Nigerian fixed income market in order to bridge the funding gap between short- and medium- to long-term debt instruments. The STBs will also serve the liquidity needs of the medium to large creditworthy corporates and commercial entities by providing an alternative/competitive source of financing to bank loans.

FMDQ OTC said in a statement yesterday that as an innovation-driven exchange focused on powering growth, through product and market development it introduced the STBs. According to the exchange, the introduction of the STBs followed extensive consultations with stakeholders in the Nigerian financial market space, which identified the funding gap for corporates, between the money market debt instruments such as commercial

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares.

papers with maximum tenors of 270 days and the traditional medium- to long-term debt instruments (e.g. bonds) which are typically issued for three years and above.

“To this end, and in order to support an even greater inclusion and participation of corporates in the Nigerian debt capital market (DCM), FMDQ, through its various engagements, and with the subsequent approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) decided

Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Guide to Data: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 18-

to introduce the STBs. Apart from approving the STBs, FMDQ said SEC also approved the exchange’s STBs Registration Process and Listing Rules (STB Rules), which were developed in furtherance of FMDQ’s commitment to provide effective market regulation and governance for the markets under its purview.

“The STB Rules serve as a guide to issuers, STB sponsors and the investing public, amongst others. The Rules outline the governance

structure for STB issuances as well as the procedure for the registration of prospective STB issuances. As a consequence of SEC’s approval of the STB Rules, FMDQ will serve as the exchange through which the primary due diligence for all STB issuances, consequently ensuring an expedited time to market, shall be conducted and also provide its efficient platform for the registration and listing of all STBs,” FMDQ said.

The exchange noted that

the importance of a fully functional and efficient DCM in powering the growth and development of Nigeria cannot be over-emphasised.

“Even in the light of the present economic climate, FMDQ remains keen and unrelenting in its efforts to actively work with relevant stakeholders to deliver on its agenda of making the Nigerian financial market globally competitive, operationally excellent, liquid and diverse,” it said.

Oct-2016, unless otherwise stated Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF Yield / Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment.

Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return NAV: is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Afrinvest Equity Fund 123.90 Nigeria International Debt Fund 217.18 ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.67 AIICO CAPITAL LTD Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price AIICO Money Market Fund ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name ARM Aggressive Growth Fund ARM Discovery Fund ARM Ethical Fund ARM Money Market Fund AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund AXA Mansard Money Market Fund CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Nigeria Global Investment Fund Paramount Equity Fund Women's Investment Fund FBN CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fbnquest.com; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name FBN Fixed Income Fund FBN Heritage Fund FBN Money Market Fund FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Equity Fund Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Growth Fund

100.00

aaml@afrinvest.com Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 124.54 10.90% 218.05 8.49% info@acapng.com Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 0.68 9.46% ammf@aiicocapital.com Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

100.00

15.29%

enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Bid Price 12.72 292.40 22.65

Offer Price 13.10 301.22 23.33

Yield / T-Rtn 4.35% 4.62% 2.71%

1.00

1.00

12.43%

investmentcare@axamansard.com Bid Price 100.86

Offer Price 101.49

Yield / T-Rtn 1.17%

1.00 1.00 11.15% investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Bid Price 2.09 9.33

Offer Price 2.14 9.57

Yield / T-Rtn 2.67% -5.31%

82.64

84.76

1.89%

invest@fbnquest.com Bid Price 1,064.68 114.36 100.00 $101.99 $101.62 111.40

Offer Price 1,065.74 114.86 100.00 $102.09 $101.72

Yield / T-Rtn -1.61% 5.16% 10.80% 2.04% 1.67%

112.91

12.16%

fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Bid Price 0.93 2.51

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 0.94 2.75% 2.51 7.74% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price 2,212.11

Offer Price 2,238.68

Coral Income Fund 2,042.99 INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price

Yield / T-Rtn 1.70%

2,042.99 8.00% enquiries@investment-one.com Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund

1.00

1.00

11.05%

Vantage Balanced Fund

1.64

1.65

0.36%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 0.99 1.01 11.52% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 987.01 987.01 -1.30% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 9.79 9.88 0.12% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 13.41% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.03 1.04 4.25% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 106.46 107.20 4.50% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.22 1.22 7.90% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 1,802.32 1,812.87 7.33% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 151.45 151.45 2.97% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.79 0.80 6.00% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 180.16 180.16 6.17% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 134.64 136.25 -0.53% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 15.32% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,662.30 7,764.47 6.61% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.15 1.16 8.50% United Capital Bond Fund 1.25 1.25 16.32% United Capital Equity Fund 0.74 0.75 5.17% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.00% ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD info@zenith-funds.com Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 9.73 9.90 1.94% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.25 11.35 -1.83% Zenith Income Fund 16.57 16.57 3.29%

REITS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.43 122.32

2.69% 5.58%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.85 78.22

8.95 79.70

-7.58% -6.01%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

2.70 7.37 12.60 16.64 -

2.74 7.45 12.74 16.84 -

16.74% 15.24% 0.56% -13.31% -

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

54

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

FEC Okays Plan to Concession Railway Rehabilitation to GE Approves N30bn intervention fund for mining US conglomerate seeks 25 years to recover investment

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the plan by the Ministry of Transportation to concession the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri and Lagos-Kano rail lines to U.S. conglomerate, General Electric (GE), at no cost to the government.

The Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line would depart from Port Harcourt, pass through Aba, Umuahia, Enugu, Makurdi, Jos, Gombe, Bauchi to Borno, while the Lagos-Kano line would depart from Lagos to Abeokuta, Ibadan, Ilorin, Kano, Funtua, Zaria and terminate at Kaura Namuda.

GE confirmed last week it would be investing about $2 billion under the concession programme for railway projects in Nigeria.

Also, council approved the sum of N30 billion as intervention fund for the mining sector.

The approvals were made know yesterday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the FEC meeting at which President Muhammadu Buhari presided.

At the briefing were the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

On the planned concession of rehabilitation of rail lines to GE, Amaechi said: “I’m sure you are aware of the attempt to concession the railways to General Electric; council approved the advisers that would sit with GE as our own experts to negotiate with the firm

on the concession.”

According to him, the narrow gauge rail line would to a great extent, assist the agriculture, mines and steel development sectors in the transportation of the extracted minerals.

“We are rehabilitating at no cost to government the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri line which includes Port Harcourt, Aba, Umuahia, Enugu, Makurdi, Jos, Gombe, Bauchi to Borno.

“Then the Lagos to Kano line will include Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Ilorin, Kano, Funtua, Zaria and to Kaura Namuda.

We are rehabilitating all of them.

“It is essentially to encourage freight movement. We have over 30 million metric tonnes of freight on the Lagos-Kano route, of which presently we are moving slightly above 100 metric tonnes.

“While the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri line is currently moving nothing, but we are anticipating 11 million metric tonnes that can be moved from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. So the rehabilitation will encourage the movement of cargo and passengers.

“GE will do everything required from rehabilitation, investment and other auxiliary railway infrastructure,” he explained.

Amaechi said GE had proposed to manage the rail lines for 25 years in order to recover its investment, but the Nigerian government has not approved the proposal.

“That is what our advisers will sit with GE to agree,” he

declared.

Mohammed also said FEC ratified the president’s anticipatory approval for the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to qualify to access the national resources fund.

He said: “You will recall that in August, FEC approved the road map for the growth and development of the mining sector.

“In recognition of Mr. President’s campaign promise to Nigerians and in particular his consistent statement on diversification particularly in agriculture and mining sector, council ratified his approval of a N30 billion intervention fund for the mining sector.

“It will be highly focused on exploration. Exploration is at the heart of mining. If you don’t search you won’t find.

“You have heard all sorts of talk about how rich Nigeria is in mineral resources, but the quantity, quality, the geological prospectivity have been a challenge because we have neglected the sector for such a long time.

“If we really must attract mining investment into the country, we need investment grade geological data for those who are in mining to be engaged in the sector.

“And having looked at what has been done in other countries even smaller than Nigeria, countries like Burkina Faso spending averagely $300 million a year on exploration and Ghana and Cote d Ivoire and so on and so forth.

“This is why council approved this for mining and this is significant because this is for access to the natural source

development fund which accounts for 1.68 per cent of the Federation Account. It is the equivalent of the Ecological Fund and the Education Trust Fund.”

Shedding more light on the fund, Fayemi added: “It is meant primarily for agriculture, mining and the water resources sectors.

This will cover exploration primarily but also research and development in partnership with our universities.

“It will also cover security and mining in partnership with the Ministries of Interior and Defence and the Department of State Security just to tackle the menace of illegal mining across the country.”

Fayemi said the fund would also support small-scale miners with land.

He said FEC also laid

emphasis on the importance of inter-ministerial coordination.

In this regard, Fayemi explained that his ministry would work with the Ministries of Transportation, Power, Works and Housing, Health, and Environment on how to engender safer mining practices.

“Whatever we do eventually could help us build a multisectoral focus on mining and also encourage private sector investment in the sector,” he added.

He said government was already negotiating with sovereign investment in mining in order to attract private capital to the sector, as well as access to the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

“The guidelines will be ready in a month,” he said.

Kaduna Killings: House Calls for Declaration of State of CAPACITY BUILDING Emergency L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar N. Onyema; Guest Speaker and StatisticianDamilola Oyedele in Abuja The House of Representatives has urged the federal government and Kaduna State government to declare a state of emergency in the Southern Kaduna senatorial district to holistically tackle the continuous killings by herdsmen.

The House said this was necessary in the wake of recent attacks in Godo-Godo community in Ja’ama Local Government Area, whose death toll has risen to 44.

The lawmakers at the plenary yesterday, advised the federal government to set up a military strike force in the region as an interim measure.

The resolution followed a matter of urgent public importance sponsored by six Kaduna lawmakers led

by Hon. Shehu Garba, who noted that the region has been consistently attacked since 2011.

The region, Garba said, is agrarian with arable and fertile lands, which has made

it attractive to rampaging herdsmen whose attacks have resulted in deaths, injuries, loss of properties and displacement of communities.

“The federal government declared a security emergency in Zamfara State in the wake of similar terrorists attacks and set up a military strike force there,” he argued.

He added that the attacks on the communities so far indicated a pattern of deliberate desire to annihilate such communities, decimate their population, lands and generally create an atmosphere of terror,” he said.

Garba also recalled a resolution to set up a military battalion/base in Kafanchan, with which is yet to be implemented.

“Aware of efforts by the Kaduna State Government and federal government to restore peace in the area, but apparently the efforts are not enough...the recent attacks are coming on the heels of recent ones and with the presence of some security personnel on ground,” Garba added.

General of the Federation/CEO, National Bureau of Statistics, Dr. Yemi Kale; and the Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, NSE, Mr. Adeolu Bajomo, at the NSE Market Data Workshop 2016 in Lagos...yesterday DAN UKANA

Drama as NCC Nominee Dares Senate, Says It Must be Scrapped

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

A Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) nominee, Aliyu Saidu Abubakar, who was undergoing screening by the Senate Committee on Communications (NCC) yesterday dared the legislative institution, reiterating that it should be scrapped.

Without any fear of equivocation, Abubakar described the Senate as nothing but a forum for waste of the nation’s economic resources.

Abubakar’s name had recently been forwarded to the Senate

by President Muhammadu Buhari along with six others for confirmation as a member of the Governing Board of NCC to represent the North-east zone.

During his screening, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Gilbert

Nnaji, had thought that Abubakar would be cowed by his search for confirmation as an NCC commissioner bearing in mind that he had persistently called for the scrapping of the Senate long before his nomination.

Against this background, Nnaji had prepared ahead of his coming as he displayed a file of his photographs while leading protests at various times to the gate of the National Assembly, demanding that the Senate should be scrapped.

But Nnaji was wrong as Abubakar only insisted that Nigeria must do away with the upper chamber because “the cost of running the Senate was high and therefore should be scrapped.”

However, Abubakar’s daring appearance later resulted in the exposition of perceived irregularities in his documents

by the committee as the record of his credentials before the Senate showed that his birth certificate was missing. It also showed that he had no meaningful academic qualifications as only copies of a sworn affidavit and police report that he obtained in one day after his nomination were found. In the affidavit, Abubakar had claimed that he lost his credentials.

Besides, the committee revealed that his highest educational qualification was only one-year Diploma in Computer which he claimed to have obtained at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi with only a statement of result dated 23rd September, 2016 as an evidence.

The revelation by the committee also showed that he had only obtained the statement of result after his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari last month.

The committee therefore

queried why he had chosen to secure such documents only after his nomination. The committee also queried how he hoped to serve in such a sensitive position which it said would involve a lot of intellectual rigours, challenges and expertise for efficiency of the commission.

However, during his screening, the chairman-designate for the NCC board, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, expressed deep concern over the negative perception of the Senate by the public, recalling how as a senator, he had headed the Committee on Communications between 1999 and 2003.

He said he was disturbed by the turn of events in the Senate as he told the committee that he had a message for the Senate from the Leader of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016 • T H I S D AY

55

NEWSXTRA

Ambode, Amosun Reshuffle Cabinets Gboyega Akinsanmi in Lagos and Sheriff Balogun in Abeakuta

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and his Ogun State counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday effected mild cabinet reshuffle in their respective state executive councils.

While Ambode edge out at least three commissioners, Amosun merely swopped those of his state.

Ambode’s decision was conveyed in a statement the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello, issued yesterday, though no specific reason was given for the decision to drop the three commissioners.

Although the cabinet reshuffle had been well speculated, the decision to drop the three commissioners might be one of the resolutions arrived at the meeting of the State Executive Council held in Lagos House, Ikeja yesterday.

But in a statement he signed, Bello listed the affected commissioners, comprising the Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Folorunsho FolarinCoker, his Finance counterpart, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi

and the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Ekundayo Mobereola.

It said Ambode had directed the Special Adviser on Transportation, Mr. Olarenwaju Elegushi, his Arts and Culture counterpart, Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola and the Permanent Secretary in charge of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Tunde Ogunleye, act until new commissioners are appointed.

As indicated in the statement, the governor expressed appreciation to all the affected cabinet members for their input during the period they served the state, thereby wishing them well in their future endeavour.

Aside yesterday’s mild cabinet reshuffle, Ambode had edged out heads of strategic agencies including Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Lagos State Emergency Agency and Lagos State Safety Commission with a view to running an effective and efficient government.

On October 19, 2015, precisely, Ambode inaugurated 37 commissioners and 23 special advisers to formally constitute the state executive council almost five months after he took up the mantle of leadership.

At the swearing-in of the cabinet member, Ambode

reminded them that their primary allegiance is to the people of the state, irrespective of creed and colour urging them to dedicate themselves to the service of the state.

He told them that the state “is currently experiencing rapid urbanisation and thus requires hard thinking solutions to develop befitting infrastructure to cater for the increasing population.

“My fellow colleagues in the cabinet, Lagos is on the brink of greatness and you have all been given this platform to write your names in gold. You must work to leave a legacy that will be spoken of in glowing terms in years to come.”

He said as the most promising city state in Africa, Lagos had all the ingredients to compete

globally in all sectors, saying he expected his new team “to join hands with him to move the state forward.

“The challenges that come with the boisterous profile of the state as one of the world’s fastest growing cosmopolitan city-state are as many as the opportunities that abound in it.

“We have all the ingredients to compete globally in all sectors; and we must. We owe it to the people of Lagos and to ourselves.

You are today, being handed the reins to the government of Lagos State and together, we must fulfill the massive potentials of our state.”

Meanwhile, In Ogun State, a statement by the SSG, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, said those affected in the cabinet reshuffle included Mrs. Ronke Sokefun

who was the Commissioner for Agriculture. She moves to the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning. Bashorun Adebola Adeife who used to be the Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning now moves to the Ministry of Inter-Governmental Affairs.

He said also affected is the erstwhile Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Leke Adewolu who now superintendents the Ministry of Special Duties.

He added that one of the newly sworn-in Commissioners, Mrs. Abiola Kufile-Okonji would now be in charge of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development while a Consultant to the Governor, Mrs. Ronke Onadeko, would oversee the

Ministry of Agriculture pending the appointment of a substantive commissioner for the ministry.

He therefore said: “The affected Special Advisers are the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mr. Bayo Adeyemi who now moves to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology; Mr. Yinka Odufuwa, hitherto of Agriculture moves to Forestry while Mr. Akinola Lawson formerly of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism moves to Special Duties.

Others are Mr. Segun Adesanya of the Ministry of Special Duties who moves to Youth and Sports while Mr. Gbenga Opesanwo is in charge of Transport.

“The reshuffle takes immediate effect,” he added.

Buhari Commiserates with Catholic over Ojukwu’s Death President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the entire Catholic family in Nigeria, particularly those in Abuja, over the passing away of Rev. Fr. Willie Ojukwu.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari sent condolences to the family, friends and close associates of the late priest who slept in the Lord last Sunday in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The statement said the president believed that the late clergy was a humble and dedicated servant of the Lord, who spent his time on earth serving humanity, especially in helping the poor and needy.

The president commended the contributions of the late priest to the growth of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, and his tireless efforts in promoting peace, love and unity in all his engagements across the country.

AWARD FOR HARD WORK

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (left), receiving an award from the National President, Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria, Prince Ajibola Adedoyin, when the group visited the Senate President in Abuja....yesterday.

Aircraft Operators: 47 Nigerian Airlines Have Closed Shop in 30 Years Banks’ exposure to airlines non-performing loans put at N246.9bn Damilola Oyedele in Abuja and Chinedu Eze in Lagos Diverse challenges mitigating against the smooth and profitable operations of airline business in Nigeria, have led to the closure of 47 airlines in the last 30 years.

Some of the challenges include multiple taxation, policy deviation and policy contradiction by the executive arm of government, and high cost of renting ground space at airports.

The Secretary General of Aircraft Operators Association of Nigeria, Captain Mohammed Joji, outlined these challenges when he made a submission to the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation yesterday.

The Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha-led committee is currently holding a public hearing on the need to save the aviation industry from imminent collapse. The hearing which commenced on Tuesday continues until Friday.

Joji noted that the challenges identified in a 2006 Presidential

Task Force Report on the industry exist till date and continue to hinder the growth of the aviation sector.

He lamented that the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) continues to charge dollars from domestic airline operators, despite the policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria against such practice.

Joji also lamented that the country continues to charge Value Added Tax for purchase of aircrafts, a practice which has been stopped in all parts of the world as transportation is a basic service which drives the economy.

Presenting the 2006 report to the committee, Joji listed the recommendations; government accepted the recommendation to grant zero tariff and VAT on the aircraft, aircraft spare parts and ground equipment, he said.

“Government also approved the removal of the five percent VAT on the ticket sales and cargo charges,” Joji added.

The Task Force recommendation can be collaborated by the VAT Decree N0.102 of 1993, Joji told the

committee.

“The approval of multiple destinations to foreign airlines has denied local operators earnings and this has to be stopped...NCAA; policy of levying operators flying on schedule flight out of Nigeria is a punitive measure devoid of any economic sense to the airline....FAAN charges the most expensive land rate in the world at N60,000/sqm, which is more expensive than choice lands in Victoria Island, Lagos and Asokoro in Abuja,” he noted.

Speaking earlier, Onyejeocha called for suggestions on short term measures that can ensure ailing airlines are not allowed to crash.

She added that clear cut policies need to be fashioned out to assist the airlines with access to foreign exchanges due to the fact that almost all transactions in the industry are carried out in dollars.

The Managing Director of Medview Airline, Mr. Olanrewaju Lukman, expressed support for the proposal to concession the four major airports; Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano, if the

process would be transparent.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has confirmed that the intervention fund given to Nigerian airlines in 2010 was actually meant to cushion the debts owed the banks by the domestic carriers.

The federal government gave N300 billion to the power and airlines, which was meant to help the airlines acquire new aircraft and fund their operation.

But the Assistant Director at the Infrastructure and Finance office of CBN, Elder Boma Benebo explained to the House Committee on Aviation during the on-going public hearing on how to resuscitate the airline industry that banks’ exposure to domestic airlines was about N246.9 billion.

Benebo said CBN became concerned in 2010 when it realised how much the airlines owed the banks and substantial amount of the loans, about 14 per cent was non-performance loans (NPLs) on the banks’ balance sheets.

He said at that time the financial system was at risk and “we looked at hoe to strategy

the system and also help the aviation sector and we decided to restructure the loans on short term and long term basis.”

Benebo said the airlines borrowed the huge money on double digit, short-term interest rate that was as high as 23 percent so they could not pay the interest.

“So the intervention fund was used to restructure the loans, so the money was given to the airlines to offset their debts in the banks and the interest rate was reduced from 23 per cent to seven per cent and from short period of time to 10-15 years. We asked the banks to refinance the loans and also give working capital to the airlines,” he said.

According to him, the airline industry was in financial straights so CBN collaborated with the then Ministry of Aviation and after studying the situation brought in a consultant, the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) to help revamp the airlines.

“We looked at the airline industry and saw that it was in financial straights. It had

negative equity and they were losing revenues and we also found that poor infrastructure was also part of their problems, so in 2010 we made recommendations.

We noted that the operating cost of these airlines in Nigeria is too high; there was high parking fees and aviation fuel was costly and instead of sourcing revenues from non-aeronautical sources all the charges were heaped on the airlines,” Benebo said.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha said that the objective of the public hearing was to find practical solutions to solve the problems of the aviation industry and to stop Nigerian airlines from going under and then to stop foreign airlines from leaving the country.

Many presenters identified major problems plaguing the airlines to include high cost of foreign exchange, inadequate supply and high cost of aviation, exorbitant charges and poor infrastructure.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

EFCC Seeks Cut from Recovered Loot

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged a review of Nigerian laws to enable anti-graft agencies in the country retain a percentage of the loot recovered to fund their operations.

The acting Chairman of the commission, Ibrahim Magu,

made the request at the national anti-corruption conference organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC), and the National Assembly in Abuja.

Magu said the review would be in line with international best practices.

Money Laundering: Fani-Kayode, Usman, Get New Trial Date The absence of Justice Sule Hassan of a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday stalled the trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, for money laundering.

Fani-Kayode, who was also former Director of Media and Publicity of the Campaign Committee of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was charged alongside a former Minister of Finance, Nenandi Usman, and Danjuma Yusuf.

Also charged was a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Ltd. They were arraigned on a 17-count charge bordering on unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment of money in the tune of about N4.9 billion.

They each pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail.

But yesterday, the trial of the accused could not proceed due to the absence of the trial judge who was said to be away on official assignment.

The trial of the accused was however, shifted to October 21 for continuation.

In the charge, the accused persons were alleged to have

committed the offences between January and March 2015.

In counts one to seven, they were alleged to have unlawfully retained over N3.8 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.

In counts eight to 14, the accused were alleged to have unlawfully used over N970 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act of corruption.

Meanwhile, in counts 15 to17, Fani-Kayode and one Olubode Oke who is said to be at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of about N30 million, in excess of the amount allowed by law, without going through a financial institution.

Besides, Fani-Kayode was alleged to have made payments to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125 Lewis St., Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law.

All offences were said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money laundering (prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

Expect More Tremors, Surveyor-Generals Tells Nigerians Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The Surveyor General of the Federation, Mr. Ebisintei Awudu, has said Nigerians should expect more tremors similar to the recent ones that occurred in Kaduna State.

He however noted that the tremors would not be as dangerous as several ones being experienced around the world.

Speaking when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Awudu, who was represented by a Director in his office, Mr. Barde Jatau, said tremors were natural occurrences.

Awudu stated that tremors have occurred in Nigeria way back from 1939 and have been recorded in Oyo, Bayelsa, Rivers and Kaduna States.

“We are bound to have tremors here and there, but they would not be dangerous in any way,” he told the Toby Okechukwu-led committee yesterday.

“We confirmed that Kwoi (location of the Kaduna

tremor) is located at the boundary of three-rock formation, and each time you have that kind of situation, there is bound to be some kinds of movement.

We are still collating data, and at the end of the day, we will know what actually happened. We need extra time to be able to finish and know what really happened.

Before the end of this year, the report will be ready,” he said.

“We have placed some equipment at the rock there and we’ll go back to observe what really happened. The tremor is not that dangerous because it’s an intra-plate movement,” the surveyor-general added.

Responding to inquiries from the committee as to whether there are signals when such tremors are about to happen, Awudu said no one is exactly sure when tremors are about to occur.

“Strangely, it is only animals that can see the signs of any such occurrence.

When they notice it, they run. Animals like goats snakes and the rest see the signs,” he added.

“In some jurisdictions like the UK, proceeds of crime are further used to strengthen the agency,” he said.

“In EFCC, we have been struggling for years to build our headquarters and when I think of the billions of naira we recover, I can see what would have happened if we are allowed to apply a percentage of this recovery into our operations.

“There is the need for the Act to make a provision for an application of the proceeds of crime into recapitalising the anti-graft agencies.”

The EFCC boss, according to the New Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

also advocated the amendment of the country’s anti-graft laws to place the burden of proof on the accused in corruption cases.

“One of the issues that concerns us in the EFCC is that of non-conviction based recovery.

“It is of great concern to us that the burden is on us to prove in court that this is a proceed of crime.

“But in other climes the accused has to prove that the property he has, actually represents the fruit of his labour.

Magu was represented at the event by David Tukura, the Deputy Director of Planning,

Policy and Statistics of the commission.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who opened the conference, called for more support from Nigerians for the Buhari administration’s efforts at recovering stolen funds from looters of the nation’s treasury.

Osinbajo lamented the state of corruption in Nigeria.

He said the country stands the risk of remaining underdeveloped if nothing is done to stem the tide of corruption.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the anti-corruption war being waged by the

government should not be a tool for political witch-hunt.

“In order to succeed this time, we cannot afford to make the fight against corruption a simple matter. We cannot afford to make it a chase in the dark. It must be rooted in effective strategy and demonstrative plan.”

Saraki emphasised the need for the anti-corruption campaign to be a collective responsibility of Nigerians to rid the country of impunity and hardship.

The theme of the conference is: “The Role of the Legislature in the Fight against Corruption in Nigeria.”

THE CAMPAIGN TAKES OFF

R-L: Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), his running mate, John Ola Mafo, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, and the South-west Chairman of the party, Eddy Olafeso, at the PDP Ondo governorship campaign flag off rally at the Democracy Park, in Akure....yesterday

FG Urges Public Agencies to Patronise Local Digital Printing Solutions James Emejo in Abuja

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah, yesterday urged all institutions of government as well as members of the business community to increase their patronage at the local printing shop and press, particularly those with cutting edge digital printing technology to help get the economy back on tack.

He said such move would help to strengthen the local print industry and reduce the burden of scarce foreign exchange which leaves the country as well as promote foreign direct investment into the country, thereby creating jobs.

Speaking in Abuja at the opening of the 4th Digital Print Solution Expo, themed: ‘Exceeding your business expectation’ which was organised by SkySat Techonologies Nigeria Limited, he said though the Nigerian printing industry had been around for a long time, growing into a multibillion naira industry with various sizes of printing companies across the country, the quality of print remained low, a development which according to him encouraged many firms to still engage in printing abroad.

“And we know the reason is not far-fetched, it’s all about quality,”he said.

He said the federal government is committed to strengthening both foreign and local companies with programmes geared towards stimulating the economy and getting back on track with relevant regulation, policies and infrastructure.

He added that government was creating an enabling environment to make it easy for businesses to operate seamlessly in in the country and reducing the number of multiple taxes that hamper the growth of businesses.

Represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Alhaji Aminu Bisala, the Minister, therefore urged SkySat and other companies to take advantage of government’s determination to improve the business environment and increase their investments in the country.

Enelamah said: “A number of these publishers, I believe will surely come and patronise this laudable investment that we have at our door step in Nigeria.

This exhibition therefore, will go a long way to create opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs and investors in the printing business to

have access to the latest technology and solution in digital printing, thereby leading to increased capacity for better print production.

“And I dare to say in a very short time, there will be no need for most of these firms traveling abroad to achieve the same objective when they can easily source it cheaper at home.”

SkySat is the preferred partner and sole distributor of Konica Minolta digital print solutions in Nigeria

and Ghana.

Managing Director/Chief Executive, SkySat, Mr. Izzat Debs, said the exhibition was part of the company’s plan to consolidate and grow its market share in the office documentation and digital printing sector and to support efforts of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to attract foreign direct investment into the country and reduce capital flight as well as create jobs for unemployed Nigerians.

Anthony Okonkwo for Burial November 3 Nze Anthony Obumneme Okonkwo (aka Nnakaenyi) who died on August 11,

Okonkwo

2016 in Lagos at the age of 68, will be buried on November 3 2016 in his village Aku, EzinifiteAguata Local Government Area, Anambra State. A Christian wake keep will be held in his honour on October 20, 2016 at Domus Marie, 20 Kamaru Adeyemi Street Off Oludegun Bus Stop, Ire-Akari Estate Road, Isolo, Lagos at 4p.m. A requiem Mass w i l l b e s a i d f o r the repose of his soul on October 21, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 38 Ire-Akari Estate Road, Isolo, Lagos at 12p.m

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER20, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Buhari, Jonathan, Saraki, Others Mourn Saro-Wiwa Jr Tobi Soniyi and Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt President Muhammadu Buhari, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and others yesterday extended their heartfelt condolences to the Ken Saro-Wiwa family as well as the government and people of Rivers State on the death of Ken Saro-Wiwa Jnr. The president, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, also commiserated with the people of Ogoni Kingdom over the passage of their illustrious son, author and environmental activist, who was an ardent believer in the unity, progress and stability of his community.

Buhari said he joined them in mourning the sudden and painful passing of a promising Nigerian whose willingness and dedication to the clean-up of Ogoni land inspired a healing process in Nigeria after the death of his father, Ken Saro-Wiwa.

As the world mourns SaroWiwa Jr, the president said he believed the commitment of the journalist in serving three Nigerian presidents in various capacities clearly exemplified his patriotism, statesmanship and foresightedness.

Buhari, who initiated the process of cleaning up the Niger Delta region, urged family, friends and associates to honour

Saro-Wiwa’s memory by making his dream of an environmentally safe, secured and prosperous Ogoni land a reality.

On his part, former President Jonathan expressed grief over the death of Saro-Wiwa Jr, describing him as a bright star and patriot.

Jonathan stated this in a condolence message to the family, adding that the late Saro-Wiwa, who served in his government as Senior Special Assistant on Civil Society and International Media, was a strong advocate for a just society.

In a statement issued yesterday by Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan’s media aide, the former president further said: “I am deeply saddened by the passage to eternal glory, of Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr, who died at the age of 48. A bright star has been prematurely plucked from the Nigerian firmament. Saro-Wiwa Jr, like his father, Saro Wiwa, was a patriot.

“He was a consummate writer, highly driven and determined crusader with an undiluted sense of citizen rights, equity and justice.

“Ken was friendly, humane, idealistic and selfless, giving freely of himself in service to humanity, without expecting any personal reward.

“My prayers are with the family he left behind. Adieu great son of Nigeria.”

On his part, Saraki he was deeply shocked by the demise of the son of renowned Nigerian environmental activist, late Ken

Saro-Wiwa, in London.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, described the death of SaroWiwa Jnr. as a monumental loss not only to the people of Niger Delta but also to the country and the world at large.

He said: “I am shocked by the news of the untimely death of Saro-Wiwa Jr. This is one young man that has not only stepped into the shoes of his late father in fighting for the rights of the people, but has amply demonstrated his capacity as a leader in some of the private and national assignments undertaken by him. It is so sad that he left us too soon.”

Also, the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said he received the news with shock.

Peterside, who was the Rivers State governorship candidate of

the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 election, said he was still visibly pained over the sad development even as he recalled his long years of closeness with the Wiwa family of Bane in Ogoni.

“This is very sad news for me considering my many years of association with the Wiwa family of Bane. It’s indeed a very sad development and I am still in shock,” Peterside said.

A statement issued by his media office said the untimely death of Saro-Wiwa Jr is a huge loss not only to the immediate Wiwa family and the Ogoni but to the Rivers South-East, Rivers State and the Nigerian nation.”

Similarly, the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Magnus Abe, said he received news of the death of the young man with “shock and disbelief.”

He described Saro-Wiwa Jr. as “an Ogoni Patriot, the son

of our great icon, nationalist and martyred environmentalist Kenule Beeson Saro Wiwa”, adding that “It took hours for me to fully comprehend this tragedy.”

In a statement he issued yesterday, Abe said: “This is indeed a great loss not only to the Ogoni people but to Nigeria.

People have been calling me to ask why Ken junior? Why now? Why should a family and a people that have already sacrificed so much for Nigeria and the Niger Delta be required to make yet another sacrifice?

I have no answers. In trying to look for answers I end up with more questions.”

The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) also expressed deep shock on the death of saro-Wiwa junior.

A statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke, said: “MOSOP is deeply pained by this tragic

incident, the loss of our dear “Ken Jr.” - son of our celebrated hero, Ken Saro-Wiwa.

“We express our deepest condolences to the family of Wiwa in particular and the Ogoni nation in general.”

Not left out of the condolences was the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which expressed its sympathy with the family.

In a statement issued by the party’s spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party also described Saro-Wiwa Jr as a rare gem that would be missed by all who knew him.

His short life journey no doubt, recorded successes on many fronts especially his contribution in journalism and literary work will not be forgotten in a hurry. Adieu!

“We pray the family to bear this irreparable loss of a great son, father and patriot of Ogoni kingdom, Rivers State,” it said.

Southern Elders Want FG to Release Nnamdi Kanu Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia For the first time since the saga of Nnamdi Kanu’s detention commenced, elders and leaders from the Southern part of Nigeria have unanimously demanded that the federal government should release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) without further delay.

This was part of the demands contained in the 11-point communiqué issued by the Southern Nigeria People s Assembly (SNPA) at the end of the expanded elders/ management committee meeting yesterday.

The communiqué read by the Chairman of session, Chief Mazelike Amaechi, was also signed by co-chair/leader of South South, Chief Edwin Clark and Senator Femi Okurounmu, co-chair/leader South West, who represented Bishop Bolanre Gbonigi.

The elders described Kanu as “a prisoner of conscience” hence he should regain his freedom along with other prisoners of conscience being held by the federal authorities.

President Buhari should respect the rule of law, pronouncement and ruling of courts of competent jurisdiction by ensuring the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu and

all other prisoners of conscience which various courts have granted bail and who have subsequently met their bail conditions,” the SNPA elders said.

According to them, the continued incarceration of Kanu and other Nigerian prisoners of conscience “show a gross disregard to due process, disrespect for the judiciary and abuse of their fundamental rights.

“The principle of separation of power must be applied to the advance our democracy and strict adherence to acceptable dignified tenets of investigation, arrest and prosecution be applied,” the southern leaders said.

The elders and leaders from the South-east, South-south and South-west deliberated on wide range of issues affecting the southern half of Nigeria and the country in general vehemently condemned the murderous activities of herdsmen and the kid glove with which the To this end they called on the southern governors and state assemblies to follow the model of Ekiti State government in tackling the problem of herdsmen without rancor by enacting legislation on the prohibition of nomadic grazing.

COURTESY VISIT

L-R: Government Affairs Director West and Central Africa, Qualcomm, Dr. Bienvnu Agbokponto Soglo; Executive Vice Chairman Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta; Senior Director Qualcomm, Elizabeth Migwalla, and Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, during Qualcomm visit to the commission in Abuja... yesterday.

10 Northern Govs Hosted in White House, Meet Rice, Kerry in Washington Ten governors from Northern states in Nigeria were yesterday hosted at the White House, America’s seat of power, in Washington DC, during which they held a closed-door meeting with President Barack Obama’s National Security Adviser, Ambassador Susan Rice.

The governors, led by Borno State Governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, also held a closed door meeting with the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, at the State Department also in Washington.

The governors also a held meeting with Gayle Smith, the administrator of the multi million dollars United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The meeting was held at the Ronald Reagan building,

headquarters of humanitarian and development agency in Washington.

The three meetings focused on deepening collaboration on conflicts elimination, prevention, humanitarian aide and partnerships on the solving development factors responsible for recurring ethno-religious violence in northern Nigeria.

The symposium is being attended by Governors Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Mathew Dalong (Plateau), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), AbdulAziz Yari (Zamfara), Bindo Jibrilla (Adamawa) and Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar (Bauchi).

Others are: Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger, Kashim Shettima (Borno), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Deputy Governor of Kano State,

Professor Hafiz Abubakar, who is representing Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State Meanwhile, the governors on Tuesday, began a three-day symposium organised by the US Institute of Peace which is an agency established and funded by the US government with headquarters in Washington DC. The symposium which focuses on addressing conflicts and under-development in Northern Nigeria is a follow up on an earlier one hosted in March, 2014 under the Goodluck Jonathan administration when the US invited Northern Governors for a security symposium which dwelt on finding solutions to the Boko Haram insurgency and it’s spread from the northeast to other parts of Northern Nigeria.

Scheduled to end today, the

symposium has had different panels of discussant including top US government officials, the governors, development experts from Nigeria and the US who worked together to identify areas of expanding collaboration to improve the “pervasive poverty, acute girlchild education, maternal and infant mortality” amongst other key under-development elements more prevalent in Northern Nigeria in comparison with the rest of the country.

Speaking through Shettima, the Northern governors had on the first day of the symposium demanded practical benefits of their invitation, noting that travelling to Washington at a time of recession was a tough choice they made with high expectations.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

EFCC Confirms Umahi, Chime under Investigation over Campaign Funds Commission recovers N244m, $955,465, €10,000 in S’East Christopher IsiguzoinEnugu The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday in Enugu said it is currently investigating Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and former Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, in connection with the $2.1 billion arms funds allegedly diverted to fund the 2015 presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Addressing news conference at the commission’s South East Zonal office in Enugu, the EFCC zonal Head, Johnson Babalola, said they were closing in on some politically exposed persons in cases involving other former governors and companies linked to serving governors, disclosing that the cases were under investigation and are presently at various stages.

Apart from the Ebonyi State governor who enjoys immunity, other persons fingered in the fund issue, according to EFCC, would be arraigned in court once investigation is concluded.

He also disclosed that within the past 10 months, the commission in the zone had recovered huge sums of monies in the course of their investigation; a breakdown which showed that a total of N244.6 million, $955, 465, €10, 000 and 3,558 Yuan was recovered.

The zone also concluded that some of the cases where monies were recovered and prosecuted out of which the sum of $130, 750 was forfeited and paid into the coffers of the federal government.

On the campaign funds, Babalola disclosed that the commission was specifically investigating the N450 million allegedly sent to the various states in the zone, explaining that for Ebonyi State, the said money was traced to an account belonging to Umahi, while in the case of Enugu State, the former governor, Chime, as well as other party chieftains, including former PDP state chairman, Chief Ikeje Asogwa; former Economic Adviser to the President, Prof Osita Ogbu; former state Commissioner for Culture, Joe Mammel, and the Chairman of the 2015 presidential campaign in the state, Charles Egumbe, have become suspects.

It was discovered that the duo of Mammel and Ogbu had signed for the money at the Fidelity bank branch along Rangers Avenue in Enuguwhen it was sent to the state

by Senator Nenadi Usman who was then in charge of the Finance Department of the PDP campaigns based on her (Usman) discussion with the former governor.

After accessing the said money, it was reportedly taken to the Government House in Enugu and kept in the custody of Chime’s orderly, one Tony Embongus, before it was allegedly disbursed by the governor based on a purported list that was sent from the party’s national headquarters.

It was also gathered that there were disagreements in the statements written by Chime and other officials at the EFCC. While the former governor reportedly claimed that he had

Senate Bills for Protection of Whistleblowers Scale Second Reading Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja A bill seeking to protect persons with useful information on corrupt practices and other high profile crimes from undue harassment and persecution scaled second reading in the Senate yesterday.

The bill has as its objectives the necessity to protect individuals who make disclosures in public interest from reprisal attacks and ensure that information provided by such whistleblowers are thoroughly investigated by law enforcement agencies.

The sponsor of the bill, Senator Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti South), who described corruption as a threat to economic growth, said the bill had become imperative in view of Nigeria’s consistent rating as one of the most corrupt countries of the world.

She also recalled how a staff of Women Development Centre who exposed corruption in the agency in Abuja in the past was dismissed because there was no enabling law guaranteeing her protection.

She said: “In Transparency International’s 2014 report, Nigeria ranked 136th out of 175 countries with a score of 27/100.

Despite slight improvements in the ranking, the lack of progress on high-level corruption cases

has brought into question the effectiveness of Nigeria’s anticorruption agencies in the fight against corruption and financial crimes.

“The inability of the country’s legal framework to effectively reduce corruption may be associated with the low number of corruption/fraud cases successfully prosecuted which significantly depends on whistleblowers. When faced with corruption, only few people have the courage to speak up.

Reporting questionable practices or abuse of power without protection is simply too risky for many.

“Distinguished colleagues, providing effective protection for whistleblowers supports an open and transparent structure where citizens are not only aware of how to report but also have confidence in reporting procedures without the fear of retaliation for reporting in good faith inspected acts of corruption and other wrongdoing. This is integral for strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption and fraud compliance and efforts to combat corruption, safeguard integrity, enhance accountability and support a clean business environment.

no knowledge of those who were asked to receive the said money at the Enugu bank on arrival, he later asked that the money be taken to the Government House for ‘safe-keeping’ at the instance of Egumgbe and the Campaign Secretary, Rita Mbah, as the later denied the claim in their written statements, a development which has made the Enugu case more complicated.

The other party officials also denied the claim by the former governor that access to the money was only granted to the campaign secretary in their respective statements.

Babalola noted that “this is EFCC; nobody is above the

law. We will detail in you and heavens will not fall. So long as you don’t have immunity,” noting that some PDP chieftains in Enugu named in the fund scandal were detained by the commission. He also that N450 million campaign said fund is under investigation in Abia State, noting further that the commission had not received any petition against former state Governor, Theordore Orji.

He dismissed insinuations that the various investigations were unduly being delayed by the commission, stating that criminal cases were not time-bound.

“We can’t rush to court for the purpose of arraignment and end

up being ridiculed by defence counsel. We will take our time, and I can assure you that the matters will be charged to court at the appropriate time.”

The EFCC zonal head further disclosed that the commission in the zone received a total of 522 cases currently under investigation, explaining that 36 of the cases have been concluded and charged to various courts in the zone for prosecution, while a total of 14 convictions were secured.

Also, the commission has commenced investigations in some cases that are of public interest in which billions of naira is involved as two owners of

flourishing ‘wonder banks’ were arrested and kept in detention in connection with alleged fraud running into N13 billion.

EFCC alleged that one Chief Patrick Nwokike, the owner of ‘Lets Partner With You’, was arrested in connection with the collection of over N4 billion from unsuspecting members of the public using the name and style of his company in return for certain monthly percentage on the invested sum.

He further disclosed that the commission has arrested one Joshua Morah, the CEO of Borec Services in another allegation involving over N9 billion with over 30 petitions.

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

L-R: Immediate President of ACI-AFRICA, Komla Pascal; New President and Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Saleh Dunoma; Secretary General, Ali Tousi; and Muazu Dahir, after the election of Dunoma as President of ACI-Africa, in Mozambique....recently

MMA2 Concession was Transparent, Says Bi-Courtney Chinedu Eze

Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) has said the process of the concession, which led to the company taking over the ruins of the former domestic terminal of the Lagos airport to build the money terminal that has remained the best in the country, followed transparent process.

The company recalled that in 2000, after the old Lagos Domestic Terminal was destroyed by fire, FAAN advertised for a Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) concession in two national newspapers.

“The federal government conducted a competitive bidding process, which was open to every interested person. Sanderton Ventures Ltd won the bid. The failure of Sanderton to deliver after 12 months, led FAAN to invite Bi-Courtney as reserved bidders to take over the project. The process was in no way shrouded in secrecy. The draft concession agreement was prepared by the Ministry of Aviation’s lawyers,

along with FAAN. From 2001 to 2003, there were extensive negotiations between the parties, subsequent to which the agreement reached was approved by the Federal Executive Council,” BASL management explained.

It noted that the assertion that the MMA2 concession was not transparent, could not be further from the truth, adding that the failure of government from the outset to comply with contractual obligations and arbitration proceedings that were set up by government itself led to several litigations over time.

“This failure has been affirmed by arbitration and in court decisions. This is a sad commentary on the dispute resolution process in Nigeria.

“It is noteworthy that the original design proposed by FAAN was an unconducive shed which was not even fit as a terminal for cargo operations.

It was on Bi-Courtney’s initiative that it proposed a more elaborate and modern design. The design has a capacity for four

million passengers per annum in anticipation of expanded passenger traffic. This design was approved by the Ministry,” the company said.

It also explained that dealing with the contentious issues arising from the concession requires objectivity, based on empirical evidence, adding that this matter should not be personalized.

“Bi-Courtney is dismayed by the unfortunate impression portrayed in the press that the MMA2 concession was shrouded in secrecy. Bi-Courtney rejects this in its entirety.

The Ministry of Aviation and FAAN seem to have a penchant for pursuing a vendetta and reopening issues that have been resolved on so many occasions, including one chaired by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The company is ready to defend its position at any hearing and will be doing so today, Thursday, October 20, 2016 at the House of Representatives.

Bi-Courtney has always stood on

the premise of integrity of process and rule of law, in dealing with the provisions of this concession.

“It is regrettable that while trying to provide a world class facility for the public over the years, the concession has been a subject of much contention with FAAN and the ministry.

Bi-Courtney said while it constantly strives to work with government to facilitate the growth of the aviation industry, government has an obligation and responsibility to create a conducive environment for the concessionaire to deliver.

“With each change in government comes a new interpretation of the concession agreement, leading to divergence of opinion.

Government should adopt a policy of engagement and respect for contractual agreements in the best interest of the industry, instead of leaving the concessionaire no choice but to resort to potentially acrimonious litigation,” BASL said.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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CRIME&PUNISHMENT Soldiers Kill Seven Suspected Militants, Pirates in Niger Delta

Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa Soldiers attached to the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe, yesterday said their search for militants and sea pirates had led to the killing of seven suspects in the Niger Delta in the last 48 hours.

The special military outfit headquartered in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, disclosed that the operation which led to the killings, arrests and recovery of weapons were carried out in Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa States.

Among the deceased suspects, were two suspected sea pirates who were shot dead around Sonykiri Creeks, near Olakpokpo Kula, while two others, according to the military escaped with gun wounds.

Five others who reportedly belonged to the Bakassi Strike Force, it was gathered, were felled in Southern Cross River after they hijacked a heavily

filled boat containing bags of rice and the passengers therein.

The Deputy spokesman, Joint Media Campaign Centre of the JTF, Lt. Cdr. Thomas Otuji, stated in Yenagoa yesterday that the task force also arrested three other suspects who were currently undergoing interrogation.

Otuji said the arrest was made at Ikot Ene, Akpabuyo Local Government Area in Cross River while the troops also rescued a boat laden with rice.

According to him, the suspects were killed by troops from Sector 4 of the Operation Delta Safe in conjunction with some local vigilantes at Parrot Island, Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River.

“The militants had earlier seized the boat conveying large quantities of rice from a marketer and the passengers on board, asking the owner of the rice to pay N500,000 ransom.

“The troops placed a bait on the suspects during the rescue

operation and later professionally engaged the militants in a gun duel, killing five of them and rescuing the passengers unhurt,” Osuji said.

He said the other pirates were killed by troops from Sector 3 of the Joint Task Force stationed at Idama Waterside in Rivers, noting that a life vest; one Ak-47 riffle; 2 AK-47 magazines and 40 pieces of 7.62 mm special ammunition were recovered by the troops.

He said the troops also recovered two cell phones and one speedboat mounted with 140 horsepower outboard engine from the suspected hoodlums.

Otuji added that the joint task force had intensified patrols of the creeks in the Niger Delta and urged the public to support the military by providing timely information.

The JTF spokesman stated that the banned 200 horsepower engine boat used by the suspected sea pirates was sunk immediately.

He disclosed that a massive illegal refinery camp, purportedly belonging to one Mr. George Amah, was discovered and destroyed in Adokiye Ama, Okirika, Rivers, while 33 pumping machines, generators, speedboats and a 33,000 litre capacity fuel tanker was intercepted.

The first day had two panel discussions on “Conflict Drivers and Opportunities for Stabilization in Northern Nigeria” and also Rehabilitation, Reconciliation and Reconstruction” of communities destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents in different parts of Northern Nigeria.

The Governors of Plateau, Zamfara, Adamawa and Borno States as well as Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Dambazzau (rtd), alongside some officials of United States Government took part in the two panel discussions held at different times.

BRIEFING THE MEDIA

R-L: Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Mr Samuel Aruwan, with his Technical Assistants Media and Communications, Mr. Peter Ibrahim; and Nabilah Hassan at a press briefing on the state govt.ban on the Islamic Movement In Nigeria (IMN) in Kaduna....

IdrIs EgajI.

N8.5bn Fraud: Witness Reveals More Monetary Transactions from JTF A prosecution witness, Teslim Ajuwon, yesterday told a Federal High Court in Lagos, that a former Commander of the military Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Puelo Shield in the Niger Delta, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, was a signatory to the account of the JTF. The witness continued his evidence at the resumed trial of Atewe.

Atewe is standing trial alongside a former DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga over N8.5 billion fraud.

They are been prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an 11-count bordering on the offence.

Yesterday, the witness, PW1,

who began his evidence on October 18, continued his evidence in chief as led by the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo.

He told the court that the instrument for the debit of the account of the JTF, Puelo Shield, was signed by signatories to the account.

Ajuwon told the court that the transaction instrument was signed by the two signatories to the account, namely Lt. I.M Ogadoga and Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe.

He also told the court that sometimes in 2015, a request was received from the EFCC to provide account opening document, statement of account and certificate of identification in respect of one Lord Fem Engineering Services Ltd, and First Investment and Property Ltd. He said the request was processed and the response

forwarded to the EFCC. In his evidence on transactions carried out on September 5 and 9, 2014, the witness told the court that there were two in-flow of cash from the account of the JTF to Jaggan Ltd in the sum of N50 million each.

He said on September 16, 2014, there was also an in-flow of cash in the sum of N50.5 million from the JTF account to Jaggan Ltd. The witness also said that on August 25, 2014, there was a NIP transaction from First Bank into Lord Fem Engineering Ltd in the sum of N7 million.

After the witness’s testimony, the prosecutor informed the court that he was done with his examination for the first witness.

Following the agreement reached by counsel, the court thereafter, fixed November 22 and December 5 for continuation of trial.

In the charge, the anti-graft

agency alleged that the accused conspired to defraud NIMASA of N8.5 billion using seven companies.

The companies are: Jagan Ltd; Jagan Trading Company Ltd; Jagan Global Services Ltd; Al-Nald Ltd; Paper Warehouse Ltd; Eastpoint Integrated Services Ltd and De-New link Integrated Services Ltd. The EFCC claimed that the accused committed the alleged fraud between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015.

The accused had all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

The offence is also said to have contravened the provisions of Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C. 38, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

In Brief

Dele Giwa: IPC Calls for Justice The International Press Centre (IPC) has calls for justice on the gruesome murder of Dele Giwa precisely 30 years ago. Giwa, the founding Editor-In-Chief of Newswatch Magazine was assassinated through a letter bomb, October 19, 1986. Prior to this incident, Giwa was known to be an intelligent and enterprising journalist who was always on the frontline. The Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, in a statement yesteday as part of the activities to mark the 30 anniversary of the renowned kournalists, described his killing as the most drastic act of intimidation of the press in the Nigerian history “The death of Dele Giwa, has over the years shown just how journalists could be endangered. Many other journalists have been killed, and we must not relent in the pursuit of justice for them, and the safety of journalists in Nigeria.”

IPC therefore uses the opportunity of the 30th anniversary of the gruesome murder of Dele Giwa to plead with the President Muhammadu Buhari government to reopen the case, as justice is a very important element of development.

Dasukigate: Dokpesi’s Trial Begins as Prosecution Calls First Witness The trial of former Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, for the N2.1billion the allegedly collected from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd), commenced yesterday before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja with the prosecution calling on its first witness to give evidence in the case. The witness, Mukados Aliyu Mohammed, a manager in the payment section of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was led in evidence by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), prosecuting counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He told the court that the former NSA and the Director, Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), S. A Salisu, who were the signatories of ONSA account, ordered the payment of N500 million into the account of DAAR Investment and Holding Company via a payment schedule/mandate dated January 21, 2015. Aliyu, stated further that the former NSA also ordered another payment of N500 million on February 2, 2015 and another N620 million into the account of DAAR Investment and Holding Company as payment for “media campaign”. He disclosed that on March, 19, 2015 there was another mandate from ONSA to pay Dokpesi’s company another N500 million for the same media campaign. According to the witness, his office which verified the payment schedule/mandate, confirmed that due process was followed by Office of the NSA before the monies were paid into the account of DAAR Investment and Holding Company (1st defendant), belonging to the first defendant.

However, during cross-examination by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), counsel to the first defendant, the witness told the court that all due procedures were followed before the ONSA account, which is being funded by the office of the Accountant General of the Federation was opened with the CBN. Responding to Olanipekun’s questions on some of the payment schedules/ mandates by ONSA, which were tendered as exhibits by the prosecution, Aliyu confirmed that, Dalhatu Investment Limited, which was mentioned in Exhibit A1 (payment schedule) was paid N500 million for “supply of security equipment.” While the Presidential Airfleet was paid N60.6 million, Makpad General Enterprises Nigeria Limited he said got N13.6 million for the supply of rice to the camps of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the C-in-C Security Department got N75 million from ONSA’s account with the CBN. In exhibit A3, he confirmed that Onile Nigeria Limited was paid N200 million for consultancy services, Vibrant Resources Limited, N450 million for security services, Jawaz Multipurpose Ventures Limited, N148 million for supply of security equipment and A. R Security Solution Limited got N2 billion for “personnel support and logistics.”

Other payments approved by the office of the NSA, according to the witness, included N100 million to Hydrocarbons Limited for energy consortium, N239.5 million to DPA Officer of the NSA for the funding of Nigeria Radiation Project, N400 million to Cosse Limited for the supply of security equipment. The witness told the court that all the payments as stated in the schedules/mandates of the ONSA were effected by the CBN because due process was followed. After the testimony of the first prosecution witness, the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, adjourned till November 18, 2016 for continuation of trial. Dokpesi, is being prosecuted by the EFCC over the N2.1 billion he allegedly collected from the former NSA, Dasuki. He had however pleaded not guilty to the six-count criminal charge, bordering on breach of public trust and procurement fraud. He was alleged to have between October 2014 and March 2015 conducted procurement fraud by fraudulently receiving N2,120,000,000 into the account of DAAR Investment and Holding Company for the funding of media activities for the 2015 presidential election campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The alleged offence is contrary to section 58 (4) (b) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and punishable under section 58 (6) and 7 of the same Act.

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THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

I J AW Y O U T H S WA R N

There‘ll be Consequences Not Probing Izu’s Death Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide (IYC), warned yesterday that government’s failure to investigate and punish those responsible for the killing of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan footballer, Joseph Izu, would have far-reaching negative consequences in the long run.

Factional leader of the IYC, Mr Elvis Donkemezuo, said in a statement in Yenagoa that unless the killers of the 3SC’s central defender were promptly arrested and prosecuted, it would send a wrong signal to other youths in the region that their lives do not matter The group noted that having represented Nigeria internationally in beach soccer competitions, Izu’s death should not be swept under the carpet.

“For the records, until his painful death last Sunday, Joseph Izu was a central defender for Shooting Stars Football Club (3SC) of Ibadan and a prominent and very outstanding beach soccer player who made Nigeria and Africa proud in different international competitions.

He is not known to be a lawbreaker of any sort,” the group stressed.

While condemning ‘the growing trend of senseless killing of Ijaw Youths’ by security operatives, the group argued that the primary assignment and responsibility of the military is to protect the

territorial integrity of Nigeria and not to maim the innocent.

It noted that from investigation, there was no case of militancy or vandalism of government infrastructure in Okarki, where the 24-year-old footballer was shot along with some of his friends.

“We demand Justice for the family of Joseph Izu. We want to also put it on record that as of today (we cannot speak for tomorrow), there is no militant camp inside Okarki Community or in Okarki bush.

“There was also no case of kidnapping, disturbance of the peace or unlawful gathering of any kind at Okarki before or on the day and time Joseph was murdered by the soldiers. “ So we wonder what may have warranted the killing of an innocent, armless and defenceless youth who had done nothing but used his God-given talent to serve his fatherland, save for a lust for blood and lack of respect for human life on the part of the soldiers”, the group further said.

The Ijaw youths maintained that coming just a few weeks after 17-year-old Innocent Kokorifa was allegedly killed by the police in Bayelsa, the situation was getting unbearable.

“Kokorifa was equally murdered by the Bayelsa Police, through a gangstyled execution in Yenagoa two months ago. Innocent’s autopsy was conducted on Monday and he will be buried within the week”, it noted.

85-year-old Man Breaks Marathon Record Ed Whitlock, 85, is a new world record holder after the English-born Canadian finished the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in under four hours last Sunday. He ran the fastest in the 85-90 years age category.

Whitlock ran the marathon in 3 hours, 56 minutes -- smashing the previous record of 4 hours, 34 minutes. Whitlock is known as “The Master,” and certainly lives up to his name.

The singlet he ran in is 30 years old, while his sneakers are 15 years old. “They’re wellaged,” he joked in a post-race

press conference.

He did not race last year due to problems with his knees.

“Somehow on occasion I get running in a long groove and they flare up and start to hurt,” he said. “The only thing I can do that seems to get rid of it is to take a rest.”

Whether he’ll be able to break his own record, Whitlock is uncertain. “I don’t want to disgrace myself, I suppose,” he said, laughing. Seeing as he currently holds 36 world records, disgrace is not at all likely.

Injured Enosoregbe Bows Out of 2016 Lagos Governor’s Cup Tennis Birthday boy, Nigerian Clifford Enosoregbe failed to make it pass the second round of the second leg (Futures 6) of the 16th edition of Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship as he could not finish his match against Tunisian Moez Echargui in the game played at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan on Wednesday.

The Edo born player, a wildcard entrant, who turned 27 yesterday, lost 3-6,0-4 (retired) to the Tunisian star with his head high believing

that if not for the injury, he would have given his North African opponent a good fight.

Other Nigerians, who played in the second round, were not able to scale the hurdles to the next round just like Enosoregbe. Maciej Smola of Poland beat Thomas Otu 6-2,6-2. Boy Westerhof from The Netherlands defeated Joseph Imeh Ubon in straight set of 6-36-2,while top seed from Spain, Enrique Lopez - Perez beat Sylvester Emmanuel on another straight set of 6-4,6-4.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Governor of Rivers State,

Nyesom Wike, the Inspector General of Police, among others to ensure that those

behind this killing and that of other innocent Niger Delta youths do not go unpunished.

English-born Canadian road runner, Ed Whitlock, 85, finished the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 3 hours, 56 minutes to set a new world record ...last Sunday

“The Joint Military Taskforce (JTF) ,Operation Delta Safe, should live up to its name by ensuring that those who have taken the lives of the Niger Delta youths like Joseph, it was meant to save, do not get away with impunity.

“The failure on the part of the appropriate authorities to act and do so swiftly will lead to consequences that would have far-reaching effect on the interest of the government”, the IYC warned.

Meanwhile, Rivers State Sport Commissioner, Boma Iyaye, said yesterday that the death of Joseph Izu “represents another dark chapter in the history of Nigerian football.”

Iyaye urged the 3SC family to show strength following the sad turn of events while urging security operatives to fish out the killers of Izu. “The death of this vibrant young man, cut short at the prime of his career, represents yet another dark chapter in the history of Nigerian football.

“I have since sent my personal condolences to 3SC and on behalf of the sport fraternity in Rivers State, I also urge the Izu family to be strong in this period of great sadness.

“I am also using this medium to call on security operatives to embark on exhaustive investigations with a view of bringing the killers of the late Izu to book,” he said.

The late player joined 3SC in the 2013/14 season from Bayelsa United and had just completed his third season at the Oluyole Warriors.

Ganduje Sacks Kano Pillars FC Board Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has dissolved the board of Kano Pillars Football Club, headed

by Kabir Baita, describing it as a terrible disappointment.

The four-time Nigeria champions Kano Pillars finished a disappointing seventh this past season despite huge financial support from the government.

The governor has directed the Chairman of the State Sports Commission, Ibrahim Galadima, to draft a proposal on a new proactive board that would work towards restoring the glory of the club.

Ganduje gave the directive yesterday when he received players of Kano Pillars Basketball team who visited him in his office. He recalled that when he was deputy

governor, he was overseeing the affairs of the club which made the Mai Masugida to become one of the best clubs in the continent.

“I made sure they got what they wanted and I even went to the extent of investing my personal resources in the club to ensure that they succeeded.

Now that I am the governor, the most shameful thing is that despite putting somebody whom I know has the capacity to succeed to head the board, Kano Pillars is in disarray and has failed horribly,” the governor lamented.

Ganduje who is pained by the dwindling fortunes of Kano Pillars said: “I advised them on the strategy to adopt to remain on top of the league and I told them we (government) was ready to follow their plans.

Unfortunately, the issue of

money became more important to them than performance.

They pursued personal and monetary interests and could not maintain their position on the NPFL.” The governor however assured fans of the club that he was going to put in place a new board for the team for Pillars to regain its pride of place amongst NPFL clubs in the country.

Turning to Kano Pillars Basketball Club, the governor, who recalled his exploits as a first team player during his secondary school days promised to support the team to retain its position as the best team in West Africa with quality preparation for the sub-regional basketball championship coming up in the next few days.

On his part, Galadima assured the governor that

the players would use the power of sports to project the image of Kano and the state government.

“We are now number one in basketball, number one in taekwondo and number three in handball. Very soon, we shall dominate all sports in appreciation of your remarkable interest in the development of the sector,” Galadima who is a former chairman of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA) concluded.

Before the announcement yesterday, there were reports of infighting on the management of Pillars with some members of the board up in arms with Baita whom was alleged to be running a one-man show.

The sack of the management means the hiring of a new coach will now have to be delayed as well.

Onazi Drags Lazio to FIFA over Unpaid Wages Nigeria international Ogenyi Onazi has concluded plans to take his former club Lazio to FIFA over unpaid wages, AfricanFootball.com can exclusively report.

A source close to the player told AfricanFootball.

com that the hard working Trabzonspor of Turkey midfielder is not happy that he is being owed two months’ salary by the Italian Serie A club.

“Onazi is taking Lazio to FIFA over-unpaid salary,” the source told

only AfricanFootball.com “He is not happy with them and has contacted Lazio over the issue but it seems they are not ready to pay. He served them letter to this effect already.”

He is owed May and June salaries.

Onazi

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THURSDAYSPORTS U E F A

C H A M P I O N S

L E A G U E

Messi Punishes Guardiola’s Man City with Hat-trick Ozil on rampage as Gunners crush Ludogorets 6-0

Lionel Messi scored a hattrick as Barcelona punished 10-man Manchester City in the Champions League on Pep Guardiola’s return to his old club last night.

City was competitive in the first half, but made far too many errors against a ruthless Barcelona revelling in Messi’s return from injury.

A Fernandinho slip inside his own box put Messi clear for his first, then Kevin de Bruyne lost possession allowing Andres Iniesta to set up the Argentine for a left-footed strike into the bottom corner.

The evening got worse for the visitors when goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was sent off for handling outside the box and minutes later Messi struck again.

Barcelona was also reduced to 10 men in the last 15 minutes as substitute Jeremy Mathieu was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Raheem Sterling, but by then the damage had been done.

Willy Caballero saved a late Neymar penalty - but the Brazilian scored from open play minutes later to complete a comprehensive win for the La Liga side.

The victory maintained Group A

Team Arsenal PSG FC Basel Ludogorets

Group B

Team Napoli Besiktas Benfica D’Kyiv

Group C

Team Barcelona Man City M’gladbach Celtic

Group D

Team Atlético Bayern FC Rostov PSV

Group E

Team Monaco Tottenham Leverkusen CSKA

Group F

Team Dortmund Real Madrid Sporting Legia

Group G

Team Leicester Copenhagen FC Porto Brugge

Group H

Team Juventus Sevilla Lyon D’Zagreb

Barcelona’s 100 per cent start in Group C and extended their lead over City to five points.

And it was another miserable return to the Nou Camp for Guardiola. During his celebrated four-year tenure as Barcelona manager the Catalan won 14 trophies, but he has now twice lost heavily to the Spaniards - the other being a 3-0 first-leg semi-final defeat with Bayern Munich.

Messi’s compatriot Sergio Aguero was only named on the substitutes’ bench for City as Guardiola chose De Bruyne in the ‘false nine’ position, with Raheem Sterling, David Silva and Nolito in support.

If it was a surprising decision, the tactics were largely effective in the first

RESULTS Arsenal 6 - 0 Ludogorets Barcelona 4 - 0 Man City Celtic 0 - 2 M’gladbach D’Kyiv 0 - 2 Benfica Bayern 4 - 1 PSV Rostov 0 - 1 Atlético Napoli 2 - 3 Besiktas PSG 3 - 0 Basel

P 3 2 3 3

W 2 2 0 0

D 1 1 1 1

L 0 0 2 2

GF 9 7 1 2

GA 1 2 6 10

GD 8 5 -5 -8

Pts 7 7 1 1

P 3 3 3 3

W 2 1 1 0

D 0 2 1 1

L 1 0 1 2

GF 8 5 5 2

GA 6 4 5 5

GD 2 1 0 -3

Pts 6 5 4 1

P 3 3 3 3

W 3 1 1 0

D 0 1 0 1

L 0 1 2 2

GF 13 7 3 3

GA 1 7 6 12

GD 12 0 -3 -9

Pts 9 4 3 1

P 3 3 3 3

W 3 2 0 0

D 0 0 1 1

L 0 1 2 2

GF 3 9 2 3

GA 0 2 8 7

GD 3 7 -6 -4

Pts 9 6 1 1

P 3 3 3 3

W 1 1 0 0

D 2 1 3 2

L 0 1 0 1

GF 4 2 3 3

GA 3 2 3 4

GD 1 0 0 -1

Pts 5 4 3 2

P 3 3 3 3

W 2 2 1 0

D 1 1 0 0

L 0 0 2 3

GF 10 9 4 1

GA 3 4 4 13

GD 7 5 0 -12

Pts 7 7 3 0

P 3 3 3 3

W 3 1 1 0

D 0 1 1 0

L 0 1 1 3

GF 5 5 3 1

GA 0 2 3 9

GD 5 3 0 -8

Pts 9 4 4 0

P 3 3 3 3

W 2 2 1 0

D 1 1 0 0

L 0 0 2 3

GF 5 2 3 0

GA 0 0 2 8

GD 5 2 1 -8

Pts 7 7 3 0

Mercurial Messi scored a hat-trick in Barcelona’s 4-0 defeat of Man City ...last night half as City, crowding the midfield and pressing high, proved Barcelona’s equal in terms of possession and passes and were undone by the sort of mistake it is impossible to protect against.

The visitors had chances of their own too. Nolito forced Marc-Andre ter Stegen into action, while John Stones should have headed home a wonderful David Silva

free-kick.

But City’s fate was sealed before the hour when Bravo clumsily passed to Suarez and, despite being outside the box, instinctively saved the striker’s chip, leaving referee Milorad Mazic with little option but to send him off.

To add to City’s woes Pablo Zabaleta was forced from the field, the captain

injured in the build-up to Bravo’s sending-off and replaced with Gael Clichy.

City reverted to a three-man defence, but more goals followed.

Elsewhere on the night, Mesut Ozil scored a hattrick after stunning goals from Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott as Arsenal dismantled Ludogorets Razgrad in a ruthless

Champions League display.

Sanchez got the first with a masterful chip from just inside the box.

Walcott powered a curling shot home after Ludogorets’ Wanderson hit a post.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain smashed a loose ball into the corner for the third, before Ozil scored three times in a game for the first time in his career.

WORLD CUP 2018 QUALIFIER

FIFA Appoints Africa’s Best Ref to Take Charge of Nigeria, Algeria Clash Football’s world ruling body, FIFA, has appointed respected Gambian official, Bakary Papa Gassama, as referee for next month’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Algeria, scheduled for the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo. The Match-day 2 encounter between two of the fiercest rivals in African football will see Jean-Claude Birumushahu from Burundi as assistant referee 1, Marwa Range from Kenya as assistant referee 2 and Gassama’s

2 0 1 6

compatriot, Maudo Jallow as fourth official.

FIFA has also appointed Jean-Olivier Mbera from Gabon as referee assessor, Ghanaian Anthony Baffoe as match commissioner and Nicholas Chumba Musonye from Kenya as security officer.

Gassama, 37, and who has been an international referee since 2008, is one of the most respected referees in Africa. He has already been appointed as referee for this year’s CAF Champions League final, second leg clash between Zamalek of Egypt and

G L O - C A F

Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, taking place in Alexandria on Sunday, 23rd October. Birumushahu and Range will also be part of the officiating crew for that match, at which Nigeria’s Paul Bassey will serve as General Coordinator.

Group B leaders Nigeria welcome the Fennecs to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Saturday, November 12 in one of the most anticipated matches of the Match-day 2 of the African qualifying race.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)

has won a protest it quietly launched following the release of the official match appointment, which set the kick-off time at 5.30pm.

“The information we sent to FIFA was that we wanted the match to start at 5pm; we were surprised when the match appointment was released and the kick-off time was set at 5.30pm.

The NFF immediately protested and eventually, on Wednesday morning, FIFA agreed that the match will start at 5pm,” NFF’s Director of Competitions, Bola Oyeyode, confirmed to thenff.com.

A W A R D S

Nomination of Iheanacho, Mikel, Musa Delight Nigerians Nigerians have hailed the nomination of three Nigerian internationals for the 2016 African Player of the Year in the Glo-CAF Awards.

The Confederation of African Football late on Saturday in Cairo released the list of 30 shortlisted players including three Nigerians, John Mikel Obi of Chelsea, Ahmed Musa of Leicester City and Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester

City for African Player of the Year Awards alongside 25 nominees for African Player of the Year, based in Africa.

The nomination of the three players has been commended by Nigerians, with majority of them hoping that one of the nominees will emerge the continents’ number one player at the 2016 Glo CAF Awards gala in Abuja on

January 5, 2017.

Ex- international, Mr. Victor Ikpeba popularly known as ‘Prince of Monaco’ believed that the nomination of the Nigerian players will inspire other Nigerian footballers across the world to work harder and make Nigeria proud next season.

“The nomination of Kelechi, Mikel and Musa is a good development and will encourage others.

Hopefully we will have more Nigerians on the list next year.” Ikpeba, a former African Player of the Year added.

According to the Group Sports Editor of Nation Newspapers, Mr. Ade Ojeikere, “This is a good development. Let’s hope that they will eventually make the top three and one of them will pick the award after many years.”

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Price: N250

MISSILE Adeniyi Ademola to Abubakar Malami

“Whilst I was in Kano between 2004 and2008 as a Federal High Court judge, he was involved in a professional misconduct necessitating his arrest and detention by my order. However, with the intervention of NBA, Kano Branch, the allegation of misconduct was later withdrawn by me. Consequently, the NJC referred Abubakar Malami (SAN) to the NBA Disciplinary Committee for disciplinary action” – Justice Adeniyi Ademola, one of the judges arrested by DSS attributing his ordeal to the AGF and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Of Aso Rock Demons and ‘the Other Room’ I woke up last Friday to find on my handset messages with strange questions: Is it true that people bath with blood in Aso Rock? Are there demons in Aso Rock that make leaders take decisions that are not in the public interest? Did you ever notice anybody walking head to the ground at the villa?

Is strange death a common phenomenon for people who work in Aso Rock? Can you still perform your bedroom functions as a husband? The questions, which I considered rather weird and ridiculous, kept coming in torrents; and even when a few made allusion to Dr. Reuben Abati, I honestly didn’t understand what the whole hoopla was all about. That was until I got a mail from my friend, Wale Adebanwi, an associate professor at the University of California, Davis, United States.

Wale’s mail read: “Hi Sege, I trust that all is well. I am sure you’ve read Reuben Abati’s latest piece making the rounds about his experience when in office. Do you think there is a pattern to this that fits your own experience? As a student of power in Nigeria, I am wondering whether these are “isolated” experiences, even if meaningful, or if they constituted a consistent pattern of experiences over the long term; and, of course, the implications for public rule and governance. Did you “notice” similar “evil” during your time in the Villa? (I know you’re a deacon, so maybe you “rebuked them in Jesus name”!)

It was Wale’s mail that gave me a clue and I went to read Reuben. I can say very quickly that his experience was different from mine; even when I will not discountenance his narrative. But before going further, I need to respond to some of the specific questions. One, it is public knowledge that my boss died in office even though I have always attributed the fate that befell him to medical reasons; having confirmed that the illness being managed at the period was of a terminal nature and it started long before he was elected president. Two, to the glory of God, I lost no member of my family while in Aso Rock and none of my staff died. Three, I had three children before I went into Aso Rock and I still have three children today. But that is not because I “cannot get it up” after leaving the Villa.

That last explanation is particularly important given what transpired last Sunday afternoon. I was at Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja for the Open Day of my children when I got a call from the editor of THISDAY, Ms Ijeoma Nwogwugwu who asked, “Shegs, are you okay?” It was an unusual question to which I responded in the affirmative. But the moment she mentioned Reuben and started giggling, I knew what Ijeoma was driving at. I simply passed the mobile handset to my wife who happened to be sitting by my side at the time. It must have been an interesting conversation between the duo given the way my wife kept laughing. When she was done, she narrated the exchange to

Aisha Buhari me. Ijeoma was not content with the fact that my “instrument” is still working, she asked my wife to compare and contrast, in full details, my “performance” before Aso Rock and now!

While it will be an interesting research topic to ascertain what happens “down below” to people who go to Aso Rock and return to tell their stories, it is important to deal with more substantive issues: Did I make mistakes as presidential spokesman?

For sure, I did and I accept responsibility for them. Did my late boss take some decisions that turned out to be wrong in the course of his illness-punctuated stewardship? Yes, of course. Would I attribute such decisions to witchcraft and demons lurking within the precincts of the Villa—where, by the way, I stayed with my family in a two-bedroom apartment?

I will not.

By sheer coincidence, Reuben’s piece was published on the same day Mrs Aisha Buhari joined Nigeria’s growing army of “wailing wailers” by publicly criticising her husband in a BBC Hausa Service interview which prompted the president to issue a chauvinistic counter in Germany that his wife’s business does not extend beyond his kitchen and “the other room”. Since no wife of a Nigerian president has ever publicly criticised her husband before, and Mrs Buhari would be the last you would ordinarily expect to do such thing, it was convenient to attribute her action to the demons Reuben wrote about. And in a way, people who think like that may not be too far wrong.

At the presidential villa, the biggest “deity” has always been the wife of the president. Almost everybody worships “the mother of the nation”! Even those who are old enough to be her father would stoop before the First Lady whenever they are looking for patronage from the president.

In Nigeria, careers are made and unmade in “the other room” where critical issues of governance are often decided by the

disposition of the occupant and public interest is usually the last consideration in such matters.

Whatever may be her real motivation, Mrs Buhari’s intervention seems to have attracted more applause than condemnation from a broad section of the Nigerian public who feel disappointed by how Buhari has frittered away the enormous goodwill that brought him to power. How the president and his wife eventually settle their differences remains their problem.

But to the extent that the message from “the other room” resonates, there is need for course correction by the president whose ardent supporters and implacable opponents now find common grounds on several issues concerning his stewardship.

However, it may also be useful to expand briefly on the demon thesis. When people seek power in Nigeria, whether in the political or spiritual realms, not a few of them go for diabolical means. For instance, in January this year, some shallow graves were unearthed under the foundation of a popular church in Enugu. Following the shock find, it was discovered that the three deceased persons were members of the Tricycle Riders Association in the state, who had earlier been declared missing.

What was the pastor looking for? Power, money and fame!

Two years ago in Ilorin, an Islamic cleric was arrested by the police after being caught while performing rituals with the placenta of a baby whose naming rite he had conducted a few days earlier. On searching his house, they found several human parts and a boy who confessed that the cleric asked him to exhume the placenta to prepare charms. What could the Imam possibly be looking for? Power, money and fame!

The question then is: why do we expect anything different in the political environment, especially in a country where people are desperate for ill-gotten money and power to serve self? So, the fact that I never witnessed any such rituals inside Aso Rock does not mean it may not have happened. But even if it did, is that enough justification to jettison the premises to build another one? I would not advocate that.

Because, if we do that, and the demons relocate to the new edifice, what do we do: Abandon it to build another one?

For me, the real problem in Nigeria is that we run a system with little accountability and because of that, we have elevated people in positions of public trust to the status of “demons”. That is why we deify them and those who peddle influence around them: from domestic servants (cooks, stewards etc) to personal aides to some powerful concubines and then to the occupants of “the other room”. But this is not only a problem restricted to Abuja; it is replicated in the government houses in all the 36 states.

In our country today, when we elect people into public offices, it doesn’t take long before they become something of a

deity. We worship and glorify their foibles and even idiocy. Once so elevated beyond the realistic realm, they also begin to assume the attitude of some little gods.

The attendant insecurity that follows breeds a dependence on some external forms of security which they seek in the realm of invisible forces. For a society that glorifies the supernatural, the physical abode of the ruler also becomes a haunted edifice.

And with that, it becomes convenient to attribute wrong decisions and actions taken by ordinarily rational beings to inscrutable diabolical forces.

It is true that we remain predominantly a traditional society in our thought and belief systems. But we have set up a nation with modern institutions requiring the urgent need for us to abandon the domain of assorted prophets and spiritualists. To elevate superstition to the level of a directive principle of state policy and an instrument of national governance is to risk becoming too consumed in the primordial relics of a society in transition. What we need to dismantle in our country today are not physical structures like Aso Rock but the mindset that creates the “demons” that haunt the nation at all levels.

The greater challenge is that even the modern religions that we have embraced are deployed for political purposes. For instance, on several occasions between June 2007 and late 2009, I was always being invited to worship at the Aso Rock Chapel, which by the way I still don’t know how it looks from inside. I couldn’t worship there because, as I explained to those extending the invitation from then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan’s office, I had responsibility in my church. At that period, only few people were worshipping at the chapel.

However, the moment Dr. Jonathan became acting president in February 2010, I was amazed by the sheer number of prominent Nigerians who were calling to ask how I could get them to attend service at Aso Rock chapel. And when my boss eventually died and Jonathan became substantive president, you would imagine that access to the chapel was a passport to heaven given the desperation to worship there. I would not be surprised if some were actually going there with charms!

What used to happen at the Aso Rock Chapel under Jonathan has been transferred to the Aso Rock Mosque under Buhari as I wrote in my 23rd June 2016 piece on this page titled, “The Testimony of Brother Cyprian” where I explained the political dimension to faith profession in the Nigerian public space. That is why I would not want to locate the solution to our problem within the spiritual realm. Building monuments and dedicating them to the glory of the Living God is good. But applying ourselves to the task of rebuilding our country, as most other societies have done, is much more productive as that will be to the glory of both the Living God and our nationals.

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