Friday 16th December 2016

Buhari Lauds Amina Mohammed’s Appointment as UN Deputy Secretary-General Tobi Soniyi with agency report

The new UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres yesterday announced the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed as his Deputy Secretary-General.

Guterres made the

announcement through the spokesman of the Secretary-General, Mr. Stephane Dujarric.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Guterres also announced the duo of Ms. Maria Viotti of Brazil and

Ms. Kyung-wha Kang of the Republic of Korea into high-profile positions at the UN. “I am pleased to announce that I will be appointing Mrs. Amina J. Mohammed of Nigeria as my Deputy Secretary-General, and Ms.

Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti of Brazil as my Chef De Cabinet.

“I also intend to create the position of Special Advisor on Policy, and to appoint Ms. Kyung-wha Kang of the Republic of Korea to this new role.

“I am happy to count on

the efforts of these three highly competent women, whom I have chosen for their strong backgrounds in global affairs, development, diplomacy, human rights and humanitarian action.

Continued on page 8

Mohammed

FG Says It's Not Responsible for Suffering of Nigerians… Page 12 Friday 16 December, 2016 Vol 21. No 7911. Price: N250

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FG Exits JV Cash Call Payments to IOCs… Page 8

Damning DSS Report Indicts Magu for Corruption, Living Double Life Senate rejects his nomination as substantive head of commission Asks Buhari to send fresh nominee, Ethics C’ttee to probe SGF Swears in Rivers senators-elect Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja A damning report by the Department of State Security

(DSS) exposing the alleged double life, sabotage and corruption of the acting Chairman of the Economic

and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has been cited as the reasons by the Senate

for its refusal to confirm him as the substantive chairman of the anti-graft agency.

But this was after the

Senate had dangled a juicy carrot before Magu for more than a week, before it finally drew the curtain on his fate

yesterday, when it rejected his confirmation.

Continued on page 10

Access Bank’s Triple Honour at Emerging Markets Awards Shows Resilience, Says Analyst Obinna Chima Foremost African financial institution and one of Nigeria’s Tier 1 banks, Access Bank Plc has emerged as Nigeria’s biggest winner at the 2016 EMEA Finance Banking Awards held by leading financial publication, EMEA Finance magazine, which a market analyst described last night as the resilience of the bank despite the challenging macroeconomic environment.

A statement by the

bank said it won in three categories awarded to financial institutions in the Pan-African Region: ‘CEO of the Year’, awarded to Access Bank’s Group Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, ‘Best Bank in Nigeria’ and ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’.

Receiving the award on behalf of the bank at the annual African Banking Awards dinner held in London, the United Kingdom Continued on page 8

Group Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe (right), with the Publisher/Chief Executive of EMEA Finance magazine, Mr. Christopher Moore, at the EMEA Finance African Banking Awards 2016 held in London… recently

Inflation Rises for 13th Straight Month to 18.48%, Unemployment Climbs to 13.9%… Page 12

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FG Exits JV Cash Call Payments to IOCs Crude oil production now averages 1.8mbpd, says Kachikwu Nigeria saving N15.4bn monthly from subsidy removal Chineme Okafor in Abuja The federal government has disclosed that it has formally exited the joint venture cash calls arrangements it has had with the international oil companies operating in the country for more than four decades.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who announced the termination of the cash calls yesterday in Abuja, also said the government was exiting them with an outstanding debt of $5.1 billion, which he had at some point stated would be paid over a period of five years through incremental oil production volumes.

He said with savings to be made under the new arrangement, the federal government’s revenue was expected to increase by $2 billion annually, while Nigeria’s oil production will increase to 2.5 million barrels per day (mbpd) by 2019.

Kachikwu also said the development was expected to result in a reduction in the unit technical production cost of oil from $27.96 per barrels (bpd) to $18bpd.

The minister explained that this would give the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its joint venture partners the opportunity to grow outside of the previous constraints of government’s inability to meet its obligations.

He provided clarity on the new funding arrangement for the joint

ventures, after the exit agreements were signed with Shell, Total, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) respectively.

“The reality is that the number that I have from NNPC was about $6.8 billion over the last three to four years. We managed to get a hair cut out of it which is like a discount from the oil companies of about $1.7 billion. And then we have $5.1 billion in the next five years to repay,” said Kachikwu on the cash call debt left behind.

He explained that the exit from the cash calls obligations would usher in a self-financing regime, adding: “We are letting the operators capture their cost, deduct that, prior to getting to the next income position, back into the Federation Account.”

The companies, according to him, will now be able to go to the financial markets to raise money when they need to do so outside of government constraints.

He said that the exit strategy would give NNPC and the IOCs the room to grow as much as they want without the constraints of federal government’s controls or budgetary challenges, and that the governance issues that have been put in place for the new policy would reduce substantially the amount of time it takes to implement contracts.

The minister explained that the first point of call was for the IOCs to be able to deduct their costs as opposed to the old system where money was made, taken to the federal purse and the

Fuel consumption down to 28m litres per day

IOCs begged the government to pay them, which in most cases, government never did.

Kachikwu also stated that the implementation of the cash call policy delayed production, weakened efficiency and degenerated confidence, and that the historic agreement would bring clarity and stability to the management of the country’s oil and gas resources.

The agreement, he added, had also received the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Kachikwu had earlier said, during his presentation of his ministry's scorecard for 2016, that Nigeria’s daily crude oil production was now about 1.8mbpd, up from 1.3mbpd after the incessant attacks on oil and gas facilities by militants in the Niger Delta early this year.

He also said the country’s daily domestic fuel consumption was now about 28 million litres, down from the often bandied 40 million litres per day.

This, he said was achieved following the government’s partial deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector, which he added would be completed in 2017.

Disclosing some of his achievements in this regards, he said: “The Niger Delta was another issue and very complicated.

Counter accusations have never solved the problems.

“We have begun to put some smart solutions to this tertiary level of engagements outside the corridors of identification and this is important for us to reach out to people

who may be on the run but are relevant to finding the solutions and that has led us to bringing back our all-time low production of 1.3mbpd closer to 1.8mbpd.

“But for some minor incidents, we probably would be closer to 2.1mbpd or 2.2mbpd. The reality about the Niger Delta is that no matter what you do, you never forget your base or you will be planning in vain and so we need to reach out to that base.

“We set a zero militancy target in 2017 and we want to ensure that anything that needs to be done should be done.”

On domestic fuel consumption, he said: “We have a situation today where refined petroleum consumption has gone down from an all-time high of 40 million litres a day to about 28 million litres a day and this says a lot in terms of savings and the efficiency that is in place.”

Also speaking at the event, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said the removal of fuel subsidy had helped to eliminate a funding burden of not less than N15.4 billion monthly from the federal government.

Represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), Osinbajo also that the $15 billion would be injected into the oil and gas sector.

“I am pleased to be the special guest of honour at the agreement signing ceremony for the Joint Venture Cash Call exit and the announcement of $15 billion investments to be

parity would be top of his agenda as the UN scribe.

Guterres is succeeding Ban, who will bow out on December 31, after a decade of two terms.

Reacting to Mrs. Mohammed’s appointment, President Muhammadu Buhari welcomed her elevation to the post of Deputy Secretary-General of the UN. A statement by his media aide, Mr. Garba Shehu, said the president spoke with Guterres who called to inform him (Buhari) of his decision to name Mrs. Mohammed as the Deputy Secretary-General yesterday evening.

Shehu said Buhari used the opportunity to reiterate his support for Guterres and congratulated him on his upcoming tenure.

He said the president endorsed the excellent selection of Mrs. Mohammed.

“By her appointment, Nigeria has been honoured,” said the president.

Shehu said Buhari thanked

Mrs. Mohammed for her untiring contributions to transform Nigeria and said he looked forward to sustained collaboration between the UN and Nigeria.

He said he had no doubt that she would continue to make Nigeria proud at the global level.

The statement added: “It is expected that the Minister of Environment will be transitioning to her new role in March 2017. In the meantime, it is expected that she will continue to lay strong foundations with various important ongoing initiatives critical to the government’s success in the environment sector.

“These include, but not limited to implementation of our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Climate Agreement, the successful launch of the Sovereign Green Bonds in 2017, the ongoing Ogoni clean-up and development of the Great Green Wall.”

FG EXITS JV CASH CALL PAYMENTS TO IOCS “These appointments are the foundations of my team, which I will continue to build, respecting my pledges on gender parity and geographical diversity,” Guterres said.

Prior to her appointment as Minister of Environment a year ago, Mrs. Mohammed had served as the UN Under Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Post-2015 Development Planning.

She was instrumental in bringing about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

Before joining the UN, Mrs. Mohammed worked for three successive administrations in Nigeria, serving as Special Adviser on the Millennium Development Goals.

She provided advice on issues including poverty alleviation, public sector reforms and sustainable development, and

coordinating poverty reduction interventions.

She was also an Adjunct Professor in Development Practice at Columbia University, and served on numerous international advisory boards and panels, including the UN SecretaryGeneral’s High-level Panel on Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Others included the Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development, and the Global Development Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

She was also on the UN Secretary-General’s Global Sustainability Panel, the African Women’s Millennium Initiative, Girl Effect and the ActionAid International Right to Education Project.

Born in 1961, and educated in Nigeria and the UK, Mrs. Mohammed is married and has six children.

Guterres had hinted on Monday, after he took the oath of office, that gender

injected into the sector.

“The oil and gas sector remains very critical to the stability and growth of our economy as it accounts for about 90 per cent of foreign exchange earnings.

“Amongst others, the downstream sector has been deregulated with the elimination of the petroleum subsidy.

“This policy has removed from government, a burden of not less than N15.4 billion monthly,” he said.

The vice-president said that government had taken steps to increase the domestic refining capacity by repairing the refineries operated by NNPC. “We have also licensed modular refineries and support the development of private refineries one of which is a 650,000 barrel per day capacity (being built by the Dangote Group),” he said.

According to him, one of

the refineries was nearing completion, adding that when completed, it will restore “our pipelines to facilitate crude and products transportation”.

He confirmed that FEC had approved new measures aimed at eliminating the burden of the cash call obligations and eased future payments in the upstream sector.

Osinbajo also commended the World Bank on the global initiative to secure the environment by ending and commercialising gas flares.

“It will boost the discharge of international obligations by Nigeria on climate change and contribute to our national power generation capacity,” he said.

He also urged other ministries to come up with scorecards on their stewardship in the past year.

ACCESS BANK’S TRIPLE HONOUR AT EMERGING MARKETS AWARDS SHOWS RESILIENCE, SAYS ANALYST recently, Wigwe thanked the staff of Access Bank, acknowledging their support in achieving the goal of not only becoming one of the top three banks in Nigeria, but also for participating in the firm’s CSR activities that have touched the lives of thousands of Nigerians.

Wigwe said: “We are delighted to receive these prestigious awards. It is a testimonial to the hard work we have done in line with our five-year strategy to become the world’s most respected African Bank.

“2016 has been a remarkable year for the bank as we continue to receive both regional and international acclaim. We have reaffirmed our status as innovative industry pioneers equipped to help our customers take tomorrow today.”

Commenting on Access Bank’s impressive streak, EMEA Finance CEO, Christopher Moore said: “A repeat winner of our Best Bank in Nigeria award, Access Bank has become a Nigerian powerhouse, and one of the premier financial institutions in the country.

“Generating steep increases in revenues and profit growth over the past several years is no small feat, particularly with the strong negative macroeconomic headwinds.”

The hat trick comes after two recent big wins at the Business Day Awards where the bank was named ‘Bank of the Year’ and Access Bank’s Group Managing Director and CEO was also crowned ‘Bank CEO of the Year’.

“We are delighted to recognise Wigwe as our CEO of the Year in our African Banking Awards 2016 awards package,”

Moore said.

“Leadership requires ambition, and Wigwe possesses this quality and much more. His years of dedication and commitment to the development of Access Bank have helped it to attract over eight million customers, to complete complex and strategically important financings, and to create an international presence,” he added.

EMEA Finance is a leading bi-monthly global industry publication that reports on the major financial events and happenings initiated and influenced by the international financial industry active in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Wigwe has led Access Bank’s efforts to incorporate sustainability across all aspects of the bank’s activities.

In doing so, he also moved the entire sector forward, and now all of Nigeria’s banks, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), have adopted what is known as the Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principles.

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Security of One Billion Accounts Breached After Yahoo Hack Yahoo, one of the world’s most popular web portals and search engines, has said that it has identified a system breach that occurred in August 2013, involving data associated with more than one billion accounts.

The company said it believed this incident was probably distinct from the breach it disclosed in September, when information

associated with at least 500 million user accounts was stolen from its network in 2014.

Yahoo, which is being acquired by Verizon, said an unauthorised third party had stolen the data in the latest breach announced and that it was working closely with law enforcement.

Yahoo said the stolen user

account information may have included names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords and, in some cases, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers.

Payment card data and bank account information were not stored in the system believed to be affected, the company said.

10 Most Ridiculous Church Names in Africa Welcome to the new age.

Where everybody wakes up and decides to set up a church.

They all have funny names too. Well, if you think we are joking, then take a ride with us.

when you see it but people are obviously blind and do not really think much of the meaning. As the saying goes, “he who runs, lives to fight another day.”

1. Run For Your Life Ministry:

2. The Atomic Bomb Bible Brigade Ministry:

It seems this church is trying to tell you to run for your life

We don’t know whether

this is actually the name of a church or a military base, only God knows.

3. Tithe and Offering Bible Church of God:

This one is direct, no wahala!!

You should know what to do when you get there, it’s right in your face.

4. Satan in Trouble

Ministries: Obviously!

5. Guided Missile Church:

Now this is a war zone and you must prepare for war whenever you’re going to church.

7. Healing Tsunami

Ministries:

We’re wondering how this church intends using a Tsunami to heal? Do they even know what that is?

9. High Tension Church:

And this one probably works at the hospital

10. Target Church:

We swear, the pastor of this church is an Electrician…

You should know you’re the target if you’re a member of this church and your pocket is the bull’s eye.

• Culled from mobile. ghanaweb.com

corruption and Financial Crimes for screening.

The beginning of the end of Magu’s aspiration began on December 7, when Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the day’s plenary announced that the Senate would screen him the next day along with other nominees for the board of the anti-graft agency.

But when Magu arrived the following day for confirmation, the Senate turned him back, saying some of its members were absent and had requested for a postponement of the screening to enable them participate in the exercise.

Consequently, the Senate asked Magu to return for the screening yesterday.

However, indications that the Senate was still not favourably disposed to Magu’s confirmation became glaring yesterday, when immediately after the commencement of the plenary, the senators dissolved into an executive session after Magu had arrived at the National Assembly complex.

While the closed-door session was ongoing, questions arose as to why the Senate had decided to go into a closed-door session over the matter of Magu’s screening and confirmation that had been with it for six months.

It was learnt that the executive session was stormy, as there were altercations between strong opponents of Magu among the senators and the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, who reportedly made a case for Magu's screening because they both hail from the same area.

Eventually, towards the end of the session, it was learnt that Magu was invited into the meeting where the bombshell was eventually broken to him.

THISDAY learnt yesterday that the Senate was more or less given a free hand to reject

Magu, following a remark made

by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Senate leadership, which had asked for his opinion about Magu’s screening and the security report it had received from Department of State Services (DSS).

The president was said to have told the senators to go and do what was right in their eyes, a statement the senators were said to have interpreted to mean that he had no due interest in Magu’s confirmation if it was not well deserved.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had on June 17, 2016, while serving as the acting president, sent Magu’s name to the Senate for confirmation.

But Saraki did not read the letter until July 14. And after reading the letter, the Senate was silent on Magu’s confirmation until December 7, when Ekweremadu announced his screening, which never was.

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday also expressed anger over the comment credited to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, that the Senate was talking rubbish after it called for his resignation and prosecution over his alleged mismanagement of the funds allocated to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North-east.

In response, the Senate, which acknowledged that the Office of the SGF was an important position that should be occupied only by responsible persons, referred the matter to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for further investigation.

It also swore-in three the new senators – George Sekibo, Magus Abe and Osinachukwu Ideozu – that had emerged victorious in the Rivers State rerun elections held last weekend.

At the end of yesterday’s plenary, the Senate adjourned to January 10, 2017, in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

8. The Ministry of Unclad Wire:

DAMNING DSS REPORT INDICTS MAGU FOR CORRUPTION, LIVING DOUBLE LIFE Instead, the Senate asked President Muhammadu Buhari to send the name of a fresh nominee for its confirmation, but gave the nod for the screening of other nominees of the commission by its anti-graft committee.

Magu’s rejection was announced at a press briefing in the National Assembly by the Senate spokesman, Sabi Abdullahi, after a two-hour closed-door meeting.

Abdullahi cited an unfavourable security report as the reason for Magu's rejection.

“This is an official statement from the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It’s the statement on the confirmation of the nomination of the chairman and members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to inform the general public that based on the security report available to the Senate, the Senate cannot proceed and confirm the nomination of Ibrahim Magu Mustapha as the Executive Chairman of the EFCC. “Accordingly, the Senate hereby rejects the said nomination and has returned the said nomination to Mr. President for further action,” Abudullahi said.

Abdullahi, however, tried to avoid questions from journalists on why it had taken the Senate this long to arrive at the decision and why it also took the parliament almost two hours before making its decision public.

But following the insistence by journalists that the Senate must explain its decision, Sabi said: “There’s no confusion here.

We have said it was based on a security report. Please, all of us public officers go for security screening, everybody!

“And we are saying that based on a security report, we cannot proceed and confirm

him and we are rejecting his nomination and returning it to Mr. President for further action, that’s just the statement. It’s as simple as that.

“That’s exactly what the Senate has said and I don’t have any other explanation more than this.”

The security report, which was sighted yesterday and confirmed THISDAY’s exclusive report last June that the acting EFCC chairman was being investigated for his close ties to an indicted retired Nigerian Air Force officer, Commodore Umar Mohammed, was written by the DSS and addressed to the Senate on October 3, 2016.

In the 15-paragraph letter, DSS said its investigation conducted on Magu showed that in August 2008, following a search at his residence during the tenure of Mrs. Farida Waziri as the EFCC chairman, some sensitive documents that were not supposed to be in his possession were found.

The report also said the discovery resulted in his detention and subsequent redeployment from EFCC back to the Nigeria Police Force after which he was suspended from the Force.

The report further said that in December 2010, the Police Service Commission (PSC) found Magu guilty of “acting prejudicially to state security, withholding files, sabotage, unauthorised removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a police officer and awarded him severe reprimand and punishment”.

The report revealed that upon the appointment of the immediate past chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, he made the return of Magu, who had earlier worked with him when he was the EFCC Director of Operations his top priority, a situation it said eventually culminated in his return to EFCC. It added that Magu’s return

to EFCC, at the instance of Lamorde, was an attestation to his culpability in allegations of corrupt practices.

It further disclosed that Magu lives a flamboyant life to the extent of currently occupying a rented apartment of N40 million, at N20 million per annum, which it said was not paid for by the EFCC but by Commodore Umar Mohammed, whom it described as a questionable businessman who was once arrested by the DSS. Mohammed was said to have lavishly furnished Magu’s residence at the cost of N43 million.

He was also accused of proceeding on official and private trips in a private carrier, Easy Jet owned by Mohammed.

On one of such trips, he was said to have flown to Maiduguri along with Mohammed, and the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, who was being investigated by the EFCC over complicity in funds allegedly lodged with the bank by the former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

As a confirmation of his flamboyant lifestyle, DSS accused Magu of cultivating the habit of flying first class against the directive of the president.

For example, he was said to have once flown first class to Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser hajj at the cost of N2.9 million.

The report also alleged that Magu lived a double life, portraying himself as an anti-graft czar, on the one hand, and living a secret life, on the other hand.

For instance, he was said to have divulged official secrets to Mohammed in view of the benefits he was deriving from him.

The DSS also said it discovered a number of official documents Magu had made available to Mohammed when

it searched the latter’s house.

One of such letters was said to have been forged from the Office of the Vice-President containing the report of a fictitious investigation by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to the president requesting for approval to commence a probe into a matter claimed to have involved the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and his brother, Dumebi.

The report further stated that Magu was fond of covering his shortcomings using police cronies to execute operations, coupled with discoveries that such cronies had acquired a lot of landed property for themselves.

In its conclusion, it stated: “In the light of the foregoing, Magu failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the present administration.”

However, THISDAY learnt yesterday that whereas the security report ought to have come from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.), it was written by the DSS on the order of the Director-General of DSS, Mr. Lawal Daura.

Prior to the release of the report by the Senate, legal luminary and civil rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) and some lawyers under the auspices of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADL), earlier yesterday had demanded that the security report be made public, failing which the Senate must confirm Magu as the EFCC chairman.

After the Senate’s closed-door meeting, Senate President Bukola Saraki announced that the appointments of other nominees of the EFCC sent along with Magu’s name, namely: Nasule Moses, Lawan Maman, Garandaji Imam Naji and Adeleke Adebayo Rafiu, remained intact and consequently referred them to the Committee on Anti-

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NEWS

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

FG Says It’s Not Responsible for Suffering of Nigerians Governors agree to cut down on chartered flights, size of convoys

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja The federal government has told Nigerians to stop blaming it for the economic recession and the attendant sufferings they are going through.

Briefing State House Correspondents after the monthly National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, who was responding to a question on widespread sufferings in the land, said the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was actually on a rescue mission.

According to him, the government has resolved to develop an economic recovery and growth plan aimed at revamping the battered economic situation.

Udoma said: “We did not cause and are not responsible for the current economic situation we find ourselves. We are actually a rescue team, a team working on rescuing Nigeria from the position we find ourselves in.

“Under President Muhammadu Buhari, we are determined to take Nigeria out of the situation. The situation started long before we came.

“As you know, oil price started falling from 2014 when it was about $110 and by January this year, it was below $30. Unfortunately, they did not save.

“None of us here now was there but we are not going to spend our time looking backwards. We are determined to change things in this country; we are determined to take Nigeria from a consuming nation to a producing nation. That is why we are developing the economic recovery and growth plan and that is our focus. We are committed to success.”

Corroborating the minister, Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufa’i, who was also part of the team mandated to brief

the press after the NEC meeting, said: “When people say that this administration has impoverished them, they are not being charitable because I have said we inherited a governmental structure that was based on the assumption that price of oil will remain $100 per barrel.

“By the time we took over, prices reduced to as low as $26 per barrel.

80 per cent of government revenue depends on the price of oil and the quantity of oil sold.

“You must expect a cut in your consumption if the price collapses.

If in your own household, your salary is slashed by 80 per cent, what will you do?

“This is what Nigeria is going through. Our revenues have collapsed by about 40 per cent to 60 per cent if you compare it to say 2014.

“This collapse happened because there is a reduction in price of oil.

Secondly, we were producing over two million barrels of oil per day but because of the situation in the Niger Delta, we are now producing about 1.1million barrels per day.

“It is therefore inevitable that there will be cut and pain. But to say that it is government that is doing it without referring to the cause is not fair.

“When I left government as minister in 2007, we left $40billion in reserves and $27billion in the Excess Crude Account, that was what we handed over to Yar’Adua.

“Coming back as the governor of Kaduna State, the people that came after us have blown the money.

They blew all we left behind, blew what they earned and borrowed, leaving President Buhari and his team to clear the mess. Nobody is even talking about that.”

The Kaduna State governor also hinted that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has resolved to wade into the Niger Delta crisis in order to stabilise the volume of crude production in the country.

He said: “Governors also raised concerns over the Niger Delta situation. You know we budgeted

that we will be producing 2.2million barrels of oil per day. At a point, oil production collapsed to one million barrels per day.

“This has significantly affected the nation’s revenue and the largest hit were the Niger Delta states that get the bulk of their revenue from the nation because the less they produced, the less they have.

“The vice-president told us that the federal government is willing and will work with the NGF to ensure that the problem is solved. The governors have essentially opened another platform of committee of governors to wade into this matter and use the knowledge of local intelligence to help.”

El-Rufa’i also said that he presented a memo to NEC recommending a slash on government expenses especially

cost of governance.

He said the NEC recommended the establishment of an Efficiency Unit in the Federal Ministry of Finance aimed at controlling recurrent expenditure by streamlining costs and improving efficiency of public service delivery.

The council also recommended enhanced accountability and transparency by plugging leakages and dealing with corruption.

He explained that NEC recommended implementation of measures to manage payroll and weed out ghost workers both at the states and federal levels.

He said the council also recommended reduction of overheads and recurrent expenditure by merging some government agencies to reduce the cost of governance.

Meanwhile, in order to reduce

cost, the NGF yesterday agreed to take some very important steps to reduce cost of governance.

El-Rufai, who addressed State House Correspondents after the meeting, said the governors agreed to reduce their convoys and excessive travels.

According to him, “One of the key issues we raised is leadership.

When leaders are seen to sacrifice, it becomes easier to convince the followers to accept pains. If, as leaders, we show that we also go through pains, it is easier to pass it down.

“We’ve agreed that we should lower our external outlook in terms of dressing; excessive travels and convoys. If you observe, private jet business is not thriving. It is part of deliberate decisions we took.”

El-Rufai said NEC called for the adoption of the 2012 Orosanye

STRONGER NAVY

L-R: Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali; President Muhammadu Buhari; Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ette Ibas, at the inauguration of 30 vessels acquired by the Nigerian Navy in Lagos...yesterday Chiemelie Ezeobi

Inflation Rises for 13th Straight Month to 18.48%, Unemployment Climbs to 13.9% James Emejo in Abuja

The country’s unemployment rate rose further to 13.9 per cent in the third quarter of the year (Q3 2016) compared to 13.3 per cent in the previous quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated yesterday.

Unemployment rate was recorded at 12.1 per cent in Q1; 10.4 per cent in Q4 2015 and 9.9 per cent in Q3 2015.

It said a total of 27.12 million persons in the Nigerian labour force were either unemployed or underemployed compared to 26.06million in Q2 and 24.5 million in Q1 2016.

According to the statistical agency, economically active population or working age population (persons within ages 15 and 64) increased to 108.03 per cent in Q3 compared to 106.69 million in Q2, representing a 1.26 per cent increase over the

previous quarter and a 3.57 per cent increase when compared to Q3 2015.

The labour force population (i.e those within the working age population willing, able and actively looking for work) increased to 80.67 million from 79.9 million in Q2 2016, representing an increase of 0.98 per cent in the labour force during the quarter.

By implication, about 782,886 persons from the economically active population entered the labour force in Q3.

However, the magnitude of increase between Q2 and Q3 2016 was smaller when compared to Q1 and Q2 2016, which was an increase of 1.39 million in the labour force population.

According to the employment/ underemployment report for Q3 2016, which was released by the agency yesterday, the country’s

Report that recommended the merger of federal agencies and parastatals.

“At the federal level, we’ve suggested looking at the Orosanye Report that suggested merger to reduce agencies. FG has 580 agencies. They are too many and they cost too much.

“There is a need to look at those that are duplicating and merge them. That is a report published since 2012. Even within MDAs, we need to consider merging departments. We may not need as many departments as we have,” he said.

He said the council also deliberated on the implementation of a public service renewal programme “to get younger people, more IT-savvy people into the public service.

underemployment rate or those working but doing menial jobs not commensurate with their qualifications or those not engaged in fulltime work and merely working for few hours, increased to 19.7 per cent from 19.3 per cent in Q2. That brought the underemployment population to 15.9 million.

Essentially, underemployment increased by 501,074 persons or 3.25 per cent in the period in review.

The labour force population was put at 80.67 million, meaning 27.36million persons within the economically active or working age population decided not to work for one reason or the other in Q3 2016, hence were not part of the labour force and cannot be considered unemployed.

The NBS said: “This is a marginal increase of 0.4 percentage points between

quarters 2 and 3 of 2016, and shows a steady rise in the rate since Q3 of 2015. During the reference period, the number of unemployed in the labour force, increased by 554,311 persons...

Accordingly, there were a total of 27.12 million persons in the Nigerian labour force in Q3 2016, that were either unemployed or underemployed compared to 26.06million in Q2 and 24.5 million in Q1 2016.”

Meanwhile, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures inflation further rose to 18.48 per cent (year-on-year) in November compared to 18.33 per cent in the previous month, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated yesterday.

It attributed the 0.15 per cent rise in headline index to increases in all the divisions which determine inflation.

Notably, the highest increases

were recorded in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels and articles of clothing, books, liquid fuel, passenger transport by air, motor cycles and shoes and other footwear.

The Food Sub Index increased also by 17.19 per cent (year-on-year) in November, up by 0.10 per cent from 17.09 per cent in October.

According to the CPI figures for the period under review, major food sub-indexes increased with soft drinks recording the slowest pace of increase at 7.76 per cent year on year.

Also, communication and insurance recorded the slowest pace of growth in November, growing at 5.61 per cent and 6.76 per cent year-on-year respectively.

The Urban inflation rose by 20.07 percent (year-on-year) in November from 19.91 per cent recorded in October, while the rural index increased by 17.10 per

cent in November from 16.95 per cent in October.

On month-on-month basis, the urban index eased by 0.03 per cent while the rural index was also down by 0.05 per cent.

According to the NBS, the composite food index rose by 17.19 per cent in November 2016, mainly driven by increase in prices of imported foods, meat, bread and cereals and fish.

On a month-on-month basis, the food sub-index increase by 0.88 per cent in November from 0.86 per cent recorded in October.

It stated: “The average annual rate of change of the food subindex for the twelve- month period ending in November 2016 over the previous 12-month average was 14.39 per cent (0.57 per cent) points from the average annual rate of change recorded in October (13.82 per cent).”

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY DECEMBER 16, 2016

Congratulations The Management and Staff of ARAB CONTRACTORS O.A.O. NIG. LTD., celebrate with the son of our Board Director, AHMED INDIMI on his wedding FATIHA with ZAHRA BUHARI on Friday 16th December, 2016

May Allah be with them.

AHMED INDIMI

ZAHRA BUHARI

Signed

MANAGEMENT Symbol of Nigeria - Egypt Cooperation.

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

COMMENT

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

OBASANJO, MEGA PARTIES AND MISTAKES

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It is the prerogative of Nigerians to determine their president in 2019, writes Azibola Omekwe

very country boasts of at least a saint. The life of a saint is in this regard the embodiment of the good values of any given society. We have seen these in the Mahatma Ghandis, the Abraham Lincolns, the Mao Zedongs, the Nelson Mandelas, and lots more. Their people, overwhelmed by their reference value, have found it worthy to canonise them.

Coming to Nigeria, our own ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo would arguably come to mind as one who should fit into being a saint. He can be described as the luckiest Nigerian dead or alive, because he has been part of Nigeria’s political history for several decades. It is expected that out of him Nigeria should have grown her own Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela. But what does history have of him? Let me pause for a moment.

As at the last check on the meaning of a merger, it means the coming together of two or more groups, parties, etc., to form an alliance, an accord, and to further operate as one and for the interest of all. At that stage it is the opinion of the stakeholders of the new formation that matters. An outsider does not make or mar the marriage of these groups or even try to regulate the marriage once consummated. The love in the marriage is determined by the parties involved. Any other party who comes into the marriage is only an interloper, particularly where the union is purpose-driven. This said marriage also includes the marriage of political parties to form a mega party.

Obasanjo, being a journalist’s delight, would always have the political scene agog when he came out with a bombshell on the proposed mega party. A mega party is in the offing and he would not mind if it is formed so long as his former vice-president is not the presidential candidate of the party.Reports have it that Obasanjo admits he has made too many mistakes in life and for the nation, including his blanket support for President Muhammadu Buhari and that he is not prepared to make further mistakes. To be fair to him, that is a candid admission of facts. Outside that, the Nigeria political actors seem to be making mistakes too - their blatant failure to see that some particular politically Neanderthals ought to have left the stage. The idea of always taking digital issues to crass minds is a fundamental mistake.

Apparently, the ex-president is used to benefiting from Atiku Abubakar’s political machinery. But since he is Obasanjo, Atiku must never exercise his constitutional right, the same constitution that he, Obasanjo, has benefited from over the years. While other Nigerians are groping for solutions to the dwindling state of the country’s economy, Obasanjo is busy talking about witch-hunt, about how not to let a particular person measure height with him.

Obasanjo’s problems with Atiku are quite a handful but the most outstanding - he wanted to obliterate term limits in the constitution – through his third term agenda. And Atiku, for the interest of the Nigerian public said No. The very reasons we have rules is because we are human beings. It is amplified in the maxim, “the constitution is supreme”.

The basic test Obasanjo is supposed to have passed in the furnace of Nigeria is on the supremacy of the constitution of Nigeria. Posterity should look for different areas to discuss the failings of Obasanjo, but

THE VERY REASONS WE HAVE RULES IS BECAUSE WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS. IT IS AMPLIFIED IN THE MAXIM, ‘THE CONSTITUTION IS SUPREME’

not on bending the constitution to fit into his inordinate desires.

That is too obvious. Baba should not be allowed to fail that simple test. But look at him now asking the Nigerian state to join him and punish Atiku Abubakar for insisting that the constitution must remain supreme! Honestly, persecuting Atiku for being law abiding would in the opinion of any prudent thinker be an endorsement.

In fact that has been the plight of great leaders through the ages.

Recall that in spite of all the hatred, Atiku has at various fora always addressed Obasanjo as his boss. That highlights that he is compassionate and forgiving. Many a Nigerian politician with a do-or-die attribute would find it impossible to forgive the other party.

Lest we forget so soon, during the dark ages of the Sani Abacha regime, some group of prominent Nigerians called G-18 demanded that the military return to the barracks because military rule was unconstitutional. Then Obansajo was serving an indefinite term in prison. The group knew very well Abacha had no enemies because he knew how to handle perceived ones. The most remarkable thing we know the G-18 did was to insist on the constitution, and the main beneficiary eventually was Obasanjo himself. And because of the colossal sweat of Atiku, Obasanjo emerged the president. The latter had no choice but to recall Atiku who was already settled to lead Adamawa State to come and be his vice-president. By 2003, Atiku who the “lords” of Nigeria, the gubernatorial corps, gave the marching order to become the country’s No One at the expense of Obasanjo, truly in a saintly gesture, directed his governor friends to vote for Obasanjo. Obasanjo should not be quick to forget that uncommon magnanimity so soon in his lifetime.

He has admitted several mistakes. That is understood, but he should not add to the mistakes he is purging himself of. It is a more grievous mistake on his side that he is developing paranoia and making uncontrollable outbursts about Atiku’s political interest now that Nigerians have overgrown a one-man controlled system.

Nigerians are looking for the best material to salvage the country from the former mistakes Obasanjo has admittedly made. Rejecting Atiku now is another serious mistake.

To be fair to him, Obasanjo has done a lot for this country. But at this time he should be bothered about how to protect his name from profanities. Recently, the National Assembly in its frequent bickering with him laid the problems of Nigeria squarely on his head. We are worried. Obasanjo too should be bothered of such weighty accusations from several other quarters in his “prime” age. He should not stretch the logic of who should be or not be the presidential candidate of a- would- be political party. That is not his business.

Recently, the world experienced a bombshell in the United States’ political atmosphere. The generals and field marshals of the U.S. political system pointed directly to Hillary Clinton to lead them while the very people that hold the ace went for Donald Trump. It is the prerogative of Nigerians to determine who becomes president in 2019 and not the order of a man from the comfort zone of his farm.

Hon. Omekwe is a former member of Bayelsa State House of Assembly

BABACHIR LAWAL AND THE SENATE

Chukwudi Enekwechi argues that the secretary to the federal government has not violated any law

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any Nigerians are pleased that President Muhammadu Buhari has assembled a formidable team of technocrats and experienced administrators to help him in steering the ship of state and deliver the dividends of democracy to all Nigerians.

At the helm of this group of eminent Nigerians is Mr. Babachir Lawal who has in the course of executing the responsibilities of his high office has become a victim of witch-hunt. To cite as an example, why would the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria call for the resignation of the Secretary to the Federal Government?

For a start, this respected Nigerian was appointed on account of his loyalty to the President and Nigeria, and based on his track record of integrity and commitment to nation-building.

Since his assumption of office, he has worked tirelessly in seeing to the realisation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cardinal programmes.

Obviously, his loyalty to Mr. President is not in question, neither his competence nor ability to help drive the diversification policy of the present administration.

Many observers have attributed his present travails to the on-going trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. It is necessary to realise that the code of conduct tribunal is under the supervision of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

This does not in any way imply any sort of interference in affairs of the tribunal by the SGF

in proceedings of the tribunal.

The policy of zero tolerance for corruption under the present administration is clear and unambiguous, and Mr. Babachir Lawal has led the way in seeing to the actualisation of President Buhari’s agenda in this regard.

It is therefore, important that distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic are not in any way hoodwinked into carrying out the agenda of an individual or group of persons.

As the representatives of their various senatorial zones, and law makers, it is expected that they conduct their affairs with the highest level of decorum. They ought not to be seen to depart from honourable ways, and serving as a pillar of support for the executive in providing leadership for Nigerians.

From all intents and purposes, Mr. Babachir Lawal has not shirked in his duties as Nigeria’s number one public servant, and it is expected that all well-meaning people will support him to continue to serve the country to the best of his ability.

Even when there are infractions on the part of the SGF, it is within the power of Mr. President to query him. Yet under the circumstances the Senate is calling for the resignation of Mr. Babachir Lawal as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, there is absolutely no justification for it, as he has not violated any law.

Definitely there is no conflict of interest in the ways and manner he carried out his responsibilities, as he does not award contracts. Going by available evidence, Mr. Lawal had duly resigned

from all the companies he had interest before assuming office as SGF. By doing that, he has complied with the laws of the land and the code of conduct for public officers.

It is therefore, worrisome that the Senate will choose to persecute an innocent man for no other reason than his dedication to his oath of office, and loyalty to Mr. President.

The Senate as a responsible arm of government is expected to channel its energy towards addressing the myriad of socio-economic challenges confronting the nation.

Already, President Muhammadu Buhari is doing all within his power to better the lot Nigerians, and the least expected of the Senate is to lend their legislative support. A situation where the senate will choose to be confrontational over minor issues will not augur well for the nation.

It has been acknowledged by most Nigerians that through the diligent work of Mr. Babachir Lawal, the bureaucratic bottlenecks militating against rapid development and good governance have been reduced to the barest minimum, and in some cases out rightly removed.

So what is the justification to jeopardise the good works of the SGF especially when the President and Commander-in-Chief appreciate the sacrifices he is making in the interest of the country?

It does not augur well for the nation, when committed people are discouraged from giving their best to the country, rather than commending them for contributing their quota to the arduous

task of nation-building.

The task before President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is daunting, and all hands must be on deck to ensure that they remain focused. So far, Nigerians are elated at the ability of Mr. President and his team to steer the ship of state successfully, despite numerous challenges.

In an era of recession, all patriotic Nigerians are expected to key into several government initiatives aimed at restoring the nation’s glorious past. From all indications, President Buhari and his team led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation are well prepared for the job, and ultimately Nigerians will benefit.

Through various policies which are anchored on the diversification policy, President Buhari’s administration is bent on rescuing Nigeria from the pangs of underdevelopment, hunger and poverty, and as lawmakers the senate can be partners in realising the objectives for the good of all. In doing that, they must appreciate the pivotal role that the SGF can play in ensuring the full implementation of Mr. President’s vision for the country.

This is not the time for such distraction as calling for the resignation or sack of a key player like Babachir Lawal, More so as he has not been found wanting in the performance of his duties, and neither has he committed any illegal act.

As a people we must begin to pour encomiums on public officers when they perform, as this will spur them into working harder for the country as a whole.

Enekwechi wrote from Abuja

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

EDITORIAL THE PLIGHT OF SUPER FALCONS

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The government must redeem its image by paying the players promptly

he barb throwing that has prevailed following the shoddy treatment accorded the national female football team and the failure of authority to pay their bonuses and allowances is a disturbing trend that can dampen patriotism. The gallant Super Falcons placed the country on the path of honour after they defied all odds by beating the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon to win the Africa Women Cup of Nations in style. But they were treated rather shabbily upon return to the country.

The Falcons were hailed by most Nigerians, when they defeated the host country to extend their record of winning the African Women Cup of Nations to nine out of the 11 editions. The performance was not only brilliant, it has made Nigeria the benchmark for excellence in football on the African continent, in addition to making the players role models for many young ladies that look up to them.

Unfortunately, and in a manner that is a wrong emblem for the country, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elected to deny WE FIND IT STRANGE the players their due THAT OF ALL on the trumped up AFFILIATED MEMBERS excuse that it had no OF INTERNATIONAL money to offset the FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION accumulated bonuses THAT PARTICIPATE IN FIFA and allowances. The uncharitable act of the AND CAF ORGANISED NFF and the Ministry TOURNAMENTS, OUR of Sports has made the COUNTRY IS ALWAYS THE OBJECT OF RIDICULE nation the object of ridicule before the rest BEFORE, DURING of the world, fuelled by AND AFTER MOST the refusal of the playTOURNAMENTS ers to vacate their hotel almost two weeks after they returned from Cameroon.

In the heat of the crisis, the Sports Minister, Mr. Solomon Dalung, further stoked the fire when he made a rather insensitive comment that the money was not paid because government did not project that the

Letters to the Editor

team would win the championship. The unfortunate remark has been condemned by the union of Nigerian professional footballers which has challenged NFF to take responsibility and ensure that the players and their officials are paid their entitlements without further delay.

It is noteworthy that bonus fiasco involving the Super Falcons escalated about two weeks after the national female Under-20 team players were treated the same way by NFF which abandoned the players in a hotel upon their return from the FIFA U20 World Cup in Papua New Guinea. NFF officials offered lack of money as the reason for the non-payment of the allowances.

I T H I S DAY

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

YAKOWA: UNANSWERED QUESTIONS FOURYEARS AFTER

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s I looked at the last known picture of Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, taken on December 15, 2012 as he, in company with Gen. Andrew Azazi, walked toward the Helicopter that would crash and kill them minutes later in the forest of Okoroba, Bayelsa State, I marvelled at the finite mortality of us all in this world. The cumulative minutes expended keenly scrutinising that last picture, looking for unfamiliar answers add up to hours yet, the picture has held tightly to what it doesn’t know about those few minutes before the crash.

That last picture of Yakowa, resplendently clad in his sky blue Baban Riga is etched forever in me. High cheekbones that gently tapered out toward the nose, bright eyes that endlessly emphasises seeing the best in each person, and a prominent forehead that left no one in doubt about his purposefulness in life, are the physically impressionable aspect of his feature that refuses to fade away and never will.

However, the question that springs up is how can one calmly walk to his death when the hour has unknowingly come? Doesn’t one get any hint that the ticking clock is about to end? Is that how the grim reaper swings his scythe and harvest ‘us’ at the fullness of time? Can’t we do something to stop us from dying until we are ready to die? How can Yakowa be walking to his death that day without any inkling of what awaits him minutes later? These are questions that keep popping out in the heat of uncertainty, depression, and

t does not appear that the NFF and government in particular have learnt a lesson from history as crisis of this nature occurred in 2004, when the Falcons embarked on a sit-in protest and declined to board a plane from South Africa following the non-payment of their bonuses and allowances by government upon winning the Africa Women Championship. The team was stranded in South Africa for days and only agreed to return home after government had indemnified all the full entitlements due to them.

Given the prevailing saga, the predilection of NFF to continue to overstretch itself must be questioned, considering its poor financial state which has made it difficult for it to pay salaries of coaches and allowances in addition to other pecks budgeted for players and team officials on national duty. Twice in September and October this year, a timely intervention by government saved the country from global outrage, when it provided charter flights for Nigeria football teams to the Olympic Games on the eve of the first match in Manaus, Brazil and to Zambia for a crucial World Cup qualifier in Ndola.

We find it strange that of all affiliated members of international football association that participate in all FIFA and CAF organised tournaments, our country is always the object of ridicule before, during and after most tournaments. Something has to be done to redress this emblem of shame. But in the immediate, the federal government must find the money to pay the Falcons their due.

sadness that always accompany the anniversary of Yakowa’s death. It also highlights the mystery of death - something that all religions on this planet have attempted to explain.

An issue that has bonded us all under the mist of mortality, haughtily insisting that we must all go to our graves at different times, under different circumstances. That of Yakowa was to go out in a blaze of hot twisted heap of metals that was once an engineering feat of miracle which soars in the air in defiance of gravity. Given the chance, would we have agreed to be born only to die such fiery dead?

Probably why Azaro, the spirit-child that keeps being reborn in Ben Okri’s book, the ‘Famished Road’ while explaining his apprehension at immersing himself into the process of birth said: “There was not one amongst us who looked forward to being born. We disliked the rigours of existence, the unfulfilled longings, the enshrined injustice of the world, the labyrinths of love, the ignorance of parents, the fact of dying, the amazing indifference of the living in the midst of the simple beauties of the universe. We feared the heartlessness of human beings, all of who were born blind, few of whom ever learn to see.”

But Because of the inevitability of death different religious thoughts accepted it with its offer of a rosy picture of a compensatory glow in the hereafter. This has given hope to us that we would also die but get reunited with those that had gone ahead of us.

Reuben Buhari, reubenhari@yahoo.com

THE FALL OF ALEPPO

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ith the imminent takeover of Aleppo by Russianbacked Syrian Government Forces, President Putin has once again bested the outgoing US President, Barack Obama in the international political arena and cemented his position as the most influential global leader at this time.

In taking over Eastern Aleppo, the Syrian Army had to engage and defeat the Obama-backed Free Syrian Army (a rebel force), and allegedly elements of Al Qaeda and ISIS as well. The Russian government in sticking to its character of playing hard-ball, did not play it nice with the rebels and terrorists, nor did she confront them with “ideas”, as suggested by the departing US President Barack Obama.

When Putin ordered the deployment of Russian forces to Syria,

the objective was clear: defeat the enemy, and ensure the continuity of the Bashar Al Assad regime .

That objective has largely been attained, in spite of the wishes of the Obama administration.

It is pertinent to note that the take-over of Aleppo by Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar Al Assad will signal the emergence of Russia as the dominant foreign power in the Middle East and this will have implications for the global energy market and by extension the global economy.

Aleppo is the beginning of a new chapter in global political-economics, and with the emergence of a populist US President in the person of Donald Trump, a man who knows and cares little for Africa and is indeed not bothered about the Continent, it is in Nigeria’s interest to quickly take these facts into cognisance in the formulation of its foreign, economic and defence policies.

Ugochukwu .J. Amasike, Lagos

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FRIDAY DECEMBER 16, 2016 T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY FOCUS

Amaechi: A Political Warrior Trying to Regain His Footing After a dismal showing in the 2015 elections, another attempt by the Minister of Transportation and former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, to regain his foothold in the oil rich state during the just concluded rerun polls did not go quite as planned, writes Segun James

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or the Minister of Transport, who is also a former governor of Rivers state, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, the outcome of the Rivers State National and State Assemblies elections is no less some sweet revenge. It is also an opportunity to stamp his authority as the political leader of the state. Results from the Rivers Election re-run showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) favourably challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in its stronghold, despite the politically stifling environment.

In Khana/Gokana federal constituency in the district, Maurice Pronem of the APC polled 68,219 votes to defeat Dumnamene Dekor of the PDP, who secured 20,329 votes. In Tai/ Oyigbo/Eleme federal constituency, Barry Mpigi of the APC garnered 48,760 votes to defeat Jacobson Nbina of the PDP rival, who secured 11,737 votes. In Khana state constituency 2, Friday Nkeeh of the APC got 15,000 votes and defeated Dinebari Loolo of the PDP, who polled 4,000 votes.

The results also showed that Magnus Abe, candidate of the APC for the senatorial seat won and was returned to the upper chamber of the National Assembly. However, in the two senatorial districts, the PDP won.

Alarmed by the ease with which the APC gained grounds in the state, Governor Nyesom Wike and other leaders of the PDP accused security operatives of collaborating with the APC to rig the election (perhaps, the same manner they came into office in the first place), forcing the Nigerian Army to issue a statement.

According to Maj. Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, General Officer Commanding 6 division of the Army, who insisted that those behind the reports of partisanship were bent on tarnishing the image of the army, while revealing that the soldiers rescued 16 abducted corps members and some policemen, who were ambushed by the militants many believed were recruited by the PDP. “They acted swiftly in response to security breaches in order to enforce the law, provide aid to the police and other security agencies especially in areas like Abonema, Etche, Gokhana, Ikwere, Eleme, Tai, Khana and Omoku amongst others,” Abdulkarim said in a statement, adding that “Susceptibility of mentioned areas warranted providing security for the electoral officials, voters, international and local observers, in conjunction with other security agencies by soldiers for a peaceful election to thrive in the environment.

“In Gokhana, armed hoodlums engaged the soldiers providing outer perimeter defence for the electorate. In Abonema, there were three explosions that created bedlam. Subsequently, 11 NYSC members were abducted along with electoral materials. However, 10 of them were rescued two hours later by the soldiers while one was rescued about eight hours later. At Emouha, five NYSC members were abducted with election materials in a Siena bus. The corps members were rescued while the suspect was handed over to the police.

“Several shootings were recorded in some communities such as Bodo, the home town of the secretary to the state government, and Mogho in Gokhana local government area, including snatching of ballot boxes. The most brutal incidence occurred at Ujju Community near Omoku in Onelga, where police patrol team was ambushed. In the ambush, 10 policemen scampered into the bush.

“These attacks are reasonable evidence of violations of breach of law and order which

Amaechi...not there yet

portray the area as a flash point. In spite of this barbarism, soldiers acted with civility and professionalism in guaranteeing peaceful election. Some people allegedly accused soldiers of ballot box snatching, illegal escorts of some

Amaechi has practically bulldozed his way into Rivers and captured most of Wike’s strongholds, thereby weakening the state government most effectively with the loss of one senate seat and a number of House of Representatives and State House of Assembly positions

politicians, arrest and detention of voters during the general conduct of the elections.

“The weighty nature of these allegations could cause members of the public to view soldiers negatively, hence the need to adequately inform the general public on the true perspective. The public thus need to consider them as mere farce to garner public sympathy.”

Following his declaration as the winner of the Rivers East senatorial district, Senator Magnus Abe issued a statement thanking the people and more especially his political leader, Amaechi but not without mockingly calling on Governor Wike to congratulate him (Abe) for winning the election.

“First is to say that this has been a titanic struggle; it has been a very difficult two years for Rivers people and for all of us.

My victory in this election is a reward for faithfulness. I have been faithful to my party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). I have been faithful to my people, the people of the Rivers South East Senatorial District and I have been faithful to my leaders and I think God in his infinite mercies has rewarded me with this unprecedented victory. There is no victor, no vanquish.

“I also want to use this opportunity to extend a hand of friendship to the executive Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike and to say to him that he had promised that there was nothing personal in this contest and he has said that if I win, he will congratulate me.

The only barometer for measuring success in an election in this country is the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the commission has declared me the winner.

“I want to call on the governor to keep his words and send me his letter and words of congratulation because I have won. I want to also say that Rivers State has suffered enough and that it is time for us to bring this contest to an end.

“I want to thank my leaders, President Muhammadu Buhari, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, my wife, my family and most importantly, the people of Rivers South East Senatorial District. You have spoken and you have spoken loud and clear. We should respect your views. We should work together to make this district a better place for Nigerians to live.”

And as it is usual in recent time, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who has assumed the position of the leader of the opposition PDP cried out in protest against the election. He described the rerun elections as a sad reminder of the level of destruction already done to the country’s electoral process by the APC government of President Mohammadu Buhari.

“Free, fair and credible election is dead in the country and that whatever victory that is recorded by any political party in the Rivers State election will be nothing but victory at gun-point.”

The governor lamented that it was worrisome that the legacy of free, fair and credible election left by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been destroyed less than two years that the APC assumed power.

“We thought that we had gone past this era of manipulated electoral process after the 2015 general election, which brought the APC and President Buhari to power, but the Buhari administration has taken us back to the stone age by merging his party, APC with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, military and other security agencies.”

However, Amaechi, until recently has been seething in anger at the audacity of his cousin and former political godson, Wike to challenge him on the political turf. To the Minister, Wike became governor of the state only because former President Goodluck Jonathan used presidential and federal might to force him to the office.

Now, it is sweet revenge as he was believed to have used the same federal might to liquidate the governor’s political profile and may have, in actual fact, dealt a bigger blow on the PDP dominance in Rivers State politics, seen as the most strategically important state in the South-south geopolitical zone for the APC in the run up to the 2019 general election.

The party lost out completely during the last elections in both the zone and the South-east.

Like a magician, Amaechi has practically bulldozed his way into Rivers and captured most of Wike’s strongholds, thereby weakening the state government most effectively with the loss of one senate seat and a number of House of Representatives and State House of Assembly positions.

By all indications, Wike is very vulnerable as his dream for a second coming as governor in 2019 may actually be evaporating right before his very eyes.

18

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

POLITICS

POLITICS&ISSUES

The Institutionalisation of Electoral Fraud

Following the outcome of the recent rerun elections in Rivers State and the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, there are strong indications that many Nigerians and the international community are fast losing faith in the nation’s democracy. Iyobosa Uwugiaren writes President Muhammadu Buhari recently sworn in six newly appointed national commissioners of the Independent National Commission (INEC), challenging them to ensure the conduct of future elections in the country was free and fair.

The President said the new appointed commissioners were coming in at a critical time and drew their attention to the contentious elections recently held in parts of the country.

Buhari said his administration was concerned about the integrity of elections in the country and wanted to leave a legacy of good governance when it leaves power.

“You are coming on board at a critical time of our political development. I am sure you have truly observed the bye-elections from Kogi to Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo and Ondo. I am sure you are even concerned about the carnage in some of the elections and the resources dissipated,” he stated.

He sermonised that his administration was extremely concerned about the integrity of the electoral processes, saying the government would demand of the commissioners to be firm and fair.

As a victim of dubious electoral process in the past, especially when he contested the presidential election with two former presidents – Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua – those close to Buhari could swear that the President would not be in any gathering of his party’s members to undermine the very fundamentals of democracy: free, fair and credible election.

The “Buharists” as the president’s supporters are now referred to, are always quick to make reference to how on assumption of office, the President immediately constituted a special panel to probe the involvement of security agencies, especially the military in the alleged manipulation of Ekiti State governorship election and the subsequent dismissal of the culprits, to strengthen their arguments.

Just last week, again, Buhari called on law enforcement agencies to “deal decisively” with any trouble-makers and those bent on violating the sanctity of the electoral process during the federal and state legislative rerun elections in Rivers State.

He asked them to be non-partisan while monitoring the conduct of the elections and at the same time suing for a peaceful and orderly election. He urged all political parties, their candidates, other stakeholders and the people of Rivers State to ensure that the election was conducted without rigging, violence and intimidation of opponents and electoral officials.

“The rerun elections should not be seen as a do-or-die affair to the extent that people will be killed, maimed and property destroyed in a mindless display of crude primitive instincts. Innocent blood should never be sacrificed on the altar of political contest for temporary power,” the president warned.

The president restated the commitment of his administration to deepening democracy in the country by enthroning a legacy of respect for the wishes of the people through free, fair and credible elections devoid of intimidation and violence throughout the federation.

However, beyond his superficially grandiloquence and pomposity about the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria, key political observers and other stakeholders in the nation’s democracy have recently started to question the sincerity of Buhari’s democratic credentials. Relying on the outcomes of the Rivers rerun election and the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections, many political thinkers believe electoral violence and corruption is now leisurely but steadily being institutionalised in the country under the strategic watch of Buhari.

To be sure, recent elections in Edo, Ondo

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu...is he capable

and Rivers States strongly suggest that the procedure, by which the people’s votes were gathered and counted, is no longer crucial to the legitimacy of government, and the people are fast losing confidence in the recruitment process of elected public officials in a country of 180 million population.

And like the recent unpleasant experiences in the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections, INEC again fell flat by refusing to remove all obstacles that obstructed the democratic process, including scanty access to the voting process, incorrect counting, late results, and results that were not convincing to the electorate in the last week Rivers State rerun election.

Ahead of the rerun election, INEC and the security agencies preached peace, promising to ensure free and fair election. But those who monitored the election said the actions or inactions of INEC and security officials hugely suggested that they were in partnership with the ruling APC to undermine other parties that contested the election.

Journalists and political observers, who monitored the Rivers rerun election said over 200 innocent citizens were arrested, while scores were shot at and one killed by the Nigerian army, even though the army had expectedly denied the report.

For example, in Barako, Gokana LGA, members of the federal government’s controlled security agencies, especially the army, were said to have invaded the community and

Beyond his superficially grandiloquence and pomposity about the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria, key political observers and other stakeholders in the nation’s democracy have recently started to question the sincerity of Buhari’s democratic credentials

whisked away scores of persons including one Chief Awindi Dughor, a chieftain of the PDP to an unknown destination. PDP leaders described the situation as disturbing, lamenting the open collaboration of the police and army officers with politicians.

As the election monitors noted, the fairness of the election was massively rubbished by the political violence, intimidation and the manipulation of the election process by INEC and security agents. And political analysts said by violating the freedom and the fairness of the elections, INEC and security agencies had dealt a hefty blow on tenets of democracy.

There is every reason for political stakeholders to believe that INEC and security agencies were not open, transparent and neutral in the process that led to the Rivers rerun election: there was huge form of intimidation and unjustified interference from some quarters to manipulate the election and the results.

In spite of different explanations to dismiss what PDP described as “fraud”, the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, described the rerun election as a sad reminder of the level of destruction already done to the country’s electoral process by the APC-led government, saying “free, fair and credible election is dead in the country”, and that whatever “victory that is recorded by any political party in the Rivers State election would be nothing but victory at gun-point.”

The governor said it was worrisome that the legacy of free, fair and credible election left by former President Goodluck Jonathan-led PDP has been destroyed less than two years that the APC assumed power.

“We thought that we had gone past this era of manipulated electoral process after the 2015 general election, which brought the APC and President Buhari to power, but the Buhari administration has taken us back to the Stone Age by merging his party, APC with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, military and other security agencies”, Fayose stated.

The governor added that with what was witnessed in Rivers State, Nigeria is under siege and only prompt intervention by the international community can save democracy in the country from the imminent collapse.

Fayose added: “It is sad that snatching of ballot boxes, hijacking of voting materials and electoral violence, which had become a thing of the past have now become part of our electoral process.

“It is even more worrisome that despite that votes are counted openly at the polling units, electorate are no longer sure of the results of elections until announcement by INEC, which has become an organ of the APC.” Fayose described Buhari as a pretender, who had only paid lips service to the sustenance of democracy in the country, adding that “any President that looks the other way while the rights of his people to freely elect their leaders are being snatched at gunpoint by his own party men, is not worthy of being associated with democracy.”

On its part, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) also accused Buhari and his party of gradually institutionalising electoral corruption and violence in the country, saying their actions portend great danger for the nation.

Speaking with THISDAY in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the opposition party, Alhaji Alfa Mohamed, challenged Buhari to equally fight electoral corruption at the polling units or forget the on-going fight against corruption.

“If Buhari does not fight and win the war against corruption at the polling booths, it will be the worst legacy that the President and the APC will bequeath to Nigerians. If they do not put an end to this corruption at the polling units now, with what we now have, it means that in future elections any person with questionable character, any criminal character or drug baron can use his money and wait for the electorate at the polling booth”, SDP stated.

The party said the way the APC allegedly bought votes in the recent governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States and the deployment of federal mighty to intimidate voters in Rivers State, were capable of creating a huge gap between the electorate and elected officials.

It added that the implication of rigged elections is that since elected officials now find it easy to buy their way into offices they would not be accountable to the people, saying this portends great danger for nation’s democracy and society.

Specifically, the SDP said with what happened in the recently concluded governorship elections in Ondo, where money was allegedly used to buy votes, the so-called anti-corruption war of APC-led administration is questionable.

The party described as shameful, a situation where a government that prides itself as an anti-corruption government is the one that is propagating electoral corruption and violence across the states, describing it the worst form of corruption.

“If elected officials buy their way into offices, how do you hold them accountable?

By buying your vote, he also bought your conscience. This APC government that prides itself as an anti-corruption government is the one encouraging and leading this form of corruption (electoral corruption)”, the party added.

For many political observers, the recent Edo State governorship election was the beginning of the APC seemingly war against the fundamentals of democracy. The INEC had declared Godwin Obaseki, candidate of the APC, winner in an election the Alliance for Credible Election (ACE) – coalition of election monitors, said was scientifically rigged by INEC, at the point of collation of results.

ACE had likened the outcome of the Edo governorship election as replica of the elections conducted in 2003 and 2007, under the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

As it stands today, many Nigerians and the international community are fast losing faith in democracy under the Buhari administration. Will the President retrace his unsafe political footsteps?

19

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

A S

A T

D E C E M B E R

NIBOR 4.150% 15.8625%

3-MONTH 6-MONTH

18.3916% 21.0554%

NITTY 1-MONTH 2-MONTH

11.4397% 16.8358%

Group Business Editor Chika Amanze-Nwachuku

Email chika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com 08057161321, 08033294157

9 , 3-MONTH 6-MONTH

2 0 1 6 17.1394% 19.7842%

EXCHANGE RATE N305//1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Arik Increases Frequency for Yuletide

MERITORIOUS AWARD

L-R: Wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi; representative of the MD/CEO of Heritage Bank Plc and Executive Director, Service Bank, Niyi Adeseun, receiving an award from the wife of Zamfara State Governor, Hajiya Asma’u Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar at the 5th Oyo State Officials` Wives Association (OYSOWA) National Women’s Summit 2016 held in Oyo State...recently

FG Grants 50 Years Concession Period for Ibom Deep Seaport Investors Eromosele Abiodun In a bid to attract investors to the Ibom Deep Sea Port (IDSP), the federal government has approved a 50-year concession period for would be investors.

This is as stakeholders have declared the project is the most viable in the West and Central African region.

The Ministry of Transportation and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) confirmed the long concession period at the Ibom Deep Sea Port stakeholders visioning workshop held in Abuja. Also, ICRC affirmed that only three deep seaports in Nigeria have been captured in the nation’s port development master plan.

MARITIME The three deep sea ports are: Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State, Badagry Deep Sea port and Lekki Deep Seaport, both in Lagos State.

Speaking at the meeting, Director-General of ICRC, Mr. Aminu Diko, charged the promoters and managers of the IDSP to make bare areas of comparative advantages and threats to the proposed seaport in comparison with other government approved deep seaports in the country.

According to him, “We have approved three deep sea ports.

We approved Ibom Deep Seaport 18 months ago, and in the process the promoters of

Badagry Deep Sea Port came and submitted proposal and got approval. In June this year, we got an application for Bakasi Deep Sea Port and I make it clear that we are most likely to approve any port without seeing its viability.”

On his part, the representative of the Ministry of Transport and Director of procurement at the ministry, Mr. Shehu Aliyu, said that IDSP had become exigent at this time in history of the nation to help curb the incidence of port and road congestion in Lagos.

Reiterating that the federal government had only approved three deep seaports in line with the port master plan, he added that the government had been on IDSP for five years, with the

project’s Outline Business Case (OBC) approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The Chairperson, Technical Committee for the Realisation of Ibom Deep Seaport, Mrs. Mfon Usoro stated that even when all the approved deep seaports become operational, IDSP would still have sufficient cargo and sound throughput to remain viable.

The port , she said, is strategically located in the West and Central Africa region, despite the existing ports and emerging ones adding that, “It will serve the cargo needs of the following countries; JDZ Sao Tome, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Angola, Gabon, Republic of Continued on page 20

Insurance Premium: Experts Fear Commercial Flights May be Grounded in Nigeria Chinedu Eze Nigerian airlines may be forced to stop operation if Lloyd’s carries out its threat to blacklist and downgrade Nigerian airlines over their inability to pay insurance premium.

The airlines are already beset by paucity and high price of aviation fuel, low passenger traffic as well inability to obtain foreign exchange to meet their aircraft and insurance obligations.

Industry operatives, who spoke to THISDAY on the

AVIATION development, said that it is becoming increasingly difficult to operate in Nigeria adding the threat by Lloyd’s could end schedule commercial operation in Nigeria.

According to some airline officials, no airline can operate aircraft without insurance so if Lloyd’s carries out its threat to blacklist Nigerian airlines, other insurance companies will do the same and the consequence is that any aircraft, which its insurance is due, would be

grounded because it would not be renewed.

This, they noted, will further deplete the aircraft in the airlines fleet as a third of the number of operating aircraft in Nigeria air currently out of service due to the inability of the airlines to source for forex for their mandatory checks abroad.

Experts had projected that by March next year, if no action was taken to support airlines with the required foreign exchange, majority of the aircraft would be on Aircraft on Ground (AOG), a development that would ground Nigeria’s economy.

Already the airlines are underserving the domestic market and cannot meet passengers’ demand. These days, flight operations are characterised by flight delays and cancellations, even as flight ticket prices are now beyond the reach of average Nigerians.

Before the threat by Lloyd’s to stop insuring Nigerian aircraft due to the inability of the airlines to pay, the operators have been buying aviation fuel at about N240 per litre.

The operators described the Continued on page 20

Nigeria’s major carrier, Arik Air has announced it would increase flight frequencies to key domestic destinations ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities to cope with passenger demands.

The airline explained that its decision to increase flight frequencies on the domestic routes is predicated on the need to ensure that many Nigerians are able to travel home to share the joy of the season with family and friends.To also cope with the demands of its international passengers on the London Heathrow and New York JFK routes, the airlinehasleasedawide-bodyA340-300fromPortugaltosupplement its wide-body fleet of two A330-200 aircraft.

Arik Air connects 18 destinations within Nigeria, 10 in West/Central Africa and three international destinations enabling the airline to bring more Nigerian families together this festive season than any other carrier. Instead of the average 100 daily flights normally operated, Arik Air will during the festive period increase its daily flights to an average of 120. Arik Air’s Managing Director/Executive Vice President, Mr. Chris Ndulue said, “For many of our guests, the Christmas and New Year period is a time when families wish to be reunited at the end of a busy year. Arik Air is therefore very pleased to announce that on many of our domestic routes, the airline will be scheduling additional flights and operating larger aircraft to cater for the increasing demand.”

IATAReviewIndicatesIndustryProfitability

The International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s latest financial results from Q3 2016 continue to indicate another solid quarter for industryprofitability,althoughthereareongoingsignsthatmomentum in the profitability cycle has weakened. Global airline share prices jumped by 7.5 percent in November, driven by a 16.4percent increase for North America carriers. Brent crude oil prices recently reached a 17-month high, following the agreement by OPEC to restrict oil supplies.The oil market is graduallyre-balancing, with prices expected to trend upwards modestly in the coming years. The Association said while passenger yields edged down in September, the intense downwardpressureonyieldshaseasedsinceearlierin2016,inkeeping with the change in the trend of oil prices seen over the period. The premium segment continues to be an important buffer for airline financial performance. While premium traffic growth has lagged, premium airfares have held up better than those in economy on many routes so far this year. Annual growth in passenger volumes remains broadly in line with its 10-year average.

Despite easing in October, the seasonally-adjusted load factor remained above the 80percent-mark Air freight volumes have been boosted by a stronger-than-expected peak season in 2016, with traffic up more than eight percent year-on-year in October.The freight load factor has rebounded from its early-2016 low.

CR Services Repositions

The Board of Directors of CR Services (Credit Bureau) Plc has appointedMr.GodfreyEbetaleyeasthenewactingManagingDirector/ Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds Mrs. Jameelah Ayedun who is leaving the company after2 years as Managing Director/CEO in order to pursue her passion in other endeavours but remains on the Board of CR Services as a Non-Executive Director.

According to a statement released by the company, this appointment is in line with the company’s robust succession plan and is strategic to sustaining the company’s leadership position as Nigeria’s preferred credit bureau trusted with Nigeria’s largest credit information data base. The appointment is following a resolution of the Board of Directors and subsequent ratification by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In his new role, Mr. Ebetaleye would be responsible for moving the organisation to its next phase of growth, repositioning to further push the frontiers of credit reporting in Nigeria beyond the coverage of commercial banks, to include retail and other critical sectors.

Prior to this appointment, he was Executive Director in CR Services responsible for Business Development & Sales. He is a consummate managerwithoverthreedecadesofcrosscuttingexperiencesspanning several industrial and service sectors. A graduate of the University of Lagos and Chartered Accountant, Godfrey has held managerial

‘’It is very significant to Nigeria and to Africa for an African, a black man to be re-elected as the President of ICAO Council’’

The Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority

Captain Muhtar Usman

20

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD FG GRANTS 50 YEARS CONCESSION PERIOD FOR IBOM DEEP SEAPORT INVESTORS Congo DRC, Chad, and Niger.”

Usoro also asserted that the IDSP being built on government equity and shareholding model under Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Port Development Management Company (PDMC) will service the South-South, South-East and North-East geographical regions of Nigeria with well-planned rail and road network.

“Equity participation in the project was conceived as: Akwa-Ibom state, 20 percent; private sector, 60 percent, while 20 percent stake is floating for interested private investors or other state governments with the region to grab. The IDSP, which is situated on 2,565 hectares of land and has a container capacity of 9 million TEUs, is an integral part of the proposed large Ibom industrial city, which collectively is located on a 14, 000 hectare of land.

INSURANCE PREMIUM: EXPERTS FEAR COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS MAY BE GROUNDED IN NIGERIA high prices as outrageous, noting that the problem was exacerbated by the fact that the product is not readily available prompting the airlines to negotiate with marketers before they would be able to source for aviation fuel.

A senior official of a major Nigerian airline told THISDAY on Wednesday that the implication of Lloyd’s threat to downgrade and blacklist Nigerian airlines is that they would find it difficult to operate, especially outside the country.

The official said that the situation would put the airlines in a dilemma because local insurance companies cannot carry airline risks without international underwriters, which would also shun the airlines once they are downgraded by Lloyd’s.

“The lessors (companies that lease aircraft to airlines) will pull their airplanes or tell the operators to insure their aircraft directly with insurance companies overseas.

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 (Maritime)

NEWS

STOAN Backs FG’s Export Drive, Ban on Vehicle Importation via Land Borders Eromosele Abiodun Members of the Seaport Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN) have pledged their continued support for the export and economic diversification drive of the federal government.

STOAN, in a statement said some of the steps taken by the government so far indicate that President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to reposition the economy of Nigeria and so should be given the necessary support. STOAN spokesman, Bolaji Akinola in the statement said the country at the moment needs strategic interventions and focused leadership to transform the economy that has since been dependent on oil.

“There is no better way to transform the economy now than through the economic diversification drive embarked upon by the federal government and STOAN is poised to support the government as it embarks on this onerous but fruitful task of growing the economy.

“The government recently reiterated the determination of the administration to diversify the economy through increased local production of goods and services. This is a welcome development because with a diversified economy, Nigeria would not have to depend on a single commodity to survive as a nation,” he said.

Akinola said that this effort will not only reflate the economy but will also create the right environment for foreign direct investment because of the stability that will be engendered in the system.

He said: “STOAN aligns with the federal government vision of building the economic foundation on made-in-Nigeria goods and services. The diversification efforts will help Nigeria move from import dependence to selfsufficiency in local production and become an export-led economy in goods and services.

“Also this effort by the government will continue to improve the environment and make it conducive for businesses to thrive.”

He said that many of the government’s programmes had been structured to stimulate domestic production, like how to improve the quality of made-in-Nigeria goods to

international standards so they can be exported.

“There is need to support SMEs to be able to compete and create the platform to allow recommendations that will help reinvigorate local industries so as to curtail the growing demand for foreign exchange for imported end-user goods,” he added.

The STOAN spokesman said government’s desire to partner the private sector so as to leverage and catalyse resources and development capital is strategic.

He said terminal operators identify with plans by the government to create a businessfriendly environment; coherence

between monetary, fiscal and structural reform policies; and provision of hard and soft infrastructure for growth.

“The global perception had been that Nigeria is a tough environment to do business; therefore this is a good opportunity to change this narrative as positive perception will attract investors, capital, technology and best practices,” he said.

Meanwhile, the STOAN has commended President Buhari for banning the importation of vehicles into the country through the land borders.

STOAN Chairman, Vicky Haastrup, while reacting to the ban announced by the federal government said the move,

if well implemented by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), will reduce the smuggling of vehicles into Nigeria and revive the operations of Roll-On-Roll-Off (RORO) terminals in the country.

RORO terminals are specialised port terminals that handle all types of vehicles. Haastrup asked the government to take a step further by scrapping the high import duty regime imposed on vehicles by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013. According to her, “We are confident of the ability of President Buhari to turn the economy around.

A BOOST FOR SMES

L-R: Managing Director of the Business Arm- Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Ms Doris Onwugamba; Deputy Managing Director of SPAR Nigeria, Prakash Keswani; a vendor, Amede Olisa-Achingale, at the bazaar and Emeka Edemaigbo of SPAR Nigeria at the SME Bazaar held at SPAR ILupeju, Lagos …recently

Customs Records N1.24bn Revenue in November Eromosele Abiodun The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that it generated N1.24 billion as revenue for the month of November, 2016.

Also, the Command said it made 99 Seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N82.8 million during the period.

It added that the revenue generated exceeded the monthly revenue target of the command with N59.13 million.

The Customs Area Controller, A. Mulima attributed the feat to the commitment of his management team, the cooperation and compliance

level of the stakeholders and the host communities that were ready to partner with him in transforming the Command.

He stressed that being firm and persistent to the principle of transparency, diplomacy and fairness despite forces of distraction is gradually stabilising the Command’s revenue drive.

He reiterated that the Command will continue to facilitate and provide a conducive and a level playing ground for every genuine trader that uses the Seme international land border as a corridor to the West African sub region.

“The upsurge in the revenue figure of the last quarter justifies

the Command’s open door policy and its commitment to excel in revenue generation viza-viz anti-smuggling operations.

The resolve of the Command to remain resolute in actualising the vision/mission of the Service and the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) without compromise cannot be over-emphasised, “ he said.

He also attributed the success recorded to the firm stand taken by the Valuation Unit in generating values and the resolve of the Republic of Benin to comply with the Memorandum of Understanding signed on the

4th of August, 2016.

“This has actually translated to the higher revenue generated despite the numerous challenges that would have ordinarily hampered the revenue generated, “ he said.

In one of the briefings to his management team and patrol leaders, the Customs Area Controller highlighted that the posting of a proper officer to a particular duty post is predicated on the fact that the officer is conversant with the books of instructions that guide his modus operandi, “hence infraction observed will be traced to where it originated from and the culprit made to

face the consequences of his action. Therefore, the need for carefulness and uprightness in discharging official functions among officers and men of the Service cannot be overemphasised.”

Commenting further on the yuletide season, the Customs Area Controller disclosed that officers and men must ensure that the entire border is fortified against smuggling activities and cross border crimes of any kind.

He also cautioned the unprofessional use of arms among operational officers, stressing that arms should be used only when the conditions for usage becomes unavoidable.

Dock Labour: NJIC Agrees to Maintain Current Wages Eromosele Abiodun The National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) has agreed to discontinue further negotiations for the increment of dock workers’ wages given the prevailing economic conditions facing the maritime industry in particular and Nigeria in particular.

This decision was reached at the inaugural meeting of the NJIC at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety

Agency (NIMASA) in Lagos.

Presided over by the Executive Director Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, NIMASA, Mr. Gambo Ahmed, who is also the chairman of the council, noted that the dwindling fortunes in global shipping which has affected vessel traffic to Nigeria has negatively impacted the fortunes of Sea Ports and Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN). The council observed that the economic downturn has

caused some operators to lay off workers and in order to stem the tide of retrenchment, it was necessary to discontinue the negotiation on wage increment until the situation improves.

The President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Emmanuel Anthony Nted in his contribution said that MWUN understands the economic situation and so there is no need to demand for increment.

He, however, called on the terminal operators to show understanding when the situation improves and ensure that union invited for a negotiation of wage increase for dockworkers. On his part, the Chairman of the NJIC, Ahmed commended MWUN for showing maturity and understanding of the situation and charged STOAN members to reciprocate this gesture when the economic situation improves.

Ahmed commended all parties to the agreement for their show of maturity and called on them to show greater collaboration in order to move the Nigerian maritime industry forward.

In his words, “I therefore call on all council members to cooperate with the agency towards ensuring meaningful negotiations aimed at the signing of a reviewed collective bargain agreement on dock labour minimum standards.”

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NEWS

Bank of Agriculture Disburses N21.5bn to Farmers Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has disclosed that it has given out over N21.5billion to 107,200 farmers across the country.

The Zonal Manager, South-west region Mrs. Idiat Folorunsho disclosed this during the presentation of cheques to representatives of the hundreds of youths, who are the beneficiaries of Ooni Ogunwusi’s Agric-empowerment programme.

Speaking on the Agricultural empowerment programme of the bank, she said that the dwindling oil revenue has forced a rethink in strategy in favour of agribusiness.

The manager noted that the BOA in realisation of this, has taken necessary steps through deliberate policies and special programmes aimed at galvanising agriculture and engendering the development of agribusinesses.

She also stressed that the Bank is always ready to produce young farmers - entrepreneur to assist in food production and to make the nation to be self-reliance in all agricultural products.

Also under the scheme about 40billion has already been set aside in which the bank will be serving as a special purpose vehicle to ensure proper implementation of the programme.

Furthermore, she disclosed that under the scheme the most recent one is Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) in which arrangement involves the Anchor, providing some degree of support through the supply of inputs and technical advice to the farmers.

The Zonal Manger equally noted that all projects are adequately taken care of with suppliers of inputs to farmers after training.

She also noted that a vibrant agro-industrial value chain

in the agricultural sector and indeed other sectors, will serve as a springboard for the growth of the manufacturing sector.

Folorunsho also stressed that agribusiness is expected to serve as a rallying point for the rejuvenation while the ABP was intended to create an ecosystem to link out-growers (Small Holder Farmers) to local processors, to increase banks’ financing to the sector; increase capacity of anchor companies involved in rice production, as well as increase the productivity/incomes of out-growers.

The epoch making event witnessed the presentation of cheques of millions of naira to the representatives of the hundreds of youths who are the beneficiaries of Ooni Ogunwusi’s Agric-empowerment programme in partnership with the BOA, which was represented by its Deputy MD, Mr. Adebayo Jemileyin.

BOI, MAN, Partner SPAR to Host SME Bazaar in Lagos Nosa Alekhuogie The Bank of Industry (BOI), the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Retail Council of Nigeria (RCN), in collaboration with SPAR Nigeria recently hosted the small and medium enterprises (SME) nationwide to a one -day SME Bazaar.

The SME Bazaar, according to statement, came on the heels of an extensive SME workshop to educate and offer professional assistance to small businesses on the essence of modern day retail.

More than 40 growing businesses who had been beneficiaries of the SME Development Workshop held recently showcased their products to a variety of SPAR shoppers and the general public.

Products showcased included grains, beverages, clothing and merchandise, cosmetics, etc. all

manufactured in Nigeria.

Present at the occasion was the Deputy Managing Director of SPAR Nigeria, Mr. Prakash Keswani. He stated that Nigeria has so much potential in terms of business ideas and retail growth. “As a Hypermarket store, we are deeply interested in retailing Made in Nigeria products, we need to encourage and support growing businesses to standardize and align with best practices in the Modern Retail world”, he said.

The Regional Head of the SME Division of the BOI, Mr. Adetokunbo Akinsola applauded the vendors at the Bazaar, saying that their products had the potential to go beyond the shores of the country if they remain committed to keeping quality standards high. He also stated that the BOI was willing to support growing businesses in achieving their financial goals

and objectives.

The Managing Director of the business arm of MAN, Ms. Doris Onwugamba, who was highly impressed at the turn out of vendors and customers who participated in the SME Bazaar experience, stated: “It is evident that Nigerians are interested in Made in Nigeria goods. I am excited that vendors have upgraded on their packaging and registrations.’’

The Vendors expressed gratitude to the organisers of the Bazaar for the opportunity to reach out to Lagosians on a large scale. Amede OlisaAchingale a producer of Organic food products, stated that before the bazaar, she felt limited in her reach to potential customers but after the training she was able to position her products for effective market reach.

SPAR Nigeria has grown from one retail store to 10 major outlets nationwide.

‘We Need Professionals to Understand Tax Laws’ Chinazor Megbolu The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), has said the country needs tax professionals and administrators to understand tax laws on behalf of clients.

The President and Chairman of Council, CITN, Mrs. Olateju Abiola Somorin, stated this during the 35th Induction Ceremony of the organisation in Lagos recently.

She said the professionals and administrators would ensure fairness and equity in application of and compliance with the tax laws.

“This onerous task falls on tax professionals who must continually update and display the requisite skill set in order to offer top notch services to their clients and the general public, “she said.

Somorin explained the institute recognises the need

for continuous manpower provisions strong enough for the tax system.

According to her, the drop in oil prices that has affected federation account allocations to states, dropped by an average of about N2 billions monthly per state “Therefore, at the federal and state government levels, there have been increased activities geared towards increasing internally generated revenue with different strategies being employed. We are happy to note that some states have given effect to the Institute’s call for autonomy for revenue administration in their respective states, ”Somorin said.

She further reiterated on the call for all tax Internal Revenue Services be headed tax professionals “Let me equally reiterate our call that only tax professionals should head all the tax

IRS charged with tax revenue generation, notably the federal and states boards of Internal Revenue, “she said.

She however, noted that it is the right for those who have the required skills and vision in taxation to be appointed to fill the positions relating to taxation.

“This has become necessary if government is to be taken seriously in addressing the issue of low tax compliance and increased revenue generation, “she said.

Somorin also noted that CITN will continue to emphasise the message of professionalism even though they are not compelling the governments to tow that line.

She counselled the new inductees on the need for them to eschew all forms of professional misconduct and uphold the integrity of the institute.

THE ENTREPRENEUR’S BEST FRIEND Debbie Larry-Izamoje

Dealing With Stress in Business Nothing quite prepares you for entrepreneurship, not being the best graduating student in school, not growing up surrounded by business owners and sometimes not even the experience of working for others. To own a business is to sign up for an unpredictable rollercoaster ride.

It is a unique experience that can be likened to marriage. You can read all the best selling books, communicate with your mentors and even follow the exact footsteps of successful entrepreneurs, but the truth is there are still some days that running a business becomes draining and if precautionary steps are not taken, the stress of running your business especially in these times of ‘change’ can create adverse effects on one’s health and drawbacks in growing relationships.

It is important to note that before you are the owner of a business, you are your own person. Asides the struggles of deadlines, dealing with employees, and ensuring that the financial needof your business is met, you have personal needs that must be attended to.

As a businessperson you must learn to prioritise and also deal with stress as it comes. This article therefore focuses on coping responses for stress. The main key is not to stress too much about stress.

Identify the Problem

Like most of my articles, I always recommend that people take time out to find the source of their problems, as you cannot properly treat what has not been diagnosed.

The first step coping strategy is to actually focus on your stress. The very first thing to do is carry out a stress audit using the five whys technique which I discuss frequently in my articles.

The five whys technique is an iterative technique used to explore the causeand-effect relationships underlying a particular problem. For an entire day, focus on yourself, every time you feel irritated, angry or stressed write down just how you feel, and the leading causes of that feeling. Ask “why” after a symptom is found, get the answer and then ask why again… till you come up with the real root cause of a problem.

The result of the five whys technique enables you to fix the problem instead of fixing symptoms. Once you have identified your stress triggers you are 50% more able to live as a stress free business owner.

Set a Routine

Write down your priorities for a set time. What needs to be done and how these tasks must be executed. List each task according to deadlines and ensure you prioritise with fast approaching deadlines. It is advisable as a business owner to live by daily routines. Routines provide structure, increase motivation and improve productivity without added stress. At the start of each week, create routines around task that are priority.

For every time an assignment comes up in the week, add it to your list of priorities and later to your weekly routine list.

In order to further ease stress, it is important to set systems in place to assist your effectiveness. For example you can decide that emails will only be read at 12 noon everyday and that you will observe a one hour lunch break at

2pm everyday.

Delegate

I have come to realise that a lot of employers and business owners struggle with delegation; most especially entrepreneurs who toiled for many years building their business models alone. And so we have many business owners who are surrounded by skilled and efficient employees but hardly ever test these people’s abilities.

Maybe the reason you are so stressed out is because you are so used to being a one-man army and you believe you should bear the burden of solving every problem the business is faced with.

I have news for you. This is not sustainable and with time there will be a drop in productivity either on your part of that of the business.

Delegation is highly encouraged in any work environment as it is also a great learning opportunity for employees.

If you still do not have employees, you may want to consider asking your loved ones for help or simply learning to say “No”, so as to avoid taking on more tasks than you can actually handle. Entrepreneurs must learn to save their energy and thought process for the big decision making processes that have a direct impact on the company. You must also learn to react to situations slowly and must important give room for employees to make mistakes.

Delegation should be your way of accepting that you can only do so much as a human being and that your well being is more important than your financial success.

Take a Break

How many times as an entrepreneur have you laughed at your mistakes? If you have to think deeply about the answer then you are probably doing something wrong.

Think positive and laugh. Learn to celebrate victories and celebrate lessons from failures.

Do not set unnecessary standards for yourself or business, set reasonable achievable goals.

Perfectionism leads to stress.

Some successful entrepreneurs have expressed that exercise helps as well as meditation, if you find that this works for you, add it to your daily routine to eliminate stress.

Get enough nights sleep to be refreshed for the next day. Learn to unplug. Do not be that businesswoman answering work emails while on vacation with the family. Take a break, spend time with those you love or just by yourself.

About Debbie Larry-Izamoje

Debbie Larry-Izamoje holds a BSc in Information management from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom and MSc in management from University College London (UCL). She has also secured certificates in user innovation from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Innovation and strategy from Harvard University.

She is on a mission to raise a generation of young established or soon to be established professionals who are more vocal about business difficulties while providing solutions through public speaking, training, workshops and coaching.

She is the founder of the IBL platform a subsidiary of Image boosters limited, which is an online business community for young established/soon to be established professionals to ask questions, share concerns and experiences and receive tailored counseling.

-Contact: http://www. imageboostersng.com/debbieizamoje/ Instagram: @dee_larry @imageboosters_ Email: contactus@imageboosters.com.ng TeL: 08053198558 (text only)

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AIR WATCH

Labour Unions Accused of Frustrating Aero’s Resumption Stories by Chinedu Eze The National Union of Air Transport Association (NUATE) and the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN) have been accused of stalling the plan by Aero management to resume schedule flight services.

The move by Aero to lay off some workers to be able to operate with lean workforce that would match its lean resources had been resisted by the unions, who insisted that workers would not be laid off. The unions also vowed that Aero must pay the workers’ their entitlements.

On September 1, 2016, the airline had suspended schedule service due to cash crunch and its inability to source funds to offset the cost of the maintenance of its aircraft in maintenance facilities overseas.

After several meetings between the Aero management, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), which took over the airline, aviation unions and the Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, it was agreed that

everything must be done to resuscitate the airline.

It was expected that the unions would relinquish some of those demands in order to allow the airline resume operation. The resolution was reached after interventions by the Minister and the National Assembly.

However, NUATE and ATSSSAN have denied the allegation, insisting they are in talk with Aero to see how the airline could resume flight services again.

THISDAY spoke to the Chairman of ATSSSAN, Aero branch, Lewis Emakpor, who confirmed that labour was in talks with Aero management and expressed optimism that they would reach amicable resolution and the airline would bounce back.

“Before that crisis that led to the suspension of scheduled services by Aero we were into negotiation. We agreed with management that the staff was too much and we were in the middle of negotiation when the airline stopped operation,” Emakpor said.

On Monday aviation unions,

including NUATE, ATSSSAN and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and engineers (NAAPE) also held meetings with Aero management. They are yet to reach an amicable resolution to the disagreement.

NAAPE General Secretary, Ocheme Aba on Tuesday told THISDAY that the association had already reached agreement with the Aero management and does not constitute a stumbling block to the resumption of schedule services by the airline, adding the airline should negotiate with NUATE and ATSSSAN. In fact, Aba said NAAPE is looking forward to Aero’s come back, even as it said it would help to provide technical service for the maintenance of the airline’s aircraft.

“Whatever they conclude with NAAPE and ATSSSAN we shall stand by it. Aero has to be alive before it can give succour to any of the stakeholders or the employees. We are involved in finding solutions to the airline’s problem. NAAPE is planning to set up structures to alleviate the airline’s current maintenance challenges.

Nigeria Highly Vulnerable to Climate Change, Says NiMET DG The Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Dr. Anthony Anuforum has said that Nigeria is highly vulnerable to climate change based on the Maplesoft Climate Change Vulnerability Index, which places the country as the third most vulnerable countries in the world. He stressed that “this is an issue of serious concern that requires decisive and coordinated action”.

Anuforom therefore challenged the academic community in Nigeria to rise up and contribute its quota to the resolution of climate change issues through vigorous research and establishment of basic weather observatories across the country in other to increase the density of weather data collection in Nigeria.

Anuforom made the call while delivering the Lecture of the 17th Convocation Ceremony of

the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Enugu recently and pledged the readiness of his agency to collaborate and provide guidance to ensure that such observatories are set up and operated in compliance with World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) standards.

In the Lecture titled: “Weather Observation, Modelling and Forecasting for Managing Climate Change Impacts”, Anforom remarked that considering the “cross-cutting and multifaceted nature of climate change issues, greater inter-disciplinary research is recommended as no single organisation, Ministry, Department or Agency can tackle it alone. Allaying the fears of the academic community on the potential capital outlay needed to fund the establishment of the said Weather Observatories, the Director General said

conventional instruments for weather observation are relatively inexpensive and therefore affordable, insisting that it is within the reach of universities and other institutions to establish them.

He said the deluge of data that can potentially be collected by such observatories would not only increase the body of knowledge in the subject matter, but also help in addressing the challenges of climate change in Nigeria. He also noted that despite the vulnerability of Nigeria to climate change, the federal government has made huge efforts to combat the challenges through its support for NiMet to sustain the provision of world class weather and climate services. He also acknowledged government’s support of the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) as well as other agencies in this regard.

‘Nigeria is Huge Aviation Market for Africa’s Air Transport’ The Regional Manager North, West and Central Africa of South Africa Airways (SAA), Mr. Ohis Ehimiaghe has said that Nigeria is a huge market for air transport in Africa. He also said that the airline was not planning to stop its operations in the country; rather, it is consolidating its market share in Nigeria.

Ehimiaghe said because of the importance SAA attached to the Nigerian destination, the airline has introduced the latest Airbus A330-300 to the route in a bid to boost its operations on the Lagos-Johannes route from December 11, 2016 to Nigerians new travel experience as well as meet the growing need of

the Nigerian passengers.

He said: “We want to pride ourselves as one of the best airlines operating in Nigeria and that is why we are doing all that we can to satisfy our customers. We have been flying into Lagos for the past 20 years and of recent, we have extended to Abuja.”

Commenting on the challenges airline operators are facing in the country, Ehimiaghe stressed that despite the difficulties, that South Africa Airways is not stopping its operations of flying into the country.

The Regional Manager pointed out that instead of leaving the country, the airline decided to fortify its operations

by bringing its newest fleets to the Nigerian market.

“We are not pulling out. We know that Nigerian passengers deserve the best and that is why we are deploying this new aircraft to our Nigerian route” he said.

According to him, there are four major challenges bedeviling the airline industry in the country including forex, scarcity of aviation fuel, infrastructural decay, and the current economic crisis rocking the nation, but despite all these challenges, Nigeria remains a huge market for air travel and the airline has decided to consolidate its presence in Nigeria.

Curbing Air Accidents

T

he reduction in air crashes in Nigeria in recent times has been attributable to advanced technology in aircraft manufacturing and precision in aircraft safety.

The weak link, according to industry experts, is human. Latest statistics on air disasters in Nigeria revealed that human error contributed about 70 percent of air accidents recorded in recent times.

Africa still holds the record of contributing to the highest number of air crashes in the world, but the good news is that the rate of such crashes has also reduced significantly.

Two major factors have contributed to this improvement. One is that the Civil Aviation Authority in African countries has improved their oversight function; many of them have become autonomous and now strictly enforce regulations. The second is that it has become compulsory for airlines in the continent to obtain the high safety rating of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), which not only opens door for code-share and other kinds of partnership with other airlines but also enables them to operate to more destinations beyond their operational capacity by using their code-share partners.

A challenge the air transport industry is also facing is security. There have been attacks at airports and airborne flights have been bombed down by suspected terrorists despite the seeming overall advancement in security.

The level of security breaches in the world indicates that more actions need be taken to fortify airports.

There was the attack at Brussels airport and few months ago at Turkish busiest airport in Istanbul.

Earlier in the year Egypt Air airliner carrying dozens of passengers and several crewmembers was hijacked by a passenger who threatened he had an explosive belt and forced the plane to land at Larcana in Cyprus.

When the pilot was told by the hijacker that he had explosive belt, the pilot did not doubt. Industry analysts said the action of the pilot showed that he didn’t have confidence in the security apparatus of the airport, possibly knowing that a person with explosive could sneak through the security screening process without being screened. Industry observers also argue that the hijacker could do this with insider cooperation, which was evident in the Sham el Sheik bombing of Russian airliner last year.

In Nigeria, the fact that stowaways have had access to the sterile areas of the airports also shows that the airports are not secure.

Last week at the IATA Global Media Day in Geneva, Switzerland, the Director General and CEO of the IATA, Alexander de Juniac, recalled the tragic air crashes in Colombia and Pakistan within one week in which 118 people died and called for the improvement of safety and security in the air transport industry.

He also spoke about the need for government to collaborate and intensify efforts to ensure efficient security system at airports in the face of terror attacks

and insider threats.

De Juniac noted that the success of global aviation rests on safety, security, sustainability and in meeting global standards.

He said that flying is safe, but it is not free from accidents, observing that in the last one week, “We have had two tragedies, one in Pakistan and the other in Colombia.” He stated that every accident makes the association more determined to make the industry safer.

The IATA CEO said along with the desire to improve safety in air operation is also the desire to improve security at airports, noting that over the last year two airports have been attacked, there was an attempt to bomb a jet airliner, which failed and terrorists had laid claim to downing an aircraft and “popular tourist destinations have seen bloodshed.’’

He added: “Flying is secure. I fly with confidence and you should too. But there are risks and challenges and these include insider threats, landside exposure at airports, over flight of conflict zones, and cyber security. Efficient airport checkpoints are important.

And our smart security programme is making them more effective and convenient. But that alone is not enough to stay a step ahead of those who could do us harm.”

De Juniac said a recent UN Security Council Resolution should remind governments that keeping aviation secure is integral to a state’s responsibility for national security, adding that governments can and must do more by upping the game on intelligence gathering and sharing vital information among themselves and with the industry, “that is the only way that terrorists can be kept away from airports and aircraft.”

He emphasised that safety, security, sustainability and global standards are at the core of aviation’s existence, remarking that while respecting these critical items, airlines must run efficient businesses and generate enough surplus to reward their shareholders.

The industry, according to him, also has a role to play to improve safety and security. “My previous employer, Air France, was specifically mentioned on ISIS websites. So I have thought long and hard about security. And you will see IATA becoming more active in this space”, he stressed.

IATA’s Senior Vice –President, Safety and Flight Operations, Gilbert Lopez Meyer, while making presentations at the event noted that in the past, safety processes were based on understanding why an accident occurred.

“Then there was a deeper level of understanding, including human performance limitations. We are evolving from day to day of purely reactive fixes to an era of constant analysis, enhancement, and risk monitoring to predict future potential risks,” Meyer said.

Although Nigeria has recorded remarkable improvement on air safety, as no major air accident has occurred since 2013, the nation’s airports are still very porous, making them susceptible to attacks.

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Usman: We Have Intensified Surveillance on Nigeria Airlines

The Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Muhtar Usman, said in this interview with Chinedu Eze that the Authority has intensified surveillance of Nigerian airlines. Excerpts:

A Nigerian was able to retain its part two membership of ICAO. What this means is that the international body has recognised the important role Nigeria is playing in aviation development and our contribution to air transport in Africa and in the world will even enhance revenue for government, boost passenger facilitation and increase our rating in the world.

Usman

There have been reports that NCAA diverts money meant for training for the building of your new headquarters in Abuja. Is this true?

That is not true. First of all, in budgeting the National Assembly appropriates funds to projects. Even the internally generated revenue is still appropriated by the National Assembly and each appropriation has a title, so you cannot take one budget and put it in another budget. Training was given its own budget.

The corporate headquarters has been rolling over since. Since I came in 2014 it has rolled over and we have not even commenced. The physical work has not started. In fact, award of the contract has not even been made. As I am talking to you now international training is going on and local training is going on.

The only thing we want to do is to prioritise in view of the resent economic recession. The budget was done at the time dollar was below N200 and now it is about N400. So it is due to prudent management of resources that we would carry out the stipulated training; if not, we won’t be able to do more than 50 percent of the training programme.

Gone are those days when money was there. Now we want to prioritise and use that training as a tool to make the individual to perform the duties he is employed to do.

So we have not really fallen back; we are prioritising and we ensure that all necessary training are done and that is the only way we can implement those critical elements as required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Currently as I am talking to you the local trainings are going on. Those foreign training are also taking place. Some

of those that are supposed to be foreign we are even training instructors locally within us to be able to impart that knowledge, so that instead of training few people we will be able to train more because we are going to conduct it in-house. So certainly what we have put in place right now will help the system more than what we used to have before. This is because the amount we will save in air ticket and estacode we will be used to train more people now.

What is the significance of the re-election of Dr. Bernard Aliu as the President of ICAO Council?

It is very significant to Nigeria and to Africa for an African, a black man to be re-elected as the President of ICAO Council. This is very important to us. The ICAO Council is a permanent body of the Organisation responsible to the Assembly. It is composed of 36 Member States elected by the Assembly for a three-year term. In the election, adequate representation is given to States of chief importance in air transport. So you see how significant it is to Nigeria. And not only that; a Nigerian was able to retain its part two membership of ICAO. What this means is that the international body has recognised the important role Nigeria is playing in aviation development and our contribution to air transport in Africa and in the world. The countries in part one include the nations that manufacture aircraft; even countries like United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Turkey which has carried out so much research in aviation, are still in part three.

This will tell you the significance of Nigeria’s position being in part two. So we achieved

all we set out to achieve in Montreal. Aliu was re-elected as ICAO Council President and we retained our part two membership in ICAO. Infrastructural status of an airport plays a role in safety and security to air travel so NCAA should be concerned about airport facilities in the country. So what is your disposition in the present campaign for airport concession?

Nigerians travel a lot and many of them travel to London and Dubai and would want our airports to be like what they see in those countries. For us to have such sophisticated, modern airports we need private sector investment in our airports. And if you check all over the world, airport development is done through public, private partnership (PPP).

If you look at Heathrow Terminal 5, it is dedicated to British Airways. Government did not build it and it is not managing it. The terminal was built by the private sector and they are the ones managing it and government is getting revenues from there. Government has ceded it to the private sector and even some levels of security is managed by the company in charge of the airport and at the end of the day the airport still belongs to government.

If you look at our airport infrastructure you will see that they are very old. So for us to have such modern airports we see in other parts of the world like London and Dubai, the private sector must have to invest in airport development and they are not taking away the airport; they still belong to us but they will add some values to them and transform them to better facilities and that

With economic recession there are fears that Nigerian airlines may begin to cut corners, it has become obvious that airlines’ revenue has plummeted with the low value of Naira. So what are you doing to ensure that the airlines still fly safely?

One of the major components of the regulatory agency is surveillance and we have intensified that especially since this recession started to ensure that all operators are abiding by the provisions of safety and security regulations and in the areas of enforcement and compliance we have done a lot. There are those that thought they would slip under our radar and do things that they should not do, we were able to sanction a number of operators; even individuals who had license and were trying to operate in ways contrary to the privileges given to them in their license, such as the pilots we caught and suspended from operating flights as a result of testing positive to illicit substances and some flying without necessary documentations and other infractions. This makes them to know that they are being monitored. The objective is to ensure safety and security and we are appealing to all the operators to ensure they follow the laid down rules and regulations.

The rules are there to ensure safe and secure air transport. We have also resolved several cases of missing baggage and delayed flights and other tickets issues.

Few years before you came, there was significant effort being made by NCAA to relocate to Abuja but there seemed to be a lull on that decision. Is there any effort being made to revive that plan?

I think you are right on that because sometime in 2008 there was Presidential directive that few agencies, including NCAA should relocate their corporate headquarters to Abuja and some buildings were put up in Abuja. Unfortunately those building have degenerated. We found a lot of defect on them that we really need to re-do the whole thing because it has become quite dangerous. They have developed a lot of cracks on them so they cannot support what we want to use them to do in terms of safety. So we have looked at that and provisions have been made to erect befitting corporate headquarters.

People keep saying, relocation. Yes, the relocation is to relocate the corporate office; it does not mean that Lagos will be closed.

The operations in Lagos will still continue; it will operate as regional office, just like we have regional office in Port Harcourt. We have in Abuja, we have in Kano and Kaduna and if need be, we can create other regional offices because the essence of having regional offices is to bring services to the operators CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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USMAN: WE HAVE INTENSIFIED SURVEILLANCE ON NIGERIA AIRLINES and eventually Emirates started coming and at one time it was coming to Nigeria three times a day. So people should do their business model very well, put the right equipment because others are also doing it because they are even making profit. British Airways fly into Nigeria two times a day.

and that will increase the efficiency. It will even reduce the cost on the operators because you are bringing services close to them. As I am talking to you now Abuja has started processing licenses, personnel licenses. Now, renewal of licenses for people around Abuja is being handled in Abuja, so people don’t have to come to Lagos. It saves costs and time.

If the corporate office is relocated to Abuja it will reduce costs for the CEO of agencies.

They need to interact with the Ministry of Transportation, which is located in Abuja, Central Bank is in Abuja, National Assembly is in Abuja, Accountant General, Auditor General are all located in Abuja. National Security Adviser’s office is in Abuja; so all those people are in Abuja. This will significantly reduce the cost of movement from Lagos to Abuja.

What do you think will be the contribution of the Nigerians who are heading international and regional aviation organisations to air transport development in Nigeria?

We have a lot to benefit from them. First of all, it is a recognition that Nigeria’s aviation sector has come of age. We have a Nigerian as head of ICAO Council, we have a Nigerian as secretary of Africa Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), we also have a Nigerian elected as President Airports Council International (ACI), African Region; that is the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma and currently the Director General of NCAA, Captain Usman, is the Chairman of the Banjul Accord Group Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASO), which is located here in Abuja.

We have a lot of cooperation and assistance coming from ICAO in the areas of concession also in the areas of establishment of the aerospace university of which this administration is fully committed to. We stand to gain a lot by having Nigerians in those high places in the aviation industry.

Seven countries in West Africa came together to form the Banjul Accord, which is aviation body comprising those seven states. Five of those states are English speaking; one is Portuguese speaking, while the other one is French. The eighth one is coming as an observer and it is Portuguese speaking. The group comprises of Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Cape Verde and Guinea. The eighth one that wants to join is Guinea Bissau.

Under the group we have the Safety Oversight Organisation; that is Banjul Accord Group Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASO). There is the Accident Investigation Agency, which is called BAGAIA. So BAGASO is for safety, while BAGAIA is for accident investigation.

BAGASO is very, very successful to the point that ICAO always cites it as an example for regional cooperation and asking other regions to emulate what BAGASO is doing.

What is the benefit of the group in the sub-region; do you think it will enhance the planned open sky for Africa?

One of the reasons why the group was set up was to encourage and improve on the air transport connectivity within the sub-region.

That is one, and secondly to harmonise and standardise regulations; whereby you have common regulations within those states. We are working towards common economic regulations and common safety regulations and common aviation security regulation. And also because we are pulling our resources together, members can seek for assistance at any time from the group, including manpower exchange and development. This tallies with the programme at ICAO, which says, No Country is Left Behind.

Let’s talk about the Yamoussoukro Declaration (YD), which is liberalising Africa’s airspace for African airlines, which Nigeria is not only signatory but also spearheading the kick-off in December 2017. But some countries in the region and even some airlines in Nigeria don’t seem to be enthusiastic about it. How do you think Nigeria will benefit from this?

What we want to have is open sky for Africa. This is where the continent is looked at as one single market when it comes to the utilisation of air travel. The fear with some people is domination by some major

I think one of the major issues now in Nigeria is how to enhance local airlines to partner with international carriers and I think NCAA has a big role to play in this. What steps do you think can be taken to facilitate this?

First of all, code-share, partnerships are commercial in nature. If you want somebody or an airline you wish to partner with you will have to meet each other person’s requirements. In a way, there is a standard set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is the IATA Operational Audit (IOSA) and I am happy to say that we have six airlines that have met that requirement, so it is much easier now and other airlines are also in the process of meeting that requirement.

That is a basic requirement for many airlines to go into partnership. So we have to learn to operate to international standard. Once you are operating at that standard it makes it much easier. You cannot force that kind of marriage. This is because if you don’t meet somebody’s standard he would not want to partner with you.

Usman

carriers but everybody can have his own bite based on his own capability. You don’t have to be everywhere but wherever you think you can make headway. You just concentrate on where you will have advantage. It is just like in the domestic market where everyone wants to fly to Lagos and Abuja and Port Harcourt. People should look at other areas and develop.

We have very, very poor connectivity within Africa. Once we implement the YD I believe that connectivity in Africa will improve. You can imagine somebody going to Brazzaville; you cannot take direct flight. Last time I attempted it I had to go through Lome to Kinshasa and from Kinshasa to Brazzaville.

Then coming back I had to fly from Brazzaville to Kinshasa and then overflew Nigeria and went to Abidjan, stayed on ground for nine

Nigerians travel a lot and many of them travel to London and Dubai and would want our airports to be like what they see in those countries. For us to have such sophisticated, modern airports we need private sector investment in our airports. And if you check all over the world, airport development is done through public, private partnership (PPP)

hours and connected a flight back to Nigeria.

This is a flight that will take not more than two and half hours from Lagos that I spent a whole day and almost a whole night.

Liberalisation of African airspace will improve on those connectivity and also improve on the economy of the region because if only few people are going it becomes very expensive for them, but if you have so many it will be cheaper to travel. It will also increase competition, which brings out the best. It will also improve trade and tourism. There are so many things available in Africa but people will fly to Europe to go and get it.

This is because connectivity in Africa is bad.

For example, if you are flying also from Cape Verde, you have to fly to Dakar and then spend some hours and if you are lucky that day that there is a connecting flight you will be lucky.

But for some people from Ghana and other countries in the region, they will have to go to Europe. That is the best way, you go to Portugal and from Portugal, you come back to Africa. If we have connectivity in place it will cost you less to move around. Then what you are looking for in Europe you can get it here and even at cheaper cost. So it will improve trade and also tourism.

Will you encourage the Nigerian airlines to operate regional service in a way to make it competitive?

Certainly we have been encouraging them.

We have been giving them the approval to fly in the region and even international. So it is up to them to start. But somebody has to go and sit down and look at the figures and take commercial decisions to show they can break even, because other people are doing it. People fly one hour from London to Paris. So many airlines operate there, so why not in Africa. When we were growing up we used to fly Lagos to Ibadan and some even flew Lagos to Cotonou also.

When I was in the national airline, Nigeria Airways, it developed the Dubai route, but then it was not even a daily flight but it grew

Recently there were rumours that some briefcase helicopter companies were getting bids from exploration and production oil companies for air shuttle contracts. These are companies that are said not to have Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and no base or maintenance hangar. How do you monitor the activities of these helicopter services?

Before you operate any commercial service in Nigeria you must have the necessary permit, including the AOC. All the airlines providing service to oil and gas companies have to do business only when they have met these requirements. It is also in their own interest to ensure that this is done. In fact, some of them place a higher standard more than the minimum standard set for the operators of such services. Some of the oil companies even have their own independent audit and subject such operator to more scrutiny in addition to what we have done. So even if they give out contract to an operator; that operator must be up to standard.

Recently during stakeholders meeting in Lagos the Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika gave a hint that the restructuring in the aviation agencies, especially the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which gave rise to people losing their jobs, would continue.

How will this affect the industry?

What I understood from what the Minister said was that people were not placed in their rightful position. It was a process that started even before the coming of this administration and it arose from petition that some people brought to the Ministry; that some people with less qualification and experience were put over and above those already in the system with better qualification and experience.

Then a committee was set up. It was headed by the present Head of Service. She was then a permanent secretary. It was the report she presented and its implementation that took place in FAAN. It cannot be said to have led to loss of jobs because to the best of my knowledge I don’t know of anybody that was sacked because of that. It is only that people were placed where it was believed they should be. Naturally some people felt they could not accept what they were given and they left. If he said it would be extended to other agencies, it may not necessarily lead to job losses.

I don’t think anybody has anything to fear as long as he has the qualification and experience and he is doing the job in line with his job title. It is not about retrenchment but right placement of personnel and I believe that this would increase efficiency in the system and also would boost the morale of the people who have been there so that they will continue to put in their best in the system.

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As Developing Countries Increase Involvement in Global Maritime Business Eromosele Abiodun examines UNCTAD’s review of maritime transport and submits that the long-term growth prospects for seaborne trade and maritime business, especially from emerging markets, are positive WORLD FLEET OF COMMERCIAL VESSELS BY COUNTRY OF OWNERSHIP, AS AT JANUARY 1, 2016 THREE COUNTRIES REMAIN AT THE TOP

GREECE is by far the largest owning country with 293 million dead weight tonnes or 16.4% of the 1792 million dead weight tonnes world total

The top 5 owning countries comprise exactly half of the world total

JAPAN is the second largest with 229 million dead weight tonnes or 12.8%

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CHINA is in number three position with 159 million dead weight tonnes (8.9%)

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GERMANY is in fourth position with 119 million dead weight tonnes

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SINGAPORE 95 million dead weight tonnes

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Before now the global maritime business was dominated by Western countries. That appears to be changing as developing countries are increasing their involvement in many parts of global maritime business. Aside expert’s position on the development, the review of maritime transport 2016, published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), this month, lays credence to this.

The review, however, outlined a cautiously upbeat view of global shipping in the years ahead. This is correct because just two days after the report appeared, Donald Trump was elected as the next president of the United States. Risks for world trade appear to have suddenly multiplied or, at least, uncertainty has been abruptly amplified by this election outcome. The president-elect has criticised globalisation and free trade, expressed hostility towards international trade pacts and shown enthusiasm for a protectionist stance. What is not clear yet is how much was campaign rhetoric and how much was firm intention.

If government policy evolves on this basis, a potentially highly unstable period for world trade could result, where detrimental influences are a bigger feature. However, that is speculation and may remain so until the new government is installed early next year and clarification ensues. However, the report suggests that long-term growth prospects for seaborne trade and maritime businesses are positive, although there are many uncertainties and downside risks. Analysis of the report points to ample opportunities for developing countries to generate income and employment and help promote foreign trade.

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Ship Supply Questions

Meanwhile, an analysis of the entire world fleet of commercial vessels by country of ownership, as at 1 January 2016, reveals that three countries remain at the top. Greece is still by far the largest owning country with 293 million deadweight tonnes, 16.4 per cent of the 1792 million dead weight tonnes world total. Japan is the second largest, with 229 million dead weight tonnes (12.8 per cent) and China is in number three position with 159m dwt (8.9 per cent). Accompanied by Germany (119 million dwt) and Singapore (95m dwt), the top 5 owning countries comprise exactly half of the world total.

The UNCTAD report discussed the structure, ownership and registration of the world fleet of ships. It points out that the fleet’s deadweight capacity (all ship types) grew by 3.5 per cent in 2015. While this increase was the lowest annual percentage for over a decade, it was still far higher than the 2.1 per cent growth in demand, resulting in continued global overcapacity.

The authors focus on various positive indicators for shipping markets. However, there was a discussion about the downside of the huge container ships surplus caused by overinvestment, which the review suggests is not in the long-term interest of either liner operators or shippers. In the short term shippers may benefit from lower container freight rates but, in the long term there is a danger of more markets with oligopolistic market structures, reflecting a continued process of concentration as service operators become fewer.

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Ship Demand Conundrum

Experts believe UNCTAD’s view of the seaborne trade outlook seems realistic at present and, to some extent, provides a counterpoint to alternative more pessimistic projections emerging during the past twelve months or so. But the report concedes that negative developments in the macroeconomic framework are intensifying, and dampening maritime cargo volumes.

Nevertheless, the experts argued that growth in global seaborne trade is still intact.

“While China’s slowdown is bad news for shipping, a number of developing countries are becoming more involved and could drive further trade enlargement,” said the National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero.

Uncertainties and downside risks listed in the report include: weak global demand and investment, political uncertainties such as the on-going migration crisis, doubts about the future pace and direction of European integration and a further loss of momentum in developing countries.

Moreover, another set of factors were identified – technology, innovation, the data revolution and e-commerce – which can transform and disrupt the shipping industry, generating both challenges and opportunities. How will these trends evolve? The report admits the outcome is unknown.

Among causes for anxiety about the future evolution of world seaborne trade was prominent, along with the shared and circular economies.

However, the report does not comment specifically on the likely timing of most of the impact from these trends. What seems clear though is

that these are longer-term influences evolving over a decade or two perhaps and, as a result, immediate effects may be limited. Reduced global use of fossil fuels is another, more tangible, worry for the shipping industry because it is already highly visible.

The fourth industrial revolution is a concept which envisages that innovation, technology and big data could assist in increasing efficiency and productivity in the global economy. This progress, experts believe, could shift established modes of production and consumption, with negative implications for seaborne trade.

Experts also believe that the performance of supply-chains could be enhanced, accompanied by a reduction in their typical length as features such as three-dimensional (3D, or additive) printing and robotics are increasingly incorporated.

Shorter supply-chains, they added, imply shorter average sea voyage distances, with adverse effects on the demand for shipping services.

“Similarly, the impact of the shared and circular economies points to savings and efficiency gains which could lower demand for maritime transport.

Shared economy characteristics (renting and swapping, for example) may modify demand and also supply chains. This would be achieved through new technology and platforms that facilitate asset management, service delivery and information access.

A circular economy promotes effective use of resources, greater resource conservation, and reduced reliance on fossil fuels and raw materials, to achieve sustainable production and consumption patterns. Steps have been taken CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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AS DEVELOPING COUNTRIES INCREASE INVOLVEMENT IN GLOBAL MARITIME BUSINESS

already in numerous countries to cut fossil fuel consumption. Further advances in renewable energy production and energy storage could have a large adverse impact on oil, coal and liquefied gas movements and associated demand for shipping capacity,” Amiwero submitted.

Developing Countries’ Maritime Strengths

Many developing countries are involved in five key aspects of the global shipping scene – shipowning, ship registration, seafarer supply, shipbuilding and ship recycling. As the UNCTAD report emphasises, in some activities developing countries are top participants, with increasing shares of the world market. The report suggests that a good policy choice for policymakers in these countries is to identify and provide support for selected maritime businesses in sectors where a comparative advantage is evident.

According to the report, for developing countries as a group (including transition economies) their ownership share of the global fleet total, as at the beginning of 2016, was just over two-fifths (40.5 per cent) and has been rising. Most of this capacity is owned in Asia, and just over half of that Asian sub-group is comprised of three countries/territories, China, Singapore and Hong Kong (China), jointly owning 19.1 per cent of the world fleet’s deadweight tonnage.

A breakdown of the fleet owned in Asian developing countries, by ship type, shows that almost half consists of bulk carriers, one quarter is comprised of tankers, and one eighth is container ships. For comparison, in other developing country regions with much smaller tonnages, the breakdown is very different. Fleets in developing countries in Africa and the Americas have high shares of offshore supply vessel ownership.

As is well known, ship registration in the global fleet is highly concentrated in developing countries. The report showed that, as calculated at the beginning of 2016, this group registers just over three-quarters (76 per cent) of the world fleet’s deadweight tonnage. The top five flag states are all in this category, jointly registering 57 per cent of the world total. Panama is the largest, with 19 per cent, followed by Liberia (11 per cent), Marshall Islands (11 per cent), Hong Kong, China (nine per cent) and Singapore (seven per cent). Providing seafarers for the international shipping market is another large and strongly evolving activity for developing countries.

“Figures for 2015 were drawn from a survey conducted jointly by BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping, published several months ago. These show China contributing the largest number at 244,000 (15 per cent of the world total).

In second place was Philippines with 216,000 (13 per cent), followed by Indonesia’s 144,000 (nine per cent). Russia, India and Ukraine also provided substantial numbers. Global demand for seafarers apparently increased by a cumulative 45 per cent during the decade ending last year, facilitating the expanding involvement of developing countries,” UNCTAD said.

A positive perspective

The report highlighted the lacklustre growth

of global seaborne trade, currently increasing at a pace notably slower than the historical average, and the slowest since the debilitating world economic recession seven years ago. It also points to uncertain prospects in the immediate future and further ahead, emphasising prominent downside risks.

Surplus capacity, it revealed, is compounding the problem for the shipping industry, with fleet expansion still exceeding demand enlargement across the shipping market as a whole.

The report revealed that there are ample opportunities for developing countries to generate income and employment and help promote foreign trade. A breakdown of the report showed that shipments expanded by 2.1 per cent, a pace notably slower than the historical average. The tanker trade segment recorded its best performance since 2008, while growth in the dry cargo sector, including bulk commodities and containerized trade in commodities, fell short of expectations.

While a slowdown in China is bad news for shipping, other countries have the potential to drive further growth. South-South trade is gaining momentum, and planned initiatives such as the One Belt, One Road Initiative and the Partnership for Quality Infrastructure, as well as the expanded Panama Canal and Suez Canal, all have the potential to affect seaborne trade, reshape world shipping networks and generate business opportunities. In parallel, trends such as the fourth industrial revolution, big data and electronic commerce are unfolding, and entail both challenges and opportunities for countries and maritime transport.

Maritime Businesses

The report showed that the world fleet grew by 3.5 per cent in the 12 months to 1 January 2016 (in terms of dead-weight tons (dwt)). This, stakeholders said, is the lowest growth rate since 2003, yet still higher than the 2.1 per cent growth in demand, leading to a continued situation of global overcapacity. Different countries, it added, participate in different sectors of the shipping business, seizing opportunities to generate income and employment.

“As at January 2016, the top five ship owning economies (in terms of dwt) were Greece, Japan, China, Germany and Singapore, while the top five economies by flag of registration were Panama, Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Hong Kong (China) and Singapore. The largest shipbuilding countries are China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, accounting for 91.4 per cent of gross tonnage constructed in 2015. Most demolitions take place in Asia; four countries - Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and China - accounted for 95 per cent of ship scrapping gross tonnage in 2015. The largest suppliers of seafarers are China, Indonesia and the Philippines, “it stated.

Freight, Maritime Transport Costs

The report revealed that in 2015, most shipping segments, except for tankers, suffered historic low levels of freight rates and weak earnings, triggered by weak demand and oversupply of new tonnage.

“The tanker market remained strong, mainly because of the continuing and

exceptional fall in oil prices. In the container segment, freight rates declined steadily, reaching record low prices as the market continued to struggle with weakening demand and the presence of ever-larger container vessels that had entered the market throughout the year.

In an effort to deal with low freight rate levels and reduce losses, carriers continued to consider measures to improve efficiency and optimize operations, as in previous years. Key measures included cascading, idling, slow steaming, and wider consolidation and integration, as well as the restructuring of new alliances,”UNCTAD said.

The Ports

The overall port industry, including the container sector, the report said, experienced significant declines in growth, with growth rates for the largest ports only just remaining positive.

“The 20 leading ports by volume experienced an 85 per cent decline in growth, from 6.3 per cent in 2014 to 0.9 per cent in 2015. Of the seven largest ports to have recorded declines in throughput, Singapore was the only one not located in China.

Nonetheless, with 14 of the top 20 ports located in China, some ports posted impressive growth, and one (Suzhou) even grew by double digits.

The top 20 container ports, which usually account for about half of the world’s container port throughput and provide a straightforward overview of the industry in any year, showed a 95 per cent decline in growth, from 5.6 per cent in 2014 to 0.5 per cent in 2015, “it sated.

Regulatory Developments

According to UNCTAD, ´during the period under review, important developments included the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015 and the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December 2015. Their implementation, along with that of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, adopted in July 2015, which provides a global framework for financing development post-2015, is expected to bring increased opportunities for developing countries.

“Among regulatory initiatives, it is worth noting the entry into force on 1 July 2016 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea amendments related to the mandatory verification of the gross mass of containers, which will contribute to improving the stability and safety of ships and avoiding maritime accidents.

At the International Maritime Organisation, discussions continued on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping and on technical cooperation and transfer of technology particularly to developing countries.

Continued enhancements were made to regulatory measures in the field of maritime and supply chain security and their implementation.

“Areas of progress included the implementation of authorised economic operator programmes and an increasing number of bilateral mutual recognition agreements that will, in due course, form the basis for the recognition of authorised economic operators at a multilateral level. As regards suppression of maritime piracy and

armed robbery, in 2015, only a modest increase of 4.1 per cent was observed in the number of incidents reported to the International Maritime Organisation, compared with 2014,” the report said.

It added that most shipping segments, except for tankers, suffered historic low levels of freight rates and weak earnings, triggered by weak demand and oversupply of new tonnage.

The tanker market, it added, remained strong, mainly because of the continuing and exceptional fall in oil prices.

Container Segment

“In the container segment, freight rates declined steadily, reaching record low prices as the market continued to struggle with weakening demand and the presence of ever-larger container vessels that had entered the market throughout the year. In an effort to deal with low freight rate levels and reduce losses, carriers continued to consider measures to improve efficiency and optimize operations, as in previous years. Key measures included cascading, idling, slow steaming, and wider consolidation and integration, as well as the restructuring of new alliances.

“The same was true of the dry bulk freight market, which was affected by the substantial slowdown in seaborne dry bulk trade and the influx of excess tonnage. Rates fluctuated around or below vessels’ operating costs across all segments. As in container shipping, measures were taken to mitigate losses and alliances were reinforced, as illustrated by the formation in February 2015 of the largest alliance of dry bulk carriers, Capesize Chartering. Market conditions in the tanker market, however, were favourable. The crude oil and oil product tanker markets enjoyed strong freight rates throughout 2015, mainly triggered by a surge in seaborne oil trade and supported by a low supply of crude tanker fleet capacity,”it stated.

The report describes the work of UNCTAD in helping developing countries improve port performance, with a view towards lowering transport costs and achieving better integration into global trade.

It explores new datasets in port statistics and presents an overview of what these reveal about the port industry in 2015.

It added:“The overall port industry, including the container sector, experienced significant declines in growth, with growth rates for the largest ports only just remaining positive. The 20 leading ports by volume experienced an 85 per cent decline in growth, from 6.3 per cent in 2014 to 0.9 per cent in 2015. Of the seven largest ports to have recorded declines in throughput, Singapore was the only one not located in China.

“Nonetheless, with 14 of the top 20 ports located in China, some ports posted impressive growth, and one (Suzhou) even grew by double digits. The top 20 container ports, which usually account for about half of the world’s container port throughput and provide a straightforward overview of the industry in any year, showed a 95 per cent decline in growth, from 5.6 per cent in 2014 to 0.5 per cent in 2015.”

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

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‘MY WIFE GAVE ME HOPE' ACTING EDITOR CHARLES AJUNWA / charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

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‘My Wife Gave Me Hope' Smart, brilliant, accomplished, a gatekeeper, analytical and critical thinker, and is always ahead of the pack. These amongst many other adjectives embody Ikechukwu Kalu, the Managing Director/CEO, Customer Passion Point Limited. In a chat with Adedayo Adejobi, he sheds light on his 23-year-old marriage to his wife, Chinwe, whom he described as an intelligent, very supportive and loving friend, how he met her, the hurdles of being an entrepreneur, and how marriage has taught him patience How would you describe your stay at the FCMB? My stay at FCMB was quite short but extremely memorable. I joined at a time the bank was trying to reposition itself in the market. I was hired from Tanzania to ensure the process was successful. I believe the God factor was instrumental to my getting the job despite my being out of the country. I am still very excited about the brand. Each time I walk into any branch and see the new look and feel, I feel accomplished and excited remembering all that went into developing it. It was fun. I had a great team, though young but willing to learn and deliver value. Leadership helped too by believing in the power of branding and putting adequate resources behind it. I am indeed still very loyal to brand FCMB. Your ideas were believed to have made a difference to the fortunes of the Ecobank revolution across Africa. What is your take on this?

I owe the eventual take off of Customer Passion Point Limited to Ecobank Tanzania. When I ended my contract with Zanzibar Telecoms (a part of Etisalat) as Marketing Director, I was unsure of what next to do. Then the idea of setting up CPPL came. It was very risky being away from home but I took the chance anyway. Soon after, an opportunity came for us to pitch for a marketing communication project at Ecobank. They had issues with visibility and low cost deposits and wanted immediate solutions at the time. We pitched for it, proposed a sales promotional campaign with through-the-line support. This won us the pitch and we developed the famous ‘Win Big With Ecobank’ Promotion.

The Promo was developed to increase visibility for Ecobank in Tanzania as well as increase low cost deposits. It ran for six months from June 2012 through to the end of November /early December, 2012. Midway in the campaign, I returned to Nigeria to join FCMB and to my greatest amazement, the campaign was running in Nigeria. I soon discovered it actually ran across all Ecobank markets for well over one year. It indeed must have been successful for it to be adopted and replicated across markets.

Overall, we are glad that our idea made a difference to the fortunes of the bank and we are more than willing to develop such great ideas for both Ecobank and any organisation looking to accelerate their business.

Can you tell us why you left Tanzania for the FCMB job in Nigeria?

Like I mentioned earlier, I was head-hunted

by FCMB and the offer was good and the role was exciting. Although it was a two years contract which was later extended by six months, it was time well spent. I set up the marketing team, worked with the sales/retail team to grow volume and value and help to step up the brand image. During my tenure, we did a couple of brand health checks and the results showed progressive growth across key parametres.

On a lighter note, the FCMB job came at a time I really wanted to return to Nigeria. Recall that I went to Tanzania as an expatriate with all the bells and whistles. It was important to me that I returned to Nigeria in the manner I went if not better. Again, FCMB gave me that opportunity.

What made you to take the tough decision to start and run CPPL? When my contract with FCMB ended, I had to decide between two options- take another job or join my wife to run CPPL. It was a very daunting decision to make, I had registered CPPL Nigeria, before travelling to Tanzania and the idea was that I will eventually run it

Kalu...relaxing

when I am through with paid employment.

I earlier left it in the hands of a friend, and my wife picked it up after we got back from Tanzania. After much deliberating, I decided to run with CPPL. It was a tough decision.

My goal was to grow it to become one of the best Africa can produce. The goal/vision is still before me and I pray to achieve it in my life time.

How would describe your experience as an entrepreneur?

The last two years have been like 30 years to me. I have been through a bit and learnt so much. It’s been tough but worth all my efforts.

My toughest hurdle as an entrepreneur is that of positioning. This has to do with marketing.

I thought that my having been in the market would count and make CPPL an easy sell.

But that has not been the case. From get go, I wanted to be known for business marketing consulting, believing that training would be a natural intervention from consulting. But I am seeing and experiencing the complete opposite.

It would appear that training is opening doors for consulting. The next hurdle is getting people to believe in what we are doing. I have had to ignore the people who told me it wasn’t possible because they thought market was already saturated.

Whatever the case may be, entrepreneurs believe in themselves, forget what other people tell them and make efforts to find out the facts of the market for themselves. Even if you may be duplicating what others are doing, you can make a success of it if you apply your heart and bring some innovation into the way you deliver your services. Start with the end result in mind, then you’ll know where you’re going and you’ll be better able to ensure that the steps you take are appropriate and in the right direction.

How long have you been married to your wife, Chinwe?

We have been married for 23 years and still counting by the grace of God. We are blessed with four very healthy, intelligent, focused

and God-fearing children. If I’m to marry all over again, I will settle for Chinwe Afra. She is the love of my life.

We have had very sweet and memorable experiences and we believe two things are responsible. Firstly, we are both born again Christians, got saved about the same time, sat under same teaching and have been serving the Lord together. Second, we both know that we are not each other’s enemy. We are friends and allies who understand who our common enemy is and have resolved to fight the common enemy together with everything at our disposal. We have made all kinds of mistakes but we have continued to work in forgiveness and support for each other. These have kept us together.

We met in church, The Household of God, at a prayer meeting. Then I was working at Guinness Nigeria Plc, struggling to complete my part time education at the University of Lagos where she was rounding up an MBA. You see what I mean. We were very good friends, met regularly to discuss what we learnt from church, were at prayer meeting together almost every evening and soon became ministration partners in the evangelism/hospital ministry of the Household of God. We simply just had fun serving God and truly enjoyed each other’s company. And the events of the day led us to eventually deciding for each other. We were very good friends for quite a while despite the difference in our social class at the time we met. The social class thing is a story for another day but the way she received me gave hope to a young man who was struggling and in need of direction in life. We have enjoyed every bit of the 23 years we have lived together.

At what point did you decide to marry your good friend?

We did not date for too long. I proposed to her in September and by April we had tied the knots. But remember, we had been great friends for three and half years before the proposal. We had become confidants. I recall how many times we cried to each other

whenever we got ‘a nail’ from relationships we thought would end in marriage. We consoled and prayed for each other. This was possible because we were friends, heard the same full gospel, serving God together. So when it became obvious that we were made for each other, it was natural to say ‘yes’.

How did you arrive at the decision to propose to her?

The decision to propose to Chinwe Afra arose from the teaching we had at a Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship programme in Abuja. It was a weeklong convention and we in the company of other friends. I couldn’t afford it but she had some cash and had to pay for me and one other friend. There were two separate sessions in Sheraton Hotel and Nicon Hotel in Abuja and the topics were around business and marriage.

So what happened after the Business Men’s Fellowship programme in Abuja?

The messages at the sessions were indeed thought provoking but more importantly seemed to address the things to watch out for in the person you choose as either a business or a spouse. When we met after the sessions to compare notes, it became obvious that what we were looking for in ‘Sokoto was in our Shokoto’. We stared at each other and I eventually summoned courage to propose to her. It was hard but turned out to be the best day of my life. Why was it hard? Remember I talked about the difference in our social class? Yes, I thought she had done enough by accepting me as a friend and it would be stupid of me to spoil the friendship by proposing to her.

But I was wrong. The good Lord had been sharing some thoughts with her too and my speaking was now a confirmation.

Both of you had dreams before you tied the knots. Cuts in…

When we got married, we both had dreams which we had talked about. We had committed to helping each other fulfill their dreams. We

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16.12.2016 trusted God and agreed in prayer concerning them. We also supported each other. When Chinwe worked in the bank, I dropped her every morning at the bus stop to join her staff bus. I would take care of school run issues while she was on the Island working. She never had to worry about the kids. That enabled her to excel while she was in the bank.

When I wanted to change career from Audit to Marketing, Chinwe was there for me. She never raised any objections, prayed with me till I was able to change departments. It took prayer and faith for that to happen. We had to be in agreement. That is what I mean by support.

You have painted a picture of a chummy relationship with your wife. Does it mean you have never disagreed on any issue?

Not really. That is not to say we have not had differences. However, when the differences arise, we find a way around them. I have never doubted that I married the right person. I am sure Chinwe feels the same way.

Do you both feel love for each other every day?

Yes, the God kind of love, yes. However, there are days when affections run low because of disagreements. The sustaining love is always there. That is why we are always able to get back to resolution of the issues, whatever they may be. No issue is too big to be resolved.

How do you make your romantic side of marriage?

We do all sorts of things. We go out for date nights often. Sometimes it is just a drive with cone ice creams in the car. Other times, it is a salad dinner. Chinwe loves salads. Or discovering a new joint. Or doing chores together.

Chinwe sometimes creates new meals.

Something exciting that just does it.

Sometimes we listen to Old school music together. Sometimes we visit friends. Sometimes we just spend time talking. Occasionally, the movies. Sometimes evenings with the kids just gisting, teasing each other and laughing.

They all add up to bringing some verve into the relationship.

Kalu and wife at work

As head of the family, how do you carry out your duties?

This has been a bit challenging for me. Being the boss, I tend to give instructions the way I would in normal situations. I am learning to adjust my style in being Chinwe’s boss. She is first and foremost my wife before anything else. It can be tough and I don’t always get it right.

Who offends who the most?

I do.

But do you apologise to her?

She does. I make the mistake. She does the apologising. I think she just massages my ego when she does.

How do you settle arguments?

We talk through the issue and agree the way forward. We have always known how to talk through issues. Some issues take longer than others to resolve but we eventually do.

What activities do you engage in as couple?

We met in church serving. We still do a lot of work in church. Then we watch TV, go out, visit friends, the occasional movie, travel and whatever we think up.

What really makes a successful marriage?

Great friendship, selflessness and commitment.

What piece of advice do you have for couples?

See marriage as something that must succeed.

There is no point at which you should desire to opt out. Give it your best shot and it will succeed.

If you were to give newly-weds advice, what would it be?

I would give them the same advice. Don’t give yourselves alternative to being happily married. There should be no exit points.

What are the most important attributes of your spouse?

She is intelligent, very supportive and loving.

What do you do as couple to keep your marriage strong?

We communicate. We spend time together.

We love and respect each other. We support each other. We never call each other names,

The Kalus

ever. We are financially open with each other-no secrets. We discipline our children in agreement.

We are in agreement concerning our in-laws.

As a man of many parts- trainer, coach, brand consultant and an ardent lover of Church, how do you handle all of these?

Godly wisdom. It is not easy but God’s grace abounds towards me.

Christians say, ‘most marriages are invalid because people don’t understand biblical commitment’, that it takes more than understanding. What do you think?

I would not say, they do not understand, but life throws stuff at couples and they lack the strength to stand under some of these pressures.

Staying committed takes a little more than understanding it. It requires strength, faith and self-sacrifice. People just buckle.

Many ladies wait too long for Mr. Right. Cuts

in…

Chinwe and I always keep the faith and we tell young people that Mr. and Miss Right are out there. Never doubt that. He or she may not be ready yet but they are in process and in due season they will show up. I was 30 when I got married and Chinwe was 28.

What is the fondest memory of your 23-year marriage?

I would say when our son Dikachi was born.

We had lost our first child and desperately wanted another child. We had to trust God all over again for this one to come. When he arrived I was elated.

I also enjoyed being in Tanzania with my family. It was novel. My office was not far from the house and I got a chance to spend lots of time with my children. There were no maids or relatives around. We did most things for each other.

How do you keep your patience?

Twenty-three years of communicating- it does get easier. I am not a very patient person but marriage has taught me patience. Marriage is a fantastic teacher.

What is the most important thing you remind yourselves?

That you have a common enemy. You must never see each other as enemies.

Is fighting solution to dispute in marriage?

No. Fight suggests a lot of negative emotions and maybe physical engagement. I prefer to use the term disagreement. You can disagree but never let your disagreements degenerate to real fights.

What is the one thing you have in common that transcends everything else?

Our love for God. That is what sustains everything else. We hold it all together in

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16.12.2016

AGF Vows to Reform Copyright System The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, has vowed to ensure the reformation of the copyright system in the country so that the system can effectively protect and promote creative enterprise in the nation and ensure that the Nigerian economy benefits from the creative ingenuity of Nigerian citizens and those interested in investing in the creative industry.

The minister who was speaking in his Abuja office recently during a meeting with a delegation of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) led by its Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, said that as part of the reform, the Nigerian Copyright Commission will be energised without delay so that it will pivot from its present analogue approach to the enforcement of the copyright law to a new and muscular digital approach.

While addressing the AGF, Okoroji said that his delegation was in Abuja at a time of national economic distress to engage critical policy makers in the President Muhammadu Buhari administration on how to harness the potential contributions, which Nigerian creativity can make to the development of the Nigerian nation.

“For a long time, there has been too much talk without action and people are getting disillusioned. In the present economic environment, the Nigerian nation must

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN (5th left) in a handshake with COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji (i4th left) surrounded by COSON delegate and other officials during the visit to the minister

recognise the necessity to fully deploy the substantial comparative advantage, which Nigeria possesses with its creative industry.

It is doable to use this sector to provide hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs for the teeming masses of Nigerian youth who parade the streets of our country almost hopelessly and which hopelessness invariably attracts them to become labourers in the devil’s workshop.” He said further that the era when the Nigerian economy was almost completely dependent on oil and gas was in the nation’s past and will not come back and Nigeria’s future will

have to be built on the creative ingenuity of the Nigerian people. He said that the ingenuity could be seen in how wide Nigerian music, movies, literature, fashion, programming, and similar products of the creative endeavour are in demand across the world. Okoroji emphasised that the nation must not only ensure that the demand for Nigeria’s creative products around the world is met but that in meeting the demand, appropriate value is received by Nigerian citizens. The minister pledged that the creative sector would soon see developments arising from the meeting.

Scent of Africa Comes to Nigeria Launched in Accra, Ghana just last November, Africa’s first luxury perfume, Scent of Africa was last weekend also launched in Lagos, Nigeria. The exclusive event, which held in Victoria Island, Lagos, attracted Lagos celebrities, socialites and influencers.

The event kicked off with red carpet which had in attendance, Genevieve Nnaji, Uti Nwachukwu, Gideon Okeke, Peace Hyde, Sika Osei and of course Scent of Africa brand ambassadors Marcel Desailly and Oluchi Orlandi.

As the evening unfolded, guests were given the opportunity to sample and experience the perfume. The evening also witnessed theatrical performances and musical presentations used to incorporate the diverse representation of different African nations. The Oyo drummers opened the ceremony while the ballet performance showcased the beauty and strength of Africa. DJ Caise thrilled guests to African inspired deep house, jazz and soulful house tunes as they were treated to exotic Absolut Eylx cocktails.

Brand Manager of Ghandour Cosmetics, Solange Boccovi described the perfume as a “blend of sophistication and elegance that pays homage to Africa in celebrating its rich identity. Scent of Africa’s identity was built around values of authenticity, the Ghandour brothers roamed Africa to

Oluchi dancing to African beats during at the Scent of Africa Launch

extract the best essences used to build its delicate fragrance notes”.

The luxury fragrances, for both men and women were, unveiled by celebrity brand ambassadors, Oluchi Orlandi (International super model) and Marcel Desailly (World Cup Champion and international footballer).

“Scent of Africa incarnates prestige.

It carries a strong dose of elegance. I see it as more than just a fragrance, it is a trend and experience”, said Supermodel and Host/Producer of Africa’s Next Top Model, Oluchi Orlandi.

Guests at the event gladly feasted their eyes to artworks and African elite pieces amongst which were high-end couture tastefully designed by the remarkable

Patience Torlowei and each guest went home with bottles of the perfume.

The Scent of Africa perfume bottle is the ideal packaging for the continent’s first Luxury fragrance; an ornate map of Africa in gold for women and silver for men.

This bold depiction of the continent is the perfect house to distill these fragrances.

Scent of Africa for woman and for man comes in both 30ml and 90ml options.

The Gold colour Scent of Africa for Woman, illustrates the allure of today’s African woman. The scent is a thrilling aroma of crushed geranium flower petals, jasmine, ylang ylang and heliotrope combined with hints of Malagasy Vanilla and musk.

CPS Orders VIP Express to Refund N25m to Aggrieved Customers Company kicks The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) in an order dated 01/12/2016 amongst other orders had made an order that VIP Express Tourism Limited do make refunds to members of her vacation accommodation club on alleged breach of the Consumer Protection Act and pay the sum of N20m as cost of investigation to the CPC. In swift reaction, the VIP Express Tourism Limited, which clearly appreciates that the CPC Act saddles the CPC with certain functions and powers in respect to consumer complaints, however has stressed that such functions and powers are to be exclusively exercised within the purview of the Act. VIP Express Tourism Limited in a statement signed by its Director, Isaac Omagbemi noted that having studied the investigative final report dated 30/11/2016 and the aforementioned order by CPC, “it was clear that the decision was reached upon apparent bias and that it was an obvious usurpation of the powers of the Nigerian courts and was made without due consideration to principles of law

Zainab Olukoya Becomes Balogun Adeen

and respect for the jurisdiction of courts in Nigeria. This we say based on the following, facts.

“VIP Express Tourism Limited therefore denies and refutes in strong terms the findings in the investigative report dated 30/11/2016 and Order dated 01/12/2016

by CPC. “It is on record that Mr. Ahmad Isah through whom majority of the complaints were sent to CPC is a close associate of CPC. The said Mr. Ahmad Isah is currently the 1st defendant in Suit No: CV/993/2016- VIP Express Tourism Limited V. Ahmad Isah & 6 is an ongoing defamation action at the FCT High Court, Abuja initiated by VIP Express Tourism Limited. VIP Express Tourism Limited has rights, so do her members and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria expressly provides for the protection of these rights,” Omagbemi noted.

He further said that the CPC as a regulatory agency in Nigeria, is humbly advised to constantly act within the confines of the laws of Nigeria, “as it is indeed

worrisome that a regulatory agency of government such as CPC notwithstanding having knowledge of a pending action in a competent court to which she is a party will still go on without the leave of such a court to act on issues which are already before the court. This is outright contempt of court, adding that VIP Express Tourism Limited is confident that justice will prevail in the end as always. The complaints, which CPC is said to have received from Members of VIP Express Tourism Limited bothers on, alleged breach of written contracts entered into between parties and non-refund of monies paid for membership. It is trite law that parties to a contract have the commercial freedom to determine their own terms, No other person, not even a court of law can determine the terms of a contract between parties thereto. The functions and powers of the CPC as enshrined in the CPC Act does not extend to rewriting and or invalidating the terms of a valid contract between VIP Express Tourism Limited and her members.

Celebrant, Alhaja Zainab Olukoya (middle) flanked by her mother, Chief (Mrs.) Afolashade Olukoya (left) and Alhaja Rukayat Amodemaja (right) at the event

For Alhaja Zainab Olukoya, a security consultant based in the United Kingdom, Sunday November 27, was a great day of joy and praises to the Almighty Allah as she was made Balogun Adeen by the Aenul Hujud Islamic Global Family (ALIGF) Ikorodu. She was also presented with the Award of Excellence by the Islamic society for her continuing humanitarian support to the Islamic group.

The title and award “means a lot to me”, she said.

“It means a lot to my family. It means a lot to my background. I’m from a family that is very religious and we really honour God a lot that we don’t take the work of God for granted.”

The conferment was in appreciation of the good works of her late father Chief Al-Mukadam Oloruntele Olukoya, a philanthropist and humanitarian who served his community and society at large. “It is a legacy I’m actually working on”, she explained. “It is a generational legacy I would love to see my children continue. My father impacted a lot on the community in all areas, be it economy, political, and social life.” The elated Alhaja Olukoya was all praise as she recounts the contributions of her late father who passed on at the age of 61. The ceremony was immediately followed by a reception party were guests, family members and friends from home and abroad were treated to fine dining and wine, with her mother as the chief host of the occasion.

Heineken Presents #OneLastTime Party Premium beer brand, Heineken, will on Saturday, December 17, 2016, host celebrities, media personalities and industry leaders to an exclusive party at the Heineken House, Ikoyi, Lagos, to mark the end of an era.

Aptly themed, ‘One Last Time’, the party which organisers said is strictly by Heineken invitation will be a celebration of the fun times and relationships built at the Heineken House. The party will also feature top Nigerian DJs, celebrities and also Heineken’s highly interactive music experience system – The Takeover.

In its years of existence, the Heineken House Lagos became known as the premium home of new experiences and excitement to visitors, celebrities and industry leaders who gather at this location to witness a range of Heineken sponsored events and activities. The Heineken House Lagos is also a Champion Planet where football lovers were hosted on Champion League match nights to an unprecedented football experience. Coming just weeks after the #HeinekenLiveYourMusic party which thrilled music lovers in Lagos, the Heineken House Lagos – One Last Time party is another reaffirmation of Heineken’s commitment to providing premium experiences to its consumers. The Heineken® brand, that bears the founder’s family name - Heineken - is available in almost every country across the globe and is the world’s most valuable international premium beer brand. Heineken continues to integrate its responsible consumption programme into all activities.

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16.12.2016

Kewalran Chanrai Foundation: The Passionate Lifesaver Mary Ekah Kewalran Group Chanrai through its outreach, Kewalran Chanrai Foundation in conjunction with Lagos State Blood Transfusion and Rotary Club Lagos Island recently held an in-house blood donation exercise where over a hundred of its staff voluntarily turned out to donate blood to save lives. The exercise which was conducted at the Kewalran Chanrai Group Corporate office premises along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Isolo, had officials of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Centre on ground who carried out the exercise diligently making sure that due procedures were followed as the staff trooped in.

Kewalran Chanrai Group, which started the blood donation exercise in collaboration with Rotary Club of Lagos in 2013 with 58 donors, has since remained a passionate life saver. They have done several of the blood donation exercise in the last couple of years and this year again another hundred donors made available by the company.

A doctor who handled the exercise and chose to remain anonymous enumerated the criteria for donating blood. “The first thing is that a voluntary donor must have the interest to want to save the life of someone and with that mind set, the person will be subjected to certain tests.

Both male and female between the ages of 18 and 65 can donate and you must have a weight of 50kg and above and hemoglobin of about 25g and above. Your blood pressure must be within the range of 100/60 and 150/90. You must not carry any form of tattoo. That is the eligibility and then you would be required to fill a form where you would be asked questions about your daily life, medical fitness and so on. And if you have any contrary information on your form, we may not allow you donate

Kewalram Chanrai Foundation Blood donation … some top staff of the company donating blood

blood because what we are looking for is safe blood. Even after all these, we screen the blood to determine if these donors have any infection in their system and if we discover any, we invite them for counseling telling them never to donate their blood again because such blood as their would only be thrown away after being collected from them. And then we refer them to appropriate channels based on what was found in their blood.”

A civil engineer that works with the project department of Kewalran Group, Fadeyi Olaitan, expressed satisfaction and a lot of relief as he donated his blood to the Blood Bank. “I have done this before and I know how relieved I felt when I donated blood last year and this years. I could not wait for another period to come for me to donate and here I am today donating my blood,” Olaitan said, adding that

the excess blood is not good for his body as it gives him headache and weakness of body and so donating blood to save life is also in a way, an avenue for to his being healthy.

“Every day people need blood – the sick, women giving birth, accident victims and all other people in critical medical conditions and I may need blood one day and for that reason we at Rotary Club Lagos Island have taken upon ourselves to donate blood as regular as possible. We at the Rotary Club of Lagos Island and Kewalran Group in collaboration with Lagos State Blood Transfusion Centre are committed to donating blood and saving lives,” said the Rotary District Governor – Special Representative, Ramesh Bsiwal.

The Group Managing Director, Kewalran Group Chanrai, Mr. Siva Subramanian, explained that the Kewalran Chanrai Foundation has been

very active on healthcare projects in Nigeria and it was while running the hospital project that they realised that blood shortage was a major issue in Nigerian hospitals. And so in 2013 they started organising blood donation camp. He said that with a lot of education, a lot of Nigerians are now embarking on blood donation.

The Chartered President, Rotary Club of Lagos Island, Vinod Garg, said free blood donation is one of the economical ways to save lives and this is something found missing in Nigeria.

He said that was what informed the Kewalran Chanrai Group three years ago to embark on regular exercise by organising blood donation camps to encourage Nigerians to donate blood starting with its staff, adding, “And then Rotary Club of Lagos Island was invited to join and today we are glad to be part of the exercise to save lives.”

The Chairman District 9110, State Blood Donation Committee, Dr. Femi Akodu stressed that for the Blood Bank in any country to be adequately equipped, “about three per cent of its population has to embrace this activity that we are doing today, which is voluntary blood donation.” He was however sad that in Nigeria, only less than one per cent of the population engage in this activity while 85 per cent of the population is demanding to use the less than one per cent blood donated, adding, “You can see the magnitude of the deficit that we are talking about.” He therefore said that there was need to find a way of encouraging people to embrace voluntary blood donation, noting that, “That is the Kewalran Chanrai Foundation in partnership with Rotary Club Lagos Island is trying to do by encouraging voluntary blood donation and at the me time boost the blood that we have available in our local blood bank.”

Four Finalists Emerge for The Next Titan Season 3 Grand finale holds in Lagos on December 18 Heritage Bank’s sponsored entrepreneurial competition show, which is Nigeria’s foremost entrepreneurial Reality TV Show; The Next Titan has seen the different sides of the Nigerian youths who have been showcasing their entrepreneurial skills and ambitions for the past nine weeks in the ongoing reality TV show with only four contestants left in the competition. The four finalists are Ronald Ajiboye, a first class graduate of a Russian University; Marvis Marshal Idio, who came with a unique business idea of turning trashes into beautiful furniture; Victoria Mamza, founder of Wangarau Foods; and Sunday Ewolabi, founder of Naija Peanuts. These remaining four aspiring entrepreneurs will be competing for the star prize of five million naira and a brand new Eleven Million Ford EcoSport courtesy of Official Automotive Sponsor, Coscharis Motors.

The four finalists will face the judges at an audience participating grand finale of the show scheduled for 18th December, 2016 at prestigious Oriental Hotel, Lagos. This will be the moment everyone has been waiting for as audience and judges will join to celebrate the winner of The

Sunday Ewolabi

Victoria Mamaza

Next Titan 3. The show which boasts of the finest personalities fit to be the judges in The Next Titan Reality TV show - Mr. KyariBukar, Chairman Nigerian Economic Summit Group; Mr. Tonye Cole, CEO, Sahara Group; CPMS) Mr. Chris Parkes, Chairman/CEO, CPMS Africa; and Mrs. Lilian Olubi, CEO Primera Africa

TJ Sax Returns with Amen Saxophonist TJ Emore, better known as TJ Sax is out with a brand new song Amen, an original ditty about thanksgiving and trusting in God for blessings yet to come.

Produced by frequent collaborator, Mystro, Amen is a mid-tempo aural delight, one that makes use of traditional drums, soothing vocals and TJ Emore’s signature superior saxophone melodies to send its message home. As part of activities celebrating his 15th birthday, TJ Emore on November 26, visited the Oncology ward of the Paediatric Department of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in the company of his family and friends, to celebrate with and encourage the children living with cancer. His passion for working with kids living with cancer was sparked four years ago when he first encountered some brave little souls and he has participated in various early detection campaigns and walkathons to help create awareness for the condition. TJ Emore hit the limelight with covers of songs by Wizkid (Holla at your boy) and Asa (Bibanke), after training under

the mentorship of superstar instrumentalist Yemi Sax. He has performed both within and outside the country alongside artistes like M.I, 2baba, Sound Sultan and Mode 9. His prodigious talents have been displayed on a 2011 album, Sax Vibes, containing covers of Jay Z’s Forever Young and Diana Ross’ He Lives in me, amongst others.

Ronald Ajiboye

Marvis Marshal Idio

Securities Ltd; aside from other guest judges such as Mrs. Celine Loader among others have been responsible for the unveiling of Nigeria’s future young entrepreneurs. With 16 contestants who qualified to be in the competition, weeks have passed by and we have watched 12 of the contestants get evicted from The Next Titan

Reality show leaving behind four of their fellow aspiring Titans in the battle which comprises two young men and two ladies. This show is aimed at encouraging the Nigerian youth to aspire to greatness, to take their dreams and aspirations to the next level by believing they can achieve it and working towards it. As a popular saying goes – you can’t lay claim to what you did not pursue likewise also, nobody can lay hold of their dreams until they go after it. The Next Titan Reality Show is one that brings together Nigerian youths from all parts of the country to battle out who would become The Next Titan.

With well over 15,000 registered contestants, a topfifty boot camp, and the 16 contestants that made it to the academy, the show has now come down to four contestants that will slug it out at the grand finale scheduled for 18th December, 2016. The Next Titan Season 3 is proudly sponsored by Heritage Bank Plc, in association with Coscharis Ford Motors, Sifax Group, Lekki Gardens, and other supporters include Nikky Tuarus, Dana Air, and Courteville Plc.

Fantastic Beast in Cinemas Crimson Multimedia in conjunction with Blue Pictures recently released the popular J.K Rowling’s movie, ‘Fantastic Beast’ in cinemas across Nigeria. Days before the release, the two foremost distribution companies organised a private screening for entertainment industry stakeholders, members of the media and students from Royal Victory Edge, Ibafo -Ogun State. The movie, which is a prequel to the popular Harry Potter franchise by the same author, (J.K.Rowling) would provide fun and entertainment for families and fans of Harry Potters. The release of the first of a five-part franchise from the popular author ventured into the wizardry and magic which Harry Potter is renowned for. The movie has been described as a special movie, which has the effect to sustain the attention of lovers of JK Rowlings’ work. The Fantastic Beast movie has lots of special cinematographic effects and action packed theme, with plenty of hilarious moments, which made the film more enjoyable to watch. The Movie was released across cinemas penultimate Friday

and has been enjoying favourable reviews.

According to Joy Ilibeno Odiete, the CEO of Blue Pictures, Fantastic Beast will bring rich cinematic experience to viewers. ‘We have always aimed at improving film experience of people going to cinemas, Fantastic Beast will reinforce that aim and give cinema goers values for their money.”

32 /XTRA

16.12.2016

Sahara Group Announces Winner of Film Extrapreneurs Competition Chukwuemeka Okezie The foundation for the next success stories in Nigeria’s film industry has been laid by the Sahara Group as it announced Joseph Duke as the winner of its ‘Grooming Film Extraprenuers with Kunle Afolayan’ project.

Duke won with a documentary entitled ‘Give Us This Day’.

Duke’s documentary, which beat entries from 20 finalists, highlighted the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, including a story about caring for special needs children. More than 150 entries were received in the competition which began in June 2016 following the partnership between Sahara Group and the award-winning filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, designed to identify and empower young film makers in Nigeria.

Chinenye Balogun and Alabi Kayode emerged first and second runners up respectively, with entries that showcased the creativity and resilience of Nigerian entrepreneurs.

The overall winner will undertake a six month internship with Kunle Afolayan, while all the three top finalists will attend the 2017 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France with the support of Sahara Group.

The competition also attracted entries from outside Nigeria. Two of such entries stood out.

They include: Daniel Ecwalu (Trash Cash story based on taking children off the streets and empowering them) from Uganda and Akshay Makar (Climatenza – The happenings

L-R: 1st Runner Up, ‘Sahara Group’s Grooming Film Extrapreneurs Competition,’ Chinenye Balogun, Executive Director/ Co-founder, Sahara Group, Tonye Cole, Winner of the Competition, Joseph Duke, Ace Movie Producer/Director, Kunle Afolayan and 2nd Runner Up, Alabi Kayode, at the event to unveil the winner of the competition which was designed to identify and empower the next generation of film makers in Nigeria held in Ikoyi, Lagos…recently

of Climate Change).

While announcing the winners, Tonye Cole, Group Executive Director, Sahara Group, congratulated all the 20 finalists for rising up to the challenge of taking their craft to the next level.

“You are lucky your generation has this kind of opportunity which Kunle Afolayan and I never had. When you get this kind of opportunity you take it seriously. At Sahara we are willing to go the extra mile to take entrepreneurship to a different level. That is why we created the Extrapreneurship platform

to facilitate a meeting point for talent and opportunity. We believe you have the potential to be the best in the sector as well as change the narrative of Nigeria and the entire continent through your films,” he said.

Cole further explained that the competition is part of Sahara Group’s contribution to the development and growth of the Nigerian economy. He said the 20 finalists will be inducted into Sahara Group’s extrapreneurship hub where young entrepreneurs can access support to nurse their dreams to fruition.

Foremost film maker, Kunle Afolayan,

who led the screening of the entries, said he was impressed by the documentaries. He said entries were assessed based on sound, lighting, production design and quality.

“I feel privileged to have seen all the documentaries,” he said, adding: “I believe you all have the potential to do even much more. You are the next big success stories we expect to emerge from Nigeria. There are a few things I observed. I saw a common trend in the entries where you all concentrated on telling stories which is common in Nollywood.

However, there are certain elements that are vital achieving success in film making. What is very important is the production value. If your production value is poor your story will never fly no matter how good it is.”

Describing his success as a “pleasant surprise”, Duke said: I am very happy to have won the competition. I wasn’t expecting this at all. I am grateful to Sahara Group for the opportunity. I look forward to working with Kunle Afolayan.”

The competition challenged young Nigerian film makers to capture the spirit of entrepreneurship in Nigeria in a Docu-Film with the theme ‘My Nigeria, My Platform…Nigeria through an entrepreneur’s eyes’.

Sahara Group hopes to reach over 12 million youths via its Extrapreneurship Hub that will drive integrated economic empowerment programmes through strategic partnerships and support for innovative as well as scalable business ventures.

Tim Godfrey, Waje, Yaw, Nedu, Others to Take the Stage for ‘Ewuro’ The Musical Multiple award-winning music artiste, Tim Godfrey, will be presenting the second edition of his hit play, ‘Ewuro’ The Musical, an emotional stage presentation that captures the struggles of women in Nigeria, with a focus on discrimination and violence.

The play will be showing at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, from December 16 to 18.

‘Ewuro’ is the Yoruba representation of the popular ‘bitter leaf’ (vernonia amygdalina). The play leads a movement that exists to address discrimination and violence against women.

The play is centered around the abuse women in Nigeria face on a daily basis from rape, to battery, molestation and widow’s funeral rites.

“Following last year’s edition, we’ve

decided to make this edition even bigger,” says Godfrey, who is executive producer of the play. “’Ewuro’ The Musical highlights the challenges women in Nigeria go through on a daily basis. Audiences last year had a good laugh as the play went on, but more than that, they shed tears at stories that are popular, but which we have not really properly engaged as a nation.”

The play is powered by Republic of Xtreme in partnership with Swift Think Limited and the Lagos State Government.

Performing at this year’s edition are Waje, Yaw, Tim Godfrey, Lepacious Bose, Segun Obe, Chinonso Young, Nedu, Micheal Ejoor, Gbolabo Gibbs, Gloria Young, Isaac Geralds, Amaka Iruobe, Chioma, and Xtreme.

Tim Godfrey

DigitalGlobe Hosts Discovery Day in Lagos Set to help Nigerian government, businesses

Adedayo Adejobi DigitalGlobe the world’s leading provider of high–resolution Earth imagery, data and analysis and Polaris Digitech Ltd, the premier geospatial business solutions company in Nigeria recently held a Discovery Day workshop in Lagos.

The Discovery Day Lagos workshop which saw attendance from key stakeholders in business and government focused on how satellite imagery and the remote sensing abilities of satellites can enable government and businesses to take better decisions and be more effective in their operations.

The applicability of satellite imagery for non security and defence related purposes was highlighted with references to sectors such as mining, agriculture, telecommunications and insurance.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Niyi Okuboyejo, the MD of Polaris Digitech said, ‘‘we live in an information age and Nigerian businesses and government cannot afford not to move with the times and tide of technology as there are unique business insights that can be provided by combining remote sensing, predictive analytics and geospatial technology for decision making.’’

Continuing ‘’In a recession every decision both on a personal level and at the level of a

L-R: JD Tragus of DigitaGlobe Jeremy Bercher DigitalGlobe., Richard Mbaram AgroNigeria, Mrs Ivonne Idem SA Agriculture- Gov CRS, Niyi Okuboyejo MD PolarisDigitech Ltd, at the Discovery workshop in Lagos...recently

business must be well thought out and based on data as failure is not an option and change is now upon us all. Location Intelligence is the mantra for businesses nowadays and satellite technology is a very key data set in the matrix because in today’s world it is no longer the more you look the less you

see but the more you look the more you see. Justice can be blind but business cannot afford to be blind.

“That is why DigitalGlobe and Polaris held this workshop to let businesses know about the technology to understand how their environment can impact on their operations

and be the deciding factor between profit and loss,” he said.

DigitalGlobe EMEA Sales Manager, Mr. JD Tragus in his presentation showed the awesomeness of satellite technology with the clarity and conciseness of their 30 cm high resolution imagery which could be used to monitor construction and industrial projects so that issues can be discovered before they become problems and corrective action quickly taken to prevent disasters.

“The drive to reposition agriculture in Nigeria also came into focus as the multispectral imaging capabilities of DigitalGlobe satellites are invaluable in Precision Agriculture. With these images, change detection in crop status can be done so the agricultural value chain is better protected as the farmer knows whether the crops are healthy and thriving and if not why and what to do. The farmer can thus know what his yield or harvest can be in every planting season. CBN and the banks can have scientific data to base interventions and agricultural loan schemes, insurance companies can have data for crop insurance, processor industries can also plan and prime their operations,” Tragus said At the end of the day, all participants concurred on the ubiquitousness of satellite technology to the overall success of their business.

33/XTRA

16.12.2016

Addax Petroleum Supports the Less Privileged Peter Uzoho In line with its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, Addax Petroleum last weekend, hosted less-privileged children from different charity homes in Lagos, in a party, where it presented variety of Christmas gifts to them amidst fun and funfair.

The event organised by the Addax Volunteers’ Club, began with an early morning road walk, around some parts of Lagos, to create awareness on the need to show love, care and support to the less-privileged in the society. At the party, there was cocktail and music concert, where the children were refreshed and thrilled.

Items presented to them were bags of rice, cartons of Indomie, beverages, clothes and toiletries. The charity centres, who collected the presentations on behalf of the children, were also supported with cash donations to help them in their financial responsibilities.

The beneficiaries included children from Cerebral Palsy Centre, Surulere; Bethesda Nursery and Primary School, Matogun, Ifo LGA; Heart of

Founder,Heart of Gold Foundation,Mrs Laje Adedoyin (2nd left) , MD and Second Vice President,Addax Petroleum,Chief Cornelis Zegalaar (2nd right), at the Charity Concert and Party to support the less -privilege in

Gold Foundation; Makoko Children Centre, amongst others.

Speaking on the sideline of the event, General Manager, Supply Chain Management and Nigerian

Content, Addax Petroleum, Mr. Valentine Agwu, said the gesture was to raise something to charity and by extension, give back to society, adding that, that is part of Addax’s objectives of being a good corporate citizen in Nigeria.

“We know life is generally hard. There is recession in the country, people are losing their jobs, and we thought this is the right time we’ve got to remember the less-privileged, especially the children,” Agwu said.

He noted that the event was also intended to motivate the children and make them aspire to be like the staff of the company. “It is inspirational as well. That means despite where they are today; they can aspire to work in big companies like Addax.”

Agwu revealed that apart from hosting such events for the children, the company also runs scholarship programmes in communities of its operation.“We have a lot of that programme in AkwaI bom State; we have in Imo State as well, where we have our facilities. So Addax really is in the business of giving back to the society,” he added.

YWCA Calls for End of Violence against Women Peace Obi The Young Women's Christian Association in joining other international human rights organisations in the campaign against gender-based violence has called on governments at levels in addition to their various efforts to step up more actions in the area of records and data keeping in the war against all forms of violence against women and girls.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion recently, at the YWCA office in Lagos after a road walk as part of the activities of the organisation in marking this year's 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign, the National President of YWCA, Lady Chikwue Ochiagha, said that while the group appreciates government efforts, she however urged governments to take some proactive steps so as to curb and deter intending perpetrators.

"We want to encourage Lagos State government because this is where we operate from to establish offenders' register so that names of people who are accused as well as those who have been convicted will be entered in this register. And when employers like schools wants to employ

teachers, they will check the records and make sure that they do not employ anybody whose name is on that register in order to secure the children.

Otherwise, how do you explain a teacher molesting a two or three year old girl in the class. So, we are asking government to take some proactive steps, do some proactive things that will act as a check on these abuses,” she said.

Joining her voice with other human rights organisations in this year's International Human Rights Day with the theme, ‘Orange the World: Raise Money to End Violence Against Women and Girls’, she said that YWCA was committed to efforts that would rid the society of abuse, permanently.

And that with the YWCA's 2016 campaign theme, ‘Demystifying Violence Against Women in Nigeria’, Ochiagha called on Nigerians not to condone gender-based violence under whatever guise or excuses. "Violence against women and girls has a lot to do with indiscipline in people, not being able to control their bodies, not being able to control their emotions. And some do it out of wickedness just to rubbish, stigmatise, or even put an end to the career of their victim.

"So, some acts of wickedness are involved,

some acts indiscipline are involve, some acts of mischief are involved. We do not want to agree to the reason of indecent dressing, because we are campaigning and saying ;No Excuse’. Whether somebody is indecently dresses or not, it is not an excuse to violate the woman or the girl,” she said.

And calling on the families to rise to their responsibility as watchdogs over their children, the President said, "Every woman, every man in the home must become a policeman and policewoman. That is to say, you must monitor, you must be on alert to discover your children, especially the girls and be able to know when there is danger and prevent it even before it occurs,” Ochiagha said.

A representative of the Police, Mr. Lanre Ogunlowo noted that for gender-based violence to be demystified, families, religious bodies, civil society organisations and governments have roles to play. According to Ogunlowo, government's efforts include changes in law, diligent investigation and conclusive prosecution of offenders. "The government takes very seriously, issues that border on gender-based violence and from time to time, there are changes to our law and measures on how we can deal with this problem."

Enumerating some of the steps by the police in ensuring professional handling of gender-based violence cases, Ogunlowo noted that the police has created in some stations, a special unit, 'Family Support Unit' manned by specially trained personnel.

Encouraging participants to always report cases of abuse, whether domestic or sexual, the police officer noted that the force has through its partnership with national and international NGOs, now have increased capacity to deal with the problem.

Speaking also, the Director, Citizen Mediation Centre, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Odusanya, observing the low turn up of men at the discussion said the importance of men's participation to discussions of this nature cannot be overemphasised.

According to Odusanya who was represented by her Assistant Director, Mrs. Odutola Rotimi, "In gathering like this, I believe that it’s an avenue where we can educate ourselves. But I am looking forward to when we are able to address the men folks. More often than not, the offenders or violators are usually men, so they also need to listen to some of these talks. They also need to be educated so that we can have a safer society,” she said.

Chevron Nigeria Appoints Esimaje Brikinn as General Manager, PGPA Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and CNL (the NNPC/CNL JV), has announced the appointment of Mr. Esimaje Brikinn to the position of General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA).

Mr. Brikinn replaces Mr. Deji Haastrup, who recently retired from the company after 21 years of distinguished service to CNL and Chevron Corporation. Brikinn has since resumed work in his new position.

Mr. Brikinn, a graduate of 1989 holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Akure and a Master’s degree in Production Engineering (Industrial Engineering) from the University of Benin in 1993. He also holds a certificate in Sustainable Environmental Management from the College of Natural Resources of the University of California, Berkeley.

He joined Chevron Nigeria on April 1, 1996 as an Operator Trainee for the Escravos Gas Project and moved to the Policy, Government

and Public Affairs (PGPA) department in year 2000 as a Field Public Affairs Representative, interfacing with community stakeholders in support of field operations and capital projects.

Within PGPA, he has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility in Nigeria and the United States in the course of his career. These include: Community Engagement Representative, Government Affairs Representative, Community Engagement Coordinator, Social Performance Advisor, Manager Social Performance & Planning and Area Manager, PGPA West. And as

an Area Manager, he provided leadership in planning and executing company’s strategies for stakeholder engagement, social investment and social issues as well as risk management in support of Chevron’s operations and capital projects in the Niger Delta.

According to the Chairman and Managing Director, CNL, Mr. Clay Neff, Esimaje was appointed to the position based on his “demonstrated leadership, breadth of experience and proven ability to build effective relationships with our key stakeholders.”

Toastmasters, Corporate Communications Club Hold Change of Guard Peace Obi Toastmasters, an international organisation committed to improving corporate communications, public speaking as well as management skills of professionals in order to build effective communicators across professions, leaders in business, personal or community life has as part of its activities for the year, changed its leadership in Lagos.

In a change of guard/end of year party by the Lighthouse Toastmasters/Lighthouse Prestige Toastmasters Clubs in Lagos recently, the career changing and skills moulding club brought to the admiration of its guests, some of the activities that constitute its routine meetings and processes of nurturing talents to becoming professional communicators.

In his acceptance speech, the newly installed President, Lighthouse Toastmasters, TM Kayode Yussuf, reflecting on how he joined the club immediately after his graduation from the higher institution and how it has impacted his life and career said his desire to improve himself got him introduced to the club. "I knew I was

L-R President Lighthouse Toastmasters, TM Kayode Yussuf, Division Director, DTM Chima Ezife and President Lighthouse Prestige Toastmasters, TM Ikenna Odinaka, at the change of guard ceremony held in Lagos…recently

cut out to be a leader, but how do you lead people when you cannot communicate with them." And being fascinated by the name, Toastmasters, Kayode said that he was eager to find out what they do. "Well, the name is attractive, the intent is also attractive. The first time I stepped into a Toastmasters meeting was the only time I went as a guest, because the next time I came, I came as a member and

that was because it was the first place I went to, that I saw everyone speaking the way I would love to.

Stating that while he could not get the needed help from some materials he had sourced for that purpose before joining the club, said "Actually before I went for that meeting, I had downloaded podcasts from the Internet, I had watched videos and read books but none seemed to give me the principal understanding of my search to improve on my public speaking."

Speaking further, Yussuf hinted that after joining toastmasters that he has been able to find relevance, purpose, reasons to forge ahead. “I am much happier now, not because of position but of the impact the club has had on his life and career,” he added.

Describing the club to be like a school, the President however said that it was not the type one goes through the rigours of going to classes and other school routine. According Yussuf, "the way we do it is by seeing people do it and also by doing it ourselves. It is like a school but not the type you go through the rigours of going to classes and all of that.

So, what we simply do, is when we meet, people prepare speeches, we have evaluators who will evaluate them. It is a very simple and cheap way of learning public speaking,” he said.

Also, in his acceptance speech, the President, Lighthouse Prestige Toastmasters, TM Ikenna Chukuwujekwu hinted that the journey into Toastmasters Club has thus far been an interesting one. "I have been a part of the executive committee from the inception of Lighthouse Prestige Toastmasters Club, first as the Vice President, Public Relations, and Vice President, Education. I have been privileged to serve with people who are passionate about Toastmasters."

Speaking on the selfless, professional and cooperation he had enjoyed with different teams he had worked with, said "I cannot think of a better group of people to work with than my current team members. Against all odds, we have and we will continue to work by the core values of Toastmasters which are commitment to integrity, respect, service and excellence, he declared.

34/PERSPECTIVE

16.12.2016

The Nigerian Super Falcons emerged champions after beating Cameroon 1-0 in the finals of the 2016 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations

Super Falcons, Loser Government!

Reno Omokri On Friday the 9th of December, 2016, a bewildered nation woke up to read the news that the Nigerian government did not expect its own team, the Super Falcons, to win the African Women's Cup of Nations.

Said the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, "don’t forget that nobody even knew the team will emerge victorious. If we were confident they will emerge victorious, all the federation would have done is to plan for the process of participation and entitlement."

Nigerians have already come to expect such pedestrian speech from a minister who once said our footballers were too hungry to go for the World Cup, but we never expected the beret wearing minister to go so low to prove to us that he is bereft of ideas. We already knew that!

Going into the AWCON, the Super Falcons were the defending champions and even beyond that they had won seven of the last AWCONs consecutively.

Now it beats my imagination that the minister would say that he and his ministry did not expect a team that had already won the seven previous editions to win the eighth!

That would be like saying you did not expect your eight month pregnant wife to deliver even though she had lived with you for seven unbroken months of pregnancy prior to the eighth month.

I began pondering about the statement from the Minister of Youth and Sports and I cannot believe that a member of the Executive Council of the Federation can operate from such a low mentality.

The more I thought of his words, the more I believed that the minister was not speaking literally. I am beginning to suspect he was speaking in parables.

In my opinion, Dalung's speech is a classic case of what is called projection in psychology. The federal government is projecting itself onto the Falcons. The Buhari administration never expected to win in 2015 and so they never prepared to govern. That is why it took the President eight months after his victory to pick ministers like Solomon Dalung.

Even more annoying is the threat to ban the girls for life for complaining about their unpaid allowances. Thank God that the public backlash to this information caused the Nigerian Football Federation to quickly deny such madness!

And do you know the funny thing?

Around the period Mr. Dalung was making his callous statement, President Paul Biya of Cameroon was hosting the Indomitable Lionesses, Cameroon's team to the AWCON, whom the Super Falcons beat, to emerge victorious.

President Paul Biya's office released photos of him taking selfies with the girls and celebrating them.

The Indomitable Lionesses were celebrated, wined and dined and paid all their dues, while the Super Falcons were denigrated, used and dumped and owed all their dues!

And an even funnier thing is that a Nigerian state governor allegedly admitted on tape that he paid killer herdsmen not to kill his own citizens again yet the Nigerian state has no money to pay the victorious Super Falcons! Obviously, the Falcons are in the wrong business!

Some of them may now cast their mind back to the President's statement that his wife belongs to his 'other rooms'. Maybe he is punishing the Super Falcons for having the audacity not to be confined to the 'other rooms'!

Again, let me remind the All Progressives Congress-led federal government that propaganda can get you to power, but only proper agenda can make you a success while in power!

Beyond the sloganeering and mouthing of the word 'change', what is the agenda of this government? What is their policy?

What has happened to the Super Falcons is merely one in a series of behaviours that betray the fact that a government which spent its electioneering period painting its predecessor as clueless is itself beyond clueless.

A government that says it wants to attract foreign investment and yet dilly dallies on its economic policy.

In a dizzying roller coaster ride of unpredictability, the government first pegged, then floated then acted as if it did not float the currency. Next it began

arresting Bureau de Change operators, then it bans what it had unbanned and unbanned what it had banned and all the while foreign investors are watching Nigeria with amazement!

If anybody is telling the President that foreign investors are going to come to Nigeria under this present system of policy uncertainty, that person is his worst enemy.

The fact that the President is using the very same policies that failed him so woefully in 1984 in 2016 is proof positive that some people grow old but they do not grow up!

Look at former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a former military dictator like President Buhari, who also found his way back to power as a civilian leader.

The same Obasanjo who as a military president nationalised British Petroleum in 1979, is the same President Obasanjo who privatised it and sold it off as African Petroleum to Femi Otedola in his second coming.

Why did President Obasanjo make a 360 degree turn from nationalisation to privatisation? Because, as an intellectual, he knows that times change and people must change with the times. President Buhari badly needs a tutorial on this principle!

Rather than focus his attention on the challenges he is facing, the President is hell bent on coming up with new and creative ways to blame his predecessors especially former President Jonathan.

Real leaders do not blame. They correct what went wrong and prevent it from reoccurring. Blaming signifies helplessness. As the late Maya Angelou once said 'if you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.'

President Buhari can take charge or make blame but he cannot do both!

The more he blames his predecessors, the more he surrenders his authority to them. Jonathan must be very influential if 18 months after leaving office he is still the talk on the lips of President Buhari.

In America meanwhile, Donald Trump has not even been sworn-in but he has already turned his attention away from Hillary. Eighteen months after President Buhari is still on Jonathan!

If President Muhammadu Buhari and anyone else thinks what Dr. Goodluck Jonathan did by conceding when votes had not yet been fully tallied was not remarkable, they only have to look to The Gambia. There were grounds for the man fondly known as GEJ to contest the result. The margin by which he lost was not much (15 million to 13 million). Yet he loved his country enough to chose to concede! And while I am at this, let me say to Mr. Yahya Jammeh: please take a cue from Dr. Jonathan and spare your nation bloodshed and turmoil. Do not be like those who believe that elections are only fair if they win.

The interesting thing about the Jammeh episode is that President Buhari is, as I write this, in The Gambia to urge Jammeh to accept defeat. Does President Buhari himself know how to accept defeat? Three times he was defeated and three times he refused to concede.

What will he tell Jammeh when Jammeh reminds him of his history? What moral authority does he have to preach to Jammeh? Even if he says 2003 and 2007 were rigged, what about 2011 which was one of our most transparent elections? Did he concede? By going to The Gambia, President Buhari only strengthens Yahya Jammeh's argument.

As I conclude, let me remind Nigerians of the Law of Attraction. A leader attracts subordinates who are like him. Look at the people that President Obasanjo attracted around him, look at the people President Jonathan attracted and now look at those around President Buhari.

Do you feel confident that Nigerian sports will thrive under Solomon Dalung? Let me ask you an honest question, if you had a poultry, would you hire Solomon Dalung as your poultry manager? Yet this is the best hand that President Muhammadu could find to run our Youth and Sports Ministry after eight months of searching! Alas!

I could say the same thing about finance, agriculture, science and technology, heck all of them. But the truth is that the buck stops at the table of the President! .Omokri is the founder of the Mind of Christ Christian Centre in California

35/ENTREPRENEUR

16.12.2016

'Etisalat was 4G LTE Ready When We Entered the Nigerian Market’ Etisalat Nigeria continues to unveil innovative products and services. The Vice President Marketing, Etisalat Nigeria, Adebisi Idowu in this interview with Chukwuemeka Okezie, speaks on how the telco has sustained its innovative streak You’ve been with Etisalat since inception when they launched in Nigeria with the innovative 0809uchoose campaign; clearly the first-of-its kind in Nigeria. What was the inspiration behind that marketing approach and why was it so successful?

One of the things we try to do in Etisalat is give our subscribers the opportunity to express themselves. We found a gap in the market; SIM cards were provisioned to customers with random numbers and the customer had little choice or input into what numbers they were given.

There was a clear opportunity for disruption so as an innovative operator in the market, we thought ‘why don’t we reverse this? Instead of providing subscribers with lines or numbers that they don’t like, why don’t we allow them to choose?’ the result was very impressive. In the first year of operations, we ended up with over three million subscribers who chose quality, superior customer experience and innovation over the generic services that they had become accustomed to. Three million Nigerians chose to go with Etisalat in its first year and we are very thankful for that.

Etisalat’s entry was predicated on three core pillars: Youthfulness, Customer Experience and Innovation. How are these attributes currently expressed in the interactions between your brand and stakeholders?

Today, we are the leader in the youth segment and we were the first to introduce an innovative youth plan called EasyCliq. It allows the youth do the things they love like talk within their Cliq, browse the internet at their own timing, hangout, play games and express themselves; all these while getting free data, free midnight calls and so many add-ons. We didn’t stop at that; we also have the innovative e-learning portal for younger subscribers called Cliqlite which empowers them to become world beaters and grow with the brand. At a very young age, they can come on the network and start learning with Cliqlite so that they can achieve their potential.

On customer centrism and consumer engagement, we started our journey with our expansive IVR service and subsequently, we introduced the *200# USSD platform which serves as one-stop shop for information and to help customers manage their chosen products and services. With the *200# self-service platform customers can subscribe or unsubscribe to Etisalat products and services by simply dialling *200# and following the menu prompts. Only recently we raised the bar again with the launch of MyEtisalat self-service platform which is accessible via an app and on the web.

MyEtisalat App is available on all major application platforms such as iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows and so on. It is zero-rated to subscribers, which means customers do not need data to use the application. It’s the most innovative self-service platform that I have come across and it can compete with any app of its kind in any part of the world. We at Etisalat are very proud to be the first to birth this innovative service in Nigeria.

MyEtisalat is really ground breaking and very innovative. With the service, you can do just about everything you want at the touch of a button. It puts you literally in control. These are the kinds of services that endear subscribers to Etisalat because we are very innovative, customer centric and differentiate our brand.

Etisalat is known to have introduced a number of innovative services; how well have Nigerians embraced some of these ground breaking products?

Well, 22 million Nigerians can’t be wrong.

Over 22 million Nigerians have chosen Etisalat and today. We are the number one telecoms company with regards to broadband internet in Nigeria; we are number one in value-based pricing, we are number one when it comes to self-service application and ease of use. We are number one in customer experience. The option

Idowu

we give our customers is what keeps us ahead all the time.

In the SME space for instance, we have provided quite a number of options to help proprietors improve the efficiency of their businesses. We just launched the Easylife Complete package and we also have the Easybusiness 2.0 specifically designed for SMEs. There are over 20 million SMEs in Nigeria and we provide them with unique packages that add value to their businesses.

Only recently you introduced innovative products like SME Arena and Cliqlite World.

Tell us more about these and the gaps they are helping to bridge in the society?

We thought about the things that limit SMEs in terms of performance, and the things that can enable them compete with let’s say, Start-ups in Silicon Valley. We then designed the SME Arena to address these gaps and empower the SME sector in Nigeria. We developed SME Arena which is a one-stop-shop for SMEs based on the insights we received from small businesses across the country.

It provides small businesses with learning via opportunities to interact with mentors who have been there. They can interact with professionals who understand the dynamics of running an SME in Nigeria and can help small businesses with basic services like accounting, legal, tax and other services.

SME Arena is different from other SME marketing portals because it does not only emphasise the exchange of goods and services, but it also creates opportunities for SMEs on the platform to socialise, network and learn from each other, share experiences and inspire each other.

Budding entrepreneurs often have questions such as ‘How do I export my products while avoiding the problems that others have encountered?’ ‘Where is the nearest tax office and how do I fill a tax form?’ ‘How do I engage a lawyer? How can I incorporate my company?

Who is the best person to help and how long would it take?’

The answers to such questions are very much available on the portal and they can be provided by other small business owners with first-hand experience. Therefore, it is safe to say that SME Arena facilitates learning as well as trade.

Now let’s talk about e-learning; countless reports and surveys have shown that an increasing number of individuals and corporate bodies are turning to e-learning as they recognise its effectiveness and convenience. According to a Brandon-Hall Study, learning through e-learning platforms typically requires 40-60 per cent less time than learning in a traditional setting. Since the year 2000 the growth of the e-learning industry has been 900 per cent. E-learning is a global game changer.

We all know that the world has come to terms with globalisation and we want our children as the future generation of Nigeria to be well positioned to compete with children from all over the world. The only way that will happen is if we provide our children in Nigeria with access to the same quality of education that children in more developed nations are exposed to and e-learning makes this easy and affordable because the world is now interconnected.

So what we have done with Cliqliteworld is to connect kids to platforms that facilitate learning.

It’s the first of its kind by any mobile operator in Nigeria. With Cliqlite, children have access to world class tutors, world class teaching materials and world class networking opportunities in a controlled environment. It is also fun and cool to use and that encourages children to commit more time to their studies by using the device.

With Cliqlite we can support our kids to achieve their potential and this is only the first step.

Parents whose children or wards are on Cliqlite can use the parental control feature of Cliqlite to review the sites their kids visit and also place restrictions on the child’s Cliqlite account. So like the advert says, with Cliqlite, we are making learning fun for children so that they are encouraged to study more, secure their future and become globally relevant. Our e-Learning portal has already caught the attention of so many people. Only recently, we received an award on the e-Learning portal from the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Etisalat recently launched its 4G LTE service; why now and what should subscribers expect with the 4G LTE that is different from the older generation 2G and 3G networks?

Etisalat takes research and development in both existing and new technologies very seriously as this is necessary for continuous delivery of unbeatable customer experience. We continuously look for ways to better understand the needs of our customers and come up with products and solutions that at the minimum meet their expectations. In the early 2000s the older generation technologies like 2G was efficient for voice calls and SMS whilst 3G was used to enhance data services. Even as at that time, Etisalat was the only operator that gave the Nigerian market true high speed of 3.75G mobile data experience.

However, with increased consumer demand for data services, there is no better time to upgrade and launch 4G technology which is the next level in network development. In comparison to 3G/UMTS, 4G/LTE means higher data speed, lower latency, better user experience on high quality video files transfer and streaming.

Because of its improved spectrum efficiency and improved data speed, new services such as enhanced multimedia broadcast multicast, M2M, IoT, among others, can be supported.

With Etisalat 4G LTE subscribers should expect faster data speed and better user experience.

This is the age of Internet of Things, there is higher consumption of data and we place a premium on customer needs so 4G is a natural progression for us. Our innovative and timely interventions have always been the differentiating factor that has kept us close to the hearts of our customers.

As a follow up to that, how will businesses and other sectors in Nigeria benefit from Etisalat’s 4G LTE offering which was recently launched?

So there are lot of differences with the way we are positioning our LTE service; it’s quite unlike what others are doing. We have positioned our LTE to enable our subscribers maximise their differentiating innovations in whatever life stage that they find themselves in. Therefore, if you are an actor, a musician or an entertainer, if you are a teacher, a doctor; whatever vocation you find yourself in life, we are giving you the best-in-class 4G network to enable you enhance what you are doing. Our 4G LTE service is an empowerment tool, we are not just delivering the technology platform for its

sake; we are providing it as a platform to enable people enhance their lives. For instance, with Etisalat’s 4G LTE doctors can start telemedicine and render services between Lagos and other cities in the world without the burden of having to fly. Musicians can deliver joint production sessions. The opportunities are endless.

One of the features that make our 4G LTE service unique is the fact that all our SIM cards are 4G LTE enabled. As a forward thinking organization, we ensured that our subscribers wouldn’t need to do a SIM swap before they can enjoy 4G LTE services. We were 4G evolution ready from the first day we entered the market.

Some subscribers across the different networks have expressed concerns that 4G LTE may not live up to their expectation because it is a relatively new technology that may have teething problems. How has Etisalat positioned itself to address this challenge?

Etisalat 4G/LTE network is deployed on 1800MHz spectrum that has a good balance of coverage and capacity. LTE deployment on 1800MHz spectrum is the most adopted approach globally with about 224 networks to date that have deployed on that spectrum.

Also the 1800MHz spectrum has the highest number of compatible mobile devices among other possible spectrum options. Deployment on 1800MHz in itself addresses the subscriber concerns which you mentioned to a great extent.

The technology is very mature as it has been in use for more than five years globally. In addition, Etisalat has put in place customer focused network performance management and optimisation platforms to support and sustain our unmatched quality of experience.

Let’s talk about sponsorships and properties; you own and sponsor properties such as Etisalat Prize for Innovation, the Prize for Literature, Ake Arts and Book Festival, Lagos Photo Competition and currently the Etisalat School Cup Under-15 Tournament. What is the intent and purpose of these sponsorships?

The essence of our sponsorships is to enable and encourage Nigerians to find fulfillment and recognition in the areas they have chosen to express themselves. Everyone already knows that Nigeria has a rich history with literature.

We have the Achebe’s and Soyinka’s and so many other writers from Nigeria and Africa whose works have done remarkably well across the globe.

What we are doing with our sponsorships is to provide opportunities to celebrate our icons and encourage creativity through platforms such as the Etisalat Prize for Literature. So we create opportunities that allow Nigerians to tell their own stories to the world and Etisalat is proud to have the privilege of driving this movement. I must say that we are very happy that Etisalat Prize for Literature has been very well received by the literary community. Our footprint in the Nigerian literary space also includes our sponsorship of the Ake Art and Book Festival.

With the Etisalat Prize for Innovation, we discover and celebrate talented innovators that develop solutions and ideas that can better the lives of Nigerians. So far, the Etisalat Prize for Innovation has inspired hundreds of young innovators and I am proud to let you know that some of the recipients for this Prize have begun to receive significant funding from Silicon Valley. In a nutshell, what started as little trickles of raindrops is gradually becoming an ocean.

This year, the Most Innovative Product and Services category award was won by a team of three young innovators comprising Ojeniyi James, Adegoke Olubusi and Oluwole Gbenga who came out tops to win the N5 million coveted Prize. Their product, “OneMedical”, is a cloud-based hospital record management service which can help people access their health records from anywhere in the world in order to gain qualitative healthcare.

36/COLLAGE

L-R: Publisher/Editor- in-Chief Afenmai News magazine Mr. Inuwanu Columbus; Medical Director/CEO, Health Gardens Fitness Clinic, Dr. Nana Yesufu with her Woman of Achievement Award of the Year and the guest of honour , Professor Martins Anetekhai, at the Afenmai News magazine awards, held in Lagos...recently.

DAN UKANA

16.12.2016

Mr and Mrs. Oluwasefunmi Adewale, during their wedding reception ceremony in Lagos recently

L-R, Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Sarah Sosan; Director, Erisco Foods Lld, Mrs. Ene Umeofia; Wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo; Founder/ CEO Emzor Pharmaceutical Ltd, Dr. Stella Okoli; and Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the Emzor’s Pharmaceutical annual thanksgiving at MUSON Centre, Lagos recently.

R-L; Children of the deceased, Olurotimi, Sijuade, Adesoji and Samuel Ogunkola during the Burial/Thanksgiving Service for their mother, Mrs Mary Olayinka Ogunkola at All Soul Rest Park in lbadan, Oyo State....recently

L-R: Founder, Rose of Sharon Foundatio, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija; Representative of Lagos State First Lady, Hon. Mrs. Sade Odunlam; and Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lagos State, Lola Akande, at the Rose of Sharon Foundation Xmas party in Lagos... recently

Former Miss Ibironke Oloruntoba got married to Mr. Oluwatosin Ajite at the Apostolic Faith Church, Anthony Village, Lagos. recently

The newly wedded couple Mr & Mrs Abisola Olukayode Alabi flanked by the parents of the bride,, Mr & Mrs .Bosede Olayinka Olatunji during their marriage ceremony at St Peter's Anglican Church, Shasha, Lagos...recently

37/THISLIFE

16.12.2016

‘My Calling is Building Bridges among Different Denominations’ President and Founder of the Uma Ukpai Evangelical Association, Rev. (Dr.) Uma Ukpai, is one of those raised to stand apart in his own generation. He believes that serving God is to serve humanity and to this end, he has projects in place to impact positively on lives. In this interview with Mary Ekah, Ukpai speaks on the recent honorary degree of Doctor of Science (D.SC.) conferred on him by the Evangel University Akaeze, Ebonyi, what has kept him going over the years among others who revoked the land meant for the structure and that made me relocate the polytechnic to my village where I think nobody will deny me the chance to build a higher institution.

As we speak, JAMB has already approved the school. We have already e-library of two million books; we have seven labs for various disciplines. We have a hostel that can take 1000 students and many other things in pace.

We have even tarred the roads and we have mounted streetlights. But the beauty about the school is that I’m building it without asking anybody for help. I am not partnering with any foreign organisation or any local organisation. I want to prove that God can build a school without using any man’s money and want others to know that they do not have to depend on anybody to do financial exploits. Our hospital, which started 18 years ago, has had an addition. We now have an eye clinic where they operate more than 35 people in a week and they are doing amazingly well. But we are also about to upgrade it by setting up Kidney and Liver units. I think it is not enough to preach the gospel; we need to give social services to people who may not understand what preaching is all about.

Jesus gave physical food to those who came to listen to Him.

Will you consider the conferment of honorary degree of Doctor of Science (D.SC.) conferred on you by the Evangel University Akaeze, Ebonyi State as that of a prophet being honoured in his hometown?

Yes, it is a very pleasant surprise because I was not expecting it and I do not know the criteria for this or what gave birth to it, so it is really a surprise. And this is the first time I am getting a doctorate award from an academic institution. I have been a member of the Assemblies of God Church since 1958, where I met Christ and where I had worked with the founding fathers of the Church. So I consider it as a prophet being honoured in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family and this is usually rare.

How does this affect your person and your ministry?

In a way, it will help me to work harder and be more consistent, more dedicated, more consecrated and also it will help me raise an improvement programme for myself that will make me become a merchant of knowledge. It will further help me to crave and hunger for God the more. It will increase the driving force in my life to be the best a man can possibly be and to be a mentor and model to the younger generation.

How would you describe the Uma Ukpai Evangelical Association?

Uma Ukpai Evangelical Association is not a church. When I first came to Akwa Ibom State and we started a ministry, I was the leader but there was this crisis that brought about the argument that Uma Ukpai is not from here, so why should he be our leader.

So I had to resign to avoid more conflicts. I went into prayer on what to do next and then God asked me to be a bridge amongst different denominations. I have given birth to so many revival movements in many churches. And to show the world that we are not part of the competition of establishing churches, we had to bear the name, Uma Ukpai Evangelical Association – we are there to bring about revival to Christendom and to build bridges amongst different churches and to serve God to a level that can bring revival and prophetic knowledge of the word to the people. By that name we bear, we are saying, we are not competing with any church but we are there to serve all the churches and that is why we could give birth to Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) - the coming together of different churches. If we were part of the competition, we wouldn’t have been able to do that. So God asked us to do that in order to bring about unity in the body of Christ.

A lot of people have had the misconception that you are from Uyo in Akwa Ibom State.

But in reality you are not. So why have you chosen to invest so much in another man’s land?

There is what we call the law of destiny.

God asked me to base my ministry in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in the year 1972. I am of the Cross River-Ibo. I am an Ohafia man, Abia State. From Ohafia to Uyo is about 45 minutes and there is a river that runs from Ohafia to Ifiayong in Akwa Ibom. When you put your boat there, in another hour you are in Ifiayong. So to the Ohafia man, Akwa Ibom is not a foreign land. Secondly, the Ohafia man speaks a mixture of Igbo, Efik and Ibibio languages. So the whole thing about where people come from before you can invest in a particular place does not make sense to me.

Uma Ukpai

Every one of us has a place where God wants us to live, operate and function. Every Akwa Ibom man does not live in Akwa Ibom. There has been so much emphasis on where Uma Ukpai comes from. This is so ridiculous to me. Other Ibo people regard us as part of the Efik/Ibibio but it is amazing that those from Akwa Ibom and even Cross River State have rejected us. It was actually God that told me to go to Uyo in 1972 when Uyo was just a glorified village. There was nothing there to attract any body but I heard the voice of Lord and I was convinced that one day, Uyo would become what it has turned out to be now. So I’m part of the people that made Uyo what it is today. I was the first man that advertised Uyo in the television. For 30 years, I was on air speaking from Uyo. I started the annual Uyo crusade when people did not even know where Uyo was located. So this argument of where Uma Ukpai comes from is rather becoming demonic.

How do you see the involvement of churches and private individuals in the establishment of private universities and polytechnics?

It is a crying need. Our problem in life is majorly ignorance - ignorance of God’s ability and availability and His limitless and boundless possibilities. An ignorant man is spiritually blind and a blind man does not see the precious things around him. Africans have no business with poverty because we are so blessed that we can almost pick money along the streets. As you travel from Enugu State here, to Akwa Ibom State, along the roads you see palm trees calling for harvest; begging people to come and be enriched by them but because of our spiritual blindness, we are not even able to see this. The fertility of a land determines the economy of the land. Our lands are amazingly fertile and so we cannot be poor on such land but we are poor because we don’t have what it takes to be rich which is knowledge. There is nothing as powerful as knowledge, the Bible says, wisdom is the principal thing everyone needs and wisdom is

the application of knowledge. Wisdom is also the ability to see the unprotected forehead of your Goliath and the stone with which to bring down your Goliath. Wisdom is the master key that opens every door the enemies have shut against you and it is also neither the ladder that brings man out of the pit where there is no water nor ladder. Whatever is the set back in a man’s life is because what he ought to know in that area, he does not know. Knowledge is power. The difference between the Europeans and us is knowledge. The average European thirsts for knowledge and whenever you see them, see the great effort they make to acquire knowledge, which is why they make a lot of difference in their country. Therefore as many universities that can be built in Nigeria that can brush us up wake us up from our slumber and that can also help us walk into a world of prosperity, promotion and lifting as God had originally designed for African, is encouraged. Where we are in Nigeria now, is not where we are supposed to be, so we need more private universities to bring knowledge to the lowest level and to those who are not even interested in knowledge.

Your ministry has been involved in a number of projects, including establishing a higher institution. What are the statuses of these projects presently?

Presently, we have two collages in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. We have the Uma Ukpai Collage of Theology; we have the Uma Ukpai College of Business, which is also an affiliate of Joseph Business School in Chicago, U.S. Lecturers go from here to the U.S. for re-training and also lecturers come from the U.S. to teach also in our colleges here. We have also started another college called Wealth Creation College.

We are teaching people how to write 1000 different business proposals. We were going to build a polytechnic in Uyo. I had already brought a building contractor from Canada to Uyo to start building the structure for the institution but I had a misunderstanding with the sitting governor of Akwa Ibom State then

Do all these things you do have anything to do with your upbringing?

What does that mean? Any man who lives in a society should know the needs of the society. You don’t have to go to school to learn how to care for others. Every one of us has something that only us can do very well. Jesus Christ was a carpenter but there was something He could do more than that rest of the world, which was to preach the gospel and bring reconciliation between His father and the world. Nobody could do it the way He did but that was His calling. So every one of us has something each one can do beautifully well and we are called to serve one another and to serve the people and to serve the people is to serve the poor and to serve the poor is to serve God. So what we are doing is for the poor and serving God’s people and in serving His people, we are also serving God. The year is coming to an end, so what particular programme do you have in mind to round off the year. And what should Nigerians look forward to?

There is nothing better than our ongoing annual Uyo Miracle Convention. This year’s edition started since on Sunday, December 11 and will run till next Sunday, December 18. It is an event where we bring the best of the best minsters from different parts of the world to bring the anointing that God has bestowed upon them to Nigeria and usually we have like 12 speakers and each speaker will minister according to the anointing and husbandry that God has placed upon his ministry. Also we have about 12 music teams from different parts of Nigeria to bring down glory and anointing of God, which usually translates into miracles, healings, promotions, prosperity and deliverance. And as we cross over to another year, Nigerians should make efforts to discover God. The greatest in life is to discover God. God is begging us to partner with Him and partnering with God means allowing Him to be part of all your problems and solutions to our problems. If we partner with Him, Nigeria will be Heaven on earth.

All that we need to compete with the rest of the world is already in place.

38/OPINION

16.12.2016

ADEOLAAKINREMI HOME TRUTHS

Email: adeola.akinremi@thisdaylive.com

Tel 08116759785(sms only)

Buratai

I

Buratai’s Wrong Choice for 2017

know war strategies are close-to-chest cards for generals. No general likes to reveal his next moves against an enemy.

It will be strategic folly to do so and I’m honest enough to admit that.

But the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, will be making a wrong choice in withdrawing troops from the North-east in 2017.

Operationally, the Boko Haram insurgency has weakened in that part of Nigeria and that might give a sense of accomplishment to Buratai.

This sense of accomplishment is at best false, if Buratai will consider the recent comeback of Boko Haram insurgents in places like Borno and Adamawa that shocked everyone.

Interestingly, days before Buratai hinted at troops’ withdrawal by 2017, twin blasts, believed to have been coordinated by the Boko Haram militants reportedly killed 56 persons and injured 77 in a market in Madagali, Adamawa State.

Another suicide attack happened in Maiduguri, Borno State that claimed three lives and injured 17 persons at the same time he was considering moving the troops out.

A national newspaper quoted Buratai saying: “Going by my first message in December, we must work to get out of this place. We must work to get out of this operation very quickly. We must defeat the Boko Haram. I was in one of the barracks and I have assured the families of our troops that many of you will go back in 2017.”

Clearly, the exit strategy of Buratai is not known, and that makes me feel he has found himself in the middle. Did I hear let’s “get out very quickly”?

I’m not sure Buratai has considered his options very well before this proposition.

But the political calculation for 2019 elections, of which the promise to defeat Boko Haram by the ruling party will be a central item on the checklist may be one of many reasons Buratai gave a hint at rushing to withdraw troops from the North-east.

I can read Buratai’s mind in another way:

leaving the troops in the North-east beyond 2017 may be misconstrued for failure to defeat Boko Haram.

Yes, Buhari will face mountain of questions, if he decides to contest in 2019, and Boko Haram continues to make headlines.

Buratai may be concerned about his own reputation as well and of course his job may be on the line.

Subtly, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whom I think may seriously be working to try his luck at presidency for the last time in 2019, has said he has the magic to defeat Boko Haram.

Though Atiku’s magic should have been given to those currently working to keep insurgency out of our lives, but he has chosen to keep it to himself.

And despite Atiku’s clever move not to appear to be firing ballistic missile at his partyman in Aso Rock by making reference to the time the insurgency first began, it was clear in his subsequent statement that Atiku clearly drew a comparison between himself and President Muhammadu Buhari.

When he clocked 70 last month, Atiku said: “Such an ugly incident requires a steadfast leadership that is decisive in its deeds in dealing with it. For Boko Haram insurgents to have overran seven of the 21 local governments of Adamawa State beats my imagination, and the efforts I put in place that prevented Boko Haram from capturing the entire state is left between me and my Creator.”

Steadfast leadership as Atiku pointed out will be critical to how insurgency in the North-east ends without creating Mosul out of the North-east.

The war against insurgents so far has been effective and largely successful, but we must cautiously optimistic. The thought of moving the troops out by 2017 may leave us with a Mosul experience.

Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city best known for its multiculturalism is now a theatre of war as it turned ISIS breeding ground and stronghold, following U.S. exit from Iraq in 2011.

If there is one thing America’s President

Barack Obama is not happy about in its international efforts to stop terrorism, it is how Mosul became a breeding ground for Islamic State, after the defeat of Al-Qaida in Iraq and the killing of its leader, Osama Bin Laden.

In 2008, President George Bush had signed an agreement with Iraqi government to withdraw American troops by 2011.

And because such agreement couldn’t be undone by Obama, though he tried to get some compromise with the then-Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, which didn’t work out, Obama was certainly going to withdraw the troops at a cost.

He kept the timeline that was agreed to

by Bush and Al-Maliki.

It is debatable, but the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq without new plan negotiated left a big void that helped nurtured ISIS and made it a new terror front after Al-Qaida Islamic terrorist group had been decimated by the American troops.

Once America was out of Iraq, the Iraqi soldiers as well vanished from the streets.

Residents were happy to see checkpoints go away and traffic situation improved, but the Islamic State fighters took the advantage to launch.

And since the sources of instability in Iraq were fundamentally political, it was natural that with America’s exit the different groups (largely Sunnis and Shiites) would return to trenches.

In our own case withdrawal of troops too early from the North-east may allow residual militant attacks to snowball into a large operation. The potential for politicians to sponsor militant groups as we approach 2019 is something we cannot overlook as we have seen in our past life.

The two significant issues that birthed Boko Haram militancy have not been addressed also.

Education and Poverty have been central to how the group formed in the first place.

Till today, the North is still backward in education. It is depressing the level of educational inequality, even within the Northern region.

There’s low level of enrollment in primary, secondary and post education levels. The incentives and motivation are not there, so there is somewhat general relative lack of interest in education in the North.

Sadly, there is also low level of investment in education by the state governments in the north.

The distance to the nearest school to a house in many part of the North makes it a challenge for kids to desire schooling.

Most parents do not send their children, especially girls, to school and prefer to send them to Qur’anic schools rather than formal schools according to several independent reports.

Surely, UNICEF was on point when it said “even when children enrol in schools, many do not complete the primary cycle.

According to current data, 30% of pupils drop out of primary school and only 54 per cent transit to Junior Secondary Schools.

Reasons for this low completion rate include child labour, economic hardship and early marriage for girls.”

Poverty index for the North is rising at a rate that is incomprehensible, but I don’t want to quote statistics to spare us the agony of interpretation and the anger that may create. Let’s just see it from a layman’s interpretation of statistics given by the Borno State Governor and Chairman, Northern State Governors Forum, Kashim Shettima, “In Nigeria, poverty wears a northern cap, if you are looking for a poor man, get somebody wearing a northern cap.”

So we cannot withdraw the troops with the issues that birthed Boko Haram still in our lives. I would rather task Buratai with a model that helps stabilise the region by using soldiers for rebuilding of infrastructure, as teachers in schools and guardian of towns and communities.

And this, can we ignore the distinct voice of Adamu Kamale, the lawmaker from Adamawa State who said we must not listen to “fables” that all communities hitherto occupied by Boko Haram insurgents had been liberated.

Definitely we cannot.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY DECEMBER 16, 2016

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

CITYSTRINGS

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

Keeping the New Yam Festival Alive Culture thrives and survives when the elders consciously transfer the relics, customs and traditions to the younger generation. Peace Obi reports that even in distant lands, Umuezena indigenes are committed to keeping their cultural heritages alive

C

ulture as they say identifies a people and often times serves as a distinguishing factor between one race from another.

Identified through the people’s language, customs, beliefs and values among others, culture differs from people to people and society to society.

Basically acquired and passed down from one generation to another through cultural practices and festivals, culture is kept alive as the younger generation watch and observe their elders practice the traditions as well as perform the various rites attached.

For the people of Umuezena Village in Umudim town, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, the New Yam festival or Iri Ji is one important Igbo cultural festival the people are poised at keeping its flames ever burning. And vested with the burden to transmit her cultural heritage to her younger generation, the Umuezena community in Lagos State has for the past seven years sustained an annual New Yam Festival where the people gather among other things to refresh and strengthen their bond of love as brothers and sisters amidst eating and dining together.

According to archeologists, Iri Ji or Iwa Ji festival is a cultural cum traditional event where Igbo communities come together in unity to make an official presentation of their harvest to the Almighty God. For the Igbos, Iri Ji remains one of her oldest cultural festivals that is highly cherished and celebrated among the people. The festival though is as old as the Igbo race itself, has continued to evolve but interestingly it has remained relevant from generation to generation.

The people of Umuezena, a village in Umudim, one of the four towns that make up Nnewi metropolis in Anambra State, known for their natural endowment, intellectual prowess, established success stories in businesses, career and other fields of endeavour, recently in Lagos set aside their business engagements, class, success or even social status to eat from one pot. The New Yam celebration which appears to be a well-articulated vision of the Umuezena elders, enjoys the people’s approval as they came out in their numbers to participate in the 2016 edition.

In his remarks, the Patron of Umuezena Family Meeting, Lagos Branch, Chief Ike Okoli, said that Iri ji festival is a very important occasion for his people and to any farmer from the Eastern part of Nigeria.

“It is a day we specially show gratitude to God for enabling us to cultivate our fields and the subsequent bountiful harvest of yams and others crops. So for us, today is a special day because we come together as a people to give thanks to the Almighty God for His faithfulness, goodness, mercy and great provision to our families and the Umuezena as a whole.”

Stressing that there is a paradigm shift in the celebration, Okoli noted that while their forefathers celebrated New Yam festival acknowledging the gods, deities and their ancestors, that the present day celebration by the Umuezenas is in reverence to Almighty God. “In the ancient times, there were certain things and rituals that were carried out by our forefathers, but with the emergence of Christianity, idolatry was done away with in this celebration. So, today, we gather here to celebrate the 2016 New Yam festival as brothers and sisters as well as Christians whose intent is to thank the Almighty God for the gift of life, health, opportunity to plant and harvest,” he said.

Speaking on the relevance of the celebration to his people and to Igbo people as a

Iri Ji festival is a well accepted festival among our people because of the huge benefits it offers to participants. The underlying ideology is to keep our people united as one, pass down this Godly and worthy cultural heritage to our children.

Though we are in Lagos, we see and appreciate the need to keep in touch with our people and culture. We want to inculcate the habit of brotherly love in our children, make them stand as one and that whatever that happens to one, happens to all

R-L: Elder Emma Ukachukwu, the Patron Umuezena Family Meeting, Lagos Branch, Chief Ike Okoli, past chairman, Prince Damain Obimma, Chairman, Mr. Dolue Nnadi and the host, Mr. Chidi Unachukwu as the Patron of the Umuezena Family Meeting, Lagos Branch declares the Iri Ji Ofu Ezena open in Lagos…recently

whole, the Patron said, “Yam, is an important staple among the Igbos and that is why it is being celebrated. Iri Ji festival in Lagos was initiated to serve as one of the avenues the Umuezena community in Lagos come together as a people as well as to sustain the old cultural festival in Igboland among her youths.” Likening the New Yam festival to the church tradition of annual harvest and thanksgiving service when parishioners with their friends and well-wishers come in thanksgiving to God for the end of the farming season and the freedom from the necessity to work in the fields, Okoli said “that it is not different from what the New Yam festival represents in Igboland.”

Enumerating some of the benefits of the festive celebration, he noted that while the festival has helped immensely in bringing the people together, adding that it has created a good platform for the sustenance of their cultural heritage and makes it easier for it to be passed on to their younger generation.

“The benefits are quite huge. It creates a platform where we meet and share with our brothers and sisters who probably we may not have seen for a whole year. The New Yam festival makes us happy, keeps us united and strengthens the virtue of oneness

we enjoy as a people.

“Iri Ji festival is a well accepted festival among our people because of the huge benefits it offers to participants. The underlying ideology is to keep our people united as one, pass down this Godly and worthy cultural heritage to our children. Though we are in Lagos, we see and appreciate the need to keep in touch with our people and culture.

We want to inculcate the habit of brotherly love in our children, make them stand as one and that whatever that happens to one, happens to all.”

Speaking further, Okoli hinted that since the inception of the festival, the organisers have continued to improve on the programmes embedded in the festival day. “It is one event where we educate ourselves and our children in various areas. Here, we promote good family life by organising competitions. And one of such is the cooking competition for women whose marriages are not less than 20 years. Through this we teach our children home keeping, mutual respect in relationship, and to remind them that God is interested in the home. We are very spiritual people but not religious,” he said.

Hinting that the festival does not only enjoy good attendance by the Umuezena indigenes,

but it also attracts friends, neighbouring towns and villages as well as business associates, he said, “You can see, we are not just here alone, we have our in-laws, friends and neighbouring communities joining us in this ceremony. And over the years, the turn up has remained very impressive. In fact, it is usually a surprise because ordinarily you will never know that we have this large number of Umuezena indigenes resident in Lagos.

“In this occasion today, we have our industrious and respected sons and daughters here, and particularly, our children. This festival affords them the opportunity to interact, know each other which will further strengthen the cord of love and unity and oneness which is our strength as a people.

Our people are committed to the Iri Ji feast, so much that individuals are eager to sponsor it every year. And this year’s feast, is sponsored by the family of Mr. and Mrs. Chidi Unachukwu and that is how it has been over the years,” he revealed.

In his speech, the sponsor of the 2016 Umuezena Iri Ji festival in Lagos, Unachukwu lamented on the influence of western culture on Nigerian youths and their lackadaisical attitude towards preserving their own cultural heritage. Describing as an unfortunate situation, the lack of interest among Nigerian youths in getting themselves acquainted with their culture, Unachukwu said that the passion to steer up Nigerian youths’ interest towards preserving their culture informed his decision to stake his hard earned money for the sponsorship of the feast.

“The unfortunate situation we have found ourselves into is that our culture is going extinct. While the western world brought education to us, they also came with their own culture. Their education is intertwined with their culture, such that as we embrace their education, their culture goes along with it. And today, this western culture has so much doused our culture that it is making us look like a people without an origin or culture. And for those of us who are passionate in making sure that our children do not lose their identity to some strange culture, we are ready to stake our hard earned resources for it.”

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CITYSTRINGS

The winner of the cooking competition, Mrs. Ngozi Obimma, dishing out the winning delicacy of Ofe Nnewnimo and pounded yam to participants

The Umuezena Women Wing entertaining guests at the New Yam celebration in Lagos

The sponsor, Iri Ji Ofu Umuezenna, Mr. Chidi and Mrs. Nkoli Unachukwu, cutting the 2016 Iri Ji cake

Dignitaries at the Umuezena New Yam festival in Lagos…recently

Stressing that while Umuezena community is committed to the total development and strategic positioning of her indigenes for right opportunities in various fields of endeavours, Unachukwu said that the community does not lose sight of her culture. “We love our culture and we are committed to its preservation.

Sponsorship of this programme over the years has been singlehandedly taken care of by individuals. This is to tell you how important and how serous we take the issue of culture preservation.”

Speaking further, Unachukwu urged Nigerian government, communities and families to rise to the challenge of keeping the nation’s distinctive cultures alive.

According to him, culture being a vehicle through which languages, traditions, and shared values are conveyed from generation to generation, “our culture should be consciously protected and preserved by all stakeholders,” he said.

Appreciating his people for their massive turn up, Unachukwu, proverbially noted that when a man invites his kinsmen to a feast, it does not mean that his people lack food in their various homes, but for them to stay

together and share in love, joy and happiness.

“We go out for moonlight not because the moon cannot be seen by everyone in their respective compounds but the aim is to meet together to play, share ideas, learn from one another, among others.

Urging the youth to hold fast to their cultural heritage, Unachukwu said “We are not going to lose our identity, language and culture to foreign languages and cultures. Our aim is to entrench our language, our identity and our culture. We must rise and keep our culture alive. It is important because when you lose your culture, you have lost your identity and when you lose your identity, you are nobody.”

Urging other Igbo communities in Lagos to borrow a leaf from them, he counselled, “Activate the various festivities in your towns and villages that bring your people together. This is because there are some children who are raised up in cities whose only opportunity to experience such events could be that organised here in Lagos, let’s not deny them.”

According to Elder Clement Atusiuba, the annual event is not just a local event

but that it’s also celebrated by the Igbos in different parts of the world, between the month of August and October. “Iri Ji festival is a universal event for Igbo communities; even those in the Diaspora have found New Yam festival a major unifying tool. Similarly, the Umuezenas in their love to keep in touch with one another, maintain good community life to build stronger relationship among ourselves. Both the elders, our youths, our wives and children have found the atmosphere of this annual event irresistible,” he said.

In a few words, one of the elders of the community, Sir Emma Unachukwu reiterating his endorsement of the community get together event with a brief historical background, said, “Iri Ji is one of the oldest universal cultural events of the Ndi Igbo. Yam is the king of the staple foods in Igboland.

Our forefathers so regarded it that a man’s wealth was then measured by the size of his barns and oftentimes he is rewarded by such titles like Ogwu Ji, Diji, among other titles. While communities assemble to thank God for successful planting and harvesting seasons, it was also a moment of celebrating hard work.”

Iri Ji festival is a universal event for Igbo communities; even those in the Diaspora have found New Yam festival a major unifying tool. Similarly, the Umuezenas in their love to keep in touch with one another, maintain good community life to build stronger relationship among ourselves. Both the elders, our youths, our wives and children have found the atmosphere of this annual event irresistible

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FRIDAY DECEMBER 16, 2016 T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

Life is a Fitnah! (4) Continued from last week

Shaykh Saalih ibn ‘Abdil-’Azeez AalishShaykh (www.bakkah.net

The Fitnah of the Dunyaa Another fitnah from those mentioned in this soorah is that Allaah makes this life beautiful, with all of its vain pleasures and playing about, and all the things that are fun to enjoy in it.

A person may indulge in these things and forget about the Next Life.

Allaah, the Mighty and Exalted, says in the latter part of the soorah [Q29v64]: “And this worldly life is nothing but vain pleasures and playing about” So many of the people are put to fitnah because of this life, with its vain pleasures and amusement, thinking these things will last, but they do not know the reality of life!

Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic says after that [Q29v64]: “And indeed the Next Abode is the Hayawaan, if they only knew” Hayawaan is an extreme expression of the word hayaat (life), so the verse means that the Next Abode, Paradise and the Hellfire, is the truly complete and everlasting life. So whoever wants true delight and complete enjoyment and satisfaction, then it is in Paradise in the Next Life.

Whoever wants to be free from harmful things, then all of the harmful things are in the Hellfire. So whoever wants to flee from them, then he flees from the Hellfire.

A number of scholars, including Ibn Al-Jowzee, have said, explaining this, “Whatever Allaah mentions in the Qur’aan about the delights of the dunyaa, that is for you to look at the delights of this world and contemplate over the delights of the Next Life.

For every example of an enjoyable thing or something the people indulge in, it is a proof against you if you have not reflected over the delights of Paradise.

And every example of a harmful thing in the dunyaa, even if it is something that causes a slight amount of grief, or even something as light as a slight fever, verily they are examples that Allaah is using to remind you about the things in the Next Life, the punishment, torture, and deprivation (of the Hellfire).”

So whoever seeks the real, true life and happiness, then let him look for the everlasting happiness.

This worldly life, with its amusement and playing about, is only just that - vain amusement and playing about. So it is a source of fitnah.

Look to the people today and how they are being tried by the amusement and play of the dunyaa! Why have the hearts become hardened and unreceptive? Because the people have turned to amusement and play!

Why have they turned away from the Next Life? Because they have turned to amusement and play!

Why don’t they have hardly anything memorized from the Qur’aan? Because they have turned to amusement and play!

The earnest, intelligent man is the one who looks into His Statement [Q29v67]: “And indeed the Next Abode is the Hayawaan, if they only knew”

The Fitnah of Safety and Security Another kind of fitnah mentioned here in this soorah, and the escape from it is also mentioned, is the fitnah of safety and security.

Look at the security of the Haram (in Makkah), the security of the places surrounding it, after years and years of security, the people begin to believe that what befalls the other people will not befall them.

Earthquakes happen in other places, as for the people who live near the Haram, it does not happen to them.

Atrocities, difficult living conditions, things that befall the others… the people who live in the Haram say: “We are the children of Allaah

and his beloved ones!” Or they say, “We are His favored ones,” or they say similar things.

Allaah, the Mighty and Exalted, has said clarifying this kind of fitnah near the end of the soorah [Q29v67]: “Have they not seen how We have made a secure Haram, and people are being snatched away from all around them?”

We are to look to this kind of fitnah, a blessing from Allaah. This blessing of Allaah should not be a source of fitnah for the people, it should not be that Allaah’s Blessing becomes a fitnah, as Allaah caused the people to be safe and secure during the time of one of the previous prophets, and as much of the time after him that He willed.

What is the intent here? Allaah says [Q29v67]: “Will they then believe in falsehood and become ungrateful for the blessings of Allaah!?”

Are they going to believe in falsehood after Allaah has blessed them so much!? Are they going to engage in shirk, kufr, and the rejection of the message of Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam), pledging obedience to the devils. Or are they going to fall into things less than that, like disobedience, sinning, and transgression?

They are ungrateful for the blessings of Allaah! Who is it that gave them those blessings? Allaah, the Mighty and Exalted!

Allaah says [Q16v53]: “And what you have of blessings is only from Allaah! Then when some harm reaches you, to Him you cry for help.”

Then therefore, from the many varieties of fitnah that Allaah may allow to befall some of his servants is what has been mentioned in this soorah, that a servant feels that trials and tribulations are only for other people, and that he is not tried or tested with difficulties.

So the loss of wealth, as one may think, that was for So-and-So, not for him. Sickness is for So-and-So, as for him, then he does not get sick. Severe illnesses strike the people, and may Allaah give us security from them, verily they only befall the others, as for him, he feels they will not befall him.

Strokes and things like that are for the other people, he feels that he will not face them, so he does not contemplate. Allaah, the Mighty and Exalted, says, explaining this example [Q29v67]: “Have they not seen how We have made a secure Haram, and people are being snatched away from all around them? Will they then believe in falsehood and become ungrateful for the blessings of Allaah!?”

Conclusion These are examples from the many kinds of fitnah and trials, and things that relate to the subject of the soorah. So the beginning and the end of this soorah meet each other upon the same subject, providing proof for those of the scholars who say, “The subject of the soorah will be found in the agreement of the beginning and the end of a soorah.”

Allaah, the Mighty and Exalted, says in the beginning of the soorah [Q29v1-3]: “Do people then think they will be left alone upon saying, “We believe in Allaah,” and they will not be faced with fitnah? And verily we put those who came before them to trials.”

What is the way out from all of these situations? The answer is found in the end of the soorah, in the very last verse [Q29v69]: “And those who strive hard in Our Way, verily We will guide them to Our Paths. And verily Allaah is with those who do good.”

I ask Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, to bless us all in what we have heard, and that He makes us from the people of the Qur’aan, those who are His special and favored people, and that He increases us in knowledge and that He reminds us of what we forget.

I also ask that He makes us from those who make halaal what is halaal in His Book, from those that consider what has been prohibited in His Book as haraam, and from those who firmly believe in what is reported in His Book about the unseen affairs. Verily He, Most High, is the Bestower of Good, the Generous One.

44

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016 • T H I S D AY

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Experts Provide Recipe for Nigeria’s Economic Recovery Obinna Chima and Nume Ekeghe in Kaduna The Chief Consultant Biodun Adedipe Associate Limited, Dr. Biodun Adedipe has advised the federal government to develop policies that would help tackle all forms of unemployment in the country.

Adedipe said this while presenting a paper titled: “The Impact of Economic Recession on the Nigerian Banking System,” at the ongoing workshop for financial journalists organised by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) in Kaduna State.

The economist stressed that major challenges facing the nation presently are unemployment and underemployment, which in economics is called disguised unemployment.

“Among 24 to 45 youths in the labour force, about 45 per cent of them is unemployed, and that is where the real issue is in dealing with recession.

Unemployment has to be tackled to lead the economy out of recession. The challenge is that we have a weak production base in this country and that is

also a challenge to this economy. “ In Nigeria, we consume what we don’t produce and produce what we don’t consume.

For instance, most of the agric produce, we generate from the farms and then export without adding any value. The value of the cocoa we sell to the rest of the world is by far so little compared with what we spend on chocolate and other derivatives of cocoa that we import. In this case, we send the raw materials out, but we import finished goods,” he said.

According to Adedipe, if Nigeria is to get out of recession, she must not follow all the World Bank and IMF template, saying you have to sit back and look at what would work for the economy.

“It is not just to take whatever the World Bank and IMF tells us. I warned the government sometime not to listen to World Bank and IMF that says it is only when the growth rate is negative, that is when you fall into recession. What we learnt about business cycle is that it is in four phases.

“You have boom, recession, which means the economy is

going down. It doesn’t talk about negative growth, which means we should have been more worried and concerned in dealing with the downslide rather than wait until we enter negative growth. Of course, if you don’t deal with that, you enter a slump. But a recession is not all bleak. If it has a message that eludes most people, it is that after recession, recovery would definitely follow. What matters is what you do, rather than what you are going through in recession,” he added.

Furthermore, the economist expressed optimism that the economy is already on the path of recovery, just as he urged government to show leadership by ensuring that it increases its spending Adedipe, described the proposed budget for 2017 as “good direction in terms of volume, good direction in terms of structure and of course, good direction in terms of emphasis.

So, the important thing is to encourage the government to continue in that direction in terms of sectors to focus on, and then putting emphasis on capital expenditure.”

Emefiele

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

Leadway Life Assurance Pledges Commitment to Timely Payment of Annuitants Benefit

Broad Money (M2)

21,684,965.22

-- Narrow Money (M1)

9,125,933.16

Ebere Nwoji

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,379,187.93

---- Demand Deposits

7,746,745.22

-- Quasi Money

12,559,032.07

Leadway Life Assurance Ltd, has assured annuitants under its coverage of its commitment to providing them with timely payment of monthly annuity benefit throughout their life time.

The company, which has about 20,000 annuitants in its payroll, said it spends about N1billion monthly on payment of benefits to them (annuitants).

Leadway Life Assurance general manager, Tinashe Muyambo, said at the annual end of the year party organised by the company in Lagos, that Leadway will continue to fulfill its promises to its annuitants because of its understands the importance of annuity fund in every economy.

“Annuity is an important business; economist said it is the backbone of an economy because it is savings put back

to economy to generate income used and given back to the annuitants.”

Muyambo said, having good understanding of importance of annuity, Leadway Assurance, has assembled professionals and actuaries from across the globe to help it understand its liabilities and investments in annuity business.

“It is very certain we will be there for life therefore we ensure we manage risk properly; comply with all regulations to ensure we generate ongoing and sustainable business for life”, he stated.

According to him, Leadway Assurance was excited to organise the forum which according to him, was the fourth in the series.

He said the annual event gives the management proper understanding of issues that

arise for the annuitants during the year.

He said that at the forum, the company provides doctors and other health care personnel that attend to the health needs of the annuitants.

Leadway life Assurance, he added is aware that new annuitants are on their way; they are very much there for them.

According to him, contrary to recent allegations by some pension fund managers whose programme withdrawal system of pension benefit payment is competing with annuity that insurance companies in their bid to sell life annuity to retirees make outrageous promises, in Leadway life Assurance, all promises made to the annuitants are within regulatory lines as well as within the lines of prudent actuarial limit.

UPDC REIT Distributes N613.70m Interim Dividend to Unit Holders Despite the weak macroeconomic environment, the UPDC REIT has distributed the sum of N613.70million to unit holders as interim dividend for the period ended June 30, 2016.

This distribution, the company said in a statement, was the fifth distribution it made in its three years of operation.

The UPDC REIT was launched in 2013 and is being managed

by FSDH Asset Management Limited.

Managing Director of FSDH Asset Management Limited, Mrs. Olumayowa Ogunwemimo, said the investment management process of the REIT is overseen by an investment committee which

include independent members who have broad experience in both local and foreign real estate markets.

She explained that the UPDC REIT provides investors with the opportunity to invest in a diversified real estate portfolio as it has exposure to both residential and commercial properties with location in Lagos, Abuja and Aba.

Technology Firm Enhances Operation in Nigeria Zoto, a product of Hedonmark Management Services Limited and one of Nigeria’s fastest mobile recharge app has announced it has enhanced its presence in Google play store in Nigeria for the shopping category.

With this new development, Zoto explained in a statement that it has registered a strong presence in the airtime recharge segment in Africa, which was

dependent upon physical scratch recharge cards and USSD short codes until now.

Founder/CEO, Zoto, Vipul Sharma said: “We thank Nigeria for making us the number one mobile recharge app in such a short period of time. We are committed to bringing more innovations to provide reliable and convenient mobile payments solution to our customers.

“The traditional scratch cards and USSD based mobile recharge is a challenge for most Nigerians who value time and convenience. Zoto App offers customers a convenient way to stay connected and recharge from any network. It allows the customer to save card details in the app and thus helps to eliminate the hassle of entering card details time and again.

JUNE 2016

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

5,004,677.26

---- 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)

Buying Price(N) 1,660.29

1,685.29

1,000.00

11,002.32

11,326.67.11

Stanbic Balanced Fund Stanbic IBTC NEF

Selling Price

Stanbic SIBond

20

120.47

120.47

Stanbic IBTC Ethical

1

1.10

1.13

Stanbic IBTC GIF

142.90

143.38

UBA Balanced Fund

1.2563

1.2493

UBA Bond Fund

1.3443

1.3443

UBA Equity Fund

0.8205

0.8074

UBA Money Market Fund

1.1510

1.1510

ARM Aggressive Growth Fund

N13.0544

N13.4480

ARM Discovery Fund

N288.2515

N296.9425

ARM Ethical Fund

N22.5268

N23.2060

ARM Money Market Fund

13.1030 (Yield % ) • Monetary Policy Rate - 13%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 14 DECEMBER 2016 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $51.83 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $52.39 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

45

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

15-Dec-16

14-Dec-16

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators

01 Dangote Cement Plc

165.02

165.02

0.00%

2,812,024,531,973.10

9.20

17.93

4.95

4.85%

3.76

02 Nigerian Breweries Plc

142.00

143.05

-0.73%

1,125,932,326,096.00

4.03

35.19

3.73

2.54%

6.87

03 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

25.60

24.51

4.45%

753,438,188,134.40

4.90

5.22

1.88

6.91%

1.53

810.00

810.00

0.00%

642,051,564,120.00

8.81

91.92

3.72

3.58%

20.34

Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

14.73

14.50

1.59%

462,470,353,467.78

3.91

3.77

0.97

12.22%

0.66

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers

410.00

400.00

2.50%

226,857,228,330.00 -44.58

-9.20

2.92

3.88%

0.58

Stock

07 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

11.15

10.62

4.99%

204,597,496,047.25

0.68

16.48

0.35

5.56%

0.33

08 Lafarge Africa Plc

39.00

39.00

0.00%

177,641,170,590.00

-9.39

-4.15

0.83

7.69%

0.88

128.78

129.10

-0.25%

167,733,516,444.34

3.31

38.95

1.09

2.68%

3.88

10 Presco Plc

41.87

41.87

0.00%

166,243,873,874.15

0.03 1,431.95

2.33

3.10%

3.98

11 Unilever Nigeria Plc

43.84

43.84

0.00%

165,859,707,600.00

0.69

63.34

2.50

0.11%

17.68

12 United Bank for Africa Plc

4.54

4.33

4.85%

164,709,049,501.88

1.75

2.60

0.49

13.22%

0.38

13 Access Bank Plc

5.65

5.59

1.07%

163,443,039,715.15

2.59

2.18

0.46

9.73%

0.37

15.01

14.50

3.52%

150,100,000,000.00

2.04

7.37

1.07

0.67%

1.27

15 FBN Holdings Plc

3.51

3.50

0.29%

125,992,477,699.92

0.21

16.92

0.24

4.27%

0.20

16 Guinness Nig Plc

77.60

75.60

2.65%

116,856,923,388.80

-3.06

-25.38

1.13

4.12%

2.96

17 Mobil Oil Nig Plc

284.05

299.00

-5.00%

102,427,084,171.10

19.32

14.70

1.13

2.53%

5.53

18 Total Nigeria Plc

277.13

289.90

-4.40%

94,091,686,687.81

38.02

7.29

0.35

5.05%

4.13

19 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc

129.00

129.00

0.00%

82,636,156,827.00

-0.05

0.89

1.71%

3.72

20 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

6.10

6.08

0.33%

73,200,000,000.00

1.03

5.94

0.51

8.20%

1.18

21 International Breweries Plc

18.95

18.95

0.00%

62,426,023,856.00

0.02

841.03

2.34

1.32%

5.69

4.29

4.50

-4.67%

51,628,515,055.26

-3.15

-1.36

0.20

17.48%

0.32

23 Flour Mills Nig. Plc

18.50

18.50

0.00%

48,548,387,959.50

-1.19

-15.51

0.12

10.81%

0.49

24 Julius Berger Nig. Plc

35.00

35.00

0.00%

46,200,000,000.00

-2.95

-11.88

0.40

4.29%

2.43

25 Okomu Oil Palm Plc

40.13

40.52

-0.96%

38,280,408,300.00

4.82

8.32

5.82

0.25%

2.37

0.90

0.93

-3.23%

34,848,897,682.50

-0.47

-1.93

0.67

0.00%

0.47

16.50

16.50

0.00%

31,694,262,385.50

3.37

4.89

0.42

6.06%

0.42

0.89

0.87

2.30%

25,776,701,265.88

0.39

2.30

0.17

17.98%

0.14

33.26

33.26

0.00%

23,282,000,000.00

2.28

14.56

3.49

3.46%

13.60

30 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.78

3.78

0.00%

22,233,446,657.10

0.76

4.95

0.61

3.70%

0.78

31 FCMB Group Plc

1.12

1.08

3.70%

22,179,036,074.72

0.61

1.83

0.14

8.93%

0.12

32 Diamond Bank Plc

0.91

0.88

3.41%

21,075,953,960.88

-0.29

-3.10

0.10

0.00%

0.09

33 Cadbury Nigeria Plc

11.15

11.15

0.00%

20,941,952,746.00

0.50

22.33

0.75

11.66%

2.05

34 Wema Bank Plc

0.54

0.54

0.00%

20,830,211,683.74

0.06

9.06

0.41

0.00%

0.44

35 Sterling Bank Plc

0.70

0.70

0.00%

20,153,292,688.20

0.29

2.43

0.19

12.86%

0.25

36 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc

7.00

7.00

0.00%

18,546,068,646.00

0.85

8.24

0.99

7.86%

2.51

15.00

15.00

0.00%

17,938,147,320.00

-2.98

-5.03

0.64

2.00%

2.04

38 Mansard Insurance Plc

1.64

1.66

-1.20%

17,220,000,000.00

0.28

5.89

0.86

3.05%

0.82

39 PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc

15.20

15.20

0.00%

15,200,000,000.00

5.69

2.67

1.06

0.66%

0.41

40 Continental Reinsurance Plc

0.98

0.98

0.00%

10,165,289,425.76

0.42

2.33

0.46

12.24%

0.54

41 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

1.26

1.16

8.62%

9,992,049,049.08

-0.40

-3.12

0.21

12.70%

0.30

42 Skye Bank Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,940,150,705.00

-2.93

-0.17

0.04

60.00%

0.07

43 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.52

-3.85%

6,691,369,126.00

0.18

2.78

0.85

6.00%

0.41

44 Unity Bank Plc

0.56

0.56

0.00%

6,546,029,247.52

-0.10

-5.46

0.10

0.00%

0.08

45 Resort Savings & Loans Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

5,664,866,202.00

0.03

17.71

3.72

0.00%

1.94

46 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

4.04

4.04

0.00%

5,076,978,174.64

0.22

18.45

0.46

2.48%

0.47

47 AIICO Insurance Plc

0.60

0.60

0.00%

4,158,122,688.00

0.22

2.69

0.14

8.33%

0.41

48 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc

2.39

2.28

4.82%

3,881,882,812.50

0.15

15.82

0.48

8.37%

0.65

49 UACN Property Development Co. Limited

2.08

2.03

2.46%

3,574,999,989.60

0.30

6.95

0.85

33.65%

0.10

50 Fidson Healthcare Plc

1.21

1.27

-4.72%

1,815,000,000.00

0.24

5.14

0.28

4.13%

0.28

04 Nestle Nigeria Plc 05 Zenith Bank Plc 06 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd

09 Forte Oil Plc.

14 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc

22 Oando Plc

26 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc 27 U A C N Plc 28 Fidelity Bank Plc 29 Cap Plc

37 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc

TOTAL

8,601,816,418,370.06

TOTAL MARKET CAP

9,086,245,759,672.53

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

94.67%

NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion)

Open 14-Dec-16

Close 15-Dec-16

Change %

26,407.64 9.09

26,559.01 9.14

0.57% 0.57%

109.80 8.55

110.47 8.60

0.62% 0.62%

Open Close Change 14-Dec-16 15-Dec-16 %

Honeywell Flour Mill Plc Ecobank Transnational Incorporated United Bank for Africa Plc Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

1.16 10.62

1.26 11.15

8.62% 4.99%

4.33 2.28

4.54 2.39

4.85% 4.82%

24.51

25.60

4.45%

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

Open Close Change 14-Dec-16 15-Dec-16 %

Mobil Oil Nig Plc Fidson Healthcare Plc Oando Plc Total Nigeria Plc Wapic Insurance Plc

299.00 1.27 4.50 289.90 0.52

284.05 1.21 4.29 277.13 0.50

-5.00% -4.72% -4.67% -4.40% -3.85%

Positive trend continues as Index appreciates 0.57% Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today – Thursday, December 15th, 2016 ends on a bullish note as stock market closed green. This was further highlighted by positive performance from the Banking subsectors, as Insurance, Consumer Goods and Oil & Gas records negative performance. Trading activities decreased in volume as 199.98 million shares worth of N1.50 billion in 3,313 deals exchanged hands today. This is an increase from the 205.40 million shares worth of N4.28 billion in 3,275 deals which exchanged hands on Wednesday. Topping in volume terms were International Energy Insurance Coy Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and FBN Holdings Plc, while Zenith Bank Plc and Nigerian Breweries Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed positive with 0.57% (+151.37) increase to close at 26,559.01 from 26,407.64 the previous trading day. Market Capitalization appreciated in tandem to N9.14 trillion from N9.09 trillion of prior trading day. Similarly, the Thisday BGL 50 Index followed suit with a higher increase of 0.62% to close at 110.47 from 109.80 recorded at the end of the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at 8.60 trillion from 8.55 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 21 stocks gained on the bourse today while 13 stocks declined, 65 leaving stocks unchanged. Honeywell Flour Mill Plc emerged as the day’s toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 8.62% to close at N1.26 per share. It was followed by Ecobank Transnational Incorporated with a gain of 4.99% to close at N11.15 per share. Others on the gainers list include: United Bank for Africa Plc, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc; while on the decliners’ list, Mobil Oil Nig Plc emerge with a loss of 5.00% to close at N1284.05 per share. It was followed by Fidson Healthcare Plc with a loss of 4.72% to close at N1.21 per share. Others on the decliners list include: Oando Plc, Total Nigeria Plc and Wapic Insurance Plc.

REQUIRED DISCLOSURE This report has been prepared by BGL Plc. BGL Plc does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should use this report as one of many other factors in making their investment decisions.

For more details go to www.thisdaylive.com

46

FRIDAY DECEMBER 16, 2016 T H I S D AY

47

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

MARKET NEWS

Stockbroker Lists Measures to Survive Economic Recession Goddy Egene The Chief Executive Officer of Sofunix Investment and Communications Limited, Mr. Sola Oni has identified some measures that individuals and corporate entities can adopt to hedge against the on-going economic recession.

Oni spoke on: “Survival Strategy in a Depressed Economy,” at the end of the year forum of alumni association of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Lagos

Chapter, in Lagos recently.

The financial journalist and chartered stockbroker noted that every individual must manage cash flow, operate an emergency fund, create multiple income stream and place premium on needs as against want among others to block wastages in a recessionary period.

He underscored the importance of saving as a major tool for investment and urged the members to cultivate savings habit no matter how small in order to create a pool of investible

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. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

capital. He enjoined corporate organisations to review their products and services in line with the needs of their customers.

Speaking on the businesses that thrive in recession, he identified hospitality, rental agencies and property management, healthcare, auto repairs, financial advisory services, bulk food sales and digital marketing.

“Innovation and good customer care is the game. Customers’ purchasing power has been weakened by inflation and

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 14-Dec-2016, unless otherwise stated.

they are scouting for affordable products and services in a recession. Only businesses that are adding values can survive, “he said Oni explained that economic recession in Nigeria became glaring with consistent negative growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and identified Australia, China, Indian, Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada, Japan, Qatar, New Zealand and Malaysia as among the countries that had come out of financial

crisis in solid shape and continued to wax stronger.

According to him, these countries paid attention to debt management, grew assets significantly through deliberate and consistent policy of investment in infrastructure, operate surplus budget and maintain favourable terms of trade.

“These factors among others efficiently positioned their economies on robust foundation that can withstand any financial shock. Also, at every level of

the challenge, the governments of these counties were sending messages of hope to the governed.

This reinforces the essence of communication strategy in managing recession, “he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, Lagos Chapter of the association, Dr Damian Ademulegun expressed joy that members were getting more interested in the association, noting that plans were underway to leverage the association for overall development of the institution.

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 124.62 Nigeria International Debt Fund 221.22 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 0.70 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 125.62 14.40% 222.58 10.54% info@acapng.com Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 0.71 13.78% ammf@aiicocapital.com Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

100.00

17.39%

enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Bid Price 12.24 286.23 22.17

Offer Price 12.61 294.86 22.84

Yield / T-Rtn 0.43% 2.41% 0.55%

1.00

1.00

16.48%

investmentcare@axamansard.com Bid Price 107.81

Offer Price 108.49

Yield / T-Rtn 8.15%

1.00 1.00 14.89% investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Bid Price 2.14 9.11

Offer Price 2.19 9.35

Yield / T-Rtn 5.10% -7.52%

83.06

85.19

2.40%

invest@fbnquest.com Bid Price 1,083.08 109.93 100.00 $104.03 $103.34 113.79

Offer Price 1,084.28 110.60 100.00 $104.26 $103.56

Yield / T-Rtn 5.63% 4.30% 14.56% 7.59% 6.89%

115.33

14.56%

fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Bid Price 0.91 2.55

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 0.93 1.10% 2.55 9.77% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price 2,166.31

Offer Price 2,190.59

Coral Income Fund 2,092.49 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 -0.43%

2,092.49 10.60% enquiries@investment-one.com Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund

1.00

1.00

15.17%

Vantage Balanced Fund

1.67

1.68

2.14%

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 1.00 1.02 12.52% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,002.95 1,002.95 0.30% 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 9.50 9.59 -2.87% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.98% 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 1.04 1.06 5.91% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.41 10.49 4.50% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.89% 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 108.26 108.95 6.24% 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 1.24 1.24 9.64% 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 1,819.02 1,829.17 8.31% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 153.04 153.04 4.05% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.76 0.77 2.00% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 185.43 185.43 9.28% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 130.97 132.60 -3.21% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.05% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,499.83 7,597.20 4.33% 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 1.14 1.15 9.11% United Capital Bond Fund 1.21 1.21 13.91% United Capital Equity Fund 0.67 0.68 -1.58% 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 9.72 9.88 1.77% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.02 11.11 -3.78% Zenith Income Fund 17.03 17.03 6.16%

REITS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.58 123.25

3.99% 6.38%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.87 75.97

8.97 77.41

-7.37% -8.71%

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

2.57 7.09 11.83 15.05 127.31

2.61 7.17 11.93 15.25 129.31

12.45% 10.89% -4.52% -21.54% -

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.

48

FRIDAY DECEMBER 16, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Mega Party: We will Not Change the Name of PDP, Says Gana Report on realignment ready in January A’Court suspends further hearing on PDP leadership tussle Tobi Soniyi and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it will not go into a political alliance or change its name in the same manner the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) did in order to avoid the problems the APC was currently experiencing in governance.

Leading opposition political parties, including the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) had in their bid to wrest power from the PDP, which had been in power for 14 years, collapsed their structures in 2013 to form the APC. However, the PDP said yesterday that rather than allow its name to be subsumed under a new party, it would seek to retain its name and absorb willing political parties and groups so that together they can confront the APC in 2019 elections.

Speaking at the end of the

meeting of the Strategy and Inter-party Affairs Committee which took place at Ajuji Hotel in Abuja, a former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, said significant progress had been made in the areas of mobilising party members nationwide and realignment talks with other friendly political groups and individuals.

He said committee would meet in the middle of January to consider the final report which would be submitted to the party’s leadership by end of January.

On the progress of re-alignment negotiations, Gana said: “I would not like to give details of what is being recommended. But the PDP is desirous of attracting all lovers of democracy across the country as we move forward. But there are details I cannot divulge at the moment because the committee’s recommendation will be pass on to the party leadership. It will not be wise for me to disclose the details before we submit the report.”

Speaking further on the issue

of the reported move to form a mega party, Gana said though his committee is not yet aware of plans to form a mega, it was ready to welcome all lovers of democracy for alignment talks.

“All we can say is that the party want to relate with lovers of democracy in all the parties.

We have a syndicate committee working on this chaired by former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu. They are to give us the guidelines for any re-alignment plan and the number of parties that are willing to join us.

“Our engagement will be based on principle, clear guidelines. But that does not mean that we degenerate to what is happening to the ruling party. PDP wants solid and united party. PDP is the

only party that can found in every ward, and it is the only party that has not changed it name, and we are not going to change the name of out party.

“There are 11 syndicates which were assigned different aspects such as mobilisation, congress and national convention committee, internal discipline and party democracy, constitutional review. The committee is making good progress,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has postponed indefinitely further hearing on the appeal on the leadership crisis in the PDP. Justice Ibrahim Saulawa who presided at the hearing yesterday said that further hearing on the appeal had been suspended to enable the Port Harcourt’s

division to conclude hearing on a related appeal.

He said the Court of Appeal would await the outcome of the appeal before the Port Harcourt Division of the court.

The decision followed a motion that was filed by the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the party. The group had through its counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), urged the appellate court panel to temporarily hands-off the suit filed by the Senator Ahmed Markafi-led faction of the party.

They hinged their request on the fact that the court in Port Harcourt had already heard the matter before it and reserved its judgment.

The three pending appeals that were put on hold by the Justice Saulawa-led panel yesterday were marked CA/A/402/2016; CA/A/402A/2016 and

CA/A/402D/M/2016.

The appellants are challenging the judgment of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on June 30, which recognised Sheriff as National Chairman of the party.

Justice Abang had in the said judgment, maintained that Sheriff has the authority to take decisions for the party, including briefing of lawyers to represent the interest of the PDP in court.

The Sheriff-led faction was in the three appeals, sued as the 1st and 2nd respondents in the appeal by two chieftains of the party in Ondo and Edo states, Chief Benson Akingboye and Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, respectively.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), was cited as the third respondent in the three appeals.

Allocations Decline as FG, States, LGs Share N387bn for October Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Allocation to the three tiers of government for the month of November declined by N33.121 billion from N420 billion in October to N386.879 billion.

The amount includes Value Added Tax (VAT), which however recorded a gross increase of N5.958 billion, from N69.621 billion in October to N75.579 billion in November The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, who briefed journalists on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, at the end of the monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, stated that crude oil export decreased further by 0.34 million barrels while the average price of crude oil increased from $46.54 to $47.08 per barrel during the period under review Federation export sales revenue, he said, also declined by about $14.74 million.

“A brief force majeure was declared at Bonny Terminal while the force majeure at Forcados, Qua

Oboe and Brass Terminals were still in place. Federation revenue was low as a result of if shut-in and shut-down of pipelines for repairs and maintenance due to leakages and sabotage, however, Company Income Tax (CIT) and Value (VAT) recorded marginal increases.

“The distributable statutory revenue for the month is N206.448 billion. The sum of N6.330 billion was refunded by Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to federal government. There is a proposed distribution of N66.000 billion from the Excess PPT (Petroleum Profit Tax) Account.

Also, exchange gain of N38/752 billion is proposed for distribution.

The total revenue distributable for the current month (November) (including VAT) is N386.879 billion,” he said.

A breakdown shows that the federal government, states and local governments received N187.367 billion, N95.035 billion and N73.268 billion respectively while 13 per cent derivation fetched N18.423 billion for oil producing states.

Vehicle Conveying Students of FGGC, Abaji Crashes Near Abuja Dele Ogbodo in Abuja A Honda Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) conveying four students of Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Abaji, on its way to Abuja, ran into a stationary trailer on the outskirts of Abaji, near Nestle water factory, around 9.30a.m. yesterday.

The four girls sporting the uniform of the school, including the driver narrowly escaped death.

The driver of the vehicle, THISDAY learnt, is the owner of the car, sustained injury on his forehead and hands.

His daughter of about 16 years and three of her classmates seated at the back of the vehicle sustained some injuries.

An eyewitness who was at the scene of the accident a few minutes before it occured, said: “This is God’s miracle at work.”

He said it was unfortunate that the driver was overtaking without looking ahead. At the time of filing this report, sympathisers and passers said the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) within a stone throw away, was on its way to the accident scene.

RESILIENT GOVERNOR

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, coming out of the Zenith Bank, Onigari, Ado-Ekiti with his money withdrawn from his de-frozen account....yesterday

Abacha Loot: Falana Accuses US, Switzerland of Frustrating Nigeria Seeks Obama’s intervention to stop frivolous legal proceedings Gboyega Akinsanmi A human rights lawyer,a Mr. Femi Falana, yesterday accused the Governments of the United Kingdom, United States and Switzerland of frustrating Nigeria from recovering and repatriating public funds stolen by the late military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), asked the US President Barack Obama to ensure that all frivolous legal proceedings filed against the recovery of the stolen funds “are withdrawn before January 20, 2017.”

He made the allegation in a statement he issued yesterday, detailing proof evidence that established the opposition of the UK, US and Switzerland to

recovering and repatriating funds Abacha looted from Nigeria’s national treasury.

He acknowledged that after the Muhammadu Buhari administration was inaugurated, the Governments of the UK, US, and Switzerland promised “to facilitate the repatriation of the stolen wealth of Nigeria.”

Apart from describing Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt, however, Falana said the immediate past British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, did not accede “to the request of President Buhari to recover and repatriate the looted wealth of Nigeria which has been located in the UK.” He explained that in spite of several assurances, the US Government “has continued to frustrate the legal proceedings

filed by Nigeria in Jersey, UK for the recovery and repatriation of the remaining Abacha loot.

“On its own part the Swiss Government has imposed a conditionality before repatriating the sum of $321 million in its custody to Nigeria. While it cannot be disputed that the government of the US is committed to the recovery of the Abacha loot, it has vigorously opposed the repatriation of the loot to Nigeria.”

He lamented that the federal government had adopted various routes and strategies to freeze, recover and repatriate to Nigeria the proceeds of corruption amassed by Abacha and his associates.

The human right activist explained that legal proceedings

“have been filed in many courts including a criminal complaint in Switzerland and requests for mutual legal assistance to various European nations.

“Others include claims in England (both in the Commercial Court and the Chancery Division) directly against inter alia Mohammed Sani Abacha and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu together with companies associated with them, including Doraville Property Corporation,” Falana explained.

He referred to an anti-corruption workshop held at the American Embassy at Abuja on December 8 when he accuse the Governments of the United States and Switzerland of frustrating the legal proceedings initiated by Nigeria to recover and repatriate the remaining Sani Abacha loot.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 16, 2016 • T H I S D AY

49

NEWSEXTRA

Wike Leads Thousands of Rivers People to Protest against Police Brutality, Killings State govt denies allegations against Wike Bear your cross, APC tells governor Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday led thousands of people of the state to protest against what he described as the mass killings by the police and other security agencies during the December 10 rerun elections.

The peaceful protest march took off from Government House, Port Harcourt at 8a.m, moved through Azikiwe Street and Bank Road before terminating at the Rivers State Police Command headquarters on Moscow Road.

Aside Wike, Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Speaker Dabo Adams, former Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, former UBA Chairman, Chief Ferdinand Alabrabra, former Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru and the state PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah, joined the march.

Also on the march were commissioners, state legislators, Caretaker Committee Chairmen, women and youths.

As the thousands of protesters approached the gate of the state police command headquarters, the policemen ran into their premises, closed their gates and peeped from the openings of the gate.

Wike and the other leaders waited for close to 30 minutes before the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Cyril Okoro, came out. Even then, he spoke through the gate.

Addressing the police, Wike said the people of state were at

the police command to inform the authorities that they were tired of the killings of innocent people in the state by the police and other security operatives.

He noted that the people and government of the state were particularly dissatisfied with the recklessness of two Senior Policemen, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Steven Hasso, and the Commander of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Mr. Akin Fakorede, who led the sponsored onslaught against the people of Rivers State and compromised the security architecture of the state.

Wike further stated: “If they don’t leave the state, then we will do all we can to ensure they leave this state. They must leave this state. They have killed innocent people.

He noted that the Police High Command had refused to act despite the overwhelming evidence against the duo, especially the video footage that showed Fakorede and other security operatives trying to snatch results of the Rivers East senatorial district.

The governor said the situation where security officials have transformed into politicians in uniform is quite unfortunate.

In his response, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyril Okoro, assured the governor that the Rivers State Police Command would pass the message to the Police High Command for necessary action.

Oil Spill: Court Awards N10bn against Mobil Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos has awarded N10billion against Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited over a 1998 oil spillage.

The sum is in favour of fishing communities and cooperatives of Lagos. The suit was filed on their behalf by Chief M. A. Ajanaku and others. They sought a declaration that the defendant’s continued failure, neglect and refusal to undertake post impact remediation measures to restore the ecosystem of the lands and waters of life inhabited by the plaintiffs and where they carry on their occupation of fishing and fish farming, was unlawful, unconstitutional and a violation of the plaintiffs’ right to life, and right to live in an environment favourable to their socio-economic development as guaranteed under Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999, Articles 22 and 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act Cap 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

They also prayed for a declaration that the plaintiffs whose representatives signed the release forms in favour of the defendant signed same by the undue influence of the Defendant and that the document is therefore null and void.

The plaintiffs’ also prayed the court to hold that the document purporting to release the defendant from paying due compensation to the plaintiffs who signed

the documents and or from effecting post-impact remediation programmes to restore the plaintiffs’ environment is null and void on grounds that the document relates to an unconscionable bargain which was signed under economic duress and in breach of statutory provisions.

The sought an order for the delivery and cancellation of all release documents signed by representatives of some of the Plaintiffs on the grounds that the signatures of some of the representatives of the Plaintiffs thereon was obtained by economic duress, undue influence and fraud.

They also sought order that the defendant should commence post impact remediation programmes in respect of the plaintiffs’ lands and waters polluted by the defendant’s Idoho oil spill and do all such acts and things to clean up the environment of the Plaintiffs and to restore same to its original state.

The plaintiffs sought special damages of the sum of N8,400,000,000, interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum from 26th January 1998 until judgment and interest on the same rate until full payment thereof by the defendant.

The plaintiffs further claimed N1,400,000,000 being general damages for the infraction of their constitutional and statutory rights and interest on the judgment sum at the rate of 10 per cent from the date of judgment until full payment.

Meanwhile, state government has described an audio report on Saharareporters.com in which Wike, was heard threatening an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a fabrication and outright lie.

In the audio report, Wike was said to be threatening the INEC official with death if they failed to rig the last rerun elections in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or return the money he had paid them.

Reacting to the report, the state Commissioner for Information

and Communication, Dr. Austin Tam-George, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of conniving with Saharareporters to clone the voice of the governor.

He said: “We categorically deny these latest allegations as a sick fabrication, an outright lie. Wike never made any contact with INEC officials in person or by telephone.

“Saharareporters.com is the online propaganda bullhorn of the APC. Their publications are typically false, and the writers are professional hawkers of fiction.

“No one would have thought

that the APC and its cowardly media allies would resort to an audio impersonation of Governor Wike, using a voice changer technology.

However, the APC has countered the state government’s stance, asking Wike to own up and face public opinion.

The state Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Chris Finebone, said: “Having been caught in the web of their own machinations, what do you expect Governor Wike and his commissioner to say? Often when anyone is caught pants down, the

most convenient and ready response is to blame and blackmail others.

The truth remains that Wike in that Saharareporters’ audio tape was caught pants down and he simply cannot find where to hide.

“It is important to state that the APC have severally in the past been brought under scrutiny by Saharareporters to the amusement of Wike and the PDP but today they have found it convenient to associate the APC with Saharareporters.

That is absolute falsehood coming from an absolutely cornered man.”

PROTEST MARCH

R-L: Rivers State Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo; Governor Nyesom Wike; Speaker, state House of Assembly, Dabo Adams; and former Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, with other Rivers people marching to the state police command to protest police brutality and killings in Port Harcourt ....yesterday

Oil Workers Shut down ExxonMobil Office over Sack of Employees Affected workers to get special benefits, says company Ejiofor Alike Aggrieved oil workers of the United States’ oil giant, ExxonMobil Corporation, yesterday shut down the company’s corporate head office in Lagos indefinitely to protest an alleged attempts by the company to sack over 100 workers.

But in a swift reaction, the company has stated that the affected workers would be paid special benefits that were specifically designed for that purpose in line with existing labour agreements.

The protesting workers under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) also accused the company of flagrant violation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010, by deploying expatriates to take over jobs for which there is local capacity.

The workers have also insisted that the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Nolan O’Neal, must be relieved of his duties.

PENGASSAN said in a statement issued on Wednesday, which was distributed by the protesters yesterday that “the plan is to withdraw our services totally

from all our operating locations by midday tomorrow (December 15). The secretariat will keep you informed and updated as we arrive at that threshold. Injury to one is an injury to all!”

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: ‘Restore Dignity of Labour Now,’ Flagrant Abuse of NCD Act,’ ‘No to indiscriminate sack of Nigerians,’ Nolan O’Neal must go now,’ ‘No to Racism in Nigeria,’ and ‘Expats taking over Nigerian jobs.’

The placard-carrying protesters blocked the entrance gate of the company and disrupted official activities.

The head office houses the two ExxonMobil affiliates in Nigeria – Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN) and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited.

When contacted by THISDAY, the company’s Manager in charge of Media and Communications, Mr. Oge Udeagha, said the sack was a limited programme that would impact only a relatively small fraction of the employees.

According to him, special benefits that were specifically introduced for this purpose would be paid to the affected employees consistent

with existing labour agreements.

“The company also arranging special programmes to support the transition from the company for those affected. We respect the rights of our workforce and will continue to engage with them to resolve this situation,” Udeagha said.

He added that the company invests for the long term and are focused on maintaining a stable, well-developed workforce that are committed to treating its employees with respect and in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.

“ExxonMobil regularly evaluates its operations as part of a disciplined management process and continually strives to operate its business in as safe and efficient a manner as possible,” he added.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and PENGASSAN had on October 26, threatened to go on strike over alleged plans by the international oil companies (IOCs) to sack 3,000 of their members.

The unions had also issued a 21-day ultimatum to the federal government calling for a halt to

the sacking of their members by the IOCs. The national President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese, who addressed the media at the end of the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the union in Effurun, Delta State, had alleged that Chevron Nigeria Ltd, ExxonMobil, Pan Ocean, Sapiem, and Hercules Oil and Gas Ltd, among others – had terminated the appointment of over 3,000 of their workers apparently over the current economic recession in the country.

“More than 3,000 of our members are affected. Chevron alone is about 1,500; Mobil is about 1,000; the entire workers of Hercules Oil & Gas are being asked to go home; Pan Ocean have since closed shop and are gone. Industry-wide, everybody is being asked to go. We are now asking ourselves where we are heading with the industry.

We have lost so much of Nigerian personnel working in the oil and gas industry. What is happening in Nigeria cannot be compared to what is happening in other African countries. We want government to wake up and address some of these issues,” Achese had said.

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FRIDAY DECEMBER 16, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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EFCC Unfreezes Fayose’s Accounts, Gov Withdraws N5m Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Following a Federal High Court judgment ordering the Economic and Financial Crimes Ekiti State Commission (EFCC) to unfreeze Governor, Ayodele Fayose’s account, the governor yesterday stormed the a new generation bank to make withdrawals.

The governor, who arrived the bank at about 1.21p.m. in company of his Chief of Staff, Mr. Dipo Anisulowo; the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Owoseeni Ajayi, and his security aides, withdrew a sum of N5 million via counter-cheque.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo had last Tuesday handed down the directive which expressly compelled the unfreezing of these accounts on the strength that the governor, according to Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, enjoys immunity.

Fayose didn’t give the management of the bank any notice before the surprise visit, but it was reliably gathered that he had on Wednesday given them a copy of the court judgment.

Many of the customers who were at the bank for business transactions, were stopped for two hours the governor was in the bank.

There was a wild drama in the

bank between a bank’s security and the governor’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) over the former’s stand that the CSO would not be allowed entry, which nearly degenerated into an exchange of fisticuffs.

When he emerged from the banking hall, Fayose praised the bank for complying with the court’s directive. Fayose disclosed that he has two accounts with the bank with one containing N82 million and the other with a staggering sum of N300 million.

He, however, upbraided the EFCC and the federal government for what he called impunity, saying his travail in the hands of the anti-graft agency confirmed that the reign of impunity was gradually creeping into the country’s body polity.

Fayose said: “I came to the bank to collect money after serving them with the court order. I have said I won’t leave the bank until I am paid, because this is my money and nobody can deprive me access to it.

“I want to thank Nigerians and the bank and those who believed in my cause for standing by me.

This court victory goes to show that

this impunity must stop. It shows that Nigerians must not be oppressed.”

At exactly 3:20p.m. after two hours, the governor left the bank with cash of N5 million, saying: “I came to the bank after serving them with the court order and I made up my mind that I won’t leave the bank until my money is given to me.

“And the bank has done the needful by giving me part of the money confirming that they have obeyed the court order. I want to thank Nigerians and

my supporters for believing in our cause that Nigerians should not be oppressed. The rascality of EFCC must stop.

“And I want to thank the EFCC for obeying the court order. They placed order on two accounts, one has N82 million, the other has N300 million. I have collected N5 million now. I’m not closing the accounts but if they attack my accounts again, I will make trouble with them, big trouble. If EFCC is appealing the court jugdment that is their funeral. As a sitting governor, my immunity is absolute

just like that of the president.

“They should tell the EFCC to shut up. There is no authority other than the authority of the constitution of this country, which I enjoy.

“Rubbishing the office of the governor is as the same as rubbishing that of the president because after the president, governors are the next.

“It is their time now, another people’s time will come tomorrow.

There is no place for dictatorship in Nigeria.”

Fayose’s two accounts with the bank were on June 20 frozen on

the orders of the EFCC through an ex-parte order received from Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on the allegation that the money therein were ‘proceeds of crime.’

Fayose had on June 28 challenged the seizure of the accounts in court through an affidavit sworn to by his lawyer, Bimpe Olatemiju, who prayed the court to order an unfreezing of the governor’s accounts as the EFCC’s action negates the provisions of section 308 of the 1999 Constitution amended.

Army, Civil Defence Chiefs Back Recognition forVigilante Group

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu and other stakeholders have expressed support for the recognition of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) as a security arm of the federal government.

The VGN with strong presence at the grassroots levels, would complement the efforts of security agencies in securing lives and property, they said.

Buratai, speaking at a public hearing on a bill for an Act to Establish the Vigilante Group of Nigeria to Provide Community Policing, Maintain Law and Order and Community Service for Nigerians and for Related Matters yesterday, said legislation for the group is necessary.

Represented by the Col. S. Nicodemus from the Nigerian Army Headquarters, Buratai said security cannot be left to security agencies alone to handle.

He, however, noted that there would be need for additional training for the personnel of the VGN, to be more effective in community policing.

Mohammed, on his part, said the bill being considered by the National Assembly, was due to the determination and doggedness of the initiations of the VGN. Represented by acting Commandant General of the corps, Obiekwe Austine, Muhammed however, urged that the provisions be thoroughly vetted to ensure its functions override cultural and ethnic biases.

The National Commandant, War Against Indiscipline (WAI), Mr. Mohammed Mustapha, said the VGN is already present in almost every community in Nigeria and

has been discharging voluntary activities.

The Commander General of VGN, Mr. Usman Muhammad Jahun, appealed for speedy passage of the bill into law, to ensure the supervision of the outfit by the federal government.

The Speaker of the House, Yabuku Dogara, in his opening address, was however, cautious on the bill, and urged the Committee on Police Affairs, who conducted the hearing to make relevant findings of fact, to guide the House in taking an appropriate decision as to whether to recommend the passage of the bill into law.

“The pertinent question to ask is whether this is a branch of the police force, or yet another security service being established by law? It is also pertinent for the Committee to find out whether the legal framework sought to be established merely gives authority to an existing organisation by sort of licensing them or whether a general legal framework is being legislated upon for government to operationalise at its discretion,“ Dogara said.

He added that if community policing is the main reason for the bill, is it not within the operational purview of the Nigerian Police Force?

“Is vigilante services not part of social activities by various towns and communities in Nigeria as to make it a residual matter within the authority of state governments?

In view of the existence of new quasi security organisations such as Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and even the Peace Corps of Nigeria that is being proposed, do we still need another at the national level? Do we have the resources to set up yet another security organisation instead of properly funding the existing ones and increasing their mandate where necessary,” the Speaker said.

DIGITAL BANKING

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Dr. Demola Sogunle; Founder and Executive Chairman, Zinox Technologies Ltd, Mr. Leo Stan-Eke; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Yinka Sanni, during the inauguration of Stanbic IBTC Bank’s first digital branch located at Maryland Mall in Lagos....Wednesday

FG Launches App for Contract Tenders, JobVacancies

Okorocha: APC will Capture Anambra in 2017

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Amby Uneze in Owerri

The federal government has launched an Information Mobile Application (IAAP) that the public can refer to as one-shop information tool on government activities, notably on contract tenders and job placement.

The platform, which is downloadable from Google Play Store and can be used on any smart phone or iOS or android device, was launched yesterday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.

He said one of the revolutionary benefits of the app is that it would allow Nigerians to access the Tender Journal that is published twice a month to announce available government jobs, in addition to enabling more people, irrespective of their locations, to bid for government jobs.

The application designed by a Nigerian company, L- Cube, would provide the public with timely, accurate and authentic news reports on government policies, programmes and activities, while also allowing feedback mechanism for the information ministry to know what citizens feel about government.

Another value-added service of the App is the ‘’Be Inspired’’ section which allows any Nigerian, irrespective of his status, age or academic background, to meet top political, business, religious and other leaders.

“The introduction of this App is in line with my pledge when I assumed office to leverage the unique power of information and culture to drive the Change agenda of this administration, with the view to ensuring that Nigerians take ownership of the agenda to bring about a paradigm shift in the way we do things. It is also in line with the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture to lead in the management of the image and reputation of the people and policies of the federal government of Nigeria through a professional and dynamic public Information system that facilitates access by citizens and the global community to credible and timely information about our nation,’’ Mohammed said.

A representative of L-Cube, Olawale Wale- Falope said the world see the many hidden goods about Nigeria through the app and present current and real time news about the country.

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said by 2017, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will take over Anambra State in a free and fair election, and the state would become the second APC state in the Southeast, adding that with the entry of prominent Igbo sons into APC, like Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator Ken Nnamani and others, APC won’t leave any stone unturned in the South-east.

Okorocha made the statement when he met with journalists in the state at his residence yesterday, saying that the Southeast geo-political zone could not afford to be outside APC in the current dispensation especially when the Igbos are known for wise decisions.

He also informed that his administration would pay all the arrears of pension to the pensioners in the state this December, and has also begun to pay workers in the state their November and December salaries, noting that already, N16.2 billion is on ground for these payments, while the government intends to complete the payments before December 20, 2016.

The governor explained that following the agreement between the pensioners and

the government, pensioners from grade level one to grade level six would receive arrears of their pensions one hundred percent, while those on grade level seven and above would receive forty per cent of the arrears, stating that the arrangement was to enable the government pay and close the chapter of arrears of pensions in the state.

The governor complained that the pension bill of the state every month is N1.4billion, which he described as the highest in the South-east, if not the whole country, stating that by next year, the government would set up a committee to review the entire pensions in the state, stressing too that the government has refused to borrow for any reason.

His words: “The good news to all Imolites is that all pension arrears will be cleared this December 2016.

One of the great things we have done is by using the State development Councils (SDCs) which was inaugurated two months ago to reach the communities. I have sent the SDC members to compile names of all Pensioners and they are returning their forms so quickly. We are realising the cases of people who died recently as we intend to pay them their bulk pensions till December.”

FRIDAY DECEMBER 16, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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Experts Welcome FG’s Expansionary 2017 Budget Obinna Chima Some financial market analysts have expressed satisfaction with the expansionary 2017 Appropriation Bill that was presented to members of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

According to them, if properly implemented, the proposed budget estimates for next year, could help lift the country out its present economic situation.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday presented a proposed aggregate expenditure of N7.298 trillion for the 2017 fiscal year to the National Assembly. Part of the proposed budget estimates showed aggregate expenditure of N7.298 trillion will comprise: statutory transfers of N419.02 billion; debt service of N1.66 trillion; sinking fund of N177.46 billion to retire certain maturing bonds; non-debt recurrent

expenditure of N2.98trillion; and capital expenditure of N2.24 trillion (including capital in Statutory Transfers).

A significant portion of the recurrent expenditure was provisioned for the payment of salaries and overheads in institutions that provide critical public services.

The budgeted amounts for these items included N482.37 billion for the Ministry of Interior; N398.01 billion for Ministry of Education; N325.87 billion for Ministry of Defence; and N252.87 billion for Ministry of Health.

The 2017 Appropriation Bill was based on a benchmark crude oil price of US$42.5 per barrel; an oil production estimate of 2.2 million barrels per day; and an average exchange rate of N305 to the US dollar. Based on these assumptions, aggregate revenue available to fund the federal budget is N4.94 trillion.

This was 28 per cent higher than

2016 full year projections. Oil is projected to contribute N1.985 trillion of this amount. Similarly, non-oil revenues, largely comprising Companies Income Tax, Value Added Tax, Customs and Excise duties, and Federation Account levies were estimated to contribute N1.373 trillion.

The CEO, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, said the budget estimates were a “step in the right direction.”

However, Rewane pointed out that “in terms of its quantity, you need more than a 20 per cent increase in expenditure to move the economy.”

He explained further: “ In other words, if you use the exchange rate differentials, the level of depreciation between last year and this year is about 40 per cent, from N199 to N305, while you increase your expenditure to 20 per cent. So, you need to do at least a 35 per cent increase in expenditure to bring it

to bring it to zero. So, you need at least a 50 per cent increase in expenditure between 2016 and 2017 to have an impact. So, anything less than that is actually a contraction in expenditure.”

But in his reaction, the Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Muda Yusuf, welcomed the policy pronouncements components of the budget proposal. These he listed to include the comment by the president that there would be more coherence between fiscal and monetary policy, the decision to continue the Joint Venture Cash Calls as a mode of financing the upstream oil and gas sector, the restoration of the Export Expansion Grant, the restatement of the federal government’s commitment to public-private partnership, as well as the preparedness by the government to settle the debt it owed the power firms.

Continuing, the LCCI boss also said the assumption of oil price of

$42 per barrel was okay, adding that the assumption of oil output of 2.2 million barrels per day “looks a bit optimistic given the challenges of the Niger Delta.”

“But we are hoping that because of thhe upward review in the amnesty budget, maybe it will have some positive impact on the peace in the Niger Delta. The exchange rate of N305 to the dollar is not the market rate, but I think it is something that we can live with for purpose of budgeting. The provision for debt service is one the high side. This shows that the problem of debt service would continue to be a burden to the economy,” Yusuf added in a telephone interview with THISDAY. Also commenting on the assumption of crude oil benchmark, the CEO of Cowry Assets Management Limited, Johnson Chukwu said: “This is a very optimistic budget. Crude oil is doing about $55 per barrel today and even in worst case scenario and I

believe if OPEC sticks to its decision to cut production and if we able to address our local production, I believe that crude oil price should range around $50 per barrel. So, the $42 per barrel assumption to me is realistic. But to me it would be an exceptional occurrence if we meet the volume of production.

This is because even if you stop the crisis in the Niger Delta, you are still going to take some time tk restore those oil facilities to their production level.”

On his part, the Chief Consultant Biodun Adedipe Associate Limited, Dr. Biodun Adedipe, described the proposed budget for 2017 as “good direction in terms of volume, good direction in terms of structure and of course, good direction in terms of emphasis. So, the important thing is to encourage the government to continue in that direction in terms of sectors to focus on, and then putting emphasis on capital expenditure.

Synagogue Collapse: Five Dead BodiesYet to be Identified, Says Obafunwa Akinwale Akintunde Two years after the tragic collapse of a six-storey guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), five dead bodies who fell victim of the collapsed are still yet to be identified.

The Lagos State Chief Medical Examiner, Professor John Obafunwa, disclosed this yesterday before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo at the ongoing trial of Trustees of SCOAN and the two engineers involved in the construction of the collapsed guesthouse, which led to the death of 116 persons, mostly South Africans on September 12, 2014.

The SCOAN trustees, the two engineers, Messrs Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun and their companies, Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company and Jandy Trust Limited were last month arraigned before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo on 111-count charge for their involvement in the collapsed building.

The 111-count charges preferred against the defendants by the state government borders on criminal negligence, manslaughter and failure to obtain building permit.

Led in evidence by Mrs. Idowu Alakija, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Obafunwa, who is a Consultant Pathologist to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and former Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), told the court that multiple injuries, traumatic asphyxia, severe blood loss, severe fracture and compression of the skull with the brain tissue, congested heart failure against the background of hypertention and accumulation of blood in the chest cavity resulted in the death of the late victims.

The chief medical examiner said “To avoid any decomposition, we have to embalm the bodies in the various mortuaries and were equally given identification numbers.

“On September 22, 2014, I received a coroners’ order to commence a post-mortem examination for identification purposes.

“The bodies were finger printed, examined externally, opened up and examined internally, and samples were taken from various organs to examine them under the microscope.

Avert Impending NUPENG Strike, House Urges FG Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The House of Representatives has called on the federal government to take all necessary steps to avert the impending strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which is scheduled for the first week of January.

The union issued a notice of a three-day warning strike, which would be a precursor to a nationwide strike action if the federal government fails to intervene in the lingering disputes between the NUPENG and some multinational companies operating in the oil and gas industry.

Hon. Jerry Alagbaoso (Imo PDP) brought the matter before the lawmakers yesterday in a motion where he expressed concern about the disruptive effects of such a strike action and the attendant hardships it will bring on the people if not averted.

The House mandated its Committees on Labour, Employment and Productivity and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and (Downstream) to mediate in the matter with a view to averting the threatened strike action and report back to the House within two weeks for further legislative action.

LET’S DINE

L-R: Executive Secretary, International Facility Management Association Nigeria, Dele Chinedu; President, Pius Iwundu; Vice President, Abimbola Olusegun-Adamolekun; and immediate past President, Olatunji Okesola, at the FM Award dinner and inauguration of elected council members in Lagos.... recently

FG Lauds Firm’s Investment in Import Substitution, Value Addition Crusoe Osagie The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has commended Secure ID’s investment in SIM card production, noting that this move by the company will go a long way to save Nigeria’s hard earned foreign exchange spent on products it has the capacity and potential to produce locally.

The Minister, Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, explained that the company is an intersection of three key sectors that is vital for the nation’s development effort while also commending the firm for adding value to the nation’s resource endowments in the production of the sim cards.

Enelamah during the inauguration of Secure ID’s new sim card manufacturing line, said the fact that the company is also doing export is commendable, maintaining that with the current scarcity of foreign exchange in the country,

companies such as Secure ID can help to earn foreign exchange for the country.

In his words: “I want to commend the company’s entrepreneurial vision, drive and zeal to make this investment and we need more of these companies.

As a country and as a government, we must support more of our entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams and realise it. This is the only way Nigeria can reach its full potentials. Nobody doubts the zeal of an average Nigerian, it is the environment and how challenging it can be that can often get in the way.

I can truly say that this company is world class and to make the investment, continuing to upgrade and improve on it over time, it is something to be celebrated.” ”This shows that these things can be done in Nigeria if we provide the right support and I want to assure you that we will continue to support you to produce more and more here locally. Both in terms of

jobs, import substitution and the value added process. The fact that the company is also into export is commendable, because one of the biggest challenges we have as a country is the foreign exchange situation where our supply is limited and we plan to increase the supply thorugh export,” he added.

He said the present administration is looking to partner the private sector to realise its vision and goals for the country in areas of diversification, job creation and industrialisation.

He commended the Bank of Industry (BoI) for its role in financing industrialisation, reassuring the bank of its full support to assist in the nation’s quest to industrialise.

“We know financing is a major component of industrialisation and I can assure you that we are going to be backing the likes of BoI and other Development Finance Institutions (DFI’s) to have more of the resources they need to support

manufacturing in the country,” he added.

Speaking at the event, the acting Managing Director, BoI, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, said the bank does not only look at the financial viability of such projects, but focuses on the strategic nature, the potential development impact and multiplier effects before supporting development projects in the country.

According to him, “The facility we have commissioned today is the first of its kind in Africa, the production of sim cards that were hitherto imported been imported.

That speaks to import substitution which means that we will be conserving foreign exchange by embarking on a project like this. In Africa, there are about 700 million sim cards that are connected where they have been importing sim cards from outside the continent. This means we can also export sim cards to these African countries and generate foreign exchange,” he said.

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Buhari Pledges More Support to Military Inaugurates 30 vessels, pledges support for navy Tobi Soniyi in Abuja and Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Lagos pledged the continuous support of the federal government to equip the military, while urging ingenuity in complementing the government’s efforts by looking inwards to construct and improvise some vital operational tools.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari spoke at the commissioning ceremony of three Naval ships, Nigerian Navy Ship Unity, Nigerian Navy Ship Karaduwa and the Nigerian Navy Tugboat Commander Edwin Ugwu, Buhari commended the Nigerian Navy for building two out of the three ships that were commissioned.

The statement said the Nigerian Navy Ship Unity was built in China, while the KARADUWA as well as the Nigerian Navy Tugboat Commander Edwin Ugwu, were constructed in Nigeria.

The president said: “It is most fulfilling to note that our own engineers at the Nigerian Navy Dockyard, Lagos and the Naval Shipyard, Port Harcourt are wholly responsible for the building of the Seaward Defence Boat, Nigerian Navy Ship Karaduwa and the Tugboat Commander Edwin Ugwu, respectively.

“It is also worth noting that NNS UNITY, which is Nigeria’s newest warship, is the second of such acquisitions from the Peoples’ Republic of China.”

The president said the Nigerian Navy had shown great foresight in nurturing the vision for the NNS Unity and her sister ships, noting that it was comforting that efforts were not confined to using foreign sources alone, but in mobilising local complements.

“The federal government expects no less from you as looking inwards is the way to go amidst a uniquely challenging mix of recession and rising acute security concerns, “ he added.

Buhari urged more probity and re-dedication to patriotism by the Nigerian Navy.

“The prevailing situation is not new given the intimate connections between economic prosperity and security. For a littoral state with huge dependence on her offshore resources, maritime security is vital to the nation’s well-being.

“Today you are afforded increased defence capacity. This empowerment also enhances your role as instruments of diplomacy and leadership in the region and credible standing on the global stage,” he said.

He commended the Navy’s impressive strides in the area of continued fight against maritime security threats like piracy, oil theft, illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism and support for the fight against terrorism in the North-east.

The president said the healthy and growing diplomatic

relations with China had been most beneficial to Nigeria, recalling that the Chinese Government had earlier donated an offshore patrol boat to the Navy at the time of taking delivery of the sister ship of Nigerian Navy Unity last year.

“I cannot but commend the business dependability of China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Company Limited, the builders of these offshore patrol vessels for seeing to a conclusive and successful execution of the contracts.

“In the same vein, I enjoin their local partners to share in this commendation for their efforts at local facilitation,” he said.

Buhari pledged more support for the navy, as well as continuous support to equip the military in the fight against terror on all frontiers.

At the event were the Minsters for Defence, Transport, Health, Works and Housing, Science and Technology, Masur Dan Ali, Rotimi Amaechi, Adewole Isaac, Babatunde Fashola and Ogbonnaya Onu respectively.

Also at the event were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; the Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Admiral Ilesanmi Alade; the Flag Officers Commanding, Western Naval Command and Naval Training Command, Rear Admirals Bobai Ferguson and Ifeola Mohammed respectively.

Also present were the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi

CHANGE OF NAME

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General public should take note.

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Ambode; Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni; the

Director General of NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside and royal

personages, Diplomatic Corps, as well as a host of other

serving and retired senior officers.

Agriculture Can Banish Recession from Nigeria If… The Minister for Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, yesterday enumerated eleven cash crops that can drive the current recession out of Nigeria, if they are given serious attention by the agriculture sector personnel as well as farmers and appropriately cultivated in the country.

Ogbeh said many of these cash crops that are in very high demand on the global market can be found in surplus in Nigeria, and wonders why Nigerian farmers are still wallowing in poverty despite the huge potentials on their farmlands.

Ogbeh made this declaration when he addressed the 36 governors yesterday (Wednesday) at their Nigeria Governors’ Forum meeting at the International Conference Centre in Garki, Abuja.

Specifically, the Minister announced that about 11 cash crops that are much sought after globally and which are in abundance in Nigeria could comfortably take this country out of recession. The crops are cocoa, cashew nuts, pulses (Pidgeon pea), palm oil, yam, cassava starch, ginger. Sesame seeds, gum Arabic, rice, grains, goats, cattle.

The minister said Cocoa which Nigeria used to be the leading exporter has remained a hot cake in the international market but regretted that Nigeria has since fallen to the seventh position

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The general public should please take note. known and addressed II formerly formerly known and as EMEJOH BELLO ODE addressed as MISS OLASUPO MICHAEL. now wishIDOWU, to be OLUWATOYIN known as now wishandto addressed be known and EMEJOH BELLO All addressed as MRS.DADDY. OBAMINA former documentsIDOWU. remain valid.

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I formerly known and addressed as EHI EKI IGBINEDION , now wish to be known and addressed as EHI EKI ONI. All formal documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS

This is to inform the General Public of the loss of original letter of Allocation Ref: No. LAW: 4885/T/2, dated 16/3/2001 issued in favour of Anambra State Indigenes Walfare Association, Kaduna branch, by Anambra State Government of Nigeria over property situate at Ezinano Community, Awka, Anambra State (Known as Hiltop Neighbourhood Layout, Awka) on 5/2/2012.

All efforts to trace the said document proved abortive and if found, please return same to this address: No. W6, Ahmadu Bello Way by Benue Road, Kaduna or call 08037011702.

Signed: CHIEF HUMPHREY M. OKOLI, President, Anamabra State Indigenes Walfare Association, Kaduna State branch.

among its exporting countries, exporting only 27.5 million tonnes while Cote de Voire has climbed to first position with an annual volume of 1.75 billion tonnes in cocoa exports annually.

Although he divulged that he wasn’t naming the crops in any particular order, Ogbeh disclosed that yams which now sell for $16 a tuber in the United states is also in high demand in foreign markets.

Other much sought after crops according to the minster include cassava starch, maize, millet, palm oil, cashew nuts and Pidgeon tree.

On Pidgeon pea in particular, Chief Audu Ogbeh said that the demand for the commodity has reached more than a billion dollars annually, most of which come from Africa, particularly our East African brothers who saturate the Indian market with the commodity. “I do not see any reason why Nigeria would not take 25 per cent of that market,” he enthused.

The minister also made a case for value addition and standardisation of the produce that are grown in Nigeria and processed for exports, regretting that most of Nigeria’s agricultural

produce are being declined on the global market because of their inability to meet global market standards, arguing that hands are on deck to rectify the situation.

The minister also identified areas that have been inimical to agricultural growth in the country like the use of unsuitable fertilizer.

Do not use 151515 because it is not suitable for the crops and it is not suitable for the soil aa well.”

The meeting agreed that almost all the states have fertilizer blending plants which should be deployed to use nationwide so as to have the right blend of fertilizer “for better yield and greater value from crops all over the country.”

The minister began by addressing the issue of CAMACO which is lending Nigeria $4.5bn worth of farm implements and machinery with a counterpart funding quota of 15%. The minister however argued that the counterpart fund was “tidy”.

This agreement on which an MOU had been signed is expected to supply equipment to all the 36 states and Abuja agricultural equipment according the need of

each state for an equal amount of the money.

In response, several state governors suggested ways of meeting the counterpart amount beginning with the chairman of the forum Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar of Zamfara State who suggested that the Federal Government should offset the amount as a loan to the states.

The governor of Kebbi state on his part asked that the agreement include a front-runner arrangement as an agric-diplomacy where the beneficiaries of the $4.5bn loan would pay back using produce from their farms. He said Nigeria should barter the machinery with china and export sesame, cassava starch and soya as compensation for the equipment.

While Governor Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi State was more concerned about the intrusion of foreign produce traders into our local markets, the Ebonyi state governor talked about raising the standards of our produce to comparative cropping advantage to the agriculture sector.

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FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

BONUS CRISIS

House Condemns Shabby Treatment of Super Falcons Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

simply declining to participate in the championship.

“This a major disgrace and The House of Representatives yesterday condemned what I don’t know how to explain it described as the unsavoury it,” Onyeama said.

Hon. Mohammed Nur-Sheriff treatment of national female football team, the Super Falcons (Borno APC) lamented that by the Federal Government after Nigeria’s sports ministry contains winning the African Women’s Cup more rot than is evident.

Nur-Sherrif who was a of Nations for the eighth time in former president of Cycling Cameroon a fortnight ago.

The Super Falcons had on Federation of Nigeria revealed Wednesday in Abuja publicly that there was more rot in the protested the non-payment of their sports ministry than Nigerians allowances and entitlements by knew and noted that the sports officials of the Nigerian Football velodrome built for the 8th All Federation (NFF) and the Sports Africa Games in Abuja in 2003, gulped billions of Naira yet has Ministry.

The House urged the been converted into a warehouse.

“The ministry now stores gas government to urgently ensure the payment of the backlog of cylinders inside the velodrome. the allowances and entitlements. This facility is the biggest of its This followed a motion kind in Africa. Even the one in sponsored by Hon. Ayo Omidiran South Africa is not as big as what (Osun APC) who recalled that we have in Abuja. But, go there the team defeated host nation, today, you will be alarmed. It Cameroon on December 3, 2016 is now a warehouse,” he said.

Meanwhile, the embattled to bag the trophy for the eighth NFF has expressed heartfelt time.

“Also aware of the reported appreciation to President disclosure by the Hon. Minister of Muhammadu Buhari for Youths and Sports, Mr. Solomon directing that players and Dalung that the victory of the officials of the Super Falcons Super Falcons was unexpected, be paid within days, following a mindset that may have led the team’s protest at the Three to the failure to make proper Arms Zone on Wednesday.

“We are grateful to the arrangements for the payment of the allowances of the players Presidency for the prompt and the officials,” Omidiran said. action, and we believe this will She added that the players put the minds of the players refused to heed the pleas of NFF at rest. It has been a very officials to vacate the hotel where difficult time for the NFF; no they had stayed put in protest, official of the Federation was due to past actions and failures to happy that the players and keep to promises and assurances officials could not be paid their in similar situations in the past. entitlements immediately after “Has it become a crime to make the tournament.

“It is not as if the Federation your country proud? What makes it more painful is the fact that the did not plan to pay the players Cameroonian girls, who finished and officials their entitlements. second were celebrated by their The NFF expected some money President. What would have from a number of sources but happened if the girls had refused this did not work out. They are to leave Cameroon and carry out champions and deserve to be the protests on the streets of that treated as such; there are no doubts about that,” NFF’s country?” Omidiran queried.

Deputy Minority Leader, Director of Communications, Hon. Chukwuka Onyeama Ademola Olajire, said in a press said it would have been better statement yesterday.

Olajire also stated that there if Nigeria had simply declined participation in the tournament, was no time the NFF directed instead of the national disgrace. that the players should be ejected He told the House that Nigeria from their Agura Hotel, and would have been saved the decried claims that no official disgrace caused by the non went to see the players at the payment of their allowances by hotel.

Benzema (centre) is the first Real Madrid player to score in two different Club World Cup competitions

F I FA C L U B W O R L D C U P

Real Madrid Qualifies for Final Real Madrid extended their unbeaten run to 36 games yesterday by beating Club America 2-0 to reach the FIFA Club World Cup final.

Karim Benzema gave the

European champions the lead with a clipped finish after a Toni Kroos pass.

Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the win - and a place in Sunday’s final against Kashima Antlers

- by drilling a second in added time amid some confusion.

Referee Enrique Caceres briefly asked for a video assistant consultation before allowing the goal to stand.

This year ’s Club World Cup is the first tournament to use video assistant referees. A pitchside monitor is available to referees to review decisions.

Beach Soccer Nations Cup: LOC Boss Tips Nigeria to Win Cup The Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chairman for the CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations Cup, Lagos 2016, Seyi Akinwunmi, has assured Nigerians that the Supersand Eagles would at the end of the competition put smiles on their faces by winning the tournament and also picking the ticket to the 2017 World Cup. The final of the tournament has been scheduled for Sunday, December 18, 2016 at the Eko Atlantic City.

Akinwunmi, who is also the 1st vice-president of the Nigeria Football Federation, stated that, the Sand Eagles team is fully prepared

to face the stiff challenges from the top contenders battling for the FIFA World Cup at the Lagos 2016 Beach Nations Cup. He urged Nigerians to come out in full to support the Supersand Eagles to victory.

“The friendly match the Sand Eagles played against Switzerland at the Copa Lagos, has helped tuned up the character of the team and had improved them technical, these were very obvious in the team’s matches played so far in the competition. Despite losing 3-1 on penalties to Cote d’Ivoire, after playing a 4-4 draw at the end of regulation, the Supersand

Eagles are still favourites to win the title and grab the slot to play at the Bahamas 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.” The LOC boss expressed delight, on the commendation of CAF officials on the excellent facilities provided for the competition by the Lagos State government. “It feels good to hear CAF thumbs-up the facilities at the Eko Atlantic City.

The excellent organisation of the tournament has been possible by the smooth synergy between the NFF and the Lagos State government. This is the fruit of the partnership between the

NFF and Lagos over the years.

Before now, the leadership of the NFF and the Lagos State team had a teething problem, but we have been able to resolve that. We are very proud of what we have done so far, we shall continue to improve until after the final match on Sunday.”

Today is a match free day at the CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations. The LOC has concluded plans to take the players and officials on a bus tour and boat cruise across Lagos. Matches will resume tomorrow with semi-final matches and other classification games.

NSA Salutes Rangers’ Edo FA Awards Hold Special Olympics in Benin City Today Nigeria Launches Youth Egbuchulam As dignitaries gather for this evening’s football Awards Nite organised by the Edo Football Association, stakeholders have been commending the association for the bold initiative to reward excellence in football development and administration.

Chairman of Chairmen, and a member of the NFF Executive Committee, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, described the Award Nite as commendable and worthy of emulation.

Gusau, who was present at

the maiden edition last year at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, says the football house is pleased with the initiative of Edo State Football Association to reward those who have contributed to the development of football in the state.

“The Edo State Football Association deserves all the commendation for initiating this award. There is nothing as good as your efforts and contributions being recognized and rewarded.

Empowerment Initiative Special Olympics Nigeria in partnership with Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited has launched its Youth Empowerment initiative.

At a colourful event hosted by the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel and graced by dignitaries including members of Special Olympics Nigeria board of directors, partners, athletes and their parents, the initiative was

unveiled with its benefits.

The Special Olympics Nigeria Youth Empowerment Initiative which is a brainchild of the organization with support from Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited is meant to empower its athletes with intellectual disability to receive necessary job skills relevant to attaining mastery in their respective interest and expertise.

Unmissable Incentives Limited organisers of Nigerian’s foremost and prestigious sports award, Nigerian Sports Award, has lauded the outstanding performance of Rangers’ International Midfielder, Chisom Egbuchulam in the 2-0 victory over Rivers United at the just concluded Super4 in Enugu.

The midfielder, who was awarded the Best Footballer of the Year at the recently held Nigerian Sports Award 2016, scored both goals for the ‘flying antelopes’ as

his team moved to the summit of the pre-season tournament.

Speaking on his performance, the Chairman of the award committee, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo commended the prolific midfielder for his tenacity and doggedness throughout the match which led to his team’s victory.

According to him, “Chisom is a great player and I congratulate him for his brace against Rivers United. His commitment and doggedness has really helped him and his team this year”.

Friday, December 16, 2016

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MISSILE Ekweremau to INEC, Politicians

“The Bible says that if salt loses its saltiness, it becomes worthless, and can only be thrown away. The word ‘independent’ is the salt in our electoral management body.

All the past reforms and present efforts would be meaningless if we sit back and watch some desperate politicians destroy the independence of our electoral umpire” – The Senate Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu, expressing fears that INEC’s Independence is dangerously drifting away.

SHAKAMOMODU THIS REPUBLIC

shaka.momodu@thisdaylive.com

0811 266 1654

How the Four Judases Undermined PDP in Ondo

I

watched a video clip of the serially shamed Justice Okon Abang-imposed candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim on YouTube and WhatsAPP, exultantly confessing his spiteful and treacherous conduct that ultimately did his party in, in the just concluded Ondo State governorship election. While some of us were not particularly surprised by the revelations in his voluntary confession since there was always that air of suspicion about his intention, and the motivation behind his claim to be the standard-bearer of the PDP, having emerged as so in a phoney primary in Ibadan, I was taken aback by his bare-faced audacity, chest-thumping and open confession of treachery against his own party.

According to him, it was all planned albeit “deliberately” to undermine his party’s chances in winning the election.

His sense of gleeful accomplishment and triumph marks a disturbing chapter in the country’s descent into moral chaos, nay a perilous sinkhole. After he lost at the courts, he said: “Election will be held on Saturday, Mimiko is just wasting his time.”

With what appeared to be an unmistakable foreknowledge of the election’s outcome, he declared with celestial triumph, “He is gone. There is nothing he can do about it.” He went on and on about his hitherto ulterior motive: “I decided to deliberately lock him for about three weeks, take him outside the state to destabilise him in his handing over notes and now, I released him to come over to the state for two days and he is dancing naked.” What a devious politician! Ibrahim followed his depraved confession with tweets, soliciting votes for Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Hmm… that is interesting. Was that coming from a man who pretended all along that he was his party’s standardbearer for the governorship election, employing all sorts of tricks to achieve his ulterior motive using the judiciary? He even attacked the integrity of the Appeal Court judges, claiming that Ondo State had moved billions of naira to bribe them.

Wonders will never cease! What has become of those allegations? Shouldn’t Ibrahim be held to account or is the system going to let him get away with such deliberate denigration of the institutions of state?

What deterrence is there for people who will feel no qualms about emulating such behaviour? Is this country really ready to develop when gangsters and buccaneers backed by state apparatus are let loose on the very values that form the enduring cornerstone of our society?

Akeredolu must be wary of Ibrahim’s friendship, he is hardly the kind of person to feel safe in his company. He should be under no illusion that Ibrahim is his friend. Treachery is treachery, no matter the gloss put on it.

Ibrahim

I have gone through Ibrahim’s tweets and watched the video clip several times to try to decipher and situate the mentality behind this behaviour. Far from being an expert, I can only hazard guesses. But beyond that, I know for sure that many well-meaning Nigerians would be totally dumbstruck by Ibrahim’s public claim that he deliberately locked up Mimiko/Jegede and by extension the PDP for three weeks to destablise and distract them from the campaigns and only released them two days to the election. In other words, it was all a game by Ibrahim and Ali Modu Sheriff. They carefully employed the services of the disgraced Justice Okon Abang in this devilish conspiracy to undermine any chance of the PDP winning the election. It is truly frightening that the institutions of state which allowed themselves to be used have been worsted by Ibrahim’s public confession. To put it mildly, I am ashamed of Justice Abang’s role in this game. While I am not a lawyer, even the “unlearned” ones could see the foolishness and stupidity of some of the pronouncements that have come out of Abang’s court. I wonder how he felt watching Ibrahim’s public boasts that he deliberately did all the nonsense to destablise and distract his party from the task in hand.

The language used to label his ridiculous interpretation of the law and ultimately his crass disregard for the ends of justice by the Appeal Court speaks volumes about the danger he now poses to the ordinary people who will have the misfortune of facing him in court. There can be no doubt at least going by the pronouncements of the Appeal Court, sentiments rather than adherence to the letter of the law drive or influence Abang’s weird interpretation of the law, and that the ends of justice only measure as footnotes on his scale of the elements of justice. So the blindfolded symbol of justice is not really blind in Abang’s court. It’s coiled up on one eye to see not the evidence but the plaintiff or the defendant. Abang has gradually attained

public stature not for the brilliance or the logic of his jurisprudence, but for his shallow legal mind. His notoriety is now such that, he even issues threats to other courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction.

Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, who chaired the Appeal Court panel that thwarted Abang’s order against Jegede had harsh words for him when setting aside his two key decisions that empowered Ibrahim on his disruptive mission. Justice Saulawa described the decisions as “highly misplaced and most fraudulent”. He resolved all the seven issues formulated for determination in favour of Jegede, describing the failure of Abang to grant fair hearing to Jegede who was not a party to the suit before the Federal High Court as a “violent attitudinal disposition to the rule of law”.

He added that the judge committed a “grave error by violating the principles of natural justice”, which he said required all parties that could be affected by an order of court to be heard before judgment was delivered.

Another member of the panel, Justice George Mbaba, who read the lead judgment on Makarfi’s appeal, also described Justice Abang’s judgment, as a “charade and fraud”.

Justice Mbaba ruled, “The entire proceedings leading to the judgment delivered on June 29, 2016, were, in my view, a fraud and it was intended to defraud the appellants.

It appeared to be arranged by the same people who paraded as the plaintiffs and the defendants. The first to ninth respondents (Poroye and others) did not have a proper course of action.” He noted that Justice Abang was “a willing party to achieve an ignoble goal”. On Abang, fellow Nigerians, it’s needless to say more.

But won’t there be punishment for those people who paraded themselves as the defendants and as counsel for the defence?

The Appeal Court went as far as describing their conduct as fraudulent, intended to defraud the appellants. The question is, who arranged the scam? The PDP should petition the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the conduct of those lawyers and let debarment be on the cards for that professional and ethical misconduct.

On INEC, I hate to sound like a broken record but it’s worth restating that with this shamed body presiding over the conduct of elections, there is no way we can have free, fair and credible elections in this country. It appears the leadership of this INEC has its allegiance firmly at the feet of those who appointed them and is therefore not interested in defending the sanctity of the electoral process. The sanctity and supremeness of the will of the people in the estimation of Yakubu Mahmud and his leadership count for nothing.

INEC, going by its record so far has become the greatest danger to our democracy.

It does not believe in fairness to all concerned. A biased umpire cannot be trusted to conduct a free, fair and credible election.

Its disgraceful and shameful conspiratorial role to undermine one party and give an unfair advantage to the other party in the Ondo governorship election has further shaken confidence in the shamed electoral body’s neutrality in elections.

For the avoidance of doubt, INEC caused the fiasco when it yielded to pressure from the establishment as well as Ibrahim’s tactics of blackmail and subterfuge to replace Jegede with him. Was it not safer to have left Jegede’s name until the Ibrahim fraud ran out of life in the courts? As for Modu Sheriff, he has a ruthless determination to succeed in accomplishing his assignment: Destroy the PDP.

Fayemi, Jammeh unlike Jonathan A sad orchestra is playing out in The Gambia. The latest news is that President Yahaya Jammeh has rejected the election results that saw his defeat in the recent presidential election, one week after he called his opponent to concede and congratulate him on his victory. What has changed?

Well, typical of the black man’s love of power, the man has changed his mind.

He now claims the election was marred by irregularities and therefore wants a fresh vote.

But he has soul mates here in Nigeria.

Recall that former Ekiti State governor and now the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi behaved exactly like Jammeh when he lost his governorship re-election bid in 2014. Days after congratulating Ayo Fayose, the winner of the election, Fayemi and his party, the then ACN, started questioning the result. They went on a fishing expedition, looking for evidence to discredit the result. They found a tape that was of doubtful relevance as to why the people rejected him.

Today, he is a minister in a government that defeated the then incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan who had the grace to concede defeat and ensured a smooth transfer of power to the winner, Muhammadu Buhari who incidentally in all previous contests refused to concede defeat even when it was crystal clear that the results were credible.

While Jonathan might not have been the first African president to concede defeat, he rekindled hope after a long lull in statesmanship. The circumstances of his concession were certainly remarkable - he called Buhari to concede and to congratulate him before the final tally of the votes. We must honour that always, no matter the politics at play. Imagine the turmoil and bloodshed that would have followed if he had rejected the results.

In Ghana, President John Mahama has just conceded defeat, setting the stage for an orderly transfer of power to the opposition. Clearly, Jonathan and Mahama’s statesmanlike conduct has set them apart from Jammeh, Buhari and Fayemi.

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